Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

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November 2009 Issue

Calviism by Ironside
Nov 1st, 2009
H. A. Ironside
Uncategorized

Turn to your Bible and read for yourself in the only two chapters in which this word predestinate or predestinated is found. The first is Romans 8:29-30, the other chapter is Ephesians 1:5 and 11. You will note that there is no reference in these four verses to either heaven or hell but to Christ-likeness eventually. Nowhere are we told in scripture that God predestinated one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men are to be saved or lost eternally because of their attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination means that someday all the redeemed shall become just like the Lord Jesus.

D.L. Moody used to put it very simply the elect are the “whosoever wills” the non-elect “whosoever wont's”. This is exactly what scripture teaches, the invitation is to all, those who accept it are the elect.

Remember, we are never told that Christ died for the elect. Whosoever means, “whosoever”. Only a biased theologian, with an axe to grind, could ever think that it meant only the elect.

Let the Headlines Speak
Nov 1st, 2009
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

Hate Crimes Law - Ungodly, Unconstitutional, Unnecessary  OneNewsNow

A Christian evangelist who was once arrested, jailed, and charged under Pennsylvania's hate crimes law says the federal hate crimes bill signed into law by President Obama is one of the most dangerous laws in the history of the United States.

Marcavage says the new federal hate crimes law is yet another move by the federal government to "silence Christians."

"What this bill does is [seek] to shut down those who dare to speak against the sin of homosexuality with the hope and freedom that is found in

Jesus Christ," says the Christian activist.

Ban Ki - Moon: Jerusalem Must be Capital      Release: United Nations

Jerusalem must be the capital of two States – Israel and Palestine – living side-by-side in peace and security, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all, if peace in the Middle East is to be achieved, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

“This is the road to the fulfillment of both the vision of [United Nations] Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and the yearning for peace of people from all over the world,” he said in a message to the Jerusalem International Forum in Rabat, Morocco, in which he stressed that the international community does not recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem.

Art`s Commentary: Zechariah 12: 3-4 warns of this very day and this very attitude. “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in siege both against Judah Art`s Commentary: Zechariah 12: 3-4 warns of this very day and this very attitude. “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered against it.”

1,000 Priests Could Quit the Church of England to Join Catholic Church      timesonline.co.uk

As many as 1,000 priests could quit the Church of England and thousands more may leave churches in America and Australia under bold proposals to welcome Anglicans to Rome. 

Entire parishes and even dioceses could be tempted to defect after Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to offer a legal structure to Anglicans joining the Roman Catholic Church. 

Pope Benedict wants to make Christian unity an enduring legacy of his papacy. He is due to visit Britain next year; Dr Williams will visit Rome next month. The Pope has already shown his determination to reunite Christendom at almost any price, welcoming back the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X despite a Holocaust-denying bishop in its ranks.

Sunstein Urges: Abolish Marriage 

Friday                     WND - Aaron Klein

Advisor compares institution to country club membership: the US government should abolish its sanctioning of marriage, argued Cass Sunstein, President Obama's regulatory czar.

Sunstein proposed that the concept of marriage should become privatized, with the state only granting civil union contracts to couples wishing to enter into an agreement.

Art's Commentary: these are the types of individuals with whom President Obama surrounds himself.

U.S. Sponsors Plan to Restrict Free Speech Oct 20 - WND - Bob Unruh

A proposal sponsored by the Obama administration at the United Nations that purports to seek protection for "freedom of opinion and expression" actually is a call for a worldwide crackdown on freedom of speech and a mandate for nations to ensure "that relevant national legislation complies with … international human rights obligations" – a clear threat to the First Amendment, according to critics.

The resolution was submitted recently by the United States and Egypt. It was approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council as a first step in its process through the international organization.

It demands that all nations condemn and criminalize "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”.

Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation told WND the issue is not about free speech at all but about installing international precedents to stifle any criticism of Islam.

School Opens to Train Descendents of Cohanim (priests) for Service in the Rebuilt Temple

                 Oct17-israelnationalnews.com

Jews in the town of Mitzpe Yericho are taking practical steps to prepare for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, by preparing descendents of Cohanim (priests) and Levites for service. At the Mitzpe Yericho school, Temple priest hopefuls learn exactly how to conduct the daily Temple service and offer the required sacrifices.

Israel's Growth Outpaces the World   Oct 17-israelnationalnews.com

The Central Bureau of Statistics has released the latest population figures for Israeli cities and towns.

Israel’s population as of June 30, 2009 stood at nearly 7.43 million – nearly three-quarters of a percent more than it was at the end of 2008. Some 623,000 people (8.4%) live in rural villages and towns of fewer than 2,000 residents.

Israel's growth rate currently stands at an annual rate of approximately 1.5% - compared to 1.188% for the entire world in 2008.

The Alliance of Ezekiel 38-39
Nov 1st, 2009
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

God does not ask us to believe His Word without proving His Word to us first. Our faith is not an irrational faith, but rather a faith in the facts which God has given to us. God has proven to us absolutely that the Bible is the Word of God and that He is the sovereign Lord of the universe. Fulfilled prophecy proves beyond any possibility of doubt that the Bible is God’s Word.

 The Bible is the Word of God,

Every line, every jot and every tittle

Front back and in the middle,

The Bible is the Word of God.

The Bible is about 30% prophecy, more than half of those prophecies have been fulfilled. They have been fulfilled in exact detail and they have been fulfilled literally. This proves that God knows the end from the beginning. God writes history in advance.

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my council shall stand, and I will do all my good pleasure” Isaiah  46:9-10.

One amazing fulfillment of prophecy is taking place before our very eyes. We are seeing the alliance of Ezekiel 38 & 39 forming at this very time. In the last number of months we have looked on as Turkey has withdrawn from its’ intended goal to join the EU and has rapidly moved to join an alliance of Russia, Iran and the Muslim nations which surround Israel. (See Ezekiel 38: 2, 3, 5, 6, Persia is Iran)

Turkey and Iran have just announced an agreement to triple trade between the two countries. Russia has been moving into a closer relationship with both Iran and Turkey. In just in the last few weeks the good relationship between Israel and Turkey has been shattered.

We know from scripture that before the war of Ezekiel 38 & 39 takes place there will be a peace treaty signed by Antichrist involving Israel and the nations of the world. This alliance of Muslim nations and Russia will temporarily delay their attack on Israel.

Today Iran is feverishly striving to obtain nuclear weapons to annihilate Israel. According to Bible prophecy this will not happen. Today there is a movement to eliminate all nuclear weapons. President Obama and the Russians are calling for nuclear disarmament. Iran has said that they will give up their quest for nuclear weapons if Israel will give up their nukes. It is possible that this nuclear disarmament will be a part of the seven year peace treaty. This would explain the primitive weapons used in Ezekiel 38:4.

We have seen the passionate desire of Amadinejad, the Iranian President, to destroy Israel. He stated some time ago, “If the West does not support Israel, this regime will be toppled. As it has lost its raison d’être, Israel is a tyrannical regime that will one day be destroyed. Israel is a rotten, tree that will be annihilated in one storm”.

Notice how these words of Amadinejad are prophesied 2600 years ago in Ezekiel 38:9 ”Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm”.

The preparations for this war of Ezekiel are being laid at this very time. How thrilling to watch as Bible prophecy is being fulfilled day by day.      

The Great Apostasy
Nov 1st, 2009
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

The word “Apostasy” means departure from, removal from, the moving away from a previously held position, a departure from the truth of God’s Word to which one once held.

Apostasy began in Paul’s day; he referred to it in Acts 20:29, 30. The apostasy which began in Paul’s day has grown exponentially down over the long church age. Today we have the great monolithic structure of Christendom which has departed from the truth of Scripture, although it still claims to be the Church of Jesus Christ.

In 2 Thess. 2:1 Paul talks about the rapture of the church. In verse 2, he refers to a rumor that claims that the rapture has already taken place and that the Day of the Lord, (Day of Christ) has begun. In verse 3, Paul says that is not so, he then teaches that two things must happen before the Day of the Lord, (tribulation period) begins.

First: the Antichrist must be revealed.  The Antichrist will be revealed by his signature on the seven year peace treaty. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” Daniel 9:27.  This peace treaty will reveal the man who signs it to be the Antichrist. It will initiate the tribulation period.

Second: the great apostasy must take place. In verse 3, these two events are as presented as taking place simultaneously.  Paul, in these verses, relates three things as happening in the same time frame.

1.  The Rapture of the church

2.  The great apostasy

3.  The revelation of Antichrist by the signing of the peace treaty.

There is a massive structure today known as Christendom. There are 1.7 billion people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.  We know that the overwhelming majority of these people are not born again Christians despite their profession of faith. Today there is ample evidence that an overwhelming majority of Evangelicals are Christians in name only, they are unregenerate.

When the trumpet sounds and the Bride of Christ is caught up to be with her Lord all that is unregenerate in Christendom will remain on earth to enter into the tribulation period and the Great Apostasy will take place. Those who claimed to be followers of Christ will receive a false christ (Antichrist) and by doing so will turn away from following the true Christ. Today we are witnessing the stage being set for that coming apostasy.

!       In many fundamental, evangelical churches, experience is given equal authority with the Word of God, that’s Apostasy.

!       Humanistic programs have replaced that which God’s Word calls for, that’s Apostasy.

!       A false gospel is being declared, “Just receive Christ as your Saviour”, leaving out repentance, the whole context of the gospel, that’s Apostasy.

!       The teaching of humanistic psychology, even though the prefix “Christian” has been added is a departure from the teaching of God’s Word, that’s Apostasy.

!       The acceptance of groups which in their beliefs and teachings deny the gospel, that’s Apost.asy

The seeker-sensitive church-growth movement has pushed experientialism (and its close kin, pragmatism) into overdrive through the power of marketing. Sound doctrine is necessarily left by the wayside while churches cater to the “felt needs” of consumers who are targeted as potential Christians.

T.A. McMahon says, “Conviction of sin doesn’t feel good, nor does it sell well. The wishful thinking of a purpose-driven church that would attract the lost by turning to the world’s methods has become a Titanic that has ignored warnings and jettisoned its compass of the doctrine of Christ. While the orchestra searches for a contemporary chorus replacement for ‘Nearer My God to Thee’, the vessel is sinking into the depths of compromise while dispensing temporal lifejackets to save the world from its problems.”

The removal of the Body of Christ from the world is near at hand, as unregenerate Christendom steams toward total Apostasy.

At a recent conference entitled, the “Rethink Conference”, the following press release was issued.

“The overall view at the Rethink Conference … is that Christianity, as we have known it, has run its course and must be replaced. Co-hosted by Erwin McManus and Robert Schuller, the conference declared that a paradigm shift is now underway. Speakers insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth.”

A new Newsweek/Belief Net Poll shows that 68% of those who call themselves Evangelicals and claim to be “Born Again” now reject Jesus’ words in John 14:6.  The question was, “Can a good person who isn’t of your faith go to heaven or attain Salvation?”  Among Evangelicals 68% said “Yes”.  That is a turning away from the truth, called Apostasy. I think we can safely conclude that at least 68% of Evangelicals are unregenerate.

Fifteen years ago a group of Evangelical leaders entered into an agreement with Catholic leaders, called ECT, Evangelicals & Catholics together. The agreement basically called for Evangelicals and Catholics to co-operate in evangelism, neither group would seek to evangelize the other because, basically, they said, they held the same gospel. The signing of that document influenced many other evangelicals to accept Catholics as brothers in Christ.

On December 7, 2007, Pope Benedict issued an encyclical in which he calls into question modern Christianity. The document titled, "Saved by Hope", is allegedly a deeply theological exploration of Christian hope which states: "In the sufferings and misery of daily life, Christianity provides the faithful with a ‘Journey of Hope’ to the Kingdom of God. The pope also criticized the focus of modern Christianity, saying that its focus on individual salvation had ignored Jesus' message, that true Christian hope involves salvation for all. (See Ephesians 2:8, 9).

This is a blatant and total denial of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is Rome's theology of the Dark Ages. Rome has never changed. She is the enemy of the Gospel and the souls of men.

It needs to be understood that what the pope says in his encyclicals supersedes scripture, so you can set your Bible aside. The real concern is that evangelicals, in their acceptance of Catholics as brothers in Christ, are on the road to apostasy.

Roger Oakland said, “It is amazing to see the progress made in the past few years as the vast majority of churches that were once evangelical move towards an ecumenical unity with Rome. There was a time when evangelical Christians were sensitive to what makes Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholicism. Not so today. The Emerging Church Movement, along with the idea that Christian unity must happen at any cost, has opened the door for a global ecumenical movement that has no biblical boundaries.”
To me personally, the greatest tragedy of the hour is the growing Apostasy among Evangelicals. I weep over those who are slipping into this tragic condition, which will result in the perdition of their souls. Apostasy reveals the insincerity of the profession of faith. I believe the root cause of it all is New Evangelicalism, the subtle compromise of the teaching of God’s Word about separation from compromisers

Truth
Nov 1st, 2009
A. W. Tozer
Uncategorized

Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and may be fully as dangerous.

Remember that the scribes who sat in Moses' seat were not the victims of error; they were the victims of failure to experience the truth they taught!

We should see that one of the greatest foes of the Christian is religious complacency. The man who believes that he has "arrived" will not go any further; and the present neat habit of quoting a text to prove we have arrived may be a dangerous one if in truth we have no actual inward experience of the text.

The great saints of the past have all had yearning hearts. Their longing after God all but consumed them; it propelled them onward and upward to heights toward which less ardent Christians look with languid eye and entertain no hope of reaching.

May we offer this word of exhortation:  pray on, fight on, sing on!  Press on into the deep things of God. Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will!  

Two Coming Kingdoms
Nov 1st, 2009
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

Daniel tells us about a coming world- wide kingdom that will dominate the world in the last days. He tells us that this kingdom will be a revival of the old Roman Empire. Today the leaders of the EU boast that they are the return of the old Roman Empire.

From Daniel and John in the book of Revelation we learn several things about this final gentile empire. We learn that, in some respects it is actually two separate kingdoms, (see Rev. 17:10-11).  The Revived Roman Empire actually has its beginning at the start of the tribulation period.

The Revived Roman Empire is described in Revelation 17:12. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” The one hour is described in other places as 3 ½ years. Antichrist comes on the scene as leader of the Revived Roman Empire, signs the Peace Treaty with Israel and the nations and the tribulation period begins. Verse 13 describes the transition from the Revived Roman Empire to the World-Wide kingdom of Antichrist which takes place at the mid-tribulation point. “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”  Antichrist proceeds to enslave and to crush the whole world for the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation period. He forces, on pain of death, the whole world to worship him.

It is astounding to read these prophecies which were written 2000 to 2600 years ago, and then see these scenarios unfolding before our very eyes.

Today the infrastructure of the Revived Roman Empire is forming before us as we look on. As of today, 26 members of the EU have signed the Lisbon Treaty, the last holdout is Czech President Vaclav Klaus, the other day he agreed to sign it. When he does, all 27 nations will lose their national sovereignty. For want of a better illustration they will become like a United States of Europe. Power will be centralized in the hands of a few men, ultimately ten men and the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12).  The fact is that today there are only ten permanent members of the EU, all others are associate members (see the article on our website April 8, entitled, “The Ten Toes of Daniel’s vision – Now in Existence”). Today a ten nation confederacy exists, waiting to be empowered. That ten nation confederacy is called the Western European Union.

In a few short weeks the EU will choose a New Super President, in this man’s hands will be placed unprecedented power. This will undoubtedly be the office Antichrist will occupy. A second man is to be chosen, a Foreign Minister, he also will be given great power.  Could it be perhaps, that this second man will ultimately turn out to be the False Prophet?  The EU is about to become a totalitarian super state.  The stage is now set for the Revived Roman Empire and the Antichrist to suddenly appear.

Simultaneously with forming of the infrastructure for the Revived Roman Empire is the forming of the infrastructure for the worldwide Kingdom of Antichrist, presently referred to as a World Government. A former science adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Lord Christopher Monckton, says the real purpose of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on Dec. 7-18 is to use global warming hype as a pretext to lay the foundation for a one-world government.

He went on to say, "At the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, weeks away, a treaty will be signed."  "Your president will sign it. Most of the Third World countries will sign it, because they think they're going to get money out of it. Most of the left-wing regimes from the European Union will rubber stamp it, virtually no one won't sign it," he told the audience of some 700 attendees.

"I read that treaty and what it says is this: that a world government is going to be created. The word 'government' actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity.

“The second purpose is the transfer of wealth from the countries of the West to Third World countries, in satisfaction of what is called, coyly, 'climate debt' – because we've been burning CO2 and they haven't. We've been screwing up the climate and they haven't. And the third purpose of this new entity, this government, is enforcement."

Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations, stated in an article in the New York Times, relating to the Copenhagen conference, “A deal must include an equitable global governance structure.”

Today there is a seeming conspiracy of many world leaders, a conspiracy to deceive the world into accepting a World Government.  Issues like global warming, pandemics and world- wide economic recession are being used to frighten men and nations into surrendering national sovereignty and freedoms. Last spring, Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the UN, stated that we have 50 days to save the planet from destruction by global warming. Last week Prime Minister Gordon Brown made the same statement. All of this, in spite of the fact, that evidence is mounting, that the United States is headed toward a cooling cycle that may last decades.

We know that at recent conferences, the Global recession has been used to enable a group of men to gain a strangle hold on the world’s economy. Repeatedly, we are hearing about ongoing moves to establish a new world currency, which would also facilitate control over the nations of the world.  In a similar fashion the swine flu pandemic is being used by the WTO to exercise control over the nations of the world.

The infrastructure is being laid for a world-wide totalitarian government. That infrastructure will continue to grow until the mid-tribulation point when Antichrist will take control of it and establish his monstrous rule over the entire world.

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled exactly as it was given by God 2000-2600 years ago. These and other fulfilled prophecies prove beyond any possibility of a doubt that God is the Sovereign Lord of the universe and that He knows the end from the beginning. The inexplicable question is why men do not bow before Him and acknowledge His Lordship?

Why is it that so few seem to be able to grasp what is happening?  The answer I believe is found in Paul’s epistle to the Thessalonians, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thess. 5:4-6. The implication of these verses is troubling.