The 2 Comings of Christ

Most Christians know that the major difference between Christianity and Judaism is that Christians recognize Jesus as the promised prophetic Messiah - and the Jews don’t. But do you understand why the Jews don’t? It’s because Jesus didn’t meet the test of a true prophet given in Deuteronomy chapter 13!

Another difference between the Jewish & Christian prophetic paradigm, is that Christians see 2 Comings of the promised Messiah in the Old Testament - while Jews only acknowledge one. Could you personally show a Jew the 2 Comings of Christ prophesied in their own Hebrew Scriptures? Thankfully, many Christians have been able to do this down through the centuries - and as a result - many Jews have come to accept Jesus as their promised Messiah.

Why did God Almighty plan 2 Comings of Messiah? Do you know His purpose behind each appearance of Christ? Can you find those purposes clearly spelled out in the pages of your Bible?

The test of a true prophet says: “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass of which he spoke to you (Jesus did many such signs & wonders), saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ - which you have not known - and let us serve them (Jesus was perceived as teaching that He was another god & that people should follow Him), you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Jews no doubt told their kids not to listen to this supposed prophet but to remember the first and great commandment) You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, (which is why they crucified Jesus) because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you ouf of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you away from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk.” (Jesus was perceived as teaching against the commandments of God) (DEUTERONOMY 13:1-5)

But Jesus did not teach that He was another god with THE FATHER or in a godhead. He clearly taught that He was the Son of God (MT.16:13-17). He referred to THE FATHER as THE ONLY TRUE GOD (JN.17:3) and His God and our God (JN. 20:17) Jesus also said publicly in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you (the crowds), till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled.” (MT.5:17,18) Therefore, Jesus did not fail the test of a Prophet. But He was a stumbling block to His own people as prophesied (JN.12:37-43) and misunderstood by those whose minds are blinded (II COR.4:4).

Messiah was prophesied to have 2 Comings: First as a ‘Suffering Servant’ to take away our sins (ISAIAH 53), and secondarily as a conquering King of kings to bring one world government (ISAIAH 9:6,7; 2:1-4). These are the purposes behind God planning 2 Comings of Christ.

The first Messianic prophecy in your Bible actually eludes to both comings: “And I (God) will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman (Eve), and between your seed (JN.8:44) and her Seed; He (Christ) shall bruise your (Satan’s) head (REV.20:1-3 -2nd Coming) & you (Satan) shall bruise His (Jesus’) heel (1st Coming)

First Coming texts include: (DEUTERONOMY 18:18) (PSALM 22) (ISAIAH 7:14; 49:1-6) (MICAH 5:1,2)

Second Coming texts include: (GENESIS 49:10,11) (NUMBERS 24:17-) (ISAIAH 19:1-3; 63:1-6)

In conclusion, let me share these sobering warnings: “And it shall be that whoever will not hear My (The Father’s) words, which He (Christ) speaks in My name, I will require it of him.” (DEUTERONOMY 18:19) He who rejects Me (Jesus), and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (JN.12:48)

Tree of Life

Trees are essential to life on earth - providing 28% of the oxygen we and other mammals breathe. But oxygen is not the only thing that trees give us. Trees also provide us with the lumber to frame our houses. Trees provide us with beautifully different woods to make cabinets, doors & furniture. And trees also feed us with a variety of fruits and nuts.

You may not be aware that over the span of 1 year, just 100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, along with 419lbs. of various pollutants.

Because of good forest management and the encouragement of people to plant trees on their own property, the United States has 119% more trees today than it did in 2007. Americans plant over a billion trees a year and Canadians 600 million.

Trees are also aesthetically pleasing, with over 60,000 species to choose from in landscaping our homes.

We read in GENESIS 2 that “The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil… And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

What is the Tree of LIfe? What does it symbolize? Are these 2 trees singled out by God - polar opposites of one another? They seem to be - since the consumption of one leads to death - while consumption of the other leads to Eternal life.

There are only 3 sources of knowledge: The Scientific method; Philsophical reasoning; and Revelation. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil symbolizes the first 2 sources of knowledge - both produced by Man. But the 3rd source of knowledge, Revelation, comes only from God Almighty: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever…” (DEUT.29:29)

Your Bible warns: ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs .14:12) This verse, more than any other in the Bible, symbolizes the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, because Eve was convinced that eating of this tree was the right thing to do, but instead it led to her death! It’s not that Science and Philsophy don’t contain some true knowledge - they do. It’s that they both contain a mixture of truth and error - and are void of some truth that can only be found in the revelation of the Bible! Important truths like the real origins of Man, why we were born, and what is the basis of authority.

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “Beware, lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world - and not according to Christ.” (COLOSSIANS 2:8) He also warned us through his letter to Timothy, saying: “Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge - by professing it some have strayed concerning the Faith.” (I TIMOTHY 6:20,21) How many Christian families have sent their kids off to college in search of a career preparing degree, only to have them brainwashed of 18 years of Biblical teaching?

The fruit of the ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil’ is easy to find in your Bible! Its all the behaviors that bring forth death: A lying tongue (PROVERBS 21:6); Carnal mindedness (ROMANS 8:6); Leaving the natural (heterosexual) use of one’s body, Covetousness, Envy, Murder, (ROMANS 1:26-32); and Sin (ROMANS 6:23)

Too many Christians put more stock in Man’s words and the traditions of men - than in the revelation of God found in the pages of their Bibles - and it is leading them towards eternal death if they don’t repent and turn back to God and His Tree of Life, which is the Bible!

The fruit of the Tree of Life is also easy to find in the pages of your Bible. It’s all the behaviors that lead to eternal life: Wisdom (PROVERBS 3:13-18); righteousness (PROVERBS 11:30); Hope (PROVERBS 13:12); A wholesome tongue (PROVERBS 15:4); Overcoming (REVELATION 2:7); Commandment keeping (REV.22:14); Giving attention to God’s words (PROVERBS 4:20-22); Fear (reverence) of the Lord (PROVERBS 14:27); Sowing to the Spirit instead of the flesh (GALATIANS 6:8).

If we want to live forever, we need to stop eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - and eat only of the Tree of Life! As the prophet Jeremiah said, “Your words were found and I ate of them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” (JEREMIAH 15:16)

If the Tree of Life had a subtitle it would probably be this:: “I AM THE LORD your GOD, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” (ISAIAH 48:17)

Nuclear Iran?

If you were spelunking in one of the myriad of caves in the Southwestern United States and entered a chamber not explored by man for millennia, and saw an inscription on one of the rock walls that read: New Yorkers, Virginians, Texans and Californian’s will one day unite as a nation - you would instantly know that this was a prophecy about the coming United States of America! So likewise, when we read in our Bibles about the future of peoples called Parthians, Persians, Elamites and Medes - we should be aware that these are references to modern day Iran!

The word ‘Persia’ is an exonym - a name other nations used to refer to the Irani people in past centuries. But after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (post World War I), the Irani people formally requested that world nations refer to them as the nation of Iran.

Interestingly, Iran and Israel share a sordid history of cooperation & conflict that goes back centuries before Christ - some of which is recorded in the pages of your Bible! You may be aware of what’s called the Babylonian captivity of ancient Israel, that took place in the 6th century B.C. The Prophet Ezra tells us why this happened: “But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, HE gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon.” (EZRA 5:12)

But then God raised up a Persian (Iranian) king who conquered the Babylonian empire and blessed the people of Israel: “This is what the Lord says… Who says of Cyrus, he is MY shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; He will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be layed.” (ISAIAH 44:28) Isaiah wrote a century before Cyrus was born, showing the power of God Almighty to call a person by name - even before he was born!

The Cyrus Cylinder, which was discovered in 1879 among the ruins of ancient Babylon, records King Cyrus giving a general decree - allowing all captives to return to their Homelands: “I returned the images of the gods who had resided there (Babylon) to their places and let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings.”

Your Bible records the specific decree concerning the Jewish people: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And HE has commanded me to build HIM a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all HIS people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (HE is God), which is in Jerusalem.” (EZRA 1:2,3)

Ironically, a later king of Persia (Iran), is misguided into signing a decree to annihilate these same Jewish people blessed by Cyrus: “Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ‘There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people and they do not obey the King’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them… the king said to Haman… do with the people as you please… Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate the Jews… on a single day, the 13th day of the 12th month.” (ESTHER 3:8-13 NIV)

If you go on reading in the book of Esther - that date for the genocide of the people of Israel was chosen by the casting of lots - which becomes the name of the Jewish celebration (Purim - Pur = lots) - when God turns the tables on Haman who’s family line is annihilated - instead of the Jews!

Is it only a coincidence that 3 major attempts at genocide of the Jews has come at the hands of men whose names begin with the letter ‘H’? Haman, as we just read about. Herod, who committed infanticide against Israel when he commanded that all boys under 2 be killed in Bethlehem & its districts (in an attempt to snuff out Jesus - MATTHEW 2:16)). And Hitler who carried out the Holocaust in the mid 20th century, killing 6 million Jews!

Modern day Iran was lead in the 1979 revolution by Ayatollah Khomeini - pronounced Homani, a name which shares semitic roots with the name Haman. In a speech at a conference called ‘The World Without Zionism,’ former President Ahmadinejad said: “As the imam (Khomeini) said, ‘Israel must be wiped off the map.” So will the world see another attempt at genocide of the Israeli people by a regime whose founder had another ‘H’ sounding name? All should know that the master mind behind such existential rhetoric also has a name beginning with ‘H’ in the Hebrew language: HaSatan - whom Jesus called “a murderer from the beginning.” (JOHN 8:44)

Bible Prophecy shows that God is going to bring calamity on the Irani nation": The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam (modern day Iran)… Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the foremost of their might (Whose might? Iran is the foremost of Shia might). Against Elam I will bring the 4 winds from the 4 quarters of heaven, and scatter them towards all these winds; there shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, MY fierce anger says the Lord. And I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them. I will set MY throne in Elam and will destroy from there the king…” (JEREMIAH 49:34-38)

The fact that God says HE will set HIS throne in Elam shows that this prophecy will culminate with the return of Christ and the angelic announcement that “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of HIS Christ, and HE shall reign forever and ever.” (REVELATION 11:15) Why will Iran be humbled in the near future by Almighty God? I’ll let God answer: “He who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of HIS eye. For surely I will shake MY hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me (Jesus).” (ZECHARIAH 2:8,9)

Iran is called ‘The Chief State sponsor of Terror,’ because they fund and funnel weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in the Gaza strip, so that they can fight a proxy war against Israel! We’ve all seen the video of hundreds of rockets fired from Syria and Gaza into the land of Israel. God Almighty is going to bring such terror as they’ve caused back on the heads of the Iranian regime and when it happens, you’ll remember reading this blog.

But the story doesn’t end with the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy against modern day Iran. Watch our video on ‘Nuclear Iran’ on YOUTUBE under Original Christianity and you’ll learn about another nation which will take Iran under its wings in the latter days and invade Israel and the harlot city of Babylon before they are both defeated at the Battle of Armageddon!

The Doomsday clock is inching forward

Doomsday is more than a DC Comics character seeking to destroy Superman and the Human Race. It’s a term we use whenever there’s an existential threat to our species.

In 1968 Professor Paul R. Ehrlich of Stanford University published a book entitled ‘The Population Bomb,’ in which he predicted that world food production would not be able to keep up with exponential population growth and therefore millions would starve. To deal with the crisis he floated the idea of adding sterilants to the water supply and staple foods. But while population has tripled since then - food production has also kept pace, foiling his Doomsday prediction.

We all remember the Y2K Doomsday prediction that failed to bring about the world’s doom - And the 2012 Maya Calendar scare in which Nibiru, a mysterious unseen planet was supposed to collide with earth and bring about Doomsday.

But the Nuclear Age ushered in such a real Doomsday scenario, that Albert Einstein and some of the Scientists who had worked with him on the Manhattan project which led to the building of the first Atom bomb, created the Doomsday Clock in 1947, set at 5 minutes to midnight.

A few months ago, the committee that monitors this clock, moved the hands to 90 seconds before midnight, because of hints given by Vladimir Putin about possibly invoking the Nuclear option in his war against Ukraine, because of Climate Change concerns, and because of the fear of a new Pandemic.

For Christians throughout history however, Doomsday has been linked to a statement made by Jesus and recorded in the Gospels: “So when you see standing in the Holy Place (Jerusalem), ‘the Abomination that causes desolation…’ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, NO ONE WOULD SURVIVE, but for the sake of the Elect those days will be shortened.” (MATTHEW 24:15-22) This unparalleled time of trouble, according to your Bible, will involve all of the major determinants brought forth by famous doomsdayers of the past: Famine, war, pestilence, Celestial catastrophes and Natural disasters.

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and United Nations official, recently made this alarmist statement: “The world is facing a gathering storm of extinction level consequences, exacerbated by the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the threats are even more acute, and the failures of leadership even more damning. We live today in a world of interlocking crisis, each illustrating the unwillingness of leaders to act in the true long term interests of their peoples.”

Your Bible says, “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules the people groan.” (PROVERBS 29:2) There’s a whole lot of groaning going on around the world today because of wicked men and women who are in the seat of Political power, either as Kings, Presidents or Prime Ministers. This is true of Legislatures as well, whom God gives this stern warning: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees.” (ISAIAH 10:1 NIV) And God doesn’t give the Judicial branches of Governments a pass either: “God stands in the assembly of the gods. He stands as Judge among the judges. He says, ‘How long will you judge unfairly and show special favors to the wicked?’ (PSALM 82:1,2)

Corrupt leadership has contributed to the fall of empires, countries and cities throughout history! Wickedness brings doom: “Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. That’s why your Bible says, “…the wicked are reserved for ‘the Day of Doom.’” (JOB 21:30)

God says, “If a Country sins against ME by being unfaithful and I stretch out MY hand against it to cut off its food supply, and send famine upon it, and kill its people and their animals, even if these 3 men - Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could only save themselves… Or if I bring a sword against that Country and say, ‘Let the sword pass through that land,’ and I kill its people and their animals, as surely as i live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these 3 men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters.” (EZEKIEL 14:13,14,17,18)

The greatest contributor & determinant of DOOMSDAY is SIN or WICKEDNESS - whether among the leaders of a people - or the people themselves. The only way to avoid Doomsday then - is for everyone to repent: “Now therefore, amend your ways and doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that HE has pronounced against you.” (JEREMIAH 26:13)

As we saw in the words of Jesus Himself, the only reason Doomsday is not allowed to come fully to this world is because of the Elect - who have amended their ways & doings - are you one of them?

Genuineness of your 'Faith'

Genuineness of your 'Faith'

Originals are almost always worth more than copies, counterfeits or forgeries. Take the ‘Art World’ for instance: A painting from one of the old ‘Grand Masters’ of the 16th or 17th centuries can fetch millions of dollars at the elite Art Houses like ‘Sotheby’s of London’ or Christie’s of New York - but copies of such works? Well you can buy them for just a few bucks at Walmart or Target.

What makes an original genuine? It’s unique, one of a kind, an Artist’s only rendition. Or in the case of a Rolex watch, it comes off the Assembly line in Switzerland from the Original mold or design. No one likes to find out after their purchase, that what they thought was genuine - was really a fake, a fraud, a forgery!

Well millions of Christians have come to find that the Christianity they were practicing from birth, is not original Christianity! It really originated during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, or the founding of the Catholic Church in the 4th century.

“For 50 years after St. Paul’s life a curtain hangs over the Church, through which we strive vainly to look. And when at last it rises, about 120 A.D. with the writings of the earliest ‘Church Fathers’ - we find a Church in many respects very different from that in the days of St. Peter & St. Paul… the services of worship increased in splendor, but were less spiritual & hearty than those of former times. The forms & ceremonies of Paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen Feasts became Church Festivals with a change of name and of worship. About 405 A.D. images of Saints & Martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored and worshipped. The adoration of the virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana; the Lord’s Supper became a sacrament in place of a memorial; and the Elder evolved from a preacher into a priest.” (Story of the Christian Church, p.41 Jesse Lyman Hurlbut)

The Apostle Peter was inspired to write: “…that the genuineness of your Faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor & glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (I PETER 1:7). Will your Faith be found to be ‘genuine’ at Christ’s return? No! Not unless you heed Jude’s warning: ‘Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for ‘the Faith’ which was once for all delivered to the Saints.” (JUDE VS. 3) It’s a simple choice - Truth or Tradition? Will you stay with a Pseudo-Christianity based on the teachings and traditions of men - or return to the original Faith?

Remember, if ‘Original Christianity’ was good enough for Jesus & the Disciples - it should be good enough for you & me. Learn the stark differences between Original Christianity and 4th Century Christianity, and the many modifications since - by watching ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY the T.V. program on YOUTUBE. There’s a link to it on this page.

The Biblical Religion

The Biblical Religion

How many Religions did God establish in your Bible? Most Christians would answer two: Judaism in the Old Testament & Christianity in the New Testament. But is God schizophrenic? Would He really have established 2 conflicting Religions: One teaching He’s a unique singular Being - the other teaching He’s a Trinity; One revolving around a lunar calendar of Sabbaths & Holy Days - the other revolving around Sundays & Holidays; One still looking for the promised Messiah - the other declaring Jesus is that prophesied Messiah. Or did men decide to label these 2 different groups of Bible believers as separate Religions?

Religion: “A specific fundamental Set of Beliefs & Practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or Sects.” In reality, the book of Acts clearly establishes that there is only ONE Biblical Religion, but it is made up of different Sects: The Sect of the Pharisees (ACTS 15:5); The Sect of the Sadducees (ACTS 5:17); and the Sect of the Nazarenes (the dawn of Christianity - ACTS 24:5). The adherents to these 3 Sects did not look at one another as different religions, but rather different expressions & administrations of the same Religion.

The unity of both Testaments & its peoples into ONE Religion is clearly demonstrated in the following texts:

“For if you (Sect of the Nazarenes) were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree (Israel - Jeremiah 11:16), how much more will these, who are natural branches (Israel) be grafted into their own olive tree? For I (Paul) do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in (ROMANS 11:24,25)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (GAL.3:28,29)

Unfortunately, with the rise of the Roman Church in the 4th Century, came the division of the Old and New Testament peoples and writings - instead of the unity God intended:

“Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.” (The 7 Ecumenical Councils - Philip Schaff)

Replacement Theology, or Supersessionism as it was also called, taught that Christians had replaced the Jews as God’s holy, chosen people. Such Anti-Semitism led to great persecution of the Jews by Christians in Europe and around the world. Martin Luther wrote a book entitled ‘ON THE JEWS AND THEIR LIES,’ which in part led to Hitler’s justification for the Holocaust.

In 1955 the Lutheran Church formally apologized to the Jewish people for teaching Replacement Theology. Other Protestant denominations followed suit. And during Vatican II in the 1960s the Catholic Church also apologized for teaching this destructive doctrine.

Paul was inspired to write: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” (ROMANS 2:28,29)

It’s time Christianity returned to its Jewish roots, adopting the view of God held by the Original Christians: “…yet for us there is ONE GOD THE FATHER…” (I COR.8:6) and worshiping in the cycle of the Sabbath & Festivals (ACTS 17:2) (I COR. 5:8) and awaiting the time when God will open the eyes of the Jewish people to see that Jesus was indeed their promised Messiah:

“And I (God) will pour on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me (Christ) whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (ZECHARIAH 12:10)

Asbury Revival

Asbury Revival

The Asbury Revival made headlines all over the world, with around 15,000 people attending daily, and bringing over 50,000 visitors from other cities, states & countries over a 2 week span. But was it a Bible like Revival? What is a Revival according to your Bible? Do you know where to find the famous Revivals of the Old and New Testaments?

A Revival according to dictionaries is any event that results in renewed attention & commitment to a cause, institution, or relationship. Let’s face it - familiarity breeds contempt, or at least complacency. So marriages, businesses, churches and movements need occasional renewals. They come in the form of Conferences, Retreats and Rallys…

From 1734-43 a Religious Revival occured which was later called the Great Awakening! Famed British Pastor Jonathan Edwards, preached a series of fiery sermons which resulted in 300 new converts to Christianity in a town of only 11,000 people, Northampton, England. This success eventually spawned other revivals in the British Isles as well as Europe.

In 1857 in the city of New York, what came to be known as the Businessman’s Revival occured. The North Dutch Reformed Church of lower Manhattan hired a retired businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier as their new Pastor, to reach business owners who had replaced former church member homes with businesses. Jeremiah began holding a midweek prayer meeting during the lunch hour, which began to be so well attended that he changed it to a daily prayer meeting. When other churces heard about the success they too began to hold lunch hour prayer meetings - and soon the movement spread to other cities across America!

When the nation of Israel detoured from the commandments of God and brought upon themselves the curses HE promised, God would raise up prophets who led Revivals that resulted in the people of Israel getting back in sync with their Deliverer: “Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths (Pagan tree groves) and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. Then Samuel said, ‘Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you… On that day they fasted and there they confessed, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.” (I SAMUEL 7:2-6)

A similar chain of events occured over & over throughout Israel’s history: During the reign of King Asa (II CHRONICLES 14 & 15); King Jehoshaphat (II CHRONICLES 19 & 20); and King Hezekiah (II CHRONICLES 29). In every case, a pattern of acknowledgement of sin, repentance, and ceasing from sin, occured.

So a ‘Biblical Revival’ isn’t just an emotional stirring of the heart through music & prayer meetings - it’s an awakening to sinful behavior that is acknowledged, repented of, and replaced with concrete obedience to God’s word!

King David wrote in the longest chapter of the Bible: “My soul clings to the dust; REVIVE me according to your word… Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it; Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness; Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and REVIVE me in your ways… Behold I long for Your precepts; REVIVE me in Your righteousness… REVIVE me according to Your lovingkindness; so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.” (PSALM 119:25;35-37; 40; 88)

The Day of Pentecost, which launched the New Testament Church with tongues of fire and speaking in different languages, was a REVIVAL of the people of Israel which opened their eyes to see that this Jesus whom they crucified - was their promised Messiah! On that day, “…Peter standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them… ‘Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders & signs which God did through Him in your midst as you yourselves also know…you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death… Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter, ‘Men & brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (ACTS 2)

Here we see this old pattern from the Old Testament repeated in the New Testament: acknowledgement of Sin, repentance, and turning back to obedience of God’s word.

Ask God to bring REVIVAL to your heart and mind - and the heart of our nation collectively - that we might experience blessing from God and His Divine protection!

The last Empire

Throughout History kingdoms & nations have used images of birds & beasts to symbolize their power and identity. It’s true today as well. Here in the United States of America our nation is symbolized by the bald eagle, because of it’s regal appearance, fierce independence, and strong mothering instincts. North of us is Canada which is symbolized by the beaver. Russia is symbolized by the Eurasian Bear & China by the Panda Bear. In the Land down-under - the Kangaroo is the symbol of Australia. And India is symbolized by the Bengal Tiger. Just about every nation on earth is symbolized by some bird or beast.

If the Original Christians saw a flag or a banner with an image of a She-Wolf suckling 2 little boys, they would instantly recognize it as a symbol of the Roman Empire, the 2 boys being Romulus & Remus, with Romulus being the namesake of the city of Rome.

So it shouldn’t be any surprise that the God of the Bible also uses wild beasts to symbolize kingdoms & nations. The prophet Jeremiah was inspired to write: “A lion from the forest shall slay them (Israel), a wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; a leopard will watch over their cities.” (JEREMIAH 5:6) A single lion, wolf, or leopard could not slay, destroy or watch over Israel’s many cities - but the kingdoms they symbolize could! The king of Babylon was symbolized by a lion with wings, a symbol preserved on the procession walls of the city ruins. God compares the Chaldeans to wolves in the first chapter of Habakkuk. And one of the gods of Greece was Dionysus, who wore a leopard skin hat & rode in a chariot pulled by leopards.

Almighty God gave a vision to the prophet Daniel of 4 Beasts which symbolized kingdoms present and future: “And 4 great beasts came up from the Sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings; I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth & made to stand on two feet like a man - and a man’s heart was given to it.” (DANIEL 7:3,4) As previously mentioned, the kings of Babylon were pictured by a winged lion, and Daniel had served the King of Babylon in his court of advisers.

Then we read: “And suddenly another (HEB. Ochoriy implies succession) beast, a 2nd like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had 3 ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh.” (DANIEL 7:5) The bear is slower than the lion, but more powerful. The Medo-Persian empire which succeeded the Babylonian empire, conquered 3 kingdoms (ribs): the Hittite Kingdom, the Babylonians, and the Egyptian kingdom.

Daniel’s vision continues: “After this I looked and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back 4 wings of a bird. The beast also had 4 heads and dominion was given to it.” (DANIEL 7:6) At the time Daniel received this vision he was living under the reign of the bear, or the Medo-Persian empire. The leopard which follows, is symbolic of Greece under Alexander the Great - which would divide into 4 kingdoms pictured by the 4 heads coming out of its back after Alexander’s death.

These same 3 beasts are included in the description of another beast written about in the book of Revelation: “I saw a beast rising up out of the Sea, having 7 heads and 10 horns… the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear & his mouth like the mouth of a lion.” (REVELATION 13:1) In a later chapter the symbolism of this 7-headed beast is made clear: “The 7 heads are 7 mountains (symbolizing kingdoms throughout the Bible) on which the woman (Harlot - false religion) sits. There are also 7 kings, 5 have fallen (the last kings of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian & Greek empires), one is (John was living under a Roman king), and the other has not yet come (Islamic Empire).” (REV.17:9,10) This vision given to the Apostle John is a broader view of history than the vision given to
Daniel. It covers the 2 empires (Egyptian & Assyrian) that existed prior to the ones pictured by the lion, bear & leopard (Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek). It also mentions the empire that John was living under (Roman) and an empire to come (Islamic) which swallowed up 2/3 of the Roman empire.

Then John is told: “…The beast (7-headed) that was, and is not (all 7 would eventually fall), is himself also the 8th and is of the seven, and is going to perdition (destruction).” (REVELATION 17:11) This is a very important statement, because it shows us that the final world ruling empire is not some new one (Russian, American or the U.N.) - but rather a resurrection of one of the original seven! It goes on to say: “The 10 Horns which you saw are 10 kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the (8th) Beast… These will make war with the Lamb (Christ) and the Lamb will overcome them.” (REVELATION 17:11,12,14)

Notice that the 4th beast that Daniel saw (which we haven’t talked about yet) also has 10 horns: “After this I (Daniel) saw in the night visions & behold a 4th beast, dreadful & terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces and trampling the residue with its feet… And it had 10 horns …But the (heavenly) court shall be seated and take away his dominion, to consume & destroy it forever.” (DANIEL 7,26)

The 8th Beast of Revelation is clearly another description of the 4th Beast of Daniel, each having 10 Horns and each being destroyed by Christ at His 2nd coming.

Your Bible gives 7 identifying signs of which one of the 7 empires pictured by the 7-headed beast will be the 8th and final world ruling empire. To learn what they are - go to YOUTUBE and type in Original Christianity - and find our T.V. program entitled THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

What makes a person a Saint?

What makes a person a Saint in God’s eyes? When someone serves ‘beyond the call of duty’? When a person finds someone lying on the sidewalk gasping for air & calls 911 for an ambulance, and accompanies the person to the hospital, staying with them all night - the patient may wake up in the morning and say to his rescuer: ‘You’re a Saint! Thanks so much for caring enough to get me medical attention! But does service alone make a Saint? Well then every Philanthropist who helps his fellow-man, but doesn’t believe in God would have to be considered a Saint…

When someone outside of Christianity leads a very pure, chaste & virtuous life - somebody might think of them as a Saint… but does purity & virtue alone make a Saint?

We’ve all heard of Patron Saints… Men & women of Christian renown, who have been declared by the Catholic Church to be the guardian or representative of a certain namesake, group, trade, or nation. People know me as Tony - but my legal name is Anthony - and St. Anthony is the Patron Saint of ‘Loss’; Lost items, lost people, lost causes & lost souls. So if a Catholic experiences loss - he or she will pray to St. Anthony for help! Addicts can pray to St. Augustine, the Patron Saint of Addiction, for help to overcome their addiction to drugs, alcohal, pornography or work. St. Francis of Assisi is the Patron Saint of animals & the Patron Saint of Italy. St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of Carpentry, and is sometimes shown as the symbol of a Construction Trade Union. But there’s no mention of Patron Saints in the pages of your Bible.

So what is a Saint according to Scripture? Is it the Church’s responsibility to determine whether a person is truly worthy to be called or cannonized a Saint? Can a person only be declared to be a Saint after their death?

The cannonization of a Saint in Catholicism is a 7-step process: 1) Be dead at least 5 years; 2) Be nominated by a diocese or congregation; 3) Be investigated for sufficient holiness & virtue; 4) Be scrutinized by the ‘Dicastery for the causes of Saints’ Committee; 5) Have a miracle attributed to you by someone who invokes your name in prayer; 6) Be reviewed & approved by the Papacy; 7) Be cannonized a Saint through a 2nd miracle attributed to your name. But none of these steps are found in the pages of your Bible - and none were practiced by the original Christians.

A 20th Century Satirist named Ambrose Bierce once said: “A Saint is a dead sinner, revised, edited and deified.” He of course meant to say by this - that Saints are only such because their sins have been swept under the rug, and only their good deeds acknowledged & trumpeted. And there is some truth to this as God Himself declares: “As far as east is from the west, so far has HE removed our transgressions from us.” (PSALM 103:12)

Saints are not a special class of Christians cannonized to be venerated by some Church Council. The Apostle Paul wrote: “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints.” (Romans 1:7) This is a common salutation from the pen of Paul who looked at all Christians as Saints: “You are no longer strangers & foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints & members of the Houshold of God.” (EPH.2:19)

So what is the Biblical criteria for becoming a Saint? We don’t have to guess - God tells us through many texts of Scripture: “Gather MY saints together to ME, those who have made a covenant with ME by sacrifice.” (PSALM 50:5) As the Apostle Paul wrote: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? …Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (ROMANS 6:3,6) In baptism Saints make a covenant with God by sacrifice. As Paul said, “I die daily.'“ (I CORINTHIANS 15:31)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus: “But fornication & all uncleaness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for the Saints.” So chastity is part of Sainthood.

The Apostle John was inspired to write: “Here is the patience of the Saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God & ‘the Faith’ of Jesus.” (REVELATION 14:12) So Saints are commandment keepers and believers in the original Faith that Jesus passed onto us through His disciples.

Furthermore, John writes: “To Her (the Church) it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean & bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the Saints.” (REVELATION 19:8) So yes - Service to others is also part of Sainthood.

Your Bible says: “God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints - and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” (PSALM 89:7) When we revere God & His word above all else, “then He will guard the feet of His Saints.” (I SAMUEL 2:9) Also “The Saints of THE MOST HIGH shall receive the Kingdom and possess the kingdom forever.” (DANIEL 7:18)

“Sing praise to THE LORD, you Saints of HIS - and give thanks at the remembrance of HIS holy name.” (PSALM 30:4)

Terrorism & Pandemics prophesied

What have been the 2 biggest trials for Mankind in the 21st century thus far? Most people would answer: Islamic Jihadist Terrorism & Global Disease Pandemics like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Experts tell us that there has been a 9-Fold increase in Terrorist incidences in the opening 2 decades of the 21st century! Fortunately, such attacks have actually declined here in America over the last 5 years - but unfortunately they have increased in African nations during the same period.

On the weekend after 911 - all the Churches in America were filled - why? Because people had been terrified all week with the replay of the images of Commercial Airliners slamming into the Twin towers & those towers finally collapsing - and they were looking for answers to questions like ‘How could this happen? And why would GOD allow this to happen to a Christian nation like the United States of America?

Pastors in America lost a golden opportunity that weekend to show people right from the pages of their own Bibles: what Scripture says about Terrorism & Disease Pandemics; Why they happen? And which nations and peoples would be perpetratiing such terror in the years leading up to the return of Christ.

At the time of the launcing of the New Testament Church, an Egyptian Jew stirred up thousands of followers to try to overthrow Roman control of Jerusalem. But the Romans overpowered them & their mysterious leader got away. So when the Apostle Paul was arrested after inciting a Jewish crowd by preaching about Jesus - he was asked if he was this terrorist leader incognito: “Aren’t you (Paul) the Egyptian who started a revolt & led 4000 terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago? But Paul said, ‘I am a Jew from Tarsus…” (ACTS 21:38)

If you’ve watched any of ‘THE CHOSEN’ T.V. series, you’re aware of Simon the Zealot who was chosen to become one of the 12 Disciples. Zealots & Sacarii were militant Jewish groups that Josephus described as bringing a ‘Reign of Terror’ against the Roman Occupation of Jerusalem in the years leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem & the expelling of the Jews from that city. Zealots & Sacarii carried daggers under their cloaks and would infiltrate crowds and stab a Roman soldier or a Roman sympathizer and then disappear into the crowd. Such terrorist acts have happened throughout history & have been part of every civilization, because when people are oppressed by another people - and they’re out-numbered and out-gunned, they resort to gorilla warfare & terrorism as their only means of fighting back.

In the book of Leviticus GOD says to Israel that if they will heed HIS words and do all HIS commandments, then HE will bless them in the city, in the country, in the womb and in the weather. But, “If you reject MY decrees & abhor MY laws and fail to carry out all MY commands - and so violate MY covenant - then I will do this to you: I will bring on you SUDDEN TERROR, WASTING DISEASES & FEVER.” (LEVITICUS 26:15,16)

What are the odds that the 2 greatest trials of the 21st century thus far have been precisely these 2 curses?

GOD says in the book of Proverbs: “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out MY hand and no-one regarded; because you disdain all MY counsel and would have none of MY rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I’ll mock when your TERROR comes like a storm - and destruction comes like a whirlwind…” (PROVERBS 1:24-27)

One of the most incredible prophecies in all the Bible is found in EZEKIEL 32 - where GOD prophesied exactly which peoples & nations would be perpetrating TERROR in our day! If you take the time to read EZEKIEL 32,38,39 - you’ll find that chapter 32 refers to Middle Eastern nations (Home of Islamic Jihadists) that are causing TERROR in the end times. Chapters 38 & 39 describe the demise of these same peoples in the battle of Armageddon and says that Israelites will be burying their corpses in graves for 7 months! Chapter 32 mentions the ‘Heavenly Signs’ of the sun, moon & stars being darkened - and Jesus says these are signs that occur right before His return. Then the text says: “Assyria (Modern day Iraq & Syria) is there (Megiddo) and all her company with their graves all around her… who caused TERROR in the land of the living… There is Elam (Modern day Iran)… Who caused their TERROR in the land of the living… There are Meshek & Tubal (Modern day Turkey according to Josephus)… though they caused their TERROR in the land of the living… There is Edom (Modern day Jordan)… and all the Sidonians (Modern day Lebannon) who have gone down with the slain in shame at the TERROR which they caused by their might.”

If these words were written in a cave somewhere or in any other book than the Bible - they would have been front page headlines in newspapers around the world - after 911! But because they come from the pages of the Bible, they’re ignored or scoffed at.

Did you know that the GOD of the Bible prophesied the rise of ISIS? Take the time to read HABAKKUK 1 where GOD says that HE is going to raise up the Chaldeans to ‘possess dwelling places that are not theirs’ and scoff at modern day leaders. At it’s height, ISIS controlled about 40% of Iraq & 33% of Syria. If you google a map of this ISIS state & juxtaposition it with a map of the ancient Chaldean Empire - you’ll find that they occupied much of the same territory!

How do we insure that individually & collectively we escape the throes of TERROR? By obeying our Creator! The book of Proverbs gives us this assurance: “Do not be afraid of SUDDEN TERROR, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; THE LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” (PROVERBS 3:25)

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that chronic disease is the leading cause of death in the world! Yet the GOD of the Bible says, '“If you diligently heed the voice of THE LORD your GOD, and do what is right in HIS sight, give ear to HIS commandments & keep all HIS statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you… For I am THE LORD who heals you.” (EXODUS 15:26) And GOD is so merciful, that even if we disobey and contract a disease, HE shows us how to keep it from spreading: “Then the priest shall ISOLATE the one who has the (Leprous) sore 7 days… Now the Leper on whom the sore is… shall dwell alone.” (LEV.13) This is the oldest written reference to the practice of Qurantine - yet no one in the press ever credits the GOD of the Bible with for this life saving instruction that the whole world instituted during the Covid Pandemic.

GOD gave the prophet Zechariah 8 visions. The first one found in the first chapter of ZECHARIAH tells us that the prophet saw a horseman - and then other horsemen who gathered around him - who were sent to walk to and fro on the earth. These horsemen report back to GOD that “ALL THE EARTH IS RESTING QUIETLY.” I’ve wondered about this prophecy for decades: ‘What could possibly happen around the world at the same time to cause all the nations to rest quietly? Then when the whole world began ‘sheltering in place’ from March 15th-May 15th in 2020 and we saw all the images of empty streets, empty office buildings, empty churches, stadiums and factories - I thought to myself ‘This prophecy is being fulfilled right before our ears! The decibel generation of Mankind probably dropped 80% during those 2 months - an unprecedented event in History!

I call it the calm before the prophetic storm of events outlined in the next 7 visions given to Zechariah and the rest of the Bible! You need to know what is coming after the COVID-19 EFFECT of quieting the whole earth into a restful state. PIck up a copy of my book THE COVID-19 EFFECT at Amazon! Forewarned is forearmed!

What is Truth?

If you’ve ever been placed under oath in a court of law, you probably had to raise your right hand while placing your left hand on a Bible, and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth. The practice of placing people under oath during Legal proceedings goes back to 13th century England.

But where did those poignant phrases contained in the Oath we use come from?

“…He swears to TELL THE TRUTH, but reveals nothing.” (PROVERBS 29:24)

“But the woman (with a 12 year issue of blood), fearing & trembling, knowing what had happened to her (healing from Jesus) came and fell down before him & told Him THE WHOLE TRUTH.” (MARK 5:33)

“So the king said to him (Prophet Micaiah) ‘How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH in the name of the Lord?” (i KINGS 22:16)

Just as many renowned idioms & sayings come from the pages of your Bible - so does the Court room oath!

Jesus said to Pontius Pilate: “I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to THE TRUTH. Everyone who is of THE TRUTH hears My voice.” (JOHN 18:37) Pilate responded: ‘WHAT is TRUTH?

That’s a question that men have been trying to ascertain for millenium! Most dictionaries define TRUTH similarly: as CONFORMITY with FACT or REALITY. Parmenides, the famous Greek philosopher, wrote a book entitled ‘On Nature’ in which he gives 2 views of REALITY: The way of Aletheia (Truth) - only that which is and never changes; and Doxa (opinion) that which people perceive is reality.

The GOD of the Bible is the defintion of “that which always is (DT.33:27) and never changes (MAL.3:6) - and that is why HE is referred to as a GOD of TRUTH (DT.32:4). Something that is inherently true - is always true - and that’s why we read in “the Scripture of Truth” (DANIEL 10:21) that “HIS TRUTH ENDURES to all generations.” (PSALM 100:5)

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil is in the category of Doxa - Mankind giving their opinion about what constitutes TRUTH - instead of deferring to GOD & REALITY. The record of the Human Race is on display in the pages of History: “They are not valiant for THE TRUTH on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil & they do not know ME says THE LORD.” (JEREMIAH 9:3)

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH…” (ROMANS 1:18)

Your Bible warns: “The TRUTHFUL lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (PROVERBS 12:19)

That’s why it’s so important to be on the side of TRUTH instead of Human Tradition, whether Religious or Philosophical. The Original Christians took the side of TRUTH - how about you?

The root of Authority

What is the basis of Authority? Who should be in charge in the Family? Your kids school? Your workplace? Your Church? The City, state & nation you’re a citizen of? A Monarch would answer that the basis of authority is Royal lineage & the Divine Right of Kings… A Plutocrat or Aristocrat would say that the basis of authority should be wealth or nobility… Those who believe in Meritocracy & Geniocracy would argue that the basis of authority should be intellect, aptitude, and I.Q. - that the world should be led by geniuses - those who merit power. Ethnocrats like Adolph Hitler believed that superior ethnicity should be the basis of authority. And of course champions of Democracy advocate that authority is rooted in ‘We the People’ - the Citizenry of any nation.

But your Bible & the root word itself proclaim that Authority is rooted in Authorship! The Apostle Paul wrote: “But indeed O man, who are you to reply against GOD? Will the thing formed say to HIM who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this? Does not the Potter have power over the clay?’” (ROMANS 9:20,21) A Potter authors all kinds of characters & creations out of clay, as does a Tinsmith, or Locksmith - and he or she has absolute authority over the material they work with. When a child works with Play-do - you can teach him or her this principle - that Authority is rooted in Authorship. How many of us as kids authored a club and therefore claiming authority over it?

The Prophet Isaiah was inspired by GOD to write: “Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!” The Machinist authors tools and has total authority over them - and that authority is passed onto anyone who purchases one of his tools.

Who should be in charge of a business? The employees, the State, or the author of the business? Jesus said: “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a Landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for His vineyard. After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about 9 in the morning, he saw others standing in the Marketplace doing nothing. He said to them, ‘You also go into my vineyard & I’ll give you whatever is right… About noon and about 3 he went out again and did the same thing… When those who were hired about 5 came (to be paid) they each received one denarius. So when the first ones came (to be paid) they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. When they received it, they began to complain to the Landowner…. He replied to one of them, ‘Friend I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? …Don’t I have the right to do with what is mine?” (MATTHEW 20:1-15 CSB) In this parable, Jesus implies that the Landowner has authority over the way he conducts his business. Have you ever thought of the position of an employee as an authored position? A business owner can choose to do it all himself or he can choose to author other positions to help him. Some States make it so time consuming & expensive to author employee positions that many Business owners just choose to go it alone.

In the old West it was teachers who were willing to travel to small town America who authored schools. Teachers author a syllabus, the contents of a curriculum, therefore they hold authority over the students they author.

In a Democratic Republic, voters author representatives whom they temporarily empower to govern their towns (Mayor), States (Governor) or Country (President). Just ask Gray Davis, former Governor of California, whom the electorate recalled when enough voters felt he was misusing the power they had temporarily given him.

To see how this principle of authority being vested in authorship applies in the Family and Church - go to YOUTUBE and type in Original Christianity and look for the T.V. show entitled ‘The Root of Authority'.’

GOD THE FATHER is called the Sovereign One (I TIMOTHY 6:15), because HE is the Author of all things! (ISAIAH 44:24) When people learn the truth that authority is based in authorship, it not only helps them understand & respect authority in the Human Realm, but the Divine Realm as well!

The 3 R's of Religion

We’re all familiar with the 3 R’s of Education: Reading, Riting & Rithmetic. This slang version of the originals all begin with the letter R. Reading, writing & arithmetic are considered by most Education experts as the foundation of Education - since the ability to read enables a person to research all the other genres of knowledge, writing helps us to communicate what we’ve learned & arithmetic is essential especially in the Sciences. The origin of the 3 R’s is unknown - but there are references to them in newspapers going back a couple hundred years. One of the oldest references to them is made by Augustine of Hippo, a Catholic Theologian of the 5th century - who emphasized their importance in the learning process. The aim or mark of the 3 R’s is to create Self-learners.

But are you aware of the 3 R’s of Religion? There are 3 R words that every Religion on earth revolve around. Do you know what they are? Do you know what their aim or purpose is in the Christian Religion? In today’s blog I will reveal the 3 R’s of Religion and the aim or mark God intended them to build.

“These are the regulations (RULES) the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships…” (NUM.30:16 NIV) All of the Bible’s rules, regulations or laws were given by God to show us how to build right relationships with Him, our neighbor or ourselves. Jesus Himself said that on the 2 greatest commandments (about our relationship with God, neighbor & self) hang all the Law & the Prophets. (MT.22:40) The Scribes & Pharisees of Jesus day missed the mark of these Rules, and millions of Christians are repeating it today: “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience & from sincere faith…” (I TIM.1:5) The Apostle Paul added: “Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.'“

RITUALS are what bring sanctity & regularity to our worship of God. Prayer, Meditation, Fasting, Holy Days & Fellowship - are what keep us in sync with our Creator and one another. The problem with rituals is that for some people they morph into religiosity - an outward show of Religion - and are used by some as badges of righteousness. But when used properly - with the focus on using them to keep us moving as ‘one’ with God and each other - they become a powerful tool in unifying relationships.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “So Christ Himself gave the apostles, evangelists, the pastors & teachers, to equip His people for works (or ROLES) of service, so that the ‘Body of Christ’ (the Church) may be built up until we all reach unity in the Faith and in the knowledge of Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (EPHESIANS 4:11,12)

While some have administrative ROLES in the Church (Pastor, Teacher) - God has given all members of the Body of Christ ROLES that help build right relationships: Ambassadors of Christ; Disciples of Christ; Evangelists; Fellowshipers; Lights of the world; Ministering to the needs of others; Salt of the earth; Watchmen; and Worshipers. All these ROLES help Christians who regularly engage in them to build right relationships with God, His Son, our brothers & sisters in Christ, Unbelievers, Angels, the earth itself, and our relationship with ourselves.

Imagine if every Christian sanctuary had those 7 RELATIONSHIPS written on the wall behind their pulpits - and the ROLES, RULES, & RITUALS that help us build those relationships written on the other 3 walls! Every week as Christians gathered to worship they would be reminded of these 3 R’s of God’s Religion that help them and their kids understand God’s great plan: “…that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He (God) might gather together in ‘one’ - all things in Christ - both which are in heaven & which are on earth - in HIM (the FATHER).” (EPHESIANS 1:10)

If you want more details of how the 3 R’s build these 7 Biblical relationships - go to YOUTUBE and type in Original Christianity - and watch the program entitled: The 3 R’s of Religion.

Is 'the handwriting on the wall"?

Is ‘the handwriting on the wall’ for you personally? Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and death is knocking at the door? Is the handwriting on the wall for your business or marriage, and its about to fall apart? We in the West use such Biblical sayings all the time in discourse, with many who use them, not even being aware of their source.

The origin of this saying is found in the 5th chapter of the book of Daniel. King Belshazzar, the son of the famous Nebuchadnezzar, reigned over the Bablonian empire of his father to its demise. He was a wicked person, who’s sinful nature apparently rubbed off on the whole kingdom, moving our Creator to bring jugment upon them all.

King Belshazzar threw a huge party, inviting a thousand of his lords - and they wined & dined and danced and romanced until all of a sudden the whole banquet room went quiet! All that could be heard were gasps of terror as they all beheld a disembodied hand come out of the 4th dimension of God’s realm and began writing words on the wall: Strange words that nobody recognized or could read (maybe Angelic words)!

King Belshazzar, with knees knocking and his voice trembling, immediately summoned his Astrologers, Soothsayers & wise men for an explanation. But none of them could read the words. Finally his mother reminded the King about the prophet Daniel & how he had interpreted his father’s dreams & visions. When Daniel arrived at the King’s beckoning, he told the king that this was a judgment upon him & his kingdom because he and his guests had used the sacred cups & plates of Israel, defiling them, and because he had repeated the sins of his father - including pride, insolence, and debauchery.

Daniel gave the meanings of the words to the King: “MENE - God has numbered your kingdom & finished it. TEKEL - You have been weighed in the balances & found wanting. PERES - Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes & Persians.” Before the night was over, the words came to pass and Belshazzar was slain - and Darius the Mede received the Kingdom.

Is the handwriting on the wall for Russia - a nation once thought of as 2nd in military might only to the U.S.? Its war against Ukraine has led to hundreds of thousands of young Russian men fleeing the nation - not wanting to be conscripted into the armed forces by President Putin. Its led to 12% inflation and a major drop in Russia’s Gross Domestic Product.

Is the handwriting on the wall for China? In one year this most populous of nations has declined in population by 850,000 people! The Red State has also lost over a million people from its work force since Covid struck almost 3 years ago, and its GDP is also experiencing a major drop.

Your Bible says: “When a Land sins against ME by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out MY HAND against it; I will cut off its supply of bread and send famine on it - and cut off man and beast from it.” (EZEKIEL 14:13)

God is very much aware of what goes on in the nations of this earth (PSALM 66:7)! We read in the book of JOB: “From the chamber of the South comes the whirlwind… HE causes it to come, whether for correction, or for HIS land, or for mercy.” (JOB 37:9,13) A whirlwind can be a blessing as when made a pillar of swirling clouds & fire, to lead Israel through the wilderness to where HE wanted them to go. But it can also come in the form of devastating hurricanes, tornados and storms!

Is the handwriting on the wall for America? Climate change advocates blame such devastating events on the use of fossil fuels - but realists see the hand of God upon a corrupt and unthankful nation! HE causes it to come for correction - in hopes it will wake a spiritually sleeping nation! Read AMOS 4 and see how many climate related disasters GOD brought upon sinful Israel! Natural disasters are not natural! Watch our program by that title by typing in ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY on the YOUTUBE search button.

Babylon was weighed in the balances of God’s Morality and found wanting! What does GOD weigh? We don’t have to guess - he tells us:

“…By HIM actions are weighed.” (I SAMUEL 2:3)

“…THE LORD weighs the spirits.” (PROVERBS 16:2)

“…THE LORD weighs the hearts.” (PROVERBS 21:2)

God weighs the actions, the spirits (disposition), and the hearts of individuals and nations! And when they reach a point HE will no longer tolerate HE brings judgment! Sometimes it’s in the form of punishing weather. Sometimes HE’LL literally shake the earth under our feet. And sometimes he raises up empires to punish nations: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, WHEN THE TRANSGRESSORS REACH THEIR FULLNESS, a king shall arise , having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his power (Satanically furnished - REV.13:2); He shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty (China, Russia, Europe & the U.S.?), and also the holy people (Israel). Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule (II THESS.2). And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of Princes (Christ); But he shall be broken without Human means (Christ).”

Learn who this king & kingdom will be by watching our T.V. programs on THE BEAST, THE HARLOT, and THE FALSE PROPHET - all stored on YOUTUBE under ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY.

Is the Handwriting on the wall for you - morally & spiritually? Then wake up now through fasting, prayer and repentance that bears the fruit of change (MATTHEW 3:8)! May GOD steer you in HIS direction!

The Majority

You’ve probably heard the saying that “There is safety in numbers…” It’s Human Nature to follow the crowd, to embrace & adopt the ‘majority view’ especially on controversial topics like religion, politics & ethics. The majority of Americans identify as Christians. The majority of voters are conservative - 37% compared to moderates who come in at 34% and Liberals who comprise only 24%. - according to a 2019 Gallup poll. The majority of people embrace & practice the ethics of their peer group.

But the MAJORITY is NOT always right! After all, the majority of Human Beings believe that it’s more beneficial to be ‘on the receiving side of things,’ than ‘on the giving side of things.’ But the truth is just the opposite as Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (ACTS 20:35) And Studies support this, showing that those who have an outward focus & a service mentality are healthier & happier than those who don’t!

The majority of Human Beings also believe that it’s more fun to be irreverent than reverent, that ‘Holy Joes & Janes’ lead boring, dull lives that are full of restrictions. But your Bible says differently: “Happy is the man who is always reverent…” (PROVERBS 28:14) Why? Because a reverent man finds favor in the sight of both God and Man because he treats everyone with respect & honor.

Mark Twain warned: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause & reflect.” That’s good advice, because the Majority View needs to be questioned & scrutinized every bit as much as a Minority View needs to be.

The majority of people living in the Pre-Flood world were wicked: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of Man was GREAT in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually.” (GENESIS 6:5) But a minority, a thin line of righteousness coexisting with the wicked, was present: “Noah was a just man, perfect (Gk. ‘Blameless’) in his generations. Noah walked with God.” (GENESIS 6:9)

It’s not easy to be in the Minority: There’s persecution, ridicule, sometimes even violence! But Abraham bucked the wicked trend of Mankind, obeying God’s voice, keeping His charge, His commandments, His Statutes & His Laws.” (GENESIS 26:5) Moses could have lived in luxury with the Majority of Egypt, but chose to live among the minority subjugated peoples of Israel.

Your Bible says: “Do not follow the Majority when they do wrong, or when they give testimony that perverts Justice.” (EXODUS 23:2 GNT)

Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; For wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life and there are FEW who find it.” (MATTHEW 7:13,14)

Israel was in the minority, being the only nation on earth that God was communicating a message to Mankind through. But Moses, Joshua, Caleb & those who did not bend the knee to Baal (7,000 I Kings 19:18) were in the great minority compared to the majority of Israelites who committed idolatry and did not have God’s favor. The Original Christians were in the great minority to the Jewish establishment of their day - who rejected Jesus as the promised Messiah. And we who practice ‘Original Christianity’ today are in the great minority to the majority of Christians who embrace the Catholic view of the ‘Nature of God’ (the Trinity), their Calendar of Holidays, their view on death & the afterlife, and their view on God’s Law.

Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My FATHER in heaven. MANY will say to Me, in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (MATTHEW 7:21-23)

Judas cast out demons & healed in Jesus name… yet his heart was not right with God and he ended up betraying the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver…

Do you have the faith & courage to buck the trend, to swim against the tide of Pseudo -Christianity and the World? Are you walking the narrow path that leads to God’s Kingdom - or the broad path of the Majority of Human Beings that leads to destruction? Are you following the Pied Piper of False Christian Leaders - or are you walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and the Original Church? May God lead you to choose the narrow path!

Articles of Faith

The ‘Apostles Creed,’ - 1.2 billion Catholics embrace it as their ‘Statement of Belief.’ But does this Creed reflect what Jesus, the Apostles, and the original Christians believed & taught? The word ‘Creed’ comes from the Latin word ‘Creedo’ meaning ‘I believe.’ There are numerous ‘I believe’ statements recorded in your Bible - do you know who said them & where to find them?

Have you ever read & studied your congregation’s or Denomination’s ‘Articles of Faith’? Many such documents may as well be written in stone, having not been altered or updated in centuries! How does a group of Christians ‘grow in the grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ’ (II PETER 3:18), if it never revisits or questions its original ‘Statement of Beliefs’?

The word ‘Creed’ is not in your Bible - but the phrase ‘The Faith’ is - dozens of times:

“Examine yourselves as to whether you’re in ‘The Faith’ - Test yourselves.” (II CORINTHIANS 13:5)

“I (Jude) found it necessary to write to you (the Church) exhorting you to contend earnestly for ‘The Faith’ which was once for all delivered to the Saints.” (JUDE VS.3)

“Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter & opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed & in doing so have departed from The Faith. (I TIM.6:20)

“Here is the patience of the Saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and ‘The Faith’ of Jesus.” (REVELATION 14:12)

Theologians tell us that there has been a ‘Restoration Movement’ going on in Christianity over the past few centuries among groups like the Church of Christ, the Churches of God & the Messianic movement: “The Motive behind all Restoration Movements is to tear down the walls of separation (between denominations) by a return to the practice of the original, essential & universal features of the Christian Religion.” (Rubel Shelly)

Wikipedia describes the movement this way: “The unification of all Christians in a single body, patterned after the Church of the New Testament.”

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing & that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind & in the same judgment.” (I CORINTHIANS 1:10)

How should Christianity today fulfill this command in the name of Christ? Should we all unite around the Apostle’s Creed of Catholicism, or the Articles of Faith of the Lutherans, Methodists or Presbyterians? Should we unite around the teachings of Origen, Tertulian, or one of the other early Church Fathers of the 2nd-3rd Centuries? Or should we return to ‘The Faith’ once for all delivered to the Saints by Jesus & the Apostles - whose beliefs & practices are clearly recorded in the book of ACTS & the EPISTLES?

We at OUR FATHER’S HOUSE choose the latter, as it’s the simplest & most Biblically defensible position to take. If the Lord leads you to agree - come visit us some Sabbath!