Blacksheep Speaks

Welcome back!

I like the “Left Behind” book series. I liked the movies too. But I have a serious problem with the idea that people might think that this must be how things are going to be. These books play out one very unlikely series of events, yet there are an awful lot of people out there who seem to take them as gospel.. Unfortunately, this is only one view by people who, to be blunt, are making a LOT of money off this series. If you don’t believe me… well, think about this. The jud’s series of this same name, by the same people, has over THIRTY volumes last time I checked. They pushed it to the hilt. And the problem is, the REAL Bible shows a LOT of evidence that says Christians are NOT going to vanish at the beginning of the tribulation, which is what that entire series is based on. The pre-trib rapture theory is one held by Christians stuck in a “Comfort Zone”. What’s a comfort zone? Something very dangerous…. and I’ll be explaining it in a later post.

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What do you have to do to become a Christian? Great question. The exact, simple answer is that you ask for salvation through Jesus the Son. Being a Christian has nothing to do with going to church on Sunday. Nothing. Christianity is a state of being, not an act you perform. If you become a Christian, and people tell you you MUST do this, must NOT do that, they are using Churchspeak. Salvation is a rebirth, and as a baby Christian and a child of God, you probably will want to learn what that means. But God deals with each of us in a way that is uniquely our own. If He leads you to a church, fine. But if you are not happy there, you might not want to stay. You might want to seek God’s teachings in a different church, or with Christian friends, or even on your own. God will lead you on the path of learning that is best suited to you.

OKAY, SO YOU ARE SAVED. NOW WHAT?

Churchspeak tells you that you become a new person in Christ at salvation, which is actually a Biblical statement. But Churchspeak then proceeds to give you detailed instructions about all the things that you must give up. Unfortunately, most people still have the same wants and likings after salvation that they had before, and giving up what you want to do, on your own, doesn’t change anything one bit. God will work with you on what needs changing. It’s not something you CAN do on your own. So, when does this “total change” come that you keep hearing about? Is it all Churchspeak? Or is it real, but something you can’t get ahold of, leaving you feeling like you are missing out, or that it is all a lie, or all spiritual in nature and not something to be found in this world? WHEN will God remake you? Your answer lies in a thing called “Spiritual Baptism”. Salvation comes when YOU are ready to ask God for it. but baptism of the spirit comes when God believes you are ready. As with any good parent, God is not going to hand this to you until you can handle it. You should seek it, of course. Ask Him about it, and learn about it. But be warned, no amount of teaching can prepare you for the reality. When the Bible says you become “new”, it means it. With the mind of Christ and the heart of Him as well, ALL of the conditioning of this world is stripped away. Things that SHOULD touch your heart will, in ways you never expected. And the joy that accompanies the transformation is almost beyond belief.

After you are spiritually baptised (and this has NOTHING to do with water baptism), you will no longer question God’s existance. Up to that point most people have a niggling in the back of their mind, however small, that questions the existance of God. However, at this point, not only will you KNOW, but there is every liklihood that you will eventually hear Him speak to you. Really. And in my case, that happens when I am being an idiot. Fortunately for me, it doesn’t happen EVERY time I am acting like an idiot, or there is a possibility that the talking would never cease

OKAY, NOW WHAT? AM I DONE?

You wish. There is always more to learn and more growing to do. The baptism is the beginning of understanding, not the final step. Choose you this day who you will serve, because there is a war going on that makes Iraq look like a pattycake parlour, and if you are going to make any kind of difference at all in it, you need to get moving. God will teach you, step by step, what you need to know, as you can handle the information. But never stop, NEVER stagnate. In this life you do not walk away from school after kindergarten thinking you know it all, and as a spiritual warrior, you must recognise that just as God’s wisdom is endless, He will keep you ever growing, ever learning. Do not be so enthusiastic about teaching others that you fail to see what they have to teach YOU. Out of the mouths of babes, you know, and that is true in all phases of reality.

There will be more coming on this topic over the next few days. There is a very dangerous “comfort zone” that Christians like to stay in, and we will be discussing that, and how it can shatter your faith, very shortly.

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Earlier today, I posted my opinion about the lack of respect shown to our Pledge of Allegiance. You can read about that in the post which immediately preceeds this one. In response I recieved two comments from someone calling himself “TheMan” who cited “facts” from a website called “nobeliefs.com” and whose email address begins with “fearthesheep”. The comments were directed entirely at the part of my post dealing with God in the Pledge, and pretty much ignored the rest. This BEING a free country (though this is a private blog) I choose to post his comments, not in the comment section, but here in the main body of a new article. Before I do, however, here are a few facts that can be backed up via many historical avenues that “TheMan” and many others apparently aren’t aware : (His comments will follow this commentary…hey, it’s MY blog, I get to write first!)

The Declaration of Independence, which began the fight for freedom in this country (at least on a public level) cites as it’s CORE BASE for being, 27 violations of Biblical principal. In other words, the founding fathers relied on the Bible and what it says to back them up and give them reason for a revolution.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as calling the Bible “the cornerstone of American Liberty”. He then put the Bible into the schools as the MAIN TEXTBOOK.

Patrick Henry made it VERY clear in his writings and correspondence that he believed our constitution to be written and founded upon the Gospels.

55 men got together and formed the Constitution. Of those 52 were church members citing Biblical principal for what they did. The other three simply didn’t state their beliefs one way or the other.

James Madison said, “We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the 10 Commandments, with all our heart.”

George Washington, ib his final address as President, can be accurately quoted as saying “You can’t have national morality apart from Religious principal,”

And it goes on and on. Anyone who believes this country came into being without God in the minds and hearts of it’s people apparently cannot read, either. Or, perhaps, they CHOOSE to be sheeple, citing what they have read on a website without bothering to check it’s accuracy. That said, on to give TheMan’s comments the airing they deserve… YOU can judge for yourselves. It IS a free country!

In regards to your comments about God, I have to disagree. My most straightforward reason is that the original pledge contained no mention of God. You can read about its history at http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm . However, there is more to my complaint than that. The idea that this government had its roots in Christianity is a myth. You can read about the realities of religion in our nation’s establishment at http://www.nobeliefs.com/Tripoli.htm . Please do not resort to insulting those who exercise their rights by accusing them of ignorance or incompetence. We should encourage those who stand up (or sit down) for what they believe. Reciting a few words does not make you a patriot, but sometimes dissent does.

And the second comment…

Oh, also, the US is by no means the “biggest” country in the world. If by “strongest” you mean “has the largest military”, I concede that you are correct.

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As I sat with my fourteen year old daughter at breakfast this morning, she casually mentioned that several of her classmates were exercizing their “right” to refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Apparently these kids simply remain seated as the others recite. According to my daughter, they do this because the Pledge forces them to show support for the government they do not agree with. Um, since when? Love of country and love of governement are not the same thing. They never have been, though those too locked into their own worlds continue to refuse to see that. Perhaps they can’t read:

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

A flag is a symbol of the country it represents. In times of battle, a flag flies above the troops. For the flag to fall to the ground symbolizes defeat. Old Glory has flown over troops at Gettysburg, in Germany, in Korea, at Iwo Jima. This old flag still accompanies our troops, flies over every hospital and school, to symbolize our ideal. To pledge to the flag shows a support for what it represents, which is a people, NOT a government organization. This flag has flown over EVERY change in government that this country has seen, but with the exception of the addition of stars, our flag has not changed.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I would have thought that this line was self explanetory, but, then, I always thought the Pledge was self explanetory. The United States of America is a collective of fifty states plus territories, separate, yet joined in a union where each has it’s own voice. The United States is still the biggest and strongest country in this world. It is ruled by a government that is ever changing, yet the country remains strong.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS

The flag is a symbol of the PEOPLE of the United States, which is a republic. This only refers to the method of governing, not to the government itself. This method is the thing that lets every American Citizen to have a vote and a voice. The physical government is transitory, put in place by the people, and the governing body is not what this line refers to. You can dislike the president, but you can still maintain respect for his office and what it represents.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD

President Eisenhower called God “our most powerful resource”. This country, whether you like it or not, has ALWAYS been based on a belief in the Almighty. It’s on our money, it’s in our Pledge, and it’s in every act committed by the founding fathers. It’s what we are based on as a nation. And, it is the reason YOU have the freedom to thumb your nose at that same God. There are places where that would get you executed. Here, in these United States, you have the freedom to think for yourself. So, whether or not YOU believe in God, it IS the devotion to His principles that has bought you this freedom that you now enjoy.

INDIVISIBLE

This simply means that we refuse to be broken apart.

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

This means that everyone is free to live the life they choose, what they are willing to work for and achieve. This line refers to an ideal. This is not a perfect world, and as long as humans are in charge, it will continue to be imperfect. Yet we continue to strive toward this ideal. Well, most of us. Not, of course, those who are whining and slouching and refusing to recite a pledge that they obviously can’t read well enough or think clearly enough to understand.

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You’ve heard it all your life. We all have. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Problem is, God never SAID that. Don’t believe me? Check your Strong’s under the word “cleanliness”, or “clean”. There is an awful lot there. Problem is, NONE of them refer to cleanliness of the body, except one. And THAT one says that it isn’t what goes IN to a man’s mouth, but what comes OUT, that defiles him. That reference is to what Jesus had to say when people griped at the disciples for NOT washing their hands before they ate. Every other reference is to cleanliness of the SPIRIT. Now, I am not telling you to run right out and get dirty. Cleanliness IS a good thing, if for no other reason than avoiding sickness. I just found it interesting that there are a lot of people who think things are in the Bible that just… aren’t. God isn’t going to forsake you just because you forgot to wash behind your ears.

And then there is the thing about chickens. You won’t find them in the Bible either. Not once.

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When Jesus told us that no man would know the day or the hour, he meant it. But then he proceeded to give us a specific point to look for, so that we WOULD know when, as the “when” became nearer. BUT… and you are just gonna love this… to understand the “when”, you must first have at least a rudimentary knowledge of what it is like to be a woman WHO HAS GIVEN BIRTH. This is important knowledge in understanding not just one but TWO levels of the “when” question. Let me explain.

In Matthew, there is a point where Jesus is talking about the time of the end, and he references “wars, and rumors of wars, and earthquakes” among other things (I give that as a reference point in case you want to look up what I am saying). The most important part of what he is saying is at the END of that passage… “These are the beginnings of sorrows”. Um, wait a minute. Sorrows is a problem. It is also why there are so many misconceptions about what Jesus said. You see, in at least one popular version of the Bible, the word is rendered as “sorrows”. But THAT is a direct mistranslation of the original. ACCURATELY translated (check your Strong’s) the word comes across as BIRTH PAINS, and THAT is a whole different kettle of fish.

You see, as any woman who has ever had a child can tell you, when giving birth, it isn’t the contractions (birth pains) themselves that are important. It is the space in between. The shorter the space, the closer the birth. So, if you take the list of events Jesus gave (and HOW many times have I heard people say that since we have ALWAYS had those things, they don’t matter) and make a timeline list of all known occurrences of ANY of them, you will find that while these things have indeed been around the whole time, their RATE OF OCCURANCE is coming more and more often. In other words, the contractions are now about two minutes apart… time to head for the hospital, folks.

Well, maybe not quite. You see, for the REST of what Jesus said to happen, the third Jewish temple must be rebuilt on it’s original site. (There have been many books written about this. I’m not getting into it. Trust me, it has to happen.) The antichrist also has to rise in power, not that I think most of the world will recognize him. If you are interested in hearing more about the Jewish temple and the role it plays, let me know. I will do an entry on it sometime. For THIS study, all you need to know is that the antichrist must be in power, the temple must be rebuilt, and you must also know that the center of the Jewish temple is a holy place that no person should go except the high priest, once a year. This place is called “The Holy of Holies”. Okay, now, moving on….

Jesus references a prophecy in the passage we have been talking about, saying that when you see the desecration spoken of by Daniel, RUN. All heck is about to break loose. Well, He didn’t use those words, but He’s pretty clear. He is speaking to people who are IN THE HOLY LAND at the time of the end. The EVENT he is talking about is the day that the antichrist enters the Holy of Holies and proclaims himself to be the messiah. Jesus says at that point to run for the hills. At this point, the rapture is about to happen. Why, then, did He tell them to run? Well, He is speaking here to the Jews, not the Christians, and being a Christian is kind of a prerequisite to being raptured, you know.

HOW do we know that THIS is the point of rapture? Because Jesus said something else (prepare to be a pregnant woman again!). He said that at this time, woe unto all pregnant women and nursing mothers. Now, THINK about that. He said ALL (non-Christian) mothers. What is the ONE thing that will ALWAYS cause a mother anguish? Losing their child. And the ONLY event that could take ALL THE UNBORN CHILDREN AND NURSING BABIES ON THE PLANET is the rapture. Remember, children below the age of consent belong to God, no matter what.

The “Countdown to Rapture” starts the moment the antichrist enters the Holy of Holies. From that point, we may have seconds, hours, or days. Don’t count on having months or years.

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The Bible does not use the word “rapture”. That simple fact, all by itself, has been used many times to claim that the rapture is not going to occur. The Bible calls it something else, a “catching up” of the faithful, I believe (and here I should point out that, while what I am saying is based on scriptural reference, if you want it, look it up. I am not lying, but paragraphs laced with reference notations are boring and distracting).

I have heard many very well thought out arguments that say the rapture will happen, and will occur before the onset of the final seven years, known as the Tribulation period. I have heard just as many arguments that it will occur AFTER that, as Jesus returns. I am about to show you that it is neither. Both of these theories are based on “old church” teachings, from before the books began to unseal. Read your Bible, especially Revelation, with “new eyes”. Forget what you thought you knew and just READ it. These are not parables. There is some symbolism here, but not as much as it used to look like, and the timeline is also pretty clear.

Revelation makes reference to a group of people UNDER the throne of God. It calls them martyrs, and they are told to wait a while longer. They are described as already being dressed in white robes.

Also in Revelation, not far from the above referenced passage, there is a reference to a whole DIFFERENT set of people. For some reason, a lot of teachings contend that these two references are to the same set of people. However, this second set is described as being IN FRONT OF, not beneath, the throne of God. It also says that they were given white robes, and that they were the ones who had come up OUT OF THE TRIBULATION. Different set of people.

In regards to the martyrs, the “under the throne” crowd, God makes it clear that things on Earth aren’t over yet when he tells them to wait.

The second set of people, by the words God used to describe them (they came out of the Tribulation) are the people caught up in what is commonly referred to as “the rapture”. This does not occur AFTER the Tribulation, obviously. Nor before.

So, the answer to the question is… yes, there will be a rapture. It will exist. But the next question, the obvious question, is “when”? Well…. Jesus says that no man will know the day or the hour. But he DOES pin it down to within a couple weeks of one certain event. Which event? Stay tuned…. back later.

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Do your church leaders really have any clue whether or not we are nearing the time of the end? Well, that depends on each unique individual, but by and large, probably not. Why? Because organized churches have been around way to long to GET it.

Wait, before you get mad at me, hear me out. I am not saying your church is a bad thing. What I meant was… churches as a whole made their rules a long time ago, in deference to what they believed the Bible meant. Most churches have a set of limits they use in teaching, church wide beliefs that have been unaltered since the beginning of that particular church. This holds especially true for end-time predictions.

In Revelation, God SEALED several of the books in the Bible, making them impossible to understand. They were to be unsealed near the time of the end. Churches, as a whole, do not take into consideration that the books that were not understandable before (which was usually chalked up to “parable form” or some such, and explained away) are becoming more and more understandable as the world and time catch up with them.

The fact is, that while we do not know “the day or the hour”, we should, as Jesus told us, be aware of the season, and the season is fast approaching. Yes, I CAN prove it. Look for posts later today regarding when the rapture is to occur, WHETHER it is to occur, and why there is such a huge controversy regarding this seemingly simple issue.

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A day or two ago, in a public forum, presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was asked a couple of very religion based questions. I find his answers interesting, if not very helpful. I also find it interesting that the questioners are still resorting to religious belief questions to try and knock down candidates… which is probably the reason for the answers given.

Please bear in mind that I am paraphrasing, not quoting directly. I heard this report on the radio, and so have no notes to refer to. Anyway, the first question was, do you believe that the Bible is the literal truth. His answer stated that, as the only one present with a theological degree, there were parts of the Bible he did not understand, but that this was a good thing, because we have an infinite God, and if He were completely understandable, He would be too simple a God. Er, sure, Mike, whatever you say.

The second question was asking how Jesus would have handled something or other, I don’t remember what. The answer? “Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office”.

Hmm. You know, I actually support Mike Huckabee for president. I am a resident of the state of Arkansas, and as such, know he has some very good agendas. But with answers like these, will anyone ELSE ever know?

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All right, I have never made a secret of the fact that I am a Christian. I don’t push my beliefs in other people’s faces (well, except my sister, but she loves me anyway), and I don’t sit well for others pushing their beliefs up my nose, either. So as a general rule, I just keep quiet about it. But not THIS time.

A movie starring Nicole Kidmann is due to come out this December. The movie is based on a children’s book from England called THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. This is an award winning book, the first in a trilogy of children’s fantasy books. But the author is an avowed atheist who hates the Narnia books, by all reports, and this is more or less an “anti-Narnia” and definitely anti-Christian set of books. The premise is that a street wise girl some way or another finds herself traveling to different worlds. It comes across as a fairly typical fantasy story to begin with. But at the end of the third book, this girl and her friends find and KILL GOD so that the tyranny will end, and then everyone rejoices.

Please be aware of what these books and this movie are.

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