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02.01.2005

The Wise Man

Seeing that we are living in times where knowledge and information flow at a speed that would make even Solomon dizzy, I would like to start out by asking you two simple questions. First, is there a difference between wisdom and knowledge? Second, does it really matter who is the source of the knowledge you possess, and if it is the truth or not? How you answer these two questions will affect your eternal destiny, so I suggest you keep them in mind as you read this article.

In order to keep this article from becoming a book, I would like to focus on the knowledge that comes from the scriptures, specifically the connecting thread or link between the often quoted Sermon on the Mount and the prophecies surrounding the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. For I have written in previous articles that interest in Bible prophecy and how it is to be interpreted will increase as the day of the Lord draws near. The knowledge in the book of Revelation will be a major attraction of Fox News and CNN as reports of wars, terrorism, earthquakes, tidal waves, and other spectacular events pour into the newsrooms, with the devastating earthquake and tidal wave in South Asia being the latest. Along with this, many people are now asking questions about America’s place, if any, in the prophecies of Revelation which predict the rise of a final New World Order. For everyone knows that America is currently the economic and military giant that all other nations either fear or love.

As it stands right now, the prevalent view with prophecy teachers who read prophecy from a literal viewpoint, is that America is no where to be found in the scriptures. However, because America has such vast power and wealth, and has dominated the world stage since World War II, many people are asking the prophecy teachers what America will be like when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. More and more people who know that Israel’s prophets predicted the rise of Gentile kingdoms, are wondering why God would fail to mention a nation, who from 1776 until today has grown into the most powerful Gentile nation this world has ever seen. Now is a good time to be thinking about my two questions…the difference between wisdom and knowledge, and the importance of the source of your knowledge.

Christendom’s prophecy teachers have devised at least “five” answers to the people’s questions concerning America’s future. It must be noted that not all of these teachers agree with each other and some of these explanations might overlap. So here we go. The first answer that many are proclaiming is that most Americans, including Evangelicals and Fundamentalists, will be “deceived” and overwhelmed by the liberal left wing elite of the political Eagle, who desire to have the New World Order centered in the United Nations. These teachers fear the agenda of the liberals that forces America to become subservient to the United Nations, thereby transferring America’s constitutional sovereignty to the globalists headquartered in New York. With liberal democrats now realizing they must Christianize their party platform to attract the Evangelical vote in 2008, these teacher’s fears will only be intensified. It is natural for those who hold this prophetic view, to see the coming infamous Antichrist of Revelation as the leader of the United Nations. Some have boldly suggested that Bill Clinton will some day be appointed Secretary General, while his wife Hillary becomes the next American president in 2008.

The second answer put forth by others is that America will be so morally “degenerated” by the time of the Lord’s return that it will cease to be the economic and military power that it is today. Moreover, they believe this deterioration of America’s moral values will ultimately align it under the influence and control of the European Union. It follows then in the minds of these prophecy teachers the Antichrist will be the final leader of the European Union, who will cause all Americans to swear allegiance and receive his mark on their hands or foreheads. This fear explains why so many Evangelicals in Christendom are rejoicing in the re-election of President Bush. All of the news media have clearly stated that it was moral issues in the minds of voters that defeated Senator Kerry and the liberal establishment. The Evangelicals have been renewed and see President Bush as the man who will lead America back to the morals and faith of the Founding Fathers. They see this as God granting them more time to preach their gospel and holding back the evil forces of the European Antichrist.

The third scenario provided by other prophecy teachers predicts that America will be suddenly and imminently “destroyed” with nuclear weapons by Islamic terrorists secretly supported by Russia, Iran, and China. The attack will be so devastating that America will not be able to respond or retaliate. It will not be another 9-11, but a death blow! Some have said that since 9-11, the Russians, working through Islamic madmen bent on fulfilling Islamic prophecy, have already planted suitcase size nuclear weapons throughout America’s major cities. This theory of some teachers helps them to explain why God has not mentioned America in the scriptures. To them, America has become a nuclear wasteland. It is important to understand that these men predict this devastating sneak attack will occur before the rise of Antichrist and the seven year period of God’s judgment known as Daniel’s 70th Week. After America is destroyed, the Antichrist will then be able to arise in Europe or somewhere in the Middle East and bring to pass the much talked about Covenant of Peace with Israel that begins the countdown of Daniel’s 70th Week.

I find it extremely ironic, even somewhat mystifying, that Islamic terrorists are very interested in prophecy and have their own version of how end-time events will transpire. As a matter of fact, I just read that radical Islamic clerics have prophesied that their “day of resurrection” cannot transpire until the Jews are all killed and all nations are controlled by the dictates of Islam. Think about that for a moment. If men like Osama Bin Laden are reading prophecy and acting according to their own private interpretation by instigating this Holy Jihad against all infidels, how much more should Christendom awaken and seek the truth from the God of Israel.

By far the fourth and most popular explanation offered to explain why God is silent about America, centers around the doctrine of the pre-70th Week rapture or removal of the Church of Jesus Christ from this Earth. With immense pride, patriotism, and confidence these teachers proclaim that America is filled with born again Christians, including President Bush, many Senators and Congressmen, and multitudes of high ranking military officials. Some of them are certain that a greater revival is going to take place before Jesus comes for them, bringing the nation back to the faith of the Founding Fathers. Then, when all of the born again Christians have “departed” the ruling structure of America will be so decimated by missing people that no one will be left to rule. The chaos and confusion among those few left behind will leave the ship of state leaderless. Obviously, with the militant religious-political conservatives suddenly and supernaturally removed from this Earth, the remaining liberals will then be able to join the New World Order, led by the European Union working through the United Nations.

The fifth scenario I want to address is also growing in popularity in American Christendom and is actually quite astounding. These are people who see America and the nations at a violent crossroads. They know a time of God’s judgment is spelled out in the scriptures, for as Luke said they would come saying…the time draweth near, Luke 21:8. But their concept of how this judgment of God is to play out is breathtaking to say the least. For their hearts are fixed on the doctrine of “dominion” where Christendom experiences a spectacular political-religious revival in America that spreads throughout the nations. These teachers are not really looking for the Lord Jesus Christ to intervene personally by returning in wrath and judgment and then establish the Kingdom of God on Earth. They teach that Jesus Christ has given his power and authority to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth to the Church working through democratic governments. You might find it interesting that many of those who founded this nation in 1776 were inspired by this same doctrine. It was called Manifest Destiny, where America was to be the shining city of God, the New World Order of politics and religion embodied in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, for all the world to see. Just look at your dollar bill if you think I have lost my mind.

This destiny is also spoken of as post-millennialism, where the Church, working within America’s government and military to enforce God’s judgment, will subdue all contrary nations and bring peace and democracy to the world for 1000 years, and then Jesus will return to sit on the throne they have established for him. Today’s dominionists see the need to first bring peace and democracy to the nations, followed later by the conversion of the people to their superior religion. This is their plan for Afghanistan, Iraq, and the entire Middle East. The successful elections in Iraq will be seen by the dominionists as a move of God, a giant step towards their goal. Some of those who hold to this dominion doctrine believe that America’s political-religious system is the New Jerusalem, the New Israel, and therefore re-interpret all promises and prophecies given by God to Israel to be the sole domain of the Church. You can now understand how these people, unlike the previous four, have no problem finding America in the scriptures. For everywhere they read the name Israel they see themselves.

Now, keeping in mind these five explanations of America’s future, let’s look at the questions I asked above. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? As I understand it, wisdom is applied knowledge. It is when you take action in word or deed based upon certain knowledge that you possess in your mind and heart. For example, if you subscribe to the knowledge of the fifth scenario I listed above, where Jesus Christ has delegated “dominion” authority to Christendom to subdue the nations, thereby establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth, and then begin applying that knowledge by joining with others of like mind to make it happen, you now possess the wisdom in this teaching. You become one with it, you believe it to be the truth, and it becomes part of your very existence. Do you now see the importance of my second question….does it matter who is the source of your knowledge and whether or not it is the truth? Is the dominion scenario, as well as the other four, based on the truth? Is the source of this knowledge the living God of Israel, or seducing religious spirits sent from Satan? How can we know? Let’s see what the Lord Jesus Christ says about knowledge and wisdom:

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Matthew 7:21-29. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me “in that day”, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto “a wise man”, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto “a foolish man”, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Revelation 17:3, 9-18, 18:1-5. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns……..And here is “the mind which hath wisdom”. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

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Please read these scriptures again, slowly, so that each word enters into your heart. For these are not just conjured up words from men like Matthew and John, but the very words spoken from the mouth of the God of Israel. If you honestly do this, and take this knowledge from God and apply it to your life in word and deed, you will walk in the wisdom of God. You that know the Lord Jesus and walk with him understand what I am saying. For those of you who have never confessed your breaking of God’s laws and received forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ, your eternal destiny will be changed if you cry out for mercy unto him. His laws were written to expose the rebellion and evil nature we were all born with and to compel us to the bloody cross of Jesus for cleansing and the spiritual rebirth of our hearts. For everyone of us have joined with Satan in the killing of Jesus Christ by our evil sin nature that is filled with…. pride, love of money, love of self, lying, hate, 1 John 2:1-27.

This sin nature even clouds the good we want to do. Remember, Adam and Eve were created by God with “only” a good God-given nature. But when they fell this nature was thoroughly saturated and encompassed with evil. For they had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and passed the taste of it to all of us their children. Because of this we all deserve to die and go to an eternal Hell that was originally prepared only for Satan and his fallen angels, Matthew 25:41. Please listen to me. God’s wrath is today upon Satan “and” any man who walks in his evil ways by denying the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings. This knowledge should cause you to tremble in fear of the all consuming God of Israel, Proverbs 1:7, Psalms 111:10, Matthew 10:28. Remember, the fallen angels cannot be saved from God’s consuming fire, but you can, Hebrews 12:25-29. Jesus shed his blood so that men can escape the destiny of Satan. Can you now see the connection between God’s wrath and love, and for whom each was intended?

All wisdom comes from one man, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the personification of wisdom. In order to be saved from the sin nature that sends us all to Hell, we must first acknowledge that Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully God, co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit, the eternal triune Godhead. We must confess that as the only sinless man, due to his miraculous incarnation into the womb of Mary, he shed his perfect blood on the cross as full payment for all of our sins. On the third day his dead body was resurrected and reunited with his Spirit. After appearing to his disciples many times to teach them and prove he was alive, he was gloriously lifted into the Heavens in their sight, having promised them he would again return to this Earth to establish his Kingdom. All of these things are the milk of God’s word and where wisdom must begin! This is the knowledge that must be turned into wisdom by becoming one with it in your hearts.

But Matthew clearly records an ominous warning from the Lord. Jesus is looking down the corridors of time when he returns in the day of judgment. On that day he said many would stand before him claiming to be his followers, who offer up to him their life of religious service, only to be rejected and commanded to depart from him. You might not like to hear my next question, but I must ask it. Who are these people today? Who among us will hear these chilling, condemning words in the coming day of judgment when he returns to take over the government of this planet? One thing is obvious to me. People who have heard in their heads all of the knowledge of the person and works of Jesus, the milk that I just described, but refuse to apply it to their hearts through repentance and faith, will hear these heartbreaking words of damnation….I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. For Jesus said of the foolish man that he heard his sayings but was not a doer of them. Why would anyone do this? It is very simple, foolish religious men refuse to depart from the carnal pleasures of sin and today there are multitudes of teachers who help foolish men stay in their sins by their false doctrines.

There is more to understand about the wise and foolish men described by Jesus. When Jesus refers to….these sayings of mine….he is not just talking about who he is, but all of his foundational teachings that are given in what is called the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7. Reading all of those sayings of his and then doing them by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is like building your house on a rock, the person of Jesus Christ. I must emphasize here that it is impossible to be a doer of his sayings apart from the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. And any man who arrogantly thinks he can obey without first bowing the knee before the bloody cross is the prince of fools.

If you compare the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount with the lives of most people in Christian America today, you see a house of foolish men staring out the front window at a perilous storm that is headed their way. This approaching storm is the wrath of God that will destroy everything built by man, and not God. For those of you who saw the tidal wave destruction of property last December in South Asia, did you notice that the only buildings left standing were those built with strong materials on a sold and deep foundation. It is important to notice in Matthew’s writings that both the wise and foolish men built a house unto the Lord. In other words, they both used the name of Jesus and said they were his followers. And Jesus told Matthew that many would be fools and only a few would be wise enough to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven through the narrow gate.

Along with the passages from Matthew I included the word of God given to John in Revelation 17,18. I have done this to prove that the sayings or knowledge of Jesus that we are to make wisdom within us by application and faith, go beyond the message of the Sermon on the Mount. Notice that John writes….and here is the mind that hath wisdom. He is identifying followers of Jesus who learned and became one with not only the milk of God’s word, but the meat of Revelation. This is most important, for there are many foolish teachers and pastors in Christendom who deny or discount the prophetic word of God, some even making fun of it. However, John calls those who seek understanding of….the woman, the beast, the seven heads, the ten horns, the great city, Babylon, and the returning Lamb….men with minds that hath wisdom.

I am not going to write about these Revelation passages in any detail in this article. My main concern was to point out that the God of Israel requires that you seek understanding from his prophecies relating to the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the truth surrounding the bloody cross. You must know that Jesus cannot be separated from his teachings. Moreover, if you correctly understand and apply the true knowledge of his cross and bodily resurrection, there will be within you a corresponding desire to understand the truth surrounding his second coming. This connection of the cross and coming, linked together by the resurrection, is the work of the Holy Spirit. I hope you will take the time to read my book and other articles for more prophetic detail, especially “Babylon’s Final Fall”, posted in February of 2003. Please, test everything I write by your own personal study of the scriptures and prayers to our Father in Heaven. As John said of the Holy Spirit….he will guide you into all truth….and he will show you things to come, John 16:13.

I would like to conclude by getting back to the five scenarios about America’s future that I wrote about in the beginning of this article….deceived, degenerated, destroyed, departed, and dominion. You now have a gut-wrenching choice to make because there is another explanation of America’s future. Many of you know that in previous articles I have tried to explain how emotionally consuming it was when, as a young born again Christian, I was made aware that America was Babylon the Great, or the final stage of the Roman Empire. And that until America was destroyed by God’s angels in the closing days of Daniel’s 70th Week, it would remain the most powerful nation on Earth, the throne of Satan’s Kingdom. Everything in me fought against this knowledge. My soul was at war within me. I wanted Babylon/Rome to be anywhere but here, the land of my birth, the nation I served for five years in the Army. This knowledge went against every thing I was taught as a child growing up in America’s heartland. It ultimately became a question of where my heart was….with Jesus and his prophetic truth or with the carnal wisdom of religious-political men.

Remember, our Lord Jesus Christ is calling all of us to be wise men, and abandon our foolish ways. Are these five scenarios based on solid scriptural foundations or are they the result of mixing truth and error together by men who struggle, like I did, with America being Babylon/Rome? For example, the multitudes in Evangelical and Fundamentalist circles who proudly teach the “departed” theory, where so many of America’s political and religious leaders will be raptured before the days of Daniel’s 70th Week, is definitely a confused blending of truth and error. I also believe in the any hour of any day return of the Lord to remove from this Earth his “faithful and wise” remnant before his wrath comes down on the ungodly. But it borders on pure folly to teach that religious men who ignore or redefine the wisdom of the Sermon on the Mount and the Revelation, will be raptured or removed to Heaven.

I find it ironic and deeply troubling that many of those who have bedecked themselves with riches by selling their interpretation of God’s prophetic word, and who arrogantly warn people against being “left behind” when Jesus comes, will find themselves fulfilling their own prophecy (see article “Accursed From Christ” August 2003). Many of my friends subscribe to this pipe dream where the President will lead the massive departure of Christians from America into Heaven. Because I love them, I will never stop pleading with them to reconsider the lies they are believing and teaching. For the militant patriotism of Constantinian Christianity guided by the “just” war doctrine, the Prosperity Gospel, and the New Age psycho-babble of the Purpose-Driven life, stand in sharp contrast to the sayings and teachings of Jesus. These are just a few of the false doctrines embraced by many of the “departed” which are the end product of not understanding the connecting truth between the cross and second coming of our Lord.

Unless there is repentance, those who hold to any one of these erroneous heresies will not be removed to Heaven and escape the wrath of God. The Mark of the Beast/President that is coming will be their last chance to repent, Revelation 13:16-18. If these remarks have provoked you to be angry at me, please know that I’m just repeating the warning Jesus gave to lukewarm Christians….I will spew thee out of my mouth, Revelation 3:16. Please know also that I say these things as a man who wars with you against the temptations of sin. Even though I have walked with the Lord for twenty-six years, there were times when I fell into pride and evil lusts of my carnal mind. I must confess to you that if I were to be judged only by the Law of God, I stand condemned, and deserve to be “left behind” with those who willfully distort the teachings of our Lord and Savior to ease their guilty conscience and to please their political masters. It is sickening when I fall to the sins of the flesh, but it is far worse when someone redefines the very teachings of Jesus which expose these sins, in order to justify their patriotic, prosperity, and psycho-babble desires. For it is the sayings of Jesus that show us the way, and if they are redefined or distorted people will stay in their sins. All I can do is cry out for mercy, forgiveness, and the grace to have victory over my evil flesh, and I am pleading with all my brethren in Christendom to do the same, 1 John 1:9. Please come back to the teachings of our awesome God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The day will come to pass when the “left behind” followers of the pre-millennial “departed” theory, who today support Israel, will fully join in a national revival with their post-millennial “dominion” brethren in the delusion of America’s “Manifest Destiny” to bring peace and democracy to the Middle East. Their differences on the timing of the Lord’s return will be swept aside. For both of these groups already believe and agree that America was founded by true Christians who established a covenant with God and they lie about men like me, calling us divisive traitors, leftists, even terrorist sympathizers. Because of this patriotism that links them together, they will ultimately accept the “dominion” lie that the American political-religious system is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem for all the world to emulate!

The mighty revival they declare is now underway, will then grow rapidly. But hear this my eternal friends….this is not a revival back to the truth of the bloody cross of Jesus, but a revival that brings people “under” the distorted laws and customs of the dominionists, and right into the arms of the Antichrist. It is now and will be then a political-religious revival based upon the delusions of men. Paul spoke of this false revival and the Antichrist when he said….whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The Pope of Rome will agree with this delusion and assist the President in making peace in the Holy Land. If you are Jewish or live in Israel when you see Daniel’s Peace Covenant signed on Fox News, you should know that the President and most of his religious conservative friends will drop you like a hot rock after the two Jewish prophets arise in Jerusalem and call the President and Pope the Antichrist and his False Prophet, Revelation 11,13. This will be decision day for the Jewish people, the time of Jacob’s trouble, Jeremiah 30:7.

After the rapture of the small remnant from around the world that left them all behind, they will believe the great lie that explains it away, 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ( see article “The Angelic Intervention” of August 2001). These two branches of American Christendom will believe the lies because they love self, money, and America more than the Lord they profess to worship. As I said, this unity movement is already underway, and was given a huge boost by the Presidential election last November. What this unity will ultimately accomplish, when God permits and in his timing, is the ushering in of the Antichrist, the King of Babylon/Western Rome/America, who will establish a stunning alliance for world peace with the King of the North/Eastern Rome/Russia, and who will convince Israel to sign a treacherous Peace Covenant with its Islamic neighbors. When the Russian and Islamic leaders sign this Covenant the “dominionists” will declare the fall of Babylon, when in reality Babylon/America has now risen to the zenith of its political power.

You better take these words to heart for President Bush, the most powerful man in the world, stated on December 19, 2004…I will bring peace to the Middle East. And in his Inaugural Address of January 20, 2005, he said…human freedom is the “only force” that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants….and the “best hope” for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world. Do you have any idea how Jesus will respond now that he and his coming Kingdom have been replaced by the concept of political and religious freedom? President Bush, in the same speech, sincerely declared that the Sermon on the Mount and the words of the Koran were of equal value. I know the patience and longsuffering of the Lord, but this delusional mixture must be filling the bowls of God’s wrath of Revelation 16:1.

By giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, the patriotic zealots of dominion theology have mixed the worldly wisdom of man with the wisdom of God. For example, the doctrines of Jesus teach us to embrace the love of our enemies and abhor the love of money. The dominionists quote the same scriptures and then do just the opposite….they abhor their enemies and embrace the love of money. To be clear about this, Jesus is speaking to his followers about loving one’s enemies before, during, and after their persecution of you; not after you’ve dropped your cross, picked up your sword, pummeled their armies, and occupy their land. When professing Christians choose to be patriotic soldiers of the sword rather than sheep for the slaughter, they have left their first love of Jesus and his cross, forgotten the coming day of resurrection, and are in danger of judgment, Matthew 10:16, Romans 8:35-39, Revelation 2:4-5, 16, 21-22, 3:3. To put it all another way, they have mixed the kingdoms of this world with the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For all wars among men reflect the satanic wisdom of the self-righteous religious-political kingdoms of this world that are under the curse of the law and the judgment of the God of Israel, James 4:1-4, Matthew 24:6-8. Furthermore, as I have said in many previous articles, until Jesus returns to imprison Satan and his fallen angels who rule these kingdoms, he allows unsaved men to have governments to prevent anarchy and deter evildoers. Followers of Jesus are to humbly obey, but remain “spiritually” separate from the civil authorities, and are forbidden to join with them in the killing of their enemies, Romans 12:9-13:7, John 18:36-37. We are not to blur the distinctions between the two kingdoms! As Jesus said….my kingdom is not of this world.

This distinction of kingdoms was the testimony of the Apostles, the writers of the New Testament, and the true saints for the first three hundred years of Christendom. Then along came the most powerful man in the world, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, who decided to become a Christian. But the truth of the cross never entered into his heart and he proceeded to make Christendom in his image when he taught the Christians the art of Roman warfare. History is repeating itself in America today! The error and distortion that comes with the militant patriotism of Robertson, Falwell, Graham, Lahaye, Lindsey, Clement, Joyner, and the prosperity gospel of Copeland, Crouch, Hinn, Roberts, Jakes, and the New Age psychology of Dobson, Schuller, Warren woven into the teachings of Jesus, are the three main reasons for the lukewarm condition of the Laodecian church of the last days, Revelation 3:14-22.

In my last article “Moved with Compassion” I tried to describe how the Lord was helping me to express his love and mercy to all people, including my friends and family who are trapped in the “departed and dominion” delusion. For until Jesus comes in fiery judgment we are to pick up our cross when those who have not repented of their delusions come against us in anger and disgust. We are not to complain and scream out for our rights or join up with others to take up arms in defense. This is part of the core message of the cross I have tried to teach everywhere I have been the last twenty six years. We are to follow the teachings of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount when he said….Love your enemies….Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you…..Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in Heaven, Matthew 5:11-12. Those who have truly been born from above understand what that means.

Rejoicing when friends, family, and religious leaders look down at you as a divisive “heresy hunter” does not come easy. I have failed in this far too many times. The Lord Jesus Christ corrected me by revealing that my fear of losing friends, family, and the clergy’s approval was more important to me than losing fellowship with him. In other words, the fear of man had replaced the fear of God which the scriptures teach is….the beginning of wisdom, Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7. During those times of confusion I found myself walking in the flesh, seeking the favor and respect of men who also walked in the religious-political-military-economic wisdom of this world, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. I repented after being exposed for the big religious hypocrite that I was.

From the first day I was born again, two things became quite clear to me. First, I knew that the resurrected Jesus Christ now knew and loved me, he accepted my cry of repentance, but yet hated my sin, for it had separated me from him. I then understood that Jesus loved and died for me, his enemy, a wretched God-hating atheist, “before” I confessed my sins at the foot of his cross, Romans 5:7-8. He loves you and me so much that he became a man, came down to this Earth and allowed himself to be crucified by his own rebellious creation, and by the shedding of his blood the atonement for sin was finished. In spite of the fact that as his sinful enemy I was condemned by the law to his wrath and judgment, he offered me the only way to escape that condemnation. Never forget that God the Father loves you through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Secondly, from the first day right up to the writing of this article, he wants me to understand what sin is, what it is that offends him and has the potential of separating me from him. As he makes us aware of evil in this Satanic world system, and even in our old nature that yet resides in our sinful bodies, he promises through the power of his blood and indwelling Holy Spirit to cleanse and protect our hearts and minds from all evil, until the day he returns to this Earth to change our vile bodies of sin into glorious bodies like his own. Our part in this glorious plan is to agree and then obey him by trusting in his Spirit to overcome all evil. Don’t you think it’s time for you to decide your eternal destiny by departing from sin, so that you will not hear Jesus say to you on that day….I never knew you, depart from me?