The Blasphemy Of The Beast
“…and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority”
“And all the world wondered after the beast”
“And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?”
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” Revelation 13
When I was young, it was almost inconceivable to understand how that anyone as evil and blasphemous as the anti-Christ (beast) could ever come to power as leader of the nations! It seemed as though it could only happen through some great mistake that he would gain such power to the anguish of the masses he would enslave.
But in my lifetime, I have come to realize just what the Bible says, and that is the beast will come to office because the world will celebrate his anti-christ positions. He will be the man of the hour. He will be viewed as the man of true vision. He will be credentialed as the wisest and most able of all. He will be able to bring the world to the grand conclusion that it must reject all the claims of God’s Word and eliminate all who hold to its tenants.
Worldly principalities and powers have already agreed in their denial of God’s Word. They just await the ‘one’ who can implement it into policy. Consider: Steven Weinberg, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979, had this to say: “…the world needs to wake up from its long nightmare of religious belief.” Harold Kroto, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996: “…called for the John Templeton Foundation to give its next $1.5 million prize for ‘progress in spiritual discoveries’ to atheist Richard Dawkins, author of the book, “The God Delusion.” Dawkins prefaces his book by stating his definition of ‘delusion’: “a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence, especially as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.” Dawkins received some of this sentiment from Robert Pirsig, who said, “…when one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from delusion it is called Religion.” Dawkins’ theory on religious education is “brainwashing” and “child abuse.”
Along with the belief of evolution, and the exclusion of prayer and God’s Word as public offenders, we see that anti-christism has conquered and is going forth to conquer.
SHARING
The Two Uses Of Liberty
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18
The truth of liberty, as intended and set forth by our founding fathers, who framed our constitution and form of government, is now being held in unrighteousness. They underscored the absolute need for God fearing integrity = “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle” = “a fundamental truth that establishes right position and governs right action.”
Liberty with integrity produces a just and safe society. The exercise of liberty without integrity is the broad road to destruction. Today, society has chosen liberty without integrity. Millions of innocent, unborn human beings are being murdered as it is the “right” of the mother to do so. Moral perversion is marching in the streets, while holding hostage our branches of government in the name of “civil rights”.
Those who have cast off the laws of the Lord demand absolute tolerance for themselves from others, while remaining intolerant of all who do not agree with them.
As it was in the days of Lot (Genesis 19), the sodomites demanded of Lot to give into their way of life, while refusing to respect his home or his position. Sodom was all about liberty without integrity, and God destroyed them.
As it was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6), society was defined by every imagination of their thoughts, which was evil continually. As a result, corruption and violence prevailed over their society and God destroyed them.
By God’s grace, both Noah and Lot were delivered, but with their own faith, or lack thereof, deciding their personal experiences.
Jesus told us these same conditions would prevail in the last days of the Gentile age. Though they are sickening and detestable, they must be faced with the same faith as Noah’s, rather than seeking to pacify the wicked with the fearfulness of Lot.
Just as Noah was a bright light in his day, so we are to be in ours. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward for faithfulness in standing up to the challenge. For our faith to have the “stuff” to be able to overcome all, we must first love God above all.
SHARINGThe “Power” of Positive Thinking
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
“…thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” Psalm 50:21
“…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” Luke 9:23
The power of positive thinking is to be filled with self, whereas faith is to be emptied of self to be yielded to Christ.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5a Corinth had an abundance of positive thinkers, who were short on faith. Thus, they were confident that what they thought and felt was right, no matter who or what didn’t agree. They were self assured to the point that they concluded that anyone they had a problem with, that the fault just had to be with the other party.
All false religion is based on the “power” of positive thinking. They do not examine themselves in light of the truth, but rather assert themselves in spite of the truth. They deceive themselves with their trust in their own righteousness. They justify themselves with what is right in their own eyes.
When God’s people resort to the “power” of their own way of thinking, that “power” affords them a mindset for spiritual failure. Peter set himself up to be sifted by the devil, with the powerful thoughts of his own correctness. The power of positive thinking creates works after the flesh. Ishmael came into being on the basis of thinking positive about what one could enact on their own, rather than waiting upon the Lord.
A person can project themselves to be and do anything through the power of positive thinking. The anti-christ will set himself up in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God based on what he thinks of and with himself.
Faith is that which the power of positive thinking distracts one from. Faith is allowed when one repents (has a complete change of mind about themselves) unto turning from one’s own thoughts, all the way unto being converted to child-like faith in full submission and dependence upon God’s will and way. This faith is essential to avoid the pitfalls of the power of positive thinking, such as presumption and self assertiveness.
SHARINGLove For God’s House
“Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” Psalm 26:8
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4
“Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?” Nehemiah 13:11
The reason that a people love God’s house and seek to be in attendance thereof, is said to be a person’s own love for God. To love God, is to love to be in the house of God. The first commandment, which is the foundation upon which service to God is built is: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37
A love for God is not inherent in our human nature. Rather, human nature is estranged from God, alienated to God, going astray from God, and seeketh not God. A personal love for God is only found when one repents of their natural sin condition, and seeks unto the mercy and grace of God to save them from their lost condition. In receiving Christ by faith into one’s heart as Saviour and Lord, God gives unto the individual the power of God to become His son. This gift of salvation through faith in Christ, is God commending His love toward us. And, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5 Thus, a Christian’s love for God originates within those who have been made partakers of God’s love by faith in Christ to save them: “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
How is it possible for a mother to love her child? From what is found within her heart to extend to her child. When a mother does not want her baby and forsakes her child, we say she is without natural affection. We know it is due to what is found within a Christian’s own heart that they will set their affection on the house of God. A mother who loves her child does not need to be coerced by others to attend to her child. She will put the child’s interests above her own. She will gladly spend and be spent for the nurturing of her child. Love compels her to do her best and be her best for her child’s sake. She loves her child first above all else.
In these days, when iniquity is abounding and the love of many has waxed cold, God has a question for our hearts: “…lovest thou me more than these?” John 21:15 Does the love of God radiate itself in your heart? Does God have first place in your heart, mind, life, and soul, because of the real bond of His love within? If not, don’t you think it is about time to turn to His mercy and grace?
SHARINGThe Blessed Man: What He Must Not Do
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1
Picture, if you will, two friends standing on the street corner of a busy intersection: the one blind, the other with good eyesight. They are going to cross this multi-lane, traffic mad intersection. One would expect the person with good eyesight to take over as a watchman, to lead the blind safely across. But alas, through the insistence of the blind, the person with good eyesight puts a bag over his head, so he cannot see, unto letting the blind person take charge in stepping out to cross this dangerous, unforgiving intersection. This pretty well describes what will happen if a saved person gives in to a lost person to make their life’s decisions, rather than the saved person abide in the will and way of God’s Word.
Sight is a blessing to those who use it. To have sight and not use it, is a curse. For a Christian to be blessed of God, with the benefits that God’s unfailing truth affords, there are some things the Christian must not do.
First, he must not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. The counsel of the ungodly is broad, and has the appeal of worldly wisdom unto fleshly satisfaction. It is approved of by men. It appears to be the way of personal satisfaction and success. But the counsel of the ungodly does not know God, nor does it regard the authority of God. Without faith in God’s Word as the standard for right and wrong, the counsel of the ungodly is subjective, with only one aim: for each to do what is right in their own eyes.
Second, he must not stand in the way of sinners. Deeds follow thoughts. When a person begins to follow the counsel of those who know not the Lord, nor obey the will and way of God, this thinking void of God’s will and way will lead to decisions and actions that leave out God’s will and way. The man that embraces the counsel of the ungodly will soon find himself living unrighteous in the midst of ungodly people. Ungodly thinking and ungodly living are inseparable companions.
Third, he must not sit in the seat of the scornful. To abide with and follow the counsel of the ungodly, will necessarily involve being at sympathy with those whose counsel is in defiance of God’s Word. There is no way to walk with the ungodly without agreeing with them, or at least yielding to their opinions. The one who walks in the counsel of the ungodly and stands in the way of sinners will soon sit in the seat of the scornful. It is inevitable. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate…”
SHARING
