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False Christianity
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This teaching contains genuinely shocking information for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. It has profound implications for the future of our civilization. Yet the facts contained herein have been documented again and again by respected historians and even many theologians. They are not based on some “pie in the sky” theory or concept. The now-swiftly-developing result of false religion will dramatically affect your very life within the next decade; far more than you probably imagine! For this explosive revelation is not just for “religious people”; it is for everyone. All our lives will soon be affected. We all need to ask ourselves: “How did I come to believe what I now believe about religion, morality and the entire purpose of human existence? If my friends and I have just blindly gone along with generally accepted ideas, isn’t it likely that most other people have also done the same? Is it possible that we have blindly accepted false religious ideas which have in fact, greatly affected the way our entire societies have developed; the kind of legal systems, educational systems and religious systems that we have devised and that we take for granted?” Have you ever asked yourself these basic questions? If there is really a YAHVEH and if the Bible is His inspired revelation to humanity, then we should carefully consider what the Bible clearly says about these questions! For the Bible specifically says: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Again and again, the Bible clearly shows that most human beings are deceived. Describing the end-times, the Apostle John described the Devil in this manner: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). The more than two billion “Christians” in the major denominations are part of the “whole world” that John described; and many are deceived! These people and their preachers do not intend to be evil. For a deceived person does not know that he is deceived! It is important that we understand that distinction. So I am not being “mean” by writing the above, for our YAHVEH of Heaven commands me to preach the truth. And I cannot help you if I simply share sweet platitudes and pretend that “all is well” when all is not well! For we are now nearing the very end of 6,000 years of human history under the influence of ha-satan; whom Yeshua HaMashiach called the “ruler of this world” (John 14:30). “Sincerity” Is Not Enough And that “way” is through the true Yeshua HaMashiach! As the Apostle Peter stated, “Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yeshua HaMashiach of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom YAHVEH raised from the dead, by Him this Man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10–12). Yet very few professing Christians even begin to grasp the enormity of the deception orchestrated by ha-satan. They find it hard to grasp the fact that ha-satan has not only deceived those in the pagan, non-Christian world, but that he has devised a counterfeit Christianity and has foisted it off on millions who sincerely think they are following HaMashiach! As the Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians: “But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in HaMashiach. For if he who comes preaches another Yeshua whom we have not preached or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted; you may well put up with it!” (2 Corinthians 11:3–4). Indeed, another “Yeshua”; a totally different Yeshua HaMashiach; has been palmed off on an unsuspecting humanity! Remember, a counterfeit £50 note is designed to look very much like an authentic bill. Seeing the apparent similarities, people are often deceived into accepting the counterfeit. So it is with ha-satan, the master deceiver! For your own sake, please be willing to consider whether you have been misled into assuming that you are truly following HaMashiach and what He actually taught. For your Bible clearly indicates that only genuine Christians will be protected during the coming holocaust; the Great Tribulation described by Yeshua HaMashiach! Very soon now; within the next several years; the great King YAHVEH of all creation will begin to intervene directly, more powerfully than ever. The recent hurricanes and monsoons are only a small prelude to what YAHVEH will begin to do in these last days. Yeshua HaMashiach specifically predicted: “And there will be great earthquakes in various places and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21:11, 25–26). The great YAHVEH will get mankind’s attention! He will help those who are willing to understand to “come out” of this modern Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and to extricate themselves from ha-satan’s society. The Apostle Paul was also inspired to tell us that ha-satan is the literal “god” of this world’s society! Paul wrote, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of HaMashiach, who is the image of YAHVEH, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). The Basic Premise In the book of Daniel, we find spirit beings; both angels and demons; described on a number of occasions. After Daniel had been fasting to seek greater understanding, YAHVEH sent an angel to encourage him (Daniel 10:10–12). The angel gave Daniel a remarkable explanation about why it had taken him so long to answer Daniel’s prayers. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (verses 13–14). Later, this same angel recounted further details of the unseen spiritual world. “Then he said, ‘do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince’” (verses 20-21). Clearly, this passage is speaking of spirit wars! It is describing the struggle that goes on behind world affairs in the spirit world. For ha-satan is described as “the god of this age” who “has blinded” the unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ha-satan is also called “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). The angel speaking to Daniel was describing a battle among spirit beings wherein even the great archangel Michael (Daniel 12:1) had to be called in for assistance! This world, this “age”; this nearly 6,000-year period from Adam until now; has been and still is, a society dominated by ha-satan and millions of fallen angels or “demons” who followed him in rebellion against our Creator YAHVEH. “Ha-satan” is not just a generalized term for evil. Ha-satan is not a blind force. Ha-satan is a powerful spiritual personality; originally created by YAHVEH as a cherub; who rebelled against YAHVEH. His original name “Lucifer” means “angel of light.” But since his rebellion he has been called “ha-satan”; which means “adversary.” Notice Isaiah 14:12–15: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of YAHVEH; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit.” Here we find the mighty Lucifer plotting to overthrow YAHVEH! His great capacity and vanity made him decide to compete with his Creator! In Ezekiel 28:1–16, YAHVEH describes first the human prince of Tyre. He was obviously a man of great capacity and the full leader; on the human sphere; over this mighty city of the ancient world. Then Ezekiel begins to describe the real “power behind the throne”; the “king” of this pagan city-state. Notice: “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says Adonai YAHVEH: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of YAHVEH; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz and diamond, beryl, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created’” (verses 12–13). Here we find a personality who existed millennia before Tyre; in the “Garden of Eden!” Yet he was a created being (verse 15), not a member of the YAHVEH Family. Ha-satan Has A Kingdom! Of course, Yeshua knew the spiritual principles involved and correctly applied the appropriate scripture in response, saying: “Away with you, ha-satan! For it is written, You shall worship Adonai your YAHVEH and Him only you shall serve” (verse 10). Yeshua chose to obey YAHVEH and to receive His Kingdom in YAHVEH’s time and in YAHVEH’s way. Later, when Yeshua was accused of using Beelzebub to cast out demons, He said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If ha-satan casts out ha-satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25–26). Ha-satan does have a kingdom! He is the invisible “god” of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is the prime deceiver of men and nations. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and ha-satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). Ha-satan is the spirit being who will powerfully influence and perhaps even finally possess, a soon-to-come, charismatic, political dictator who will seduce a mighty world superpower arising in a revived, militant, united Europe; the end-time “Babylon”! Ha-satan will be the “god” who animates and empowers the false religious system that will undergird this world-dominating, economic and military power! Do not just believe me or take my word for it. Look at the Bible for yourself! YAHVEH’s Word predicts that this coming oppressive system will be literally energized by demons: “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues’” (Revelation 18:1–4). Ha-satan will motivate these coming world rulers to fight against HaMashiach at His return as King of kings and Lord of lords. But HaMashiach will depose ha-satan and his wicked rule will come to a sure end. Ha-satan the “Counterfeiter” The Two Babylons So this “mighty hunter”; said to have been a powerfully built man; began to gather people together into cities for protection and also to put them under his personal control. The beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was “Babel”; Babylon. From there, he went on to establish other cities and to gather men together in a relationship that made them feel “independent” from YAHVEH; not needing YAHVEH’s protection. Finally, mankind; having “one language and one speech” (Genesis 11:1); began to build a massive skyscraper or “tower” that has been called “The Tower of Babel” (verses 4–9). YAHVEH knew that, under this Babylons system, mankind was quickly drawing away from Him and would soon invent weapons and means to destroy himself. YAHVEH said: “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (verse 6). The creative power of the human mind was such that YAHVEH knew mankind might invent terrible weapons capable of destroying the earth and that His plan to give mankind 6,000 years to write the lessons of human suffering could be cut short before He intended! So YAHVEH came down to “confuse their language” and to scatter them over the face of the earth. But history and consistent, pervasive stories and ancient legends from nearly all nations indicate that the philosophies and religions started by Nimrod and his wicked wife Semiramis, have continued down to this day. For, after Nimrod’s death, his wife Semiramis claimed that he was now the “sun-god.” As author Alexander Hislop wrote: “The Chaldean Mysteries can be traced up to the days of Semiramis, who lived only a few centuries after the flood and who is known to have impressed upon them the image of her own depraved and polluted mind. That beautiful but abandoned queen of Babylon was not only herself a paragon of unbridled lust and licentiousness, but in the mysteries which she had a chief hand in forming, she was worshipped as Rhea, the great ‘Mother’ of the gods, with such atrocious rites as identified her with Venus, the Mother of all impurity and raised the very city where she had reigned to a bad eminence among the nations, as the grand seat at once of idolatry and consecrated prostitution. Thus was this Chaldean queen a fit and remarkable prototype of the ‘woman’ in the Apocalypse, with the golden cup in her hand and the name on her forehead, ‘mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.’ The Apocalyptic emblem of the Harlot woman with the cup in her hand was even embodied in the symbols of idolatry derived from ancient Babylon, as they were exhibited in Greece; for thus was the Greek Venus originally represented” (The Two Babylons, pp. 5–6). Counterfeit Religion Spreads “The similarity of ancient pagan legends and beliefs with Christian traditions was so great that they excited the attention and undisguised wrath of the early Christian… not knowing how to explain it, they fell back to the theory the devil, centuries before, caused the pagans to adopt certain beliefs and practices” (p. 25). Carpenter also quoted Tertullian, an early “church father” living between 160–220AD, as saying: “The devil, by the mysteries of his idols, imitates even the main part of the divine mysteries” (ibid.). Also, Carpenter, noted: “Cortez too, complained that the devil had possibly taught the Mexicans the same thing that YAHVEH taught Christendom” (ibid.). The famous Spanish explorer found that the originally pagan inhabitants of Mexico were already practicing the same pagan rites and had many of the same pagan beliefs, that the Roman Catholic church had assimilated! Since the practices of today’s churches are not the same as the early true church recorded in the New Testament, it is vital to know whether there has been a purposeful mixing of false pagan practices with the true teachings of HaMashiach, the apostles and the Bible. Many historians, such as Edward Gibbon, have noted the change brought about by great numbers of pagans flocking into the early Christian church and mixing their pagan customs and beliefs with those of the church (see Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 1, chapter 15). Notice how today’s churches have sprung from the same root as paganism! Ha-satan has created an entire system of “counterfeit Christianity.” He has cleverly guided vain religious leaders to introduce completely pagan ideas, concepts and practices into “Christianity.” Since the word “Christianity” is stamped on the outside of the package, most people assume that the religion of Yeshua HaMashiach is being offered. Little do they realize that totally different and false concepts of YAHVEH, of Yeshua HaMashiach and His message, of the purpose of eternal life and of the way to eternal life; have been wrapped up in a package called “Christianity.” But theirs is a “counterfeit” Christianity that has cut most of mankind off from the true YAHVEH and has caused enormous confusion, suffering and death! Note these excerpts from Pagan and Christian Creeds: “The Christian Church has kept itself severely apart from discussion of heathenism, taking the stand that it, the church, represents a unique and divine revelation and has persuaded mankind of this to such a degree that few people nowadays realize that it has sprung from just the same root as paganism and that it shares by far the most part of its doctrines and rites with the latter” (Carpenter, pp. 11–12). “The common idea is that the pagan gods fled away at HaMashiach’s coming, yet it is well known to every student that this is contrary to fact. At the time of the recorded appearance of Yeshua and for some centuries before, there were temples without and dedicated to Apollo or Dionysius among the Greeks or Hercules among the Romans, Mithra among the Persian, Baal and Astarte among the Babylonians and temples dedicated to many other gods. An outstanding phenomenon is apparent: notwithstanding great geographical distances, racial differences between cults and in detail of services, the general outline of creeds and ceremonials were; if not identical; markedly similar” (ibid., pp. 19–21). “Not only were these pagan creeds and ceremonies which had existed centuries before HaMashiach’s coming markedly similar to each other, but also they were similar to true Christianity; a fact that cannot be considered accidental. As an example of this, of eleven main deities from seven countries, it was believed of all or nearly all that ‘these deities’ births were on or near Christmas, of a virgin mother, in a cave underground, that they led a life of toil for man. They were called light bringers, healers, mediators and saviours. They were thought to have been vanquished by the powers of darkness, descended into hell or the underworld, to have arisen and become pioneers of mankind to a heavenly world… Hare-Krishna, the god of India is an outstanding parallel with the life of HaMashiach” (ibid., pp. 21–23). Carpenter goes on to write: “The idea of YAHVEH sacrificing His Son for the salvation of the world is so remote and remarkable; yet it ranges through all ancient religion and back to the earliest times and is embodied in their rituals” (ibid., p. 133). These unusual customs were so similar to the truth that they strongly suggest there must have been some guiding force behind them. A counterfeit Christianity was being created by the invisible “god” of this age whom Yeshua HaMashiach called the “father” of lies (John 8:44). The Da Vinci Code Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Yeshua. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual; the mitre, the altar, the doxology and the communion, the act of ‘god-eating’; were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.’ Teabing groaned. ‘Don’t get a symbologist started on Christian icons. Nothing in Christianity is original. The pre-Christian god Mithras; called the Son of YAHVEH and the Light of the World; was born on December 25, died, was buried in a rock tomb and then resurrected in three days. By the way, December 25 is also the birthday of Osiris, Adonis and Dionysus. The newborn Hare-Krishna was presented with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Even Christianity’s weekly holy day was stolen from the pagans.’ ‘What do you mean, you may ask?’ ‘Originally,’ Langdon said, ‘Christianity honoured the Jewish Shabbat of Friday evening to Saturday evening, but Constantine shifted it to coincide with the pagan’s veneration day of the sun.’ He paused, grinning. ‘To this day, most church-goers attend services on Sunday morning with no idea that they are there on account of the pagan sun god’s weekly tribute; Sunday’” (The Da Vinci Code, pp. 232–233). The Historical Truth From Phrygia came the worship of the Great Mother; from Syria the resurrection drama of Adonis; from Thrace, perhaps, the cult of Dionysus, the dying and saving god.… The Mithraic ritual so closely resembled the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass that Christian fathers charged the devil with inventing these similarities to mislead frail minds. Christianity was the last great creation of the ancient pagan world.… [The Eucharist] was a conception long sanctified by time; the pagan mind needed no schooling to receive it; by embodying the ‘mystery of the Mass,’ Christianity became the last and greatest of the mystery religions” (The Story of Civilization, Vol. 5, Durant, pp. 595, 599). Paul Johnson is one of many highly respected historians who openly acknowledge that the biblical seventh-day Shabbat observed by HaMashiach and the original Apostles was changed. “Many Christians did not make a clear distinction between this sun-cult and their own. They referred to HaMashiach ‘driving His chariot across the sky,’ they held their services on Sunday, knelt towards the East and had their nativity-feast on 25 December, the birthday of the sun at the winter solstice. During the later pagan revival under the Emperor Julian, many Christians found it easy to apostatize because of this confusion; the Bishop of Troy told Julian he had always prayed secretly to the sun. Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins. He made Sunday into a day of rest” (A History of Christianity, pp. 67–69). What happened after Constantine? The widely read mainstream religious author Jesse Lyman Hurlbut explains: “The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into the worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and of worship. About 405AD images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored and worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana; Adonai’s Supper became a sacrifice in place of a memorial; and the elder evolved from a preacher into a priest.… The church and the state became one when Christianity was adopted as the religion of the empire and out of the unnatural union arose two evils, one in the eastern, the other in the western provinces. In the east the state dominated the church until it lost all energy and uplifting life. In the west [“Rome,” Ed.] as we shall see, the church gradually usurped power over the state and the result was not Christianity but a more or less corrupt hierarchy controlling the nations of Europe, making the church mainly a political machine” (The Story of the Christian Church, pp. 79–80). A Modern “Babylon” Created Many did so out of convenience rather than conviction and kept their old beliefs privately. Others came to the new syncretistic faith uneducated in its beliefs, and able to receive only the most basic instruction. “Babylon” is a symbol of confusion. The formation of the Roman Catholic Church and then the later appearance of dozens of “daughter” churches have certainly brought about a spiritual malaise of conflicting denominations, doctrines, creeds and practices; all supposedly “Christian.” Yet none of them corresponds remotely to the Christianity that the original Apostles and the early Church of YAHVEH followed for decades after the death of Yeshua of Nazareth. They all have retained dozens of pagan ideas and practices that would have been utterly foreign to the early Church! Ha-satan has indeed done a masterful job of creating a counterfeit Christianity. Although Alexander Hislop appears to have remained a Protestant until his death, he carefully pointed out; with much historical documentation; that the modern Roman Catholic Church is a continuation of the ancient Babylons mystery system and that its religious festivals and most of its practices were drawn directly from the Babylonian religion and its priesthood. Hislop partially makes the connection with the “daughter” churches that have come out of Rome. But he was evidently blinded to the full meaning of what has happened to modern “Christianity.” Near the beginning of The Two Babylons, Hislop lays out the basic thesis that he goes on to document in full: “It has been known all along that Popery was baptized Paganism; but YAHVEH is now making it manifest, that the Paganism which Rome has baptized is, in all its essential elements, the very Paganism which prevailed in the ancient literal Babylon, when YAHVEH opened before Cyrus the two-leaved gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron.… Her judgment is now evidently hastening on; and just as it approaches, the Providence of YAHVEH, conspiring with the Word of YAHVEH, by light pouring in from all quarters, makes it more and more evident that Rome is in very deed the Babylon of the Apocalypse; that the essential character of her system, the grand objects of her worship, her festivals, her doctrine and discipline, her rites and ceremonies, her priesthood and their orders, have all been derived from ancient Babylon; and, finally, that the Pope himself is truly and properly the lineal representative of Belshazzar. In the warfare that has been waged against the domineering pretensions of Rome, it has too often been counted enough merely to meet and set aside her presumptuous boast, that she is the mother and mistress of all churches; the one Catholic Church, out of whose pale there is no salvation. If ever there was excuse for such a mode of dealing with her, that excuse will hold no longer. If the position I have laid down can be maintained, she must be stripped of the name of a Christian Church altogether; for if it was a Church of HaMashiach that was convened on that night, when the pontiff-king of Babylon, in the midst of his thousand lords, ‘praised the gods of gold and of silver and of wood and of stone’ (Daniel 5:4), then the Church of Rome is entitled to the name of a Christian Church; but not otherwise. This to some no doubt, will appear a very startling position; but it is one which it is the object of this work to establish; and let the reader judge for himself, whether I do not bring ample evidence to substantiate my position” (Hislop, pp. 2–3). Later Hislop describes how the Catholic “confessional” was borrowed from paganism, giving priests greater authority over the lay members. He explains that the pagan festivals of Christmas and Easter were introduced into “Christianity” centuries after HaMashiach revealed the full truth to His apostles. “Indeed,” Hislop writes, “it is admitted by the most learned and candid writers of all parties that the day of our Adonai’s birth cannot be determined and that within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century and that not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance. How then, did the Rome-ish Church fix on December the 25th as Christmas day? Why, thus: Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honour of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen and to swell the number of the nominal adherents of Christianity, the same festival was adopted by the Roman Church, giving it only the name of HaMashiach. This tendency on the part of Christians to meet Paganism half-way was very early developed” (ibid., pp. 92–93). Indeed. Meeting paganism half-way “was very early developed,” Hislop writes! Yet YAHVEH clearly told our ancestors: “Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not” (Jeremiah 10:2–4). Yet modern day churchgoers persist in doing just that; and then have the audacity to stamp the name “Christian” on the outside of this package of pagan beliefs and practices! Those genuinely interested in the basic history of this relationship between ancient Babylon and modern professing Christianity should, if possible, find and read such books as The Two Babylons, Pagan and Christian Creeds, The Golden Bough by Sir James Frazer and many similar works of history and theology. If your mind is open, it is relatively easy to prove to yourself that modern “churchianity” is simply a continuation of the old Babylonian religion, with the name “Christian” stamped on the outside! Have Protestants “Come Out” of Babylon? In their constant affirmation of the scriptures as “the inspired rule of faith and practice” (ibid. article “Bible”), the Protestant leaders have committed themselves to follow the religion of Yeshua HaMashiach and His apostles in all respects. Virtually all scholars acknowledge that the primary and original founder of Protestantism was Dr. Martin Luther. Yet Luther constantly rejected the authority of scripture when it pleased his own whims; although he often stated otherwise! It is remarkable that in rejecting the doctrine of transubstantiation, Luther declares the absolute authority of Scripture in matters of faith and practice. He states: “For that which is asserted without the authority of Scripture or of proven revelation may be held as an opinion, but there is no obligation to believe it…. Transubstantiation… must be considered as an invention of human reason, since it is based neither on Scripture nor sound reasoning” (Documents of the Christian Church, ed. Bettenson, p. 280). If Luther had only applied this type of scriptural test to all of his doctrines, the world today might be a different type of place! For when he was charged with inserting the word “sola” (alone) into Romans 3:28, he haughtily replied, as cited by historian Johannes Alzog: “Should your Pope give himself any useless annoyance about the word sola, you may promptly reply: It is the will of Dr. Martin Luther that it should be so” (Manual of Universal Church History, p. 199). And, it is worth noting, no other reason for such unscriptural changes as these were ever given. When it came to his personal doctrinal convictions, Martin Luther was truly a self-willed man. In judging any man or movement, Yeshua said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). Historian Henry C. Vedder recounts the instruction Martin Luther gave to the German princes when thousands of the peasants, who had sincerely followed his revolt against Rome, themselves rebelled against those arrogant princes: “Rebellion is not a vile murder, but like a great fire that kindles and devastates a country; hence uproar carries with it a land full of murder, bloodshed, makes widows and orphans and destroys everything like the greatest calamity. Therefore whosoever can should smite, strangle and stab, secretly or publicly and should remember that there is nothing more poisonous, pernicious and devilish than a rebellious man. Just as when one must slay a mad dog; fight him not and he will fight you and a whole country with you. ‘Let the civil power press on confidently and strike as long as it can move a muscle. For here is the advantage: the peasants have bad consciences and unlawful goods and whenever a peasant is killed therefore he has lost body and soul and goes forever to the evil. Civil authority however, has a clear conscience and lawful goods and can say to YAHVEH with all security of heart: ‘Behold, my Adonai Elohim, Thou hast appointed me prince or lord, of that I cannot doubt and has entrusted me with the sword against evildoers” (Romans 13:4)…. Therefore I will punish and smite as long as I can move a muscle; thou wilt judge and approve.”… Such wonderful times are these that a prince can more easily win heaven by shedding blood than others with prayers.’” (A Short History of the Baptists, pp. 173–174). Well may we ask ourselves, “If these are the words of a reformer sent from God, then what is the measure of true religion?” Are these the words of a man directed by the Holy Spirit of God? Was the risen Christ using this man to purify His “little flock?” It is true that Luther and Calvin had personal religious motivations. Luther’s mind was tortured with a perpetual sense of guilt. In his extreme emphasis on salvation by faith alone, he was trying desperately to devise some system where the Law of YAHVEH and the justice of YAHVEH would have no place. But Luther’s personal spiritual upheaval would have had little effect on Germany or the world had he not appealed to the political and financial instincts of German princes. And “it is true to say that the motives which led to the Lutheran revolt were to a large extent secular rather than spiritual” (Alfred Plummer, The Continental Reformation, p. 9). Especially in regard to his insistence on faith alone and his rejection of countless scriptures teaching the need for obedience, Luther was a stubborn, self-willed man. The Bible teaches: “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, KJV). This is clearly referring to the Ten Commandments; the spiritual Law written by the very finger of YAHVEH. The inspired James explains: “For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:10–12). What law forbids adultery and killing? Obviously, James is referring to the Ten Commandments. And he concludes by telling us to speak and act according to this Law. And the words of Yeshua HaMashiach agree. For when a young man came to ask Him the way to eternal life, He answered, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” and He proceeded to name some of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:16–19). Completely ignoring its direct parallel with the teachings of Yeshua HaMashiach, Luther haughtily declared of the book of James: “Compared with the Epistles of St. Paul, this is in truth an epistle of straw: it contains absolutely nothing to remind one of the style of the Gospel” (Alzog, Vol. III, p. 208). Luther stubbornly rejected the entire book of James because it did not agree with his doctrines! In rejecting the first five books of the Bible, Luther declared: “We have no wish either to see or hear Moses. Let us leave Moses to the Jews, to whom he was given to serve as a Mirror of Saxony; he has nothing in common with Pagans and Christians and we should take no notice of him” (Alzog, Vol. III, p. 207). Since Luther regarded Moses as having to do with YAHVEH’s Law; which Luther hated; he wanted “nothing to do” with Moses’ inspired writings! But since Luther’s favourite writer was the Apostle Paul, we wonder how Luther reacted to Paul’s inspired words to Timothy: “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Yeshua HaMashiach. All Scripture is given by inspiration of YAHVEH” (2 Timothy 3:15–16). Remember that only the Old Testament Scriptures were written when Timothy was a child. Since Luther stubbornly wished to “take no notice” of Moses, we might remind him of the Apostle John’s description of the victorious saints of YAHVEH singing “the song of Moses the servant of YAHVEH and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3). But Luther’s own writings promptly answer: “I look upon the revelations of John to be neither apostolic nor prophetic” (Jules Michelet, The Life of Luther, p. 273). He then add, “Everyone may form his own judgment of this book; as for myself, I feel an aversion to it and to me this is sufficient reason for rejecting it” (Alzog, Vol. III, p. 208). And it is a fact that Martin Luther wilfully rejected the authority of any book in the Bible to which he felt an “aversion.” Now perhaps we can understand the real meaning of the religious confusion of our time. Today’s Protestants have inherited from Luther; acknowledged as the greatest leader of the Reformation; a spirit of self-will and a tendency to reject the all-inclusive authority of YAHVEH’s Word! As historian George P. Fisher wrote, regarding Luther: “In the retention of rites and customs he did not require an explicit authorization from Scripture. Enough that they were not forbidden and are expedient and useful. His aversion to breaking loose from the essentials of Latin Christianity in matters of doctrine is equally manifest” (History of Christian Doctrine, p. 283). In Luther’s own words: “No one can deny that we hold, believe, sing and confess all things in correspondence with the old church, that we make nothing new therein nor add anything thereto and in this way we belong to the old Church and are one with it” (Thomas M. Lindsay, A History of the Reformation, Vol. I, p. 468). By their own statements then, it is proved that the Protestants regarded themselves only as a continuation of the historic Catholic Church, but under a different and “purified” form. Luther himself vehemently affirms their essential oneness with the Catholic Church! Regarding Calvin, Fisher wrote: “He did not deny that the Christian societies acknowledging the Pope are ‘churches of HaMashiach’…. He indignantly denies that he has withdrawn from the Church” (History of Christian Doctrine, p. 304). Philip Schaff noted Calvin’s description of the historical Roman church: “As our present design is to treat of the visible Church, we may learn even from her the title of mother, how useful and even necessary it is for us to know her” (History of the Christian Church, Vol. VIII, p. 450). Protestant leaders’ insistence on their basic unity with the Catholic Church and their identification of her as their “mother” church, is most significant! YAHVEH Identifies the Roman Catholic Church They are still following Rome’s example of mixing in the politics and wars of this world. And we have seen abundant Protestant testimony that they recognize she is their “mother” church! Protestant historian Rufus Jones wrote that Luther “started out to inaugurate a Church composed of those who had faith and spiritual vision and who revealed an ability and power to proclaim the Word of YAHVEH. But in reality, he left in full operation a large relic of the ancient creeds, an extensive ‘rump’ of superstitions, traditions and magic and a heavy inheritance of external authority” (The Church’s Debt to Heretics, p. 228). In other words, the Protestants still retain many pagan doctrines and traditions inherited from Rome. We have seen that some of these false traditions involve the pagan holidays that the early Catholics adopted and gave Christian-sounding names. We ought to look into these things! The Protestant churches stand clearly identified by YAHVEH Almighty as the “harlot daughters” of apostate Rome! Speaking of this entire Babylons system, YAHVEH commands: “Come out of her My people, lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). The question is whether or not we will obey our Creator! What Lies Just Ahead The majority of Christians however, were awed by the universal influence of the new unity. There was one Empire under the one Emperor, leading one Church under one YAHVEH. Many believers began to wonder if they had not misunderstood the concept of the Kingdom of YAHVEH: it might have been the Church itself or even the Christianised Empire. Thus the fateful union of Church and State was ratified; a union that was to shape the evolution of Europe for centuries to come” (The Principality and Power of Europe, pp. 23–24). Later, Hilton continues: “Just as crucial to the federalizing process is the erosion of the achievements of the Reformation. Even some prominent Evangelical Christian leaders have presented this momentous move of YAHVEH as one of the greatest tragedies that ever happened to the Church and state that Protestants ‘destroyed the unity of Christendom’. They fail to mention the true nature of the Papal system of religion, the depths of spiritual darkness in which it keeps its followers and its diametric opposition to true biblical Christianity. Unity it seems, is more important than truth. The concept of Christendom, however unbiblical its practice, appears to matter more than the national boundaries set between one principality and another, regardless of the liberties those boundaries defend. While visiting Austria in 1983, the Pope spoke out against the ‘national and artificial borders’ all over Europe. He added: ‘Europeans should overcome the menacing international confrontations of states and alliances and create a new united Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals.’ In 1988, he continued this theme when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg; an occasion at which many asked why a perceived spiritual leader was addressing the issues of political unity. The Sunday Telegraph, in 1991, summed up the Pope’s plans for the ‘evangelisation’ of Europe. It stated: ‘He is calmly preparing to assume the mantle which he solemnly believes to be his Divine Right; that of new Holy Roman Emperor, reigning from the Urals to the Atlantic.’” (ibid., pp. 36–37). “Babylon” Revived! “In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen and am no widow and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day; death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is Adonai Elohim who judges her” (Revelation 18:7–8). This is the soon-coming church-state system in Europe, which will eventually turn on the American and British-descended peoples and bring about the Great Tribulation! It will be a revival of ancient Babylon, with its priestly castes, pagan rituals and doctrines and complete disregard for YAHVEH’s Commands. It will be a clever counterfeit of true Christianity. To millions though, it will seem like the real thing! Why? Because the vast majority of professing Christians do not genuinely study the Bible. They do not really dig in and try to “prove” all things as YAHVEH Commands. Therefore, even many evangelical Christians; and their ministers; will eventually be caught up in the euphoria of this powerful Babylons system! For it will be part of the “ecumenical movement.” It will seem like “the thing to do.” Please remember Yeshua’s words: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). The Yeshua HaMashiach of the Bible also gave this powerful warning: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21–23). The beautiful pageantry, the music, the pomp and ceremony and the intimidating power of this coming Babylonian system will be very impressive. But only those who genuinely do YAHVEH’s will and keep His Commandments; ALL TEN OF THEM: will be in HaMashiach’s soon-coming Kingdom. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of YAHVEH and the faith of Yeshua” (Revelation 14:12). At the very end of His inspired word, our Creator tells us plainly: “Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Revelation 22:14–15). The religious sorcery and idolatry of the Babylonian system will be enticing to millions. The vast majority will follow that way. But the above passage warns about anyone who “loves and practices a lie.” The teachings of modern “Babylon” are filled with lies, misunderstandings and pagan practices. Ha-satan has been extremely clever in creating a counterfeit Christianity, which looks so much like the original that untold millions have been deceived. Those who follow this pagan counterfeit religion will suffer the full fury of their Creator when the Trumpet Plagues and the Seven Last Plagues are poured out on a rebellious world (Revelation 8, 9, 16). Yet YAHVEH’s word describes the temporary wealth and power of this system: “For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints and of all who were slain on the earth” (Revelation 18:23–24). And how will it end? “Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down and shall not be found anymore’” (verse 21). You Need To Act! For more information about pagan holidays, Christmas and Easter, I suggest that you contact Dr. Jason Hunt: BibleReformer@aol.com; to order a copy of his excellent book. |