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Any Day Now Blog

Blog Grid2023-04-25T16:14:51-05:00

New Sex Education standards for public school

First, STOP! I want you to know that the next paragraph in this email contains a description of wickedness that should only be read by mature adults.

According to a new set of sex education standards for public school children, by the time your children or grandchildren are in the eighth grade, they should be able to define and describe various sex acts including sodomy, which is described in the standards with explicit detail.

I considered using the actual language from the standards, but I just could not bring myself to incorporate something so vile into this email.

God warned of the consequences of such evil some 2,700 years ago. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah wrote:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness! … Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! Woe to those who … take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!” (Isaiah 5:20-23, NASB)

Throughout history, the fall of corrupt nations has often confirmed the truth of Isaiah’s prophecy.

And, yes, it can happen here in America.

But Isaiah also gives me hope for our nation because it teaches that how we respond to the truth of God’s Word has much to do with whether or not a society experiences a collapse or resurgence.

Because of Isaiah’s warnings and hope, I want to offer you an outstanding new resource from American Family Studios, Isaiah: The Servant of the Lord, a video teaching series featuring Dr. John Oswalt. The series contains six sessions that cover all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah.

Dr. Oswalt is an American scholar and distinguished professor of Old Testament. He is the author of 11 books, his most notable being his two-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series.

If you’re like me and need to understand the Old Testament better, this is a great opportunity. Dr. Oswalt explains Isaiah’s rich and relevant truths in a friendly and approachable style. And the series is perfect for small groups and Sunday school classes, so we’ve included a booklet with discussion questions and more.

Our nation’s moral decline mirrors what was happening in Judah during Isaiah’s lifetime.

Today, the godless radicals that dominate public education and every other social institution are, in effect, saying to Christians:

1. “Keep your mouths shut!”
Michigan high school student David Stout is suing his school and its officials because he was suspended from classes and all extracurricular activities for three days for “bullying.”

How was he a bully? According to the lawsuit, when asked by another student for his opinion, Stout explained the biblical teachings on homosexuality and gender identity – which offended the student, who complained. A teacher at the school went so far as to tell Stout never to share his Christian beliefs on those issues even on social media while away from school. As Isaiah said, “Woe to those who … take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!”

2. “We’ll train your kids in our worldview.”
The new “National Sex Education Standards” (NSES) I mentioned before are being rolled out to schools for grades K-12. Here are some examples of the reprehensible content found in those standards:

  • In line with the current push of critical race theory in schools, the NSES is filled with “social justice” language related to power dynamics, equity, discrimination, intersectionality, and white privilege.
  • By the end of second grade, the standards insist that children be able to “define gender, gender identity, and gender-role stereotypes” in a way that is accepting of the transgender movement.
  • In high school, students are to be taught about homophobia and transphobia while also being instructed that families must support young people who are homosexual and/or transgender.
  • Schools are exhorted to teach that all adults – including parents, teachers, and administrators – “should respect and use the pronouns each student uses for themselves.”
  • Especially worrisome is that one of the targets of the NSES is the “emotionally harmful” trauma that can result from “the influence of environments such as … religious institutions,” especially regarding the dynamics of “homophobia.”

According to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 41% of public school districts in the U.S. have adopted the NSES standards. Whether that percentage increases will depend on the alertness of parents across the nation.

If you have friends and family with children in public schools, please make them aware of these perverse standards on human sexuality and encourage them to check to see if they’ve taken root in their

local district. Our schools will better serve our children when parents take seriously their God-given responsibilities of oversight and ensure that their children are not stained by such wickedness.

3. “Parents, it’s none of your business what we’re teaching your kids.”
A 12-year-old Florida girl attempted suicide at her school after school officials encouraged her – without informing her parents – to consider “transitioning” to become a boy.

Since such “encouragement” seems to be in line with the policies of the Biden administration, the incident led Rep. Virginia Foxx (R) and Sen. Richard Burr (R) of North Carolina to send a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education criticizing the policy. They wrote:

According to the girl’s father, the school had been in conversations with the girl about a gender transition, had begun calling her a boy, and had assigned her a new name. They did all of this without notifying the parents.

In California, a mom has begun legal proceedings against Spreckels Union School District after two teachers allegedly convinced her 11-year-old daughter that shewas a transgender boy. According to media reports, the girl’s mom said teachers who led the “You Be You” equality club went so far as giving her daughter tips on “binding” her breasts so they would stop developing.

The California Teachers Association criticized the legal action being taken by the mother, saying that schools have a responsibility to protect a student’s gender identity and sexual orientation – even keeping it from parents if that’s what the student wants.

My friends, America desperately needs a spiritual revival birthed out of a true understanding of what the Bible teaches!

That’s why our formal mission statement includes this reason for AFA’s existence: “to give aid to the church, here and abroad, in its calling to fulfill the Great Commission.”

One way we do that is by creating and distributing resources like Isaiah: The Servant of the Lord.

We hope these resources help realign our thinking about the heart of God and what it means to live as one of His followers. And don’t we all need that?

In Isaiah 55, a well-known and beloved passage, God invites all those who thirst to come to Him and drink of the living water that He offers freely. There, the wicked and unrighteous will find compassion and pardon when they repent and turn to Him in faith.

Through every resource that God has given AFA, you and I echo that invitation in the name of Jesus.

I know you want to be among those who proclaim that message without apology, fear, or regret. So please continue to prayerfully and financially support this ministry. In appreciation, I want to send you a copy of Isaiah: The Servant of the Lord. Use the enclosed gift slip and postage-paid envelope to request your copy today.
Sincerely,
Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association

Amir Tsarfati Weekly – 4/18/2022 It’s Not About Religion

 

Religion is certainly not the answer. And back to the Vatican! Is that what Jesus had in mind when He sent the apostles? Walk into the Basilica, you’re gonna see the throne of Peter. Last time I checked, Peter was a fisherman in Galilee. Last time I checked, the minute he walked into the house of Cornelius in Caesarea, and everybody bowed down before him, he said, “Please don’t! Stand up! I’m not God! Don’t do it!” Do not worship people! Worship God. So, you see the worship of Mary and the worship of Peter, and so many rules and regulations, and traditions that crawled into religion, is that exactly what Jesus had in mind when he preached the good news? 

So, let’s conclude the message. It’s all about the Word of God. And the Word of God came to this world and became flesh and dwelt among us. And He came and gave the good news of salvation. And whoever believes in Him receives the free gift of the Holy Spirit. And when you have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God inside of you, then you understand the Word of God, and the nature of God. Then, you receive a new heart, and you become a new creation. It’s not about religion, brother. It is about relationship. You need the Holy Spirit. You need to be born again, and you need to become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Bible Bite: It’s Not About Religion, Brother
Imagine having the opportunity to go on a family vacation and rather than taking your actual family with you, you bring along a picture of them instead. This is what religion is like. Instead of enjoying an ongoing and personal relationship with God, you settle for statues, rituals, and recited prayers to or through saints to replace the actual and personal relationship God wants to have with you.

Revelation 22:6-9
Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

While there is some debate about who or what this being is that John fell down to worship, we need to recognize his immediate response to the disciple, “See that you do not do that!” Some say this is an angel and others say angels are not are brethren so this is a glorified human. Either way the redirect was the right response to John’s errant actions, “Worship God.”

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 

We don’t need to pray through saints or Mary. We don’t need repetitive words or phrases to communicate to God. There is no human agent who can absolve our sins, because there is only “one Mediator between God and men” and that is Christ Jesus. It is not the Pope, not a priest, not an angel, nor a dead saint. To exalt any of these persons or practices to the place of being what allows us to access or become acceptable to God is nothing more than false religion.

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  

Reciting “Hail Marys” or “Our Fathers” are vain repetitions not acts of penance. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus – not confessing to a priest, not the repeated recitation of phrases or memorized prayers. Think about it, prayer is simply talking to God. We don’t talk to each other in repeated memorized phrases, so why would we talk to God that way? That’s religion, not a relationship.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Supplication means “earnest petition” and notice that Paul says to take those earnest petitions directly to God through prayer. This is one of the great privileges of the Christian faith! Through Jesus we have direct access to the throne room of God. His blood gave us that access and no human action or intermediary is necessary for us to go directly to God with our earnest petitions and prayers.

John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

As a child of God we do not have to go through others or take qualifying steps to talk to our Father. We don’t need Mary to pray for us, nor does the Bible imply we should pray to her. We don’t need saints from the past to mediate for us. These are all man-made religious practices. As someone who has received Christ through belief in Him we have all the rights any other child of God has.

Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

If you need help from the great and mighty God, you can go directly to Him in prayer and He will answer you and show you great and mighty things you didn’t know. It’s not because you came to Him through the right religious rituals or recitations, but because you are His child and He is your Father. Don’t settle for religious rituals when a personal relationship with God has become a reality through being reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Jesus did not come into the world in the likeness of sinful human flesh, die a criminal’s death on a cross after being beaten to the point to where He was barely recognizable as a human, have the beard ripped from His face and a crown of thorns pressed down on His head, get scourged with lashes and mocked by His executioners, all just so He could establish a religion. He endured the cross while despising the shame for the joy of bringing as many as received Him into the personal relationship with God that was severed in the garden when man fell into sin.

This is what the Passion week is all about – man being reconciled to God, not man becoming more religious.  

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Bible Teaching: Bible Lands Unveiled: It’s Not About Religion Brother

 

The Six Trials of Jesus

The Six Trials of Jesus

Who was the greatest

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https://canadafreepress.com/article-video/the-six-trials-of-jesus

One of the most dramatic and far-reaching events in world history is the execution of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. While Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrected Messiah, there would be no Easter without a crucifixion; and no crucifixion without trials that set up Jesus for execution.

These trials are fascinating for the legal procedures from Jewish and Roman law. But ultimately the political struggle over control of the Temple helped doom Christ.

  1. Courtroom Laws of the Jews: Mishnah Sanhedrin

Of course the law for the ancient Jews was found in the Old Testament, especially in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. But the Mishnah also contains law as it was developed for the ancient Israeli courts. According to legend, the Mishnah is the “oral half” of Moses’ Mt. Sinai law “…that which is memorized by rote.” Cited here is Mishnah tractate Sanhedrin, being the Jewish legal rules drawn from the Pentateuch, and other sources for the Israeli court system. The Talmud is the supreme extract of Mishnah, considered the most influential document in the history of Judea.

  1. Sanhedrin, Lesser & Greater

The Sanhedrin were Jewish leaders, both locally and nationally, according to Lawrence. In Hebrew communities with at least 120 families, a smaller Sanhedrin consisted of 23 members who made all decisions. The Greater Sanhedrin was a national council of 70 members plus the High Priest, acting as Israel’s final Court of Appeal. This body combined functions of legislative, judicial, and executive. There were 24 chief priests, 24 elders, and 22 scribes on the panel. This design was allowed by the Romans when they ruled Jewish lands.

III. The Six Trials of Jesus & a Crucifixion

Legal historians count six different trials of Christ, according to John W. Lawrence in The Six Trials of Jesus, each having a judicial, or at least a pseudo-legal component.

  1. Arrest

Somewhere between 30-33 A.D., in Jerusalem on Thursday, week of Passover, directly after the Last Supper, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, considering His coming torture and grisly death—he “sweated blood” in apprehension. A group approaching Him was led by Judas, who betrayed His identity by a kiss. This group of Jewish officials also included a cohort of perhaps 1,000 Roman soldiers and support. After ascertaining his identity, he was delivered to Annas, perhaps the most powerful Jewish politician and religious official of his day.

The text says, “Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.” (John 18:12-13) Annas was considered true High Priest of Israel, even though his son-in-law Caiaphas occupied the elected position, being the power behind the throne, as 5 of his sons, the son-in-law, and a grandson all were elected High Priest during his life.

  1. Six Trials of Christ
  2. Trial Before Annas

Christ’s first “religious trial” occurred before the Annas. His family ran a racket in the Temple where their cartel controlled the sale of sacrificial animals. Jesus was hated for driving out this money-making horde by whip.

Jesus was led by soldiers to Annas’ house for initial interrogation, questioned for His followers and teachings:

Meanwhile, high priest (Annas) questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (John 18:19-24)

Jesus relied upon Jewish legal tradition to not condemn Himself. Having decided Christ was guilty, nonetheless, Annas sent him to Caiaphas.

  2.  Trial Before Caiaphas & Sanhedrin

Early Friday morning, Jesus faced the standing High Priest Caiaphas and Sanhedrin Great Council. Many witnesses indicted Christ, but none agreed on specifics. But the purpose of the court was to frame Jesus: “Now the chief priest and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found it not, though many false witnesses came.” (Matthew 26:59-60)

But during this trial Jesus was asked by the High Priest about his true identity, invoking the “Living God”:

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered. (Matt 26:63-66)

Christ was forced to answer truthfully in the name of God. When Jesus admitted being Messiah, he claimed equality with God, so supposedly blasphemed Himself to the Jews. So a sentence of execution was demanded.

  3. Trial Before Sanhedrin, Early Next Morning

The trial before the Sanhedrin had to be done in the morning to ratify the previous trial because it had been done at night, which was illegal, according to Lawrence. But there are significant differences from the night before.

First, the setting is Sanhedrin’s Great Hall, instead of Caiaphas’ home. Also, Caiaphas is no longer in charge, and not even mentioned. Further, there are no witnesses mentioned. Instead, Christ’s admission to “blasphemy” is the key piece of evidence. But in His testimony, Christ refuses to agree, noting even if He admits this, they still will not believe. The group votes by merely standing to show a consensus. Jesus is now taken to Pontius Pilate for his first civil, Roman trial.

  1. Fourth Trial, 1st With Pontius Pilate

The following trial was next morning, early Friday, the sun yet to rise, probably around 5 am, according to Lawrence. Jesus was taken to Pilate since the Jews had condemned him to death, they had no right to execute anyone. Fascinatingly, while they wanted to kill Christ for claiming to be God, this was not against Roman law. In fact, Romans themselves regarded Caesar Augustus as God. So the Jews had to invent a charge worthy of death.

Pilate was Procurator of Palestine; infamous for bloodthirsty rule and hating Jews. When the Sanhedrin demanded Jesus executed, he did not immediately acquiesce. Pilate asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” (John 18:28) The charge they leveled was: “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” (Luke 23:2)

After questioning Christ, and finding no crime, Pilate tried to release Him. But the Sanhedrin would not acquiesce. Fearing insurrection, Pilate had him whipped. Then, not being willing to execute Him, he sent him to Herod Antipas, noting Jesus was a Galilean, and therefore under Herod’s jurisdiction.

   5. Fifth Trial of Herod Antipas

Christ was then sent to Herod who was greatly interested, having heard of His exploits, and hoping to see some miracles. This is the same Herod whom beheaded John the Baptist after promising his stepdaughter, Salome, anything she asked for, during a feast when she danced seductively for him.

But when Herod questioned Christ, all he received was silence: “He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.” (Luke 23:9) In response, having heard the charges, and knowing all the players, Herod declares Jesus innocent, as well.

  1. Sixth Trial, 2nd With Pontius Pilate

Jesus was returned to Pilate. Both leaders declared Jesus innocent:

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” (Luke 23:13-16)

The Sanhedrin were furious Jesus defied their Temple monopoly, so he must die. Pilate did not want to execute Christ, finding him innocent. His wife also warned him: “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matt 27:19) But when Pilate realized the crowd was getting unruly, he decided to execute Christ, and lay responsibility on the Jewish leaders.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Luke 23: 22-25)

  1. Summary & Illegal Aspects of the Trials

Every legal hearing Jesus experienced was rife with mistakes and falsification. The entire process was a “railroading” to make sure the desired outcome—judicial execution by the state—was achieved. One cannot blame the Jews, as a whole, for this outcome, but instead a corrupt ruling elite.

Some of the illegal activities done by Christ’s accuser’s have been listed by David K. Breed, in his The Trial of Christ. These are termed “Reversible Errors.” They include:

  1. No process could take place on the Jewish Sabbath or on feast days.
  2. No process could be started at night or even afternoon for a trial before a regular Sanhedrin court.
  3. It was error for acting Judge Caiaphas to seek words from mouth of Christ’s to convict Him, without first making a prima-facie case with other witnesses.
  4. Caiaphas’ Palace was not the meeting place of the Sanhedrin: it was error to hold a trial there.
  5. It was error for Caiaphas to have acted as Judge after having publicly declared that Christ deserved death.
  6. It was error to have left Him unguarded, to the unrestrained license of the mob in the gallery of Caiaphas’ palace or court.
  7. The Sanhedrin had no jurisdiction in Capital Cases, being divested of that jurisdiction by the Romans forty years before.
  8. The Sanhedrin had no power except at a regular meeting.
  9. It was error not to appoint someone to defend Him—Jesus had no counsel.
  10. It was error not to have “warned” the witnesses in this capital case, in a Sanhedrin court.
  11. Courts erred not taking into consideration guilt or innocence of Jesus.
  12. It was error to take Christ, as prisoner, before Annas.
  13. Roman Law required trials be public; the private trial of Christ before Annas and Caiaphas was illegal.
  14. It was error to convict a man on the testimony of false witnesses.
  15. Pilate having announced Jesus not guilty, erred in permitting the verdict of the “mob” to stand.
  16. Sanhedrin could not convict on the same day as the trial; they must hold verdict of “guilty” under advisement at least 2 days.
  17. Judicial Execution by Crucifixion

Christ was then crucified, a type of execution described here:

The condemned, after being whipped (“scourged”), dragged the crossbeam of his cross to the place of punishment, where the upright shaft was already fixed in the ground. Stripped nude, his arms nailed firmly to the crossbeam through wrists. The crossbeam was raised high against the upright shaft, then secured 9-12 feet off the ground. Next, feet were nailed to the upright shaft. A ledge was placed halfway up the upright shaft for support to the body. Over the criminal’s head was a notice stating his name and crime. Death was caused by asphyxiation, but could be hastened by shattering the legs (crurifragium) with an iron club.

  1. Conclusion

Christ himself prophesied his coming execution. That he was innocent is attested by his judges, and also granted by accusers when they could not find honest witnesses. Yet, without His death, Christianity would have never arisen to better the world for 2,000 years. Christ’s followers are well-advised, while celebrating His life and death, to recall the extreme ends His enemies went to try and kill His ideas and beliefs. But without Christ and His brave sacrifices up to death, the modern world could never have come into being, nor would Easter’s promise of everlasting resurrection even be imaginable.

CFP Comments

Kelly O’Connell — Bio and Archives

Kelly O’Connell is an author and attorney. He was born on the West Coast, raised in Las Vegas, and matriculated from the University of Oregon. After laboring for the Reformed Church in Galway, Ireland, he returned to America and attended law school in Virginia, where he earned a JD and a Master’s degree in Government. He spent a stint working as a researcher and writer of academic articles at a Miami law school, focusing on ancient law and society. He has also been employed as a university Speech & Debate professor. He then returned West and worked as an assistant district attorney. Kelly is now is a private practitioner with a small law practice in New Mexico.

 

Our Risen Lord and the Origin of Easter

Our Risen Lord and the Origin of Easter

     We celebrate a day we call Easter in remembrance of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but what do we really know about this holiday? It is a time of rejoicing and prayer and thanks that God Loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son into the world (John 3:16) to bring us the Truth (John 18:37), to die for us, and God raised Him after being buried three days and three nights. God did this because He loves us so dearly that He prepared a way for us to go to heaven to be with Him as we could not do it ourselves. By sending His Son to live a sinless life and conquer death, we likewise can enter heaven if, and only if, we are covered by Jesus Christ’s blood, accepting the Holy Spirit into us, and serve and obey Him (Matt 24:13).

     Christ rising from the dead is the most important and monumental event in human history and is the basis for our faith. Paul said, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain … And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:14,17).

What Date did God raise Jesus Christ?

     Christ conquered death and we likewise do not fear death (Hosea 13:14). Easter is a time in which Christian churches have a sunrise service in celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. In 1894, Sir Robert Anderson (the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Dept, in Scotland Yard, London) wrote “The Coming Prince“, a work that details the timing of Daniels’s seventy weeks, and specifically the timing of Christ’s declaration of the Messiah on Palm Sunday. [Those that do not have this book, I implore you to get a copy and read it. It is a valuable resource in the study of prophecy.]

     Sir Robert Anderson detailed the timing of Christ’s first declaration very precisely as the Messiah as he sat on the colt of a donkey walking on palm branches into Jerusalem while the crowds shouted, “Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:9). In short, the prophecy in Dan 9:25-26 was so precise that it indicated that Christ would be killed during Passover as the sacrificial Lamb of God 483 years of days (exactly 173,880 days = 12 mo/yr x 30 days/mo x 483 yr) after the command was given for the rebuilding of the temple. King Artaxerxes of Persia decreed this in the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of his reign and the temple was subsequently rebuilt as a result of that decree.

     Therefore, the scribes and Pharisees should have known that Christ would come and be declared as the Messiah 173,880 days later, which fell on the Passover week in Nisan 32 AD. Jesus wept because the religious teachers of that day did not know the day of His coming (Luke 19:41-44) which was so clearly pointed out in the Scriptures. Sir Anderson chronologically detailed the span to end exactly on April 6th, 32AD. This is the date corresponding to the prophetic timeframe given and is believed that Jesus rode upon the cult into Jerusalem on that date. That Passover week when Jesus was put on trial, found to be without fault, and crucified. God the Father rose Jesus the Sunday after Jesus was buried three days and three nights, on April 13th, 32AD. Based on the prior works, this is the date in which Christ rose.

If Christ arose on April 13th, why don’t we celebrate that date each year?

     Soon after Christ rose, the spirit of the anti-christ was well established and essentially ran the dominate church for the next 1,400+ years, including the entire dark age. John warned the early Christians to be aware that the spirit of the anti-christ was already in the world (1 John 4:3). At one time this church executed everyone that even possessed a copy of the scriptures and forced as much of the world as they could to join their church through fear and intimidation. It is estimated that this church martyred over 50 million true Christians during this time that refused to join the “mother church”.

     To have as many pagans join their church as possible, they accepted and incorporated the most important pagan holidays into the church with a slight christian spin on each so the pagans could continue to worship their idols and “gods” and yet still be a part of the church. We are commanded by the scriptures to separate ourselves from the world, not merge into it, but this is not what they did. (2 Cor 6:14-17; Rom 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17; Gen 12:1-3; 1 Cor 1:26-28; 2 Cor 7:1; Eph 2:1-3; James 4:4; 1 Peter 1:13-16; Luke 14:26-27; John 15:19; John 17:3-4,17; 1 Cor 2:10-16; Heb 11:8-10; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 5:19-20; Rev 18:4; Ex 8:22; Ex 12:40-42; Joshua 24:2-3; Ezek 33:10-11; Matt 16:24-26; John 18:36; Acts 7:2-3; Phil 3:20; Col 1:13; Col 3:1; Heb 12:1,14; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:3-4; 1 John 3:1).

     One of these pagan holidays incorporated was celebrated in April, and various pagan cultures gave it a couple of different names. The Roman called it The Feast of the Vernal Equinox, while most cultures celebrated and worshiped Eostre (as a Teutonic goddess of both the dawn and spring and the pagan symbol of fertility). The holiday started on the sunrise of the day after the first full moon, after the spring equinox. When the church embraced this holiday in 325AD and included all the pagan practices and symbolism into the holiday, they changed the date of the holiday to start on the sunrise of the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the spring equinox. With this type of definition, Easter can occur within a four-week span, mostly in April, on any given year.

WARNING: Following contains disturbing origin of Easter’s Symbolism

     There is a great deal that can be written about the origin and symbolism of this holiday, and there is also a tremendous amount of misinformation as well. Based on the careful study of cultures and traditions spanning two thousand years before Christ, I will present the most solid basis available for the origins of Easter, the practices and symbolism used, and why. It will then be up to you to see how they fit into the current version of how “Christians” celebrate this holiday. The following is but a brief summation of a few of the practices and symbolism in the worshiping of the goddess Eostre.

     Mystery Babylon: Our journey starts over 2,000 years BEFORE Christ at the beginning of Mystery Babylon, the very origin of pagan religions. The high priest and king of ancient Babylon in the Scriptures was Nimrod, and his wife was Ishtar. Ishtar had a son named Tammuz, whom she claimed was the son of God (the promised seed of the woman indicated in Gen 3:15). [Satan loves to create counterfeits, and this one extends thousands of years, and we still “worship” Ishtar, Tammuz, and Nimrod today via symbolism]. This also became the beginning of “Mother-Son” worship. Tammuz was also symbolized by a golden calf as the son of the sun-god, Nimrod.

     Easter Eggs: The name Eostre is traced having various spellings over the centuries since the original Babylon. Eostre (or Eastre) traces to Ostera, then to Astarte, and finally to Ishtar [pronounced the same way we pronounce “Easter” today]. Ishtar (Mother) is referring to the wife of Nimrod, the sun-god (Father) having Tammuz (Son), but where did the legend say that Ishtar came from? Legend tells us that a giant egg fell from the sky into the Euphrates River, which was rolled to the shore by huge fish, and then doves descended from heaven and incubated it. The goddess Ishtar then came out of the egg, and hence the egg throughout most pagan cultures world-wide became the symbol of fertility. The egg became the symbol of the goddess Easter herself. Therefore, the symbol of using the “Ishtar Egg” to worship Ishtar can also be traced back to the origins of Mystery Babylon. The practice and use of this symbol and spread world-wide for over 2,000 years in most cultures prior to Christ.

     Died and Raised Again? I mentioned in prior newsletters that Satan loves to deceive and create counterfeits and this one is a doozy as it extends more than 2,000 years BEFORE Christ. [In addition, after Constantine married Church and State in the 4th century AD, the church merged Babylonian paganism in church practices where they remain today in nearly all christian churches world-wide regardless of the denomination]. Ever wonder why this holiday was around the Vernal Equinox? Babylonian folklore tells us that Tammuz died, and his mother raised him from the dead with her tears and the manifestation of his resurrected life was the green spring vegetation. To incorporate this pagan holiday within the church, the church made the connection of Tammuz’s resurrection in the spring with Christ’s resurrection also in the spring, thereby giving pagans another reason to join the church. There also was a Babylonian tradition that the death and resurrection of Tammuz were celebrated by a great feast followed by a Lenten fast [known as “Lent” practiced by the ancient Egyptians and kept by much of the church today].

     Bunny Rabbit? This is all leading to the exact timing of the holiday to worship “the rising of Nimrod (the sun-god)”. The Bunny Rabbit (or Hare) is the next step in the timing of the holiday. [Rabbits clearly don’t lay eggs so what’s going on here? We see ads each year of a Easter Bunny carrying a basket of eggs and yet few question it. How else are they going to explain a connection unless they fabricate one?] The Babylonian custom actually referred to a “Hare” and not a Rabbit. Prior to 325AD, Easter fell on the first day after the first full moon (after the vernal equinox) but why? The full moon symbolizes “eyes wide open”. Hares are born with their eyes fully open and hence at this time symbolizes a date where your eyes should be open and watching – for what – for the sunrise and the sun-god. 

     Sunrise Service: Perhaps the most disturbing tradition (for myself) is the sunrise service. Please don’t get me wrong. There are no words to express the love, gratitude, and deep abiding comfort in Christ that we have as followers of Christ living within us through the Holy Spirit, and none of this would be possible if Christ had not conquered death. However, knowing the original pagan intention of a “sunrise service” makes me shutter in how far Satan will go to push his agenda. I can imagine Satan laughing at our sunrise service, knowing that Christians have incorporated a tradition that pagans have been practicing for thousands of years. We celebrate the resurrection of our blessed Lord, but for over 2,000 years before Christ and hundreds of years after, pagans stayed out all night on their lit hills on the night of the full moon with their eyes wide open, waiting for their sun-god to rise in the morning bringing life to the world (spring).

     There are other pagan symbols and practices that are associated with Easter which are embraced by most churches, but you get the point. The Easter Holiday counterfeit is perhaps one of the most disturbing to me as Satan shows his parallel trinity Nimrod, Tammuz, and Ishtar  vs the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit complete with a resurrected son and created a 2,000+ yr yearly cycle of him being worshiped at a sunrise service. Nowhere in the scriptures are eggs or rabbits connected with Jesus’ resurrection; nor does the scripture suggest that we should celebrate at sunrise Christ’s resurrection. All those are of pagan origin which give homage to Satan and the Queen of Heaven (Jer 7:16-20; Jer 44:17-25; 1 Kings 11:5; Ezek 8:14).

Are we Permitted to Celebrate the Easter Holiday?

     Yes, is the answer with a caveat. The current practice world-wide for Christians to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is so widespread and universally understood that the original pagan traditions have all but disappeared in the background. The one caveat that I mentioned is on the possibility that a brother or sister in Christ understands the pagan origins and feels that you are sinning by celebrating in that manner (even though you’re celebrating Christ’s resurrection). Paul tells us in 1 Cor 8:13 what we must do under those circumstances. After explaining to them all the information available to you, if they still feel it is a sin, you are not to brush it off but comply with their request to refrain from celebrating it in that manner they feel offended. You do not want to risk implying to your brother or sister that you are intentionally sinning if they believe it to be a sin. We are not to be a stumbling block for anyone that might harm their growth in the knowledge of our Lord.

Have a Blessed Easter Holiday in celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Even now, Jesus is in Heaven preparing a place for those that love and follow Him!

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Would the Real Jesus Please Stand Up

This article written by AFA Founder Don Wildmon first appeared in the AFA Journal in 1993 and has since been re-printed in numerous publications. We believe, on this Good Friday, it is just as timely today as then.
Would the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?

I have met these people, many of them during the past 16 years. I know when it is coming. I can hear it (in the tone of their voices and in their suggestions on how I should act in order to be a good Christian). They all make about the same points. Here is a general outline of their suggestions.

  • Jesus didn’t criticize people; therefore, I should not criticize those who are responsible for filth on television or who produce and distribute pornography.
  • Jesus didn’t condemn anyone; He loved them. They usually point to the woman caught in the act of adultery on this one. They even quote Scripture: “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more,” (John 8:11, KJV).
  • Jesus lived His life so that people respected Him and sought to follow Him. As Christians, we need to live our lives in a similar manner. That means that we don’t disagree with anyone; rather, we try to convince him or her by our actions and not our words.
  • Jesus made friends with everyone. He accepted everyone. He was even a friend to those with whom He disagreed. He didn’t turn them off simply because they disagreed with Him.

As a young minister, I read a story told by J. Wallace Hamilton, a preacher of note who died in 1968. According to the story, it seems that a not-too-dignified but somewhat successful preacher was preaching at a chapel service at a large respected university.

Now this preacher was not a good public relations person. He was somewhat unreserved and preached what many would call a straightforward, perhaps even blunt, sermon. I’m sure that you have heard that kind. He called sin…sin. Then laid out the plan of salvation.

He just wasn’t a very tactful preacher; his bluntness offended some who were present.

Following his sermon, he was met at the back by one of the professors. Calling the preacher aside, the professor told him that he had preached a good sermon but that if he would change it just a little, not be so straightforward, that he could do so much more good.

“You know,” the professor said, “if you will search the Scriptures you will find that Jesus was the most loving, non-condemning, forgiving, helpful person who ever lived. I’m simply suggesting that you make your sermons as tactful as Jesus made his. It would really help your ministry.”

The preacher thought for a moment. “You think I need to be more tactful?” he asked.

“I think it would be a big help to your ministry,” said the professor.

“Was Jesus a tactful person?” the preacher asked.

“The most tactful person who ever lived,” responded the professor.

The preacher thought a little more then spoke: “Professor, please answer a question for me. If Jesus was the most tactful person who ever lived, how did He manage to get Himself crucified?”

The professor did not answer the question.

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