Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

What a Strange Coincidence
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesA.W. Tozer - (1897-1963)
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary

The atheistic free-thinker rants and raves about the Bible being a "dangerous" book at the very same time that the Word of God is speaking life to my soul!

Strange indeed that some humans have the idea that the Word of God can only be approached with shivering fears.

But that is true only of those who love their sin and hate their Savior. The blessed truth is that if I hate my sin and love my Savior, the Word of God is a wonderful revelation, indeed, and a trustworthy guide. We need to be aware always that if we do not keep the Word of God on our side, we will be miserable in our souls continually. It is up to us.

What do we sincerely will to do with God and His revealed Word?

Years ago, the saintly George Mueller said he had read the Bible hundreds of times, and then he added: "with meditation!" Let us see to it that we read the Word. More than that, we should actually explore it!             

The Laodicean Age
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;Exhortation

John describes the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-17: ”And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The Laodicean church is the last church of the church age. The Laodicean Church is an unsaved church. We see the marks of Laodicea all around us today.

In a new monthly poll it is reported that 40% of evangelical leaders said they "socially drink alcohol." In the Philadelphian church of 1800’s to the 1950’s it was 0%.

Today, supposedly Christian films contain sex, violence and drugs. Christian book stores use a system developed by the Dove Foundation.  Its purpose is to caution parents that some Christian films can also contain un-Christian behaviour or situations. The Dove Foundation's new "Faith-Based" seal will carry letters indicating the offending content: "V" for violence, "D" for drugs and alcohol, "S" for sex, etc. These videos are marketed in Christian book stores for Christians?

The music of the world has become the music of much of the Laodicean church. You cannot tell the difference between contemporary Christian music and the world’s music.

Jesus described the true believer as one who has turned away from the world and all it stands for and has forsaken all to follow Him. Jesus said, “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” He also described those who are His disciples this way, “...whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus described some who thought they were Christians and were not in Matthew 7: 22-23. “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.”

My friend I do not want to rain on your parade, but this is very serious issue. If you are Laodicean in your lifestyle, which comes from your heart, you are not a part of the body of Christ. Paul said long ago to the people of His day, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves....” 2 Corinthians 13:5.                                

The Ten Horns
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;Prophecy

In Daniel chapter seven Daniel had a vision of four wild beasts; each of these beasts represented a world empire which was yet future in Daniel’s day, with the exception of Babylon which had just come to power.

These four world empires represented, gentile dominions during the “times of the gentiles”, a time period in which Israel is set aside as a power in the world. These four empires were Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

In Daniel 7:7 we read the prophecy of the Roman Empire. The verse describes what the Roman Empire would be like. This prophecy was amazingly accurate, as a study of history will confirm.

The very last phrase of the verse goes beyond the original Roman Empire and tells about another empire which will arise out of Rome. Out of the territory, and out of the peoples of the old Roman Empire another empire would arise, a revival of the old Roman Empire. We read, “and it had 10 horns”. Notice that the ten horns arise out of the head of the beast which represents Rome. This marks the ten horns as the revival of the Old Roman Empire.

Today, the EU has stated emphatically, “We are the return of the Roman Empire.”  Bible prophecy has much to say about this final empire of the last days, the time in which we now live. Let us look at a few of these prophecies.

The makeup of the revived Roman Empire:  “It had 10 horns” Dan. 7:7. “A beast rises up of the sea … having 10 horns.” Rev. 13:1.  “And the 10 horns which thou sawest are 10 kings,” Rev. 17:12. The Revived Roman Empire will consist of 10 rulers, 10 nations or regions. Antichrist will arise and share power with the 10 kings for 3 ½ years. “… but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” Rev. 17:12. That represents the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation period.

This Revived Roman Empire will not begin until two simultaneous events take place, the rise of the 10 kings and the rise of Antichrist, who will seize power over 3 kings. What we see in the EU today is not the Revived Roman Empire, but the infrastructure or preparation for it. Notice, we do not see the 10 kings or nations or regions today and will not, until the appearance 0f Antichrist at the beginning of the tribulation period. Though interestingly, there are ten nations today that make up the Western European Union. These nations have agreed to dissolve this union in June 2011, perhaps they will or perhaps they won’t, time will tell.

The duration of the revived Roman Empire: “but receive power one hour with the beast,” Rev. 17:12. One hour is a very short duration for a kingdom to exist. Both Daniel and John indicate that this time will be 3 ½ years. Then at the mid-tribulation point, the Revived Roman Empire will give way to the world-wide kingdom of Antichrist. “These have one mind (the ten kings) and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Rev. 17:13.

The 10 kings do not appear on the scene until the moment of the inception of the kingdom. “Ten kings, who have received no power as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”  Rev. 17:12.  These rulers may have power in their own countries today but they have no power over this group of countries until Antichrist comes. Neither the 10 kings nor the 10 nations will be identified until the time of the inception of the kingdom.

The events in Europe today are setting the stage for the appearance of Antichrist.  Before the 10 horns (or 10 toes of Daniel 2) begin to surface, before the infrastructure begins to fall into place, a grievous problem surfaces. Dan. 2:40 tells us that the Roman Empire will be as iron, strong and cohesive but in the Revived Roman Empire, the cohesion and strength of unity will be lost. Dan. 2:31 tells us it will be like iron mixed with clay (pottery). It will not be cohesive. There will be no unity, no strength of purpose and action. “And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.”  Dan. 2: 42, 43. That is the exact scenario that is playing out in Europe right now. The EU is having serious economic troubles today. For the last sixty years the EU has been consistently plagued with disunity at every turn.

They have lacked strong leadership and singleness of purpose. They have been crying out for strong leadership for over sixty years now. That leadership will not be forthcoming until Antichrist appears upon the scene and forcibly takes charge. “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Dan. 7:24.  In chapter 7 verse 8 Daniel says, “there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:”    This scenario is a troubled Europe in confusion, disunity, turmoil and possibly economic despair (just at it is this very hour).  Suddenly the charismatic, miracle performing, wonder working Antichrist appears and forcefully takes control over three of the ten countries and solves all the problems and welds Europe together for the first time in 1500 years.

Before this happens, the Trumpet will Sound and we will go home!

In recent days some have been abandoning this interpretation and looking for an Islamic antichrist because they see the EU faltering in her push for world domination. Realize that what is happening in Europe is right in line with the prophetic scenario of both Daniel and John.

A new book claims that the Antichrist will be an Islamic leader, that he will be a man known to Islam as the Mahdi. The author, further claims that the Empire of Antichrist will be made up of those Islamic nations who now surround Israel.

This is a wrong interpretation. The author is not a premillennialist. He does not believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. One of the main purposes of the book, he says, is to prepare living believers to be ready for the tribulation and to recognize the signs and events as they take place.

This fails to warn unsaved men and women of the danger of entering the Day of the Lord. It is a serious deception. It also discourages believers from looking for the Lord’s coming as we are exhorted to do.

This fails to warn unsaved men and women of the danger of entering the Day of the Lord. It is a serious deception. It also discourages believers from looking for the Lord’s coming as we are exhorted to do.

The author uses the events and situations developing in the Muslim world and fits Scripture around it. The right approach is to start with what the Bible teaches and relate events and circumstances to it.  It is never hard to start with an idea and mould Scripture around the idea. This has been done numerous times before.

Day after day the world is being prepared for the coming, awful day of God's vengeance upon a rebellious world, and yet everywhere we look, the eyes of men are closing to what is happening around them.

Jesus said, to some of the men of his day, men who were blind to the great events that were unfolding around them "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times." Someone has said, “there are none so blind as those who will not see."

All around us the sign of the times are like flashing red lights crying out for men to take heed. Like a jigsaw puzzle, more and more of the pieces are falling into place.

We see wars and rumours of war, earthquakes on the rise in number and intensity. We see unprecedented storms all around the world, floods, droughts, epidemics and famines. We see pollution of the seas and of the air, both recently intensified in Iceland and in the Gulf of Mexico.  None of these are new to the world, but the increase in number and intensity is unprecedented. This tells us we are living in the last days of the last days. Jesus described these days as the "Beginning of Sorrows." Mt. 24:8.

Terror and terrorists are shattering our world more and more each passing day. Terror attacks such as we are seeing are hard for civilized people to comprehend. Yet, we are becoming hardened to it all. We have the threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue states and terrorists. Our world is sick and that sickness is terminal.

We are not surprised that the eyes of unbelievers are closed to this unfolding Last Days Scenario. We are troubled that some of God's people are unaware of, and seemingly indifferent to the nearness of the coming of Christ and the coming Day of the Lord.

God's people are without excuse in not understanding the times. Paul said, "But ye brethren, are not in darkness that, that day should overtake as a thief." 1 Thess. 5:4.   

Maranatha!                             

Stand
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;Exhortation

For several decades our society has been slipping into moral decline. Today, we are now in an incredible free fall that is plunging us into an abyss of moral depravity that no one could have imagined a few short years ago.

In an article from, “Mission America”, we have the following statement, “Homosexual activists and their allies are, in case one hasn't noticed, the torch-carriers for a movement to destroy biblically-oriented Christianity and its positive influence on our culture.”
They are attacking God’s Word in which we have His plan for the family, His plan for human reproduction and His plan for loving human relationships. I believe in these attacks there is an attack on God Himself.

The writer goes on to say,” I am increasingly convinced that much of the Church will have a lot of explaining to do. Why did most pastors allow evil to be "sold" to our young people with barely a whimper of protest? Why did you allow this tragic behaviour to become a chic cause célèbre in the media without trying to take a stand against it? Why did you let seminaries teach this blasphemy? Why did you spend little or no time in the pulpit dealing with this and all the related sexuality issues - promiscuity, pornography, adultery, fornication - sins that are tearing apart the families and personal lives of even Bible-confessing Christians? Why did you constantly decry "political involvement" when this is a deeply moral issue, one for which there are ready arguments to be made in the public square had more Christian leaders been willing to make them?”

In another quote from the above article we read, “And the big question is: why do you let the world define what's right to do? What will be "accepted" or not? What is "hate" or not? This defense of inaction completely undermines who Christ is and what God is able to do. Such cowardice should make us tremble. For God would not only be with us if we tried to talk some sense into the world, He is just as able to judge each Christian and the society we live in for our disloyalty and cold-heartedness. I believe right now, He is doing just exactly that.”

The writer goes on to say, “The moral decline in our world, the violent images that are the daily bread of our children, the school shootings, the acceptable treason of our elected leaders--will not stop until the Church is willing to be politically incorrect and cry out loudly in protest to proclaim what is good, instead of meekly retreating in the face of evil. With all the hope that is in the Gospel, why do so many remain silent?”

The Church of Jesus Christ has radically changed in the last fifty years. I suggest that much of professing Evangelicalism is in reality no longer the Church of Jesus Christ. It has mutated into something other than the Church of Christ. We have, I believe, seen the transition from Philadelphia to Laodicea, from the Fundamental Bible believing church of the first half of the 20 century to the New Evangelical unregenerate church of the present hour. Remember, John said Laodicea is an unregenerate church, Revelation 3:16.

In the late 1940’s when New Evangelicalism was born, it boldly stated that it would seek to win the world by appealing to the similarities rather than the differences between it and the world. It was born in compromise and that compromise has grown exponentially. The decision was made to cease contending with the world over the claims of God’s word and instead to seek to influence the world. That was a departure from the essence of what the church is to be, we are called to be salt and light in the world. Today you can scarcely tell the difference between the Evangelical and the world. Evangelicals have fallen in love with the world and the things of the world. The love of the pleasures of the world, and the love of the things of the world have replaced the love of Christ in the hearts of many Evangelicals. John said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” 1John 2:15. John, in Revelation 3:16 described this last days church as being lukewarm and warned that the Lord would spew it out of His mouth.

The average Evangelical church has brought the world and its’ music and its’ trappings into the church. The goal is to make the world feel comfortable in the church. It is not to be wondered that the Evangelical church has lost its savour and is no longer salt and light in the world, making the present spread of evil possible.

The world has converted the church instead of the church converting the world. I believe the most tragic thing of all, is that multitudes do not realize that they have apostatized and they on go on confessing that they are followers of Christ. It is comforting to have the assurance that, “The Lord knoweth them that are His”.

This is an hour to press on in the face of the onslaught of the forces of hell. We are like Israel at the Red Sea, the enemy descending upon us from behind and the impossibility of the sea before us. But remember that God sent Pharaoh to attack Israel (by hardening his heart) in order to bring judgment on Pharaoh, and to prove Himself to His people.  We are where God has placed us in this hour. We are soon to be the victors, remember what God said to Moses as the enemy pressed down upon them, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.,” Exodus 14:13.

“Stand!”  The New evangelicals will not stand they will compromise with the world, they will not stand against errors and evils of the world and its’ attack on God and His Word. But we are to stand!  

Same Destination
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesDave Hunt
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary

“Whether it is the emergent church, Catholic mysticism, positive confession, the new apostolic movement, or new age religion, all derive inspiration from each other and defend each other against any who discern unbiblical practices.”   Dave Hunt

Rome or Turkey
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;Prophecy

There are some today who are saying that because the EU has failed in its attempt to gain economic domination of the world, and that because it is in disunity and disarray we need to rethink our interpretation of Daniel’s prophecies. The conclusion is; we have been mistaken in our interpretation of Daniel’s prophecy concerning the Revived Roman Empire. They have suggested that the Revived Roman will be the Eastern Roman Empire based in Turkey, and that it will be an Islamic Empire with an Islamic Antichrist.

The truth is; that what is happening in Europe today is in line with Daniel’s prophecy. There is turmoil and disunity in Europe; however that chaotic situation is perfectly in line with what Daniel foretold in Daniel 7:24. “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Antichrist will come on the scene in Europe in the midst of turmoil and chaos and seize control of three nations. His rise to power in Europe will be in the midst of division strife, as recorded in Daniel 7:8, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”  The turmoil in the EU today is in line with what we might expect for the arrival of Antichrist. “Three horns plucked up by the roots,” implies again an environment of strife and conflict. He will usurp power over three nations, taking control by force, and weld the ten nations into the Revived Roman Empire. It will be through his bold and brutal initiative that the whole thing will come together.

Today in the EU, there is a growing recognition that the EU has been an economic union and that it must also become political union. The present problems are the very impetus for the total union that Daniel foretells Antichrist will bring about.

Today the EU is the infrastructure of Revived Roman Empire; it is on the same territory of the old Roman Empire. In 476 AD the Roman Empire went into decline but it did not cease to exist. The old Roman Empire was still in existence as late as the 1950’s.

Notice what the scripture says would happen to the old Roman Empire, how it would come to its demise. “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” Dan. 2:40. “As iron that breaketh all these”, that is what Rome did as it came to power in the first century BC. Rome was a fierce fighting machine that utterly destroyed everything that stood before it. But notice what would happen to Rome, “shall it break in pieces and bruise”. The Roman Empire would break up, this began in 486 BC., but fragments of Rome would continue for a long time, as symbolized by the long legs of Daniel’s vision. Rome continued in the form of the British Empire, German Empire, French Empire, Spanish Empire, Portuguese Empire, Belgium Empire, and Dutch Empire. These were all pieces of the Roman Empire or sub Roman Empires. Notice it says in Daniel 2:40 the empire would, “bruise”, this bruising took place after WW 2, when the old Roman colonial system was forced to give up colonies all around the world. Everyone of the sub Roman Empires was involved! All of these vast colonial systems disintegrated by the 1950’s.

Immediately after that, the EU was born, when in 1958 the Treaty of Rome was signed in the city of Rome. This treaty was the beginning of the infrastructure of the Revived Roman Empire. At about the same time in 1948 Israel was born as a nation. The stage was being set; Israel was back in the land where she was when God left off dealing with her. The stage was also being set for the Roman Empire to come back on the scene with a Roman dictator; the whole scenario of the first century was to be reset. Israel will eventually be under the Roman Empire and under a Roman Emperor.

In the fifth century AD the Roman Empire entered into union with the Roman Catholic Church. That was a foreshadowing of the union that the Revived Roman Empire will enter into with the World (harlot) Church at the beginning of the tribulation period. In Revelation 17 we have a symbol of the Revived Roman Empire in union with a World Church, “a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast.”

Turkey and an Islamic Antichrist cannot possibly fit into this prophetic scenario of scripture. This suggestion is a distraction from what God is doing in the world at this time, and a distraction to God’s people.

The new reality of Europe is perfectly in line with the prophetic scripture. The present chaos which is leading to centralized power is in line with Daniel’s prophecy; it is also preparation for the Antichrist to come in by force to cease control. The recent establishment of the new office of a powerful president is the office of the coming Antichrist. The whole situation in Europe is rapidly coming together as the prophets foretold.     

Israel Cannot Even Have Possession of the Western Wall
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;The Nation Of Israel

Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat insisted on Saturday that earlier reports suggesting the Palestinians were willing to let Israel retain control of Jerusalem's Western Wall in a future peace agreement were false.

The London-based pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat reported earlier in the day that PA leader Mahmoud Abbas had included in a proposal to US mediator George Mitchell continued Jewish control of the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, as well as the Kotel, or Western Wall, the most sacred site in Judaism.

But Erekat told Israel Radio that the report was erroneous, and that the Palestinians still demand the full surrender of Jerusalem, including those parts sacred to Jews, in return for a peace deal.

The above article highlights what the Lord said through Ezekiel 2600 years ago.  "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:" Ezekiel 36:2.   Today the enemies of Israel are saying that very thing, "the ancient high places are ours in possession:"

Someday, perhaps soon, the Lord will execute vengeance on the enemies of Israel. Ezekiel 36:5 warns of that event, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.” The Lord has His timetable, but could it be that the coming war between Israel, Hezbollah along with her allies Hamas, Syria and the Palestinians will see this judgment fall?

America in Trouble
Jul 1st, 2010
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;Commentary;Warning

Today America is in a very serious situation, she has turned away from God and is moving rapidly into socialism.

Dr. Charles Stanley recently stated, “There is a tide that has touched the shores of our land and reached the heart of our nation. It is a tide that is bringing with it ideas and philosophies, actions and attitudes that will ultimately destroy the way of life that you and I have.”

“Socialism,” he pointed out, “is opposed primarily to Christianity and Judaism. The tide is bringing in a control that will indeed attempt to silence the people of God.”

Dr. Stanley added, “Even the encouragement of immorality – sexual promiscuity, abortion, easy divorce – is all part and parcel of the socialist modus operandi, because dissolute, dysfunctional people who have crossed the moral line and thus become estranged from the laws of God now need the “god” of socialist government.”

In a recent interview Richard L. Rubenstein, Yale Fellow and contributing editor to the New English Review, gave the following assessment of Barack Obama. “Obama has an agenda for America and the world. Obama is a revolutionary, not by violence but he is trying to transform the political and economic system and America’s relationship to the world.”

He goes on to say, “He is intelligent and knows what he is doing. His intention is to correct, what he believes, is the historical mistake of the creation of the State of Israel.”

Obama’s father was a Muslim, his sister is a Muslim and his half brother is a Muslim. No doubt He has been subject Muslim influence.

Rubenstein goes on to say, “I have no doubt that he would not be unhappy to see the destruction of the State of Israel, as long as he does not appear to be responsible.”

The marks of America’s decline and possible collapse are everywhere. One warning comes from the UN’s report on Retooling Global Development. The report recommends an end to the dollar’s role as dominant reserve currency. America’s economic advantage has been related to the fact that the US dollar has been the world’s reserve currency; a change in that status would probably bring about collapse of the US economy.

Another warning sign came the other day in a release by the Congressional Budget Ofice, “The national debt will reach 62% of gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of this year.” America is in debt beyond any possible hope of survival, collapse seems to be inevitable.

David Kupelian sums up the heart of the problem, “And as a direct result of the leftist-progressive control of our schools, universities, news media and culture, we have gradually forgotten who and what we are as Americans. We lost sight of core principles of personal responsibility, morality and true freedom, and thus we've stopped teaching them to our children. In a word, we've lost our way.”

Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to Washington recently stated, "There is no crisis in Israel-US relations because in a crisis there are ups and downs. [Instead] relations are in a state of tectonic rift in which continents are drifting apart." Therein lays the basic danger to America’s survival. By turning against Israel, America places herself in danger of the judgment of God.

It seems to me that Obama may well be the judgment of God on America. Time will tell.