"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." John 20:1
The gospels of Mark and Luke read that Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, "very early in the morning". The gospel of Matthew records, "as it began to dawn", the women arrived. We can deduce from all of the gospels that Jesus did not rise from the dead at sunrise. So, please tell me Christian, why are you engaging in this practice with no biblical support? If you truly want to observe the time that Jesus rose from the dead I believe it would be more appropriate to assemble during the darkest hour of the night. Symbolically, it was the darkness that Christ conquered. So, where does this sunrise service custom come from? There is no mention of it in early Christianity.
The sunrise service comes from sun worship most notably Baal, the sun god. In ancient cultures false pagan gods from a conquering empire would be imposed upon or sometimes freely accepted by the defeated foe. Most all of the ancient cultures worshiped celestial bodies that ruled the heavens being the sun, representing the male deity Baal in Babylon and Assyria eventually found its way into Canaan. The Persian sun god was Mithras which we find so much imagery in the Roman Catholic Church. The female counterpart to Baal, Ishtar or Ashtoreth represented the moon. The Babylonian moon goddess Ishtar became the Assyrian and Canaanite Ashtoreth. The crescent moon above the head of the pagan idol of Ashtoreth is the same crescent moon found within Islam. The Islamic, Allah, is an Arabian male expression of this same moon goddess and thus we find the crescent moon of Islam comes from the same origins as the others. These false pagan sun and moon gods have their origins in ancient Babylon during the rebellion of Nimrod. The Babylonian and Canaanite practices involved in the cult of Ashtoreth and Baal involved transvestite orgies, male temple prostitutes dressed as women and appeasement of these false gods often involved sacrificing infants by burning them alive (2 Kings 21:1-9)
Ishtar is still profoundly influencing well intended people today in the form of Easter. Easter is the Teutonic adaptation of Ishtar. Easter and Ishtar are both the female fertility goddess of Spring. The date of Easter is based upon the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of Spring. Do you see the interplay here of the sun and moon with the observance of Easter? Whenever Baal is worshiped then Ashtoreth is involved and vice versa. The pagan celebration of Easter is the perfect acknowledgement of both false deities. The date of the sunrise observance is based upon the lunar calendar. The scriptures and Christian antiquity do not support any of this. Passover is a fixed date on the Jewish calendar of Nissan 14(Exodus 12:1-6). Easter is not a fixed date because its based upon the pagan observance of the moon cycle.
I admonish you as Paul would admonish you: "Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Ephesians 5:7-14
A Voice Crying
"Be Ye Separate Saith the Lord" 2 Corinthians 6:17
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
The Lamb has Been Slain
"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23:44-46
As I write this post it is about the ninth hour of the day in the Eastern part of the United States. A day in ancient times was marked differently than today. A new day for us begins just after midnight. In antiquity of the first century the day began at 6:00AM. The ninth hour would be 3:00PM for us. The fact that all four gospels mention the exact time of death is significant. John 19:14 states that the preparation for the Passover began at the 6th hour(noon). This is when the sky turned dark. And the sky remained dark until the ninth hour at which time just prior to Christ giving up the ghost the veil in the temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies was split in two. This veil was like a woven rug 30 feet high, 60 feet wide and 4 inches thick.
Over the years I have read from different commentators that the ninth hour was the traditional time when the priests in the temple would slay the Passover lamb. Imagine the bewilderment that occurred at the temple that day when the veil was torn in two at the very hour of sacrifice. I'm sure it created quite a buzz down at the temple. Jews in the court yard were probably inquiring, "Hey, what was that sound in the temple?". While the priests were inspecting this spectacle in the temple they may have heard the final Passover Lamb cry out in the distant, "It Is Finished!".
The scriptures tell us over and over again that Jesus is the Passover Lamb. John 1 refers to Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Paul told the Corinthians that Christ is our Passover. And in the book of the Revelation the only one worthy to open the book of life was the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world. Pay attention Christian. Jesus is the Passover Lamb and Passover has absolutely NOTHING to do with Easter. You blaspheme holy God when you invoke the name of a false pagan god in lieu of the finished work of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is NOT synonymous with Easter. This is why Godless wicked people have no problem celebrating Easter. You say, yes but they have Easter bunnies and Easter eggs and that has nothing to do with the resurrection. You are absolutely correct. Easter bunnies and Easter eggs ARE a part of Easter and have nothing to do with Christ so stop participating in this vile pagan ritual. You violate the First Commandment when you do participate. For a more in depth look at the Easter Heresy read this: http://acryinthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/03/easter-heresy.html
It's Friday but Sunday's Coming..........
As I write this post it is about the ninth hour of the day in the Eastern part of the United States. A day in ancient times was marked differently than today. A new day for us begins just after midnight. In antiquity of the first century the day began at 6:00AM. The ninth hour would be 3:00PM for us. The fact that all four gospels mention the exact time of death is significant. John 19:14 states that the preparation for the Passover began at the 6th hour(noon). This is when the sky turned dark. And the sky remained dark until the ninth hour at which time just prior to Christ giving up the ghost the veil in the temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies was split in two. This veil was like a woven rug 30 feet high, 60 feet wide and 4 inches thick.
Over the years I have read from different commentators that the ninth hour was the traditional time when the priests in the temple would slay the Passover lamb. Imagine the bewilderment that occurred at the temple that day when the veil was torn in two at the very hour of sacrifice. I'm sure it created quite a buzz down at the temple. Jews in the court yard were probably inquiring, "Hey, what was that sound in the temple?". While the priests were inspecting this spectacle in the temple they may have heard the final Passover Lamb cry out in the distant, "It Is Finished!".
The scriptures tell us over and over again that Jesus is the Passover Lamb. John 1 refers to Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Paul told the Corinthians that Christ is our Passover. And in the book of the Revelation the only one worthy to open the book of life was the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world. Pay attention Christian. Jesus is the Passover Lamb and Passover has absolutely NOTHING to do with Easter. You blaspheme holy God when you invoke the name of a false pagan god in lieu of the finished work of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is NOT synonymous with Easter. This is why Godless wicked people have no problem celebrating Easter. You say, yes but they have Easter bunnies and Easter eggs and that has nothing to do with the resurrection. You are absolutely correct. Easter bunnies and Easter eggs ARE a part of Easter and have nothing to do with Christ so stop participating in this vile pagan ritual. You violate the First Commandment when you do participate. For a more in depth look at the Easter Heresy read this: http://acryinthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/03/easter-heresy.html
It's Friday but Sunday's Coming..........
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
Cleansing Fountain
Shaped note singing is an early American form of singing that was created for congregational singing without musical instruments. The notes were shaped to make it easy for non-musical people to sing and follow along. The first line of the song is always singing the musical scale; fa, lo, sa.... Make sure to listen passed this part. This robust singing is congregation singing as it should be.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
The Age of Nimrod
I have seen these, "Pass it On" billboard signs for years and read them with reservation. There always seems to be an underlying humanistic, anti-God, anti-Christ agenda and, BINGO, it does not get more blatant than this billboard. I spotted this one 2 days ago traveling down I-95.
On the surface these "Pass it On" messages seem inspiring but there is clearly a globalist agenda here. I have written before that we are in the age of Nimrod and this is a perfect example of it. There is an asserted agenda of the globalist elite to create an ethnically neutral population. They think this will eliminate poor race relations which the globalist elite has created in the first place. Its the same lame argument that the civil rights leaders of the 60's used by claiming that poverty drives the crime rate up among black communities. Crime is a choice. And we see this evident among "professional" black athletes, politicians and even black ministers. More money will not address the sin problem of the heart but only make it worse. Look at Tiger Woods. He is the wealthiest person of color in professional sports yet his wealth and fame did not keep him from committing immoral and even criminal behavior. This story can repeated countless numbers of times among black athletes. More money does not stop their bad behavior. Creating an ethnically neutral person will not eliminate cultural discrimination. In fact, I believe it will make it worse.
God has the final word on all of this:
"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." Genesis 11
"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" Acts 17:26
All ethnicities came from one blood, Adam, but because of the wickedness of mans heart which is the desire to be a god, God Almighty determined to separate people by ethnicity. Man's determination to eliminate these ethnic distinctions coincides with the advancement of technology and indicates the impending judgement of God upon this world.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Suffering Saints
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." I Peter 4:1-2
Peter directs the Christian to arm himself with the same mindset of suffering that Christ suffered. If we are to be "Christ like" does that not mean it is God's will that suffering may be a part of this new life? This concept of the suffering saint is completely contrary to the prosperity, feel good ministers of today. Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland would never accept the biblical teaching of a suffering saint. Its antithetical to their heretical humanistic philosophies.
The suffering saint is also contrary to the false teaching of a pre-trib rapture that teaches Christians will be spared the great tribulation. Peter said that suffering is not something strange to the Christian but to be expected;
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." I Peter 4:12-13
Suffering may be in God's will for your life and by faith we must not question it.
"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." I Peter 4:19
One may counter this teaching of the suffering saint by stating Peter was writing to Christians who would suffer under the Romans. But, the other New Testament writers had much to say about suffering and the benefit this brings to the Christian. Suffering causes us to turn the gaze of our soul heavenward. Suffering can wean us from the love of this world as it states in verse 4:2. Paul told us in Romans 5 to "glory in tribulation" and James tells us to "count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations" because the trying of our faith brings forth patience. And Peter tells us that the trying of our faith is more precious than gold.
While prophecy in scripture may address a future event much prophecy also addresses immediate situations. Thus prophecy often contains a dual meaning in its foretelling. The following verses contain timeless, universal principles of the suffering saints down through the ages to the present and beyond that cannot be repudiated. Suffering is only for this short time we are on this earth. But the glory that will be revealed in us in heaven is for eternity.
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
I Peter 5:6-11
Peter directs the Christian to arm himself with the same mindset of suffering that Christ suffered. If we are to be "Christ like" does that not mean it is God's will that suffering may be a part of this new life? This concept of the suffering saint is completely contrary to the prosperity, feel good ministers of today. Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland would never accept the biblical teaching of a suffering saint. Its antithetical to their heretical humanistic philosophies.
The suffering saint is also contrary to the false teaching of a pre-trib rapture that teaches Christians will be spared the great tribulation. Peter said that suffering is not something strange to the Christian but to be expected;
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." I Peter 4:12-13
Suffering may be in God's will for your life and by faith we must not question it.
"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." I Peter 4:19
One may counter this teaching of the suffering saint by stating Peter was writing to Christians who would suffer under the Romans. But, the other New Testament writers had much to say about suffering and the benefit this brings to the Christian. Suffering causes us to turn the gaze of our soul heavenward. Suffering can wean us from the love of this world as it states in verse 4:2. Paul told us in Romans 5 to "glory in tribulation" and James tells us to "count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations" because the trying of our faith brings forth patience. And Peter tells us that the trying of our faith is more precious than gold.
While prophecy in scripture may address a future event much prophecy also addresses immediate situations. Thus prophecy often contains a dual meaning in its foretelling. The following verses contain timeless, universal principles of the suffering saints down through the ages to the present and beyond that cannot be repudiated. Suffering is only for this short time we are on this earth. But the glory that will be revealed in us in heaven is for eternity.
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
I Peter 5:6-11
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Fear Vs. Afraid
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction". Proverbs 1:7
The quality of Godly fear carries with it a transforming effect. Those who fear the Lord also trust the Lord and expect to hear from heaven. Those who are afraid of God avoid Him and choose to remain the master of their domain without regard for God. Adam was hiding in the garden because he was afraid. If he truly feared the Lord he would have not eaten of the forbidden fruit. At the heart of sin is mans desire to rule himself instead of God.
Those who fear the Lord live dynamic or very stable Christian lives. They have a positive spiritual impact on those around them. I'm not referring to someone who coaches little league or works at a soup kitchen. I'm suggesting someone who knows how to pray through to heaven, intercede for others and they live their lives with an expectation that God is at work in their personal life and those they interact with on a daily basis. When is the last time you attended church and went with a sense of expectancy that God was going to meet with the congregation that day? Jesus said, "you have not because you ask not". This idea certainly goes to expectancy of God meeting with His children. "Where two or more are gathered together in my name I will be in the midst". Sadly the congregation of the Lord does not want to acknowledge this presence of the Lord because the Holy Spirit searches the depths of men's souls and who on earth likes having the secrets of their heart probed?
Christians today are content with being afraid of God and thus they attempt to hide from Him in the foliage of their religiosity and good appearance. Their spiritual lives are reduced to some inspirational substitute that leaves their souls trite with shallow drivel. Come out from the bushes with Adam and abandon yourself before the sovereign searching Spirit of God.
Christians desperately need a stirring of the soul. Change cannot happen without some discomfort. The new birth can be a painful thing but joy comes in the morning. We must die with Christ in order to know new life in Christ. The body of Christ does not have revival because it does not seek it. Jesus told the Laodiceans, "I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire". Christ is coming back for a spotless church and it will be purified by fire. Are you ready for the fire?
Prepare yourselves. Pour out your heart to Him and seek His will alone, not your own. He is coming to sift the tares from the wheat and separate the goats from the sheep. Are you in the right camp or the popular camp?
The quality of Godly fear carries with it a transforming effect. Those who fear the Lord also trust the Lord and expect to hear from heaven. Those who are afraid of God avoid Him and choose to remain the master of their domain without regard for God. Adam was hiding in the garden because he was afraid. If he truly feared the Lord he would have not eaten of the forbidden fruit. At the heart of sin is mans desire to rule himself instead of God.
Those who fear the Lord live dynamic or very stable Christian lives. They have a positive spiritual impact on those around them. I'm not referring to someone who coaches little league or works at a soup kitchen. I'm suggesting someone who knows how to pray through to heaven, intercede for others and they live their lives with an expectation that God is at work in their personal life and those they interact with on a daily basis. When is the last time you attended church and went with a sense of expectancy that God was going to meet with the congregation that day? Jesus said, "you have not because you ask not". This idea certainly goes to expectancy of God meeting with His children. "Where two or more are gathered together in my name I will be in the midst". Sadly the congregation of the Lord does not want to acknowledge this presence of the Lord because the Holy Spirit searches the depths of men's souls and who on earth likes having the secrets of their heart probed?
Christians today are content with being afraid of God and thus they attempt to hide from Him in the foliage of their religiosity and good appearance. Their spiritual lives are reduced to some inspirational substitute that leaves their souls trite with shallow drivel. Come out from the bushes with Adam and abandon yourself before the sovereign searching Spirit of God.
Christians desperately need a stirring of the soul. Change cannot happen without some discomfort. The new birth can be a painful thing but joy comes in the morning. We must die with Christ in order to know new life in Christ. The body of Christ does not have revival because it does not seek it. Jesus told the Laodiceans, "I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire". Christ is coming back for a spotless church and it will be purified by fire. Are you ready for the fire?
Prepare yourselves. Pour out your heart to Him and seek His will alone, not your own. He is coming to sift the tares from the wheat and separate the goats from the sheep. Are you in the right camp or the popular camp?
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