False Christs, Prophets, and Teachers Part II: Pagan Holidays

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;…. ”(I Timothy 4:1-2)

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”(Matthew 15:19)

And it is so…

CHRISTMAS
Jesus himself, during the PASSOVER FEAST, told his Disciples to remember his DEATH, not his BIRTHDAY!

“Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover… And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:14-20)

Free internet stock photo of a decorated Christmas Tree with stockings, and gifts near a fireplace where the fictional Santa Claus supposed to come down the chimney.

“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”(Cor 11.17–26)

Nevertheless, people continue to tear down trees and deck them with silver and gold, and try to associate it with the WORSHIP of the ONE TRUE GOD. Just as people committing this idolatrous practice did in biblical times.

As it is written…

“Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.” (Jeremiah 10:1-8)

The Idolatrous Practice of Christmas is not godly!

Pagan rituals of old were incorporated into the true doctrine of Christ, by false prophets, teachers, and preachers, after his death and resurrection.

And people aren’t being mindul just as it was foretold by the true followers of Jesus…

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

EASTER
Easter is also strictly a Pagan Holiday!

The rituals associated with this idolatrous pagan practice of old, was also incorporated into the true doctrine of Christ, by false teachers and preachers after his death and resurrection.

What has Bunny Rabbits, Colored Eggs in baskets, and egg hunts, have to do with Jesus PERIOD!!!

There is only one mention of the word “Easter” anywhere in the Holy Scriptures, which states:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:1- 4)

Notice that the Jews were keeping the “Days of Unleavened Bread,” while Easter, the pagan holiday kept by King Herod and others was going on as well.

Washingtontimes.com photo of an Easter Bunny with color eggs

People mistakenly believe that both holidays mention in Acts 12 were the same.

However they forget that Jesus was a Jew, along with his hand-picked chosen disciples, even those mentioned here, kept the Jewish Holy Days that the ONE TRUE GOD gave them, to REMEMBER, WORSHIP and HONOR him, which instructions had no association with giving gifts to one another, trees, misletoes and kissing under them, Santa Claus, nor Reindeers, Bunny Rabbits, Eggs, Egg hunts, and the songs attached to them, which people claimed to reverence Jesus through the Christmas Holiday, Easter, and the like.

As it is written…

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this [place]: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day [shall be] a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, [This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year… And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:”(Exodus 13:1-10, 14)

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.” (Deuteronomy 16:1-22)

Bible Feasts Calendar 2010-2014
http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/biblefeastscal.htm

Through his HOLY PROPHETS, the LORD GOD instructs those who has a ear to listen and hear him, in order to know who they are following, before they obey their instructions, so they won’t be deceived about anything he said.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world… he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (I John 4: 1;6)

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;” (1 Thessalonians 5:12)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” ( 2 Timothy 2:15-16)

Yet people don’t want to STUDY, to learn the TRUTH, which the LORD Jesus proclaimed before his crucifixion while praying to his FATHER in HEAVEN “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

And in the end, they will be CONNED, by the Devil, the fallen angel of God, also known as Satan, and the Dragon, who is the god of this world, who has blinded the unbelieving.

As it is written…

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)

The business industry and many heads of religious institutions are taking total advantage of those not studying the word of GOD. Many of these GREEDY, DECEIVED, and DECEITFUL people are racking up royally on the ignorant, who are oblivious to the real meaning of these pagan practices, making millions of dollars, and spending millions to keep up these lies.

As it is written…

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Food for Thought
Beware of ministers, and preachers, teaching for truth the doctrine of devils, other than what Jesus and his handpicked Disciples taught.  For they are “Accursed.”

As it is written…

“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)…I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:1-12)

“ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:16-19)

A Nation Gone in the Way of Sodom and Gomorrah

“My people perish from a lack of knowledge, declares the Living Eternal LORD God maker of Heaven and Earth and everything above and beneath them, out from the Book of his Prophet Hosea 4: 6 found in his Holy Scriptures also known as the Holy Bible.

And so it is….

American philosopher George Santayana, (1863–1953), once said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This is so true. There are those who also don’t want to remember the past, and are doomed to repeat the bad historical accounts, making matters worse for themselves and others in the end.

For example, people here in America and in other nations proclaiming “In God We Trust,” have forgotten the historical account of the World-wide Flood, and of Sodom and Gomorrah, the ancient cities of old, whose people rebelled against the LORD God and were destroyed by fire and brimstone.

As it is written….

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD….The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth….And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (Genesis 6:5-8; 11-13; 17-22)

“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21)

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Genesis 19:24-25)

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished…” (2 Peter 2:6-9)

Upon reading the biblical account of the people living on planet earth before the World-wide Flood, and those living in the cities of Sodom & Gomorrha afterward. Our sins in America and in other professed nation’s proclaiming to believe in the One True Eternal God, have truly surpassed theirs by far.

The ways of people these days, are truly “ungodly,” which are intensifying and getting out-of-control.

Just check out the news accounts locally, nation-wide and around the world about the following increasing sinful acts:

Murders, vandalisms, robberies, thefts, burglaries, domestic violence, immoral sexual acts, including adultery, fornication, and inordinate affections by people with homosexual tendencies, lewd and lascivious behavior, rapes of innocent men, women, boys and girls, and even babies, have excelled across the globe over the past decade alone. Along with the escalating practices of political corruption, lying, stealing, idolatry, taking the name of the LORD God in vain, and breaking the Sabbath Day, which is suppose to be kept HOLY, according to God’s Ten Commandments. There is even an attempt to remove the Lords’ Ten Commandants out of the Courtrooms, and other places depicting American Justice.

Here is a link to where you can find the Ten Commandments written in Jewish, Hebrew, and English.
http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/the-ten-commandments.html
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People also are Attempting to change laws. Trying to stop God fearing people, like me, from obeying our Creator, by making it unlawful to openly PRAY in public in places such as schools.

Supreme Court Rulings on School Prayer
http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=2329&pge_prg_id=11336&pge_id=2450

Prayer in Schools Legal guidelines
http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/prayer-in-school.htm

Popular Misconceptions about Prayer in Public Schools
http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_pra8.htm

“Praying in Paris streets outlawed,” according to this report by the Telegraph on September 15, 2011 at:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8766169/Praying-in-Paris-streets-outlawed.html

“Police say prayer illegal on U.S. Supreme Court grounds,” according to this July 15, 2010 news release by the Alliance Defense Fund found here at:http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/4120?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

A report on a High School Atheist who Tried to Stop Prayer at his Graduation in May 2011 can be found here:http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/4120?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Legislators and other like-minded people around the globe, have also made it unlawful to Speak out against Sinful Acts, including Homosexuality, which the CREATOR God says is an “ABOMINATION.”

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”Leviticus 18:22)

“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32)

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

“[U.S. President Barack] Obama signs bill expanding hate protection to gays,” article by the Washington Post on October 29, 2009 can be found here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102804909.html

The author of this Los Angeles Times article wrote on October 9, 2009: “As the president said back in April, the hate-crimes bill takes on an important civil rights issue to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association,” he said.” http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/09/nation/na-hate-gays9

It doesn’t matter to me whether they take away my freedom of speech or not, because I will continue to be just like the Prophet Isaiah, when the LORD God Almighty commanded him to “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

In America, people even made a day okay to “Lie,” which was yesterday, April 1st also known as “April Fools Day.”
A lie is a lie still, including “a little White lie,”which the LORD God also hates and will punish people for.

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:27)

Behold the Day of the LORD cometh…

Woe unto us!!

For this time the Lord God promises to destroy the world as we know it with FIRE instead of another flood, as it is written by the Prophet Paul…

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 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. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”(2 Peter 3:1-12 )

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. hey shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? …And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” (Joel 2:1-11; 30-31)

Food for Thought
What happened with the Twin Towers in America, along with the terrorist acts from the militant enemies within our nation and throughout the world, was just the beginning of terrible and fearful things to come.

Thus saith the LORD God, Maker of Heaven, and Earth and everything therein and beneath them…

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

The Terrorists Within: Wayward & Unruly Children

These two young unintended victims of gang violence, were shot dead by stray bullets within eight days from each other, where they lived a few blocks from each other, in the high crime Chicago Englewood low-income neighborhood in March 2006. Photo by the blogger of this post

Children on planet earth have become extremely wayward, constantly turning away from what is right or proper, being willfully disobedient to their parents and having total disregard for human life, for authority figures, and the laws of the land.

There is an increasing number of unruly children, who are not submissive or conforming to rule. But are ungovernable; turbulent; intractable; refractory; and lawless.

It is written in the Holy Scriptures, by the prophet Isaiah, who was inspired to write the words of the Lord God Almighty, ( 2 Peter 1:21) Maker of Heaven and Earth and everything therein, that there would come a time when “children” would be “our oppressors” instead of outside forces from other countries. All because the men in authority of the nations called and blessed by our CREATOR, would fail to continue to lead the citizenry down the right path of life.

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3: 1-5).

Children have become, the terrorists within!

And so it is…..

National Statistics on Youth Violence
“Youth violence is a high-visibility, high-priority concern in every sector of U.S. society. No community, whether affluent or poor, urban, suburban, or rural, is immune from its devastating effects…Since 1993, when the epidemic peaked, youth violence has declined significantly nationwide… But the problem has not been resolved,” according to a 2001 report commissioned, by the former United States Surgeon General, on nation-wide youth violence found here: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/programs/yvp_research.htm

Youth rallying against gang shootings during a protest in the low-income Chicago Englewood community, after two young girls were shot and killed in March 2006. photo by blogger of this post

“Recent estimates predict that there are currently more than 16,000 active gangs in the United States, and gang members number close to 1 million individuals and are responsible for over 600,000 crimes per year,” according to the the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice Department’s March 1998 report on “Criminal Behavior of Gang Members and At-Risk Youths,” found at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/fs000190.pdf

“Homicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10–24 years in the United States. Violence is also a major cause of nonfatal injuries among youth. In 2009, a total of 650,843 young people aged 10–24 years were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries sustained from assaults. No state is immune to the devastating impact of youth violence,” according to the Centers fro Disease Control and Prevention at: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/youthviolence/stats_at-a_glance/index.html

White and Black males were among the highest number of those murdered at 18 years and over according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Uniform Crime Report on Homicides in 2010 found at: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl02.xls

2011 report on School Crime
“Of the 33 student, staff, and nonstudent school-associated violent deaths occurring between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, 25 were homicides, 5 were suicides, and 3 were legal interventions. From July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, there were 17 homicides and 1 suicide of school-age youth (ages 5-18) at school. In 2010, students ages 12-18 were victims of about 828,000 nonfatal victimizations at school,including 470,000 thefts and 359,000 violent victimizations, 91,400 of which were serious violent victimizations. In 2009, about 31 percent of students in grades 9-12 reported they had been in a physical fight at least one time during the previous 12 months anywhere, and 11 percent said they had been in a fight on school property during the previous 12 months,” according U.S. Department of Justice data at” http://bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=2295

Teen Dating Violence
“Unfortunately, teen dating violence—the type of intimate partner violence that occurs between two young people who are, or who were once in, an intimate relationship—is a serious problem in the United States. A national survey found that ten percent of teens, female and male, had been the victims of physical dating violence within the past year 2 and approximately 29 percent of adolescents reported being verbally or psychologically abused within the previous year,” according to federal government’s website data at: http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention
In an attempt to stop the increased youth violence, and prevent it from continuing to happen across America, President Obama established a national forum in October 2010, where people from diverse professions and perspectives come together up until 2014 “ to learn from each other about the crisis of youth and gang violence in the U.S and to build comprehensive solutions on the local and national levels,” according to the federal data found here: http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/preventing-youth-violence/about-national-forum

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics on national crime estimates from 1960 through the most recent year can be found here: http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/

Past and Current National News Reports on Youth Violence
“Multiple Teen Shootings Illustrates Growing Youth Violence,” abc24.com news report on January 17, 2012.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=national+news+reports+on+current+youth+violence+&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc24.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fstory%2FMultiple-Teen-Shootings-Illustrates-Growing-Youth%2FOkPWq2k_HUi2cwcxOYsd5Q.cspx&ei=WdV4T_-3KNGgtwezg5jTDg&usg=AFQjCNG_Wg8wnPfTsann4Rulzx2RT6xI5g

“More than half of the violent crimes in Memphis are committed by someone under the age of 24….In the last five years, crime in Memphis has dropped by more than 25 percent. But youth crimes are on the rise…” according to this Agust 29, 2011 abc24.com news report at: http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Memphis-Working-To-Fight-Youth-Violence/EG5XTYCCzEW63-XGCqaDsw.cspx

“Peer Pressure, Media Fuel Youth Violence” according to this abcnews.go.com report at: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116734&page=1#.T3jbb9WMRp8

“Are ‘get tough’ policies the best approach?” for youth violence. Find out from the author of this report at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/news/inc_CQresearcher.pdf

My news video production of the vigil for 16-year-old honor roll student Derrion Albert, who was stomped and beat to death with a wooden base part of a nearby railroad track by three or more Chicago youths on Sept. 24, 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eguMf1tip0&feature=plcp&context=C43e2244VDvjVQa1PpcFNsT3uiZ_yZduAAWGkmkI2vEdFRrINaFIk=

Past and Current World News Reports on Youth Violence
“British youths are ‘the most unpleasant and violent in the world‘”… according to a news report by the dailymail.co.uk on August 10, 2011. The author wrote “Anthony Daniels, a retired prison doctor and psychiatrist who has worked in some of the hardest-hit areas on the planet, said the British were now in great fear of their own arrogant, knife-wielding children.”
Read more at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024486/UK-RIOTS-2011-British-youths-unpleasant-violent-world.html

“Drugs ignored in youth violence guidelines” abc.net.au news report into youth violence in Australia on July 15, 2010, can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-15/drugs-ignored-in-youth-violence-guidelines/906018

“Youth violence on the rise: report” by the Sydney Morning Herald on July 16, 2010 at:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/youth-violence-on-the-rise-report-20100716-10dy0.html

“Drugs ignored in youth violence guidelines” abc.net.au news report into youth violence in Australia on July 15, 2010, can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-15/drugs-ignored-in-youth-violence-guidelines/906018

“Interpersonal violence is the third leading cause of death among people aged 10–29 years. Over 15 000 young Europeans are murdered each year, 4 out of 10 with knives,” according to the World Health Organization information on September 21, 2010 found here: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/disease-prevention/violence-and-injuries/news/news/2010/09/preventing-youth-violence

“Muslim Youth Violence in Danish Cities Continues for 6th Night; 43 Arrested,” according to this foxnews.com report on February 16, 2008. “The unrest spread across Denmark, with youths torching dozens of cars and buildings and lobbing rocks at police and firefighters in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Ringsted, Slagelse and other cities…Hoejer said most of those arrested were teenagers…the author wrote, which can be found here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330911,00.html

“Youth Violence Persists in Southern France,” according to this Washington Post Foreign Service report on November 14, 2005. “The violence, which has hit nearly every major city and town in France, has opened a nationwide debate over the inequities and discrimination in French society,” according to the author of the report found here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/13/AR2005111300824.html

Public officials, civic leaders, clergy, and community members protest gang and youth violence in the Chicago low-income Englewood community after two young girls got killed in March 2006.. Photo by the blogger of this post

Food for Thought
In this nation proclaiming “In GOD We Trust,” children are left to themselves becoming increasingly idle with little productive things to do, especially in poverty-stricken communities, as many of their working and non-working parents strive to provide for them.

These hardheaded minors of many colors, ethnicities, and income brackets, have been getting totally out of control ever since the self-professed wise elected public officials took away the parental rights to discipline children when needed, as our CREATOR instructed which states:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:15)
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13- 14)

“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Proverbs 19:18)

The LORD God our CREATOR instructed us to physically discipline disobedient children, specifically the ones who don’t listen to verbal reasoning, and when grounding and other forms of punishment doesn’t work. In order for the nation to be a peace and have an orderly society without crime and corruption. Remember, at some point the young do grow-up, and some end up ruling the country.

A word to the wise is sufficient straight from the mouth of the the most wisest man who ever lived…

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” -King Solomon (Proverbs 19:20)

Prophesied Intensifying Planetary Conditions – Part II: Increasing Famines

AP photo of a starving child in Africa.

Today’s focus is on the FAMINES, rapidly happening around the world at an alarming rate as the scientific data, government statistics, and media reports details below.

Jesus, the Christ, the Only BEGOTTEN Son of the LIVING GOD, who CREATED all things, foretold years ago before his crucifixion, that intensifying earthquakes, famines, droughts, and pestilences, would be SIGNS occurring before his return back to earth to reign FOREVER as “KING of kings, and LORD of lords.”

Below are his prophesies about those subjects found in the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures.

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:3 – 8)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of

Rankers.com photo of the Vietnamese famine of 1945

wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” (Mark 13:3 – 8)

“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” (Luke 21:7 – 11)

East Africa Emergency – Drought, Famine and Conflict-2/13/2012
Millions of people around the world continue to face starvation because of the increasingly severe famines and droughts bringing on increasing number of diseases, especially those in the East African nations of Somalia, Djibouti and Kenya, where “13 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,” according to UNICEF.
http://www.unicef.org.au/Donate/One-off-Donation/east-africa-drought-emergency-appeal-famine.aspx#

Rankers.com pic of great Chinese famine "Lasting three years from 1958 to 1961."

The author tiled this August 2, 2011 report, “Famine Ravages Somalia in a World Less Likely to Intervene.”
He wrote: “Soon, the rains will start pounding down, but before any crops will grow, disease will bloom. Malaria, cholera, typhoid and measles will sweep through immune-suppressed populations, aid agencies say, killing countless malnourished people.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/world/africa/famine-hits-somalia-in-world-less-likely-to-intervene.html?pagewanted=all

Drought and Famine Plague Horn of Africa
July 19, 2011
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/world/july-dec11/drought_07-19.html

Drought Spreads Across Continent
From the October 2002 issue of World Press Review (VOL. 49, No. 10)

Ranker.com photo of the Russian famine of 1601-03

http://worldpress.org/Africa/719.cfm

1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia

“The worst famine to hit the country in a century,” according to wikipedia.org.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983%E2%80%931985_famine_in_Ethiopia

Historical Famines and Droughts in the Soviet Union, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, North Korea, Finland, and Ireland.
The worst droughts and famines in history dating back several centuries chronicling some of the worst natural disasters on record.
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-worst-droughts-and-famines-in-history/drake-bird

An Incomplete List of World Famines between 441 BC and 2011 AD
“Between 108 BC and 1911 AD there were no fewer than 1,828 major famines in China, or one nearly every year in one or another province; however, the famines varied greatly in severity. There were 95 famines in Britain during the Middle Ages,” according to wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines

Rankers.com photo of the great Irish famine between 1845 and 1852

Rankers.com photo of the North Korean famine "started in the early 1990s and killed as many as 3.5 million by 1997."

Ranker.com photo of the Chinese drought of 1941.

Rankers.com photo of the Finnish famine of 1866-68

False Christs, Prophets, and Teachers Part 1: Cult leader Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda

Jesus the Christ, the Son of the LIVING GOD, CREATOR of ALL THINGS, warned his Disciples before his crucifixion, that there would be FALSE Christs and FALSE Prophets, coming in his name saying Jesus is LORD yet deceiving masses of people, and there would be some calling themselves Jesus, before he actually comes back to set up his everlasting KINGDOM on earth to RULE and REIGN FOREVER.

Yet, many so-called children of the LORD God, who profess to believe in the risen LORD Jesus of Nazareth, ignores his dire warnings below, which states the following all found in the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures of God.

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24: 3-5, 23-27)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many….
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” (Mark 13:3- 6, 21-27)

“And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them….
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”(Luke 21:7-8, 25-28)

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”(Acts 1:9-11)

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev. 1:5-7)

Today’s Focus is on one of those FALSE CHRISTS, named Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, founder and leader of Creciendo en Gracia (Growing In Grace International Ministry, Inc.), based in Miami, Florida.
He declares he is “Christ” and has the number 666 tattooed on his arm. Thousands of followers, spanning in some 35 nations, mostly in Latin America,”who call him, De Jesus, or “Daddy,” are also getting tattooed with the 666 number of the Antichrist.
As of this post, Miranda has 287 radio programs and a 24-hour Spanish-language TV network, according to news accounts.

Below is three Youtube videos of an CNN and Today Show interview with this false Christ as he explains who he says he is as well as one depicting his ignorant followers getting the number 666 tattooed on various parts of their bodies.

May the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, MAKER of Heaven and Earth, and everything therein, OPEN the eyes of the BLIND so they might see the TRUTH about this FALSE Christ, and others. Amen.

Please Remember to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Today Show Interview

Followers Getting 666 Tattoos

CNN Interview

Here is a link to this FALSE Prophet’s website stating his declaration to the government of his god.

http://www.cegenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=37

The Signs of the Times

These are the days of evil!
Times of heartache and sorrow!
of fearful sights, and dark gloomy nights…
The signs of the times!

Soon it will appear, and it’s very near, when the earth will shake from fierce and enormous quakes,
amidst the tremendous famines, pestilence and huge disease outbreaks.
Then the heavens will roar and shake!
The signs of the times!

Soon men’s hearts will begin to fail for fear of the falling stars and great hail
that will fall from the sky.
As they seek to hide, they will desperately cry,
The signs of the times!

Yet in leu of all this, they still will insist to do evil, rant and rave.
They will not repent and pray, nor turn from their wicked ways, that they do every day.
To their own eternal damnation and shame.

In spite of the signs of the times.

©February18, 1998

Prophesied Intensifying Planetary Conditions – Part I: Earthquakes

Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Only BEGOTTEN Son of the LIVING GOD, who CREATED all things, foretold years ago before his crucifixion, that intensifying earthquakes , famines, droughts, and pestilences, would be SIGNS occurring before his return back to earth to reign FOREVER as “KING of kings, and LORD of lords.”

Below are his prophesies found in the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures. And today’s focus is on the earthquakes, rapidly happening around the world as the scientific data, government statistics, and media reports details below.

Matthew 24:3 – 8: “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Mark 13:3 – 8: “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

Luke 21:7 – 11: “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

USGS courtesy pic of world index map of earthquakes as of March 24, 2012.

Intensifying Earthquakes
Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 2.5 or Greater in the United States and Adjacent Areas and Magnitude 4.5 or Greater in the Rest of the World – Last 7 days: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html

Largest and Deadliest Earthquakes by Year Between 1990 and 2011 http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/byyear.php

Significant Earthquake and News Headlines Archive 2002 to Present
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/

Historic World Earthquakes since 856AD
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical.php

Rampant Lawlessness and Sin

Courtesy Photo from the American Presidency Project

The anniversary of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation 97 -”Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer” decreed on March 30, 1863, is approaching and I thought his sentiment below as to why a national day of prayer was needed in his time, remains true today.

Proclamation 97 -”Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer” March 30, 1863.

“Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and
Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord;

"Lincoln at prayer" courtesy photo by abelincoln.com

And, insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.  It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do by this my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the divine teachings that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.”

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=69891#axzz1pxybZpdA;

“If destruction be out lot, we must ourselves be it’s author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
-Abraham Lincoln, 1837

Food for Thought

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."-Jesus the Christ, only BEGOTTEN Son of the Living CREATOR God (Matthew 11:28-30)KJV

Paul Johnson, a noted historian wrote in his 1999 essay “No Law Without Order” “The essence of the rule of law is its impersonality , omnipotence and ubiquity. It is the same law for everyone, where – kings emperors, high priests, the state itself, are subject to it. It exceptions are made, the rule of law begins to collapse – that was the grand lesson of antiquity.”

When will the people called by the LORD GOD’s name, take heed and learn from this grand lesson?

It doesn’t appear as though any American public officials have learn these vital and grave lessons in life.

And so, history continues to repeat itself because public officials, and civic leaders continue to make unwise decisions about critical issues facing their constituency in this American Republic.

The only difference is that, as time goes on, environmental and economic conditions are worsening and intensifying because of these unwise and inept decisions, which will eventually create anarchy, and it’s citizenry will likely end up in captivity and cast into slavery by their enemies somewhere.

Why? Because they have forsaken the LORD God, their Redeemer, Provider, and Mighty Warrior.

May the LORD GOD of all Creation have MERCY Upon us!