The Good Old Days

How far back in history do we have to go in order to find the “good old days?” Well it all depends on who you talk to and how you define those days. Some might say that we would have to go back to the 50s or at least go back at least one generation. In reality the real good old days occurred many, many generations ago. We really need to go back to the book of Genesis to see when things were really at their best. The best of days are defined when God and his highest creation, man, walked together on the earth.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1

“…So God created man in His own image…” Genesis 1:27

“Then God…said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it…’” Genesis 1:28

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” Genesis 1:31

“The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed and out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…” Genesis 2:8-9

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you many freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat…’” Genesis 2:16-17

“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Genesis 2:18

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Genesis 3:8

Those were the real good old days!

So Adam and his mate Eve were created in the image of God. They were given dominion over all of the rest of God’s creation on earth and had complete freedom in the garden. God Himself was right there with them. Now, inasmuch as God created them, He was indeed sovereign over them. He gave them one small instruction, as a condition for their freedom, i.e. there was one tree in the garden of which fruit they were forbidden to eat. That was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had no need to know the difference between good and evil in their pure state and God’s instruction was for their own good. Adam and his wife Eve had need of nothing! They had everything.

All they had to do was follow one simple instruction from their creator and friend. Well, we know what happened next. God’s enemy Lucifer, son of the morning, had been expelled from the presence of God in the heavens because of his disobedience to his creator. He now roamed the earth and set his sights on disrupting the plan for God’s new creation, man.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, when took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3: 6

This action brought the inevitable and necessary response from a Holy God. Lucifer, who became Satan when he was expelled from the heavens, was cursed as well as both Adam and Eve and the earth itself. The good old days had come to an end.

“So the LORD God said to the serpent… ‘You are cursed…’” Genesis 3:14

“God went on to say to Adam, ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake…’” Genesis 3:17

The question is, therefore, will we ever be able to return to the good old days? Will the curse ever be removed?

To answer that question requires that we go to the last chapter of the Bible. In chapter 22 of the book of Revelation where New Jerusalem is described:

“…and there shall be no more curse…” Revelation 22:3

There we have it. The day will come when the curse that was caused by rebellion against a holy God will be removed.

It can be said, then, that the contents of the Bible between Genesis chapter 3 and the final chapter of the Revelation is a seamless exposition of man’s odyssey to return to the good old days when he will once again walk in the presence of the One who created him in His own image.

Throughout the ages man has attempted on his own initiative to return to better days but each time has failed miserably. To illustrate this point we simply need to examine every piece of legislation passed, every executive order issued, and every judicial decision rendered to see if it is in line with the immutable word of God. Remember the curse was given because of disobeying a single instruction.

Not only are we not taking the Bible seriously we are denying it. That being the case, how in the world will the curse ever be removed?

It’s simply a matter of grace.

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Preach On Mr. President!

During a major speech on the economy delivered at Georgetown University on April 14th President Obama cited a popular Biblical passage in order to bolster support for his strategic plans to revive our sagging economy. He stated in part:

“Now there’s a parable at the end of the sermon on the mount that tells the story of two men. The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was soon destroyed when a storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when ‘the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house, it fell not: for it was founded on a rock.’”

“That’s the new foundation we must build. That’s our house built upon a rock. That must be our future…and my administration’s policies are designed to achieve that future. That is the house upon the rock…proud, sturdy, unwavering in the face of the greatest storms…I have no doubt that this house will stand and the dream of our founders will live on in our time.”

No doubt millions of Americans were encouraged to hear our president compare his policies with scriptural teachings. The parable that he cited is very popular indeed. Let’s review the original parable and compare it with Mr. Obama’s words and his assessment of that parable. Actually Mr. Obama’s rendition picks up right after the situational setting of the parable. Now this is very significant because Jesus puts the parable of the two men and their houses within a specific context.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27

The parable very clearly states that the wise man who built his house on the rock applies to the man who hears Jesus’ teachings and does them. The foolish man who builds his house on the sand is one who hears those same teachings but rejects them. That is the specific context for the parable.

Now then, can any political leader, whether conservative or liberal, claim to build “their house on a rock” if they have heard but rejected the teachings of the Bible?

Consider for example that on his first day as president, Mr. Obama announced that he would issue an executive order to reinstate funding internationally for groups that perform or promote abortions.

Consider further, does this administration’s position of redistribution of wealth via taxation coincide with Biblical principles? How about mass government sponsored entitlement programs? How about this administration’s strategy for peace in the Middle East? How about this administration’s tolerance of those who are attempting to overthrow this country and install a religion not taught in the Bible? How about this administration’s tolerance of those who are overtly removing God from daily life, i.e. removing “In God We Trust” from the new dollar coin or removing “Under God” from the pledge of allegiance? How about legislation that tolerates anti-biblical teachings because they have become the societal norm? How about the appointment of judges having ideologies that conflict with biblical teachings?

Again, inconsistencies such as those mentioned above are definitely not limited to the political party presently in charge. It just seems hypocritical to claim to be able to build a “house on the rock” when the stated condition in order to do that is to “hear and do” the teachings of the Bible.

In the current situation there are perhaps as many that think Mr. Obama is building his house on the sand as there are that think he is building it on a rock.

Everyone has the freedom to examine the facts and decide for themselves whether political rhetoric is substance or fluff. We should be particularly observant to see if those who claim Christianity and cite the Bible really understand it, and furthermore are prepared to live up to what they say.

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Armageddon

Once again with this new administration, not unlike several previous administrations, a major political goal is to engineer lasting peace in the Middle East; specifically peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The present administration adamantly states that such a peace agreement must include a “two state” arrangement whereby the Palestinians can establish a sovereign state within Israel’s borders. The present administration also feels that Israel is the major obstacle to such a peace agreement. The truth is that the Palestinians do not want to share Israel’s land, they want Israel totally annihilated. This was obvious when former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered the Palestinians the most generous proposal to date but it was flatly refused. This offer included ceding the vast majority of the West Bank to the Palestinians as well as splitting the ancient city of Jerusalem. It’s interesting to note that Olmert offered concessions that were way “above his pay grade.”

Now then, how does the present challenge with Israel and the Palestinians relate to Armageddon? Simply this; the proposed solution to the ongoing strife between Isaac and Ishmael will be the “straw that broke the camel’s back” of God’s patience.

It is utterly amazing that an issue that is so clearly stated and confirmed repeatedly in the Bible is totally ignored by the world’s decision makers including those of the United States.

“…And I will establish My covenant between Me and you (Abraham) and your descendants after you…for an everlasting covenant…also I give to you …all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession…” Genesis 17:7-8

“…My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year” Genesis 17:21

And even though the United Nations doesn’t recognize Jerusalem as the legal capital of Israel, God established it as such.

“…I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” Ezekiel 37:26-28

“…this (temple in Jerusalem) is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.” Ezekiel 43:7

The kings of the earth, however, think they have a better plan; but their rationale will produce catastrophic results. And while they think that they have devised their own strategies, they will learn that they are just fulfilling the word of God penned over two millennia ago.

“For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem…” Zechariah 14:2

“It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Zechariah 12:9

“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice…saying ‘release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.” Revelation 9:13-15

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates…and I saw three unclean spirits…go out to the kings of the earth…to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…And they gathered them together to the place called…Armageddon.” Revelation 16:12-16

And what does the Bible say will precipitate this great war called Armageddon?

“I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” Joel 3:2

Therefore, what men are attempting to fix, specifically the splitting of Jerusalem and dividing the land with the descendents of Ishmael, God says will lead to destruction.

While America should be pleased to have a professing Christian as their Commander in Chief, many find it troubling that he has recently stated that “America is no longer a Christian nation” and then goes on to state that the United States is now “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.” Rhetoric and wisdom are not necessarily synonymous. President Obama needs to keep in mind always that his Bible clearly states that God’s covenant was with Abraham’s son Isaac, the father of Jacob, who was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel and not Isaac’s half brother Ishmael, the progenitor of the Arab nations.

The Bible further clearly states how God looks on those who want to usurp His sovereignty and who attempt to design the future and fate of the nations.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.” Isaiah 40:21-22

It is sad to realize that with all the history to validate the Bible, we as a nation will continue to trudge on in darkness which will only serve to accelerate the inevitable arrival of Armageddon.

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Seventy Two Virgins Are Waiting

Inasmuch as Islam is the biggest and fastest growing religion on earth and has as its objective to prevail over the entire world, it behooves us to continue to learn more about it, especially as it relates to Christianity which is presently the majority religion in America and provides the principles on which this great nation was founded.

Both Christianity and Islam teach that physical death will be followed by the resurrection of the body and the resurrected body will then live forever in either eternal joy or eternal damnation. Eternal joy for the Christian is to spend eternity with the God that created him/her and who also planned and provided for this so great a future.

The Christian description of the place of eternal joy is described in the following:

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” Revelation 21:2-3

Then also according to the Bible those that reject God’s plan and provision will spend eternity apart from the presence of the Godhead.

“And everyone (else) was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

Islam’s teachings once again begin with these same scriptural precepts but were then added to and altered by their prophet Mohammad for obscure reasons. Their place for eternal joy is called paradise while the place of eternal damnation is called hell. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that paradise and hell constitute the intermediate stage between physical death and the resurrection of the body based on the following:

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:43

At the resurrection the penitent thief will be given a glorified body and reside forever in God’s presence in New Jerusalem, or heaven.

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14

Those that go immediately to hell at the time of death will also be resurrected after the millennial reign of Christ to stand the great White Throne Judgment. At that time they are consigned to their everlasting place apart from God, i.e. the lake of fire.

Islam’s Koran teaches that paradise for departed Muslims will appeal to the senses. The primary reward for the faithful is the gift of 72 “damsels of paradise” to be taken as wives along with any earthly wives that one wishes to retain. The anticipation of such a reward is a very appealing incentive to jihad martyrs.

The major question that arises is how does a person attain eternal bliss according to the teachings of Islam?

Islam teaches that at the resurrection all of the deeds of a man will be placed on a scale and weighed to see if their good deeds outweigh the bad. Islam teaches that even Muslims who did not fare well in the deed “weigh-in” exercise will only spend a limited time in hell and then be released and taken up to paradise.

Muslims further teach that professing Christians are not subject to the “weigh-in” but are automatically consigned to a predetermined level in hell because Christians are classified as infidels and there is absolutely no place for infidels in the Muslim paradise. There is in fact no place for anyone in the Muslim paradise other than those that have embraced Islam.

On the other hand, according to the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew that mortal man could never live up to the requirements of a holy God. To overcome this dilemma God presented Himself as the God-Man Jesus to live a sinless life and then offer His life as a substitute for all of the rest of us. To prove that the sacrificial death of Jesus was accepted by God the Father, Jesus was resurrected from the grave to return to Heaven. The Bible then states that all that accept the free gift of eternal life through the vicarious death of Jesus will be resurrected just as He was to live forever.

It is both interesting and ironic that Christianity has been vilified because of its’ alleged exclusivity when claiming the words of Jesus:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

In Christianity when someone rejects the teachings of the Bible, he does so with no recourse from other Christians. Islam teaches that one who rejects the teachings of the Koran is deemed worthy of death by the rest of the Islamic community.

Jesus issued numerous prophecies and performed countless miracles during his time on earth. Islam’s prophet did neither according to the Koran.

Jesus was resurrected from the grave and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father awaiting the command to return to earth. Islam’s prophet remains in the grave.

Eternal joy for the Muslim is based on man’s ability to perform. Eternal joy for the Christian is based solely on God’s grace.

Once again each person can determine the “truth” as they perceive it based on the assessment of the evidence and history.

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Comparing Islam with Christianity

Not only is Islam the largest religion in the world, it encompasses so much more than just religious precepts. Therefore its guiding literature includes much more than the Koran. Islamic literature includes a complete set of guidelines for civil governance as well. These guidelines are termed the Hadis, or Hadith. In the present context we’ll limit our comparison to the Islamic religious creed which is divided into six articles that are described and defined in the Koran. We will examine the highlights of the first article and outline the Islamic interpretation and then compare that with what the Bible states relative to that same article.

However, even before we begin the comparison it needs to be remembered that Islam was founded in the 7th century AD. The Koran was, therefore, compiled subsequent to that time period. Islam and the Koran began with the basic tenants of Christianity and Judaism as recorded in the Bible. These tenants were then changed and/or added to by the self proclaimed prophet Mohammed to conform to his vision for a “new and improved” religion. While the Koran was written over a 23 year period of Mohammed’s life, the Bible by contrast was compiled over many centuries and its’ writings were completed by the end of the 1st century AD. The Bible contains several unambiguous statements relative to its authenticity and finality.

“…You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it…” Deuteronomy 4:2

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32

“Every word of God is pure…Do not add to His words…” Proverbs 30:5-6

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life… Revelation 22:18-19

The first religious article in the Koran is the belief in God. Islam portrays their god, Allah, as a singular god that has no offspring. Consider the following passages from the Koran:

“In blasphemy indeed are those that say that God is Christ the son of Mary.”
Surah 5:17

“They said, ‘The Most Gracious has begotten a son’! You have uttered a gross blasphemy. The heavens are about to shatter, the earth is about to tear asunder, and the mountains are about to crumble. Because they claim that the Most Gracious has begotten a son. It is not befitting the Most Gracious that He should beget a son.” Surah 19:88-92

“The Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth…they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth!” Surah 9:30

The above passages from the Koran adamantly deny the plurality of the Godhead and the deity of Christ. Muslims state that their Allah was self-sufficient and had no need for a “son” to do his work.

For the Christian, however, the plurality of the Godhead and the deity of Christ are two of their foundational doctrines and both are proclaimed in numerous biblical passages beginning in the first chapter of Genesis. Let’s examine firstly the plurality of the Godhead.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over…all the earth…” Genesis 1:26

The Hebrew word for God in this passage is Elohim which is a plural noun which is then followed by several plural pronouns, i.e. Us and Our.

There are numerous passages in the New Testament also that attest to the plurality of the Godhead.

By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. I John 4:13-14

The deity of Christ, while again denied in the Koran, is also clearly presented in the New Testament.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father… John 1:14

In the New Testament we refer to the Greek language for understanding. The Greek base for “Word” is logos which is defined as a thought or concept and the expression or utterance of that thought. That thought or concept in this passage is Christ who is not only the begotten of the Father but is in fact the visible expression of the Father.

Thus it can be seen that the very first article of Islam’s religious creed differs drastically with the Biblical account of the doctrine of God. While the Koran vehemently denies the plurality of the Godhead and the deity of Christ, Christianity and the Bible are built on these basic precepts.

Again, a person’s choice of religion should be a free and personal decision. Every individual can examine the literature and history of any religion and then make their own rational choice whether the religion is based on fact or fiction. Under no conditions should any religion be forced on another individual. The first amendment should prevail.

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Destruction From Within

Following are several excerpts from a pro Muslim speech delivered by an American born Muslim named Abu Yousuf. He told his young Muslim audience:

“We reject the United Nations, we reject America, and we reject all law and order. Don’t lobby congress or protest because we don’t recognize congress! The only relationship you should have with America is to topple it!”

“Eventually there will be a Muslim in the White House dictating the laws of Shariah.” (Islamic law)

And where was this fervent speech delivered? Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or perhaps Indonesia? Not hardly, it was given to a group of MSA members at Queensborough Community College in New York City. MSA is the Muslim Student Association which is in turn a part of a much larger international organization called the Muslim Brotherhood.

Inasmuch as Queensborough CC is publicly funded, the Muslim students in attendance qualified for federal funding to help with their college costs. The MSA was founded 45 years ago and boasts chapters in over 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Other Islamic organizations operating in the United States include the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA); the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT); the Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA); the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP); and perhaps the most widely known and prominent group operating in the United States is the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Most Americans have no idea of the organized effort to overtake America from within. It is really a type of silent jihad, or as author Robert Spencer titled his book, “Stealth Jihad.” (Spencer’s book should be on the “must read” list for all freedom loving Americans). And even though terror may not be on the front burner for these organizations, the overall goal is the same, i.e. to “conquer and Islamize the United States which will further their even larger goal of establishing a global Islamic state governed under Shariah law.”

And even though the majority of those involved in this movement may not be considered terrorists, but rather claim the title of “moderate Muslims” they still believe that the appropriate remedy for both apostates and infidels is death. In reality, according to their leaders and their literature, there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim.

Islamic “law” portrays women as being inferior to men. For example, in order to bring a charge of rape against a man, the victim must produce at least two men as witnesses. Where in the world are the feminists and the National Organization for Women? Their law also includes amputation for theft.

Silent jihad leaders present themselves as civil rights advocates and we are buying it! They are trying to silence freedom of speech by claiming that any criticism of their movement constitutes hate crimes.

There is no question about it, the Muslim Brotherhood, which also spawned Hamas, the Taliban, and Al Qaeda, has a goal to eliminate Western civilization by using deception to cover their real agenda. The process includes what they term “reverse assimilation” in which Muslims in the United States gradually impose their values and ultimately their laws upon non Muslims in the existing population.

Muslims in America are taking full advantage of our democratic laws and our political correctness to promote their cause.

Following are several other quotes from “peaceful” and silent jihadists that describe the Islamic agenda for America and the west.

“The Muslim Brotherhood must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”

These quotes are clearly lacking in peace and tolerance of other religions. A very important point to grasp is that each of us must become informed on what is going on not only in America, but in our own back yard. The following is from MSA’s homepage from the University of Oklahoma.

“MSA has diligently participated in activities, rallies, lectures, and conferences to teach the true meaning of Islam at the University of Oklahoma. MSA is striving to become model Muslims and to serve the Muslim community by spreading the message of Islam, there is no other God than Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”

Islam, Allah, and the Koran are totally at odds with Christianity, the Bible, Western civilization, and history. Every individual has the right to choose their own belief and value system. However, no one has the right to impose their beliefs and value system on another. For those that would choose Christianity several scripture references need to be kept in mind at all times.

“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.’” Exodus 20:11-3

“And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many…’” Matthew 24:4-5

If anyone would think that this is “fear mongering” check out what has happened in Europe during the last several decades.

We need to wake up and stay informed!

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