It's been my observance that over the course of the last few years that the Atheist movement has grown not only in size but in pure audacity. The boldness of those who call themselves atheists has turned from a mostly silent head nod against believers to outright snickering and belittling. This fact is troubling to me and I challenge every reader of this who is a child of the light to challenge those who don't believe. Not all are created to be children of the light, even Christ attests to this...but our job is to be light where there is dark, truth where lies are spread and a pillar of faith where scruples are demanded. God does not call us to blind faith, but I encourage you TO NOT argue with an Atheist on the basis of THEIR atheism. It's pointless. However, demonstrate truth before them, so that anyone who has eyes to see, will see and ears to hear, will hear.
On with our discussion.
Here's what is wrong with not believing the Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died, and rose again to save us;
1. Atheism in it's truest form doesn't deny Christ's life, rather Christ's deity. Atheism says that Christ was a good guy, but probably slightly demented. However, they have no answer other than trying to discredit the sources used, that Christ is was who he says he was. The simple fact of the matter is the question of the empty tomb;
2. Contemporary historians both Roman and Jewish corroborate the Gospels account of Christs life and works. FACT. There's is passage in Luke that talks about the Pharisee's bribing people to spread lies that the apostles took Christ's body...a fact that was spread even unto THIS day.
2a. Problem; Jesus' body was guarded by Roman soldiers...armed and willing to die to protect the tomb, since they would most assuredly face that fate if they didn't. That was contemporary Roman law. So it seems unlikely at BEST that a fisherman, tax collector and doctor, overpower the best trained killers of their day so that they could steal Christ's body. Bear in mind another fact...the apostles by the Gospel account were defeated. They had given up...they thought that they and furthermore Christ had failed, since they did not understand that Christ would rise again!!!! So it's not plausible they had a desire to steal the body of Christ, they wouldn't at that point had a reason to do so.
3. The Gospel accounts for women discovering the body...while certainly acceptable in Modern Society, in ancient Jewish times, that would have been like a dog getting credit for something...that just wouldn't have been the best way to make up a story. Women weren't even allowed to be used as witnesses in courts!
4. Most of these men died because of what they believed. Not of old age, except John...they died because they were asked to renounce what they believed was the truth and they said NO! Now why would someone die for something that they KNEW to be a lie? There's a modern, story about this very precept that you may be familiar with...Salem witch trials. John Proctor was told he could live...if he just admitted he'd practiced in witchcraft. He hadn't of course, but he was going to die if he didn't say he did. He was going to die, because the people prosecuting him wanted him to deny truth so that they could have their way. And his will was tested and he decided it was was better to die with the truth on your lips than to live with a lie in the air. Now isn't that strange...John knew the truth, and he died for it. Do you think he would have done the same thing if he HAD practiced witch craft? This is akin to the apostles dying to protect their lie...you might get 1 or 2 people to do that...but not 12. That stretches even the most of fanciful definitions of credulity. Yet Atheists believe this very thing. Because they don't EXAMINE the evidence.
5. Faith, this by far is the biggest stumbling block for all people, including Christians. But it is also the biggest area of concern for Atheists. I am not sure if Atheism as a practice does not allow for faith in any form, or just faith in God only. Clearly all people operate with some level of faith. But there is a clear delineation, and this is important so listen closely, between FAITH - the belief in things unseen and BELIEF which is the building blocks of FAITH. Here's an example;
A man was doing a high-wire show and he demonstrated that he could walk, run, jump and even drive a bike across the high wire. The crowd goes wild. The announcer says, "how many of you believe he will make it across" all of them raised their hands; "how many of you would like to get on the bike with him" the hands go down.
Faith is the belief in things unseen. You have to believe that things can be done and with ACTION you demonstrate your belief and THAT is called Faith.
Atheism at it's very definition denys the existance of God. So be clear, you're not trying to convince an Atheist to become a Christian...baby steps little ones. You're demonstrating the truth that there is a God, and his name is Yahweh...and that like it or NOT he's YOUR God.
My final point here; Atheism at it's core scoffs at faith, but there are intellectuals out there who truly are seeking the light, but they need Christs love. So do not use the devils tactics to demonstrate God's love. That is, approach with mutual respect, and in Love. Love covers a multitude of sins...Keep your anger and frustration away from the conversation. Atheists need Christs love as well and just because they attack you, you needn't resort to angry confrontation. You after all have God on your side.
Love thy neighbor as thyself. This is the one place in the Bible where Christ IS talking about everyone, including Atheists. You have the strength of truth, right and the Almighty on your side; attacks only demonstrate your weakness of faith. Resort rather to truth, and the evidence that our creator has left for us. Not the least of which his is word and creation.
peace and love.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Specific Prophecies In Daniel
Daniel 8:
1 In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal(Stait of Hormuz), and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage. 7 I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. 12 Because of rebellion, the host of the saints [a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"
14 He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."
The Interpretation of the Vision 15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. [b] 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."
27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
I know this is a long passage, in fact it's the entire chapter, but it sets up what I'm about to discuss.
Many scholars have espoused that this prophecy has already been fulfilled for hundreds of years, ostensibly by Alexander the Great. Given my research that theory does not hold much water with me. Here's why.
1. Gabriel says; "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
2. There is not always a single fulfillment of prophecy.
3. Gabriel describes them as Media and Persia. Up until 1979 Iran was called Persia. Media is a less literal meaning than Iraq, however scholars agree Iraq covers much of what once was called Media.
4. The United States just uprooted the small horn in Iraq.
5. Iran is very likely to be uprooted, infact their current President has threatened to block up the Strait of Hormuz (40% of the worlds oil is transported through this strait). The passage clearly says that the large horn was standing in the canal...
Greece as we know them via A the G probably had it's part in the partial fulfillment, but obvisouly it was not the end since we're here talking about this.
Secondly we're from the west as well, and we did travel across the Earth without touching the ground and did attack and uproot Iraq (media) - the chances of us being invovled in a conflict with Iran in contemporary history, as well as second to Iraq, as prophecy predicts for someone to do is too eerie to not give thought to.
I think the also the most coincidental item of note is this...
"Three more kings will appear in Persia [Iran], and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of... [Hebrew: "Javan"--Western powers]," Daniel 11:2.
Here's the 4th President of Iran, just prior to the now President Ahmindinjaad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_Hashemi_Rafsanjani
I don't know for sure when the prophecies of the Bible will be fulfilled. None does, but there is a lot of food for thought out there and I don't believe it's enough to just act like it's not happening now. I beleive we're clearly in the birth pangs that Christ talked about in the Gospels.
You need to pray specifically about your knowledge in this area. Enlightenment comes from the Bible and more specifically from the spirit of God in you.
1 In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2 In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal(Stait of Hormuz), and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4 I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
5 As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage. 7 I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. 8 The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. 12 Because of rebellion, the host of the saints [a] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"
14 He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."
The Interpretation of the Vision 15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."
17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19 He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. [b] 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."
27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
I know this is a long passage, in fact it's the entire chapter, but it sets up what I'm about to discuss.
Many scholars have espoused that this prophecy has already been fulfilled for hundreds of years, ostensibly by Alexander the Great. Given my research that theory does not hold much water with me. Here's why.
1. Gabriel says; "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
2. There is not always a single fulfillment of prophecy.
3. Gabriel describes them as Media and Persia. Up until 1979 Iran was called Persia. Media is a less literal meaning than Iraq, however scholars agree Iraq covers much of what once was called Media.
4. The United States just uprooted the small horn in Iraq.
5. Iran is very likely to be uprooted, infact their current President has threatened to block up the Strait of Hormuz (40% of the worlds oil is transported through this strait). The passage clearly says that the large horn was standing in the canal...
Greece as we know them via A the G probably had it's part in the partial fulfillment, but obvisouly it was not the end since we're here talking about this.
Secondly we're from the west as well, and we did travel across the Earth without touching the ground and did attack and uproot Iraq (media) - the chances of us being invovled in a conflict with Iran in contemporary history, as well as second to Iraq, as prophecy predicts for someone to do is too eerie to not give thought to.
I think the also the most coincidental item of note is this...
"Three more kings will appear in Persia [Iran], and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of... [Hebrew: "Javan"--Western powers]," Daniel 11:2.
Here's the 4th President of Iran, just prior to the now President Ahmindinjaad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_Hashemi_Rafsanjani
I don't know for sure when the prophecies of the Bible will be fulfilled. None does, but there is a lot of food for thought out there and I don't believe it's enough to just act like it's not happening now. I beleive we're clearly in the birth pangs that Christ talked about in the Gospels.
You need to pray specifically about your knowledge in this area. Enlightenment comes from the Bible and more specifically from the spirit of God in you.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
End Times Struggle
I recently inquired of my church as to the nature of their teaching on end-times prophecy and whether or not they, as a community felt it was important to correlate present day events with end-times prophecy. I was sharply denied, which left me disappointed by not deterred. Since I know that the entire Bible is useful for teaching, and correction [2 Timothy, 3:16] I am engaged in my own study, of which I plan to share with you.
So it's with great pleasure I'm going to begin a series of ideas about the end-times. I won't call them teachings because I mean only to inspire to thought, and not educate, though the two cannot be mutually exclusive. I've prayed on this subject and been focused on it since 2001 and I believe I've formed some useful thoughts and experiences of which I will share. Please stay tuned and offer commentary, I plan this to be balanced and thoughtful.
Last thing, and this is something that bothers me heavily - it seems Atheism as a religion has taken root like I've never seen it before. I used to think it was worthless to debate Atheism because of many reasons I won't go into at this moment. Something has occurred to me though...if you don't combat Atheism, it stands in a vaccum of no debate and the victor of the mind. If the end goal is to convince the Atheist they are wrong, it's pointless, but if the goal is to show light where men would welcome darkness, and inscribe truth, where men would wear away the truth that the Bible says has been written into their hearts, then PRAISE GOD for those who've been holding the torch while I slept. I challenge you to challenge EVERYONE who calls out against God and his Son Jesus Christ, because hell is the place from where lies are spread...open the mouth of the servant of God, and let his spirit speak through you to send those lies back from whence they came.
So it's with great pleasure I'm going to begin a series of ideas about the end-times. I won't call them teachings because I mean only to inspire to thought, and not educate, though the two cannot be mutually exclusive. I've prayed on this subject and been focused on it since 2001 and I believe I've formed some useful thoughts and experiences of which I will share. Please stay tuned and offer commentary, I plan this to be balanced and thoughtful.
Last thing, and this is something that bothers me heavily - it seems Atheism as a religion has taken root like I've never seen it before. I used to think it was worthless to debate Atheism because of many reasons I won't go into at this moment. Something has occurred to me though...if you don't combat Atheism, it stands in a vaccum of no debate and the victor of the mind. If the end goal is to convince the Atheist they are wrong, it's pointless, but if the goal is to show light where men would welcome darkness, and inscribe truth, where men would wear away the truth that the Bible says has been written into their hearts, then PRAISE GOD for those who've been holding the torch while I slept. I challenge you to challenge EVERYONE who calls out against God and his Son Jesus Christ, because hell is the place from where lies are spread...open the mouth of the servant of God, and let his spirit speak through you to send those lies back from whence they came.
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