Please consider coming to my defense at RITA
For anyone associated with the RITA discussion group, I just want to let you know that I've been banned from posting or even reading the discussion posts there. If you are a member there, please consider writing to the moderators on my behalf. I did nothing deserving of banishment except suggest that not everyone that calls themselves a Christian is going in the Rapture and am totally baffled by their hostility. The moderators there really dislike me for some reason. They have found a reason to attack every post that I ever made there.
Sadly, I was never given a chance to come to my defense after being attacked. This is the second time I have tried to post in a discussion thread on the RITA site, and the first time was no better. Before I was banned from posting, I was viciously attacked there for insisting that not every Christian prophetic ministry had the interests of their supporters at heart and I had been treated very badly by a couple of prominent ones. It really is shameful how they have treated and censored me. And just so everyone knows, I am not the only person who thinks that not every supposed Christian will be taken in the Rapture. Perry Stone, who is quite well-known and respected, is in perfect agreement with me, and for the same reasons.
What I find odd about this is that the folks that post at RITA are very fond of Sandy Armstrong and Daniel Matson, and they don't have any more of a clue than anyone else (including me) as to exactly when the Rapture will be. Both Armstrong and Matson have and continue to be wrong in their date-setting yet they folks at RITA act like they worship the ground these scholars walk on. But not so with me!
Anyway, all these date-setting speculations are really pointless and I am ashamed I engaged in them at all for a while. Yes, the Tribulation is imminent, but there is a two to three year window for the Rapture, which may not be Pre-Trib but Pre-Wrath. In the meantime, be ready to go at any time and spend your free time drawing near to Christ and winning souls for Him rather than worrying about when the Rapture will be.
For those who wish to come to my defense, RITA stands for "Rapture In The Air", the name of a discussion group for Rapture enthusiasts. Here is a link to the discussion group where I was banned:
http://pub48.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=4086901292&frmid=13&msgid=1045953&cmd=show
Unfortunately, they may have deleted all my posts by now. They did this the last time I was banned. If you would like to see what I wrote at RITA, I can post my comments in a note here or on Facebook. BTW, you have to become a member there to post. You can e-mail the moderator if you search for the sign up button and just write her directly though if you don't want to sign up.
Thanks for considering coming to my defense. God bless you and Maranatha!
Helena Lehman
Blog for the Pillar of Enoch Ministry - Web Home of the Language of God and Pillar of Enoch Trilogy books by Author Helena Lehman. Explore the Gospel in the Stars, Bible prophecy, wisdom from the Book of Enoch, antediluvian constellations, and messianic theology. Helena’s books and essays reveal parable-like messages in the Great Pyramid, Great Sphinx, Desert Tabernacle, and rituals of the Jews. Visit this educational web site at http://pillar-of-enoch.com.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Saturday, December 04, 2010
OPRAH - PRIESTESS OF THE BROAD WAY
NOTE: I hope you will enjoy this excellent post about the New Age High Priestess Oprah Winfrey, written by a fellow Watchmen on the Wall. I completely agree with Garden Girl's unflattering assessment of Oprah and Oprah's chilling endorsement of President # 44 as "the One" in every respect.
Yours in Yahshua,
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
PS: For more about Oprah's false spirituality, see my You Tube Playlist about Oprah here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3D1FE99FCD34073D
OPRAH - PRIESTESS OF THE BROAD WAY
Posted by GardenGirl at 12/03/2010 10:57:00 AM;
http://runningfrombabylon.blogspot.com/
No doubt about it -- Oprah Winfrey is a great television personality. Since 1986, when Oprah's television show went national, her audience has swollen to well over a million people each week, most of whom are women.
Oprah came from an impoverished childhood that offered nothing to envy. Her story has been so well documented and written upon that a simple search on the Internet will turn up a vast amount of information. Suffice it to say that Oprah has become such an American icon that she can simply go by her first name, and many who have never watched her show know exactly who you are talking about if her name is mentioned.
Though Oprah is a multi-faceted person (talk-show host, actress, philanthropist and more), she is probably best known for marketing her brand of spirituality. She offers it on her show, on the Internet and soon on her own network. (Read the post 1/1/11 by Cindy by the Sea: http://cindybythesea.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/1111/ )
Unfortunately, doing a simple Internet search of two words -- Oprah and spirituality -- turns up page after page of links explaining Oprah's beliefs, all of which promote the New Age movement.
The New Age movement is fraught with difficulties in itself, and there are several good, well-researched books out there on the subject. Two I can definitely recommend are "oldies but goodies."
In The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow: The New Age Movement and Our Coming Age of Barbarism by Constance Cumbey (1983), Cumbey wrote the following:
It is the contention of this writer that for the first time in history there is a viable movement -- the New Age Movement -- that truly meets all the scriptural requirements for the antichrist and the political movement that will bring him on the world scene.
It is further the position of this writer that this most likely is the great apostasy or 'falling away' spoken of by the Apostle Paul and that the antichrist's appearance could be a very real event in our immediate future.
Caryl Matrisciana in her book Gods of the New Age (as well as her documentary film of the same name of 1988: http://www.jeremiahfilms.com/products/GNAD ) not only explains many aspects of New Age beliefs and contrasts them to Biblical doctrine, she also documents, in the words of adherents, hostility to and bias against the Bible and its teachings and Christians and the stated goals of the New Age movement to specifically target Christianity and destroy it.
I have never watched an entire Oprah show. To some that may "disqualify" me from having an opinion about Oprah. But as I have researched other topics and read much about the New Age movement, Oprah's name has come up often and some apologists, such as Josh McDowell (1), have written about statements that Oprah has made on her show. With YouTube a rich wealth of short clips is available so that if you want to see an actual snippet of an Oprah show where she has made a statement to her audience, it is relatively easy to find. With such tools, it is not difficult to follow a pattern of someone's beliefs and then form an assessment.
And Oprah has some beliefs that I do not share with her.
JESUS CAN'T BE THE ONLY WAY
Oprah has denied Jesus Christ as the "only way" to God the Father saying "there can't only be one way." Oprah is wrong when she denies Jesus as the only way.
YOUTUBE - JESUS CAN'T BE THE ONLY WAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeI6i5oqh4
The Bible specifically states that Jesus Christ IS the only way. Many Christians are familiar with John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Oprah promises her audience that there are "many" ways to God because as long as a person loves others and is good, he/she will end up in "the light" that some call God but others may just call "the Light."
Sounds nice, but not correct.
At the end of each of the "many" ways that Oprah assures listeners leads to God, does not lead to THE God of the Bible but rather to satan, or one of his fellow fallen companions, and "the light" with these guys is not the light of Heaven but the light from the fires of Hell.
Anyone who hears Oprah speak this lie should remember Matthew 7: 13, 14.
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:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(Let me recommend another "oldie" here: John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. This outstanding Christian classic is really all about the "narrow way." WELL WORTH reading this winter -- here is a link: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.html )
When Matthew recorded Jesus' words in his Gospel, Jesus already knew then, 2,000 years ago, that the New Age movement was coming. Why? Because it already had been. Satan has been promising mankind ever since the Garden of Eden that there was more than one way to "god."
The wide gate is the lies of satan; the narrow gate is the Truth of Jesus Christ, and that gate is only as wide as He is. People will either choose to believe Him and enter into the narrow way that few find and fewer choose, or people will run headlong down wide paths off a cliff and into Hell. The Bible says many will choose that way.
This is one of those teachings that either you believe it and accept it or you don't. I accept it. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way, the only truth and the only life I need. Oprah, so far, has rejected the narrow way.
But if you look closer at Oprah's goal in spirituality, you can determine much more easily what her goal is NOT than what it is, and her goal is NOT to reach God the Father.
This explains her easy rejection of Jesus Christ.
GOD IS A 'JEALOUS' GOD
Oprah has stated that when she was about 27 or 28 years old while sitting in a Baptist church, she heard a sermon in which the pastor said that God was a "jealous God." Something rose up inside her and this statement offended her and she wanted no part of a "jealous God." The moment must have been very keen for her as she remembers it clearly.
YOUTUBE - OPRAH WON'T ACCEPT A JEALOUS GOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB4J1JpG_PA
It appears that it was at this point that Oprah rejected God. Instead of studying (as a Berean) to understand more fully what the Bible means by "jealous" God, Oprah began to search for a broader definition of God, one that would fit how she perceived He should be. The danger with this option is that the creation sits in judgment on God. When man rejects God, man rejects God as not being good enough for him. This is a terrifying place to be.
Man lives in this place until confronted by the cross of Jesus Christ. At the foot of the cross we will either suddenly comprehend the depth of how we have treated the Holy God of Heaven and be overwhelmed by the horror of our actions in deep remorse or we will look upon the cross and reject its impact upon our soul and simply dismiss it and move on.
When Jesus said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do," (Luke 23:34) He wasn't just speaking to those who physically crucified Him. He was speaking to all of us whose sins have nailed Him to the cross. He was saying that to me. He was saying that to you. He was saying that to each of us.
When the truth of the cross fully penetrates into a man's mind, it can be the darkest hour of a person's life. For me, it was an hour of unspeakable woe, a time of darkness unlike anything I had ever experienced. In the midst of this overwhelming sorrow a second dilemma appears: Jesus said I was forgiven -- do I accept that or do I not?
To accept means I must abandon, not merely, but utterly the sinful life I have been living up to that point and choose to live the way Jesus would have me to live. If I do not choose to believe what Jesus has said, that I am forgiven, then I must accept that from that day forward I will continue in the same sins of the past, but rather than those sins being a source of fun and good times, they will become a plague, an anathema to me and whatever sins I commit now will be done with the full knowledge that Jesus is out there and He offered me forgiveness, a slate washed clean and a fresh, clean start on life and I rejected it. I will re-enter into the broad way having come from the narrow gate but refusing to go through it because of unbelief and rejection.
Those are the two choices in the midst of the horror of the soul.
Years ago, I chose to believe Jesus, that I was forgiven of my sins and I could start over. I chose to walk through the narrow gate. Almost as soon as I was through the gate the horror and great fear I had experienced in understanding my role in putting Jesus on that Roman cross slid away, much like the burden that rolled off Pilgrim's back in Pilgrim's Progress. It is a remarkable world on this side of the narrow gate. Nothing on the broad way compares to it.
Oprah speaks of reaching "Christ consciousness." This term sounds like someone has come to a place of Christ within themselves, but this is not so. This is not the same as accepting Jesus Christ and going through the narrow gate; it is not becoming "born-again."
The "Christ consciousness" that Oprah and other New Agers speak of is a state of mind where a person tries to become really good, for lack of a better definition. I'm not sure even all New Age devotees would have a common definition of what attaining "Christ consciousness" is. But the idea seems to be that in achieving "Christ consciousness" a person frees himself of guilt associated with sin; there is now no law which tells you to feel bad for anything you have done. It is guilt-free, anything-goes mentality. You have "arrived" when you no longer feel bad about sin. Achieving "Christ consciousness" means rejecting the Biblical teaching that mankind is lost and undone and in need of Jesus Christ as Savior. Achieving "Christ consciousness" means rejecting Jesus Christ and not feeling bad about it.
In fact, achieving "Christ consciousness" is probably blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the one sin that the Bible says is unpardonable (Matthew 12: 31) The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to draw men unto Christ. This drawing of the Holy Spirit will inevitably bring awareness of sin and an understanding of its ugliness. To continually reject and resist the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and his efforts to draw us to Christ will eventually cause the Holy Spirit to cease his efforts and withdraw from working any further. I heard a pastor once say that God will not force anyone into Heaven if he doesn't want to go. This is the essence of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In achieving "Christ consciousness" a person comes to the place where she (or he) can resist the work of the Holy Spirit and not only feel no remorse about it but can actually feel good about it.
Think long and hard about wanting "Christ consciousness" for it has absolutely NOTHING to do with having Christ in one's mind -- the opposite is the truth -- it is the ABSENCE OF CHRIST in one's mind.
What does the Bible say about a "jealous God"? There are 10 verses in the KJV that put the two words -- jealous and God -- in the same verse. Almost all the verses deal with the same topic: worshipping someone (or something) other than God Himself. Exodus 20: 3-5 gives us one example.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (emphasis mine)
Gesenius' Lexicon notes the following: jealous; used of God as not bearing any rival; the severe avenger of departure from Himself.
These verses make clear that God will not tolerate people bowing down and worshipping other beings.
A renegade is one who has abandoned or deserted the faith. This definition would make Oprah a renegade. (Interesting that Renegade is also the Secret Service code name for 44.)
OPRAH IS A RABBIT HOLE
Oprah has rejected Jesus as the only way, and she has rejected the God of the Bible because He is too jealous for her taste. So if Oprah is not seeking Jehovah, then who is she seeking? The answer is found more correctly in asking "what" is she seeking. Oprah is seeking "godhood." Oprah would like to become a "god," or more correctly a "goddess." Oh dear! We are back to the Garden of Eden and another woman listening to hissing.
The lie that "ye shall be as gods" started in Eden. Satan tricked Eve so smoothly and easily that he has been tricking women (and men) ever since. Oprah, though, may be his greatest catch ever in modern history.
Oprah is an extremely enticing rabbit hole. She has built a vast kingdom, but it is all underground. (Where else do you go to escape from light?) She has led millions away from the light of Jesus Christ and down a rabbit hole. She promises that You! can be part of her world. Her world has riches and fame and spiritual awareness and is a place where one can "feel good" about themselves. No one does anything wrong in her kingdom. There is no place for Jesus and no need for the Bible. Oprah offers a "safe place" for like-minded renegades to explore with her the world that exists outside of Jehovah and Jesus Christ.
The prosperity gospel that has entrenched itself into America and blasphemously called itself a "biblical doctrine" may well be the reason that so many have rushed to Oprah. With the prosperity gospel, middle men hawk the favors of God by saying, "Send your seed money to my ministry and God will solve all your financial problems. God is just waiting on you to part with $100 so He can get you the pay raise you need at work or get your kids off drugs or replace your old broken down Pinto with a BMW."
Oh, Please!
God isn't for sale and never has been but that hasn't stopped people, many of them desperate, from sending that check and hoping that God will now live up to the prosperity preacher's promises of soon coming ease.
Oprah doesn't plead for money. You don't have to send her a dime. In fact, show up at the right time and you might find the keys to a new car under your seat or a pair of diamond earrings. If the priestess is feeling especially gracious to seekers, perhaps all will be treated to dazzling gifts and not just a lucky few.
Prosperity preachers, panhandlers in silk suits, hold out their hands for a check; Oprah holds out her hand and proffers car keys. Whose way looks more powerful? More specifically, whose religion looks more attractive?
Though Oprah is not openly hostile to Christians and is not known for attacking the faith of Christians (disagreeing with is not the same as attacking), she is open about her rejection of Jesus Christ. She makes it clear that He cannot be the only way, she will not accept him as the Only Way and to put her money where her mouth is, she offers to millions of women a path away from Jesus. Unfortunately, Oprah's face may be human, but the seductive hissing coming from her mouth is not.
OPRAH CALLED 44 "THE ONE"
When 44 wanted his candidacy to become president of the United States announced, he bestowed upon Oprah the honor. Although Oprah had never publicly endorsed any other candidate for political office before, had not backed anyone with her name, her platform or her brand she did come out of her television pulpit long enough to do this for 44.
And her introduction and endorsement were not low key.
Oprah's introduction of 44 so closely paralleled the actions of John the Baptist introducing Jesus Christ that it was chilling to behold.
The account of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1). Jesus came to John to be baptized but John was reluctant at first believing it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus reminded John that this needed to be done, therefore John baptized Him.
Why John?
When John was conceived his father, Zacharias, appears to have been High Priest in the Temple (Luke 1). At some point after the Romans overtook Jerusalem, they also took over who served as High Priest in the Temple. These Roman-appointed priests apparently served for a specified period of time. For instance, Caiaphas was the Roman-appointed priest involved in the trial of Jesus and Scripture noted that he was priest "that year." (John 11: 49)
John, being the son of Zacharias, should have been High Priest in the temple but the Romans would not permit it. That is why the people recognized that John had the authority to do what he was doing on the banks of the Jordan -- preaching repentance and baptizing those who forsook sin. (Matthew 3) This is why Herod Antipas, who eventually had John beheaded, was afraid of John -- he knew the position John actually held (Mark 6).
Jesus came to John. John baptized Him and pointing Jesus out to others, declared Jesus to be the "Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
John had said earlier that there was "one among you" who "coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." (John 1: 26, 27) When John announced Jesus as the "Lamb of God," he was affirming that Jesus was "The One" he had said would come.
When Oprah announced 44 to be running for president, she chose an interesting way to phrase her introduction: she declared him to be "The One."
YOU TUBE -- OPRAH CALLS 44 "THE ONE"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYjyU25bW3Y
"The One" what? The One who will deliver America from all her problems? Was Oprah, as priestess, declaring 44 to be The Savior?
Since Christians know this isn't possible for 44 to be The One as in "The Savior," then we are left to wonder what is meant by her choice of words and HIS LACK OF REFUSAL OF SUCH A TITLE.
Oprah has clearly denounced Jesus as the Only Way; in fact, she doesn't appear to care for Jesus or His Father at all. So she wouldn't want to parallel 44 to Jesus as she herself does not honor Him.
Who, then, is "The One" to her?
The answer might be found in a 1993 commentary by G. A. Riplinger titled NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS. Page 11 says the following:
Oriental mystics, traveling West via the New Age Movement are adopting Christian terms for their occult ideas and identities. (Some years ago the leading New Age newsletter [Lucis Trust, United Nations Plaza] called for volunteers to help find acceptable Christian counterparts for New Age words.) So now 'Buddha', 'Krishna', and Lucifer become 'The Lord,' 'The Christ', and 'The One'. (emphasis mine)
Hmmm.
Buddha = The Lord
Krishna = The Christ
Lucifer = THE ONE
On page 14, Riplinger writes this:
In this New Age 'name game', new versions have substituted 'titles' which transport the reader immediately to a list of Satan's latest poison pen names. The rock scene sings of Lord Satan (Venum) who's 'a new god' and 'a star from the east' (Wang Chung). New Agers refer to Lucifer as "The One,' 'the Spirit of the Age' and a 'divine being.' (emphasis mine)
For those who might be hesitant (or even feel somewhat uncomfortable) to think that Oprah would be saying such a thing here might want to look at what she herself said in her post-inaugural edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show in January of 2009. Oprah had received an email from actor Forest Whitaker in which she "praised" (2) Whitaker for his assessment of 44:
"I got a wonderful E-mail from you (meaning from Whitaker) . . . that just said 'The light of the New Age is here.' I just love that." (2)
Oprah "loves" "the light of the New Age." I not only believe that Oprah knows full well what she believes, I also believe she understands that that light she promotes and loves comes from phosphorus.
In a recent interview with Barbara Walters 44 said that "praying and reading the Bible are part of his everyday life." (3) But when asked by Walters to explain why some do not believe he is a Christian, 44 blamed the Internet.
"Well, you know, the Internet has a powerful effect these days, and so, the way rumors can take on a life of their own ends up being very powerful," he said. (3)
In what has become a well-recognized pattern of his over the last two years, at no time did 44 take personal responsibility that some of his own actions might have caused such a perception. Instead, he offered as excuse a belief of his: people believe rumors.
It seems that it's all about marketing to this president. He sees himself as the finest mouth magician that ever lived. He appears to be so enamored with his gift of speech that he cannot imagine a world where he says something and people don't believe him. He cannot imagine why anyone would question anything he says, after all, he said "it" so well -- no, so beautifully -- no, so magnificently -- no, actually there is no word grand enough to describe how smoothly words slip off his mercurial tongue.
And that is his undoing.
And this is the problem of his answer to Barbara Walters. What he really is saying here is, "Barbara, the American people are not listening to me when I speak. It should be enough for me to simply say I am a Christian and everyone, without exception, should believe me. But, alas Barbara, these weak-minded simpletons simply believe rumors on the Internet. They have no ability to see me as I am."
But I beg to differ.
If 44 is indeed a Christian then why let Oprah, who is a cult* leader in every nuance of the term and has one of the largest cult followings in America, who has denied Jesus Christ openly, endorse you and introduce you?
And if 44 is indeed a Christian then why allow Oprah to call him 'The One,' a term New Agers (a movement she clearly identifies with and promotes) uses for Lucifer?
Christians don't overlook those who deny Jesus Christ as the Only Way to God the Father. Christians don't embrace anything from anyone in the New Age Movement, a movement that has openly declared to destroy Christianity, And Christians don't let anyone call them 'The One,' opening up oneself to comparison to the Lamb of God by those who don't know better or opening up oneself to a name used for Lucifer by those who do know better.
Oprah is not found after going through the narrow gate, therefore, she must be found in the broad way -- so that means 44 is in the same place, otherwise how could he embrace her and everything she stands for? Just like Paul who did not stand for the girl with the spirit of divination crying out in his favor (Acts 16: 16-18), 44 should not have wanted Oprah's crying out anything on his behalf. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it is difficult to believe 44's claims of being a Christian for "in the beginning" of his 4 years as president, Oprah raised her hand and pointed her finger and proclaimed to her followers, "He is "The One."
If you are a Christian and going to the Temple of Oprah -- I would advise you to leave it. You will not find Jesus or His Father or Biblical teachings there. In fact, run! from Oprah and those who stand with her, run! from the priestess of the broad way and run to Jesus! run to the narrow gate, kneel at the cross and then enter into the narrow way.
Shalom!
(1) "Christian Apologists: Be Careful of Oprah's Spiritual Teachings," Christian Post, January 25, 2010
(2) "Oprah Show Glows for Obama: 'The Light of the New Age is Here,'" NewsBusters, January 24, 2009
(3) "Obama: I pray every night, read the Bible," The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, November 27, 2010
*The plumb line for heresy and orthodoxy is given by cult expert Bob Larson who says: The basic fault of cults is that they demote God, devalue Christ, deify man, deny sin and denigrate scripture. -- New Age Bible Versions, G. A. Riplinger, pg 16
NOTE: I hope you will enjoy this excellent post about the New Age High Priestess Oprah Winfrey, written by a fellow Watchmen on the Wall. I completely agree with Garden Girl's unflattering assessment of Oprah and Oprah's chilling endorsement of President # 44 as "the One" in every respect.
Yours in Yahshua,
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
PS: For more about Oprah's false spirituality, see my You Tube Playlist about Oprah here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3D1FE99FCD34073D
OPRAH - PRIESTESS OF THE BROAD WAY
Posted by GardenGirl at 12/03/2010 10:57:00 AM;
http://runningfrombabylon.blogspot.com/
No doubt about it -- Oprah Winfrey is a great television personality. Since 1986, when Oprah's television show went national, her audience has swollen to well over a million people each week, most of whom are women.
Oprah came from an impoverished childhood that offered nothing to envy. Her story has been so well documented and written upon that a simple search on the Internet will turn up a vast amount of information. Suffice it to say that Oprah has become such an American icon that she can simply go by her first name, and many who have never watched her show know exactly who you are talking about if her name is mentioned.
Though Oprah is a multi-faceted person (talk-show host, actress, philanthropist and more), she is probably best known for marketing her brand of spirituality. She offers it on her show, on the Internet and soon on her own network. (Read the post 1/1/11 by Cindy by the Sea: http://cindybythesea.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/1111/ )
Unfortunately, doing a simple Internet search of two words -- Oprah and spirituality -- turns up page after page of links explaining Oprah's beliefs, all of which promote the New Age movement.
The New Age movement is fraught with difficulties in itself, and there are several good, well-researched books out there on the subject. Two I can definitely recommend are "oldies but goodies."
In The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow: The New Age Movement and Our Coming Age of Barbarism by Constance Cumbey (1983), Cumbey wrote the following:
It is the contention of this writer that for the first time in history there is a viable movement -- the New Age Movement -- that truly meets all the scriptural requirements for the antichrist and the political movement that will bring him on the world scene.
It is further the position of this writer that this most likely is the great apostasy or 'falling away' spoken of by the Apostle Paul and that the antichrist's appearance could be a very real event in our immediate future.
Caryl Matrisciana in her book Gods of the New Age (as well as her documentary film of the same name of 1988: http://www.jeremiahfilms.com/products/GNAD ) not only explains many aspects of New Age beliefs and contrasts them to Biblical doctrine, she also documents, in the words of adherents, hostility to and bias against the Bible and its teachings and Christians and the stated goals of the New Age movement to specifically target Christianity and destroy it.
I have never watched an entire Oprah show. To some that may "disqualify" me from having an opinion about Oprah. But as I have researched other topics and read much about the New Age movement, Oprah's name has come up often and some apologists, such as Josh McDowell (1), have written about statements that Oprah has made on her show. With YouTube a rich wealth of short clips is available so that if you want to see an actual snippet of an Oprah show where she has made a statement to her audience, it is relatively easy to find. With such tools, it is not difficult to follow a pattern of someone's beliefs and then form an assessment.
And Oprah has some beliefs that I do not share with her.
JESUS CAN'T BE THE ONLY WAY
Oprah has denied Jesus Christ as the "only way" to God the Father saying "there can't only be one way." Oprah is wrong when she denies Jesus as the only way.
YOUTUBE - JESUS CAN'T BE THE ONLY WAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeI6i5oqh4
The Bible specifically states that Jesus Christ IS the only way. Many Christians are familiar with John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Oprah promises her audience that there are "many" ways to God because as long as a person loves others and is good, he/she will end up in "the light" that some call God but others may just call "the Light."
Sounds nice, but not correct.
At the end of each of the "many" ways that Oprah assures listeners leads to God, does not lead to THE God of the Bible but rather to satan, or one of his fellow fallen companions, and "the light" with these guys is not the light of Heaven but the light from the fires of Hell.
Anyone who hears Oprah speak this lie should remember Matthew 7: 13, 14.
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:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(Let me recommend another "oldie" here: John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. This outstanding Christian classic is really all about the "narrow way." WELL WORTH reading this winter -- here is a link: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.html )
When Matthew recorded Jesus' words in his Gospel, Jesus already knew then, 2,000 years ago, that the New Age movement was coming. Why? Because it already had been. Satan has been promising mankind ever since the Garden of Eden that there was more than one way to "god."
The wide gate is the lies of satan; the narrow gate is the Truth of Jesus Christ, and that gate is only as wide as He is. People will either choose to believe Him and enter into the narrow way that few find and fewer choose, or people will run headlong down wide paths off a cliff and into Hell. The Bible says many will choose that way.
This is one of those teachings that either you believe it and accept it or you don't. I accept it. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way, the only truth and the only life I need. Oprah, so far, has rejected the narrow way.
But if you look closer at Oprah's goal in spirituality, you can determine much more easily what her goal is NOT than what it is, and her goal is NOT to reach God the Father.
This explains her easy rejection of Jesus Christ.
GOD IS A 'JEALOUS' GOD
Oprah has stated that when she was about 27 or 28 years old while sitting in a Baptist church, she heard a sermon in which the pastor said that God was a "jealous God." Something rose up inside her and this statement offended her and she wanted no part of a "jealous God." The moment must have been very keen for her as she remembers it clearly.
YOUTUBE - OPRAH WON'T ACCEPT A JEALOUS GOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB4J1JpG_PA
It appears that it was at this point that Oprah rejected God. Instead of studying (as a Berean) to understand more fully what the Bible means by "jealous" God, Oprah began to search for a broader definition of God, one that would fit how she perceived He should be. The danger with this option is that the creation sits in judgment on God. When man rejects God, man rejects God as not being good enough for him. This is a terrifying place to be.
Man lives in this place until confronted by the cross of Jesus Christ. At the foot of the cross we will either suddenly comprehend the depth of how we have treated the Holy God of Heaven and be overwhelmed by the horror of our actions in deep remorse or we will look upon the cross and reject its impact upon our soul and simply dismiss it and move on.
When Jesus said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do," (Luke 23:34) He wasn't just speaking to those who physically crucified Him. He was speaking to all of us whose sins have nailed Him to the cross. He was saying that to me. He was saying that to you. He was saying that to each of us.
When the truth of the cross fully penetrates into a man's mind, it can be the darkest hour of a person's life. For me, it was an hour of unspeakable woe, a time of darkness unlike anything I had ever experienced. In the midst of this overwhelming sorrow a second dilemma appears: Jesus said I was forgiven -- do I accept that or do I not?
To accept means I must abandon, not merely, but utterly the sinful life I have been living up to that point and choose to live the way Jesus would have me to live. If I do not choose to believe what Jesus has said, that I am forgiven, then I must accept that from that day forward I will continue in the same sins of the past, but rather than those sins being a source of fun and good times, they will become a plague, an anathema to me and whatever sins I commit now will be done with the full knowledge that Jesus is out there and He offered me forgiveness, a slate washed clean and a fresh, clean start on life and I rejected it. I will re-enter into the broad way having come from the narrow gate but refusing to go through it because of unbelief and rejection.
Those are the two choices in the midst of the horror of the soul.
Years ago, I chose to believe Jesus, that I was forgiven of my sins and I could start over. I chose to walk through the narrow gate. Almost as soon as I was through the gate the horror and great fear I had experienced in understanding my role in putting Jesus on that Roman cross slid away, much like the burden that rolled off Pilgrim's back in Pilgrim's Progress. It is a remarkable world on this side of the narrow gate. Nothing on the broad way compares to it.
Oprah speaks of reaching "Christ consciousness." This term sounds like someone has come to a place of Christ within themselves, but this is not so. This is not the same as accepting Jesus Christ and going through the narrow gate; it is not becoming "born-again."
The "Christ consciousness" that Oprah and other New Agers speak of is a state of mind where a person tries to become really good, for lack of a better definition. I'm not sure even all New Age devotees would have a common definition of what attaining "Christ consciousness" is. But the idea seems to be that in achieving "Christ consciousness" a person frees himself of guilt associated with sin; there is now no law which tells you to feel bad for anything you have done. It is guilt-free, anything-goes mentality. You have "arrived" when you no longer feel bad about sin. Achieving "Christ consciousness" means rejecting the Biblical teaching that mankind is lost and undone and in need of Jesus Christ as Savior. Achieving "Christ consciousness" means rejecting Jesus Christ and not feeling bad about it.
In fact, achieving "Christ consciousness" is probably blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the one sin that the Bible says is unpardonable (Matthew 12: 31) The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to draw men unto Christ. This drawing of the Holy Spirit will inevitably bring awareness of sin and an understanding of its ugliness. To continually reject and resist the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and his efforts to draw us to Christ will eventually cause the Holy Spirit to cease his efforts and withdraw from working any further. I heard a pastor once say that God will not force anyone into Heaven if he doesn't want to go. This is the essence of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In achieving "Christ consciousness" a person comes to the place where she (or he) can resist the work of the Holy Spirit and not only feel no remorse about it but can actually feel good about it.
Think long and hard about wanting "Christ consciousness" for it has absolutely NOTHING to do with having Christ in one's mind -- the opposite is the truth -- it is the ABSENCE OF CHRIST in one's mind.
What does the Bible say about a "jealous God"? There are 10 verses in the KJV that put the two words -- jealous and God -- in the same verse. Almost all the verses deal with the same topic: worshipping someone (or something) other than God Himself. Exodus 20: 3-5 gives us one example.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (emphasis mine)
Gesenius' Lexicon notes the following: jealous; used of God as not bearing any rival; the severe avenger of departure from Himself.
These verses make clear that God will not tolerate people bowing down and worshipping other beings.
A renegade is one who has abandoned or deserted the faith. This definition would make Oprah a renegade. (Interesting that Renegade is also the Secret Service code name for 44.)
OPRAH IS A RABBIT HOLE
Oprah has rejected Jesus as the only way, and she has rejected the God of the Bible because He is too jealous for her taste. So if Oprah is not seeking Jehovah, then who is she seeking? The answer is found more correctly in asking "what" is she seeking. Oprah is seeking "godhood." Oprah would like to become a "god," or more correctly a "goddess." Oh dear! We are back to the Garden of Eden and another woman listening to hissing.
The lie that "ye shall be as gods" started in Eden. Satan tricked Eve so smoothly and easily that he has been tricking women (and men) ever since. Oprah, though, may be his greatest catch ever in modern history.
Oprah is an extremely enticing rabbit hole. She has built a vast kingdom, but it is all underground. (Where else do you go to escape from light?) She has led millions away from the light of Jesus Christ and down a rabbit hole. She promises that You! can be part of her world. Her world has riches and fame and spiritual awareness and is a place where one can "feel good" about themselves. No one does anything wrong in her kingdom. There is no place for Jesus and no need for the Bible. Oprah offers a "safe place" for like-minded renegades to explore with her the world that exists outside of Jehovah and Jesus Christ.
The prosperity gospel that has entrenched itself into America and blasphemously called itself a "biblical doctrine" may well be the reason that so many have rushed to Oprah. With the prosperity gospel, middle men hawk the favors of God by saying, "Send your seed money to my ministry and God will solve all your financial problems. God is just waiting on you to part with $100 so He can get you the pay raise you need at work or get your kids off drugs or replace your old broken down Pinto with a BMW."
Oh, Please!
God isn't for sale and never has been but that hasn't stopped people, many of them desperate, from sending that check and hoping that God will now live up to the prosperity preacher's promises of soon coming ease.
Oprah doesn't plead for money. You don't have to send her a dime. In fact, show up at the right time and you might find the keys to a new car under your seat or a pair of diamond earrings. If the priestess is feeling especially gracious to seekers, perhaps all will be treated to dazzling gifts and not just a lucky few.
Prosperity preachers, panhandlers in silk suits, hold out their hands for a check; Oprah holds out her hand and proffers car keys. Whose way looks more powerful? More specifically, whose religion looks more attractive?
Though Oprah is not openly hostile to Christians and is not known for attacking the faith of Christians (disagreeing with is not the same as attacking), she is open about her rejection of Jesus Christ. She makes it clear that He cannot be the only way, she will not accept him as the Only Way and to put her money where her mouth is, she offers to millions of women a path away from Jesus. Unfortunately, Oprah's face may be human, but the seductive hissing coming from her mouth is not.
OPRAH CALLED 44 "THE ONE"
When 44 wanted his candidacy to become president of the United States announced, he bestowed upon Oprah the honor. Although Oprah had never publicly endorsed any other candidate for political office before, had not backed anyone with her name, her platform or her brand she did come out of her television pulpit long enough to do this for 44.
And her introduction and endorsement were not low key.
Oprah's introduction of 44 so closely paralleled the actions of John the Baptist introducing Jesus Christ that it was chilling to behold.
The account of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1). Jesus came to John to be baptized but John was reluctant at first believing it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus reminded John that this needed to be done, therefore John baptized Him.
Why John?
When John was conceived his father, Zacharias, appears to have been High Priest in the Temple (Luke 1). At some point after the Romans overtook Jerusalem, they also took over who served as High Priest in the Temple. These Roman-appointed priests apparently served for a specified period of time. For instance, Caiaphas was the Roman-appointed priest involved in the trial of Jesus and Scripture noted that he was priest "that year." (John 11: 49)
John, being the son of Zacharias, should have been High Priest in the temple but the Romans would not permit it. That is why the people recognized that John had the authority to do what he was doing on the banks of the Jordan -- preaching repentance and baptizing those who forsook sin. (Matthew 3) This is why Herod Antipas, who eventually had John beheaded, was afraid of John -- he knew the position John actually held (Mark 6).
Jesus came to John. John baptized Him and pointing Jesus out to others, declared Jesus to be the "Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
John had said earlier that there was "one among you" who "coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." (John 1: 26, 27) When John announced Jesus as the "Lamb of God," he was affirming that Jesus was "The One" he had said would come.
When Oprah announced 44 to be running for president, she chose an interesting way to phrase her introduction: she declared him to be "The One."
YOU TUBE -- OPRAH CALLS 44 "THE ONE"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYjyU25bW3Y
"The One" what? The One who will deliver America from all her problems? Was Oprah, as priestess, declaring 44 to be The Savior?
Since Christians know this isn't possible for 44 to be The One as in "The Savior," then we are left to wonder what is meant by her choice of words and HIS LACK OF REFUSAL OF SUCH A TITLE.
Oprah has clearly denounced Jesus as the Only Way; in fact, she doesn't appear to care for Jesus or His Father at all. So she wouldn't want to parallel 44 to Jesus as she herself does not honor Him.
Who, then, is "The One" to her?
The answer might be found in a 1993 commentary by G. A. Riplinger titled NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS. Page 11 says the following:
Oriental mystics, traveling West via the New Age Movement are adopting Christian terms for their occult ideas and identities. (Some years ago the leading New Age newsletter [Lucis Trust, United Nations Plaza] called for volunteers to help find acceptable Christian counterparts for New Age words.) So now 'Buddha', 'Krishna', and Lucifer become 'The Lord,' 'The Christ', and 'The One'. (emphasis mine)
Hmmm.
Buddha = The Lord
Krishna = The Christ
Lucifer = THE ONE
On page 14, Riplinger writes this:
In this New Age 'name game', new versions have substituted 'titles' which transport the reader immediately to a list of Satan's latest poison pen names. The rock scene sings of Lord Satan (Venum) who's 'a new god' and 'a star from the east' (Wang Chung). New Agers refer to Lucifer as "The One,' 'the Spirit of the Age' and a 'divine being.' (emphasis mine)
For those who might be hesitant (or even feel somewhat uncomfortable) to think that Oprah would be saying such a thing here might want to look at what she herself said in her post-inaugural edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show in January of 2009. Oprah had received an email from actor Forest Whitaker in which she "praised" (2) Whitaker for his assessment of 44:
"I got a wonderful E-mail from you (meaning from Whitaker) . . . that just said 'The light of the New Age is here.' I just love that." (2)
Oprah "loves" "the light of the New Age." I not only believe that Oprah knows full well what she believes, I also believe she understands that that light she promotes and loves comes from phosphorus.
In a recent interview with Barbara Walters 44 said that "praying and reading the Bible are part of his everyday life." (3) But when asked by Walters to explain why some do not believe he is a Christian, 44 blamed the Internet.
"Well, you know, the Internet has a powerful effect these days, and so, the way rumors can take on a life of their own ends up being very powerful," he said. (3)
In what has become a well-recognized pattern of his over the last two years, at no time did 44 take personal responsibility that some of his own actions might have caused such a perception. Instead, he offered as excuse a belief of his: people believe rumors.
It seems that it's all about marketing to this president. He sees himself as the finest mouth magician that ever lived. He appears to be so enamored with his gift of speech that he cannot imagine a world where he says something and people don't believe him. He cannot imagine why anyone would question anything he says, after all, he said "it" so well -- no, so beautifully -- no, so magnificently -- no, actually there is no word grand enough to describe how smoothly words slip off his mercurial tongue.
And that is his undoing.
And this is the problem of his answer to Barbara Walters. What he really is saying here is, "Barbara, the American people are not listening to me when I speak. It should be enough for me to simply say I am a Christian and everyone, without exception, should believe me. But, alas Barbara, these weak-minded simpletons simply believe rumors on the Internet. They have no ability to see me as I am."
But I beg to differ.
If 44 is indeed a Christian then why let Oprah, who is a cult* leader in every nuance of the term and has one of the largest cult followings in America, who has denied Jesus Christ openly, endorse you and introduce you?
And if 44 is indeed a Christian then why allow Oprah to call him 'The One,' a term New Agers (a movement she clearly identifies with and promotes) uses for Lucifer?
Christians don't overlook those who deny Jesus Christ as the Only Way to God the Father. Christians don't embrace anything from anyone in the New Age Movement, a movement that has openly declared to destroy Christianity, And Christians don't let anyone call them 'The One,' opening up oneself to comparison to the Lamb of God by those who don't know better or opening up oneself to a name used for Lucifer by those who do know better.
Oprah is not found after going through the narrow gate, therefore, she must be found in the broad way -- so that means 44 is in the same place, otherwise how could he embrace her and everything she stands for? Just like Paul who did not stand for the girl with the spirit of divination crying out in his favor (Acts 16: 16-18), 44 should not have wanted Oprah's crying out anything on his behalf. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it is difficult to believe 44's claims of being a Christian for "in the beginning" of his 4 years as president, Oprah raised her hand and pointed her finger and proclaimed to her followers, "He is "The One."
If you are a Christian and going to the Temple of Oprah -- I would advise you to leave it. You will not find Jesus or His Father or Biblical teachings there. In fact, run! from Oprah and those who stand with her, run! from the priestess of the broad way and run to Jesus! run to the narrow gate, kneel at the cross and then enter into the narrow way.
Shalom!
(1) "Christian Apologists: Be Careful of Oprah's Spiritual Teachings," Christian Post, January 25, 2010
(2) "Oprah Show Glows for Obama: 'The Light of the New Age is Here,'" NewsBusters, January 24, 2009
(3) "Obama: I pray every night, read the Bible," The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, November 27, 2010
*The plumb line for heresy and orthodoxy is given by cult expert Bob Larson who says: The basic fault of cults is that they demote God, devalue Christ, deify man, deny sin and denigrate scripture. -- New Age Bible Versions, G. A. Riplinger, pg 16
Friday, December 03, 2010
Carmel Disaster: Fire Claims 41 Lives, Consumes Northern Israel
Friday, December 3, 2010
Shabbat Shalom,
Please pray for the Jews of Israel to come back to the Almighty God of their Fathers.
This wildfire in Israel is so reminiscent of the wildfires that burned through California in 2007 and 2008, which I am convinced were allowed by God as a judgment against the horrendous sins being committed in that state, not only by the pornographic and horror movie industries, but the many Laodicean health and wealth gospel churches there as well as the huge gay population and all the software developers creating immoral and violent video games for children.
http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2010/12/carmel-disaster-fire-claims-41-lives.html
Friday, December 3, 2010
Shabbat Shalom,
Please pray for the Jews of Israel to come back to the Almighty God of their Fathers.
This wildfire in Israel is so reminiscent of the wildfires that burned through California in 2007 and 2008, which I am convinced were allowed by God as a judgment against the horrendous sins being committed in that state, not only by the pornographic and horror movie industries, but the many Laodicean health and wealth gospel churches there as well as the huge gay population and all the software developers creating immoral and violent video games for children.
http://www.bibleprophecyblog.com/2010/12/carmel-disaster-fire-claims-41-lives.html
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Can It Be, by Ron Graham and Come Up Here, by Helena Lehman
Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
Even before I finished reading the article below entitled "Can It Be" by Ron Graham, I knew I would want to pass it on.
It confirms so much of what I have been feeling lately, that perhaps we will be in Heaven before the spring of 2011, and we may have a winter wedding in Heaven, and not a summer bash at all.
The heavenly and earthly signs are all loudly proclaiming that we are very, very close to going home to be with Yahshua. Hallelu-Yah for that, because I am truly weary of this world. Aren't you too?
Enjoy the article and please pass it on! Oh, and please share the link to my revised "Come Up Here!" article at the end of Ron's article.
I want as many people as possible to benefit from seeing all the heavenly proofs that the Rapture and Tribulation are coming soon. Just keep in mind that the article is big because of all the high-quality illustrations in it. As a result, it takes a long time to download on computers with slower internet connections.
Maranatha! Keep Looking Up!
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
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Can It Be
By Ron Graham
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/g154.html
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Prophecy “experts” have always had their divided end time’s opinions. Many have placed precise dates on when the Rapture of the Church will occur - and all have been disappointed. All those dates have come and gone, yet the Church is still here. The latest prophetic scenario is not so much focusing on an exact date, but on a period of time prior to a specific year, 2012.
Can it be that God has given us a more precise insight into when the Rapture will occur? Will it occur prior to the year 2012? We may all find that scenario both interesting as well as provocative. I’ve done a little research, well both my wife and I, and have found that just about every prediction of future cataclysmic occurrences culminate in 2012. Even little things that don’t mean much to the casual observer will, according to the reports we read, come to fulfillment by 2012. I’m not talking about the Mayan calendar coming to an end, but actual real time events that are to come to an end in that year. They are too numerous to mention, and to be honest we haven’t actually recorded them in a journal or anything like that. But we get a real kick every time something pops up claiming fulfillment in 2012, enough so that we both believe something of significance could be on the horizon for the year 2011.
Just about every end time’s biblical prophecy centers on the nation of Israel, once again becoming a fully established nation, and living in the land God gave them. Way back in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gives us a prophecy about the nation of Israel being scattered (Deuteronomy 4:25-27) and of their rebirth as a nation in the last days (Deuteronomy 4:30). The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos give us similar scenarios. Regarding the return of the Jews to their own land, this latest prophetic scenario is no different as it too centers on Israel.
The re-gathering of the Jewish people into the land God gave them is still going on today. In 1948 the Jewish people became, once again and for the final time, a sovereign nation, being fully recognized as such even by the United Nations. Today it’s hard to find a nation, other than Israel itself, who would admit publically that the Jewish people belong in the land which they now occupy. The latest prophetic rapture related scenario adds one generation to the year of Israel’s rebirth in 1948 (according to Psalm 90:10 and Isaiah 23:15 a generation is 70 years). Using this approach we’re catapulted into the future to the year 2018. Of course we must then subtract Daniel’s prophesied 70th week (7 years) and we can see that the year 2011 is definitely a focal year. Can it be?
To establish a foundation for this newest prophetic scenario for the timing of the rapture of the Church, we need to go back two thousand years to the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 24, we find Jesus in the midst of explaining the end time’s events to His Jewish disciples. Something many Bible commentators miss is the fact that our Lord never mentions His Church during this meeting. Might we conclude then that the Church will not see the unfolding of the events Jesus describes?
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36. This verse is constantly being misinterpreted as referring to the Rapture of Christ’s Church. The admonition that no man can know the day or the hour is actually referring to the day and the hour of His Second Advent. When Jesus physically returns and sets His feet on planet earth a second time it will be sometime after the tribulation, but no one knows just exactly when that will be (day or hour). The above verse has nothing whatsoever to do with the Rapture. Jesus is referring to those people who’ve rejected His free gift of salvation and who have entered into, and will be going through, the Tribulation. His Church is excluded from that event. How do I know? “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,”Mark 13:3. Jesus begins His discourse in this private meeting by answering a couple of questions put to Him by His disciples. He then begins to focus in on the difficulties the last days Jewish population will be faced with just prior to His return. Jesus’ focus is on the re-birth of Israel, as well as some interesting signs that will be prevalent in the last days. “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” Matthew 24:34. “This generation” being the generation of Jews who would witness the rebirth of their own nation, Israel. This would mark the beginning of the last days.
In verse 15 of Matthew 24, Jesus refers to the prophet Daniel and more specifically to an event (the Abomination of Desolation) which will be the catalyst that shifts somewhat normal times into what Jesus refers to as the Great Tribulation which will be filled with God’s wrath. But the 70th week that Daniel speaks about will actually begin 3 ½ years prior to the tribulation (Daniel 12:7). By the time the Abomination of Desolation occurs in the rebuilt Temple in the Holy of Holies, the Church will have been gone for some time.
Those who don’t believe in the Rapture are not anticipating Christ’s Second Advent. It’s a given that most Christian denominations, as well as many non-denominations, ignore or misinterpret the verses that clearly state a future Rapture of Christ’s Church. Therefore there is no urgency in their pulpit messages. Jesus’ Second Advent has always been looked at as something that will occur, but at some time far removed from the here and now.
So let’s all just calm down, relax, let life be what it is, right?“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4. Most Christians don’t see the end times events unfolding because they just don’t believe God and His end times explanations. Erroneous teachings have had a severe affect on the Church.
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37-39. These verses are very important to all who would read them and understand them. They paint a vivid picture of apathy and ignorance. Many in the Church today are just as clueless as those who perished during the flood of Noah. They will not heed this clear warning from the Creator of the universe. Although the focus is on the last days Jews, they must give the rest of us pause when we realize that Jesus knew that in the last days not many would be taking His word seriously, analogous to the antediluvian period.
Right now anyone who picks up a newspaper, or listens to the nightly news reports, or reads online news sources can be fully assured that the birth pangs which Jesus spoke about in the discourse to His disciples are upon us. This tells us the Church’s earthly duration is coming to an end, and soon. Have you considered how birth pangs actually work?
Many Bible commentators of years past didn’t believe in the prophecy of the restoration of the nation of Israel, they just couldn’t see it happening. Thus they couldn’t see the birth pangs that would follow shortly after Israel’s rebirth. They simply wrote off all prophecy as having already been fulfilled. Sadly, many still don’t see it and continue to dismiss it as lunacy as they teach others to do the same.
There is very little thought given today for tomorrow. “The future is what it is” is a quote from an old movie I watched recently. That’s a somewhat true statement, but the future is fully known by God, and God alone. Believers “in Christ” must rely on His word as a focus for their lives both now and for the future. In the minds of many Christians today the rapture of Christ’s Church is an erroneous interpretation of scripture. Since they’re not looking for signs indicating the lateness of the hour, witnessing becomes a casual, almost wasteful expenditure of energy.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42. Even though I’m placing scripture verses in this commentary that clearly refer to the Jews of the last days and not Christ’s Church, today’s Christian are not excluded from heeding Christ’s warnings. Since the signs are obvious – easily recognizable and very near on the horizon – the shortness of the hour becomes paramount. As Christ’s followers we should all be encouraged, excited, and working.
God is at the controls and He is fully aware of the events which are occurring here on His earth. Satan too, being aware of end times signs, is in full military mode pushing to corrupt the masses and to defile the works of God. God’s word is true and we must study it more than just read it. Be assured He will give you understanding. Those of us who are in full anticipation of the coming events should also be fully entrenched in our determination to comply with Jesus’ command of spreading the Gospel.
Most Bible commentators who interpret the scriptures correctly understand that the Rapture of Christ’s Church is imminent. Whether the Rapture occurs today or in the future it is near, even at the door. We’re given God’s word on that and we are expected to believe it no matter what the naysayers believe and promote to the contrary. When God tells us that certain things are going to come to pass and then they do that’s enough proof that He means what He says. Hundreds of biblical prophecies have been fulfilled and so will the Rapture of His Church.
Proclaiming the message of the cross, at minimum as far as our little part of this world extends, means not one of our friends or family members should be ignorant of the Gospel of Christ. Even though time is running out for the Church here on earth we’re obviously still here and fully capable of spreading His Gospel and possibly making a difference in someone else’s life.
Consensus is that the year 2011 is shaping up to be quite significant for “in Christ” believers. Can it be that what we are seeing is a window opening up for the Rapture to occur? We shall all see. But one thing is sure, those who are lost cannot see.
My brothers and sisters, until the end comes we have our marching orders. Will we cower in a corner while we wait for the rapture, or boldly step up and proclaim the truth of the Gospel to a perishing world? You all know what you’re supposed to be doing – go do it.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
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FULLY REVISED: Come Up Here and Come Away! - Clues to the Timing of the Rapture -
This heavily illustrated, full-color, 35-page revised article features plenty of all-new written material and illustrations. Therefore people who have read the first and second edition should read this version from the beginning. In this article, Helena shows that the First Rapture is tied to the Feast of Shavuot or Pentecost. This article also shows evidence that there may be a Second Rapture in the middle of the Tribulation that is tied to the Feast of Trumpets. In addition, Helena points to many powerful Signs in the Heavens, thereby doing just as Yahshua warned His disciples to do when His coming drew near. These signs include the three consecutive Solar Eclipses on the 1st of AV in 2008, 2009, and 2010, the three Jupiter-Uranus Conjunctions of 2010 and 2011, the three Lunar Eclipses targeting the signs of Taurus and Scorpio in 2010 and 2011, and a few other major heavenly End Time signs that conclusively show that the Tribulation is fast approaching:
http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/index.html#Maranatha
I pray that the revised article will be a big blessing to all my brothers and sisters in Yahshua around the world and will help you all to feel confident that the Tribulation is imminent and the Rapture can’t be far off either.
In the meantime, let’s all praise our heavenly Father Yahweh that His Son Yahshua is coming to rescue His Bride from the Earth very, very soon!
Blessings to you all, Maranatha, and Happy Chanukah again!
Your Sister in Yahshua,
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
Even before I finished reading the article below entitled "Can It Be" by Ron Graham, I knew I would want to pass it on.
It confirms so much of what I have been feeling lately, that perhaps we will be in Heaven before the spring of 2011, and we may have a winter wedding in Heaven, and not a summer bash at all.
The heavenly and earthly signs are all loudly proclaiming that we are very, very close to going home to be with Yahshua. Hallelu-Yah for that, because I am truly weary of this world. Aren't you too?
Enjoy the article and please pass it on! Oh, and please share the link to my revised "Come Up Here!" article at the end of Ron's article.
I want as many people as possible to benefit from seeing all the heavenly proofs that the Rapture and Tribulation are coming soon. Just keep in mind that the article is big because of all the high-quality illustrations in it. As a result, it takes a long time to download on computers with slower internet connections.
Maranatha! Keep Looking Up!
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
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Can It Be
By Ron Graham
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/g154.html
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Prophecy “experts” have always had their divided end time’s opinions. Many have placed precise dates on when the Rapture of the Church will occur - and all have been disappointed. All those dates have come and gone, yet the Church is still here. The latest prophetic scenario is not so much focusing on an exact date, but on a period of time prior to a specific year, 2012.
Can it be that God has given us a more precise insight into when the Rapture will occur? Will it occur prior to the year 2012? We may all find that scenario both interesting as well as provocative. I’ve done a little research, well both my wife and I, and have found that just about every prediction of future cataclysmic occurrences culminate in 2012. Even little things that don’t mean much to the casual observer will, according to the reports we read, come to fulfillment by 2012. I’m not talking about the Mayan calendar coming to an end, but actual real time events that are to come to an end in that year. They are too numerous to mention, and to be honest we haven’t actually recorded them in a journal or anything like that. But we get a real kick every time something pops up claiming fulfillment in 2012, enough so that we both believe something of significance could be on the horizon for the year 2011.
Just about every end time’s biblical prophecy centers on the nation of Israel, once again becoming a fully established nation, and living in the land God gave them. Way back in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gives us a prophecy about the nation of Israel being scattered (Deuteronomy 4:25-27) and of their rebirth as a nation in the last days (Deuteronomy 4:30). The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos give us similar scenarios. Regarding the return of the Jews to their own land, this latest prophetic scenario is no different as it too centers on Israel.
The re-gathering of the Jewish people into the land God gave them is still going on today. In 1948 the Jewish people became, once again and for the final time, a sovereign nation, being fully recognized as such even by the United Nations. Today it’s hard to find a nation, other than Israel itself, who would admit publically that the Jewish people belong in the land which they now occupy. The latest prophetic rapture related scenario adds one generation to the year of Israel’s rebirth in 1948 (according to Psalm 90:10 and Isaiah 23:15 a generation is 70 years). Using this approach we’re catapulted into the future to the year 2018. Of course we must then subtract Daniel’s prophesied 70th week (7 years) and we can see that the year 2011 is definitely a focal year. Can it be?
To establish a foundation for this newest prophetic scenario for the timing of the rapture of the Church, we need to go back two thousand years to the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 24, we find Jesus in the midst of explaining the end time’s events to His Jewish disciples. Something many Bible commentators miss is the fact that our Lord never mentions His Church during this meeting. Might we conclude then that the Church will not see the unfolding of the events Jesus describes?
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36. This verse is constantly being misinterpreted as referring to the Rapture of Christ’s Church. The admonition that no man can know the day or the hour is actually referring to the day and the hour of His Second Advent. When Jesus physically returns and sets His feet on planet earth a second time it will be sometime after the tribulation, but no one knows just exactly when that will be (day or hour). The above verse has nothing whatsoever to do with the Rapture. Jesus is referring to those people who’ve rejected His free gift of salvation and who have entered into, and will be going through, the Tribulation. His Church is excluded from that event. How do I know? “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,”Mark 13:3. Jesus begins His discourse in this private meeting by answering a couple of questions put to Him by His disciples. He then begins to focus in on the difficulties the last days Jewish population will be faced with just prior to His return. Jesus’ focus is on the re-birth of Israel, as well as some interesting signs that will be prevalent in the last days. “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” Matthew 24:34. “This generation” being the generation of Jews who would witness the rebirth of their own nation, Israel. This would mark the beginning of the last days.
In verse 15 of Matthew 24, Jesus refers to the prophet Daniel and more specifically to an event (the Abomination of Desolation) which will be the catalyst that shifts somewhat normal times into what Jesus refers to as the Great Tribulation which will be filled with God’s wrath. But the 70th week that Daniel speaks about will actually begin 3 ½ years prior to the tribulation (Daniel 12:7). By the time the Abomination of Desolation occurs in the rebuilt Temple in the Holy of Holies, the Church will have been gone for some time.
Those who don’t believe in the Rapture are not anticipating Christ’s Second Advent. It’s a given that most Christian denominations, as well as many non-denominations, ignore or misinterpret the verses that clearly state a future Rapture of Christ’s Church. Therefore there is no urgency in their pulpit messages. Jesus’ Second Advent has always been looked at as something that will occur, but at some time far removed from the here and now.
So let’s all just calm down, relax, let life be what it is, right?“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4. Most Christians don’t see the end times events unfolding because they just don’t believe God and His end times explanations. Erroneous teachings have had a severe affect on the Church.
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37-39. These verses are very important to all who would read them and understand them. They paint a vivid picture of apathy and ignorance. Many in the Church today are just as clueless as those who perished during the flood of Noah. They will not heed this clear warning from the Creator of the universe. Although the focus is on the last days Jews, they must give the rest of us pause when we realize that Jesus knew that in the last days not many would be taking His word seriously, analogous to the antediluvian period.
Right now anyone who picks up a newspaper, or listens to the nightly news reports, or reads online news sources can be fully assured that the birth pangs which Jesus spoke about in the discourse to His disciples are upon us. This tells us the Church’s earthly duration is coming to an end, and soon. Have you considered how birth pangs actually work?
Many Bible commentators of years past didn’t believe in the prophecy of the restoration of the nation of Israel, they just couldn’t see it happening. Thus they couldn’t see the birth pangs that would follow shortly after Israel’s rebirth. They simply wrote off all prophecy as having already been fulfilled. Sadly, many still don’t see it and continue to dismiss it as lunacy as they teach others to do the same.
There is very little thought given today for tomorrow. “The future is what it is” is a quote from an old movie I watched recently. That’s a somewhat true statement, but the future is fully known by God, and God alone. Believers “in Christ” must rely on His word as a focus for their lives both now and for the future. In the minds of many Christians today the rapture of Christ’s Church is an erroneous interpretation of scripture. Since they’re not looking for signs indicating the lateness of the hour, witnessing becomes a casual, almost wasteful expenditure of energy.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42. Even though I’m placing scripture verses in this commentary that clearly refer to the Jews of the last days and not Christ’s Church, today’s Christian are not excluded from heeding Christ’s warnings. Since the signs are obvious – easily recognizable and very near on the horizon – the shortness of the hour becomes paramount. As Christ’s followers we should all be encouraged, excited, and working.
God is at the controls and He is fully aware of the events which are occurring here on His earth. Satan too, being aware of end times signs, is in full military mode pushing to corrupt the masses and to defile the works of God. God’s word is true and we must study it more than just read it. Be assured He will give you understanding. Those of us who are in full anticipation of the coming events should also be fully entrenched in our determination to comply with Jesus’ command of spreading the Gospel.
Most Bible commentators who interpret the scriptures correctly understand that the Rapture of Christ’s Church is imminent. Whether the Rapture occurs today or in the future it is near, even at the door. We’re given God’s word on that and we are expected to believe it no matter what the naysayers believe and promote to the contrary. When God tells us that certain things are going to come to pass and then they do that’s enough proof that He means what He says. Hundreds of biblical prophecies have been fulfilled and so will the Rapture of His Church.
Proclaiming the message of the cross, at minimum as far as our little part of this world extends, means not one of our friends or family members should be ignorant of the Gospel of Christ. Even though time is running out for the Church here on earth we’re obviously still here and fully capable of spreading His Gospel and possibly making a difference in someone else’s life.
Consensus is that the year 2011 is shaping up to be quite significant for “in Christ” believers. Can it be that what we are seeing is a window opening up for the Rapture to occur? We shall all see. But one thing is sure, those who are lost cannot see.
My brothers and sisters, until the end comes we have our marching orders. Will we cower in a corner while we wait for the rapture, or boldly step up and proclaim the truth of the Gospel to a perishing world? You all know what you’re supposed to be doing – go do it.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
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FULLY REVISED: Come Up Here and Come Away! - Clues to the Timing of the Rapture -
This heavily illustrated, full-color, 35-page revised article features plenty of all-new written material and illustrations. Therefore people who have read the first and second edition should read this version from the beginning. In this article, Helena shows that the First Rapture is tied to the Feast of Shavuot or Pentecost. This article also shows evidence that there may be a Second Rapture in the middle of the Tribulation that is tied to the Feast of Trumpets. In addition, Helena points to many powerful Signs in the Heavens, thereby doing just as Yahshua warned His disciples to do when His coming drew near. These signs include the three consecutive Solar Eclipses on the 1st of AV in 2008, 2009, and 2010, the three Jupiter-Uranus Conjunctions of 2010 and 2011, the three Lunar Eclipses targeting the signs of Taurus and Scorpio in 2010 and 2011, and a few other major heavenly End Time signs that conclusively show that the Tribulation is fast approaching:
http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/index.html#Maranatha
I pray that the revised article will be a big blessing to all my brothers and sisters in Yahshua around the world and will help you all to feel confident that the Tribulation is imminent and the Rapture can’t be far off either.
In the meantime, let’s all praise our heavenly Father Yahweh that His Son Yahshua is coming to rescue His Bride from the Earth very, very soon!
Blessings to you all, Maranatha, and Happy Chanukah again!
Your Sister in Yahshua,
Helena Lehman
http://pillar-of-enoch.com
Re: Major Revisions to The Language of God in Prophecy
PS: I have just been made aware that the page numbers given for some of the illustrations in my "Come Up Here" article were not updated to reflect the current article length. I will be updating the article one more time to fix this problem sometime today. Sorry if this causes anyone any inconvenience.
PS: I have just been made aware that the page numbers given for some of the illustrations in my "Come Up Here" article were not updated to reflect the current article length. I will be updating the article one more time to fix this problem sometime today. Sorry if this causes anyone any inconvenience.
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