tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16531929881321836092024-03-13T07:13:03.411-07:00A Call to Arms: How to save your children and grandchildren--and also the future of AmericaBible based articles, including commentaries on the Mormon Church, by Janis Hutchinson (plus some short stories)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-42225946377087272492021-05-21T10:50:00.046-07:002023-03-23T19:39:47.498-07:00A Call to Arms: How to save your children and grandchildren--also the future of America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Please share this article</span></b><span><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">.</span><div style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s180/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s0/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" /></a></div>A “Call to Arms” is a phrase used by
leaders when facing a national crisis that requires offensive or defensive
weapons. Today’s post-truth culture, which is pulling our children and
grandchildren into spiritual and moral decay and obliterating America’s values,
demands the same kind of response. </span></div><div style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;">Why? Because our children and
grandchildren, many raised in Christian homes, are leaving the faith. The secular
message promulgated to today’s younger generation is loud and clear: “<i>God is
dead!</i>” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;">It’s the same theme begun in the
sixties with the “Death of God Movement” that mushroomed into today’s anti-God,
secular and atheistic ideologies that have since developed (even in school curriculums) into injurious pressure
by cancel culture’s Leftist activists to muzzle free speech—especially about
the Christian God—and conform to their point of view, or else suffer the
consequences.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;">This article will tell you how to combat this spiritual corruption and safeguard your
family by revealing a special strategy on what you can do—and it’s not just
reading scripture to your children. Read on . . . </p></span></div><div><blockquote style="border: none; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A CALL TO ARMS</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></h2></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>HOW
TO SAVE YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN—ALSO THE FUTURE OF AMERICA</b></span></h2></div></blockquote><h3 style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><p style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Traditional values . . . along with traditional Christian-based
morality . . . is our present crisis—not an external threat from terrorists or
warlike nations or a viral pandemic, but a decline of faith, truth, and
morality.</span></i></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It is hollowing out our society from within.</span></i></b></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">(Michael Yousseff, Hope for the Present Crisis)<sup>(1)</sup></span></i></b></div></i></b></div></span></span></i></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span>How is today’s post-truth
culture affecting our youth?</span><span><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many of today’s youths—even
those raised in Christian homes—are leaving their faith after high school,
never to return. </span></span></h3><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnGtLpDpCF85xzb2Hbu7KFyUu62HQSxqcP3FaIX28oHkErVcnSYkoNWt7LgXpT0cYyXMvpfg4P7ndhKXWAJyuHUBQbFPJpC1gfwoSJkIquuAbSNx97bc5HEk9BxLk6S1lurgC76HYb7U/s296/NO+%2523%2521.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="296" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnGtLpDpCF85xzb2Hbu7KFyUu62HQSxqcP3FaIX28oHkErVcnSYkoNWt7LgXpT0cYyXMvpfg4P7ndhKXWAJyuHUBQbFPJpC1gfwoSJkIquuAbSNx97bc5HEk9BxLk6S1lurgC76HYb7U/w113-h63/NO+%2523%2521.png" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">“I don’t believe the Bible anymore!”</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Swept into spiritual
and moral confusion by today’s secular culture, manipulative anti-God
ideologies, and atheistic school curriculums, they are being convinced by
educators and others that the God of the Bible is not real, and never was—only
a mythology, a figment of a past generation’s superstitious imagination</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Here are the studies to
prove it</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Three-fourths of the 80
million millennials from Christian homes in the US, influenced by today’s
atheistic propaganda, are leaving their faith and church, with high
percentages swayed to believe the following:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">68% disregard the
reality of God, the Holy Spirit, and consider all biblical accounts, myths</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">51% percent view Jesus’
resurrection from the dead as a myth</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">63% no longer believe
Jesus is the Son of God</span><sup>(2)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">60% leave Christianity
by their early twenties<sup>(3)</sup></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">And don’t miss this!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Some may return to the
faith of their Christian parents, but <i>69 percent of the above 60 percent leaving
in their early twenties will remain gone.</i><sup>(4)</sup><i> </i></span><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">70% of
those</span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> in college </span></i><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">will leave
the faith, with only 35% eventually returning</span></i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">—and statistical trends up to
2050 indicate no change for the future.</span><sup><span style="font-family: arial;">(5)</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">
</span></sup><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">N<span style="font-family: arial;">o
wonder the Barna Report, the leading research organization that strategically
tracks the role of faith in America, is adamant about sending the following
warning to Christian families:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Families, hoping to ensure “a vibrant, lasting
faith in the next generation” will find that </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">the
“current state of affairs is <i>not</i> promising.<sup>(6)</sup></span></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span></span><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">Further,
surveys and studies now show Christian churches admitting that the pervasive secular
worldview, s</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">ocietal ideologies of atheism, and disregard of
biblical and traditional morals, are exerting a stronger influence on tweens,
teens, and young adults than the traditional Christian teachings they are
receiving at home and at church.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Wow . . . that’s saying
a lot!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">Parents
and grandparents now recognize that their families are in a state of spiritual crisis</span>!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0taxBN4ZtVKy_lnY7RzHwT5dRXhQdydMF9SlOo09Vi8LbxNOzocE8Q878Np1_mOWCCGKayZZoaBDOVK-0p60rpxx4uNf-7Lwn1dTqygvGJn3EIUF4SJjOiDcjcfFQsxpMmSTNHXuofw/s321/PARENTS+CRYING.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="321" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0taxBN4ZtVKy_lnY7RzHwT5dRXhQdydMF9SlOo09Vi8LbxNOzocE8Q878Np1_mOWCCGKayZZoaBDOVK-0p60rpxx4uNf-7Lwn1dTqygvGJn3EIUF4SJjOiDcjcfFQsxpMmSTNHXuofw/w165-h76/PARENTS+CRYING.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“What more can we do?”</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What is the answer?<br />
</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The answer springboards
logically from the informative groundwork laid in my previous blog, “<i>The
Cultural Death of God: Can he be resurrected</i>?” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That
article presented a startling eye-opener on the “why” of today’s purposeful suppression
of God and explained why God’s demise and his values is a fundamental
necessity for those presently in power to achieve their long-range political
goal for America—which intends to be anything but a government by or for the
people. It also revealed details on the specific methods being used that are damaging
Christian youth, beginning with manipulative school programs that start as
early as k</span><span style="font-family: arial;">indergarten. (If you missed that article, you can check it out here: </span><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/search?q=the+cultural+death+of+god" style="font-family: arial;">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/search?q=the+cultural+death+of+god</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>What I promised to give
you<br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of “</span><i style="font-family: arial;">The
Cultural Death of God</i><span style="font-family: arial;">: <i>Can he be resurrected?</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;">” (see "Archived Articles" on the dashboard), I promised that this article would provide
practical suggestions on what you can successfully do to combat the spiritual
corruption of your children and grandchildren and build in them an unshakeable
faith in God’s reality through reactivating an old, but proven biblical strategy
(please don’t yawn and say you are already reading the Bible to your kids and
that’s enough—because it isn’t).</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
resuscitated strategy, updated for 21st-century</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> application, is drawn
from my book, </span><i>The Joshua Project: Three overlooked biblical
strategies for parents and grandparents to strengthen their family’s faith</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
(notice it says “three” strategies) and is available on Amazon.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, I'll present this special strategy toward the end of this article. First, I want to briefly review the four school programs mentioned in my previous article, why the Left is pushing those programs, what their goal is, and how they plan to achieve it. Then, I'll introduce you to two new programs I haven't covered before.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Here's their "goal" and "why"<br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">In order for the Leftist powers-that-be to successfully bring
about their goal of socialism leading to an eventual totalitarian government,
it must continue influencing the younger generation by eradicating the
traditional God, his values, and morals. Why? To eliminate any competitive
loyalty to another entity (God) that would compete with obedience to a future autocratic
government and leader. This is not far-fetched. It is already evident to many.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, to successfully achieve this, the Left must focus
on one thing—<i>change thinking patterns.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Here’s the “how</b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">:” Since it is difficult to change the thinking patterns of older adults,
the easiest way to accomplish this is to begin in schools with children in Kindergar</span>ten.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-SKzV30I5UCOwakuGYnR-m9zVWP9Wt24bXMpNgn7Ebdc8mLECiVXO1MCJg-jOOq96fUAsaZnRxaimgrg-oNVG7GBJ_MntkJY8lVisQlXQzldg_xY83gJFVd7bVK0ZxA3m9XdghyphenhyphenHjJw/s259/COMPUTER%252C+CHILDREN.jpg"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-SKzV30I5UCOwakuGYnR-m9zVWP9Wt24bXMpNgn7Ebdc8mLECiVXO1MCJg-jOOq96fUAsaZnRxaimgrg-oNVG7GBJ_MntkJY8lVisQlXQzldg_xY83gJFVd7bVK0ZxA3m9XdghyphenhyphenHjJw/w124-h100/COMPUTER%252C+CHILDREN.jpg" width="124" /></span></a></div></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The specific methods promulgated in schools (more
fully presented in my previous article), describes the following:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">SIECUS’S (Sexuality Information and Education
Council of the United States) agenda for early sex education, deliberate gender
confusion,</span><sup>(7)</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> and rejection of absolutes (morals can now be assessed
in the eye of the beholder).</span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">John Dewey’s Darwinian atheism.</span><sup>(8)</sup></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Purposeful deficient student learning.</span><sup>(9)</sup></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Project 1619, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">an altered presentation of
America’s history depicting America’s founders and US Presidents as “white
racists.” Twelve Civil War historians and political scientists in a letter to
the New York Times have denounced it as “inaccurate and not historical.”<sup>(10)</sup></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;">But now . . . prepare to be
even more shocked! Here are two new programs being introduced into our school systems <u><i>not</i></u> mentioned in my previous article:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span>The </span></span><i>Ethnic Studies Model</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span>.</span><br /></span><span>This curriculum was approved by the California Department of Education on May
13, 2021, to build unity in the classroom against the Christian God, and cause
all to think alike by participating in chants to a variety of non-Christian,
pre-Columbian gods in the Aztec pantheon.<sup>(11)</sup> While this goes
against the First Amendment, this new curriculum is intended for</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> California’s 10,000 primary and secondary public
schools consisting of 6 million students.<sup>(12)</sup> The Los Angeles Unified School District
states it as a requirement for graduation starting in 2023-2024.<sup>(13)</sup>
Other states are following.</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Here are more
specifics</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">, including what will take place in the
classroom, as described by </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Christopher
F. Rufo, Contributing Editor at the City Journal Magazine on Urban Affairs, and
Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute:</span></span></p>
</div></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This model was
developed by Marxist theoretician Paolo Freir,
designed to “critique and challenge white supremacy . . . displace the
Christian God, who is said to be an extension of white supremacist oppression”
. . . restore “indigenous gods to their rightful place,” and “develop the capacity to overthrow oppressors.” The basis is<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> to “promote critical thinking and ‘a
rigorous analysis of history, the status quo and systems of oppression,’
covering ‘African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.’”<sup>(14)</sup></span></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0.5in;">This
is what will shockingly take place in the classroom:</span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“The
proposed new curriculum will have teachers leading students in chanting the
names of Aztec gods . . . directly appealing to the deities of the Aztec
pantheon for the power to become “warriors of ‘love, ecological and social
justice.” They will chant and clap “to Tezcatlipoca, a cannibalistic wizard-god
who, according to the Aztec tradition, brought the downfall to the Toltec
civilization in favor of the human sacrificing Aztecs.” They will also “chant
to other deities including Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec sun god, and Xipe Totek, seeking
‘healing epistemologies’ and a ‘revolutionary spirit.’ The chant ends with a
request for ‘liberation, transformation, decolonization,’ after which students
shout ‘<i>Panche beh! Panche beh</i>!’ which translates to ‘seeking the roots
of the truth’ or ‘think critically.”<sup>(15)</sup></span></p></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>
</span><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The other school agenda is:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Critical Race Theory</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> (CRT).
Described as “harmful and divisive materials in the classroom,” it is a
neo-Marxist program that fosters racial conflict and social division and (like
Marxism and Communist China which divides people by class), teaches that “all
‘white people’ are racist oppressors with power and privilege, and all
non-white people are oppressed victims.”<sup>(16)</sup> This has also been approved
by the California State Board of Education for their schools, with other states
following.<sup>(17)</sup></span><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></i></li></ul><p></p>
</span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Although, on the surface, the descriptive phrases used (to “assure
equality and cultural competency”) sound like a great program for school
systems—don’t be deceived.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The word “equality” means equalizing and elevating the six minority
groups (African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan natives, Asians,
Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders; also, refugees and immigrants), which sounds
fine at first, but seriously discriminates against children who are white.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Left (atheists or not) needs to be reminded that God is no respecter
of persons (Rom. 2:11). This means He shows no favoritism to one or more races
over others. All are equal in his sight, as stated in Gal. 3:28: <span style="background: white; color: #202124; text-transform: uppercase;">"</span><i>T</i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124;">here is neither<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>J</span>ew nor Greek, slave<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>nor free, male<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>nor female, for you
are all one in Christ Jesus."</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></p></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">While the CRT is not a program directed against God perse, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I mention it because your children and grandchildren need to be made
aware of it so they won’t suffer shame and a guilt mentality that is going to
be foisted upon them for being white (the reason being because America’s
earlier whites participated in slavery).</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span></span><span><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This is confirmed by Dr. Gary Thompson at the Early
Life Child Psychology and Education Center, who also serves on the Advisory Board
of U.S. Parents Involved in Education. He said:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
</div></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Many public schools are now teaching children as young as second and
third grade that “whiteness” is synonymous with evil, that the police
systematically hunt down and murder black men deliberately, and all these other
highly charged political convictions that they’re teaching as if they’re
uncontested fact.<sup>(18)</sup></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Besides California incorporating CRT into their
educational program, other states are following. I only mention the below two because
the quotes are revealing, as reported by the Epoch Times, and the Liberty in
Education organization:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><u>Oregon's Department of Education</u> is
training teachers to “deconstruct White supremacy culture in their classrooms,”
and told <u>not</u> to foster “conditions for competition and individual
success” (the latter means a student’s success will no longer be based on their
individual skill and academic achievement). CRT’s aim is to reduce both
teachers and students “to nothing more than the color of their skin and
lowering the bar for academic achievements.”<sup>(19)</sup></span></p></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">North Carolina</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> (Wake County and Rockingham
County) has “launched a campaign to eradicate ‘whiteness in educational
spaces,’ and “ordered to override families.” A teacher in Rockingham County<i>
“forced children of European heritage to stand in front of the class and
apologize for their ‘white privilege,’” </i>all of which place feelings of
guilt and inferiority on them<i>. </i>This
invoked the <i>“fuming outrage of many parents.</i>” (italics mine).<sup>(20)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span></span><span></span><span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus <span face="Arial, sans-serif">said in Mark 9:42:</span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div></div></span></span></div><p></p><blockquote style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“If anyone causes, or offends, or makes stumble one of these little ones (the Message Bible says those who “give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of”), it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea</span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.</span>” </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The dangers of today’s “wokeness” programs are
recognized by many. Hundreds of anti-woke scholars called the “American
Scholars Project,” are already working to try and change college curriculums
that are promoting CRT, and instead promote traditional values.<sup>(21)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Fortunately, there are a growing number of states that
understand the dangers and are determined to ban CRT in their public schools. They
are (as of this writing): Alabama, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and W.
Virginia. More will probably follow once they realize the underlying
discriminatory bias and guilt imposed on white children.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Schools aren’t the only ones to embrace Critical
Race Theory<br />
</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While the main focus of this blog article is on the harmful programs in
our schools that contribute to the diminishing of God, one should also become
knowledgeable of its wide-reaching influence in other organizations like the following:</span></p></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Department of Agriculture</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: CRT has reached into the US Department of
Agriculture and President Biden’s Financial Aid Pandemic Stimulus package by
excluding “white” farmers from receiving financial aid under the USDA’s Loan
Forgiveness program. They will only give it to the six minority races (listed
above), all of which is illegal. A law suit is in motion against President
Biden by the AFL (America First Legal) that is representing white farmers from
Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Ohio.<sup>(22)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A federal judge in Texas recently ruled against Biden’s administration
from doling out pandemic-relief grants to restaurant owners because it was
based solely on race and gender, in a lawsuit that discriminated against a
white restaurant owner.<sup>(23)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The American Medical Association</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> has also embraced CRT, stating their objective is
to “treat everyone the same.” This sounds good, but the CRT automatically demands
that “whites” be discriminated against in favor of the six minority races, and
made to feel guilty because of white slave owners in early America.<sup>(24)</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Walt Disney Corporation</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> has also joined in, emphasizing that their “white”
employees must “examine and work through feelings of guilt and shame to be
healed.”<sup>(25)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Military</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">: On May 14, 2021, Lt. Colonel Matthew Lohmeier, Commander
of the 11<sup>th</sup> Space Warning Squadron at Buckly Air Force Base, Colo., considered
by many as a hero, was relieved of command because his book <i>Irresistible
Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American
Military</i>, revealed how the Marxist-oriented CRT had infiltrated the military,”<sup>(26)</sup>
both of which are “antithetical to American values and attack America’s
documents.”<sup>(27)</sup> (In an interview, Lohmeier describes the particulars
in this endnote.)<sup>(28)</sup></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">America’s downhill slide<br />
</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">America’s schools (besides government agencies and secular
organizations) are becoming discriminating, godless indoctrination centers,
embracing "<i>plans"</i> that contribute to the erosion of the America God intended. They
are incorporating "<i>plans"</i> that contain faulty concepts, not only of America’s
founding principles (Project 1619), fostering undeserved guilt and shame in our
children (CRT), but particularly replacing the Christian God by chanting to
Aztec gods (Ethnic Studies Model), and denouncing the public mention of biblical
ethics and morals that perceptive people understand is necessary for the common
good of society.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Therefore, America needs</span><span class="text"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"> to heed
the Lord’s stated disapproval before we reap the whirlwind:</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span></p>
</span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="text"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">Woe to the rebellious children, to those who
carry out "<i>plans</i>" that are not mine,</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">forming an
alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin</span></span><span class="text"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><i> </i>(Isa. 30:1).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span></span><span><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our responsibility</span></b></p></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Parents and grandparents are given the responsibility to pass godly principles
of morality, ethics, and high standards, on to the next generation. This is
especially important as our children and grandchildren struggle through an increasingly
ungodly culture that mythologizes God, negates his absolutes, and instills
socialism and Marxist ideologies into the minds of our young children, something
our founding fathers never envisioned for America. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Regrettably, many, including some Christians, are
influenced by the loudest voices they hear, especially when those voices sound authoritative<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">. </span> Author, Steven K. Scott<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">, </span>comments on this in his book, <i>The Greatest Words Ever Spoken</i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">:</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></p>
</div></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unfortunately, most of
us base our lives on a mixture of things we’ve learned from every source we’ve
been exposed to. As a result, the foundation of our beliefs is a combination of
truth and falsehood, including contradictory information and false assumptions.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">”<sup>(30)</sup></span></span></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-transform: uppercase;"><sup><br /></sup></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSGR_9kXB3_1dHU57428cSFPfVE-T3X7gY0IDcn6GaD7isT01sx5SBk5qGsb4NC8XZ9JQu4Ifet4okZZ5BSNAP_01YykR021r3m5gm0WUtl8VZ1hwYtfpX2AV6_E3hDezK0MdnyilU0o/s239/BULL-TAKING+BY+HORNS+%25236.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="239" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSGR_9kXB3_1dHU57428cSFPfVE-T3X7gY0IDcn6GaD7isT01sx5SBk5qGsb4NC8XZ9JQu4Ifet4okZZ5BSNAP_01YykR021r3m5gm0WUtl8VZ1hwYtfpX2AV6_E3hDezK0MdnyilU0o/w132-h126/BULL-TAKING+BY+HORNS+%25236.png" width="132" /></span></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">If families don’t take the proverbial bull by the
horns and do something </span><i>now</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">, it will be too late. Parents need to check
their children’s school programs for leftist curriculums (Project 1619, Critical
Race Theory, and Ethnic Studies Model), and if present speak out against them,
and make a point to train their children and grandchildren against the
negatives of these programs they may face.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If we don’t, our young people will carry on the false
information they are being fed into succeeding generations and adapt to a
secular, godless life. Faith in God and his principles will cease to exist, and
America will continue its downward decline into what Thomas Jefferson describes
as an “abyss</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;"> from which there shall be no resurrection for it.”</span><sup><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(31)</span></sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mary Eberstadt, in her book, <i>How the West Really
Lost God</i>, says:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
</div></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All it takes, “is the failure of a single generation to hand down a
tradition for that tradition to disappear in the life of a family and the life
of a community.<sup>(32)</sup></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span></span><span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We are that single generation!</span></p>
<b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is the greatest need to
combat the Leftist attack on our children?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Left is working
hard to destroy any allegiance in the minds of the younger generation to the
Christian God and his absolutes by mythologizing him, and naming and shaming
via cancel-culture those who dare to speak out about their traditional beliefs
and any wrongs they see.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Therefore
. . . t</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">he
greatest need for today’s youth is to be “convinced” (I mean <i>really</i>
convinced) that God actually exists!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>How
can we do this?<br /></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The below strategy I promised to tell you about is taken from my book, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>The
Joshua Project: Three overlooked biblical strategies for parents and
grandparents to strengthen their family’s faith.</i> It presents a proven (but
often overlooked) three-step method God mandated to Joshua in Deut. 6:4-9, and updated
to a twenty-first-century version.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">It
was God’s rallying call to action to Israel’s parents and grandparents to keep
Him alive in their families for generations to come. It was faithfully observed
by Israel for centuries, and today’s Jews still carry the three strategies on. Christian
believers can (and should) do the same, and will achieve the same success.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Joshua’s
modernized, ingenious plan will prove more than sufficient to persuade today’s
young people that God is <i>not</i> a myth but real, and still active today.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">My own children and grandchildren’s reaction to this exceptional plan was amazing. The effect was more than I hoped for. It resulted in their impressive statements of deepened faith and renewed awareness of God’s reality. In my book, <i><b>The Joshua Project,</b> </i>I include the written testimonies of their reaction and what it spiritually did for them. It will do the same for your family!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">An added benefit is that your devoted effort to this much-needed program, and how it has affected your family’s faith, will carry over to your future descendants to give them reassurance about God and also influence a change in America’s present trajectory of decline. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The latter will become evident in the way they vote in political elections and the way they pass on their faith (and yours) to their children and grandchildren.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><div><b>The
first of the three-step strategies<br /></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Joshua
made it clear what God wanted Israel’s families to specifically do. Step 1 of the
three strategies was to “<i>verbally</i>” pass on their faith stories of God’s
divine activity in Israel. For example, “telling” their children and
grandchildren the handed-down and written stories about their delivery from
slavery in Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea, how God fed them manna in the
desert, helped them win battles against enemies, and led them to a promised
land—especially by those in the beginning who were eye-witnesses of those
events.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></div>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">They
were specifically told how:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Repeat them<i> </i>again and again
to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the
road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deut. 6:7–8<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">)</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps;"> </span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Amazingly,
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">600 years later</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">, Asaph, who served as choir
director under King David and Solomon, rehearsed how Israel was continuing to
keep this up, determined to obey God and affect the faith of their future descendants:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> <br /></span></p>
</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">We will not hide these truths from our children; we
will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, about his power and his mighty
wonders . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so the next generation
might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach
their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God not
forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands (Ps. 78:4, 6–7<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Besides
verbalizing their stories about what God did for them, there were two other
strategies for Israel to incorporate into this plan—which I’ll get to in a minute.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">But first . . . an important note to
parents and grandparents:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When implementing this plan, families must
first understand that it requires more than spouting scriptures to their families
to convince their children and grandchildren of God’s reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Why? Because too many young people today
are already convinced, according to a CARA National Survey, that faith in the
God of the Bible is “far-fetched,” similar to believing in “Santa Claus” and the
Easter Bunny.”</span><sup>(32)</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Therefore, because of this erroneous belief,
youth and young adults are now voicing this challenge:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i>If
God is real</i>, <i>give us proof</i>!”</span><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>What
“kind” of proof do they need?<br /></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The proof they insist on can’t be from centuries-old
scripture, since they have been persuaded to believe God and the biblical
accounts are only myths.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>What
proof will work?<br /></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Like
God instructed Israel, it is the declaration of your present-day witness and
stories of God’s reality, more especially those based on your own “personal
experiences.”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">True-life,
supernatural accounts of God’s blessings in your life have the power to combat
secular, anti-God influences your children and grandchildren struggle with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>The necessity to be specific<br /></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Your
witness, however, cannot be just a general statement that you believe in God
and are convinced he still blesses people today—it has to be the telling of
actual accounts where God specifically intervened in your life. You can also
choose one or two scriptures that verify your experience, but the focus will be
on God truly doing something specific in your life, the same way he did in
ancient Israel and Jesus’ day. Your personal testimonies can prove that God is
not a myth, and will produce a decisive effect in your children and
grandchildren.</span></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
effect will become evident when they are confronted about God’s reality by others
who appear knowledgeable or are faced with spiritual and moral decisions that
negate God’s absolutes. They may not remember a scripture, but they will recall
the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">m</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">emorable, first-hand
testimonies you shared with them that verify God’s actuality in today’s world
and think the following:</span></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">I
know the testimonies of what God did in my parents’ and grandparents’ lives are
true; so, God has to be real!</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (They may even share one of your faith stories
with those challenging them.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>The
need for reinforcement using Joshua’s other two-step strategies<br /></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">While
the “verbalization” of your faith accounts is very important, your
responsibility doesn’t stop with just the oral presentation.” That’s only Step
1.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Personal
accounts need to be further reinforced<i> </i>and fortified in children’s minds
by incorporating all three strategies that God mandated.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">The
other two methods, besides verbalizing, are “<i>writing</i>” and “<i>physical
memorials</i>.” The combination of all three has the power to combat today’s
secular, anti-God pressures with both young and old children and grandchildren,
and strengthen their faith in a more persuasive and compelling way<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now, to the specifics of Joshua’s three-step plan . . .</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>How
to start<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">The
following describes how you go about implementing a “Joshua Project” for use in
your family with the same strategies ancient Israel successfully used for
centuries . . . “verbalizing,” “writing,” and using “physical memorials.”</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Please
be aware that far more detail than given below is provided in my book, which
includes extensive, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">step-by-step
instructions, with illustrations and examples from my own Joshua Project.</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So,
here we go . . .</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Step
1 – Collect the testimonies you want to verbalize</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make a list of all your
faith stories that testify to God’s blessings and activity in your life that
prove his reality. They can be miracles and healings, or more indirect interventions
where there can be no logical explanation other than God.</span>·<span style="font-family: arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></li></ul><p></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Note</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">: Don’t worry if you can’t recall any particular event yet
that you consider miraculous or out of the ordinary. You have at least one very
important testimony―your salvation experience with Jesus. It was at that point,
as the hymn goes, when you first saw the light, felt the burden of your heart
roll away, and were redeemed from the bondage of sin and assured of eternal
life. Your testimony should present how it changed you, giving details of the before
and after, and witnessing that God’s love and forgiveness are still real and
available today.<br />
<br />
If you are still at a loss, to begin with, feel free to refer to the supernatural
testimonies of others. There are many books on Amazon of personal encounters
with God that you can use—although your own (or a relative’s) will admittedly carry
more weight.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Write one to three short descriptive sentences to summarize each event. Print the list out, using a large font (or hand-write), and hang it on the wall in your front room or another well-trafficked place. List them chronologically. You might choose to identify each event either by how old you were at the time, or the year it occurred (suggested formats and decorative embellishment ideas, along with example pictures are in my book).</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">A later section in my book
gives stories of godly interventions to serve as examples of the “kinds” of
testimonies you can include in your Joshua Project. They are taken from my own
experiences and those of my children and grandchildren.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Your list will incite curiosity and invoke
questions from your children and grandchildren, young and old, as they peruse
them. When they read the short description of each, they will definitely want to
hear the full details.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">When
they inquire, this gives you the opportunity to sit them down, engage them in a
face-to-face conversation, and verbally describe the full event and how awesome
God is (everyone loves a story). At the conclusion of your verbalization, you
can choose one or two scriptural principles, or a biblical account, that
coincide with and validate your experience.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Step
2 – Write “full” accounts of all your testimonies<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Guided
by your wall list, write out each event in full, and in first-person story
form. Better yet, type on the computer and print the pages out.</span></li></ul></ul><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Place
the pages in a special three-ring notebook; or, you can have the book
professionally printed and bound at a Fed-X, or similar printing service.</span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your book can also be mentioned in your Last
Will and Testament, signifying who should be responsible for passing it on. Doing
this will guarantee your many faith stories that testify to God’s reality will
survive your demise and be transmitted to future generations to enhance their
faith which, in our growing secular culture, could possibly be hanging like a
thread. Detailed legacy instructions are in my book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Step
3 – Create “memorials”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Create
physical memorials to place in your home (details and pictures of my own memorials
are in my book). These are to correlate with two or three (or more) of your favorite
faith stories hanging on the wall that testify to God’s reality.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></p></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Here
are a few examples on what to use for memorials (more are in my book), but your
own imagination can come up with other ideas:</span></p></div></span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span></span><span><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Seen an
angel</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">? Find a statue of
an angel in a thrift store. Prepare a statement to attach to your memorial
about what the story represents, and include a scripture that confirms it as
valid. Suggested scripture, Heb. 1:14: “<i><span style="background: white;">Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will
inherit salvation?</span></i><span style="background: white;">”</span><br /></span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Unexpected
finances in time of need</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif">?
Find a piggy bank. Suggested scripture, Phil. 4:19: <i>“M<span style="background: white;">y God will meet all your
needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”</span></i></span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Answered prayer</span></u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">? Find a statue of praying hands, or someone
kneeling in prayer. Suggested scripture, Matt. 7:7: “<i><span style="background: white;">Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will
find; knock and the door will be opened to you</span>.</i>”</span></li></ul></ul><span style="font-family: arial;">The aim is to create something visually interesting to provoke curiosity and
questions from children and grandchildren, especially younger ones who may not
read yet. Guests in your home may also inquire about your memorials. This gives
you the opportunity to verbalize in detail the faith story the memorial
represents.</span><br /><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.75in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Memorials can be placed on a coffee
table, or small table-easel hung on a wall or included on mantles or shelves. I
believe it is best to place them in the front room or family room where they
will be seen by more people. You can also place one on a dresser in the guest
bedroom. Choose where they will attract the most attention.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">For
a “holder” of my own memorial objects on my coffee table, I use the bottom tray extension of an “L” shaped bookend (pictured directly below) to secure the
statue on and use the upright part to tape a religious picture, an applicable
scripture, or anything you want to say about the event that will incite
curiosity (see example further below). Office stores have two sizes, short and
tall. I prefer the tall:</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbCzNgcO-AmAF8BG6j1lMZpE8qUeaF-ZSa8qOlg5VCqX01VIJf-UvLezaH5WMKiYr4jIpL3Zn6i56zwk87TegIdbCFZYGxzwS8K5tBoSTkflqcZQMtzqHmAwfCpwuccdlx5mzr65UNSk/s2048/FIGURE+2-BOOKEND.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbCzNgcO-AmAF8BG6j1lMZpE8qUeaF-ZSa8qOlg5VCqX01VIJf-UvLezaH5WMKiYr4jIpL3Zn6i56zwk87TegIdbCFZYGxzwS8K5tBoSTkflqcZQMtzqHmAwfCpwuccdlx5mzr65UNSk/w102-h130/FIGURE+2-BOOKEND.jpg" width="102" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookend</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tape an envelope against
the backside of the upright part of the bookend for each memorial, with the opening
flap facing outward for easy access (see picture below). Inside the envelope, put
a typed (or handwritten) full account of the specific event. You can also place
a note on the part of the envelope that extends visibly out to one side of the
bookstand that says, “<i>Feel free to read contents.</i>” Family members who
have heard you verbalize the full story before will enjoy reading it again on
their own, even when you are not at home.</span></li></ul><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs8N-vZulo-gflWB8zSZJHH3ZCvzOgptDjdH32XCJXPcusk3WjOgirvNauYHoKegZmZpnGvG1NO7MrDLtu8f5lyLILTEdS2mmH4iIUbXlVYPw2klxxaVxwCTc_jyCyD_p0lve53AUU-U/s2048/FIGURE+4-SHOE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs8N-vZulo-gflWB8zSZJHH3ZCvzOgptDjdH32XCJXPcusk3WjOgirvNauYHoKegZmZpnGvG1NO7MrDLtu8f5lyLILTEdS2mmH4iIUbXlVYPw2klxxaVxwCTc_jyCyD_p0lve53AUU-U/w121-h159/FIGURE+4-SHOE.jpg" width="121" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span>One of my memorials: a baby shoe with a thermometer in
it. Jer. 10:6 is at the top. This represents the event when my baby was instantly healed of an oncoming, high-fever seizure when I called on Jesus' "Name." This story is in my book).<br /><br /></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">At your passing, your children and
grandchildren will likely divide your memorial objects between themselves as
permanent keepsakes. You could even ask family members which ones they prefer
and list the recipients for each one in your “Personal Property” bequests
normally located at the back of your will.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There
is much more detail in my book, but the above ideas give you a general idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God provided an effective plan<br /></span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By establishing a “Joshua Project” (the three
methods) in our homes, we can do the same as Joshua did when he instructed
ancient Israel. It enables us to testify of God’s reality using our personal
experiences where God intervened in our life. It will combat the spiritual
corruption being taught to your children and grandchildren by peers and in the
schools, and build in them an unshakeable faith in God’s reality.</span> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: red;"><b>God is calling
us to action!</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-qu3TJJFj2Ol7tLItV8Qz5YDRCT24z7JFTqDsNNZV1GC1E3Einfyqd_kqBELOEjuc4fyru8bLO4kgaVx_R0dmKNZF6buoT5iF5RE_DGI5LGLiaCq1YNdIsOTEXUX8v8fBbnjm3kwQvw/s268/SHOFAR-MAN+BLOWING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-qu3TJJFj2Ol7tLItV8Qz5YDRCT24z7JFTqDsNNZV1GC1E3Einfyqd_kqBELOEjuc4fyru8bLO4kgaVx_R0dmKNZF6buoT5iF5RE_DGI5LGLiaCq1YNdIsOTEXUX8v8fBbnjm3kwQvw/w165-h108/SHOFAR-MAN+BLOWING.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">T<span style="font-family: arial;">oday’s
post-truth culture, with its anti-God mythological thrust, denigration of biblical
absolutes, and woke-indoctrination programs, demands
every family’s immediate attention—not only for your children and grandchildren’s
spiritual sake but also for the sake of your future descendants who,
influenced by what has been passed on to them, will maintain their relationship
with God and influence the nation’s trajectory of decline to gradually change
it back to the way God intended.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have a grave responsibility to bravely stand
up against the incorrect concepts being instilled into our children:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents and grandparents should consider doing
the following in your family:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pass
on your personal faith testimonies that witness to the reality of God and
his biblical truths by using the three strategies mandated by God to Israel—verbalizing,
writing, and creating memorials.</span>· </span></li></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Take every opportunity to discuss or mention the truthfulness of the Bible, biblical morals, and stress that God's reality is just as evident today as it was in Bible times.</span></li></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out the school programs being taught to your children and grandchildren, and stand against the Ethnic Studies Model that divides races into discriminating classes, along with its chanting to Aztec and other pre-Columbian gods, and putting down of the Christian God as a “white supremacist.” </span></li></ul><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Speak
out against Project 1619, which portrays an altered view of American
history, portraying its founders and US Presidents as racists who started
the American Revolution so they could preserve slavery, and promote America’s
true narrative, founding values, and principles.</span></li></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do what you can to stop the
passing of any bill in your state that allows the <i>Critical Race Theory </i>to
be taught in the schools that establish the Marxist racial “oppressor and
victim” mentality, classifying all whites as racist oppressors and placing shame
and guilt trips on children. If the bill has already passed, arm your children
against feeling shamed or guilty because they happen to be white. Parents and
grandparents must not assume the old adage, “you can’t fight city hall.” Enough
voices CAN make a difference!</span></li></ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fight
against the “political correctness” extremes, with its Cancel-culture’s
unfair “naming and shaming” censorship for those who openly mention the
Christian God, and insist on the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of
religion and speech, with the right to mention one’s faith in God
publicly, and <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">freedom of the press</span>
to voice ideas and opinions.</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Declaring your knowledge, beliefs, ideals, and
biblical absolutes in a purposeful, and consistent basis to your family over
the dinner table, in the car, at bedtime, and through the use of your Joshua
Project’s wall list and memorials (as well as your book containing the full
accounts), as mandated in Deut.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> 6:7–8,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> will shape generations of new conservative descendants and, in
the long run, not only save their souls but also America’s founding principles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;">Until next time...(I’ll be shifting to a new
subject)<br />
Janis</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">END
NOTES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span>(1)
<i>Hope for this Present Crisis</i>: <i>The seven-step path to restoring a
world gone mad,</i> Michael Yousseff. (Front Line, Charisma Media/Charisma
House Book Group, Lake Mary, FLA, 2021) p. xv.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">J. Warner Wallace,
“Updated: Are Young People Really Leaving Christianity,” Cold-Case Christianity<i>, </i>January
12, 2019, http://coldcasechristianity.com/2018/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/;
quoting from Josh McDowell and David H. Bellis,<i> The Last Christian
Generation</i> (Green Key Books, 2006). LifeWay Research says that
two-thirds of the 70 percent of all youth in mainline religions who said the
church will not play a part in their adult lives return to “some level of
church involvement in their late 20s or early 30s.” Nevertheless, one-third
remain lost to the culture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(3)
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Natasha Crain, “How Sunday Schools Are Raising
the Next Generation of Secular Humanists” (blog), CrossExamined.org, January
20, 2019, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://crossexamined.org/how-sunday-schools-are-raising-the-next-generation-of-secular-humanists/">https://crossexamined.org/how-sunday-schools-are-raising-the-next-generation-of-secular-humanists/</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(4)
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wallace, “Updated: Young People.” See also,
Aaron Earls, “Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults,” LifeWay
Research, January 15, 2019, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1653192988132183609/873261026034697514"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults</span></a></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(5)
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wallace, “Updated: Young People.” (italics mine)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(6)
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Parents and Pastors: Partners in Gen Z
Discipleship,” Research Releases in Millennials & Generations, Barna Group,
July 17, 2018, https://www.barna.com/research/parents-and-pastors-partners
-in-gen-z-discipleship/. (my italics).<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(7)
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Sordid History and Deadly Consequences of ‘Sex Ed’ at
School,” Alex Newman (The Epoch Times Nov. 5-10, 2020) A20-21.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">(8) </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Revolution
via Education” by Samuel L. Blumenfeld, nd. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1653192988132183609/873261026034697514"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none;">http://blumenfeld.campconstitution.net/Articles/Revolution%20Via%20Education.pdf</span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">(9)
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amazon blurb on <i>The Deliberate Dumbing Down of
America</i>, by Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt, September 1, 1999<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(10) “<span style="color: #414042; letter-spacing: 0.6pt;">Twelve Scholars Critique the 1619 Project and the New York Times Magazine
Editor Responds,” Jan. 26, 2020.<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/174140">https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/174140</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">(11) “After 8 hours,
250-plus speakers, California Board Adopts Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum,” by
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">John Fensterwald, March 19, 2021. <br /></span><a href="https://edsource.org/2021/after-8-hours-250-plus-speakers-california-board-adopts-ethnic-studies-model-curriculum/651641#:~:text=With%20a%20March%2031%20deadline,organizer%20Dolores%20Huerta%20and%20social">https://edsource.org/2021/after-8-hours-250-plus-speakers-california-board-adopts-ethnic-studies-model-curriculum/651641#:~:text=With%20a%20March%2031%20deadline,organizer%20Dolores%20Huerta%20and%20social</a></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(12)
“Revenge of the Gods: California’s proposed ethnic studies curriculum urges
students to chant to the Aztec deity of human sacrifice,” by Christopher F.
Rufo, City-Journal, March 10, 2021; </span><a href="https://www.city-journal.org/calif-ethnic-studies-curriculum-accuses-christianity-of-theocide">https://www.city-journal.org/calif-ethnic-studies-curriculum-accuses-christianity-of-theocide</a><span style="font-size: small;">.
Cited in The Epoch Times, “California’s Proposed K-12 Curriculum Encourages
Chanting to Aztec Gods,” by GQ Pan, March 17-23, No. 347.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(13)
“Revenge of the Gods,” Rufo. See also, “Echoes of Mao: Weaponizing Schools with
‘Critical Race Theory,” Alex Newman. The Epoch Times, Apr. 21-27, 2021, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">No. 352, </span><span style="font-size: small;">p. A20.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">(14) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small;">“After 8 hours,”
Fensterwald. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">March
19, 2021. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><a href="https://edsource.org/">https://edsource.org</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(15)
“Revenge of the Gods,” Rufo.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(16)
“Echoes of Mao: Weaponizing Schools with ‘Critical Race Theory,” Alex Newman.
The Epoch Times, Apr. 21-27, 2021, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">No. 352,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> p. A20.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(17) “How Critical Race Theory is Changing the
California Classroom.” Interview of Dr. Wenyuan Wu, Executive Dir. of Californians
for Equal Rights Foundation. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://theepochtimes.com/">https://theepochtimes.com</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small;">(18)
“Echoes of Mao,” Newman.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(19)
“Oregon Department of Education adopts Critical Race Theory in Mathematics,”</span><span style="font-size: small;"> by </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.libertyineducation.org/blog?author=5e5d4f60971031011ab9f9d8">Oregonians for Liberty in
Education</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: small;">. Feb. 19, 2021. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.libertyineducation.org/blog/oregon-crt-in-mathematics">https://www.libertyineducation.org/blog/oregon-crt-in-mathematics</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(20)
“Echoes of Mao,” Newman.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">(21)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">“Scholars Line Up to Join Anti-‘Woke’ Online
Education Platform,”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">Petr Svab,
updated May 10, 2021. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/scholars-line-up-to-join-anti-woke-online-education-platform_3808796.html">https://www.theepochtimes.com/scholars-line-up-to-join-anti-woke-online-education-platform_3808796.html</a></span><u>.</u></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(22)
“Trump-Tied Group Sues Biden Administration Over Racial Bias,” by Ivan
Pentchoukov. The Epoch Times, April 28-May 4, 2021, No. 353, p. A5. The AFL
fights against any lawless Executive actions and Leftist agendas, such as
racial discrimination, Critical Race Theory, and protecting the rights of the
unborn. </span><a href="http://www.afl.org/">www.afl.org</a><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(23)
</span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“</span></b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">Judge Blocks Biden
Administration from Doling Out Grants Based on Race, Gender<b>” </b>by Zachary
Steiber, The Epoch Times, </span><span class="publish" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">May
19, 2021</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="update"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Updated: May 19, 2021</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(24) “American Medical Association Rejects
“Equality,” Backs Critical Race Theory,” by Kyle Becker. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://trendingpolitics.com/american-medical-association-rejects-equality-backs-critical-race-theory/">https://trendingpolitics.com/american-medical-association-rejects-equality-backs-critical-race-theory/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(25)
“Disney Embraces Race Politics, Critical Race Theory in Employee Training.”
Janita Kan. The Epoch Times, May 12-18, 2021, No. 355, pg. 7.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(26) “Space Force Officer Relieved After Denouncing
Marxism, Critical Race Theory in Military,”</span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">by
Jack Phillips</span><span style="font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">,<span class="authorname"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></span></span><span class="publish" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">May
16, 2021</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="update"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Updated: May 16, 2021. https://www.theepochtimes.com.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(27) “Relieved Space Force
Officer: I’m Being Misportrayed,” </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">by Samuel
Allegri. The Epoch Times. </span><span class="publish" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">May 18, 2021</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="update"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Updated: May 18, 2021. See
also: “</span></span></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">Relieved Space Force
Commanding Officer: ‘I Condemn All Forms of Extremism’” by Janita Kan. </span><span class="publish" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Epoch
Times, May 18, 2021</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="update"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Updated: May 18, 2021. See also, “</span></span></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #333333; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in;">Space Force Officer’s Book on Marxism in the
Military Reaches No. 1 on Amazon After He’s Relieved,” by Jack Phillips.</span><span style="font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span class="publish" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">The Epoch
Times, May 17, 2021</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="update"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Updated: May 18, 2021. All at </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">https://www.theepochtimes.com</span></a></span><span class="update" style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(28)
In </span><span style="font-size: small;">Lohmeier</span><span style="font-size: small;">’s book, and also in
a Hannity interview on May 17, 2021, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Lohmeier
describes the military and the Secretary of Defense’ statement about being
against extremism and discrimination of any kind within the military. But
later, in contradiction to this, “videos were sent out to every base service
member in preparation for Downdays where extremism and discussions on race”
would be addressed, and stated the country was evil, was founded in 1619, not
1776, and all whites are inherently evil.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(29)
Pat Williams, </span><i>Extreme Dreams Depend on Teams</i><span style="font-size: small;"> (Nashville: Hashette Book
Group, Center Street, 2009), 97. Cited in </span><i>Hope for the Present Crisis,</i><span style="font-size: small;">
Michael Yousseff, p. 68.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(30)
Steven K. Scott, </span><i>The Greatest Words Ever Spoken: Everything Jesus said about
you, your life, and everything else.” </i><span style="font-size: small;">(Waterbrook Press, 2008) 7.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: small;">(31)
</span><span style="font-size: small;">“From Thomas Jefferson to Levi
Lincoln, 25 October 1802.” </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-38-02-0513">https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-38-02-0513</a></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(32)
</span><i>How the West Really Lost God</i><span style="font-size: small;">, Mary Eberstadt (</span><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: small;">Templeton Press; First edition, April 1, 2013); cited in GFA
World magazine, “We Need Tracks to Stay on Course,” K. P. Yohannan (GFA World,
Inc., Willis Point, TX) p. 23.</span></p>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">(33) Wallace, “Updated,” quoting Mark M. Gray,
“Young People Are Leaving the Faith. Here’s Why,” <i>Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly</i>, 2016. Research by </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/PapalVisit/Articles/Article/TabId/2727/ArtMID/20933/ArticleID/20512/Young-people-are-leaving-the-faith-Heres-why.aspx" target="_blank"><strong><span color="windowtext" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">CARA
National Study</span></strong></a></span><strong> (</strong><span style="font-size: small;">Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) <span class="MsoHyperlink">http://coldcasechristianity.com/2018/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity.</span>
From a study of Catholic Church youth 15–25 who left their church. The figures
parallel studies of defecting youth from other Christian denominations.</span></p><br /></div></div></span></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.hypersmash.com/hostgator/" id="Jh749">Hostgator Promo</a>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-8732610260346975142020-12-12T18:35:00.012-08:002021-05-18T09:38:54.773-07:00THE CULTURAL DEATH OF GOD! CAN HE BE RESURRECTED?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s180/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s180/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s0/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><b>Many have no clue on what is “really” going on in America, where the loud trumpeting voices of those with political clout hope to lead us, and why the “killing of God” is a necessity to achieve their long-range political goal. </b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Be prepared for a startling eye-opener on why it is
essential to kill God, where and when the plan was first conceived, and
why. This article will give you the “whole enchilada.”</b></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div><p style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><b style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To be notified when my next blog is posted, please click the <i>Subscribe </i>tab on the dashboard. </span></b></p><p style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; color: #990000; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">THE CULTURAL DEATH OF GOD!<br /></span></span></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">CAN HE
BE RESURRECTED?</span></span></b></span></h2>
</div></blockquote><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">by<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Janis Hutchinson </span></p><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">They parade their sin like Sodom; they do not
hide it. Woe to them! (Isa. 3:9 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">)<br /></span><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The wicked strut about</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span class="text" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and evil is praised throughout the land.<br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting
their arrows on the bowstrings.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">They shoot from the shadows at
those whose hearts are right.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">The foundations of law and
order have collapsed. (Ps 12:8 </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">nlt</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">)</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><i><span style="background: white;">What can the righteous do?<br /></span></i><span style="background-color: white;">(Ps.11:2-3; </span><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">nlt</span><span style="background-color: white;">)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Poof!—</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The lifestyle and moral values of
Norman Rockwell’s America have disappeared!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scott Ashley aptly said:</span></p>
<p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">Watching what is taking place in the United States today
is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. The train has jumped the tracks,
the engineers in the locomotive can't stop it, and the train's momentum makes
the disastrous outcome unavoidable.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;">(1)</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span>What happened to change America so drastically to what it is
today?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In that bygone era, Christian values and morals were taken
for granted as a way of living. The majority of people didn’t even need to
attend a church, knowing those principles were simply good for society.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many scratch their heads and wonder, “</span><i style="font-family: arial;">How did we get to
becoming a culture that now . . .</i><span style="font-family: arial;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">mythologizes scripture as fairy tales</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">restricts the verbal mention of God and in public biblical displays</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">denigrates God’s absolutes and morals</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">glorifies the idea that truth can be subjectively determined
in the eye of the beholder</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">allows the murder of babies by mothers, before and after
birth</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">demonstrates and parades blatant disregard for the sanctity
of God-ordained marriage</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">has churches convincing Christians to acquire “loving tolerance”
for everything once regarded as immoral and sinful</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">depreciates law and order</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">uses political maneuvers to kill God in the public mind</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">promotes secularism, atheism, a growing seduction to socialism
. . . and more</span><br /></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dostoevsky, was right . . . <i><span style="background: white;">Without God all things are permitted!<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Dr. Charles F. Stanley notes
his concern. Does this apply to you?</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p>T</o:p></span><span style="background-color: white;">he
culture we live in is characterized by spiritual darkness. Sadly, even those of
us who are believers become so accustomed to the dark that we feel neither
shocked nor shamed by much of what goes on around us. Perhaps we see the sin
but don’t acknowledge it as wrong, or maybe we just don’t notice it anymore.”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;">(2)</span></span></span></span></p></div></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pay attention to what is happening! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Like the proverbial frog, we need to jump out of
the pot before it’s too late . . . before our minds are too numbed and
conditioned to make any efforts to combat what is happening.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBbt8VWpmu1Rw2fVsJZtNKfQ_D13OUl-act1MJM2bb6QvxPiVaIBnWUF-EJALL80zt-WfgvtuOnVLbPCy6n750qHEIvgNagWDFCUJMypBY5RQQP4I00HUe-qCPgN4Vd3uCACTyFq_t5k/s264/FROG+JUMPG+OUT+OF+POT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="264" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBbt8VWpmu1Rw2fVsJZtNKfQ_D13OUl-act1MJM2bb6QvxPiVaIBnWUF-EJALL80zt-WfgvtuOnVLbPCy6n750qHEIvgNagWDFCUJMypBY5RQQP4I00HUe-qCPgN4Vd3uCACTyFq_t5k/w137-h111/FROG+JUMPG+OUT+OF+POT.jpg" width="137" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">or else . . . </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKgfLj25Th52NBzQsTh1V51af8zjREBZ52FqFBfScZ85Dj7MEpDd9Q08n2KaHcPsoyAtNRJJdS-wE_1UtiZXIWZLqLsnMa9QVVpjm9strV4wd49hvaUJSQqtqOl3l9WkGZdhbff_cN_k/s230/FROG+BOILING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="230" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKgfLj25Th52NBzQsTh1V51af8zjREBZ52FqFBfScZ85Dj7MEpDd9Q08n2KaHcPsoyAtNRJJdS-wE_1UtiZXIWZLqLsnMa9QVVpjm9strV4wd49hvaUJSQqtqOl3l9WkGZdhbff_cN_k/w137-h103/FROG+BOILING.jpg" width="137" /></a></span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>America is in big trouble . . . so are we</b><br />The thrust of this article focuses primarily on the strategical
suppression of God. The reason is because all other societal evils stem from
that. We see this in America’s tumultuous condition with its now-accepted immorality,
violation of constitutional rights, political and media corruption, distortion
of the truth, civil unrest, violence, and censoring of freedom of religion and
speech under the guise of “political correctness.”</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p>T</o:p>his is what happens when a nation and its government officials
desert God. There is no longer a measuring stick, not only for morality but
also for ethics. When corruption, unstopped, rears its head, politicians become
unprincipled, the government deteriorates, and people’s voices, including Christians’
disappear. That is, all except for the loudest ones (the squeaky hinge always gets
the oil).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But those loud, trumpeting voices are not always good. For
example, militant atheists and secular humanists are zealously on the move. With
their clarion voices they scorn religion, undermine all Christian insistence to
truth and godly absolutes, promote lifestyles and beliefs in sharp contrast to
Judeo-Christian values, and want to totally wipe out belief in the biblical
God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The suppression of God has, unfortunately, also altered the biblical
thrust of many (not all) formerly evangelical churches. F<span style="background: white;">earing they will be censored and become
victims of the naming-and-shaming “culture cancel” or lose their non-profit
status,</span> they have reverted to teaching little Bible, ignore the role of
Jesus as savior, and give only “feel good” sermons—all in the hopes of not
ruffling the waters of any militant organizations<span style="background: white;">. </span>They remain <span style="background: white;">silent on today’s issues and what is at stake, almost as if nothing is
going on “out there.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">The voices of the brave ones
who have dared to speak out have impacted many. Here are examples (available on
YouTube):</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">t</span><span style="background: white;">he heroic homily of Father Ed Meeks of </span><span style="background: white;">Christ the King parish in Towson, MD; (3)</span><sup><span style="background: white;"><span><br /></span></span></sup></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">Dr. Robert Jeffress’
outstanding sermon, “America at the Crossroads;</span><span style="background: white;">”(4)</span><span style="background: white;"> <br />and<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Dr.
Ed Young’s “Culture Clash.”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;">(5)</span></span></span></span></li></ul><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unless
the Christian community begins to be more vocal and influential where it
matters about the realities of what’s going on, instead of keeping members
encapsulated in a church bubble, the silencing of God will continue to successfully
escalate. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Could Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s prediction become a reality? “We are proceeding
toward a time of no religion at all.</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx67xoFFS3GhFervrs2doYYDEqBRLDUzP-uf_b14OJPnCBcRUTr3U5y79A635NeMnCyS12Fj9j5E1Ymwq0yO93gpkHxWLKwKF1cmMha31o0z8xViudo4AprWO4KDloYAS473HaCQ5Apk/s517/BIBLE-STOP+SIGN+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="517" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx67xoFFS3GhFervrs2doYYDEqBRLDUzP-uf_b14OJPnCBcRUTr3U5y79A635NeMnCyS12Fj9j5E1Ymwq0yO93gpkHxWLKwKF1cmMha31o0z8xViudo4AprWO4KDloYAS473HaCQ5Apk/w135-h111/BIBLE-STOP+SIGN+%25232.jpg" width="135" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">His prediction is already evident
in other countries, where no religion is allowed at all—and <u>not</u> because
of the COVID-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the Pew Research
Center, 62% of countries (31 out of the 50) in, for example, the Asia and
Pacific Rim, are “using force” to suppress religion (Christianity and other
minority religions) by inflicting “property damage, detention, abuse, and
killings.” It’s also happening in other areas.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(6)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In those claiming to be “full”
democracies, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland and In Germany, there are “high government restrictions on religion.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(7) </span></span></span> The same has happened with
Denmark and Sweden, the shining examples Bernie Sanders and OEC hold up as the models
for “democratic socialism.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What makes us think we will be
exempt? Don’t think it can’t happen here. Similar to the
frog in the pot, blissfully unaware of the degree-by-degree raising of the water’s
temperature, corrupt ideologies and censorship creep in gradually, little by little.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“To be forewarned is
to be forearmed,” so . . .</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Let’s take a deeper look</b><br /><span style="background-color: white;">In this article you will discover all the tactics of the enemy:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">how
the atheistic suppression of God is detrimentally affecting today’s Christian youth</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">the
dangerous “Project 1619” infiltrating U.S. schools</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">SIECUS’S (Sexuality
Information and Education Council of the United States) sex education agenda for schools, teaching graphic perversion, sex, gender
confusion, and more</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">how
subversive political movements, intent on changing a culture works; it’s
tactical planning, and deceptive strategies</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">how
the eradication of God began with the 1960’s “Death of God movement”</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">why
and how that “Death of God” cultural revolution successfully influenced future
decades until it reached ours</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">what
happens when good men do nothing</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">socialism’s
appeal today and its designing dangers.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The effect of atheism’s suppression of God on today’s Christian
youth</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The Barna Report states the following
warning to Christians:</span></span></p></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Families,
hoping to ensure “a vibrant, lasting faith in the next generation” will find that
<span style="background: white;">the “current state of affairs is <i>not</i>
promising.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">(8)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" style="font-size: 12pt;" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">Why? The report
explains that it is because s</span>ocietal ideologies are exerting a stronger influence on tweens, teens,
and young adults than the traditional Christian teachings they are receiving at
home or at church. (Wow—that’s saying a lot!) Even though raised in the faith, youth
are successfully being indoctrinated into the atheistic and secular worldview.
As a result, they are leaving the faith—many never to return.<br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />Here are some statistics:</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Three-fourths of
the 80 million millennials from “Christian homes” in the U.S. who are influenced
by today’s atheistic propaganda, leave</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> their faith and church after high school, swayed to believe the following: </span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">68% disregard the reality of God and
the Holy Spirit, including biblical accounts as all myths</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">51% percent view Jesus’ resurrection
from the dead a myth</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">63% no longer believe Jesus is the Son
of God </span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">(9)<span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">60% leave Christianity by their early
twenties</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"> (10)<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">and . . .</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">though “some” may return to the faith
of their Christian parents, “</span><u style="text-indent: 0in;">69% will remain gone</u><span style="text-indent: 0in;">!”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="text-indent: 0in;"> <span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text1;">(11)</span></span></span></span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is the goal of those targeting our youth? They want to bring
about a different political system that will be easily accepted—a socialistic
and totalitarian government. To achieve this, they must alter three things: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">change thinking patterns</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">eradicate God and his values</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">eliminate the principles of this country and its Constitution
were founded upon</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why these three in particular? It is to eliminate any
competitive loyalty to another entity that would stand in the way and compete with
obedience to a totalitarian leader. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>How do they plan to achieve this? They first start
by educating the young. It is an age-old maneuver described in the Communist
Manifesto, that explains how to gradually move people into socialism, and then a
communistic totalitarian government. To coin a principle from Proverbs 22:6,
they know that .<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> . .</span> </span><i>when they are old, they won’t depart from it.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1cdcZv2zzE7Hm3eWFRpN1bqDoNvG54_dD4KHTrgxx66epsW8OaxmhT1SzRB0MmPu7zgxApYR49B91DA5_06gM7wVm2zoZIRWEtvKe-DPRkvp0qnz9gU-IRv1fF5xwXDd_0ol0aEocVc/s300/SCHOOL+CHILDREN+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1cdcZv2zzE7Hm3eWFRpN1bqDoNvG54_dD4KHTrgxx66epsW8OaxmhT1SzRB0MmPu7zgxApYR49B91DA5_06gM7wVm2zoZIRWEtvKe-DPRkvp0qnz9gU-IRv1fF5xwXDd_0ol0aEocVc/w200-h112/SCHOOL+CHILDREN+%25232.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Nazis in WW2 understood the same principle to reach
their goal of dominance and obedience. Their early training of children
produced obedience to the Nazi party and ultimately changed their country to
something else. Of necessity, it </span><u style="font-family: arial;">had</u><span style="font-family: arial;"> to eradicate religion so that it
would guarantee all loyalty would be to the party, not God.</span></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">An example is how the Communist Party changed China. Undercover,
they surreptitiously moved party members into significant institutional and
government positions to begin re-educating the young in the schools to socialist
and communist ideas. Presenting it in a favorable light, it destroyed 5,000
years of China’s culture. The people went from a belief in the divine to a
devotion to the communist state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This tactic far easier for the Chinese Communist Party
(referring to the “Party,” not the Chinese people), than initiating an
out-and-out war on the nations they want to conquer. This includes America.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Epoch Times nails it down:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Communist China has engaged in a form of unrestricted
warfare against the United States for the past few decades, engaging in a
systematic penetration of our institutions and has built ties to pro-communist
forces within our country. The Chinese Communist Party sees America as the
biggest threat to its existence. Their only means of survival is to take over
the United States and snuff out the beacon of freedom America shines on the
world.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">(12)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Infiltration into U.S.
school curriculums</b><br />Another contributing factor
working against our young people is the large-scale invasion into the curricula
of American schools with a purposeful distortion of American history, and
breaking down the family unit and morals.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is in operation now,
foisted in the schools through four programs: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Project 1619</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">socialism’s atheistic worldview
through Darwinian evolution</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">deficient student education</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">sex education, starting in kindergarten</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Each one will be described
separately:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><b>Project 1619</b></u>: Project 1619’s goal is to change children’s concept of
America by presenting its history in a bad light. It does this by denying<span style="background: white;"> the principles of freedom and equality on
which the nation and Constitution were founded.</span> The Project grew out of an
article on the subject of slavery published in The New York Times by two authors, after which the Pulitzer Center developed a package of lesson plans
that allows schools to insert it into their curriculum.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Recognized by many as a “tool of political indoctrination,” the "Project’s" objective is to retrain children K-12 with a negative attitude toward
America by portraying the constitutional framers, past U.S. presidents, and
patriots as white racist supremacists who only started the Revolutionary War against
Britain so they could ensure the continuation of slavery. It also wants to
change the birth of the nation from 1776 to 1619, based on a boat that brought
black indentured servant/slaves to the early colonists in 1619, suggesting
that’s when slavery started (which is incorrect; it started in the 1500s. See
endnote for more details)<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(13)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Newt Gingrich described Project 1619 as, "left-wing
propaganda masquerading as the truth." Terms used by others:
"displacement of historical understanding by ideology," "bad
scholarship," "vilification of the United States’ founders," and
“no factual accuracy.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We can all agree that slavery was a terrible thing. But today’s
leading historians say there are better ways to teach students about the ordeal
of slavery than to denigrate America.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In rebuttal, President Trump established the “1776
Commission” on November 2, 2020, to push patriotic education in the schools. He
stated <span style="background: white;">that Project 1619 is a
"twisted web of lies" and "a form of child abuse" that
currently teaches systemic racism in U.S. schools.(14) </span>He has also threatened
to defund any schools that use Project 1619, and presently there is a bill pending
by <span style="background: white;">GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas</span>
to prevent schools from using it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><b>Atheistic worldview via the “Progressive Education Movement</b></u>.” In
America’s nineteenth century, John Dewey’s “Progressive Education Movement” was
introduced. He admitted his goal. He wanted to “wean children away from
traditional tutelage of parents, religion, and culture,” and use the schools to
be “the vehicle of America’s socialist revolution.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(15)</span></span></span>
This is the same goal used on children by the Nazis and the Communist Party in China
and other countries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">Dewey’s “Progressive Education
Movement”</span><span> (PEM) eventually gained control of the entire
U.S. education system </span><span style="background: white;">after years of controversial
court cases</span><span>.</span> Samuel L. Blumenfeld and Alex Newman,
authors of <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Crimes of the Educators: How Utopians Are Using
Government Schools to Destroy America's Children,</span></i> describe
today’s PEM as a “deliberate plan to change the nature of education in
America,” so that the American people can “be easily led into a socialist
system.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The two methods are (1) Darwin’s scientific evolution and
atheistic worldview, and (2) deficient education.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><b>Darwin’s scientific evolution and atheistic worldview</b></u>. <span>This program was</span><span style="background: white;"> set up in textbooks</span><span> u</span>nder<span> the banner of science and progress.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3ulK2-V4sS_Fy6y0QYFfisCR8Xf0sWMJHMc-Ro9AXTA6ABs2aGfVhYBmql4kZ0M5D6IZBLetnF0uOl4rfgk7HrLifGSRPB9Lf1kiOnj5to8dqMmY2AMG-oQ4upAXzGld0bfKUrCG4qg/s332/EVOLUTION+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="332" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3ulK2-V4sS_Fy6y0QYFfisCR8Xf0sWMJHMc-Ro9AXTA6ABs2aGfVhYBmql4kZ0M5D6IZBLetnF0uOl4rfgk7HrLifGSRPB9Lf1kiOnj5to8dqMmY2AMG-oQ4upAXzGld0bfKUrCG4qg/w200-h92/EVOLUTION+%25232.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Its intent was to promote secular ideas about
the creation of the universe that would negate God and exclude any Christian worldview.
This would lead to enabling of loyalty to a socialistic leader—because following
God would cause conflict and division.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Deficient education</b></span></u><span>. Academic standards have been purposely lowered to make
students less literate by dumbing down textbooks in American history, social
studies, science, and other learning avenues. So states author Charlotte
Iserbyt, </span><span style="background: white;">former Reagan era Senior
Policy Advisor in the US Department of Education,</span><span> in her book, <i>The
Deliberate Dumbing Down of America</i>. “The main agenda is to make the people
lemming-like so that they will follow the more ‘enlightened’ toward a global,
godless, Marxist-like society, [in] incrementally tiny steps so that most
people won’t notice.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(16)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P6J-QVdPIRhvxiu9wmHHTPr0UdEqt6JDK5-IL9Z3kMh2QD3RLwWie0xBLn5i97Z33qE9XH10zDGz9NwkFAkYOKcfAWiboH_ktmB0i8wuPlER52g4KmvxCV4CPNbtJ9UGMFu6O6sl6F0/s233/DUMBING+DOWN+%25233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="217" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P6J-QVdPIRhvxiu9wmHHTPr0UdEqt6JDK5-IL9Z3kMh2QD3RLwWie0xBLn5i97Z33qE9XH10zDGz9NwkFAkYOKcfAWiboH_ktmB0i8wuPlER52g4KmvxCV4CPNbtJ9UGMFu6O6sl6F0/w104-h108/DUMBING+DOWN+%25233.jpg" width="104" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The long-range goal of “dumbing down” is explained
further by the Epoch Times:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Individuals
with little knowledge and poor critical thinking abilities are unable to
recognize lies and deception. Education plays an enormous role. Thus, when
communist elements penetrate all levels of the education system, students
become foolish and ignorant and thus vulnerable to manipulation.</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;">(17)</span></span></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But that’s not all. Even more is infiltrating our schools.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Graphic sex education
to start in kindergarten</b></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9f_CBZ0Lq6AoJlwc_bpjqI9nbxsTxC6IGe0H6pszDGp_f0U-NjXpEFR27Cu71WN_pXFM9hL-6mnqBHS6nw8sId0SPGOJBCYASOoT9LsJfNKRozKOjbevkqpF8Bk06d1WjVDPBYuXFWs/s260/SEX-CHILD+SHOCKED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="193" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9f_CBZ0Lq6AoJlwc_bpjqI9nbxsTxC6IGe0H6pszDGp_f0U-NjXpEFR27Cu71WN_pXFM9hL-6mnqBHS6nw8sId0SPGOJBCYASOoT9LsJfNKRozKOjbevkqpF8Bk06d1WjVDPBYuXFWs/w104-h146/SEX-CHILD+SHOCKED.jpg" width="104" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Communism experimented years earlier with graphic and
obscene sex education in schools. Its admitted goal was to “break down family,
culture, morality, and nations,” emphasizing that “sexuality unrestrained by
any moral standards were supposedly ‘healthy’.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(18)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span>
It proved effective. The communist party understood that doing that would make
one more susceptible to be obedient to an authoritarian leader. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It has to begin in kindergarten and is now being pushed in
America’s schools where they are now teaching children immoral values,
homosexuality, sexual activity, experimentation, gender confusion, and more. SIECUS
(Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States) is the
primary database for America’s educational system for this. Today, families
who object are censored and maligned.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This disastrous agenda, according to Dr. Judith Reisman (international
expert on human sexuality, and scientific consultant to four US Department of
Justice administrations, the US Department of Education, and the US Department
of Health and Human Services),</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> will bring about “dark
consequences such as cultural collapse,” and cause “unspeakable and often
permanent harm, severely damaging children’s future that will last their entire
lives.”</span>(19)</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>How should this
affect you?</b><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">It should raise an
alarm, because the future of this nation rests in our young people. If you are
one of the 168 million parents raising America’s 74 million children under the
age of eighteen, or the 80 million American grandparents (4 million of whom are
raising their grandchildren)—even those with already-grown children and
grandchildren—this should seriously affect you. It should alert you to your
responsibility of becoming involved in this concern by learning what you can do
about it.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">How does one begin,
you ask?</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>The necessary first
step</b><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">To
begin with, it is imperative to become knowledgeable on the subject (the
purpose of this article) and understand how to recognize the behind-the-curtain
tactics of subversive maneuvers an enemy uses. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">This is so you can
explain to your family specifically what is going on and prepare them with the
truth; also, be able to suggest specific ways they can combat what the enemy is
aiming for them.</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Through this article, you will gain a thorough
understanding of the subtle mechanisms that slip in to radically change a
culture, and comprehend where the clarion voices and influences hope to lead
us.</span></p><p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, we will start with the following understanding:</span></p><p class="trt0xe" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>How subversive movements work for change</b><br />A change in cultural <a name="_Hlk57652182">mor</a><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">és</span> never
happens overnight. This is important to understand. It starts small. The
sinister proliferation deliberately moves in at a snail’s pace with concepts that
appear mild and innocent at first. Then, like a rolling snowball, becomes
larger and larger.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why so slow at first? Because all oppositional movements
need a period of gradual maturation to introduce contrary concepts. It must
allow time for people to mentally adjust to the eradication of traditional norms
and values (especially Christian ones), and embrace different ones. Also, to
gradually manipulate the people to accept it as a progressive move toward human
“enlightenment.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It would never work if new ideologies were dropped and
forced on a society all at once. People would, without hesitation, reject it—like
the frog who immediately jumps out if put directly in boiling water. The temperature
for change must be turned up ever so slowly. If done right, people never
realize what is taking place until it’s too late.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The ultimate goal of any adversarial movement (also goes for
today) is to bring about change with complete indoctrination to a set of ideologies
that, in the long run, will generate a godless society (a necessity) and diminish
traditional American freedoms and rights. Even though it may take years to
accomplish, it progressively provides the pathway to a new political system. In
America’s case, socialism. Its admitted goal is a communist totalitarian
government.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If the enemy (identified later) pulls enough strings of its charismatic
puppet-pawns, the movement carries on to successfully influence the following decades.
Then, each succeeding generation expands upon the new ideologies of the previous
one, taking them a step further in more extreme ways, often oblivious to the
prehistory that laid the groundwork.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When did this sinister plan start?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;"><b>The start of America’s
deterioration—the “Death of God” movement</b><br /></span><span style="background: white;">It is absolutely necessary to
present a historical depiction of the 1960’s “Death of God Movement” because </span>it is
the formidable movement that first initiated<span style="background: white;"> the rejection of God (although rumblings preceded it). Gaining
strength, it mushroomed until it reached our generation, which has now embraced
even more blasphemous ideologies—even to the point of legalizing them through
the courts.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Historians say that
that cultural revolution “</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">marked a rupture as profound as that brought about
by the Reformation!</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(20)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">You mean . . .
THAT big? Why?</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Because it was, as
French theologian, Dr. Gabriel Vahanian stated, “</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">the first attempt in
recorded history to build a culture upon the premise that God is dead!</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">(21)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">Here’s how it began with its evolving
steps of change . . .</span></p><p align="center" class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>The “Death of God MOVEMENT”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKEcYOFFKSbyxau3_uT0-ddkjcz0-AJ5edu6aSI7LYsozHu6rCtr_n8SdrCEWpS62cDt2-g6_rlAkpM9nZSVQjHLWCn_LcFWp0F6Dw3VhOV1RcyxY0nr3iKbhXJCT8CyZ1Bp-sn9pfeo/s215/DEATH+OF+GOD+%25234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="161" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKEcYOFFKSbyxau3_uT0-ddkjcz0-AJ5edu6aSI7LYsozHu6rCtr_n8SdrCEWpS62cDt2-g6_rlAkpM9nZSVQjHLWCn_LcFWp0F6Dw3VhOV1RcyxY0nr3iKbhXJCT8CyZ1Bp-sn9pfeo/w107-h118/DEATH+OF+GOD+%25234.jpg" width="107" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">The sixties
Death of God movement, called “</span><i style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">Theothanatology</i><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">” (</span><i style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">theos</i><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">, Greek for God</span><i style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">; thanatos,</i><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"> death), exploded in California, igniting a disturbing
non-religious, albeit theological, uprising of cyclonic proportions, seriously
altering society’s view about God and his morals.</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title="">[i]</a> (22)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">
It was a shattering event.</span></div>
<p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Newspaper headlines at that time promulgated the breath-stopping
proclamation . . . “<i><span><span style="color: red; text-transform: uppercase;">God is dead</span>!</span></i>”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The new leftist
“Death of God” cultural revolution hit with commanding power and was so momentous,
that history tells us that no one expected Christianity to survive . . . it
nearly destroyed believers’ faith. Private thinking among many was, “</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Maybe .
. . just maybe . . . there really is no God</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">. </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">After all, he is invisible</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.”</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Blood-red letters emblazoned the cover of the April 8, 1966 issue of </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Time</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> magazine reflecting the
mind-blowing pronouncement, asking: “</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;"><span>Is God Dead?</span></i><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(23)</span></span></span></span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Much of
the populace responded with a determined, “YES!”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgGyxxy7SkghckRtHF9Zfq4o7dgYMXqTFlrfK5PKxSEZgT9TRgUMrquxqROODDt1vkOztslp5i0aRMZy-oRHuIpDzHvJmkJ6x-wAjBYL2eawK67dw3jrdMkpzcUMlprel_RCUbjV7r1w/s940/TIME+COVER-1966-IS+GOD+DEAD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="700" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgGyxxy7SkghckRtHF9Zfq4o7dgYMXqTFlrfK5PKxSEZgT9TRgUMrquxqROODDt1vkOztslp5i0aRMZy-oRHuIpDzHvJmkJ6x-wAjBYL2eawK67dw3jrdMkpzcUMlprel_RCUbjV7r1w/w119-h132/TIME+COVER-1966-IS+GOD+DEAD.jpg" width="119" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But as the death knell for God continued to peal, no one really
“seriously” mourned—at least not enough to do something about it. Christians, along
with other citizens of general morality, had no idea the long-range
consequences and how it would affect America’s culture and their posterity, let
alone the subversive forces behind it that planned to keep it going. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It’s only a passing “fad”</b><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Many remained
complacent, assuming atheists were simply on a personal media campaign to toot
their horn and convince the public they were right. The “fad” would die out
after a while (I was among them).</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately for the majority of Christians and
pastors, much like the proverbial frog, they were content to sit in the
cauldron of lukewarm water, not realizing the danger. All they needed to do was
complacently sit and wait until it passed.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN52I3nTW3vYEZPXx3cswF7WzGXhMamJnDO4LKVympfRmQnvgnWvYWf3__KYYPbL0JgxGLzBmGOj7sFtzPe8Mn935Xl6Iv-grOHNzEAHLJhPz0FAB-9FC9Q4ZtCCvGE6e39AjNuTB4uZg/s263/FROG-CONTENTED.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN52I3nTW3vYEZPXx3cswF7WzGXhMamJnDO4LKVympfRmQnvgnWvYWf3__KYYPbL0JgxGLzBmGOj7sFtzPe8Mn935Xl6Iv-grOHNzEAHLJhPz0FAB-9FC9Q4ZtCCvGE6e39AjNuTB4uZg/w123-h103/FROG-CONTENTED.jpg" width="123" /></span></a></div><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why didn’t more lay Christians
or pastors choose to speak out?<br />Besides believing it was a
passing fad, a major reason was because they felt ill-equipped theologically to
respond to the intellectual and persuasive arguments of the atheistic
propaganda. Frustrated and ashamed, they grappled with the problem of how to
prove the existence of God . . . even to themselves.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">John T. Elson, <i>Time </i>magazine’s religion
editor r</span>eflected this troubling concern in his famous 1966 article<span style="background: white;">:<br /></span></span></p></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><p class="JHblockquote" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">Is God dead? It is a question that tantalizes both believers,
who perhaps secretly fear that he is, and atheists, who possibly suspect that
the answer is no, [making it] easy for the modern man to ask where God is and
hard for the man of faith to give a convincing answer, even to himself.</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(24)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="JHblockquote"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were, of course, campaigns going on by evangelists with
their usual preaching and calls to repentance, such as Billy Graham, Oral
Roberts and others. But recorded accounts describe how the majority of
Christians, including the clergy, just sat silently at home waiting for the fad
to pass.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, the
complacency and on-the-edge Christian doubters were so widescale it caused a huge
drop in church attendance. Many churches ceased to function as a spiritual
oasis and fewer individuals were requesting to enter the clergy, stated Jules
Archer in his book, <i>The Incredible 60s</i>.<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(25)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn2" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Children were especially
put at risk. Hugh McLeod, professor of church history at the University of
Birmingham substantiated in his book, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Religious Crisis of the Sixties</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">,
that scarcely any parents were raising children any longer with a “basic
knowledge of Christian beliefs and practices, teaching their children prayers,
or talking to them about God and Jesus.”</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(26)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>What happens
when good men do nothing? </b><br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Despite the preaching campaigns of Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and others,
no other influential voices were heard from the Christian establishment to
quell the tide—especially from evangelical theologians and pastors who could
have joined the chorus and intellectually voiced a plausible objection.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Francis Schaeffer,
speaking later in 1982, despairingly confirmed this: “In the last 40 years,” he
said, “evangelical Christians who maintained a belief in a personal God
remained silent, doing nothing.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">(27)Because of this silence, he explained, it was easier for the anti-God ideology
and its trends to mushroom into the years ahead and “set the pattern for the
rest of the century.”</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">28)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today’s theologians, now looking
back with 20/20 hindsight, see Christians’ non-action as the great illustration
of what can happen when good men do nothing.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The revolution’s necessity to eventually expunge
traditional biblical values and morals<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">At first, enthusiasts who joined
the movement did not foresee it as a move to eliminate </span><i style="font-family: arial;">everything</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> about God.
Their initial intent was to create a more progressive society with more individual
freedoms.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On the surface that sounded
good. But the subtle forces of the movement, strategized by the power behind it,
made them see the necessity to eliminate God’s “old-fashioned” morals and
values. They became convinced that it was the only way they could be <i>entirely</i>
free. How was this achieved? Through the presentation of secular logic by the
enemy’s influential puppet-pawns.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Humanist proponents began
exalting the power individuals had within themselves to become what they were “truly
meant to be,” explaining that under the traditional culture’s “outmoded” mor<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">és</span>, they couldn’t. If they intended to progress and achieve
their greatest potential, they had to be “totally” free. This meant they needed
to throw off all systems of belief they felt “controlled” them. This, out of
necessity, had to include total rejection of organized religion and the Bible that
contained God’s restrictive rules and absolutes.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> </span>(29) Why?
Because, as Dr. Callum G. Brown describes, all of it assaulted “the personal
liberty of the people.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(30) </span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thomas J. J. Altizer, one
of the movers and shakers (aka “Methodist apostate”), helped it along with his
book, <i>The Gospel of Christian Atheism,</i>
reinforcing the idea that mankind can never reach its fullest liberation and
potential while God and organized religion exist.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(31)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Through this rationale, devotees
of the movement acknowledged that God was standing in the way of their evolutionary
potential. They agreed with Nietzsche, who had said years earlier, that traditional
beliefs in the Bible keep people’s enslaved minds in restrictive chains.(32) They needed to break those shackles!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6OAMJLLGK9p3lyy9u7HISDnfEx5Jwmv4B4iGmWjvx9zIz4Doy3qJbfZ2GfqFcch9lDGv2Oc8ijPX-b76tahbqU3kFCfJOWCnx7EuSq7TrG-4lAoriy2Vzm0BAMc_qv7T97pm8rAOjsk/s310/CHAINS+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6OAMJLLGK9p3lyy9u7HISDnfEx5Jwmv4B4iGmWjvx9zIz4Doy3qJbfZ2GfqFcch9lDGv2Oc8ijPX-b76tahbqU3kFCfJOWCnx7EuSq7TrG-4lAoriy2Vzm0BAMc_qv7T97pm8rAOjsk/w174-h105/CHAINS+%25232.jpg" width="174" /></span></a></div><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After all, they didn’t really need
God—they were smart enough to know right from wrong.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs5bx2YGDSo9ngjg-tzcaU5jBu8u8UvCNJ6v_frYgdqDmvXUYosLDPxpjRu5HkcPr10wnQjQ9NFsfVWJC0sDOXfuChZOx_jGFsPRAOWzC_QOYBrBxkUexTwj5cmugGzCk2S6X0fbKF_4/s239/SELF-RELIANCE%25231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="211" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs5bx2YGDSo9ngjg-tzcaU5jBu8u8UvCNJ6v_frYgdqDmvXUYosLDPxpjRu5HkcPr10wnQjQ9NFsfVWJC0sDOXfuChZOx_jGFsPRAOWzC_QOYBrBxkUexTwj5cmugGzCk2S6X0fbKF_4/w89-h100/SELF-RELIANCE%25231.jpg" width="89" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> <o:p></o:p>They had the power to pull themselves up by their
own bootstraps without having to depend on any other source than their own
innate talents and power to persevere toward excellence. Besides, they believed
Friedrich Nietzsche’s earlier statement that God was invented by mankind.</span><p></p><p class="JHhead2" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHhead2" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All of it echoed Psalms 2:3, “<span style="background: white;">Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”</span></span></p><p class="JHhead2" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><b>Philosophers, radical theologians, and Hebrew educators, hop on the bandwagon</b></span></span></p><p class="JHhead2" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdORlHXhiRxr0I7K3iQ8PYRhiiKKfg89_QO5I6xy_MztNtQGjr0aSeAuE72fsFRpK84oQZEMX2LU-TPdDd9gOn8OLWLbWgbozb_zNcEGbBkABiQVn8tnRImxP325bL1u_2DU65G5579s/s272/MEGAPHONE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdORlHXhiRxr0I7K3iQ8PYRhiiKKfg89_QO5I6xy_MztNtQGjr0aSeAuE72fsFRpK84oQZEMX2LU-TPdDd9gOn8OLWLbWgbozb_zNcEGbBkABiQVn8tnRImxP325bL1u_2DU65G5579s/w155-h131/MEGAPHONE.jpg" width="155" /></span></a></div><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">All new movements need charismatic
voices to influence the masses. Therefore, joining the new movement were the
puppet-pawns—prominent philosophers and radical theologians (the latter nicknamed
“Christian atheists”<i> </i>because while they believe there is a God, he is
absent from the world and does not intervene in individuals’ lives).<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(33)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also joining were Hebrew
educators. They maintained that while the Jewish Kabbalah stated God died after
creating the world, he most definitely died at Auschwitz. In view of this,
modern Jews could no longer nurture the idea of an all-powerful God at work in
history, or embrace the belief they were the chosen people.<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(34)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With clarion voices and
persuasive reasoning, their clout reinforced the idea that God’s annihilation
and his laws, along with churches, was a progressive step toward personal
evolution, through which self-actualization could be better realized and
society improved<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(35)</span></span></span></span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>Many
on-the-edge Christians were influenced.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This led to the Human Potential
Movement, initiated by Abraham Maslow’s theory of self-actualization―a
humanistic endeavor to find fulfillment without God. Many saw it as a “healthy
narcissism.”<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(36)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn4" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mass killing of God and the Bible’s rules of conduct was successful, and the Death of God movement
escalated. To reflect their “freedom,” more anti-God practices were introduced:</span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A new definition of truth</b><br />The freedom to be their “true
selves” by not being chained to a God had to, out of necessity, lead to a new
definition of truth since God’s truths and the Bible were no longer in the
picture.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Truth was now to be determined
by subjective experience. Individuals could easily assess what was right and
wrong. If a choice in one direction produced a “good feeling,” it had to be
okay. This was the new reality that has carried forward into today’s culture. (<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">37)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And how is that working? Chaos and
unrighteousness now reign.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What happened then, and is
happening now, is no different than what took place in Old Testament times. The
Book of Judges (21:25) tells us that when there was no “king” to look to, “all
the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 60s movement projected the
same. With God no longer their “king,” they did whatever seemed right in their
own eyes.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There was also another major
change . . .</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A new lifestyle</b><br />Since true freedom could only
occur without God, this had to include sexual freedom because it was unnatural
to suppress human passions. The hippie generation of the 1960s and 1970s was heavily
influenced by the Beatniks, who celebrated non-conformity and were against
marriage because it symbolized the “traditional capitalist culture which
supported war.” So, sexual liberation and free love reigned. They lived in communes
unimpeded by any laws, enjoying their sexual appetites, and feeling liberated
from any religious censorship.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Death of God Movement foreseen
earlier by Nietzsche</b><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What took place in the 1960s and pressed forward, was predicted by
Friedrich Nietzsche in his earlier work, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Thus
Spoke Zarathustra,</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> from which the movement’s title, “Death of God,” was
coined. Albeit he lived prior to the 1900s, he foresaw the eventual handwriting
on the wall and predicted God’s death would happen. Believing that mankind had
invented God in the first place, he felt people would soon recognize that fact
and do away with him. He even identified the culprits who would kill him . . .
“self-centered mankind.”</span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRfi4addkEYsF1E_4fpVodunT-PjSjvKGHmTcDXgyiFys7702SIPbDkCZAm955DWyzwdM38CfQ2fx3rpDr_wI41wPLj8hotQROk2hzaX7KSP9n9UsOdjNeCT6g6ABrZ3h-JucSP58ang/s302/NIETZSCHE+%25232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="167" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRfi4addkEYsF1E_4fpVodunT-PjSjvKGHmTcDXgyiFys7702SIPbDkCZAm955DWyzwdM38CfQ2fx3rpDr_wI41wPLj8hotQROk2hzaX7KSP9n9UsOdjNeCT6g6ABrZ3h-JucSP58ang/w93-h143/NIETZSCHE+%25232.jpg" width="93" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He also predicted that when they
killed God, they would attempt to further prove his nonexistence by relying on
science for all their answers about the universe, especially Darwinism. He was
right.(38) Today, Darwin’s evolution continues in U.S. schools through Dewey’s Progressive
Education Movement. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Nietzsche’s grim warning</b><br />At the same time of Nietzsche’s
prediction, he was also concerned that when people begin believing there is no
God, standards of Christian morality break down. He saw this as a detriment to
society, noting that a new system such as the killing of God—even if God is not
real—could bring out the worst in human nature. He was right. An example is the
influence his book, <i>The Will to Power, </i>had on Hitler. Today’s continuation
of the suppression of God may also explain America’s high crime rate.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p>Further, Nietzsche predicted an
additional catastrophe. . . nihilism!</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;"><b>What is nihilism?</b><br /></span><span style="background: white;">Helmut Thielicke, a Protestant
theologian, describes nihilism aptly as </span>“Nothingness prevails and the world is meaningless.”<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(39)</span></span></span></span> This necessarily includes non-being
after death.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
existentialist, Albert Camus stated that the struggle to deal with this new
reality of a nihilistic and purposeless life was the most disturbing and
challenging problem to solve in the twentieth century<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(40)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn3" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> I</span>t threw many “disillusioned Americans
down a nihilistic path into existential angst, catapult[ing] them into extreme
anxiety, despair, and hopelessness.”(41)It affected both Christians and the movement’s devotees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Nihilism’s effect
on Christians</b></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiA5c3_RWanGWNuy_J_A8YqFLgwcsEHq2QpcudTkFL18FyZScEi_RYy7LmwenbGgvbhPROECzfeJIJraAyOvNowIuJJfF6GU5fReBOch3cuWRMyL66DlkhXJej-q472buSTZK9g310kc/s300/NIHILISM+%252310-DESPAIR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiA5c3_RWanGWNuy_J_A8YqFLgwcsEHq2QpcudTkFL18FyZScEi_RYy7LmwenbGgvbhPROECzfeJIJraAyOvNowIuJJfF6GU5fReBOch3cuWRMyL66DlkhXJej-q472buSTZK9g310kc/w176-h92/NIHILISM+%252310-DESPAIR.jpg" width="176" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Doubt and existential despair <br />plagued many
Christians</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk58658534"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nihilism was such an upsetting and staggering thought to
anticipate, it was one of the reasons many Christians insisted on sticking to
their faith. It was out of desperation. They had to keep convincing themselves
over and over again, similar to the Wizard of Oz’s cowardly lion who kept
repeating, “I do believe. I do, I do, I do.” <o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">They feared that
if they succumbed to the new thought-wave and entertained the possibility of no
God, nihilism would plunge them into a hollow, silent world of meaninglessness
and hopelessness and the idea of non-being at death was frightening. Further,
there would no longer be any reason to believe the Bible as God’s Word . . . no
point to prayer . . . and no power beyond themselves to rely on amid life’s
trials. Worse yet, it would rob them of life after death. They would, as the author, James Leonard Park said “sink into the river of existential despair.”</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(42)</span></span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
No one wanted to experience that!</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHhead2" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nihilism’s effect on devotees of the movement causes a search
for a spiritual substitute <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">If God or heaven didn’t exist,
and nihilism dictated a meaningless life, devotees concluded that spiritual
fulfillment and a deeper meaning to life had to be found elsewhere. They must
seek a “new” kind of religious experience without the God of the Bible, that could
offer some kind of peace and purpose, at least in this life.”</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, they began pursuing a
“transcendent kind” of God.<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(43)</span></span></span></span>
He could be in any form and from whatever source―but definitely <i>not</i> the biblical
God of organized religion with all its stifling rules.<span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(44)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">By 1978, a Gallup
Poll reported 10 million Americans were into Eastern religions (Transcendental Meditation,
Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.).</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">(45) At least 150,000 joined spiritualist churches that claimed to communicate with
the dead; large numbers joined the Hare Krishna movement to chant and discover
eternal bliss; others embraced astrology, ESP, reincarnation, Satanism,
Scientology, and other pseudo-religious organizations.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">(46) They were all considered equally valid, believing they all led to some kind of a heavenly experience that would give them purpose and meaning—maybe even reincarnation.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">While they found their
own solution, Christians didn’t. They felt like they were helplessly drowning, going
down for the last time. Was there any hope to offer them in the face of a God
who might not exist and a nihilistic, purposeless future with no life after
death?</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTY88D0IdxZrPqJzdPNKMcdZrxFS16HLNkNf05DkO9dft65MBmMxRz2Md5A_-RiXWyhXg9oTvvnq1_H-Wyb9uX00l-hVrrQ40yjflPWwNDp9fpZOlxBQexh7wsIA2iLPgfLIUAng57LMo/s275/NIHILISM+%252310-DROWNING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTY88D0IdxZrPqJzdPNKMcdZrxFS16HLNkNf05DkO9dft65MBmMxRz2Md5A_-RiXWyhXg9oTvvnq1_H-Wyb9uX00l-hVrrQ40yjflPWwNDp9fpZOlxBQexh7wsIA2iLPgfLIUAng57LMo/w128-h85/NIHILISM+%252310-DROWNING.jpg" width="128" /></span></a></div><p class="JHhead1" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The cavalry arrives!</b><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In the late 1970s,
there came a period of resuscitation for those caught up in the frenzied
conundrum of God’s death. It rescued them from the fearful nihilistic abyss. Several
Christian publications of near-death experiences entered the scene that seemed
to confirm life after death—and if there was, that meant heaven existed and so
must God!</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Raymond Moody’s <i>Life After Life </i>(1975) revived the faith of many, even influencing non-Christians.
The book’s accounts reassured and strengthened belief in heaven and in God,
encouraging many to believe that death wasn’t the end.</span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Later, TV
producers began featuring shows with religious themes, such as </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Highway to
Heaven</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">in 1984, and </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Touched
by an Angel </i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">in 1994. </span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">They re-established and fortified the belief of many who were
hungry for continued confirmation of God and a hereafter.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> Christians and
non-Christian viewers flocked to </span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">vicariously experience the world of faith, angels, and
miracles.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">But, again, the
enemy stepped in. Sales of religious books promoting deception skyrocketed.</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">An example is Neal
Donald Walsch’s bestseller, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Conversations
with God,</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> in which the author
states that </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">God “channeled” his words to the author (channeling is where
the recipient acts as a vocal, or automatic-writing conduit for a spiritual
entity, more often deceased humans). Walsch has God denying biblical
principles, promoting sex outside of marriage, teaching reincarnation and
pantheism, no absolute truths, no right or wrong—all in line with the culture’s
advancing beliefs. Other deceptive books followed (see endnote).</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(47)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Although these
books obviously strayed from orthodox Christian teachings, </span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">the public
devoured anything that remotely suggested God existed because, after all, he
was actually speaking to the authors! Therefore, life after death had to be
real, and they were easily sucked into non-biblical beliefs and practices.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Finally, in 2008, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Christianity
Today</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> published a magazine cover mimicking the blood-red formatting of the
infamous 1960s </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Time</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> cover with the title, “<span style="color: red;">God Is Not Dead Yet</span>.” (</span><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">48)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="JHendnotemarkerChar" style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcunjHrttUkIboBLELZvBUXXRbVzMqFrVVbKyRJBPiKaCEvazrkV_XnpSBgB40Ix5Fqm5rOTxOeYT-VeSGi8JFFKVtmKOa5CBgLu5muFHyHn5HVqOri8Uz5ENov96ZA3eSMA8l4QrOuJk/s262/XITY+TODAY+RED+COVER-GOD+IS+NOT+DEAD+YET.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="192" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcunjHrttUkIboBLELZvBUXXRbVzMqFrVVbKyRJBPiKaCEvazrkV_XnpSBgB40Ix5Fqm5rOTxOeYT-VeSGi8JFFKVtmKOa5CBgLu5muFHyHn5HVqOri8Uz5ENov96ZA3eSMA8l4QrOuJk/w113-h149/XITY+TODAY+RED+COVER-GOD+IS+NOT+DEAD+YET.jpg" width="113" /></span></a></div><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This triggered
Christian philosophers and theologians to finally come out of the woodwork and
begin testifying for the existence of the true God. To combat and match the
movement’s focus that looked only to science for answers, they used the teleological argument that the complexity of the universe demanded an Intelligent
Designer because “something can’t come from nothing.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Nevertheless, the
Death of God’s new thinking pushed on into the coming years, and the enemy
continued to pull the strings of more puppet-pawns. It has reached our
generation with the same, even stronger, message . . . “</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The God of the Bible
is dead and he must be eradicated from the public mind</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.” Eliminating God as
a competitor is the perfect set-up for a godless socialism that can easily lead
a nation into acceptance of a government with loyalty to a communistic leader
who promises free benefits.</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">Who is the major ringleader
behind all this?</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><b>The “head honcho” behind the movement pulling the strings</b></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu-0ywFA_NoyGJa0ThKNP9XnfLdZComk7eg4aGUXjbT0wdRPb75-P3bI7MUpuAYNTKimfV6yd41c9Afbl8F_VJV1aULsLaHeVqvnNpj8Y_hs499Z74ftZ9ligSmhXItX6cgYHHOTbb5A/s267/SATAN+%25239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu-0ywFA_NoyGJa0ThKNP9XnfLdZComk7eg4aGUXjbT0wdRPb75-P3bI7MUpuAYNTKimfV6yd41c9Afbl8F_VJV1aULsLaHeVqvnNpj8Y_hs499Z74ftZ9ligSmhXItX6cgYHHOTbb5A/w135-h89/SATAN+%25239.jpg" width="135" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This may come as a surprise. The
head-honcho in the sixties was not a charismatic leader or major organization. Those
individuals only moved in later to further the enemy’s cause. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is only one being powerful enough to set up an agenda
this big and keep it going―the one whose sole objective is to steal, kill, and
destroy. Scripture tells us that Satan prowls about seeking whom he may devour,
deceptively promoting wrong to appear as right, and trying to kill faith in God
by enslaving people in an atheistic and humanist culture hard to break from.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(49)</span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></p><p class="JHnoindent" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">Unfortunately, in
this rational and scientific age, Satan has been relegated to mythology and
jokingly depicted in cartoons as a horned creature dressed in a red suit with a
forked tail, hooves for feet, and carrying a pitchfork. Whatever he looks like
in spiritual form, Satan is not imaginary and wields great power. Above all, he
wants God and everything pertaining to him, totally eradicated. Since he can’t
kill God directly, his only way to do this is to raise doubts about God’s
existence and killing him in people’s “minds.”</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">Successful so far,
he uses every tool in his arsenal to destroy public consciousness of God through
his puppet-pawns and diminish faith in believers—and make them wonder if “maybe
God might not be real after all.”</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Today, he is employing
his pawns not only in the schools but also in the political process to legalize
the silencing of God and his mor</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">és</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">. The following are a
few examples:</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1963: atheistic
organizations moved into action to legalize the eradication of God in schools
by prohibiting prayer and Bible reading</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">1973: abortion
passed, convincing many they have the right to end a baby’s life</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">2015: legalization
of same-sex marriages.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">2015: promotion of
“political correctness” to silence mention of God in public and displays, and
keep churches subdued with threats of “culture cancel’s” naming-and-shaming, by
curtailing freedom of religion and speech</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>God’s eventual
judgment</b><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Those promoting
the above agendas have already been judged by God, and will eventually receive
their punishment based on the following pronouncement by Jesus:</span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="woj" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white;">There is no judgment
against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has
already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.</span></span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"> <span class="woj">And the judgment is
based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the
darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. (John 3:18-19)</span></span></span></p></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="woj" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white;">God further gave the following warning
through Moses, and although </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">he is saying this to Israel, it is a principle of judgment that God
operates by; therefore, it also applies to America. We can already see the
fulfillment of some of them</span><span class="woj" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white;">.</span></span></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice
of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His
statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you
and overtake you. (Deut. 28:15).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What are these curses? There
are 13 long chapters in Deuteronomy that list all the horrific curses resulting
from disobedience to God. Here are only a few:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Plagues, diseases and
ailments which cannot be cured</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">enemies will defeat you</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">the foreigners living among
you will become stronger and stronger, while you become weaker and weaker</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">you will suffer constant
oppression and harsh treatment . . . and much more</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">After listing all the curses, he concludes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text"> </span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">These
horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants
forever.</span></span><span style="background: white;"> <span class="text"> If you do not serve
the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you
have received, you will serve your enemies whom the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty,
naked, and lacking in everything. (Deut. 28: 46-48)</span></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;">God warned us this
would happen:</span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Woe
to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to
those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (</span>Isaiah
5:20-25)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p>Further, there is no doubt
that the behind-the-curtain powers that God is allowing, are not through yet!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Enter socialism</b><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many
passive Americans believe socialism (and communism) is only something that
happens in faraway nations. They don’t realize it has already arrived at our
doorstep and has gained a huge following.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YLWjA3nbl2DaFORpBwtWyzYyVSR29ICRVQ_WJYEvmwh8ktv_kjNNImca1pk8vCwQ4zmGCLlhcgr8qRSIhp3pLaZwOSyOArNc7e_R_cNkwOHXbqVcAuDeCXeMU7NUrW8BhU0aT4rPIiQ/s258/SOCIALISM+%25234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="258" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YLWjA3nbl2DaFORpBwtWyzYyVSR29ICRVQ_WJYEvmwh8ktv_kjNNImca1pk8vCwQ4zmGCLlhcgr8qRSIhp3pLaZwOSyOArNc7e_R_cNkwOHXbqVcAuDeCXeMU7NUrW8BhU0aT4rPIiQ/w159-h103/SOCIALISM+%25234.jpg" width="159" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Epoch Times, well-informed on the subject,
states:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We have communist
China (CCP) at our gates, ready to take over. The CCP has carefully studied the
U.S. system over the decades and now has successfully taken advantage of our
open society and has infiltrated our country. (50)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many who are chanting for “democratic socialism” have been
given a rosy picture of it, influenced by those with political clout. They see
it as the perfect system to do away with “greedy” capitalism, and as the
perfect equalizer that will give everyone free health care and college tuition,
cancellation of student debt, and much more. They fail to see how socialism, regardless of the
title given it, negates individuals’ right to own private property, while the
elite getting richer and the poor getting poorer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Would these millennials choose socialism,” asks Dr. Lee
Edwards, a leading American historian, “if in exchange for ‘free’ education and
‘free’ health care, they would have to give up their personal property, such as
their iPhone? They don’t recognize that much of what they enjoy in life is a
result of capitalism and would disappear if socialism were to be
implemented."<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (51)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">They also fail to see how “democratic
socialism” will be maneuvered to subtly move into totalitarianism with eventual
denial of basic liberties,
suppression of freedom of speech, a complete shutdown of churches, and punishment
for any form of faith in God—all done by force if necessary.(52)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Socialism in
democratic states slowly eats away at people’s freedoms through legislation,
without them even noticing . . . leaving people gradually numb, oblivious, and
accustomed to (the ideals of) socialism, all of which enhance the deceit. (53)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p>“The younger generation,” states The Epoch Times, who yearn
for a new kind of government “are deceived by the new guise [of socialism] that
communism has taken on. The result is that they unknowingly walk on the road to
ruin.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(54)</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But enthusiasts insist, “Our socialism will never become like Cuba’s, Venezuela, China, or North
Korea’s. Ours will be different!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">They need to wake up. Reports
show that those countries practicing “democratic” socialism, started out
comparable to the US with promises of an ideal society. But soon they evolved
into a socialistic dictatorship. This eventually happened to Cuba, which began
like America, but now it is one of the most “repressive societies for
widespread abuses of <span style="background: white;">political rights and civil
liberties,” rated by Freedom House, which assesses the level of freedom in each country
in the world.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;">(55)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Venezuela
proved no different. The people fell for deceptive rhetoric in the beginning
(like what we are being given).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>For
example, Venezuela’s Presidential candidate, </span><span style="background: white;">Hugo
Chavez promised: “I want to help the poor. I want to help the people that don’t
have the same resources that everyone does.” He made socialism’s equalization for
everyone sound so promising with its welfare and easy handouts, free college
and health care, etc. (sound familiar?) but it became a different story after
he was elected. He changed the constitution to suit his goals, and the people soon
found themselves forced into submission and robbed of liberties.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Andres Guilarte is a 25-year-old former citizen of Venezuela now residing in the U.S. after asking for political
asylum, states:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
could never imagine that [Venezuela] used to be a country like America. A lot
of people used to say we were not going to be like Cuba. And right now, [Venezuela
is] worse than Cuba. You could never imagine that such a great country . . .
could dissolve to what it’s become. And what you think was never going to
happen to you does. When I hear these politicians [in the US], I just wonder.
That same dream [of socialism] that they are trying to sell is actually nothing
more than a nightmare.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;">(56)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn7" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Diana Zhang (a pen name
to protect her family members in China), is a staff writer for The Epoch Times.
She immigrated to America thirty years ago. In her article, “I Grew Up in
Communist China, Here’s My Warning to America,” she said the following:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">America
has become more and more like the socialist country [the Chinese] are trying to
flee. However, we have long been on a slow, steady track heading for the same
communist society that I once knew.(57)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The present puppet-pawns
pushing for socialism, hold up Sweden and Denmark’s “democratic socialism” as
examples, claiming only the rich are taxed 70% to pay for all the free benefits.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But the Manhattan Institute,
after an in-depth financial analysis, says the math for paying such a huge debt
in America doesn’t work out by taxing <i>only</i> the rich. Although the
Democratic Socialists of America say they have a financial plan worked out, the
Manhattan Institute still claims America will go bankrupt, and higher taxes will
be needed, not just on the rich but everyone else. Figures show a
$42,665 trillion dollar debt, with an additional $11.4 million federal budget
deficit over the next 10 years. This doesn’t include the green new deal which can
cost additional trillions of dollars to the federal deficit. And the financial deficit in the example countries
lauded as examples for democratic socialism, besides taxing the rich, are now also
taxing the middle class 60%. Americans simply don’t understand.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWzBR9cxxDogq961wXKSdl9mJJIZrbPU1N1lqCfD5QDsgpHdxKahvbOLqKZlt08MiS3rx1QO-ZYfTI0ZsQrHj8Tfr2ScpdC54XPUN051Y-3cflKw43SkzTtAi2uKMv7iNmG1irovXsQo/s263/SOCIALISM+%25231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWzBR9cxxDogq961wXKSdl9mJJIZrbPU1N1lqCfD5QDsgpHdxKahvbOLqKZlt08MiS3rx1QO-ZYfTI0ZsQrHj8Tfr2ScpdC54XPUN051Y-3cflKw43SkzTtAi2uKMv7iNmG1irovXsQo/w175-h123/SOCIALISM+%25231.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p align="center" class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="background: white;">CONCLUSION</span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></b></span></p><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white;">This article has
shown how ideologies that counter traditional principles</span> successfully <span style="background: white;">move in slowly to
change a nation’s culture. </span><em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;">America has arrived at where it is today because Satan
and his atheistic and communist pawns began with the sixties “Death of God” movement
to eradicate</span></em><span style="background: white;"> the Bible, its morals, and organized religion—all according
to his agenda. </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Now we are reaping the whirlwind!</b></span></p><p class="JHhead1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sound the alarm! The enemy
descends like an eagle on the people of the Lord, for they have revolted
against my law . . . They have planted the wind, and will harvest the
whirlwind! (Hosea 8:1,7)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
twenty-first century is witnessing our nation’s terminal decline. Political
factions have joined in forcefully to continue carrying out its anti-God ideologies.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title="">[</a>58)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JJcv5WK_WIh_hNkoKBrW6uYVtynA-o7phg9SWA25HHKzli6GTSEou5X5jF0F8NFltjAuS0oJMBIZX94j4FKy7UcEEe6_iJ-RVPlHkvDM0WZAPAs-CsbYCdZRESuT7Y7SZ-teSajRNFo/s243/WHIRLWIND+%25236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="243" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JJcv5WK_WIh_hNkoKBrW6uYVtynA-o7phg9SWA25HHKzli6GTSEou5X5jF0F8NFltjAuS0oJMBIZX94j4FKy7UcEEe6_iJ-RVPlHkvDM0WZAPAs-CsbYCdZRESuT7Y7SZ-teSajRNFo/w145-h137/WHIRLWIND+%25236.jpg" width="145" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Can we save our nation? Will </span></em>Karl
Marx’s statement that God-believing churches have to go for man to fulfill his
destiny be on its way to being fulfilled (59) We will continue reaping what we “allow” to
be sowed—unless Christians rise up and do something. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We have a responsibility to bravely stand up and speak up
(along with our billfold) against the immorality and the influences of atheistic
socialism that are pervading America with its widespread destruction of the
family . . . influences determined to annihilate God . . . and its fomenting of
social disorder and attack on morality. All of it is ruinous to the foundation
of any nation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>What we can do</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">vote for candidates who
embrace the principles America was founded upon, and avoid being swayed by any (often)
false political rhetoric</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">take the time to research a
candidate’s past record for evidence of the principles they “claim”</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">understand how the
deceptions of socialism creep in</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">pray for America, and for the President to fight for what’s right for the American
people.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also, by doing the
following:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">pass your faith on in the
existence and reality of God and his biblical truths to your family, and
discuss biblical morals and America’s
founding values and principles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">promote American democracy and
its true history to combat what your children and grandchildren are being taught
in school</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">check American history text
books and extra-curricular programs presented in your local schools to see if
Project 1619 is incorporated</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">think twice about socialism
by understanding its long-range effects that lead to communism and a totalitarian
government</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">know what is appropriate
for children in school, and combat graphic sex education and gender
confusion for age-inappropriate children</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">support bills designed to reverse
previous rulings that favored anti-God, anti-freedoms, and anti-constitutional amendments</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Support those attempting to
reverse the 1973 legalization of abortion</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">fight against the
“political correctness” extremes, with its Culture Cancel’s unfair “naming and
shaming” censorship, and insist on freedom of religion and freedom of
reasonable speech</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-family: arial;">
</span></p><div><p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mark Levin stresses in his book <i>Liberty
and Tyranny</i>, the imperative to nurture and shape the beliefs of our
children and grandchildren with godly principles and core values America was
founded upon in order to counteract the indoctrination they are
receiving in schools and universities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="JHnormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Parents
and grandparents must take it upon themselves to teach their children and
grandchildren to believe in and appreciate the principles of the American civil
society and stress the import of preserving and improving the society. They
will need to teach their offspring [what] threatens their generation’s liberty
and prosperity, and to resist alluring trends and fads [and] indoctrination of
their children and grandchildren in government schools . . . by conferring
their knowledge, beliefs, and ideals on them over the dinner table, in the car,
or at bedtime. If undertaken on an intimate, purposeful, and consistent basis,
it will shape a generation of new conservatives.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(60)</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/STATIC%20PGS/CALL%20TO%20ARMS-60s-SERIES/A%20CALL%20TO%20ARMS-%232%20ACTUALBLOG%20ARTICLE.docx#_edn1" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Are
you getting the big picture?</b><br />Can God be resurrected and bring our nation back to its authentic
values? Yes. because we have the power if we put our mind and heart to it. Having
been given the big picture, armed with all this information and what we can do
to help, we can produce amazing results in our nation’s next generation.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW4cSqB2n5T7CoB4hlM0D_WtCFjmGcxD1t0BaBhW-zdE4FdnKaOnk03ES3J_amtf73Pi_uubeKK92FofJkmQi3P9QYjcJKpMfPbRt689oaIPOLYZgqIet9HNFCuWOOxKzA1ntKkRu5DQ/s275/CONCLUSION+%2523l8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW4cSqB2n5T7CoB4hlM0D_WtCFjmGcxD1t0BaBhW-zdE4FdnKaOnk03ES3J_amtf73Pi_uubeKK92FofJkmQi3P9QYjcJKpMfPbRt689oaIPOLYZgqIet9HNFCuWOOxKzA1ntKkRu5DQ/w157-h109/CONCLUSION+%2523l8.jpg" width="157" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I get it now!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my next blog, I will provide more suggestions on how to
change the trajectory of society’s suppression of God by using three overlooked
strategies God gave to Joshua to use with our children and grandchildren (even
those already grown). It is an effective plan and one you may have never
considered before.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Notice of when I post that blog will be announced through my
newsletter. If you wish to be included, go to <a href="http://www.janishutchinsonbooks/">www.JanisHutchinsonBooks</a> and
on the dashboard, click on “Subscribe to Newsletter.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Until next time!<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Janis</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>ENDNOTES</b></span><br /></p><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span>“The Only Thing We
Learn from History Is That We Learn Nothing from History." Scott Ashley,
Jan. 16, 2013.
https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/the-only-thing-we-learn-from-history-is-that-we-learn-nothing-from-history.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2. Dr. Charles F. Stanley, In
Touch Ministries, Inc., Daily Readings for Devoted Living, December 2020, 9.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">3. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi1pHExl6Ug" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi1pHExl6Ug</a></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">4. <span style="background: white;"> “America at the
Crossroads.” Dr. Robert Jeffress, Oct. 22, 2017. See </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvl4wOoqqt0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvl4wOoqqt0</a></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.
(Sermon begins at slider 5:20.)</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">5. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“Culture
Clash.” TBN broadcast of winningwalk.org with Dr. Ed Young.</span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">6. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In 2018, Government
Restrictions on Religion Reach Highest Level Globally in More Than a Decade</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.” Nov. 10, 2020.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.pewforum.org/2020/11/10/in-2018-government-restrictions-on-religion-reach-highest-level-globally-in-more-than-a-decade/" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.pewforum.org/2020/11/10/in-2018-government-restrictions-on-religion-reach-highest-level-globally-in-more-than-a-decade/</a></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">7. “Global restrictions on religion
reach new high,” Mya Jaradat, Nov. 10, 2020. Pew Research Report cited at
www.deseret .com.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">8. “Parents and Pastors: Partners in Gen Z Discipleship,” Research
Releases in Millennials & Generations, Barna Group, July 17, 2018,
https://www.barna.com/research/parents-and-pastors-partners
-in-gen-z-discipleship/. (my italics).</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">9. J. Warner Wallace, “Updated: Are Young People Really Leaving
Christianity,” Cold-Case Christianity</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">January
12, 2019, http://coldcasechristianity.com/2018/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/;
quoting from Josh
McDowell and David H. Bellis,</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> The Last
Christian Generation</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> (Green
Key Books, 2006). LifeWay Research says that two-thirds of the 70 percent of
all youth in mainline religions who said the church will not play a part in their
adult lives return to “some level of church involvement in their late 20s or
early 30s.” Nevertheless, the one-third remain lost to the culture.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">10. Natasha Crain, “How Sunday Schools Are Raising the Next Generation
of Secular Humanists” (blog), CrossExamined.org, January 20, 2019,
https://crossexamined.org/how-sunday-schools-are-raising-the-next-generation-of-secular-humanists/.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">11. Wallace, “Updated: Young People.” See also, Aaron Earls,
“Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults,” LifeWay Research, January
15, 2019, </span><a href="https://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults" style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">https://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults</a><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">12.
</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; letter-spacing: -0.55pt; padding: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“With Our Election System Under Assault, Americans
Need to Speak Up,” </span><span class="update" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Updated:
December 5, 2020. </span></span><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/with-our-election-system-under-assault-americans-need-to-speak-up_3605980.html?utm_source=news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-2020-12-05-2" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.theepochtimes.com/with-our-election-system-under-assault-americans-need-to-speak-up_3605980.html?utm_source=news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-2020-12-05-2</a><br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">13. <u>The political indoctrination tool of “Project 1619</u>”: It is called 1619 to commemorate
the 400<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans
in the Virginia colony in 1619. (However, slaves were in the US before 1619.)
It is already in use in school historical curricula in Washington DC, Chicago,
Newark, and New York, with hopeful plans to teach it in K-12 schools nationwide
using Federal funds. The 1619 Project’s content is rejected by prominent
historians and other scholars as being full of “poisonous errors.” It built
upon Howard Zinn’s earlier book, <i>A People’s History of the United States</i>,
that crept into the American curriculum and influenced many. Its<span style="background: white;"> basic thrust was that Americans should
be ashamed of their history, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was falsified
when it states the nation was “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.” Rather, it was “</span><span style="background: white;">conceived in oppression, born of
oppression, and has always been dedicated to oppression.” (</span>“Debunking Howard
Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation against America.”
Robert M. Whaples. The Independent Review, Vol. 24, No. 4, Spring 2020); </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y36sxcmy" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white;">https://tinyurl.com/y36sxcmy</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white;">.) </span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0.5in;">14. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_Commission#cite_note-NPR-1" style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0.5in;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_Commission#cite_note-NPR-1</a><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0.5in;">;
also, </span><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-advisory-1776-commission/" style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-advisory-1776-commission/</a><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0px;"> </span></div></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">15. “Revolution via Education”
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld, nd. </span><a href="http://blumenfeld.campconstitution.net/Articles/Revolution%20Via%20Education.pdf" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">http://blumenfeld.campconstitution.net/Articles/Revolution%20Via%20Education.pdf</a> </div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">16. Amazon blurb on </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America</span></i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span>, by Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt, September 1, 1999. </span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span>17. </span><i>How
the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World</i><span> [hereinafter, </span><i>Specter</i><span>] </span></span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">Editorial Board of "Nine Commentaries on the Communist
Party," The Epoch Times, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">September 21, 2020.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">18. The Epoch Times, reprint of excerpt
from </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Specter</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. Nov. 5-10, 2020, p. A20.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">19. “The Sordid History and Deadly
Consequences of ‘Sex Ed’ at School,” Alex Newman (The Epoch Times Nov. 5-10,
2020) A20-21.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">20. Hugh McLeod, </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The Religious Crisis of the 1960s</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2010), 265.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">21. <i>The Death of God</i>: <i>The Culture
of Our Post-Christian Era</i>, by Gabriel Vahanian (</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Publisher: George Braziller New York 1961). </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title="France"><span style="background: white;">French</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title="Protestant"><span style="background: white;">Protestant</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title="Christianity"><span style="background: white;">Christian</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theologian" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title="Theologian"><span style="background: white;">theologian</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"> who was most remembered for his pioneering work in the
theology of the "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_God" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title="Death of God"><span style="background: white;">Death of God</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">" movement within academic circles in the 1960s.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Cited at </span><a href="https://www.questia.com/library/342447/the-death-of-god-the-culture-of-our-post-christian" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.questia.com/library/342447/the-death-of-god-the-culture-of-our-post-christian</a><u style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.<br /></u><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">22</span><u>. The postmodern revolution questioned all previous assumptions of
modernism, the prevailing philosophy of the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries, that might hold back progress to the environment and the individual.
Subjection to the traditional God was seen as restricting human potential.<br /></u>23. John T. Elson, “Toward a Hidden God,” <i>Time</i>, April 8, 1966, cover.<br />24. Elson, “Toward a Hidden God,” 5.<br />25. Jules Archer, <i>The Incredible
’60s</i> (New York: Sky Pony, 2015), 164.<br />26. Hugh McLeod, <i>The Religious Crisis
of the 1960s, p 2</i>.<br />27. Francis A. Schaeffer, “A Christian Manifesto,” People for Life
(website), accessed July 17, 2019, http://www.peopleforlife.org/francis.html.<br />28. McLeod, <i>Religious Crisis</i>,
2.</div></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">29. Archer, </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The Incredible ’60s</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, 251.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">30. “What was the Religious Crisis of
the 1960s?” by Callum G. Brown; Journal of Religious History Vol. 34, No. 4,
December 2010. Cited at </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00909.x" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00909.x</a><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">31. Thomas J. J. Altizer, </span><i style="font-size: small;">The
Gospel of Christian Atheism</i><span style="font-size: small;"> (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966), quoted in
“Christian Atheism,” Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_atheism. “Every man today who is open
to experience knows that God is absent, but only the Christian knows that God
is dead, that the death of God is a final and irrevocable event, and that God’s
death has actualized in our history a new and liberated humanity.”<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">32. Nietzsche’s life (1844–1900) is complex. For an excellent discussion
of his life, see Claudia Pierpont, “After God,” </span><i style="font-size: small;">New Yorker, </i><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/04/08/after-god.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">33. Christian atheists: There are various
forms of it, but in the context of this article, it is those who do not believe
God is transcendent or intervenes in the life of individuals, but is absent
from the world. See </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_atheism" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_atheism</a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">34. “Death of God Theology,” Wikipedia, last modified May 29, 2019,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_God_theology#19th-century_philosophy.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">35. Political nihilism was also in play. It advocated that no future
improvement could be had without necessitating the destruction of all existing
governmental, social, and religious orders. See “Nihilism,” All About
Philosophy (website), accessed July 17, 2019,
https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/nihilism.htm.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">36. See excellent coverage of Abraham Maslow’s philosophy at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow#Self-actualization.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">37. The quote marks indicate a paraphrase of Francis A. Schaeffer, “A
Christian Manifesto,” address delivered in 1982 at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian
Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, http://www.peopleforlife.org/francis.html.
Humanism was defined by Schaeffer as man being the measure of all things, who
believes the ultimate reality of our world is “material or energy shaped by
pure chance” rather than God.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">38. Nietzsche’s life (1844–1900) is complex. For an excellent discussion
of his life, see Claudia Pierpont, “After God,” </span><i style="font-size: small;">New Yorker, </i><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/04/08/after-god.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">39. Helmut Thielicke, </span><i style="font-size: small;">Nihilism:
Its Origin and Nature, with a Christian Answer</i><span style="font-size: small;"> (Westport, CT: Greenwood,
1969), cited in Alan Pratt, “Nihilism,” The Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy, accessed May 25, 2019, https://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">40. Pratt, “Nihilism.”<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">41. Michael Shermer, “Is God Dead? Why Nietzsche and </span><i style="font-size: small;">Time</i><span style="font-size: small;"> Magazine Were Wrong,” </span><i style="font-size: small;">Skeptic Magazine</i><span style="font-size: small;">, 1998, 17.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">42. James Leonard Park, “Sinking into the River of Existential Despair”
(website), March 28, 2004,
https://s3.amazonaws.com/aws-website-jamesleonardpark---freelibrary-3puxk/CY-HOPE.html.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">43. There were other movements during this time, but the subject of
this article is focusing on the Death of God movement.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">44. New Age proponents, who sometimes promoted hallucinogenic and
psychedelic drugs, felt humanity and the world would be transformed by those
seeking spiritual and philosophical wisdom from wherever it could be found.
They believed in spirit guides, channeling, and all theological perspectives as
equally valid.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">45. Gallup Poll, February 1978, quoted in Marilyn Ferguson, </span><i style="font-size: small;">The Aquarian Conspiracy </i><span style="font-size: small;">(New York:
Putnam, 1980), 364.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">46. Archer, </span><i style="font-size: small;">The Incredible ’60s</i><span style="font-size: small;">,”
166.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">47.
Another example of a deceptive book was Norman Mailer’s, </span><i style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Gospel
According to the Son </i><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">(1997), with Jesus supposedly speaking in the first
person, and asserting the four gospels inaccurate, minimizing his own miracles,
and verifying there was no hypostatic union of himself and God. There were also
other books.<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">48. “God is Not Dead Yet,” </span><i style="font-size: small;">Christianity
Today</i><span style="font-size: small;">, July </span><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/" style="font-size: small;">2008</a><span style="font-size: small;">, cover.</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">49. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:13–15.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">50. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">Specter</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">51. “What Americans Must Know About
Socialism.” </span><a href="https://www.heritage.org/staff/lee-edwards" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Lee Edwards, Ph.D.</a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Dec. 3rd, 2018 </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/what-americans-must-know-about-socialism" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/what-americans-mUSt-know-about-socialism</a><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">52. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Specter<br /></i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">53</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span>. Specter<br /></span></i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">54. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Specter<br /></i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">55. </span><a href="http://www.freedomhouse.org/country/cuba" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">www.Freedomhouse.org/country/cuba</a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. This
organization is <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span><span style="background-color: white;">devoted to the
support and defense of democracy around the world and employs an analytical
methods to assess the level of freedom in each country in the world with a
numerical ranking.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">56. “Lessons from Venezuela, The Fund
for American Studies, Vol. 2. Nd.<br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">57. “I Grew Up in Communist China,
Here’s my Warning to America,” Diana Zhang, The Epoch Times, Nov. 24, 2020;
updated Nov. 25, 2020. </span><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-2020-election-a-test-for-our-freedom_3592552.html?utm_source=pushengage" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-2020-election-a-test-for-our-freedom_3592552.html?utm_source=pushengage</a><br /><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">58. “What was the Religious Crisis of
the 1960s?” by Callum G. Brown; Journal of Religious History Vol. 34, No. 4,
December 2010. Cited at </span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00909.x" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00909.x</a><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">59. Elson, “Toward a Hidden God.”</span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">60. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Liberty and Tyranny: A
Conservative Manifesto. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Mark Levin (Simon & Schuster, Inc., Threshold
Edition, 2009), 3.</span></span></div><p style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"></p></div></div></div></div></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.hypersmash.com/hostgator/" id="Jh749">Hostgator Promo</a>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-35372639117429367652020-08-06T15:17:00.038-07:002020-12-09T17:25:46.402-08:00HOLY COMMUNION: GOD'S CHANNEL FOR DIVINE HEALTH
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s180/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s0/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"><font color="#ff0000">Pastor Rhodora Howell is my guest writer this
month. She focuses on an important aspect of Holy Communion that
many Christians don’t often consider, or even comprehend. As a result, many are
missing out on a special blessing God provides for believers. She is a
dynamic preacher and teacher of God’s Word, and I’m honored to have her article
appear on my blog.</font></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-indent: 0in;"><font color="#ff0000"><p class="MsoNormal"><u>Note</u>: To sign up for my newsletter to be notified when new
articles are posted, click on this link, <a href="http://www.JanisHutchinsonBooks.com">www.JanisHutchinsonBooks.com</a>. On that page’s dashboard, click on “Subscribe
to Newsletter.” I only send them out
when a new article is posted. So, you don’t have to worry about too many emails
from me. <br /><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: 0in;">________________________________________________</span></p></font></span></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBqh1Kk6Di0cZbd_kbV2bXpDfyDOlb0Urncz0FmtYX2tGij27cea8lV-MUHsJmtECvcaCoMgKonzkxzVoE744B2PVDu86DZExSBSFX1VcCvt9kd8l9wdP6wXMdlicdr6a3lRlXna63Y/s680/RHODORA+HOWELL.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="480" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBqh1Kk6Di0cZbd_kbV2bXpDfyDOlb0Urncz0FmtYX2tGij27cea8lV-MUHsJmtECvcaCoMgKonzkxzVoE744B2PVDu86DZExSBSFX1VcCvt9kd8l9wdP6wXMdlicdr6a3lRlXna63Y/w149-h210/RHODORA+HOWELL.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pastor Rhodora Howell<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #333333; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rhodora Howell, known affectionately as "Pastor Rod," is a happy, enthusiastic Christian who loves Jesus, people, and teaching and preaching the Bible. After a career in advertising in Dallas, she pastored Divine Hope Family Church in Red Oak, Texas along with her late husband Bruce, and also led an international Christian ministry. A gifted and anointed teacher, she is now retired and serves on the pastoral board at The Sowers Ministry Church, where she shares the practical application of the Word of God. Her desire is that everyone know Jesus as their personal Lord, Savior, Healer, and Deliverer.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #333333; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><font color="#ff0000"><b style="font-size: x-large;">THE HOLY COMMUNION:<br /></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">GOD’S CHANNEL FOR DIVINE HEALTH</span></b></font></h1><p style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#444444"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is no man or woman on earth who has taken from God’s gracious hand ALL </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">that he is extending out to give us. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are suffering from the lack of receiving or taking</span></i></font></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUzkBSpgXYVBuXIj3_I-95H5qhcROBm68WrDKy6ARzoc0fpQ8_bfDDuN45Ym4v7Ii36m5nsfNRSiFZlF-WIcdhLdoRdSwD9rOOnuJd49SO6Z2hhVUTRmNG0qEuu_lZDNkxG-87-HcmTo/s323/BREAD+%2526+WINE+%25233-FREE.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="323" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUzkBSpgXYVBuXIj3_I-95H5qhcROBm68WrDKy6ARzoc0fpQ8_bfDDuN45Ym4v7Ii36m5nsfNRSiFZlF-WIcdhLdoRdSwD9rOOnuJd49SO6Z2hhVUTRmNG0qEuu_lZDNkxG-87-HcmTo/w165-h80/BREAD+%2526+WINE+%25233-FREE.png" width="165" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a young person growing up, I was
afraid to take Holy Communion!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>W</o:p>hat struck me most about it was
God’s judgment! I believed that unless I confessed ALL my sins before partaking
of the Lord’s Table, I would bring damnation upon myself . . . but what if I
forgot one? So, I tried to confess every sin to get right with God before partaking.
But after some time, I decided it was easier to just <i>not</i> have Communion.
I surely did not want God to <i>kill</i> me! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many Christians have that same
fear about bringing judgment on themselves. The average believer may have unanswered
questions and all kinds of worries. But these anxieties stem from a
misinterpretation of key verses on the subject. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This leads to my purpose for writing.
My hope is that this article will help you understand the following: </p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">what Paul meant
by “<i>fully discerning the Lord’s body</i>,” when he said to the
Corinthians: “<i>For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. (This) is the reason many
of you are weak and sick and some have even died</i>.”<br /> (1 Cor. 11:29–30);<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">how to stir up
your faith, and help you understand God’s loving heart that is expressed through
the Communion;<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">how to receive
the blessings of health and wholeness from partaking of the Holy Communion
. . . because it is <i>God’s channel for Divine Health!</i> </li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is what you will learn:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;" type="disc">
<ul><li class="MsoNormal">Who Communion
is for</li><li class="MsoNormal">How you should
prepare yourself before taking Communion</li><li class="MsoNormal">The meaning of
the bread and His body</li><li class="MsoNormal">The meaning of
the cup and His blood</li><li class="MsoNormal">Why there is
power in the act of eating and drinking</li><li class="MsoNormal">How Communion can
heal us</li><li class="MsoNormal">Proof of Communion
healings</li><li class="MsoNormal">What Paul meant
when he said some are sick and die prematurely by not rightly discerning the Lord’s
Body?</li><li class="MsoNormal">What it means
to partake unworthily</li><li class="MsoNormal">What the “double
cure” is that the Lord’s Table generates to believers</li><li class="MsoNormal">What is meant by
“proclaiming the Lord’s death until he comes,” and how doing it can defeat
Satan</li><li class="MsoNormal">Why you don’t
need a pastor to take Communion</li><li class="MsoNormal">Suggested thoughts while partaking of Holy Communion</li></ul>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal">Holy Communion is only one channel
out of many whereby God heals. There are other avenues, like prayer, faith, and
the laying on of hands, but this one, in particular, is important for our
consideration.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#2b00fe" style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </font><b style="text-transform: uppercase;"><font color="#2b00fe">WHO IS
COMMUNION FOR?<br /></font></b><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;">?</span></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal">Communion is for believers—those
who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. When partaking of the Lord’s Table
we are instructed to “remember Jesus” and <i>what</i> His death made available
to us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is what it means to “discern”
the body of Christ. It is very important that we understand this because Communion
is all about <i>Him</i>, not you or me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yet, at the same time, the Lord’s Table is also for our benefit. That’s why Jesus commanded us to observe it. God ordained Communion not as a ritual to be observed, but also as a blessing to be received—the blessing of health and wholeness through Communion with him. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#2b00fe">HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE YOURSELF
TO TAKE COMMUNION?</font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="266" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ikyDNCKqKz1Rx37EXhg4TfTfFpmNn_DvNFureDb1tOpL_3GY1E0694BlIPbDUOd3ZRAEddAOMwIC8c5lFQFpH79tvg3Am7YIK7wbOxnRpOm0OthTY1_ZVPsKJMA5zFL6M4G6JaXLxkY/w109-h78/PRAYER+-+HANDS+CLASPED.jpg" width="109" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two tasks are involved:<i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i>First</i>, every believer should search his or her own heart every
day—ask the Lord to bring to your remembrance any sin in your life, whether by
commission or omission. As soon as something comes to mind, repent, and choose
to turn from that behavior and ask the Father to forgive you in Jesus’ Name. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i>Second</i>, if there is something you need to make right with another
person, ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to do so. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Now, having done that, you are
ready to receive Holy Communion.</i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#2b00fe"><b style="text-transform: uppercase;">The meaning
of the bread AND HIS BODY</b></font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font color="#2b00fe"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2HCuIsYNk5vZC1KpvedVav28vwvq9VDixh8obS_v7uGbVm2-xOykRI5J8zJX7C8st9sPNI7hhPceib3TwbfkaH9WfgLiwvk9tLRb-MwHy6pvQiSIKAsWew2_qisxpX_DtR9QYYo6yAg/s800/BREAD+%2526+CUP+%25232-FREE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2HCuIsYNk5vZC1KpvedVav28vwvq9VDixh8obS_v7uGbVm2-xOykRI5J8zJX7C8st9sPNI7hhPceib3TwbfkaH9WfgLiwvk9tLRb-MwHy6pvQiSIKAsWew2_qisxpX_DtR9QYYo6yAg/w107-h71/BREAD+%2526+CUP+%25232-FREE.jpg" width="107" /></a></div></span></font></div><div style="text-align: left;">Growing up as a Christian, I was
taught that the two elements of Communion, “body and blood,” should be lumped
together. So, I used to believe that both were for the forgiveness of my sins. </div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">God has since shown me that they
should <i>not</i> be treated as one. The reason there are <i>two</i> elements is because there is a two-fold application in Holy Communion. The <i>cup</i>,
which is His blood, is for our forgiveness. The <i>bread</i>, which is His body,
is for our healing. </p><p class="MsoNormal">As you hold the bread in your
hand, <i>you are coming in touch with the greatest expression of God’s love</i>!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2aOuI1def7uKyF3KCydHaYYjl9ss0kHuI9AyO3x_zL6t8tX5MKyOFv6rDa-YUpxbTcqhkEKaKB4ypZCbjuuiG_pYkTtWcTB97bojw6rIfHIUePcLZVk3mCNlnKSVRG9coxmr9JZ3uBs/s800/BREAD+%2526+CROSS-FREE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2aOuI1def7uKyF3KCydHaYYjl9ss0kHuI9AyO3x_zL6t8tX5MKyOFv6rDa-YUpxbTcqhkEKaKB4ypZCbjuuiG_pYkTtWcTB97bojw6rIfHIUePcLZVk3mCNlnKSVRG9coxmr9JZ3uBs/w134-h101/BREAD+%2526+CROSS-FREE.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">This love made Jesus endure the
cruel stripes on His back and subject His body to be beaten, bruised, and broken
so that your body can be made whole. He made this provision for our healing: “<i>He
was beaten so we could be made whole</i> . . . (Isa. 53:5) and “<i>by his
stripes we were healed”</i> (1 Pet. 2:24). </p><p class="MsoNormal">The bread (Matzah, a flatbread
eaten during the Jewish Passover) is a good object lesson of what Jesus’ body symbolizes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Mishnah, or Jewish oral laws,
give instructions on the preparation of this bread. It was to be unleavened,
baked, pierced with holes, striped, and no leaven was to be used. Today, Jewish
rabbis do not know <i>why</i> the bread has to be prepared this way. But the
scriptures reveal why. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Jesus’ body was also pierced. He bore
those merciless stripes on His back so that our bodies might be made whole. And
he had “no leaven” in him (leaven represents sin). Jesus was the perfect,
sinless Son of God. That is why he was able to take our sins upon Himself. </p><p class="MsoNormal">There was no need to tell the
disciples what Jesus meant when he said, “<i>Take eat; this is my body</i>.” They
knew (with even more certainty later) that he was imparting His life, His health,
and His wholeness to their bodies through their Last Supper with him because Jesus
was a healer! Taking the bread meant ingesting His health into their mortal
bodies. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Jesus was never sick. The disciples
were with him every day, and not once did they see Him sick. He did not come
down with the flu, fever, or a stomachache. he never had to say to them, “Can
one of you preach the Sermon on the Mount for me? I don’t feel up to it today.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">No. Jesus was vibrant, full of
life and health. When those with withered hands and crippled feet were brought
to Him, they were made perfectly whole when they touched Jesus. His body was so
filled with life that even His clothes were soaked with His health. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The 5th chapter of Mark tells us about
a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years and came to Jesus. She knew He was
her only hope (Mark 5:25-34). </p><p class="MsoNormal">She had spent all her money and suffered
many things from various physicians, and was no better, but instead became
worse. Yet, with just one touch of the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was
immediately healed of her affliction. No wonder Luke said, “And the whole multitude
sought to touch Him, for power went out <i>from</i> Him and healed them <i>all</i>”
(Luke 6:19). Luke was a doctor. If a doctor says this, you know it is for real. </p><p class="MsoNormal">If the hem of His garment could be
so soaked with His health, can you imagine the abundance of life and vitality
within His body? This is included for us at Communion when we “rightly discern His
body.” </p><p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><font color="#2b00fe">How do we know the bread represents
healing</font></u><b><font color="#2b00fe">?</font><u><br /></u></b>When Jesus spoke to the Syro-Phoenician
woman, a gentile, who asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter, he
called healing “the children’s <i>bread/</i>” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">But Jesus
said to her, “<i>Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs</i>.” And she answered and said
to Him, “<i>Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the
children’s crumbs</i>” (Mark 7:26-28). (“Children” means Israel, not Gentiles.) </p><p class="MsoNormal">So, “bread” refers to the “healing”
she was asking for. And what do the “little dogs” refer to? They refer to non-Jews or Gentiles like herself. Jesus was actually saying that healing was only for
God’s covenant people, and not for Gentiles (they were included in the covenant
later). </p><p class="MsoNormal">When you partake of the Bread in <i>this</i>
spirit of faith, something happens to your body. You become strong, healthy and
you will live long. In contrast, those who do not discern His body “eat and
drink judgment on themselves” (1 Cor. 11:29). If you want Jesus’ healing, you
must make sure you discern all aspects of His body when you come to the Lord’s
Table, make sure you discern His body. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Jesus broke the bread with his disciples
because His body was going to be broken both for them. It was also broken for
you, so your body could be made whole. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But the blood means something
different . . .<b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#2b00fe">THE MEANING OF THE CUP AND HIS
BLOOD<br /></font></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA6kS7uYQiQIsMI86HMcmuGQ_myiGKhuoP2rrHjvPR4lRI46g5QMbeHKBK7BzzJiwPnVEFoWmopYjpwozI29QZabWvtw4VL_U9Y9SgykFmaBqeVB0LwlEQxeZqW3K9eCYcp-amidfbHY/s612/CUP+%25233-FREE.jpg" style="display: inline; font-weight: bold; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="612" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA6kS7uYQiQIsMI86HMcmuGQ_myiGKhuoP2rrHjvPR4lRI46g5QMbeHKBK7BzzJiwPnVEFoWmopYjpwozI29QZabWvtw4VL_U9Y9SgykFmaBqeVB0LwlEQxeZqW3K9eCYcp-amidfbHY/w129-h91/CUP+%25233-FREE.jpg" width="129" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;">When you drink the cup, Paul’s epistles
make it very clear in both Colossians and Ephesians that the blood of Jesus brings
“forgiveness of sins:” </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">… in
whom (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, <i>the forgiveness of sins</i>
(Col. 1:14). </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">In Him
we have redemption through His blood, the <i>forgiveness of sins</i>, according
to the riches of His grace<i> </i>(Eph. 1:7). </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Because the Son of God paid the
penalty for your sins with His spotless blood, you can go scot-free when you
put your trust in His blood to save you. When you partake of the water, grape
juice, or wine, and discern this, you can <i>know</i> you are forgiven and have
been made righteous. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But there’s more . . . </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Discerning his body and blood also
makes you <u>forever</u> righteous. That is, holy, and blameless in God’s eyes
through Jesus, our Mediator. This is why you can come <i>boldly</i> into His
presence, and you can be sure he hears your prayers: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b><sup><span style="background: white;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white;">So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will
receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Heb.
4:16)</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><font color="#2b00fe">Why can we assume taking of the
communion will heal us</font></u><b><font color="#2b00fe">? </font><br /></b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">T</span>he answer is because it is God’s nature to heal<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.</span> When Jesus walked on earth, most of
his miracles were in the area of healing. The Bible says that Jesus “…<i>went
about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was
with Him</i>” (Acts 10:38). He did so because it was his nature to heal . . . and
still is. </p><p class="MsoNormal">He did not walk on water all the
time . . . he did not calm storms all the time . . . but he <u>healed all the
time</u>! </p><p class="MsoNormal">Bible scholars estimate that about
2.5 million Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land, healed, healthy, and
whole. He made sure that none of them were sick. Psalm 105:37 says, “He also
brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His
tribes.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">That is God’s will for His people
today—all healed, healthy, and whole. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Celebrating Jesus and discerning his
unspeakable, immeasurable gifts through his body and blood release your faith
to receive His health and wholeness in exchange for your sickness and disease. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Next to being saved from hell, Divine
Health is the greatest blessing we can have here on earth. Without it, there is
no way we can enjoy the blessings of God. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Some might say, “No, I don’t agree—it
would be greater if I had lots of money. Then I could do so many things.” Well,
there are people who have lots of money, and they are sick—flat on their back
and unable to enjoy their money or the things they bought. If someone is on his
deathbed, I don’t think he would say, “I wish I had one more million.”<b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#2b00fe">WHY DID PAUL SAY SOME ARE SICK
AND DIE PREMATURELY BY </font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#2b00fe">NOT DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY?<br /><br /></font></b></div>The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Corinthian
church, said, “<i>For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks
judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For <u>this reason,</u>
many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep</i>.” Sleep means death, not
bodily rest. (1 Cor. 11:29-30) <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Paul said the above to the
Corinthians, he did not say there were “many” reasons. He was pointing us to
one “singular” reason why Christians become weak, sick, and die before their
time. And “this” reason was clear . . . not discerning the Lord’s body. </p><p class="MsoNormal">So, the reason many of the Corinthians
were becoming weak and sick was their failure to discern the Lord’s body. That is,
they did not comprehend <i>why</i> they were partaking when they came to the Table.
They didn’t discern what Jesus’ body was all about. This was the reason they
were not receiving the divine life of their Savior which infuses health,
causing them to be weak and sick, and to die prematurely. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, it follows that if we <i>do</i>
discern the Lord’s Body, we will <i>generally</i> walk in His health and
wholeness. I say “generally,” because it doesn’t include a violent virus that
may attack and kill those who are faithful Christians. Covid-19 is an example. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Christians should study the
Corinthians passage so they can walk in divine health. After all, Paul singled
out this one reason as the cause of sickness and, ultimately, premature death for
many Christians. </p><p class="MsoNormal">However, it seems most people in the
Body of Christ chooses to focus on food and exercise as the key to living a healthy
life. In fact, one of the best-selling themes in Christian bookstores today is food.
There are all kinds of books on what to eat and what not to eat. I’m not
knocking these books. They have their place. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But, for example, some people think
they will walk in divine health if they are on a Mediterranean diet since that
was Jesus’ diet. But the majority of people Jesus healed were on a Mediterranean
diet. They never had pork or prawns or any high-cholesterol stuff. Yet, they
were still sick because natural solutions can only go so far. God, of course,
has provided food for us, and we should use wisdom on what we eat. So, by all
means, eat well and exercise. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But what I am saying, is that God
does not want us to focus on food or exercise as the <i>main</i> key to divine health.
He does not want us to put our <i>sole</i> trust in natural means to stay healthy.
2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal…” </p><p class="MsoNormal">The early church took God at His
Word. That is why “… <i>they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers</i>.” In Acts 2:43,46,
we read that they “broke bread” from house to house, and many signs and wonders
were done through the Apostles because they discerned Jesus’ body and blood. It
is no wonder they experienced God’s power, not only in themselves but also when
they healed others. </p><p class="MsoNormal">God ordained the Holy Communion as
a “key channel” of health and wholeness for his people. Although the body of
Christ today understands the importance of doctrine, fellowship, and prayer, <i>few</i>
in the church truly understand the significance of the breaking of bread or Holy
Communion. That is why many are weak and sick and die before their time. </p><p class="MsoNormal">It is one of God’s great passions to
see members of the Body of Christ receive every single thing that our Savior
suffered and died to give us, and to comprehend this fully. God wants to restore
the true meaning and power of Holy Communion to the church so that his people,
through <i>rightly</i> discerning his body when they come to the Table, will
reap benefits. </p><p class="MsoNormal">When God’s people are correctly
taught about how healing is dispensed in the Communion, health and wholeness
will follow. It will add years to our lives, and life to our years. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><font color="#2b00fe">Is there proof today of healing
through Communion</font></u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><b><font color="#2b00fe">? </font> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtgXU48bcgQZGHFw4Eh9inlw1xZxDex1il-nVnYlmpHPpncsBpxknpWl8OBRwMiQ9s7d5pix-Ay85Iucu1q3_4X9RSFJ8h9bKeMlcMHgM7gApUMl8f0DxQi62JLdAGiDMNPnBC7lb180/s612/HAPPY+PERSON+%25236-FREE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtgXU48bcgQZGHFw4Eh9inlw1xZxDex1il-nVnYlmpHPpncsBpxknpWl8OBRwMiQ9s7d5pix-Ay85Iucu1q3_4X9RSFJ8h9bKeMlcMHgM7gApUMl8f0DxQi62JLdAGiDMNPnBC7lb180/w161-h107/HAPPY+PERSON+%25236-FREE.jpg" width="161" /></a></span></div>I heard the following testimony of
Pastor Barabas Mam of Cambodia, whom God saved from many life-threatening situations
when the Khmer Rouge were slaughtering their own countrymen in the 1970s: <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Due to the
impoverishing conditions, Pastor Mam developed chronic physical conditions,
including low blood sugar and calcium levels, insomnia, and rheumatoid arthritis. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">It was
such a cruel irony that God’s man of faith and power, with a ministry
accompanied by signs and wonders, had difficulty sleeping every night. he had
to take sedatives and tranquilizers, and they did not always work. His
grandchildren would massage his swollen joints, racked with pain from arthritis.
Pastor Man’s knees and feet gave the most trouble, especially after standing preaching
for two hours. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">One
morning, desperate after yet another sleepless night, he listened to a tape on health
and wholeness through Holy Communion. As he listened, faith grew in his heart. He
immediately prepared and partook the elements at home. That night, he slept
like a baby. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">The next
morning was Sunday. He stood up in church and shared on the power of the Lord’s
Body to bring health when we receive Communion. After standing for hours, he had
no pain in his feet. He was totally healed of chronic rheumatoid arthritis! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">His
strength began to increase. he got a checkup from the doctor before traveling
to Malaysia and discovered his calcium and sugar levels were normal. Later, he
had another checkup, and everything was normal. Brother Mam’s healing was so
amazing, his wife said she had a new husband. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Brother
Mann went about preaching this message, he received many testimonies from
people healed of all kinds of debilitating conditions after having Holy
Communion. A lady on his staff was healed of longstanding migraine headaches when
she partook of the Lord’s Supper. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We need to recognize that the Holy
Spirit is God’s channel of health and wholeness for His people, and teach the
church to rightly discern the Lord’s body when they come to His Table. If this
is done in the right manner, God’s people will be healthy and strong!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSZVLKiNGHePGQ3ESJ4HTigDv5wsGXotLMZaEn6wDNFkxkDkeL0k6jZju7yHxlxW_xd36SeFwIJpM0Dn3e0Ppj4LrEUqGJveeIT-WHpSPbnVq0C4jeuW3nV_iics5RCZaDyQOdcdgFp4/s612/HAPPY+PERSON+%25235-FREE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSZVLKiNGHePGQ3ESJ4HTigDv5wsGXotLMZaEn6wDNFkxkDkeL0k6jZju7yHxlxW_xd36SeFwIJpM0Dn3e0Ppj4LrEUqGJveeIT-WHpSPbnVq0C4jeuW3nV_iics5RCZaDyQOdcdgFp4/w161-h107/HAPPY+PERSON+%25235-FREE.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; text-transform: uppercase;">The
Lord’s Supper Brings the “Double Cure”<br /><br /></b></div>The blood and the body have two different
applications. This is consistent throughout the Bible. It is what hymn writers
of old called the “double cure,” as sung in the original version of <i>Rock of
Ages.</i> What is the “double cure?” It is a double blessing we receive through
the body and blood of Christ. The blood was for forgiveness, and the body and
bread were for divine health and strength. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">David described the double cure
this way: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who <i>forgives</i> all your
iniquities (sins), who <i>heals</i> all your diseases (Ps 103:2-3). </p><p class="MsoNormal">The prophet Isaiah said, <i>“</i>Surely
he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows<i>…”</i> (Isa. 53:4). Young’s
Literal Translation of the Bible provides a more accurate translation for the
words, “griefs” and “sorrows.” It states: “<i>Surely our sicknesses he has borne,
and our pains he has carried them</i>!” Similarly, in the Gospel of Matthew,
this verse was interpreted as “<i>He Himself took our infirmities and bore our
sicknesses</i>” (Matt 8:17). </p><p class="MsoNormal">In the Greek, “infirmities” (<i>asthenia</i>)
means bodily weaknesses. So, we can see very clearly that Isaiah was saying the
Messiah would take upon his own body, <i>our</i> bodily weaknesses, sicknesses, and pains. In other words, Jesus bore not just our sins, but also our bodily weaknesses,
sicknesses, and pains. </p><p class="MsoNormal">When Jesus took our punishment on
the cross, it did not just bring us forgiveness by the <i>blood</i>, it also
brought us healing through discerning and partaking of his <i>body</i>. Healing,
like forgiveness, is the blood-bought “right” of Christians. They go hand in
hand. The faith you have for forgiveness is the same faith that will bring your
healing. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Jesus
took the bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples and
said, “Take, eat, this is my body which is given <i>for you</i>; do this in
remembrance of Me.” And he took the cup and gave thanks for it, saying, “Drink
ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for<i>
many</i> for the remission of sins.” </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq8BCq5rWBsRP-29y2vXy5FZJ1JMW1vEKTiivUFkQE3fHYZJqJEN4_vh2B8CU6CiwpL66-BwYjEuNHBXlYZKNprmGhHB4hv93kQns2mwVrCi-2D5GR-1j6Km-RkTxY0JdkHsmW304R3A/s800/JESUS+HOLDING+BREAD+%2526+WINE-FREE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq8BCq5rWBsRP-29y2vXy5FZJ1JMW1vEKTiivUFkQE3fHYZJqJEN4_vh2B8CU6CiwpL66-BwYjEuNHBXlYZKNprmGhHB4hv93kQns2mwVrCi-2D5GR-1j6Km-RkTxY0JdkHsmW304R3A/w134-h89/JESUS+HOLDING+BREAD+%2526+WINE-FREE.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><u>A testimony of healing through the Holy Communion <br /></u></span>When you believe and rightly discern
the Lord’s body, you will experience miraculous healings and wholeness when you
partake of the Holy Communion. Joe Prince tells the story of his church member,
Albert. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">The
doctors told Albert his 75-year-old mother had a 3 cm cancerous growth in her rectum.
A few days before surgery, two leaders of Albert’s church led his mother to the
Lord. The operation went well and she was discharged within days. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Months later,
she was re-admitted for follow-up surgery to close the stoma. Complications
resulted in three more operations, and her body began to react negatively. Her
condition deteriorated and the doctor informed the family to prepare for the
worst within the next three days. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Albert
knew the faithfulness of God, and had a strong urge to have Holy Communion with
his mother. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">He believed
that when partaking of the Lord’s body there is an infusion of His
incorruptible life into our bodies. he gathered his doubting family and took the
communion elements to his unconscious mother in ICU. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Albert prayed
in the Spirit, building himself up in his faith. Then he declared out loud that
by Jesus’ stripes and His broken body, his mother <i><u>is</u> </i>healed. he placed a
small crumb in her mouth and poured in a little grape juice. Albert felt a sweet
and strong presence of God in the room, knew somehow that his mother had been healed.
he left with peace in his heart. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Nothing
happened until the morning of the 3rd day, when the nurse called, to tell
Albert that his mother had regained consciousness. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Within a
week, all tubes were removed and she was eating again. Soon she was home, helping
her daughter bake cookies. She spends her days witnessing to relatives and
friends about Jesus and her spectacular miracle received during Holy Communion.
When her family partook of the Lord’s Supper with her, the resurrection life of
Jesus filled her body!<b><u><o:p> </o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><b><font color="#2b00fe">Healing through the Holy Communion
may be gradual </font></b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><b><br /></b></span></u>Healing through Holy Communion is
often a gradual process. As you partake, you will get better over time. The
more often you partake, the better you get when you claim by faith the full
benefits of His broken body for yourself. At first, it may seem like nothing is
happening. As you continue in faith, healing <i><u>will</u></i> come – maybe
not in a spectacular way, but still, it will be supernatural.<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-transform: uppercase;"><font color="#2b00fe">The Power
Of “Proclaiming the Lord’s Death” <br />OVERCOMEs ATTACKS BY SATAN<br /><br /></font></b></div>Paul said: “<i><span style="background: white;">For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes</span></i><span style="background: white;">” (1 Cor. 11:26).</span><b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">While proclaiming by partaking of
the Communion is a re-telling and remembering of what Jesus did for you, there
is a lesser-known aspect of proclaiming—that of using it as a tool against Satan
when he attacks your body with sickness or other afflictions. </p><p class="MsoNormal">In that instance, “Who,
specifically, are you to proclaim it to?” We proclaim it to Satan’s “principalities
and powers”: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b><sup><span style="background: white;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white;">For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against <u>principalities</u>,
against <u>powers</u>, against the <u>rulers of the darkness</u> of this world,
against <u>spiritual wickedness</u> in high places<i> </i>(Eph. 6:12).</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately, Paul let us know that
Jesus was victorious over them: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Having
disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them in it (Col. 2:15). </p><p class="MsoNormal">When we “remember” Jesus’ death, we
are also proclaiming to evil principalities and powers that they have been
disarmed because Jesus triumphed over them. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is a testimony confirming the
power of proclaiming: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Some
years back, a couple had a house that most people would call “haunted.” It is
more accurate to say that there were demons hanging around that place. This is
not uncommon because demons usually congregate in places where tragic accidents
have taken place. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">One
tenant felt spooked because his family said they saw “a figure moving around in
the house.” Two pastors and a deacon went to the house and took the Lord’s Supper
there. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">When you
have Holy Communion, you are proclaiming to demon spirits that Jesus reigns. And
when you release your faith in the finished, complete and perfect work of Jesus
at the cross, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Every
demon has to flee (James 4:7). </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">They
proclaimed the power of the Lord’s death and Jesus’ triumph over all
principalities and powers, and that house was cleansed of demons. There were no
more problems. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><font color="#2b00fe">You
Don’t Need A Pastor To take COMMUNION<br /><br /></font></span></b></div>Jesus told us to have Communion often. So,
there must be something powerful about it. Do you think he would make us do
something often without having our blessing in mind? <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Is this valid? Yes, because once
you are a believer, you are a priest: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="background: white;">You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own
possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called
you out of the darkness into his wonderful light (</span>1 Pet. 2:9).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Therefore, you can partake of the Lord’s
Supper by yourself and even minister it to others. You don’t need a pastor to
do it. Pastors in the church do it because they are the spiritual authority over
the people, and there must be order in how they conduct things. But outside the
church, you, as a royal priest, are qualified to partake on your own in your own
home, or those of others. Do as Jesus said – have it often. </p><p class="MsoNormal">How often? As often as you need to.
It depends on how much you want His health and wholeness. If you’re sick, I
recommend you have Communion daily. I heard of some people who are so radical
that they take it like medicine—three times a day. And you know what? They get radical results! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><font color="#2b00fe">Don’t be fearful to partake</font><br />
</u></b>As I mentioned earlier when I was a
young Christian I was told, “Don’t come to the Lord’s Table if you have sin in
your life because if you are unworthy and partake, you are guilty of the body
and blood and will drink judgment to yourself. At that time, I was not sure
what all that meant, but it was enough to scare me. </p><p class="MsoNormal">From then on, I always worried, “Is
there some sin I have not confessed?” It is not that I was living in sin. I just
did not want to risk it. Judgment might fall on me. So, I chose not to partake,
just to be safe. Every time the elements of the Communion were passed to me, I
just passed them on. I thought I was better off <i>not</i> partaking. But by
not coming to the Lord’s Table, I was robbing myself of God’s source of health,
healing, and blessing for me. </p><p class="MsoNormal">God made it truly easy for his
people to walk in divine health. We just need to come to His Table, put our
faith in his broken body for our healing, and partake. It is so simple, yet so
powerful. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The devil has tried to steal this
truth from the church by making them believe they are unworthy. Legalistic and erroneous
teachings are damaging because it keeps us from receiving what God has for us. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #2b00fe; text-transform: uppercase;">What DOES
it mean to partake unworthily?<br /><br /></b></div>Paul said the following—which is
often misinterpreted: <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Wherefore
whosoever shall eat of this bread, and drink of this cup of the Lord, <i>unworthily</i>,
shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the cup. For he who
eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord’s body (1 Cor. 11:27-29). </p><p class="MsoNormal">We need to get one thing straight.
The word “unworthily” is an adverb, which means it modifies the verb “eat” and “drink.”
Therefore, “unworthily” describes the <u>action</u> of eating and drinking. It is
NOT describing the PERSON who is eating and drinking. </p><p class="MsoNormal">So, Paul was NOT saying that if
you are an unworthy “person” do not partake. Yet, the church has somehow
misconstrued that teaching and now, Christians are saying, If YOU are unworthy,
don’t partake.” They further caution with a quote: <i>“If you have sin
in your life, don’t come to the Lord’s Table lest you become weak and sick, and
die prematurely.”</i> They have turned something that is meant to be a blessing
into a curse. </p><p class="MsoNormal">All of us who come to the Lord’s
Table are unworthy, but we are <u><i>made</i></u> worthy by acknowledging the breaking
of his body for us, and his blood that has already forgiven us our sins. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Jesus’ death “qualifies” us to
partake. Paul was NOT saying that we should not partake if WE are unworthy. he was
saying that we should not partake in an unworthy <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">manner</span>. </p><p class="MsoNormal">So, what does it mean to partake
unworthily? It means, if you fail to
discern or understand the significance of the Lord’s body, you are eating and
drinking in an unworthy manner. Without this discernment, the Lord’s Supper
will end up being just a ritual. This is why Paul said, “<i>let a man examine
himself.</i>” Although it can mean one needs to repent of sins, it also means
to examine yourself to see if you are discerning the Communion rightly. </p><p class="MsoNormal">This is what the Corinthians were
doing. They were partaking unworthily because they were treating the communion
as a ritual. They did not understand the <i>significance</i> of the bread. They
did not know WHY they were partaking. They also failed to recognize that the
broken body of the Lord was meant to bring them health and wholeness. Nowhere
does it say that Paul told them to examine themselves to see if there was sin
in their lives and that this would be the governing factor whether they could partake
or not. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The <i>manner</i> in which we partake
is the key. This is what determines whether we experience the benefits of the
Lord’s body or not. If our attitude is, “It’s just a piece of bread,” then that
is what it will be. But we will have robbed ourselves of the bread’s life-giving
effects, and making His work of the cross ineffective and powerless. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-transform: uppercase;"><font color="#2b00fe">SATAN Is No Match For Those Who Believe In The <br />Power Of COMMUNION<br /></font> </b></div>I believe that for a long time, the
devil has tried to blind the church to the power of the Lord’s body. “<span style="background: white;">Stay alert!” Peter said. “Watch out for your great
enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to
devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).</span> But he is no match for those who have faith in the
power of Jesus’ broken body. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is an example of overcoming a
spiritual attack through partaking of the Lord’s Supper: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Suwen, an
Asian Christian lady in her twenties was part of a group flying to Israel when
she experienced an attack from Satan. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">She
developed deep vein thrombosis during the flight to Israel. This is a rare
condition that results from a blood clot in a deeply situated vein in the thigh
or leg. It’s called “economy class syndrome” because some people develop this
condition when the seats are cramped and humidity is low. If the clot makes
it’s to the lung, it can cause respiratory failure, which can result in death. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Suwen
felt pain in her right calf during the flight. As she was getting off the
plane, Suwen suddenly collapsed. Her eyes rolled up and she started foaming at
the mouth. The airline personnel called for an ambulance to take her to the
hospital. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">On the
way to the hospital, her heart suddenly stopped. The clot had traveled from her
leg to her heart and finally to her lungs, causing cardiac arrest. When the
ambulance reached the hospital, she had already turned blue. They wheeled her
to the accidents and emergency ward where they tried to resuscitate her. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">The doctors
asked for Suwen’s next of kin because they believed she was not going to survive.
They were about to pronounce her dead, but miraculously, after a last-ditch
account, they managed to revive her heart. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">However,
Suwen was in critical condition. The clot made breathing difficult. She was
unconscious with tubes running through her nose and throat. The doctors
monitored Suwen closely, fearing the clot might bring about respiratory
failure. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">That
evening her husband, sister, and brother-in-law, who were all firm believers in
the power of the Lord’s body to bring healing partook of the Lord’s Supper together,
speaking health and wholeness to her body. Suwen’s family knew this was not the
work of God, but an attack of the devil. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Her
condition worsened over the next few days. Suwen’s pastor and elders arrived at
the hospital and also partook of Holy Communion with her, and pronounced the
benefits of the Lord’s broken body upon her. They were confident that by partaking,
health and wholeness would come upon Suwen. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">The next
day, Suwen regained consciousness. The doctors, keeping a close watch on the clot,
could no longer find it! They did not
know what to think and dared not be too optimistic. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">Doctors
continued their close observation of Suwen day after day, but were unable to
find the clot. She started getting stronger, and after a week was discharged. </p><p class="MsoNormal">In the midst of an intense spiritual
attack, we will experience victory when we believe that what Jesus did on the
cross is greater than any attack of the devil. Once we realize how much Jesus
suffered so our bodies can be made whole, we will be confident that partaking
of His broken body will bring healing and health to our bodies. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Isaiah predicted this: “<span style="background: white;">He was beaten <u>so we could be made whole</u>” (Isa.
53:5).</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember that God wants you to “<i>prosper
in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers</i>” (3 Jn. 1:2). </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-transform: uppercase;"><font color="#2b00fe">suggested
thoughts while Partaking Of The Holy Communion<br /><br /></font></b></div>As you receive the elements, do
not be in a hurry. This is not a ritual. This is your time to receive healing
in your body. You are about to <i>personally experience afresh</i>, <i>Jesus’ love
for you</i>. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hear Him say to you, “Take, eat. This
is my body, which is broken for YOU.” See Jesus’ eyes burning with love as he says
to you, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for YOU.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">Visualize the Lord carrying all
your sins in his body on the cross, and also taking on his body your physical conditions.
If you have a tumor, picture the tumor on his body. Whatever disease you might
have, see it on his body. It is no longer on you. The scriptures confirm this: “Surely
he bore your sins and carried your diseases” (Isa. 53:4). </p><p class="MsoNormal">See His health come upon you. As
you partake, release your faith in the bread and wine. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Hold the bread in your hand and
say to yourself: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">“Thank
You Jesus for your broken body. It is for my healing, my spouse’s healing, and my
children’s healing. Thank you that by your stripes, by the beatings you bore,
by the lashes that fell on your back, we are completely healed. I believe and I
receive.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">Take the cup in your hand and say: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">“Thank
You Jesus, for the new covenant cut in your blood. Your blood has brought me
forgiveness and washed me from every sin. I thank You that Your blood has made
me righteous. As I drink, I celebrate and partake of the inheritance of the
righteous, which is preservation, healing, wholeness, and prosperity.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is one of the many channels
whereby healing and wholeness can be obtained. While there are others, this one
is very powerful.<span style="color: red;"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>The very act of eating and drinking, <br />and realizing God’s great love in providing forgiveness and healing for us, <br />draws us closer to him and enhances our faith to believe more strongly <br />for what the scriptures tell us he has provided for us.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUvRTMkP0TExeDCCq1KebsHAv4j6gblbEs-9zoAJCoV06Er3e4KWFOSgWov_5hyphenhyphenxN6MnsQJx7Af3D5TvzFbiaSc_UlfY-GBrYUzqSyc98uSoC385029puAh6-k5FCuwCNo5fo_jwN1wM/s255/REMEMBER+ME.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUvRTMkP0TExeDCCq1KebsHAv4j6gblbEs-9zoAJCoV06Er3e4KWFOSgWov_5hyphenhyphenxN6MnsQJx7Af3D5TvzFbiaSc_UlfY-GBrYUzqSyc98uSoC385029puAh6-k5FCuwCNo5fo_jwN1wM/w130-h101/REMEMBER+ME.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">END</p><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.hypersmash.com/hostgator/" id="Jh749">Hostgator Promo</a>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">When Christ comes, the scriptures tell us that
he will appear in the brightness of God’s glory, meaning with a luminous body
so intensely bright that Saul of Tarsus, who experienced it only for a brief
moment, was blinded by it. (Acts 9)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If that happened to Saul, how can we expect to
withstand that same kind of brightness at Jesus' Second Coming?</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although this was published on my blog six years ago, it is back by popular demand. </span><br />
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<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SURVIVING THE BRIGHTNESS OF CHRIST’S GLORY: THE LAW OF RESONANCE AND ATTUNEMENT</span></span></b></div>
<h3 style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How will you withstand the brightness of Christ’s Second Coming </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">if Saul of Tarsus was blinded by it?</span></i></b></span></h3>
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<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The enablement to withstand or not withstand
Christ’s brightness is based on a scientific principle no different than
those that govern our universe—the <i>Law of Resonance and
Attunement. </i>Without
the understanding of how this law works you may get the surprise of your life;
and that’s putting it mildly. It alone determines whether or not you will
be blinded as was Saul, or worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The blinding brilliance that will emanate from
Jesus when He comes, according to the Greek word <i>apaugasma</i><sup>(1)</sup><i> </i>is
that of a luminous body so full of resplendent Light and Truth that Paul
described that glory as <i>beyond</i> the brightness of the sun. Take
a look at the sun on a sunny day—you don’t dare stare directly into it or you
will damage your eyes, and Christ's glory is beyond that! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This first became apparent when God appeared on
Mt. Sinai and Moses asked to see Him "in his glory" (this was
different from other encounters God had with Moses where God <i>withheld</i> his glory).<sup>(12)</sup> Sinful
man would die if he beheld it all, so Jehovah had to hide Moses in the cleft of
a rock and shield him with His "hand" (<i>an anthropomorphic metaphor</i>) to keep him from looking upon his <i>full</i> glory. He only allowed Moses to see
Him from behind, after He passed by.<sup>(2)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fearful Israelites who were watching from
below said God’s presence was like a “<i>devouring fire.</i>”<sup>(3)</sup> For
that reason, Isaiah warned: “<i>Who among us shall dwell with the consuming
fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” </i><sup>(4)</sup><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we were suddenly thrown into the fullness of
God’s glorious presence, I imagine it would be like being dropped onto the
fiery surface of the sun—we wouldn’t last a nanosecond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thus, we can see why God told Moses, “<i>No man
can see My face and live</i>.”<sup>(5)</sup> Face, not a physical face, but meaning
his full glorified <i>essence</i>, which in
man's fallen state would be too much for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, how are we expected to survive at his
Coming? 1 John 3:1-2 tells us how we will:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Beloved, now are we the sons [children] of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be <u>like him</u>;
for we shall see him as he is.<sup> KJV </sup></i>And everyone who really believes this will try
to stay pure because Christ is pure. <sup>1 Jn. 3:1-2 LNT</sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That means those who will be able to withstand
the brightness of his glorious coming, of necessity, will have to be <i>like</i> Him
so as not to be blinded or suffer detrimental effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, if the solution to withstand his solar-like
brightness and gaze upon Him is to be “<i>like”</i> Him, this begs the
question: <i>How can we make ourselves like him</i>? Is Jesus going to
sprinkle glitter or some spiritual dust over us at that moment?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or is there a scientific law involved that
will <i>make</i> us "like" Him in preparation for that
moment? Yes, there is. The Law of Attunement and Resonance.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is what this article will cover:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .25in; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <i style="text-indent: 0in;">Scientific</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
Law of Resonance and Attunement</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <i style="text-indent: 0in;">Spiritual</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
Law of Resonance and Attunement</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resonance and Attunement in the Trinity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resonance and Attunement in the disciples and
the metamorphic transforming process</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resonance and Attunement in believers and the
metamorphic transforming process</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The two-fold positive and negative effect of Resonance and Attunement</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why Resonances and Attunements must match</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fruitful Christian</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dancing with God―It takes two to Tango</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What if you don't want to Tango?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How to withstand the brightness of his coming by
become <i style="text-indent: 0in;">like</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> him</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Six steps on how to resonate and attune with
Christ at his glorious coming</span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">~</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <i>Law of Resonance and Attunement </i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">alone explains</span> why Saul of Tarsus was
blinded at the appearance of Jesus on the road to Damascus, and why, at the
Second Coming, believing Christians won't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These two laws
(although I consider them one Law) go hand in hand, because you can't have one without the other.
Here are their definitions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Resonance</i> is a vibrating response to an outside
source's wave-length frequency<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Attunement</i> is the connection or bonding with
that outside source that results from the resonance.<sup>(6)</sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Comprehending and complying with this Law<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> is the only possible way one will be able to
abide the luminosity and brilliance of Christ’s glorified appearance.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Concerning these and all fundamental laws,
Wallace Wattles states: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can act in accordance with these laws, or
you can disregard them, but you can in no way alter them. The laws forever
operate and hold you to strict accountability.<sup>(9)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, here we go . . .We'll take a look at
understanding the Law of Resonance and Attunement which necessitates looking at
the way it operates scientifically in our physical world. We will also<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">address how this Law </span>operates
spiritually<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #5b9bd5; text-transform: uppercase;">THE <i><u>SCIENTIFIC</u></i></span></b><b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></i></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-transform: uppercase;">LAW OF</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-transform: uppercase;">RESONANCE AND ATTUNEMENT in our
physical world</span></b><b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First, what is a scientific law?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scientific principles [or laws] are those that
explain the 'why' and 'how' of various phenomena, as against other principles
that would merely state a philosophy which stems from deep-rooted faith but
lacks a scientific basis.<sup>(7)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">They are a concise verbal or
mathematical statement that expresses a fundamental principle of science. For
example, Newton's law of universal gravitation, laws of chemistry,
quantum mechanics, laws of thermodynamics, etc. A scientific law must always
apply under the same conditions and implies a <i>causal</i> relationship
between its elements.<sup>(6)</sup> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resonance and Attunement work together just like
<i>cause and effect </i>work together (<i>for every cause there will be an effect, and
for every effect there has to be a cause</i>).<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Law of Resonance</span></u></b><br />
If an object resonates at a certain rate of vibration (frequency), everything
in its vicinity that has the <u>same</u> vibration as a dormant possibility
will start vibrating at the same frequency (<i>examples
given further below</i>). This law applies to everything, from subatomic
particles, molecules, photons, energy emissions, elementary particle rings,
light, color, trees, sun, to the cosmos with its stars and planets, etc.<sup>(8)
</sup>Because the Law of Resonance and Attunement is a universal principle,
it applies to all of existence.<br />
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: #5b9bd5;">The
Law of Attunement</span></u></b><span style="color: #5b9bd5;"><br />
</span>"Attunement" means to “bring into
harmony with.” An object that resonates on the same wavelength as an outside
source is said to be in attunement (or sync) with that source. (<i>See endnote 11 for definition of wavelength)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Regarding resonating and being in attunement,
using everyday terms, one might say to someone, “What you're saying really
resonates with me," or, "We’re on the same wavelength.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Scientific examples</u> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">A few of the below examples will also include a brief spiritual application to
follow in italics, but a fuller presentation of the spiritual application of
these laws will be discussed later.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nJBzOKb3sNWWKWNDAQipeenwM_FoZyTtp5B8Ggi8z5kHDZc5axm2FInYOAnh3kcnM3QonOb5pgI1fM5Wkuqrm3Ez1PpPp2_f6Jkn773juEtoe2RmcSFxR0XdCHW-xJCWtlIr4lIMlBg/s1600/TWO+GUITARS13259217460aJ7ZC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nJBzOKb3sNWWKWNDAQipeenwM_FoZyTtp5B8Ggi8z5kHDZc5axm2FInYOAnh3kcnM3QonOb5pgI1fM5Wkuqrm3Ez1PpPp2_f6Jkn773juEtoe2RmcSFxR0XdCHW-xJCWtlIr4lIMlBg/s1600/TWO+GUITARS13259217460aJ7ZC.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Music</b></span></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Consider a guitar (#1) lying on a table in a
room. Across the room on another table is guitar #2. When the "A"
string of guitar #1 is plucked, guitar #2, which has a dormant "A"
string, will suddenly resonate (respond) and sound out its "A"
string </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">without</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> anyone plucking it. They are both vibrating (or
resonating) on the same wavelength frequency; thus, are in attunement.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The same thing will happen with the strings of a
piano. Lift up the lid and sing a steady note. When you stop, the chances are
you will hear one or more of the strings in the piano vibrating and emitting
the same note as the one you sang. In both instances of the guitar and piano,
they are resonating with an outside source. As a result, they are brought into
attunement with that outside source.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #ed7d31;">Spiritual application</span></u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When God, the outside
source (like guitar #1) issues forth His Word to you either via the Bible or
the Holy Spirit, we, like guitar #2, have within us the dormant possibility of
responding by resonating on the same wavelength because our spirit is made in
His image. By resonating, we respond by sounding out the same “note” within our
heart as God’s, thereby coming into attunement with Him. (However, one may
choose not to resonate because God gave us free will.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The universe</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of creation has its own distinct vibratory
wave pattern set up with the ability to evoke resonance in other objects of the
same wavelength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God sent out the initial frequency and
wavelength when He spoke his powerful command, “<i>Let there be!” and creation
appeared. </i>And since his
spirit is omnipresent (<i>present everywhere</i>), from that time on all
nature resonated and came into attunement with Him—they had to, in order to
function and remain in existence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If God withdrew and silenced Himself and
withdrew his omnipresence so that all of creation had nothing to resonate <i>with</i>, the effect would be disastrous.
The universe would go into immediate chaos without form and void. But, no
danger of that. The scriptures tell us that: “<i>The Son sustains everything by
the mighty power of his command [and] holds all creation together.”<sup> Heb.
1:3 NLT; Col. 1:17 </sup></i>This is
because Jesus, as one with God the Father in the beginning, was the Word that
spoke all creation into existence as John 1:1-5, 14 describes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <span class="text"><b><sup> </sup></b>He was with God in the beginning.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup> </sup></b>Through him all things were made; without
him nothing was made that has been made.<b><sup> </sup></b>In him was
life, and that life was the light of all mankind.</span> <span class="text">The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">…</span></span><b><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen
his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth<span class="text"> (<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>).</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3K3GcSKo4-NIiUWuyU73cdYMVIQjVQYbwtrO0zJK-N4oOyzK3C2EVy7smFP5VqLL4S_O5nV7tS7ZZjL1Q-bMlkUU2e4g9TzzQ995zIbgmMVVN9bDQ0Nhyphenhyphenoz9ADzrobz6Fx9F4_sdt1U/s1600/RADIO12570584835FrzZq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3K3GcSKo4-NIiUWuyU73cdYMVIQjVQYbwtrO0zJK-N4oOyzK3C2EVy7smFP5VqLL4S_O5nV7tS7ZZjL1Q-bMlkUU2e4g9TzzQ995zIbgmMVVN9bDQ0Nhyphenhyphenoz9ADzrobz6Fx9F4_sdt1U/s1600/RADIO12570584835FrzZq.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Radios</span></u></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this example, if you tune your radio dial to
106.9 you will hear only the frequency from the radio tower that is emitting
the wavelength frequency of 106.9 megahertz, or 106.9 millions of cycles per
second. Your radio, being tuned to that frequency, picks it up, resonates with
106.9 and, being on the same wavelength, thereby comes into attunement and
bonds with it. (<i>Your radio won’t resonate with station 98.2 unless you tune it
to that frequency.</i>)<span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #ed7d31;">Spiritual</span><span style="color: #e69138;"> </span><span style="color: #ed7d31;">application</span></u>:<br />
</b><i>If we want to resonate with
God and come into attunement with Him, we must have our "spiritual"
radio tuned to His particular frequency (sin would negate this possibility).</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQIOD0IurQHiklK9r3RZpzNh2Q8wd4bOdvE_teQINLY7vBmAJmPE5V1mHHpZCiSIGGU_w3pRsL20uL-BR8U-lbu1CvHIl6WXq9kra_9XvMstIRpnz2RNyGvF-wAJXZBzPS1v0abfGoqc/s1600/TV+WITH+PICTURE1241884392zKWY8Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQIOD0IurQHiklK9r3RZpzNh2Q8wd4bOdvE_teQINLY7vBmAJmPE5V1mHHpZCiSIGGU_w3pRsL20uL-BR8U-lbu1CvHIl6WXq9kra_9XvMstIRpnz2RNyGvF-wAJXZBzPS1v0abfGoqc/s1600/TV+WITH+PICTURE1241884392zKWY8Y.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Television (or radio) commercial sale pitches</span></u></b><b> </b><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resonance and attunement is a principle well
recognized in the media and is the distinct objective of those creating TV (or
radio) commercial messages, although they may not call it such. (<i>In the following example, the promoter of
the commercial will be considered the
outside source, like guitar #1; the listeners will be like guitar #2.</i>)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Promoters must send out their specially-worded message
in their commercial ads to get viewer, or radio listeners to resonate with
their message, relate to their product, and pull them in on the same wavelength.
To achieve this, they hone in on viewers' common need; for example, the
difficulty of getting soap scum off shower doors. If the commercial touches
that need, the viewer will resonate with what the promoter is saying. A
connection is made, listeners come into attunement with the promoter, and buy
the product.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziUEIQ2pLugGqfF8nmlQ3kYPgf9vWyONPH2e2qI1snCMOTSRzY_M1_osfTvXSLzJwid3wG9QoI7pQajSg_bJknOnwcVxv-VJVEJAA6Bqh7c8aMlaSC-mPIGJjT4usGW8idZAYA9F0djk/s1600/MOVIES-NOW+SHOWING1263047283q0G79y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziUEIQ2pLugGqfF8nmlQ3kYPgf9vWyONPH2e2qI1snCMOTSRzY_M1_osfTvXSLzJwid3wG9QoI7pQajSg_bJknOnwcVxv-VJVEJAA6Bqh7c8aMlaSC-mPIGJjT4usGW8idZAYA9F0djk/s1600/MOVIES-NOW+SHOWING1263047283q0G79y.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Movies</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The movies we fondly remember the most are those
we resonated with—usually because it touched some inner need or heartstring.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69Hw8oL5m-mkunwQo7mksIp-kPhOyW1zxV129E9YtWNQl4BGwTCnwd5YAsd8iUjAiaNo6OwGCD1irJgHMh_iblabLVIaxMxlLpffwQH-M6XyPwCCppWgTNNa-Fm8rDL6euUy-UYwPFOE/s1600/BOOKS-AUTHORS1247416941YL7HV9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="105" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69Hw8oL5m-mkunwQo7mksIp-kPhOyW1zxV129E9YtWNQl4BGwTCnwd5YAsd8iUjAiaNo6OwGCD1irJgHMh_iblabLVIaxMxlLpffwQH-M6XyPwCCppWgTNNa-Fm8rDL6euUy-UYwPFOE/s1600/BOOKS-AUTHORS1247416941YL7HV9.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Authors</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They, too, must figure out how to get readers to
resonate with their book’s theme or message. Resonance becomes evident when
readers respond by either shedding tears, having their hope renewed, being
comforted in tragedy, or influenced to change their life for the better.
Attunement is evident when they want more from this author and purchase more of
his books. Why? Because they are now on the same wavelength and readers are
resonating with his kind of writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #ed7d31;">Spiritual
application</span></u></b>.<br />
<i>Similarly, if individuals read the Bible and find that it touches their
needs, they will resonate with the same “note” </i>or<i> "frequency" </i>as the wavelength emitted through the Bible's
contents. They will<i> come into attunement with its message and will want more
from God, the Author.</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7QlcYKjkTCMeVg8QWCnzizVvBlVHullLMeEA1hh-O1StKixzHu2FJi7osd6NcaCLPhK8IEjdcSBIXy2VmEGLaHAXpfnQfoz0jCWv6yDMfA2Vch60Eeyv2MhzODfIRTFtMl2hiUBU4WM/s1600/SPEAKER-MALE1238435450yePvIi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7QlcYKjkTCMeVg8QWCnzizVvBlVHullLMeEA1hh-O1StKixzHu2FJi7osd6NcaCLPhK8IEjdcSBIXy2VmEGLaHAXpfnQfoz0jCWv6yDMfA2Vch60Eeyv2MhzODfIRTFtMl2hiUBU4WM/s1600/SPEAKER-MALE1238435450yePvIi.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lecturers</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upon hearing a speaker, listeners will respond
in resonance and vibrate sympathetically with the speaker's message if it
touches a need. The audience's attunement becomes evident by their willingness
to donate money, buy their product, or whatever the lecturer is promoting. If
it doesn't touch a need, there will be no resonant attunement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #ed7d31;">Spiritual application</span></u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>In like manner, when individuals listen to
teachers or preachers expound on the Bible, if they resonate with what they
hear they come into attunement, are converted, and do what they feel God
requires of them.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyRPl9o8RBZNMQLdcYtnk4KYLKTKr9aqiMZfDkw8cCpmmOHNnKD7kHnTVfoLTLjAvmh0YvHPHJLGUa2uVrlg7g4QuraLrcOacqaa7IMXtkAYxmorekLo-lKXIRAb5vXv2nOfOpWaBmL8/s1600/CONVERSATION11464336302r5IAA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyRPl9o8RBZNMQLdcYtnk4KYLKTKr9aqiMZfDkw8cCpmmOHNnKD7kHnTVfoLTLjAvmh0YvHPHJLGUa2uVrlg7g4QuraLrcOacqaa7IMXtkAYxmorekLo-lKXIRAb5vXv2nOfOpWaBmL8/s1600/CONVERSATION11464336302r5IAA.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Everyday people in general</span></u></b><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When a person communicates with someone and both
are on the same wavelength, the resonance and attunement is evidenced by both
of them saying, <i>“You and I are on the same note</i>,” or “<i>Your ideas
really resonate with me.</i>” But if those two people do <i>not</i> resonate
on the same note of interest, the relationship disintegrates and no bonding or attunement
takes place. This principle applies to married couples as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #ed7d31;">Spiritual application</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #ed7d31;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When God communicates with us through his Holy
Spirit, those who resonate on the same frequency and wavelength will establish
a spiritual rapport and come into attunement. If one chooses <u>not</u> to
resonate, there will never be any relationship.</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 6; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;">THE "<i><u>SPIRITUAL</u>"</i> LAW
OF<br />
RESONANCE AND ATTUNEMENT</span></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 6; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Resonance and Attunement in the Trinity</span></u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ultimate example of perfect attunement can
be seen within the Trinitarian Godhead. Let's take a look at the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, although God is <u>One</u> and <i>tritheism
(three distinct and very separate Gods</i>)<i> </i>is unscriptural, for the sake of this illustration you
will have to picture in your mind's eye two separate, man-like figures, the
Father and the Son, facing each other with outstretched arms (<i>the Holy
Spirit is also present). </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Visualize each of them issuing vibrations of
love back and forth to each other, both of them resonating on the same
frequency and wavelength—not only generating and resonating love but also
their character, attributes, thoughts, desires, goals, etc. The Father
generates all that to the Son, and the Son resonates the same back, both
functioning harmoniously as one mind. The Father’s character and thoughts are
the Son’s, and the Son’s character and thoughts are the Father’s, so that total
attunement takes place, and they share a common identity as one God. “<i>The
Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, radiates God’s own glory and expresses
the very character of God</i>.” <sup>(Jn. 1:18' Heb. 1:3)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being in absolute sync and resonating so
perfectly with each other, they are in a homogenous state of perfect attunement
(along with the Holy Spirit). They, therefore, exist in the state of “<i>not
being separate.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You might find that difficult to comprehend, but
you will only have a problem if you are picturing God the Father and God the
Son as human beings (<i>like Mormons believe</i>).
But they are not. The Trinitarian God is eternal and John 4:24 says God is a
"spirit." What that means is, God the Father does not have a human
body, neither did God the Son prior to his coming to earth and taking on human
form. (<i>See my article on "God and
the Trinity-Part 1" where the Trinity is compared to a hologram. It makes
it more understandable. </i><i>(</i><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/01/god-and-trinity-part-i.html">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/01/god-and-trinity-part-i.html</a> (<i>no dot
after the www</i>). <span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the Son incarnated into mortality as the
human Jesus, even then his attunement with the Father in character, thought and
deed continued. This was evidenced by his stating over and over, “<i>If you
have seen me, you have seen the Father,</i>” <sup>Jn. 14:9</sup> and
"<i>I and the Father are one." <sup>John
10:30 </sup></i>He, in his physical body, could easily have stood in the full
presence of God’s glory and able to withstand the fire-like blinding brilliance
because of their complete attunement and his being sinless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After Jesus' resurrection, the possibility of attunement
through God's Holy Spirit was made available to the disciples (apostles) and
also to all believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We know attunement was possible for mortals
because Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that His disciples (the apostles) would also
become spiritually one like he and the Father were one—a goal intended not just
for them but eventually for all believers.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h3>
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Resonance and Attunement
in the disciples—born again and the transforming process</span></span></b></h3>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm2KRh7EoiBIF4OARp6BTr3NrqEidyQcpY8zX5z9daTgWdXtLwDU1VQ_UCT6kFiizIIRnOZkRseU37xfq_vLBnRRLfkiV48ZRxFy2B1i_6VUcmQjFN7P1GJNtQ09txAcEmLwnWRZeII4/s1600/DISCIPLES-TWO1258535599q2la7h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm2KRh7EoiBIF4OARp6BTr3NrqEidyQcpY8zX5z9daTgWdXtLwDU1VQ_UCT6kFiizIIRnOZkRseU37xfq_vLBnRRLfkiV48ZRxFy2B1i_6VUcmQjFN7P1GJNtQ09txAcEmLwnWRZeII4/s1600/DISCIPLES-TWO1258535599q2la7h.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the disciples, it was accomplished by their
entering into a transformation process of being <i>born again</i>, “<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">not with a physical
birth,"</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
as John 1:13 says, "…<i>but a birth that comes from God,”</i></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> through which they were made </span><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">“new creatures” in Christ
and being endowed with the Holy Spirit. </span><i><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Jn. 1:13 NLT</span></sup></i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The disciples, whether they realized it or not
at the time, began this transformation process <span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">on how to open</span> their spiritual minds and hearts and fully attune themselves
with God by listening to and resonating with Jesus’ teachings while he was
alive. Thus, the disciples grew and increased in their resonance, not only to
God and Christ, but also between themselves as they advanced in harmony with
each other’s thoughts, desires and mission objectives, and the different
personalities of other believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After Jesus' death, the disciples were permanently
filled with the Holy Spirit who enabled them to further renew their mind and
inner spirit daily to the things of God by studying the Old Testament
scriptures, recalling Jesus’ teachings and by communing with God through prayer
through the empowering function of the Holy Spirit.<sup>2 Cor.4:16 </sup>When we become a Christian we also
become a new person "inside." We are not the same anymore. A new life
has begun in us. <sup>2 Cor 5:17 </sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But something else happened to the disciples by
being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit. The natural byproduct of this
transforming renewal process was that they were gradually being changed into
the image of Christ, soon reflected in their countenance, speech and acts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul said:<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>[We] are changed into the same image [of Christ’s]
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” [Holy Spirit]</i> and “<i>we become more and more like
him, </i><i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">transformed
into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is
the Spirit.</span></i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">” </span><sup>2 Cor. 3:18 </sup><sup><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">KJN, LNT, NIV<o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the disciples were alive today and the Second
Coming occurred, the brightness of Christ’s glory would pose no problem, for
they would be “like” him, spiritually vibrating and resonating on the same
wavelength and frequency as Christ and his Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, if the disciples had refused
to be born again and enter into the process of transformation, their vibratory
state would fall far below the Light and Truth emanating from Christ at his
Coming and would prove detrimental to them. <br />
<br />
Now, we come to the average believer.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8GbmJ0W5k01smS6yBebku59tgB1ZkQBDyKF5tcRl9qMet2jOm9r7okAds_f5Qmq1-Hwi960uEKqjgu5oKrRQ9D2dMpvn8FlLQFh-a3JNL6mEWc-MHGhGIR6gvdRWIq7aTO_6mfZ4Fzs/s1600/BUTTERFLY1136768052XmKWaN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="90" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8GbmJ0W5k01smS6yBebku59tgB1ZkQBDyKF5tcRl9qMet2jOm9r7okAds_f5Qmq1-Hwi960uEKqjgu5oKrRQ9D2dMpvn8FlLQFh-a3JNL6mEWc-MHGhGIR6gvdRWIq7aTO_6mfZ4Fzs/s1600/BUTTERFLY1136768052XmKWaN.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">(from caterpillar to butterfly)</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Believers' Resonance and Attunement resulting
from the metamorphic transformation</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The use of the Greek word for the process of
transformation transliterates to “<i>metamorphosis</i>” where, in stages, an
immature form changes to an adult form. We often think of the caterpillar. It
isn’t transformed into a beautiful butterfly overnight but must go through a
pupation process, during which time the larval structures are broken down and
adult structures are formed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upon acceptance of Christ, we are transformed in
stages from our spiritually immature condition to a mature one, during which
our old ways of thinking are broken down and new ones formed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul, cognizant that transformation was not an
overnight event, was quick to add this about himself:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">“I don't mean to say that I
have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.
But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first
possessed me.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">No, dear brothers, I am
still not all I should be but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one
thing: <u>Forgetting the past</u> and looking forward to what lies
ahead.” <sup>Phil. 3:12-13 LNT</sup></span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wow! Forget his past?
Paul (<i>formerly Saul before his conversion)</i> was once a hated persecutor of
Christians whose sole intent was to kill them; also a stickler for strictly
following the letter of the Old Testament law thinking that would save him.
But, later, as a Christian, he knew Christ's redemptive act on the cross
forgave him for his past sins. He became a new creation so he wasn't plagued by it
anymore. If Paul could be forgiven for the murder of Christians, we can also be
forgiven of whatever it might be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the
offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through
Christ. </i><sup>2 Cor. 5:21 NLT<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">That means, </span>that no repented sin stands in the way
between believers and God.<span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;"> This enables them to stand in the brilliance of God’s
presence enabled by Christ's Righteousness and the Holy Spirit's transformation
within them, as the old-time hymn proclaims:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When He shall
come with trumpet sound,<br />
Oh, may I then in Him be found;<br />
Dressed in <u>His righteousness</u> alone,<br />
<u>Faultless</u> to stand before the throne.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is imperative to comprehend God’s merciful
grace in what He did to save us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why? <i>Because Christ saved us—<u>not</u> because
we were good enough to be saved, but because of God's grace, his kindness and
pity—by washing away our sins through his blood and giving us the new joy of
the indwelling Holy Spirit,</i> where we <i>will
be changed into the same image
[Christ’s] from glory to glory</i>
and inherit heaven<i>.<sup> Titus 3:5 LNT</sup></i> Although we
must understand it to become a believer, the amazing love that produced our
salvation is beyond comprehension! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For today's born-again believers to embark on the
path toward attunement with God (and oneness with their fellowman), they must
pursue the same process the disciples did . . . that of constantly renewing their
minds and inner man daily until they resonate and reflect the image of Christ
in thought and deed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #5b9bd5;">God's "A" string of attunement</span></u></b><b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Believers further their transformative process,
as did Paul and the disciples, by prayer and studying God’s words in the Bible.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Referring back to the guitar example, God's
words, when read in the Bible, are like he is plucking his "A" string;
therefore, believers will find themselves resonating and responding back because
the words are resonating with their own spiritual "A" tone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As one becomes more attuned (or in sync) with
God's Word according to their increasing capacity the Holy Spirit enhances in their
transformation and endows them with "grace upon grace,"<sup> Jn
1:16 </sup>soon the believer may be resonating with not only God's "A"
string but the whole harmonic scale of the content of God's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, <span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">because redeemed believers have Christ's righteousness
and Holy Spirit inside them and are growing spiritually to reflect His image in
their countenance, thoughts, and deeds</span>, w<span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">hen
the Second Coming occurs, they will be found to be “like” Him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But here is an important point to think about. Professed
Christians will never resonate and achieve full attunement possibilities with
God unless they purposely open themselves to the vibratory frequency and the wavelength of the Holy Spirit issued by God that will trigger spiritual
resonance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They must discipline themselves in reading God’s
Word, keep His commandments and pray. Also, sit under spirit-filled teachers
and pastors who expound biblical principles so they can hear "<i>what is
that good and acceptable will of God.</i>” <sup>Rom 12:2</sup> This
will aid them in their metamorphosis and bring them into closer attunement with
Christ and his Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If a person is, however, purposely living
contrary to God and is in dis-attunement, it will be devastating. If unwilling
to change, the scriptures state that those who refuse to attune themselves by entering
into the born-again transformation process but continue to pursue contrary or
wicked ways, God “<i>shall destroy with the brightness of his coming</i>.” <sup>2
Thess. 2:8,10 <o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Isaiah 33:14-16 asks: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<i>Who can live with this devouring
fire? “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s not because God hates the individual and
delights in having that happen, but because of the <i>natural</i> Law of Resonance and Attunement (as well as the Law of
Cause and Effect) is in operation, both of which have automatic positive and
negative consequences (<i>explained further below)</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why Jesus stated, “<i>Unless a man
be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God</i>.” <sup>Jn. 3:3</sup><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the answer to Isaiah's question of who
will survive the all-consuming fire:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It will be those survivors who are born again
who can absorb (like the rock) the laser-like brilliance of his glory will be
those who are on the same vibratory wavelength. They have done this by letting
the Holy Spirit take them through the metamorphosic process of transformation
into Christ's image, so their heart will be attuned to God and His righteous
principles. Only they can be saved. When Christ appears, his laser-like
brilliance will have no detrimental effect on them.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gdQuZjBkWdszbnLX9PXeSpN2iUp02KYTTF-B5PNv1Jd80Gj-HMw8wyNG1uA5GhPmwZWC_4_Se2-4QqM0BHxgKCikFedm9ltEkuYQJ3DZwKP0Igzxqa4hCmfKNo-tk6YIwwx0OJsk9vs/s1600/POS+%2526+NEGATIVE1231963373xt2jW2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gdQuZjBkWdszbnLX9PXeSpN2iUp02KYTTF-B5PNv1Jd80Gj-HMw8wyNG1uA5GhPmwZWC_4_Se2-4QqM0BHxgKCikFedm9ltEkuYQJ3DZwKP0Igzxqa4hCmfKNo-tk6YIwwx0OJsk9vs/s1600/POS+%2526+NEGATIVE1231963373xt2jW2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The positive and negative effects of Resonance
and Attunement</span></u></b><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although discussed somewhat above, one might still
ask the following questions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How can the same light of Christ’s glory and
brilliance be detrimental to unbelievers but, at the same time, beneficial to
believers? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why doesn’t his glorified brilliance destroy
both, or why doesn’t it save both? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is because <i>“like” </i>must dwell with<i> “like.”</i> For
example, we know that water and oil don’t mix. Why? Because water is a <i>polar </i>molecule,
oil is <i>non-polar</i>, so the molecules naturally <i>repel</i> each
other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, the Law of Attunement and Resonance makes
it impossible for light and darkness to dwell together at the same time because
they would naturally repel each other. Similarly, righteousness can only dwell
with righteousness; darkness can only dwell with darkness; evil can only dwell
with evil, etc. <i>Compositions must match. </i>The
next section explains why.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUB4D19kseP_BmCccnACfszi3sxZQ5N0gg2I3QrTVCgcpKH94WgXNRF0I6f6Yptt78GkK2KUhXrWOirVVdf7G_-3MEj1igXJh724ycyEj6kqdWWaXE8AffVHwAH10uzMh0tDv2QQTPfY/s1600/LASER+BEAM-BLUE12911079998r1hpf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUB4D19kseP_BmCccnACfszi3sxZQ5N0gg2I3QrTVCgcpKH94WgXNRF0I6f6Yptt78GkK2KUhXrWOirVVdf7G_-3MEj1igXJh724ycyEj6kqdWWaXE8AffVHwAH10uzMh0tDv2QQTPfY/s1600/LASER+BEAM-BLUE12911079998r1hpf.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a laser beam</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcRa0G3i6AhPkYKSFvdd2jQj-KNEOQ6pkIkRCd4Ify9RMIASaxJeLPeIz8hMFxHKeLt0mFHq27-PocSYr3sbcjTvZeJ1eKh4rJTByBFCE5L2aW4ZpWxgeg0b8h-Lt5bnrwWJvCU85JXM/s1600/ROCK13414728270DY100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="79" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcRa0G3i6AhPkYKSFvdd2jQj-KNEOQ6pkIkRCd4Ify9RMIASaxJeLPeIz8hMFxHKeLt0mFHq27-PocSYr3sbcjTvZeJ1eKh4rJTByBFCE5L2aW4ZpWxgeg0b8h-Lt5bnrwWJvCU85JXM/s1600/ROCK13414728270DY100.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a rock</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">An example of how and why compositions must
match</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The best example of this is a laser beam and a
rock. The rock’s capacity or incapacity to withstand a laser beam is based on the
scientific law of attunement:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whenever a body is the <i>same</i> frequency as an outside source, the outside source’s
vibrations will be <i>absorbed</i> with no detrimental effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whenever a body is <i>not </i>the same
frequency as an outside source, the outside source’s vibrations will <i>not </i>be
absorbed and there will be detrimental effects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The above definitions explain what will happen
to the rock. The rock, although an inanimate object, contains and emits heat
and light. If it happens that the wavelength of the rock's composition of light
and heat is in <i>exact </i>frequency with a laser beam’s light, the
laser’s light will be fully absorbed into the rock and there will be no
detrimental effect. <i>BUT</i> if the amount
of light from the laser beam <i>exceeds</i> the natural vibratory
state of the rock, it spells disaster. The rock will be shattered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Similarly, if a person is indifferent to God and
spends their life resonating with evil and disengaging themselves from the
commandments, ethics, principles, and spirituality of Christ, their spiritual
frequency will fall far below the frequency of the Truth and Light emanating
from Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like the shattered rock that is unable to
survive the higher frequency of the laser beam, this is what will happen to
those who willingly continue to live in an anti-God state.<b> </b>The Light of Christ will exceed their vibratory state and the
brilliance of His glory would shatter them. Those continuing to live in an
anti-God state will not be able to survive the actual presence of Christ, which
is why there must be a place separate from heaven to contain dis-attuned individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are always consequences to choices because
the <i>Law of Cause and Effect</i> is eternally in operation. Whatever
your choices, good or bad, they definitely result in an inevitable effect. It’s
both the physical and spiritual Law of the universe. “<i>Whatever you sow, you
shall also reap.</i>” <sup>2 Cor. 9:6-8<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To repeat Wallace Wattles statement: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can act in accordance with these
[fundamental] laws, or you can disregard them, but you can in no way alter
them. The laws forever operate and hold you to strict accountability.<sup>(9)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, Jesus set Christians free from the
negative consequences when he died in our place and caused the Holy Spirit to
indwell us and reconcile us with God. <span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">Paul assured believers in </span>Rom. 8:1-4, that "<i>there is no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit." </i>Jesus within us becomes our righteousness when
we stand before God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;">It is because of him that
you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from
God—that is, <u>our righteousness</u>, <u>holiness and
redemption</u></span></i><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;"> (1
Cor. 1:30).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of this, believers will not die but
will be saved in heaven and live forever. <sup>Rom. 5:8 </sup><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(255 , 254 , 253); color: #001320;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But there's an important facet as part of the Christian life.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6WMgtdJMMYM22dDtoejyaez7xdkHJtfsUN8Nc8Qhp-4voTjJW1no8A2PsIjaeNk1Lhr9RrHYFIEj-8iWLAAVgJqg8VMSDtZUTGdza7tRQ9FSlkJb36MIVHsqZpq-ftC2nI7DuHBpddQ/s1600/FRUITFUL-CORNUCOPIA-FRUIT1115534940t3jS68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6WMgtdJMMYM22dDtoejyaez7xdkHJtfsUN8Nc8Qhp-4voTjJW1no8A2PsIjaeNk1Lhr9RrHYFIEj-8iWLAAVgJqg8VMSDtZUTGdza7tRQ9FSlkJb36MIVHsqZpq-ftC2nI7DuHBpddQ/s1600/FRUITFUL-CORNUCOPIA-FRUIT1115534940t3jS68.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The fruitful Christian</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">The life that pleases God,
bears fruit as a natural </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">product</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"> of one’s faith. James 1:22 says
we must be doers of the word, not hearers only. The Christian must be engaged
in all the activities that Christ advocates.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, there's more for Christians to
consider than just reading God's Word, believing his principles, and praying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">J.C. Ryle asks in his book, <i>Holiness</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Is it wise to proclaim in so bald, naked, and
unqualified a way as many do that the holiness of converted people is by faith
only, and not at all by personal exertion?<sup>10</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may call this “works” if you like, but
should understand that it is not to <i>earn</i> salvation, as if
somehow Jesus’ redemptive act on the cross was insufficient to save you unless
you additionally work hard for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rather, these so-called works are the automatic response
of believers to being saved and expressing their faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jesus instructed believers<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> to “<i>let your light [His] so shine before men
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven</i>.” <sup>Matt
5:16</sup></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, the fruitful Christian is one who
shares Christ’s love and truth in service and compassionate acts to the rest of
humanity through bonding and attuning themselves with God, resonating to the
principles and attributes that comprise his character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thus, they will<i> want</i> to do God’s
will…want to feed the hungry…want to clothe the naked… want to visit those in
the hospital… want to help the widows and orphans…want to serve the church
community…want to volunteer time, talents and resources. It is an inevitable
outcome of faith.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">What could this kind of attunement
and moving in sync with God "<i>look" </i>like if we could visualize it?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTbDqM8FrRXbjGNhOfzxOAHadX_TKPfsEb6GyjOnay5ZCkKn0N0NKTGdPx4nIq0hpVuvQnzOe5D6hiaey-gRFMOtVWAH8863nDcZn4PMBfQ1EFGQSt_5ZBiL97-LrWsui7_gl3RVGm0c/s1600/WALTZ1262121908xMkHLB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="90" data-original-width="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTbDqM8FrRXbjGNhOfzxOAHadX_TKPfsEb6GyjOnay5ZCkKn0N0NKTGdPx4nIq0hpVuvQnzOe5D6hiaey-gRFMOtVWAH8863nDcZn4PMBfQ1EFGQSt_5ZBiL97-LrWsui7_gl3RVGm0c/s1600/WALTZ1262121908xMkHLB.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u>Dancin</u>g<u> with God</u></span></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">—<i><u>It takes two to Tango<o:p></o:p></u></i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dancing with a partner is a great metaphor for the believer's unifying,
spiritual dance with God—especially the Tango because it <i>always</i> requires
a partner, meaning the Tango can't be performed as a solo. Similarly, your
spiritual dance of resonating attunement requires God as your partner. It can't
be done as a solo.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, I'm not referring to all Tangos in this analogy—not the overly sensual or the aggressive kind where the man looks stern and harshly yanks the woman around;
but, rather, the slow and graceful "ballroom" tango where they both
lean into each other connecting closely, body to body, both resonating with
each other and the movements of the music. They are totally bonded, flowing
together in unison and totally engaged in the dance as partners, comparable to
a beautiful ballet between two lovers both moving in such a unified flow of harmony
and physical closeness that they meld together as one body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Similarly, to enter into the same kind of
closeness with God in our spiritual dance with him, we must become totally
engaged, yielding to the graceful flow of the rhythmic tempo of the Holy Spirit,
who knows when to slow down or speed up, and allowing God to give us gentle
cues and soft, loving nudges with His hand to guide us in one direction or the
other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few years back, there was a Youtube video
titled “<i>The Best Tango Dance,</i>” I wanted to refer you to it because I
thought it portrayed the perfect metaphor for this relationship with God.
However, due to a copyright claim, it was taken down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, in second place,<i> </i>please<i> </i>take a few minutes
to watch the Tango dance from the movie "Scent of a Woman" with Al
Pacino on You Tube at this URL: <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zTd_YwTvo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zTd_YwTvo</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's definitely not a professional performance because
Pacino is blind and he's teaching a young woman how to dance it for the first
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nevertheless, while you watch it, view it as
analogous to the spiritual dance of the believer with God as he moves with you
through both the serious and joyful facets of the dance of life, holding on to
you and never letting go. Even the
opening dialogue between Pacino and the woman before they dance is also meaningful.
See if you can pick up the analogy when she first tells why she's hesitant to
learn the dance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll wait, while you go watch it.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #5b9bd5; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Six steps on how to
resonate and attune with Christ</span></u></b><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #5b9bd5; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Accept Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to
function in your life. The Holy Spirit will facilitate your spiritual
transformation so that you become a new creature (like<i style="text-indent: 0in;"> </i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">the
butterfly), and you will </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">walk in
newness of life.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Understand His mercy in forgiving your sins, His
grace in <span style="text-indent: 0in;">endowing you with the gift of the
Holy Spirit, and His gift of</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">becoming
our righteousness. Then, live in a vital awareness of </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">that.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Daily renew your mind by reading the scriptures,
spending time <span style="text-indent: 0in;">in prayer and conversing
with God.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Study Christ in the Holy Scriptures and grow in
the qualities He <span style="text-indent: 0in;">possesses until
you are so in love with Him that you will </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">want</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> to become like
Him.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Select a church to attend that teaches from the
scriptures</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Summary</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God set up the Law of Resonance and Attunement
along with the Law of Cause and Effect as fundamental principles that
scientifically operate in our physical world, not only from subatomic particles
to the grand cosmos, but also in the spiritual realm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By understanding and recognizing how they work,
and arranging our lives to comply with these fundamental principles, and with
Christ as our <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Righteousness and endowed with the Holy Spirit, it
will be possible to become “like Him.” Then, at the final day, we will be able
to endure the resplendent brightness of Christ’s Truth, Light and glory and
dwell with Him in heaven for all eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Beloved, now are we the sons [children] of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we <u>know</u> that, when he
shall appear, we shall be <u>like
him</u>; for we shall see him as he is.</i><sup> 1 Jn. 3:1-2 <i> KJV </i></sup>And everyone who really believes this will try
to stay pure because Christ is pure.<sup> LNT</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
end<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <u>ENDNOTES</u><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words, p. 152-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Ex. 33:17-23<br />
3. Ex. 24:17; see also Heb. 12:29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Isa 33:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. Ex. 33:20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Adapted
from Wikipedia</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Google answers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8. "The Law of Resonance" by Erik
Sandersen at starbridge.com. <br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/a6jlarm"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2aaadd; text-decoration-line: none;">http://tinyurl.com/a6jlarm</span></a><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">My editing includes the
addition of a couple <br />
of words.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9. “Universal Laws and Predictable Constants,
often Termed as <br />
Subordinate Laws” by Wallace
Wattles. <span style="color: #4472c4;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #4472c4; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.libertyzone.com/MKS-SOBR-7-laws.html">http://www.libertyzone.com/MKS-SOBR-7-laws.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10. <span style="color: #4e461f;">J.C. Ryle’s </span><i><span style="background: rgb(238, 236, 215);">Holiness</span></i><span style="background: rgb(238, 236, 215);"> (London: James Clarke & Co., 1956),
pp. viii-xvii, 16-33</span><span style="color: #4e461f;">. Cited at<br />
</span><span style="color: #5b9bd5; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/X/10-7.htm">http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/X/10-7.htm</a></span><span style="color: #4e461f;">.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">11. Frequency” is the number of wavelengths
per second, so refers to <br />
time. “Wavelength” is the
horizontal distance between an exact <br />
position on contiguous waves so
refers to length/distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12.
See the following article that explains why Moses saw God "face to <br />
face" on other occasions, but
on this occasion, it was different when <br />
Moses asked to see his glory<span style="color: #5b9bd5; mso-themecolor: accent1;">.<br /> </span><a href="https://answersingenesis.org/who-is-god/face-to-face/"><span style="color: #5b9bd5; text-decoration-line: none;">https://answersingenesis.org/who-is-god/face-to-face/</span><span style="color: #5b9bd5;"> </span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ggdkfHUyTDZnzuSJS8YmA6o3t0MwgnWVsinoOXvMiA0r411YU2srorrpV2pu2ndC5SXqDT0diGM6ESM_cm9UB7VMDjD3Kzfyw8WUKxy9ERtw394aKZyCnsDu9ZvrcTecMWIybe4QYkc/s1600/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ggdkfHUyTDZnzuSJS8YmA6o3t0MwgnWVsinoOXvMiA0r411YU2srorrpV2pu2ndC5SXqDT0diGM6ESM_cm9UB7VMDjD3Kzfyw8WUKxy9ERtw394aKZyCnsDu9ZvrcTecMWIybe4QYkc/s200/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ARE ANGELS REAL, OR A FIGMENT
OF ONE'S IMAGINATION</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Have you seen one? Seventy-seven percent<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of American adults believe in angels,
and countless have either seen an angel or felt their presence—but what do you
really know about them?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Whether you have seen an angel or
not, this article will reveal more than you ever knew about them and engender a
deeper appreciation for God in realizing how he has set up an entire program in
heaven to take care of you. </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Note what Billy Graham has to say:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I have
never heard anyone preach a sermon on angels. As I have recently tried to
correct this in my own ministry, I've asked myself, why this oversight? Why
have we ignored the great biblical teachings about angels?"</span></i></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(1)</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This is a repost from a few years ago but will be new to many of you. For those looking for the previous article, <i>Surviving the Brightness of Christ's Glory</i>, click Archived Articles on the dashboard.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, to the article . . .</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24.0pt;">HAVE
YOU SEEN AN ANGEL?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDmYj1KBph2TrhYFhD1Q8cnxF41P-p6p3PvLZnfdX9pHKuSX0E9972JxP-lHL0Krx3Ya57byEbRDLxxt7yIGAQ-e9xNX0HQPIiD2Qo3tHbbe2sxQ1Mh4pFM0oeqK08ahwQzpKHNzoe3I/s1600/ANGEL-GENERAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDmYj1KBph2TrhYFhD1Q8cnxF41P-p6p3PvLZnfdX9pHKuSX0E9972JxP-lHL0Krx3Ya57byEbRDLxxt7yIGAQ-e9xNX0HQPIiD2Qo3tHbbe2sxQ1Mh4pFM0oeqK08ahwQzpKHNzoe3I/s1600/ANGEL-GENERAL.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In this article you’ll learn about</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje73oyh_CQoR1l0FFlpcPaETSR87A_zKsYZguuo9YkBBIQWWpeusLQqIDlYMFvGbFp0dCp5kndpS2R7nXiTr2LUxBI5ZMojDF31WixsTNyjn4TXDUFP554iHOMo1uUKiS3I__QGr0WwDk/s1600/ANGELS-TABLE+CONT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje73oyh_CQoR1l0FFlpcPaETSR87A_zKsYZguuo9YkBBIQWWpeusLQqIDlYMFvGbFp0dCp5kndpS2R7nXiTr2LUxBI5ZMojDF31WixsTNyjn4TXDUFP554iHOMo1uUKiS3I__QGr0WwDk/s640/ANGELS-TABLE+CONT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><u>NOTE</u>: There will be a "<u>FREE OFFER</u>" at the end of this article. Don't miss it!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Individuals’ fascination with
angels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Individuals in their desperate
search for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>spiritual meaning<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are hungry to know more about heaven.
This is evidenced by the popular Christmas movie<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>It’s a Wonderful Life</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>with Jimmy Stewart and Clarence his
guardian angel who hasn’t earned his wings yet, and the “<i>Touched by an Angel</i>”
and “<i>Highway to Heaven</i>” series, plus numerous articles in TV
documentaries<i>, Newsweek</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
other magazines.<sup>(2)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">First, let’s define what an angel
is:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are found in at least 34 books from
Genesis to Revelation, including their<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>appearance
to individuals. They<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are
spiritual beings created to serve God, the church, and believers. Angelic
beings are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>described in the Book
of Hebrews as, “<i>ministering spirits</i>,” sent out to render service toward
those who will inherit salvation. (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Ps
91:11</a> and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Matt 4:11</a>.).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Using angels is God’s established
method of communication and caring for his creation, and they are in close
touch with us. Many people today have encountered them, including yours truly.<sup>(3)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The reality of angels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels were so real in the Old
Testament period that people began worshipping them (2 Kings 23:5), and the
appearance of these Godly messengers continued into the New Testament period.
They are still ministering today, and it makes sense. Heb. 13:8 says, “<i>God
is the same yesterday, today, and forever,”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>which is another way of saying, “<i>God
doesn’t change horses in the middle of the stream</i>.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1>
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
caution about angels</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="background: rgb(242 , 242 , 242); font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Billy Graham said:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <i>“The
problem for people today is not simply believing angels exist, but in their
ability to distinguish between angels and demons.</i><sup>(4)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When dealing with the supernatural,
especially angels, one has to be cautious. Why? Because “<i>Satan himself can
transform himself into an angel of light</i>.” (2 Cor. 11:14-15; Matt 25:41;
Eph. 6:12.)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">You mean, there are bad angels</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Yes. They are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>fallen angels headed by Satan who fell
from their holy position and now stand in active opposition to the work and
plan of God. (2 Cor. 4:4)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Their
major purpose is to thwart God’s work by deceiving mankind, and will use every
avenue at their disposal. Satan is God of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and he
counterfeits God’s heavenly kingdom, including appearing as an angel. They are
especially intent on deceiving Christians. Billy Graham said, “<i>As soon as
you know Christ you’ll know the reality of demons.</i>”<sup>(5)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></sup>(Demonic angels often materialize
to cult leaders.)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The apostles, aware of this, knew
the demonic angels could pass off false doctrine. This is why Paul warned:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But though
we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which
we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(<i>Gal. 1:6-9)</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Demonic angels can appear in many
forms:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as an angel of light</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as a recently deceased loved one</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">can also give prophetic dreams (<i>often
predicting your own death</i>)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">can attack you during the night and try to
take over your body. (<i>Those who describe this say it feels like they
are going to be killed</i>)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">as temptation, by enticing one to do
things contrary to God’s teachings.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> They are the forces that
fight against us. They prowl “<i>around like a roaring lion seeking whom they
may devour</i>” (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Paul confirms this:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The only way to avoid being
deceived is to know God’s truth. Study of the Bible enables one to recognize
false doctrine any angel may pass off.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When were angels
created</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">First, angels are not “eternal.”
They were “created” as immaterial spirits (Heb. 1:14) If they had always
eternally existed, that would make them coequal with God and they would not be
required to bow down to Him. But they do. (Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:2,5; Col.
1:16-17). No time period is given for their creation, but it was some time
before the creation of the earth. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">God said, in speaking to Job:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Where were you when I created the earth?Tell me,
since you know so much!Who decided on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!Who
came up with the blueprints and measurements?How was its foundation poured,and
who set the cornerstone,While the morning stars sang in chorusand all the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>angels</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(<i>KJV=sons of God)</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>shouted praise? (</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Job 38:2-11
Msg Bible)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">How many angels are there</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thousands! The books of Daniel and
Revelation say, "<i>thousand thousands ministered unto Him and the
thousand times ten thousand stood before Him</i>" (Dan 7:10 and Rev.
5:11). Ten thousand were present on Mt. Sinai when God gave the Law to Moses
(Deut. 33:2). Luke records "<i>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>multitude</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of the heavenly host" praised our
Lord<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>(Luke 2:13). Jesus
also said: “<i>Do you think I cannot ask My Father, and He will send Me more
than twelve legions of angels</i>?” (about 80,000) (Matt. 26:53) When Jesus
comes in his glory, the scriptures tell us he will bring “<i><u>all</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the holy angels with Him</i>.” (Matt
25:31). What a sight that will be!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzKg3LfqIf1vvJnkKsiwtTvwlOikbt52uoWuqMpx6hubz3zKprR4pY5bKAwNjStGjVxDbOOlPdBQfobyhGaICkCMPY46Ec47s97S-pKFgRHGAepZnt8b0ZLn9MiAhhOuaaRd4whvJoZ0/s1600/ANGEL-2D+COMING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzKg3LfqIf1vvJnkKsiwtTvwlOikbt52uoWuqMpx6hubz3zKprR4pY5bKAwNjStGjVxDbOOlPdBQfobyhGaICkCMPY46Ec47s97S-pKFgRHGAepZnt8b0ZLn9MiAhhOuaaRd4whvJoZ0/s1600/ANGEL-2D+COMING.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Are angels humans minus a physical
body</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">No. Angels are entirely unrelated
to man. They are non-human spiritual entities. Nor are they the spirits of
deceased men, as Joseph Smith falsely taught. He declared all angels were
humans at one time.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Joseph Smith’s false teaching</span></u></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are no angels who minister to this
earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Adam…is Michael the Archangel.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Noah…is Gabriel.”<sup>(6)</sup></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Biblical truths</b></span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels
are unique spirit beings (Heb. 1:14)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Although
not human, they may appear to individuals as such (Gen. 18:2; 19:1)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">They
do not descend from a common ancestor, do not marry, and do not procreate
(Matt. 22:30).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Are
not subject to death<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">They possess</span></u><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Intelligence
(Matt 8:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pet. 1:12<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Emotion
(Luke 2:14; James 2:19, Rev. 12:17<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Exercise
will (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Tim. 2:26; Jude 6)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Have
personality<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Can
appear visibly or remain invisible (2 Kings 6:17)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Do humans become angels after
they die</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">No. Men and women who die never
become angels in heaven. We are told in Heb. 12:22-23 that when we get to
haven we will be met by <u>two </u>groups: "<i>myriads
of angels</i>" <u>AND</u> "<i>the spirits of righteous
men made perfect.</i>" (deceased humans) Angels and human spirits
are two separate and distinct species. Humans can't change from one to the
other.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Are angels male or female</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Despite centuries of art work that
depict angels as beautiful females, there are no female angels mentioned in the
Bible, with the exception of two in Zechariah 5:9-11 (although it is debatable
whether these are good or bad angels). </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Bible, in general, always
refers to angels as “males,” and the word “angel” in Hebrew (Old Testament) and
the Greek (New Testament) is always rendered in the masculine form. This is
because whenever they chose to take on human form to Old Testament men called
to be prophets and leaders, they appeared as men. (See Gen. 18:2; 19:1; Joshua
5; Rev. 12). The male perception of angels was also based on the only two (good)
angels named in the Bible, Gabriel and Michael. God also used male terms in the
below passage when he spoke to Job:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . .<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: white;">When
the morning stars sang together, and all the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>sons</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(angels) of God shouted for joy? (Job
38:4,7)</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, God was simply calling his
angels “<u>sons</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of God” to
distinguish them from being “sons of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>men</u>.”
Angels were created genderless. They weren’t “born.” Further, “sons” does not
suggest God and a wife (as Mormons believe) procreated and gave birth to angels
who are awaiting their chance to be born on earth.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Why did angels always decide to
appear as men when they took on human form</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since men dominated as
leaders in Old Testament society and religion, whatever human form angels took
on (<i>referred to as “angels in disguise” or “angels unaware”</i>) was
designed to accommodate the needed relationship with the person they were
appearing to. If an angel had appeared as a female to men in Old Testament
times, it would have flown in their faces because of the status of women at
that time. Women were considered “property and had no status (<i>with the
exception of Debra and Huldah</i>). As women became to be acknowledged as
equals through Jesus’ gospel and Paul’s teachings, there was gradual acceptance
of females as prophetesses, such as Anna and the daughters of Phillip.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">All in all, angels, when they
appear as human, simply chose a gender that will be most effective for the
person they communicate with. I know of examples today where an angel in
disguise appeared as a female and provided crucial information to the
individuals. However, while there are no angels in their “true, immaterial
state” who are female (they’re genderless), when an angel takes on a human
form, he/it can either appear as male or female.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Are angels male and female in their
true state</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels, in their true state as they
exist in heaven (<i>when they are not taking on a human form</i>), are neither
male nor female. God did not design them with gender because gender is a
biological function and angels are not biological, needing to marry or
reproduce. Jesus confirmed this in (Matt. 22:30) when he said, that in the
hereafter we will be like the angels who do not marry.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The essence of angels is pure,
spiritual intellect. They do not have physical forms because they are
immaterial. They belong to an entirely different order of beings from humans.
However, should God intend a human recipient to see an angel in its true
ethereal state, such as in a vision or dream, they will be perceived according
to how God wants them to see them based on the message He wants to relay. Since
God and his angels’ reality cannot be fully comprehended by humans, He often
has them appear as images that will relay symbolic messages in an attempt to
help the perceiver grasp a view of that reality, albeit limited. Billy Graham
said, "<i>The cherubim in the Bible were often symbolic of heavenly
things." </i></span><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">(29) </span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">An example is Ezekiel’s
vision of the cherubim (discussed later).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If angels “appear unawares” (Heb
13:2) when appearing in disguise as humans, they do so as not to cause alarm.
This means they usually assume the same ethnic features as the person they plan
to encounter. Proof of this is recipients are never disturbed by their looks.
As one author put it:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">then angels are appearing as
Chinese to Chinese and Africans to Africans, as well as Americans to Americans
[and] that would mean there are angels appearing as blacks as well as
whites—probably as every nationality of the world.<sup>(13)</sup> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Another author said:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A missionary to the Andes saw
an angel that looked like a national from Ecuador; a Mexican family saw two
angels who looked like Mexicans; in Haiti the angels were very black; white
Americans saw angels who resembled their neighbors; black persons saw black angels.
This is to be expected. Being inconspicuous is often a part of the angel's
ministry.”<sup>(14)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Another example is when an angel appeared as a man to Samson’s mother (Judges
13:6). If he had not looked like an Israelite, she wouldn’t have, so calmly,
called him “a man of God.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If angels are not male or female,
what else are they “not?</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are not kings, saviors, or priests</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">all-knowing</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">forgivers of sins</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">living in us</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Christ substitutes</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">to be worshiped</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">members of the Godhead</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">servants for us to order around</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">or give day-to-day guidance and scriptural
insight to Christians. (This<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>is
the role of the Holy Spirit.)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Do angels have personal names</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The only two Godly angels named in
the Bible are Michael the Archangel and Gabriel (Luke 1:26, Joshua 5 and Rev.
12). All other angels have remained nameless. Therefore, generally speaking,
Godly angels who appear to humans (<i>whether in a vision or in person</i>)
never introduce themselves with a name. Their names are “secret” (KJV), or, as
other versions say in Judges 13:17-18, “too wonderful to understand.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And Manoah said unto the angel of
the Lord, What is thy name,
that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou
thus after my name, seeing it is secret?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Another reason for this is
the of angels, who are Christ-centered, is to always glorify God—not to lift
themselves up by identifying themselves.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels with names definitely occur
in cults; therefore, be cautious. When visitations are claimed by cult leaders,
the angel always has a name. Joseph Smith’s angel introduced himself as Moroni;
other cults claim personal spirit guides with names. Demonic angels can also
appear in visions and dreams. Female angels were typical during the New Age and
occult movements. One in the 1980s, was called “Emma.”<sup>(6)</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(See endnote No. 6. Also,
one test is whatever they may say can always be verified in the Bible. They are
not going to contradict it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What is the purpose of angels</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are God’s ministering spirits
sent to serve the Lord’s purposes, the Christian church and its believers;
also, the lost, whom God knows will eventually become heirs of salvation (Heb.
1:14). They are also our protectors.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They
are commanded to “<i>encamp all around us</i>” and keep us from harm. They strengthen
and minister to us (Luke 22:43, Psalm 34:7, 91:10-13, 103:21), and one helped
strengthen Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Their purpose is to
also: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Praise God (Ps. 148:1-2; Isa. 6:1-3; Rev
4-5)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Worship God (Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:8-13)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Serve God (Ps. 103:20; Rev. 22:9)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Communicate God’s will to men.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Minister to humankind in times of need
(Heb. 1:14; Gen 21:17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7; Matt 4:11)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Give direction (Matt. 1:20-21; Acts 8:26)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Appear in dreams or open visions and give
messages</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Deliver us from danger (Acts 5 and 12)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Protect us (Daniel 6:20-23; 2 Kings
6:13-17)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reveal information about the divine world
(Acts 7:52-53; Luke 1:11-20)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Aid in conversion by performing acts in
behalf of unbelievers whom God knows will eventually become heirs of
salvation. (Heb. 1:14; Acts 8:26; 10:3)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Are instruments of God’s judgments (Rev
7:1; 8:2)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Care for the righteous at the time of
death and carry their spirit to heaven. (Luke 16:22)<sup>(8)</sup></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What do angels look like in their
true state</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What angels look like depends upon
what “<i>kind</i>” they are—cherubim, seraphim, archangel, or angel. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Many theologians suggest there is an “angelic order” with each having specific
roles, and also appear differently because scripture suggests there is a
hierarchal ranking of angels:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“<i>For
everything, absolutely everything, above and below, v<span style="background: white;">isible and invisible,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>rank after rank after rank<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>of angels</span></i><span style="background: white;">”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>(Col.
1:16 Msg)</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Billy Graham also
said:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"We cannot study the subject of angels in the Bible without
becoming aware of ranks among angelic beings. The evidence shows that they are
organized in terms of authority and glory."</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Billy
Graham)</span><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">(27)</span></sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Let’s take these ranks in order
based on how the Bible presents and describes them:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1>
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE
CHERUBIM </span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(plural for Cherub)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The cherubim are mentioned numerous
times in the Old and New Testament and are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>never</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>called angels<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>(Angels are indicated in a lower
rank</i>.) Cherubim are living creatures who are involved in defending God’s
holiness from any defilement of sin (Gen 3:24; Ex. 25:18,20; Ezek.
1:1-18)—which is the reason they were the ones to guard the Tree of Life at the
entrance to Eden so Adam and Eve could not reenter in their sinful and fallen
state.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Prepare yourself</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">—here is
their biblical description. They are not the darling, winged cherub babies
depicted in paintings and on greeting cards. The following description is based
on what Ezekiel saw in a vision (Ezek 1):</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PvQ8hfHdt6H36fl60bp5teXwYVan5UI2PmOV9n89htqk3SI5wOMjud0WDrtIGexz8cHLoWOTzqlhIUbmOKruo-dnVoe0LpJKSUJyaSitvhQfakAIxMWnBZkoGx5-H0YQlljjzKLq3P0/s1600/ANGEL-4+FACED2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PvQ8hfHdt6H36fl60bp5teXwYVan5UI2PmOV9n89htqk3SI5wOMjud0WDrtIGexz8cHLoWOTzqlhIUbmOKruo-dnVoe0LpJKSUJyaSitvhQfakAIxMWnBZkoGx5-H0YQlljjzKLq3P0/s400/ANGEL-4+FACED2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Cherubim
with four faces<sup>(21)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-size: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Ezek 1:1-20</span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“…</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.<b><sup> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></sup></b>Also out of the midst
thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their
appearance;<br />
They had the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>likeness of a man</u>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup> </sup></b>And every one
had<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>four faces</u>, and every
one had four wings.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And their<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>feet<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>were straight feet; and the sole
of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the
colour of burnished brass.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup> </sup></b>And
they had the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>hands of a man<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>under their wings on their four
sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Their wings were joined one to
another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup><br />
</sup></b>As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>face of a man</u>, and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>face of a lion</u>, on the right
side: and they four had the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>face
of an ox<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>on the left side;
they four also had<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>the face of
an eagle</u>.<b><sup> </sup></b>Thus were their faces: and their wings
were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and
two covered their bodies. Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>wheel<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>upon the earth by the living
creatures, with his four faces.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The
appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl:
and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it
were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>When
they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.<b><sup> </sup></b>As
for their rings (rims), they were so high that they were dreadful; and their
rings (rims) were<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>full of eyes<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>round about them four.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And when the living creatures went,
the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the
earth, the wheels were lifted up.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Whithersoever
the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels
were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in
the wheels.<b><sup> </sup></b>And they went every one straight forward:
whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(<i>For the sake of space, I
omitted some passages, but the content is included in the below summary</i>)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here is a summary:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The glory of the Lord
hovered above the cherubim</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. (Ezek 1:25-28)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There was a crystal platform above them that
held a throne</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">from which the voice of God spoke. (Ezek 1:22-27)<br />
<b><u>Note</u>:</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Cherubim are
sometimes referred to as “throne angels;” also “carriers” “thrones” and
“chariots” for God’s throne. In religious iconography (pagan included), they
are always depicted as supporting the throne of the deity or a king. An example
is in Ps 18, where David describes the sudden descent of <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08329a.htm">Jehovah</a> to rescue
him: "<i>He bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was under His
feet.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>He rode upon
a cherub</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and flew upon
the wings of the wind</i>." The same idea of cherubim as the chariot
of God is indicated in Ezekiel 1:26, saying the “<i>glory of the Lord</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><u>rode</u>”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>above the cherubim. Here is an
artist’s rendition:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkkgVwaTyspYfH3rRR7oPNw2PxgO_4eEM2vVl3bW1EKvucSEpLOpi8gOgTBae59qpnfOWyqUrSMe7WSxGJTw7sfC-Ll734UkibWzFAVY2fCW4faYQo-FA0OfT_KEwO2hj4-XyNns_pmU/s1600/ANGELS-WHEELS-GOD-THRONE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkkgVwaTyspYfH3rRR7oPNw2PxgO_4eEM2vVl3bW1EKvucSEpLOpi8gOgTBae59qpnfOWyqUrSMe7WSxGJTw7sfC-Ll734UkibWzFAVY2fCW4faYQo-FA0OfT_KEwO2hj4-XyNns_pmU/s400/ANGELS-WHEELS-GOD-THRONE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;"><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Cherubim and wheels as transporters of
the throne of God</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They
were in the likeness of a man and had hands</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. (Ezek 10:8)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They
had four faces</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></u></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">each portrayed as
a human, ox, lion, and eagle. The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">four
faces on the four side of their heads were arranged in a square so it
could travel in any direction without having to turn.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b><u>Note</u></b><u>:</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In
Moses’ Tabernacle and the Temple, the man-made figures of the gold
cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, and also on
the embroidered veils, have only one face. But this is understandable,
since it would be difficult to hand-carve a four-faced image, let alone
embroider this on veils. Further, in Ezekiel’s vision of the latter-day
Jewish temple (not yet built), he saw the walls covered with images of
cherubim with only two faces (human and lion) instead of four. (Ezek
41:18-19) Again, understandable.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They
had four wings</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Ezek 1:11,23)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They
had straight legs like calve legs, and their feet were like burnished calf
hooves</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.
(Ezek: 1:7)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They
were covered with eyes</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">all over their
bodies.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Next to their bodies was a large sparkling
“wheel within a wheel</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”
turning crosswise to each other and also covered with eyes. The spirit of the
living being was in the wheels and provided the direction the wheels should go.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Some have interpreted the “wheels” to be a group of celestial angels
called “Ophanim,” which means wheels.<sup>(9)</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(See endnote) </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7Ef84RIFbIlmZEuqfV8WLRYqp6H3nmuvYFQ-r_AcrSNc5rfLz31HLdTUZDJde3c1wnaUECyEf5UQJB29FV2m4u4BZeR0w2QeGseJadrOI8fFzWqzBdhQ6HEsFaIBHaC54x5YM5h06A/s1600/ANGELS+WHEELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q7Ef84RIFbIlmZEuqfV8WLRYqp6H3nmuvYFQ-r_AcrSNc5rfLz31HLdTUZDJde3c1wnaUECyEf5UQJB29FV2m4u4BZeR0w2QeGseJadrOI8fFzWqzBdhQ6HEsFaIBHaC54x5YM5h06A/s200/ANGELS+WHEELS.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wheels within wheels, with
eyes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">THE SERAPHIM </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(plural for
Seraph)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Isaiah, Chapter 6,
is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJhfg4fQnlhRGvoaZFZwI6T0W_44_t10ND9a-f3b6pyZyhERZxiR5ZiXbzHX1s0opg6p9aoczi7l_PiW9-Jw2ByLzxDg4EUMUek5u8N2Cy0UH33KuoUeIY9tUw4-MFz4HtyrZggcd4Rg/s1600/ANGELS-SERAPHIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJhfg4fQnlhRGvoaZFZwI6T0W_44_t10ND9a-f3b6pyZyhERZxiR5ZiXbzHX1s0opg6p9aoczi7l_PiW9-Jw2ByLzxDg4EUMUek5u8N2Cy0UH33KuoUeIY9tUw4-MFz4HtyrZggcd4Rg/s1600/ANGELS-SERAPHIM.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seraphim <sup>(22)</sup></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Isa.
6:1-3)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup> </sup></b>Above it stood
the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with
twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><sup> </sup></b>And one cried
unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Here is a summary:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Their face</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. The number of
faces is not mentioned, probably because the seraphim covered their face
with two of their wings so Isaiah couldn’t see it. Other Bible versions
say “faces,” taking the liberty of assuming that if the Cherubim had more
than one face, surely the seraphim did, too.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They have six wings</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. Two cover their
face(s), two cover their feet, and the other two are used for flying. They
are “covered with eyes all around, even under the wings” (Rev. 4:8).</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Their typical verbal
expressions are</span></u></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">: <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.”
This suggests their purpose for existing is to declare praise to God.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">T</span></u><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">hey
are awesome creatures of “fire.</span></u></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">” “Seraphim” in Hebrew
means “the one that burns.” Their ministry is to praise the name and
character of God. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The similarities to
the cherubim</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">:
Both are focused on worshiping God and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to
guard His Holy domain and presence from any sin and corruption, which is
perhaps why one flew to Isaiah, put a burning coal on his mouth, and said:
“<i>Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your
sin atoned for.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>(Isa
6:7)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: #fffffa; color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For an explanation of why the cherubim and seraphim are so<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>strange</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>looking, and also “<i>why</i>” God
chose to portray their images as such, see my “FREE OFFER” at the end of
article.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Aside from the cherubim, what do
other angels look like in their true form</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Those who have been seen today, report as
follows:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Can appear as bright as fire (Heb. 1:7, Ps
104:4), or they can subdue their glory</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Can appear in dreams to bring messages
(e.g., Joseph was warned by an angel in a dream about Herod’s plan to kill
Jesus)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">May reveal something about the divine
world and some facts about you.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They can appear to humans either as
themselves, or disguised a human.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If seen in a vision, they do not have
wings.**<br />
<b>**</b>Angels, sometimes seen in church worship services, are described
as very tall with wings. They do not deliver messages, but appear to be
focusing their attention on the worship and music. They are more in line
with angels involved in the worship of God. What they are “called” is
unknown.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><u style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael the Archangel</span></u></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu5qW063VeO5nEL9oHrvrCKFde7Kz9QcZY9CaprKTxOTBS0DjxWDxsQybukQlZGFUgCmFJO0VdxxnFfB0F75ukU5D9K1VCv2UPCSdywcxCGWan4uwXRjvb7s_Xkc_bq-W8xyYxuKw4Sc/s1600/ARC+ANGEL-MICHAEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu5qW063VeO5nEL9oHrvrCKFde7Kz9QcZY9CaprKTxOTBS0DjxWDxsQybukQlZGFUgCmFJO0VdxxnFfB0F75ukU5D9K1VCv2UPCSdywcxCGWan4uwXRjvb7s_Xkc_bq-W8xyYxuKw4Sc/s1600/ARC+ANGEL-MICHAEL.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Michael</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(23)</sup></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Hebrew word<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Archangel</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>means “chief angel,” which suggests he
is head over all other angels. In the Bible, Michael is the patron angel and
defender of Israel who fights against the angels of other nations. He is called
the “Prince of angels;” also “<i>The Prince of the army of Yahweh</i>” (Joshua
5:13-15; cf Exod 23:23). He is mentioned by name in Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude
9; Jer. 30:5; also in Rev. 12:7 where he wars with the dragon during the Great
Tribulation. In 2 Thess 4:16 he is mentioned heralding the coming of Christ.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Apocryphal literature and Christian
tradition suggest there are actually seven archangels: Gabriel, Michael,
Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael<sup>(10)</sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Orthodox Church accepts tradition and
apocryphal literature. Below is their icon of the Seven Archangels:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutx8-O5wJ0-loA1QtyZWxzxMi2FAjkaoTRNVdN1pu6-oKkTXPkL0tfp7R3YXvN9k4o_egGmPhp_enp9fFsLhISHd4woGs5ue-hfagj5zYdPlCAsv3_Bty2rSajy1SWkCye2qdkxo2h8k/s1600/ARCANGELS-7-SYNAXIS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutx8-O5wJ0-loA1QtyZWxzxMi2FAjkaoTRNVdN1pu6-oKkTXPkL0tfp7R3YXvN9k4o_egGmPhp_enp9fFsLhISHd4woGs5ue-hfagj5zYdPlCAsv3_Bty2rSajy1SWkCye2qdkxo2h8k/s320/ARCANGELS-7-SYNAXIS.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Eastern
Orthodox Church’s icon<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of the
"Seven Archangels.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Left to right: Jegudiel,
Gabriel, Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, Barachiel. Below the circled image
of Christ are representations of the Cheubim (in blue) and seraphim (in red).</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gabriel</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx06Y_B_QoTwm9c-nxsrbENiZmfLXD71sz6joUvafdwjMaIQEUG32M6KcbEFAND4ykXKa0iibdf58tfT4oFuKBWMSz-4FnPfVTiub9tJNNOIiNu0cvVERnT9lavwClXNWymInA7hwR5U/s1600/ANGEL-GABRIEL-GOLD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx06Y_B_QoTwm9c-nxsrbENiZmfLXD71sz6joUvafdwjMaIQEUG32M6KcbEFAND4ykXKa0iibdf58tfT4oFuKBWMSz-4FnPfVTiub9tJNNOIiNu0cvVERnT9lavwClXNWymInA7hwR5U/s320/ANGEL-GABRIEL-GOLD.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Gabriel is a special messenger
angel who identified himself by saying: “<i>I am Gabriel who stands in the
presence of God</i>.” (Luke 1:17-26) He appeared to Daniel (8:15,16; 9:21); to
Zechariah, father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17-20); and to Mary, the mother
of Jesus (Luke 1:26). In Hebrew, his name means<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>God is great; the messenger of
Jehovah<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Lord's messenger.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>The scriptures never call him an
archangel.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Guardian
angels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_XIyV6nUYlqVpj825RTA72Hiulsn09rfYiv9D9JOv10a56yfy5G6N611D9v_jKwMm69x5SDVj583NbRqe3wrbmATFpqbn3u3xMu5qo0poRXFd9SpqLdP5gvUFxlCLe1dexXoD6VluYM/s1600/ANGEL-GUARDIAN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_XIyV6nUYlqVpj825RTA72Hiulsn09rfYiv9D9JOv10a56yfy5G6N611D9v_jKwMm69x5SDVj583NbRqe3wrbmATFpqbn3u3xMu5qo0poRXFd9SpqLdP5gvUFxlCLe1dexXoD6VluYM/s320/ANGEL-GUARDIAN2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Guardian Angel </span><sup><span style="background: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(25)</span></sup></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seventy-eight percent of Americans
believe in guardian angels. The belief in a guardian angel was originally
carried forward by the Jews based on two passages from the Old Testament in the
Psalms:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and
defends all who fear him.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(34:7).<br />
He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways"
(91:11)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the New Testament, however,
there is only one scripture suggesting this. Jesus said, speaking of children:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I
tell you that in heaven<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>their angels</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are always in the presence of my
heavenly Father</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. (Matt 18:10)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The inference is: Since God is
omniscient (knows everything), He is aware when one of his children needs help.
Their guardian angels, which are continually in God’s presence, can then immediately
be sent. The passage, however, has caused debate whether “little ones” only
refer to small children because there is no other New Testament scripture
indicating angels are also assigned to adults; only in the Old Testament.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Did my Guardian Angel help me</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If you were miraculously saved from an
accident—maybe even saw someone who disappears afterwards—you may have
interpreted that angel to be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>your</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>guardian angel. Yet, it may be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>any</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>angel since that is part of all
angels’ job description.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The perplexing problem raised about
having personal guardian angels is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>why
one person is killed in an accident, but another is not; or why one dies from
cancer and another one doesn’t. Many ask, “<i>Where were their angels?”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>The only answer available is, God
is sovereign and all-knowing, so He knows about it. We simply don’t have all
the answers on this one. (<i>However, in my forthcoming book, The Joshua Project,
I offer an experience I had about my now deceased husband that sheds some
comforting light on this.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Is there a hierarchy that ranks
angels with specific roles</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Bible lists ten ranks of
angels:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seraphim (Isa. 6)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Cherubim Ezek.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>1:1-20</i></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thrones (Col. 1:16)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dominions (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Principalities (Eph. 1:21; 6:12; Rom.
8:38; Col. 1:16)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Powers (Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38; Col. 1:16; 1
Pet. 3:22)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Archangels (I Thess. 4:16; Jude 1:9;
1 Thess. 4:13-18)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels (Rom. 8:38; 1 Pet. 3:22)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(also, wicked spirits: angels who
rebelled)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The concept of a hierarchy has come
down through three sources: Christian tradition, early church fathers, and
apocryphal literature.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Bible gives no details but
certainly alludes to it in the passages listed above, a couple which are
spelled out below:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Which he
wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>Far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion</u>, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>every name<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come.” (Eph 1:21)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>thrones</u>,
or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>dominions</u>, or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>principalities</u>, or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>powers</u>: all things were created
by him, and for him. (Col. 1:16 KJV)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For
everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>rank after rank after rank</u></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></u></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">of angels.” (Col 1:16 Message
Bible)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Bible stories also suggest
different roles. For example, cherubim and seraphim, who are the closest to the
throne of God, have different roles from Michael, who has a fighting-protection
role as “<i>Prince of the army of Yahweh.</i>” Whether one angel in the vast
hierarchy is considered “higher” than the other in the heavenly chain of
command is biblically unknown, but apocryphal literature and early Christian
traditions do suggest it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The cherubim and seraphim’s roles
mostly just appear without saying much except to praise God while someone else
delivers the message, and they usually appear more specifically to God’s chosen
prophets. Nevertheless, interestingly, St. Francis of Assisi in 1224, after
praying and fasting for a month to understand more about the depth of God’s
love for humanity, said he saw a Seraph. He said, “<i>I saw a seraph with six
fiery and shining wings descend from the height of heaven…Two of the wings were
lifted above his head, two were extended for flight and two covered his whole
body.”</i><sup>(11) </sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since there are cherubim, seraphim,
archangels and other angelic beings with different roles, it is interesting to
take a look to see what “tradition” (<i>outside of the Protestant Bible</i>),
has to say about an angelic hierarchy. The most popular is Pseudo-Dionysius,
the Areopagite. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
“</span><i><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pseudo</span></u></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>in
this context means</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">another
Christian wrote it under the name of the “real” Dionysius who lived in the
first century AD and was a convert of Paul’s. (<i>Doing this was a common and
acceptable practice at the time</i>.) Below is the artist’s conception of
Pseudo-Dionysius that appears on the cover of his book:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9cVgM-EQOgya4CtAZj29keROOtS52kg6konlsGdfFwBDUu7aSx7r-Uvnr2Z-jW0PaCV641eBzfSo7CFH29jBjPmLmaNh51GQQgyO11D-Q7dRaj70M6-mrkX_9BTowKvxgnh0MyY3b68/s1600/DIONYSIUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9cVgM-EQOgya4CtAZj29keROOtS52kg6konlsGdfFwBDUu7aSx7r-Uvnr2Z-jW0PaCV641eBzfSo7CFH29jBjPmLmaNh51GQQgyO11D-Q7dRaj70M6-mrkX_9BTowKvxgnh0MyY3b68/s1600/DIONYSIUS.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(485-528<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">AD</span>)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But first, who was the “real”
Dionysius the Areopagite</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The real one<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was a convert of Paul’s, converted
during Paul’s speech at Mars Hill. (Acts 17:34) Tradition says Dionysius
received information on the hierarchy from the apostle Paul after he (Paul) was
caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2); however, there is no biblical
scripture that states this. According to tradition, he traveled with Paul three
years preaching the gospel, and later was chosen as the first Bishop of Athens.
After Paul’s death, Dionysius traveled and preached in Rome, Germany, Spain,
and was later beheaded in 96 AD at Athens, although some sources say in Lutetia
(old name for Paris, France).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Who was P-Dionysius</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(<i>hereinafter P-Dionysius</i>) Living
centuries after the real Dionysius, he claimed he was a “communicator of tradition.”
Because of his claim, his angelic hierarchy is accepted in the Orthodox Church,
although not in Protestant churches. His hierarchy portrays how God manifests
His will to the higher order first, who in turn gives it to the lower orders of
angels via a chain of command. (<i>This idea of a heavenly hierarchy is not
unique to Christianity. Called the Great Chain of Being, it can be seen in
other world religions</i>.)<sup>(12)</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(See
endnote.) </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Although the Bible is relatively
silent on the subject, the idea of an angelic hierarchy seems plausible, for in
Zech 2:3, Dan 8:15-17 and Ezek 10:1-5, we find one angel telling another angel
what to do. In Daniel, one angel attempted to answer Daniel's prayer but was
waylaid by a demon spirit who delayed him. At that point, Michael came to help
the subordinate angel, freeing him to fulfill his mission to Daniel.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now to P-Dionysius’ hierarchy. . .
but first this is what Billy Graham has to say:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Medieval
theologians divided angelic beings into nine grades. ...Perhaps any list that
ranks angelic beings will err, but we can be sure they differ in power, some
having authority others do not possess. While I do not wish to be dogmatic, I
think there are different ranks of them and that the list given in Colossians
does refer to these celestial personalities."</span></i><i><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">(</span></sup></i><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">28)</span></sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Psuedo-Dionysius,
the Areopagite’s Nine-Rank Hierarchy of Angels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(See
endnote No. 16 for the source of this material.)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Any quote marks in the description
below are St. Demetrius of Rostov’s who compiled P-Dionysius’ writings. The
rest are my paraphrases. Also, since the Bible gives no elaborate detail such
as P-Dionysius presents, I only post his hierarchy for the sake of interesting
information.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The nine ranks above are grouped in
three hierarchies consisting of: the highest, the middle, and the lowest.
Although each angelic level has different names assigned to them, e.g.,
cherubim, seraphim, thrones, principalities, etc., and one is specifically
called “angels” in the lowest rung, collectively they are all called “angels.”
Each level of angelic beings has its own roles. They differ in roles because,
as P-Dionysius explained, the wise Creator does not reveal the mysteries of His
divine will to each rank equally.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Highest
Hierarchy</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seraphim</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are closest to the throne.
Isaiah said, “<i>Seraphs stood round about God”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>(Isa 6:2). Since the seraphim
stand before such fiery glory, the seraphim are themselves fiery (“seraphim”
means, burning or fiery). Heb. 1:7,14 and Ps 104:4 say: “<i>He maketh His
angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.</i>” Heb. 12:29 also
says: “<i>Our God is a consuming fire</i>.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>His throne is like a fiery flame;</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and on Mt. Sinai,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“The sight of the glory of the Lord
was like a devouring fire”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(Ex.
24:17).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Cherubim</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are slightly below the throne.
They stand in God’s transcendent light, before the One who is all-knowing,
wise, knowledgeable and righteous. Because they dwell in God’s transcendent
light, they are also radiant. According to P-Dionysius, their role is to
illumine humans through the “highest faculty of the person’s heart--that part
of one’s being which perceives God and His presence through His grace<i>.”</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thrones</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These are angelic beings who stand
before God’s throne just below the cherubim. They represent judgment and are
called “God-bearing” by St. Maximus the Confessor. St. Basil explains they are
called God-bearing, not according to their essence (<i>for example, Jesus was
God-bearing because of his undivided union and essence with God</i>) but
because of the “kind” of service entrusted to the thrones, which is ministering
judgment.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seated upon these thrones “in a way
that cannot be described, God ordains His judgments, as David said (Ps. 9:4):<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>‘Thou hast sat upon a throne, O
Thou that judgest righteousness</i>.’ Therefore, it is through the thrones that
God brings to pass His righteous judgments, for they are the ministers of His
justice.” The thrones also impart “to the tribunals of magistrates below,
and to kings and lords [on earth], the ability to pass righteous judgment.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Middle
Hierarchy</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dominions and authorities</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels called “Dominions” act like
heavenly governors and preside over nations. They rule over and regulate the
duties of the lower angels subject to them. They also pour down upon earthly
authorities ordained by God, to rule wisely and to exercise dominion
judiciously. They also teach mankind to rule over their senses, lusts and
passions.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Powers and authorities</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“The powers and authorities serve
the mighty and powerful will of the all-powerful and omnipotent Lord without
hesitation.” They work the marvels, and the grace to impart them, to God’s
elect “who have been deemed worthy to work wonders, to heal every illness, and
to foretell the future.” They also “strengthen men in their labor, bearing the yoke,
strengthening them to fulfill the obligations of their station in life and
helping the feeble in their weakness. They assist men to be patient and not to
weaken in trials, but to endure everything that comes to pass with nobility of
soul and resolute courage, humbly giving thanks to God who orders all things
for our benefit.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Virtues</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They have authority over the devil,
subduing their power, warding off temptations, and protecting those who
struggle for virtue’s sake to see they are not deprived of the spiritual
kingdom. They also forbid the demons to harm men as they desire.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Principalities</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“They rule over the angels below
them and direct them to fulfill God’s commands. They watch over the world,
protecting and guarding every kingdom and principality, every province and
people, tribe and nation, for each of these has its own angel of this rank as
guardian and governor. It is the duty of this order to teach men to render to
all in authority the honor due their station…usher worthy men into such positions
as they merit and instruct them not to use their offices for their own gain or
profit.”<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>They carry out
the orders of the Dominions and serve as guardian angels for large groups such
as nations and leaders of the world.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Archangels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">God appointed Michael as commander
of the entire nine angelic orders. Archangels are the messengers of good
tidings. They learn what God’s will is from the higher ranks and pass it on
down to angels below them who, in turn, declare them to men. They are the ones
who deliver special announcements and prophecies to men, and enlighten them to
understand the will of God. They are:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Gabriel,
Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael. (<i>My comment: This is
probably why Gabriel is always shown blowing a trumpet/horn</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is the lowest position in the
hierarchy of heaven, and closest in rank to men. “They reveal the lesser
mysteries of God and His intentions to men whom they guide to live virtuously
and righteously. Each of the faithful is entrusted to one of them.” (<i>suggests
a Guardian angel</i>) “They support those of us who stand firm, and they
raise up the fallen. Even if we sin, they do not forsake us but are always
ready to help us, if only we desire it.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(End of
P-Dionysius' Hierarchy)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">* * *</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Do angels appear today</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels can appear in an everyday
human form to individuals, and have the ability to withhold the brilliance of
their glory (as in the case of Abraham and Lot).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Billy Graham said that in order
to fulfill their function of bringing messages: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"...<i>angels
have not infrequently assumed visible, human form. ...Intrinsically, they [the
angels] do not possess physical bodies, although they may take on physical
bodies when God appoints them to special tasks</i>.”<sup>(15)</sup> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Their disguise as humans is so complete that Hebrews 13:2 cautions us to be
hospitable because we may entertain angels unaware.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">On the other hand, an angel can
decide to appear as a glorious man, as in Daniel 10:5-6. The brilliance was so
shocking and his voice so powerful that Daniel said his strength left and he
fainted.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain
man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt
of pure gold of Uphaz.<b><sup> </sup></b>His body
also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of
lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the
gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of
a tumult</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Often, to avoid startling the
recipient, they preface what they have to say with,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Do not be afraid,”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Fear not.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>This occurred in Luke 1:11-13,
when an angel appeared to Mary, and in Luke 2, when the shepherds saw a host of
them. Also, the Roman soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb became “like dead men”
at the lightning-like appearance of the angel who rolled the stone away. (Mt
28:4)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are a variety of accounts
seeing angels—stories of a stranger preventing injury or death then
mysteriously disappearing … a glimpse of a white-clothed being … a feeling as
though arms or wings were wrapped around one… an angel coming to them in a dream
or open vision, or being caught up to heaven and having an angel show them
facets of the divine world or their mission in life—too many testimonies to
dismiss. These messengers (<i>which is what “angel” means</i>) are probably
those angels on the lowest rung who are closest in rank to men. Perhaps that is
why they usually appear as a man. Their unseen presence can sometimes be
detected by their fragrance, a very, very delicate smell similar to a mix of
roses and carnations—an event experienced by many, and one of which I have had
more than once.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The angels are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>not</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to be worshipped. One angel corrected
John in the Book of Revelation:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And I fell down before his feet to
worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant
with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God;
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10 ASV)</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Can we pray and ask for an angel to
appear to us</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">No one in the Old or New Testament
who received an appearance ever prayed for one. They happened when least
expected. Recipients of angelic appearances today say the same thing. “They
just happen with no beforehand warning.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">One reason we should not insist
that God send us an angel is because God is not subject to our demands. Neither
are the angels, for they are also subject to God. Therefore, any appearance is
by God’s will and according to His timing. However, a most passionate prayer
for help that does not necessarily include asking for an angel, may result in
an angel coming.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What are we to conclude from all
this</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Bible indicates that angels are
awesome, glorious, and beautiful beyond description.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"<i>No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" (I Cor. 2:9).</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And there are too many testimonies
about their reality to dismiss; second, the study of them is important.
Recognizing their reality gives us a strong awareness of God’s love for us in
seeing how he has established an organized system of all kinds of angels to
handle every situation in our lives. He is mindful of us, blesses, protects,
guides, and guards us, and sees that we are brought to salvation through
Christ. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lastly,
no matter what problems we face in life, even the unexpected tragedies, we can
know from the scriptures that God and his angels are aware.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Billy Graham said:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Believers, look up – take courage.
The angels are nearer than you think…God has given ‘his angels charge of you,
to guard you in your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash
your foot against a stone.”<sup>(17)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now, to the free offer . . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Why
is it that Ezekiel’s description of the biblical cherubim and their symbolic
features strangely resemble ancient statues of angel-sphinxes?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaGCCMMcm3e84fBZWnHo41dGbIt6J1Uoj9i79ZmeyBfgwjKcYRXYqoB44_1wWYCBka4rWOyEYgne1i6543-ttWc0MMfrDESYhz1mkGi8VhJfNMIwFbZaR8mj69rAVvAiGLdT_JYl0rJ4/s1600/ANGEL-SPHINX-WHEELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaGCCMMcm3e84fBZWnHo41dGbIt6J1Uoj9i79ZmeyBfgwjKcYRXYqoB44_1wWYCBka4rWOyEYgne1i6543-ttWc0MMfrDESYhz1mkGi8VhJfNMIwFbZaR8mj69rAVvAiGLdT_JYl0rJ4/s1600/ANGEL-SPHINX-WHEELS.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Assyrian/Mesopotamian
winged sphinx with wheels</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">8<sup>th</sup>-9<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>century
BC<sup>(26)</sup></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">THE ANSWER IS IN THIS FREE
OFFER . . .</span> </span></sup></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></sup></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">"<i>FREE</i>" DOCUMENT!</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8THoANlIucYKPC2ZHIBUliqOSWtn1R6tve5sh3KE4xbydesvrAfkbg-YHpZHBer5r5Xw5ZIzJAsTDBr323VCMwUbk950lafV8y4EUDe_ifI_ZMtDSrS98cfj0CvpJfYgjGXEJ8X2ICXQ/s1600/BOXED+TEXT%25237-ANGELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8THoANlIucYKPC2ZHIBUliqOSWtn1R6tve5sh3KE4xbydesvrAfkbg-YHpZHBer5r5Xw5ZIzJAsTDBr323VCMwUbk950lafV8y4EUDe_ifI_ZMtDSrS98cfj0CvpJfYgjGXEJ8X2ICXQ/s640/BOXED+TEXT%25237-ANGELS.jpg" width="620" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">CLICK BELOW</span></u></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="mailto:janishutchinson@comcast.net">janishutchinson@comcast.net</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(copy & paste if link
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Until next time, Janis</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">THANK
YOU FOR VISITING!</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ENDNOTES</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1.
Billy Graham,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Angels: God's
Secret Agents</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by Billy Graham
(Garden City, NY, Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1995), p.45.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels:
the Mysterious Messengers</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> (1994 on ABC).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">3.
See<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.biblestudy.org/question/are-there-appearances-of-angels-in-new-testament.html">http://www.biblestudy.org/question/are-there-appearances-of-angels-in-new-testament.html</a>).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Billy
Graham, op cit. p. xiii.<br />
5. Billy Graham (source unknown)<br />
6. See<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://people.opposingviews.com/jesus-angels-mormonism-2790.html">http://people.opposingviews.com/jesus-angels-mormonism-2790.html</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Angels">http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Angels</a>;
also,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>p. 157<i>.<br />
</i>7. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.alexanderseibel.de/who_is_angel_emma.htm">http://www.alexanderseibel.de/who_is_angel_emma.htm</a>)<br />
8. Excerpts from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://blog.getitinyoursoul.com/index.php/2014/12/angels-demons-satan/">http://blog.getitinyoursoul.com/index.php/2014/12/angels-demons-satan/</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels,
Demons, & Satan</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> by Jane Brown, p. viii.<br />
9. The Ophanim</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">are
described in the Dead Sea Scrolls and apocryphal books, and are referred to as
the </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">many-eyed ones</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> who never sleep, but guard the throne of God. From the
apocryphal Book of Enoch we read:</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"And He summoneth all
the Hosts of Heaven, and all the Holy Ones above </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">—</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> the Seraphim, the Cherubim, the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>Ophanim</u>,
all the Spirits of Power, the Blessed Ones, and all the Spirits of
Principalities, the Angels, and the Powers on earth and over the water: with
one voice shall they bless and glorify and exalt the Lord</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">…”</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">10. See<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Archangels">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Archangels</a>)<br />
11. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://angels.about.com/od/AngelsReligiousTexts/a/A-Seraphim-Angel-Gives-Saint-Francis-Of-Assisi-Stigmata-Wounds.htm">http://angels.about.com/od/AngelsReligiousTexts/a/A-Seraphim-Angel-Gives-Saint-Francis-Of-Assisi-Stigmata-Wounds.htm</a><br />
12. The idea of a heavenly hierarchy is not unique to Christianity.
Called the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Great Chain of
Being,</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it starts from God,
progressing downward through angels, then to demons, the planetary system,
animal, plant, and mineral world. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) also developed an
angelic hierarchy from Colossians and Ephesians. The universal belief in this
hierarchy can also be seen in Confucianism, Japan</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">s
Shinto religion, Plato, Aristotle, Milton</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Paradise Lost</i>, as well as Moses</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> priestly system. Secular life followed suit, reflecting the
divine pecking order: Kings at the top, then Lords, princes, nobles, down to
peasants. In the home, the father at the top, then wife, children, etc. The LDS
Church also has a hierarchal ladder with their leadership, and a heavenly
hierarchy portrayed in their doctrine.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">13.
Terry Law, in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Everyone's Guide
to Angels,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>by Charisma House
(p. 7).<br />
14. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2007/06/What-Do-Angels-Look-Like.aspx?p=2">http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2007/06/What-Do-Angels-Look-Like.aspx?p=2</a><br />
15. Billy Graham,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="background: white;">Angels, op. cit.,</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">pp. 28, 30, 31.<br />
16. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>The material on
Pseudo-Dioysius</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> hierarchy is taken from a
homily given by Father Theophylact of Ochrid (1050-1126) entitled, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Synaxis of the Holy Chief Commander Michael and the Other Bodiless
Powers.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fr.
Theophylact took his information from, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Volume 3: November, compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(1651-1709). Rostov probably obtained his information from
Pseudo-Dionysius</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> book,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>On the Celestial Hierachies.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Cited at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.chrysostompress.org/lives_8_november.html">http://www.chrysostompress.org/lives_8_november.html</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">17.
Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 39.<br />
18. Time Magazine article </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels
Among Us</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> by Nancy Gibbs; Sam Allis;
Nancy Harbert & Lisa H. Towle; Dec. 27, 1993)<br />
19. Fanpop.com<br />
20. Thefeastofhispromise.com<br />
21. Cgtruth.org (permission received)<br />
22. Petite-emi.deviantart.com<br />
23. beliefnet.com<br />
24. purposely left blank<br />
25. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>German postcard, 1900
(from wikipedia)<br />
26. The Metropolitan Museum of Art<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/">www.metmuseum.org</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">27.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 49.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">28. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 49, 50.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">29. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 56)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some have asked why I haven't been
writing more of my own articles lately. My answer is that annoying health problems
and trying to finalize my new book have taken up my time. Hopefully, I will get
back to it soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Before I introduce today's guest blogger,
I would like to first <u>highly</u> recommend a new book by Thomas R. Caffrey:<span style="color: purple;"> "<i><span style="background: white;">A Boy for all Seasons, BUT A MAN…? Boys Need a Hero's Journey
to Reach Virtuous Manhood</span></i></span><span style="background: white;"><i><span style="color: purple;">.
" </span></i><span style="color: #333333;">Click here on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boy-All-Seasons-but-Man/dp/069256148X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1522347590&sr=8-1&keywords=a+boy+for+all+seasons+but+a+man&linkCode=sl1&tag=faithpilgrims-20&linkId=e3d005ebeaef8c43d9873fdee1753437">this</a> Amazon link and find out what we have forgotten in
teaching our children.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">In the meantime, below is another informative
and delightful lesson drawn from Diane Gardner's life experiences. (I had no
idea squirrels were this smart!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><i style="color: red; text-align: start;">Diane's previous article, "Life Lessons From a Hot Fudge Sundae" can be found on the dashboard under "Life Lessons;" also, if you scroll down past this page.</i></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"><i style="color: red; text-align: start;"><br /></i></span></i></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH6t71y65o_VvkL75wV1LXq_kzpTnPVDtfW852MxM7vksmbPcmZznMOUZO6slEvT4Vd047hpAeecCCji8xnp2wbFnqWA-geHpRiDbu5YDlaqY7kJJyB3QMMVQzXhtUVKy5OMvVWVMtdE/s1600/SQURREL-SORRY+2+BOTHR+U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="214" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH6t71y65o_VvkL75wV1LXq_kzpTnPVDtfW852MxM7vksmbPcmZznMOUZO6slEvT4Vd047hpAeecCCji8xnp2wbFnqWA-geHpRiDbu5YDlaqY7kJJyB3QMMVQzXhtUVKy5OMvVWVMtdE/s200/SQURREL-SORRY+2+BOTHR+U.jpg" width="182" /></a></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"THE SQUIRREL AND THE BIRD FEEDER"</span></b></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">by </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Diane Gardner</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sM8Z_4EdUduvd9BmwJ5kDJX6yizl8KXwLwQjMTy2yhU0IBpcPEMlBGj80pd5rX4U-5TVYg3iz43yjOh6CYpVieRMYGtXc6ms3cI9qD3dnhKpjy6ffSszOaQuDtyseuvr8tc6yT4EWq0/s1600/DIANE+GARDNER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sM8Z_4EdUduvd9BmwJ5kDJX6yizl8KXwLwQjMTy2yhU0IBpcPEMlBGj80pd5rX4U-5TVYg3iz43yjOh6CYpVieRMYGtXc6ms3cI9qD3dnhKpjy6ffSszOaQuDtyseuvr8tc6yT4EWq0/s200/DIANE+GARDNER.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My husband Larry and I have always enjoyed watching the birds come
and go so we have placed bird feeders in the yard where we can see them from
the house. But several years ago, I learned a lesson from a bird feeder and a
very persistent squirrel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This particular
squirrel thought we had set out a smorgasbord just for him and he was eating
the seed faster than the birds could get to it. We tried everything we could
think of to stop him from eating the birds out of house and home. We even put up
a special squirrel feeder that held a cob of corn just for him. Apparently, he thought
that was just the appetizer before moving on to the<b> </b>main course.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-JTAm8nOeQcsevH6h208g3WszrJKXlZkyXUD8hTwq_VDmOCz5KQ9HJA646bGWB05CbnOzG3DLUbuRowtFwgTGsdg1Ulp_UQwlbeIYQ0hD0NutrZkisdjKm5xuXmo7JelmxzXfbGfzNw/s1600/SQUIRREL+%2526+CORNONCOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="205" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-JTAm8nOeQcsevH6h208g3WszrJKXlZkyXUD8hTwq_VDmOCz5KQ9HJA646bGWB05CbnOzG3DLUbuRowtFwgTGsdg1Ulp_UQwlbeIYQ0hD0NutrZkisdjKm5xuXmo7JelmxzXfbGfzNw/s200/SQUIRREL+%2526+CORNONCOB.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I tried everything I could think of and every
trick I had heard of to stop him from invading the feeder. But that
fuzzy-tailed rat learned how to get around everything I did. I greased the pole
with petroleum jelly; he jumped from the top of the patio to the top of the
feeder. I put cayenne pepper in the birdseed (I was told it wouldn’t hurt the
birds but that squirrels didn’t like it). This squirrel’s mouth must have been
lined with asbestos because he kept right on enjoying the birdie buffet!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The feeder in
question was shaped like a barn and the roof lifted so it could be refilled.
That scoundrel squirrel learned to raise the roof, literally! So we wrapped a
bungie cord (a strong elastic band) around the bird feeder top to bottom so
that rascally rodent couldn’t get the top off. I looked out the window the next
day and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. That squirrel was standing on his
hind feet on top of the feeder and pulling the bungie cord with his front paws!
I’m serious! It was like something from a cartoon. At that point we decided to
put that particular feeder away until that squirrel moved on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVokXsMna9E0RQj2tEuGNKTLePaEC6_qJa-whP-B6RdfiVSMljAac9P9G7pQ9AFW7L04pbaPHLKlvc_5UL8FRJCf9A6SjB8OAKtVkI2UiMt5H23mkSKf3Z-2Mvc3fg78so1_9Vg_xK_4A/s1600/SQUIRREL-ON+ROOF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVokXsMna9E0RQj2tEuGNKTLePaEC6_qJa-whP-B6RdfiVSMljAac9P9G7pQ9AFW7L04pbaPHLKlvc_5UL8FRJCf9A6SjB8OAKtVkI2UiMt5H23mkSKf3Z-2Mvc3fg78so1_9Vg_xK_4A/s200/SQUIRREL-ON+ROOF.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So what does a silly story about a squirrel and
a bird feeder have to do with life? For me, it is the perfect illustration of
John 10:10 where Jesus says, “</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Just
like that squirrel that was so persistent in stealing birdseed, the enemy of
our souls will stop at nothing in his attempt to steal what God has given us. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">And while that squirrel was somewhat imaginative
and used his limited strategies in his quest for what wasn’t his</span>, the
enemy of our souls is much craftier, if not creative; he’s been using the
same basic tactics ever since the Garden of Eden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">If we look at the first few verses of Genesis
3, we can spot a few of Satan’s strategies and how he employs them in our lives.
And because our Father never leaves us without defense, we’ll look at some of
the tools He has given us to deal with the enemy’s <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">tactics</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So what are a few of Satan’s strategies?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
</div>
<ol>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Distraction</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">
– If the enemy can get our attention off God’s presence and provision, and His glory
and grace, he knows we’ll become
discouraged and possibly depressed. Then he can tempt us to…</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Doubt</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">
– Doubt can cause us to question God’s goodness, His word, or His very
existence. Once the seeds of doubt are planted we become disillusioned, and the path leads to…</span></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Deception</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – Trickery, or a scam or hoax, can sound believable and logical. If it
isn’t carefully examined, it might cause us to make bad decisions and follow
the wrong path.</span></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Destruction</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> –This is the
ultimate goal of our enemy. He comes to steal what God has given us, to kill
our hopes and dreams, and to destroy our witness so that we feel defeated. But Jesus comes to give
us a rich, satisfying, and eternal life.</span></span> </li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b style="font-variant-caps: small-caps;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's Tools</span></b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">How are we to respond to
the enemy’s tactics? </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">2 Peter 1:3 (<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>) tells us that our heavenly Father has provided us with
everything we need for this life:<i> “His
divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”</i> In
addition to His promises, He has given us His presence: “<i>God has
said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”</i> This also includes
His power to combat Satan's strategies: <i>"For
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" </i>(Heb. 13:5<sup>b
</sup>(<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>); Phil. 4:13<span style="background: white;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In Ephesians 6:11 Paul tells us us to put on
the spiritual armor God has provided so we’re prepared when the enemy comes
against us. <i>“</i><i><span style="background: white;">Put on all of God’s armor so that you will
be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil</span>.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He explains who our real enemy is in verse 12, </span><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“For
we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark
world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">hen
in verses 13-17, Paul goes on to describe the armor<span style="color: red;">:</span>
“<span class="text"><i>Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to
resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be
standing firm.</i></span><i> <span class="text">Stand your ground, putting on the
belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.</span> <span class="text">For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that
you will be fully prepared. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop
the fiery arrows of the devil.<b><sup> </sup></b>Put on salvation as your
helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In contrast to
the four strategies Satan uses, we can find additional tools of encouragement
in the Bible.<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There are thousands of
wonderful, applicable verses that
support and help us to focus on God's promises. I’d like to share some that have
been useful to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Distraction</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">
– To keep my focus right, it’s helpful for me to think about Hebrews 12:2<sup>a
</sup>(<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>), “…<i>fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
pioneer and perfecter of faith,”</i> and<i> </i>Colossians 3:1-2 (<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>),
“<i>Since, then, you have been raised with
Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the
right hand of God. Set your minds on things <br />above, not on earthly things.”</i></span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Doubt</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">
– Psalm 23 constantly reminds me of God’s goodness, protection, and provision. And
Proverbs 3:5-6 (<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">kjv</span>) lets me know
God always has my best interests at heart when I believe and trust Him: <i>"Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”</i></span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Deception</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">
– I’ve always loved Acts 17:11<sup> </sup>(<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>)<sup>
</sup>and try to use it
to identify deception<i>: "Now the
Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for
they received the message with great eagerness and examined the
Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” </i>2 Timothy
3:16 gives more insight: <i>“All Scripture
is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and
teaches us to <br />do what is right.”</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Destruction</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> – For the one who has accepted Jesus as their savior, there is great
comfort and security in John 10:28-29 (<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">niv</span>)<b><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></b>which assures us Satan cannot destroy us: “<i>I give them eternal life, and they
shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of
my Father’s hand.”</i></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I’m sure you have your own stories of how God
has protected and provided for you<b> </b>as well as verses that have helped you along
life’s journey. But the next time you see a squirrel headed for a bird feeder,
I hope you’ll think again about how God is watching over you and has supplied
everything you need in this life to combat Satan’s strategies. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">All Scriptures are from the New Living Translation unless
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-26805315151141423502018-03-10T19:22:00.000-08:002018-03-10T19:22:53.348-08:00LIFE LESSONS FROM A HOT FUDGE SUNDAE<span style="color: red;"><b>Please Share
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My
guest writer this month is Diane Gardner. Presently a Bible teacher, she was formerly
an RN, and also served as a Pastor's administrative assistant, Director of
Women's Ministries, and Communications Coordinator at her church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since
her retirement, she says the <span style="color: black;">highest and most rewarding aspects of her life is
t</span><span style="color: black;">hat she is a daughter of the <i>Most High King</i>, a wife of 56 years, mother to four
beautiful daughters, grandmother to fourteen phenomenal grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law,
and great-grandmother to one adorable little boy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">She h</span><span style="color: black;">as gleaned man</span><span style="color: black;">y
"Life Lessons" from everyday experiences with her family. This is one of them . . . and there will be more forthcoming. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><i>Enjoy!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">LIFE
LESSONS FROM A HOT FUDGE SUNDAE</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Diane Gardner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our daughter developed her love for ice cream
very early on, so she was ecstatic one day when we told her we were going out
for some. But when I told her we would get her a hot fudge sundae, her first,
her delight turned to tears as she cried, “But I want ice cream!” She had no
idea of the wonders of a hot fudge sundae and wanted no part of it. (She soon
changed her mind! <b>😊</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wonder if we’re like that sometimes. We
have our hearts set and our minds made up about what we want and have no
intention on settling for anything else. While we’re crying for a single scoop
of plain ice cream, God wants to give us the key to the ice cream store. There
are delights beyond our imagination there, hot fudge sundaes, banana splits,
milk shakes and malts; but there’s a catch, first we have to hand Him our
desires. We have to release our plans, our dreams, our wants and trust Him to transform
them into delights that will fill our hearts with joy and pleasure. We must release
our will, which is often guided by shallow, selfish desires, to His good and
perfect will, which is always designed for our good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God’s Word tells us that He has good things
in store for us: </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<i>For I know the plans I have for you,” says
the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a
future and a hope.</i>” Jer. 29:11.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm
84:11 says:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<i>For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He
gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good
thing from those who do what is right</i>.”</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then there’s Psalm 37:4: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<i>Delight yourself in
the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart</i>.” (Note the
progression. When we delight ourselves in Him first then He satisfies our
heart’s deepest longings.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, as Bible teacher and author Beth Moore
says, the issue is not do you believe <b><i>in</i></b> God but do you believe Him; do
you really believe what He’s said in His Word? Believe Him. Trust Him. He’s got
good stuff in store for us. Like the man on television used to say, “I
guarantee it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-81956102096002903592017-12-13T21:03:00.000-08:002017-12-12T17:37:50.918-08:00WHAT CORNER DO YOU SHINE IN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: red;">The previous article, "<i>The Peter Testimony: Do you have one?</i>" can be found below this article at the end, or else directly at: http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-peter-testimony-do-you-have-one.html</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~</span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of you may be struggling with the same quandary as I once did—to make sense of life, especially when you feel you haven’t fulfilled the need that instinctively resides in every human breast, to perform some noble service to humanity through which your life will achieve meaning. You may secretly be wondering:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“When am I going to make my significant contribution? And . . . what is it?”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why is this so important to us? Because deep down we realize that if our own individual life has no meaning, then life in its grander perspective has no meaning either and we can’t handle that. Why? Because it begs a further question:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Why, then, are we here?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this article, I will share with you my struggle and how a simple little Sunday school song that I learned when a small child gave me the answer. However, it didn’t come as an “Aha”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>moment until years later as an adult. When it did, this song made a greater impact on me than all the theology, psychology and philosophy books I've read, and it solved my personal dilemma.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT CORNER DO YOU SHINE IN?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>When did my struggle begin</u></b><b>?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My frustration about my own life’s purpose began in grammar school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recall my teachers telling stories about outstanding people in history who started out with humble beginnings but grew up to become these really, really great individuals who influenced the nation, even the world. One teacher told how Abraham Lincoln, despite his poor education and the fact that he was raised in a log cabin, grew up to be President of the United States and made his great contribution by abolishing slavery. Another teacher told about Madame Curie<span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in isolating radium that led to the treatment of illnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, of course, there was Mozart, Michelangelo, Sir Isaac Newton, Alexander Graham Bell, and we can’t leave out George Washington Carver (<i>what would the world do without peanut butter?</i>) and many others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In more recent times, other individuals have made significant contributions, and the list could go on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martin Luther King with his dream of equality . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leonard Bernstein’s musical gifts . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Luciano Pavarotti’s voice that thrilled millions . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Albert Einstein’s brilliance in science . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Harriet Beecher Stowe’s world-changing book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mother Teresa’s charitable work to the needy . . .<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I firmly believed that those individuals who contributed so significantly to the world were led by God’s spirit to do exactly what they did. Similarly, whatever I was supposed to do was what God particularly appointed me to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Naturally, the objective of my grade school teachers was to inspire our young minds to realize our potential and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>convince us that we, too, could do something great for mankind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, I’m sure I was no different than my other classmates who listened to those stories. Sitting there in class, we truly believed that we would some day make a great contribution to the world and influence humanity just like Abraham Lincoln or Madame Curie—for me, especially Marie Curie, after I saw Hollywood’s dramatization of her life starring Greer Garson (<i>I’m sure dating myself).</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, we students had very grandiose ideas about what we were going to do that would help the masses when we grew up. Back then I seemed incapable of narrowing my contribution down to anything smaller than the whole human race. Unfortunately, I think all of us, myself included, thought it would just happen willy-nilly with no effort on our part. Whatever it was that was inside us would <i>have</i> to break out and express itself and we’d hit the jackpot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nevertheless, albeit naïve, what was instilled in me remained and I carried my dream with me for years, determining that I was going to do all these great things and make this terrific, tremendous, significant, outstanding, enormous, colossal (<i>yet, of course, humble</i>)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>contribution to the world.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">My apple cart is turned upside down</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The unsettling reality of my naiveté and the perplexing problem that began to gnaw at me by the time I approached middle age was that so far, nothing big and specific had happened in my life to fulfill my pressing need:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hadn’t discovered a cure for some deadly disease.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hadn’t composed any powerful symphony that thrills people’s souls<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hadn’t produced a lilting song that the whole world sings; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hadn’t been recognized by the world at large<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neither had I become a best selling author (<i>the book subjects I write about only appeal to a small select audience</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was I frustrated? Well, yes. My day was definitely not going well . . . What I was facing was failure as a human being. I also had to face the fact that life itself may be purposeless and meaningless. It frustrated the heck out of me. What was the problem? Was I supposed to wait longer? <i>But I was already 60!!</i></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The need to create the right question</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided I needed to formulate a question I could ask myself that would help me recognize when I had achieved this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s when I came up with a two-part question: (1)<i>What kind of question can I ask myself so that I’ll know whether I have achieved my great contribution? </i>(2) <i>What<span class="apple-converted-space"> point in time </span>should I ask myself this question? </i>I thought about that and, since my life wasn’t over yet, it came to me—at least my first attempt at an answer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It would be when I am finally lying on my deathbed and looking back over my life. At that point, I would ask myself the question and, having lived my life, either be able to acknowledge, or not, that I made some great discovery, cured some disease, wrote some great book, or performed some significant service--all of which would have benefited the world and helped the masses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But whoa! Who wants to wait until their deathbed?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shouldn’t I be able to determine if I had achieved it sooner than that? If I wait until I die to figure it out and I don’t see any kind of satisfaction in SOME accomplishment at that point, my life would definitely have proved utterly worthless.<i> </i>I absolutely didn’t want to face that . . . I couldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I discouragingly sat down with myself and said, “Self, face it. At the ripe old age of 60, you haven’t become an Abraham Lincoln, a Madame Curie, or even a John Steinbeck—nor will you ever. You’re simply not going to do anything that’s going to influence the whole human race. You’re going to have to settle for just being plain ol’ Janis Hutchinson who isn’t going to do any more than what she’s already doing.” It was a moment of abject worthlessness beyond description, because I realized it would bring me to my deathbed realizing three things:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. I had failed God (or did he fail me?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. There had been no purpose or meaning to my life, and . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. if there was no meaning to my life, life itself has no purpose either (<i>the latter can be devastating enough).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I was laboring through all this, something unusual happened! <i>I heard something!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 29.3333px;">♫</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Revelation at last</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">!</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What did I hear? A simple little Sunday school song I learned when a small child. I began singing it to myself--couldn’t get it out of my mind. What on earth, I wondered, would make me think of it after all these years? Over and over it went in my head, day after day after day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The song only had four short lines—and please pay attention to the underlined words because even if universal life itself may have no particular meaning for you, individual lives do. This is where the rubber meets the road as far as one’s life’s purpose and meaning goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">♫</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: red;">Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Like a <i><u>little</u></i> candle, burning in the night.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">In this world of darkness, so let us shine,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">You in your <i><u>corner</u></i>—and I in mine.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">♫</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, the first 3 lines were nice, although liking myself to a “little” candle was somewhat troublesome . . . but it wasn’t so much about being a “candle” that grabbed me as did the last line about "<i>corners.</i>" Corners were<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>LITTLE<b>!</b></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They were<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>SMALL</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>places! Was I supposed to be a little candle in a small, insignificant corner of a room like where spiders hide? Surely, I wasn’t to be relegated to that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>What kind of corner was this song talking about?</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I began to dig into what corners were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">What is a corner</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A corner, as we already understand, is a small, remote space between two converging lines, like the corner of a room where 2 walls meet. That corner-space is<span class="apple-converted-space"> always </span>part of something larger - but it is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>NOT</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the large part itself (the whole room)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it’s only a corner of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This led to my next question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Are there other kinds of corners other than where two walls meet?</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes. There are 5 different kinds. For example:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. We live in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>world<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>which is in a particular <i>corner</i> of the universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. We live in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>country which is in a <i>corner</i> of the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. We live in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>State which is in a <i>corner</i> of the country<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. We live in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>city which is in a <i>corner</i> of the State<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. We live in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>house, apartment or condo, which is in a <i>corner</i> of a city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The above are all the options we have to shine in. Some people are fortunate to shine notably in all of them (<i>notables we learned about in grammar school</i>). Although Mother Teresa lit her candle in one place, at the same time she also functioned in five corners</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(1) She lived in a <i>corner</i> of the world, South Asia.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(2) In a <i>corner</i> of South Asia she lived in a <i>corner</i> called India.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(3) In India, she lived in the <i>corner</i>/<i>state</i> of West Bengal</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(4) In West Bengal, she lived in a <i>corner</i> city called Calcutta.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(5) In Calcutta, she resided in a <i>corner</i> of West Bengal called “Missionaries of Charity Mission” where she ministered to the sick and dying.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus also functioned in more than one corner—a corner of the world called Palestine; a corner of Palestine called Bethlehem; a corner in Galilee; a corner in Jerusalem; a corner in Samaria by a well; a corner on a hillside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Similarly, we all have the same 5 locations to function in. I live in a corner of the world called America. In a corner of America, I live in Washington State. In Washington State, I live in a corner called Everett.<span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>I live in a corner within the city of Everett—my condo. In my condo and elsewhere, my church for example, is where I function. (Can I call it “shine?”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Actually, I don’t need to shine in all 5 of them . . . just one, because all our “corners” keep reducing down to one—our individual corner where we function as a human being in whatever unique abilities God has blessed us with. The problem is that oftentimes we don’t realize what they are and that we’re making a contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Jesus said in Matt 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that others may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven,” he did not mean that we have to shine to the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>WHOLE</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>world all at once! Just in our own unique individual corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>The difference in everyone’s corners</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The difference is that <i><u>your</u></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>corner will never be like my corner, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><u>my</u></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>corner will never be like <i><u>yours</u></i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>As the little Sunday school song goes: “<i>You in your corner, and I in mine</i><b>.” </b>We can’t shine in someone else’s corner. Their corner is distinctively theirs, as is yours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, let’s talk more about our “Individual Corner” since this is the one that should concern us the most. This is the one where we function according to our abilities we’ve been blessed with, or a profession we’ve been trained in. However, within our Individual Corner are two <i>sub-corners</i>: (1) a “Specialty Corner” and (2) “Unexpected Corners.” Here are the definitions of each:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Specialty Corner</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></b>This corner is where we function in the areas of our expertise, meaning the talents, capabilities and qualities the Lord has blessed us with (<i>teaching, writing, art forms, singing, love, hospitality, friendship, etc</i>.) It may also include what we are trained in (<i>teaching, writing, administration, business profession, church ministry, or music.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unexpected Corner(s)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These corners consist of the places we unexpectedly find ourselves—in a corner of the supermarket, parking lot, at church, the work place, on an airplane, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s take our “Specialty Corner” first. And I’ll have to use myself as an example since I can’t speak for the rest of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">My Specialty Corner</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Within the walls of my condo, my "Specialty corner" is my computer room. Lining the walls of that small room are bookcases containing a zillion books, four beat-up filing cabinets, a printer, a computer, and a table with a six-tiered set of filing baskets wobbly perched on top of each other that some have referred to as my “Leaning tower of Pisa.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There, I spend most of my time, out of the public eye, writing. This is my passion. And usually one’s “passion” is what God has called you to and we should recognize it as the purpose or calling in our life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, writing books, magazine articles, and my blog (also teaching at church) is the purpose of my life and what I’ve been called do. How do I know? Simple. Because it’s my passion!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There, in the corner of my computer room, I fulfill my “Specialty Corner.” Plus, I also mentor cultists and ex-cultists worldwide (<i>those coming out of false, sometimes abusive, religions</i>) and spend hours responding to emails from them to help them through the difficult transition into Christianity. I’m able to help because I have expertise in that area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I didn’t plan for all this. It just progressively happened due to my life’s experiences. It sorta sneaks up on you, which is why we often don’t recognize it as our life-purpose. My Specialty corner is where I feel the most useful and where I would like to think, as the little song goes, “Jesus bids me shine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, even though I do all this</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and this is the point</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m not some big name that the whole world knows. I am not functioning to the whole world</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">en masse</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as I once dreamed as a child. I simply function in one tiny corner, hopefully letting Jesus work through me so my “little” candle will shine and affect the lives of those I’m particularly fitted to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully, you will also know that your amount of shining doesn’t have to bring you huge national or worldwide attention—it can be something less than that. Yet, at the same time, it will convey a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>huge<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>benefit to whomever is on the receiving end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, we come to our second sub-heading of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our Individual Corner:</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Unexpected Corners</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While we all have our Specialty Corner to shine in, Jesus bids us shine in ANY corner we happen to find ourselves in. It consists of those places we spontaneously and unexpectedly find ourselves in, although it may or may not involve your “specialty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following are 6 true stories that illustrate “Unexpected Corners.” (Hang in . . . they’re good ones!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 1<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This story appeared in Guidepost magazine many years ago: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A small Christian mission was trying to establish itself in an Asian country by functioning in a rented room in a building in the poor part of town. Their front door opened on to the sidewalk that edged the main street. But so far, the mission hadn’t been successful in gaining converts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then a woman came in and converted to Christianity. She couldn’t speak English and she couldn’t even speak the language of most of the people in that town. But she was so happy to have found Jesus that she wanted everyone to know about Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She thought and thought—What could she do? Where could she shine the best? Having come from humble circumstances, all she knew how to do was sweep. So, every day she went out on the front sidewalk of the mission and began sweeping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To everyone who came along she shined each one a great big smile and excitedly told them about Jesus even though most couldn’t understand her. Then she would motion to them and invite them into the mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day after day after day, week after week, month after month, she continued to sweep and smile, sweep and smile. Many were caught up by her contagious smile and entered those doors and their lives were changed forever. Many who would otherwise never have known the Lord were brought into the Kingdom. She made her contribution as a little candle in the corner she found herself in and she made a difference. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 2<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The author, Robert Louis Stevenson, went to live in Samoa for his health. The natives loved him. To them he was “Tusitala, teller of tales.” But he was also more than that. He was their kind friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stevenson became concerned because the natives had only a narrow, rugged path on which to bring provisions from the harbor to the interior. It was a difficult undertaking and so Stevenson, with his own money had a good road built. In gratitude for his kindness the Samoans named it, “<i>The Road of the Loving Heart</i>.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Building that road, however, wasn’t Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Specialty Corner” to shine in. His specialty corner was writing books. But he recognized and took advantage of an unexpected corner of the world he happened to find himself in, and seeing a need acted, made a difference and indeed shined.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 3</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Debbie, a staff writer at a St. George, Utah newspaper, tells her experience:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She pulled into the parking lot of the local supermarket. It was winter and snowing and on the curb at the entrance sat a man, his face red from the cold. He continued to sit there, his hands out of his coat sleeves just far enough to cling to a cardboard sign,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Will work for food or money.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She went into the store and bought her groceries. As she stood at the counter, she overheard two ladies discussing the man at the curb. One said, “<i>They shouldn’t allow those kind of people in St. George.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>The other agreed, mumbling about what a disgrace it was to have<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“those”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>people in their city, and concluded with,<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>“The store Manager ought to go shoo him away.”</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Debbie paid for her groceries, still thinking about the man. When she went out to her car, he was still there with his red face, holding up his sign</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and it was still snowing. She got into her car, drove by him, then circled around and drove by him a second time. She studied him for signs of alcoholism or some disorder that would tell her it was okay to disqualify him as a human being. She thought about a recent Association Press’ expose on the amount of money made by professional bums. He could be one of those crooked guys! But as she looked into his face she saw sadness, hunger and desperation. She also saw a brave survivor. She headed for home again¾then turned around and went back. She parked and watched as vehicle after vehicle passed the man by. No one stopped. It continued to snow¾and he continued to sit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, she thought about the high cost of living and what if<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>she</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>suddenly found<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>herself<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>without a job</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">could she survive? Wouldn’t it be nice, she thought, for that man to think that someone, even a total stranger, cared? For less than $5, she purchased a cheeseburger and a hot bowl of chili. She returned, stepped out of her warm car and took it over to the man on the curb. She said in her account: “</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The spirit contained within that man’s smile was one of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>greatest<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>gifts I’ve ever received</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She concluded her newspaper article by saying that perhaps if we all cared just a little bit more, it would be a wonderful life for everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In other words, what she was saying was is if we would all anticipate the little <i>unexpected corners</i> in life where we can shine and realize we can make a difference, the world would be a better place because of <i>us</i>. Her "Specialty Corner," as a staff writer, was journalism. But that day she shined in another of life's corners she hadn't anticipated.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 4</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some years back on the program, “Sixty Minutes,” the guest was a black man. He was unemployed</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">actually, a bum who lived on the streets. But even in those dire circumstances he found a corner he could shine in, illustrating that we can make a difference no matter who we are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every morning he would stand at a busy intersection. There, he would smile and wave, calling out “<i>Hi</i>” to everybody</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">not only to those driving to work in their cars, but to passersby’s on the sidewalk who, if he came to know them, he’d call them by name. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People soon came to look forward to passing that corner. He made such a big difference in their lives and became so popular that Sixty Minutes interviewed him. They not only interviewed him, but also took time to interview those to whom he waved. Many of those individuals said that getting up to go to work and facing morning traffic was a real bummer. But when they passed his corner and he smiled and waved, they said it changed their<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>whole<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>attitude for the rest of the day. Person after person who was interviewed said that “bum” made a difference in their life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 5<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A story in Guideposts entitled,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“The Conversation I’ll Never Forget.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><span class="apple-converted-space">It </span>took place in a Veteran’s Hospital where someone almost missed their unexpected corner: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A prospective patient named Bob was sitting in one of the waiting rooms and there was a patient across the table from him who wanted to talk. Now, you know, sometimes we’re in the mood to talk, sometimes we’re not. Well, Bob was deep into thinking about his own medical problems and didn’t want to talk. Every time the patient would try to draw him into conversation, Bob would give him a curt answer. But for some reason the patient persisted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, Bob says, “I opened my mouth to tell him off completely. But instead something made me yield, and to my surprise we were soon involved in a lively conversation. I was impressed by the friendliness<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and enthusiasm this patient put into every word he said. I found myself warming to him</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">even began to like him as I intently listened. Well, we finished our coffee and I got up to go”. Then, this patient remarked to me very calmly: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“</i>It was sure nice talking to you. Tomorrow morning I’m to have a laryngectomy on my throat. This is the last conversation I’ll have with this voice.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can shine in so many places. Not only in the expertise and talents God has blessed us with, but also:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Showing patience when an elderly person can’t move as fast anymore, or hear as well.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reaching out to individuals with particular problems and loving them unconditionally.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Curbing our criticisms and thinking of something positive to say.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Building people up when they’re down.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Offering someone a warm shoulder in this often cold world.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Providing household maintenance to a widow who can’t afford to hire something done, or helping her when she may be ill. (<i>Men: plumbing, moving something heavy, etc. Women: housekeeping, meals, shopping, etc.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Giving a pat on the back, or a hug to someone that relays, “I care”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How sad it would be if we were so busy looking for the one great thing that we could do, that we become blind to the people in need standing on the small, common corners of our lives.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story No. 6</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This story took place on a cold, rainy, night: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I was waiting at a bus stop, an elderly woman got off a bus and walked slowly over to where I stood. “Could you tell me when the next bus is due?” she inquired of him. I asked which bus she wanted and when she told me, I exclaimed, “But you just got off that one!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Well,” she stammered a bit shyly, “you see there was a terribly crippled young man on that bus and nobody offered him a seat. I knew he’d be embarrassed if an old lady like me got up for him, so I just pretended it was time for me to get off and I rang the bell just as he was alongside my seat. He wasn’t embarrassed, and I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">well, there’s always another bus.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know I may have included too many stories, but I wanted to put across that it’s the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">LITTLE</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>deeds in life that are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>big</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>important,</i> and hope you enjoyed them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our corners won’t always include a stage and a spectacular setting with the world as audience. Our life consists of small corners—nothing more, nothing less. All God requires of us is that we let our little candle shine. You in your corner, and I in mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I realized that I didn’t have to set the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>whole</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>world on fire, but could function significantly in some corner no matter how small—and knew that this was all God expected of me and designed me for—this led to so much contentment—not to mention excitement. I could make my contribution any place I happened to be</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">one corner of my computer room or on a street corner—even if the rest of the world can never see me doing what I do. I go about functioning in my individual “Specialty” or “Unexpected corners” quietly, and it’s okay and acceptable to God.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Conclusion</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inside of us we all want to matter and make some kind of impact on the world. So, it is imperative that we remember these 4 requisites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Your individual purpose is what you have a passion for and it resides “inside” you. It is up to you to discover it. If you can’t decide what your passion is, see the last paragraph.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don’t have to achieve or do anything big or important<span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>like an Abraham Lincoln or a Martin Luther King. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don’t have to shine and affect the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>WHOLE</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>world or the masses of humanity—only in your own corner.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not feel you’re a failure if you don’t shine exactly like someone else does. They have their unique corner. You have yours. As the Sunday school song goes: “Jesus bids us shine . . . you in <u>your</u> corner and I in <u>mine</u>.”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u>Still don’t know what your passion or calling is</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While many will say that to discover it all you have to do is recognize what your passion is (and they’re right), there are many who still find themselves frustrated in this respect.</span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">f you are one of these individuals, the answer to your dilemma is to invite Christ and the Holy Spirit to come inside you so that he can reveal your passion to you. The Holy Spirit acts as a revelatory guide to help you accomplish your God-given purpose in life in all the corners God has designed for you. (<i>He may also give you a gift you hadn’t anticipated</i>.) When he does this, he will magnify your passion and purpose <i>that </i>has lain dim within you all the time<i>, </i>and bring it to a brighter illumination so you can recognize it. In order to enable this, God set up a wonderful way to<b> </b>facilitate it <span class="apple-converted-space">so<b> </b>that</span> he and his Holy Spirit can indeed be inside you (<i>Col. 1:27)</i>. To see how the process works, go to Romans 10:9.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And age is no hindrance!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Janis<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-70979380280986089282017-08-27T22:42:00.000-07:002017-09-12T18:54:12.865-07:00THE PETER TESTIMONY--DO YOU HAVE ONE?<div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is a Peter
Testimony? It is revelation knowledge of the divinity of Jesus Christ. The
apostle Peter received a <i>sure</i> testimony
by this method in Matt.16:13-18. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I received my testimony the same way as Peter did—and it
happened when I was a Mormon. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">It occurred when God
first started the process of bringing me out of error and into the truth. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">What God did was fairly dramatic. But I think He chose to do it the way he did, because he wanted to be sure he got my attention. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">As I tell about receiving the Peter Testimony, don’t assume that everyone needs to have some far out, dramatic John-the-Revelator kind of experience to receive a testimony about Jesus. There are other ways the Holy Spirit can endow one with this testimony. This is explained in Part 2, which immediately follows Part 1. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">In addition I also share how He reassured me I was forgiven and accepted. Normally, I don't share my very personal experiences, but I think we need to start hearing more of these kinds of Godly encounters. In the early days, people shared more freely and we heard more of them. Now, we don't. But, they are happening. God is still performing spectacular deeds in the lives of his children. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">(The previous article, "<i>What Are the Most Reliable Sources About Jesus</i>" by Robert M. Bowman, Jr., can be found at this link:</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/search?q=reliable+sources"> http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/search?q=reliable+sources</a> )</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Now, on to </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">The Peter Testimony</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PART 1</span></span></b></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">MY PETER TESTIMONY</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: super;">©</span><br />
<div>
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(How I received revelation knowledge of the divinity of Jesus)</span></b></div>
</div>
</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Part 1 covers the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My experience of
receiving the Peter Testimony </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Biblical explanation of a Peter Testimony </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are there other ways of receiving the Peter Testimony? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Should Mormons receive the Peter testimony? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Does God bless Mormons with not only a Peter Testimony but also other genuine
experiences? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why did God give me my Peter Testimony while still a Mormon? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What did my Peter Testimony do for me that led me out of the Mormon Church? </span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Part 2 covers:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More on the Biblical explanation of the Peter Testimony.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is the
Mormon "Burning Bosom" phenomenon, and what does it feel like?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is the
difference between a Mormon's Burning Bosom and a Peter Testimony?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The test for
truth, aside from "feelings"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Does it concern
you that Mormons may receive a Peter Testimony of Christ?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you received
a biblically based Peter Testimony?</span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Here is my story:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was not born
in the Mormon Church</span></u>. </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">To the contrary, I was born and raised in the Methodist
church. When I was 14, my single mother had my sister and I join the Mormon
Church because of its excellent youth program. By age 19 I was thoroughly
converted to its theology. Active in the organizations, I married a returned
missionary in the Salt Lake Temple and had three children before he died of
Spinal Meningitis at age 29. I also served two Stake missions. </span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">At the time I received my special testimony, I was living in Wendover, a small desert down on the edge
of the Utah salt flats. Back in the sixties, the only time the Bible was ever
read in the ward (</span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">other than to pull
passages out of context to prove Mormon doctrine</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">) was at Christmas and
Easter. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
<br />
It was during a special Christmas program in the Ward Sunday school that God
gave me revelation knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. And take my word, I
shall never forget it! He certainly didn’t give it to me because I was some super-duper
spiritual person. Rather, he knew that since I was such a dedicated, true-blue-through-and-through
Mormon with tunnel vision, he probably concluded, "<i>I’ve got to do something to get her attention, short of hitting her in
the head with a two-by-four</i>." So, he planned a more spectacular
witness from heaven to launch my journey out of Mormonism. <br />
<br />
When I arrived at Sunday school that Christmas morning, I sat on the front row.
The Bishop surprised me by rushing up with an open Bible. Shoving it into my
hands, he said, <i>"One of the readers didn’t show up. When I give you the
signal, come up and read this passage."</i> I agreed, and put my finger on
the place without reading it ahead of time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Knowing that
most ward members didn't read the Bible much let alone try to understand King James
English, I assumed a smug attitude. <i>"I’ll show everyone how well I can
read."</i> Little did I know that
my cockiness would soon be knocked out of me. I mention this so you will
understand that I was not in any spiritual frame of mind to have somehow, on my own, produced
what happened.<br />
<br />
Fifteen minutes into the program, the Bishop nodded to me and I went up to the
pulpit and started to read. To this day, I don’t know which passage it was, but
since it was Christmas it obviously had something to do with Jesus’ birth and
his being the Son of God. I, of course, already believed this. After all, ever
since I was a child everyone celebrated the baby Jesus' birth on Christmas, and
the Bible states he was God's son. You just accept it. But as I was soon to
find out, I didn’t have an absolute, convicting knowledge of it. I didn’t even
know something like that was possible—after all, how could one actually <i>prove</i>
something like that? <br />
<br />
I had only read a couple of verses (<i>quite
well, I thought</i>) when, without warning, my voice box was suddenly cut off
and I was unable to speak. (The congregation probably thought I was stumbling
over some King James word.) But that wasn't it! </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">At that moment, a powerful "something"
came down from above, which I can only describe as an electric-like flood of
heavenly power. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WPaUZL4uc2iij474B9xSAFIzVypCISt1HqhIfFC3G17TWA3MOKCURrpmetV_A981umxG6g-n2zRswMAEdMB_UwZ4M4yS75u1NXsDMTDkpVaQ1eKon416_ygpPvgeD-Wcz923Ckq-mvU/s1600/LIGHTNING+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="437" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WPaUZL4uc2iij474B9xSAFIzVypCISt1HqhIfFC3G17TWA3MOKCURrpmetV_A981umxG6g-n2zRswMAEdMB_UwZ4M4yS75u1NXsDMTDkpVaQ1eKon416_ygpPvgeD-Wcz923Ckq-mvU/s200/LIGHTNING+%25232.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It started at the top of my head and poured down through my
body like nothing I can describe. It flowed into my chest, both arms, hands,
down my torso and through my legs and feet. And as it swept through me, a
powerful, voice penetrated the very depth and core of my being: <i>"Yes, Jesus is the Christ!</i>" </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Then, it was over and my voice
was given back to me. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
<br />
Stunned, I managed to finish reading the passage. I walked off the stage, took
my seat, and then left when Sunday school was over. <br />
<br />
At home, still moved by the event and pondering its dynamic effect, I realized
that I now knew in a way that I had never known before, that Jesus was indeed
the Christ, the anointed son of God. God had poured <i>revelation knowledge</i>
into me. Prior to the experience I only had an <i>intellectual</i> belief in
Jesus which I thought was genuine—after all, hadn’t I been raised to believe in
the baby Jesus’ birth, the angels, the shepherds and wise men, his crucifixion
and resurrection? But there was a significant difference between what I
received that morning with my previously held belief. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Rapt in
thought, I wondered why God thought this was so important to give to me. Then,
the Holy Spirit immediately rushed Matthew 16:13-18 into my mind and a light
bulb went off. <i>"Aha!"</i> <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When Jesus came
to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who are the people
saying I am?" Well, they replied, "some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; some
Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." Then he asked them, "Who do you think I am?"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
Simon Peter answered, "The Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">God has blessed you, Simon, son of Jonah,"
Jesus said, "for My Father in heaven has personally revealed this to you―this
is not from any human source. You are Peter, a stone; and upon this rock I will
build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it."
(LNT)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God gave me
that same testimony. But why as a Mormon?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He gave it to
me knowing it would act as a springboard from which I could be launched out of the Mormon
Church into biblical Christianity, and ultimately bring me into the <i>true</i> Body of Christ. Being a Mormon, he needed to give me
a solid foundation under my feet―a Rock that I could stand on and that would
not crumble or shift when later I went through the trauma of excommunication,
having friends turn their backs on me, being told I was in the devil's territory (see end note 3, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">how my Patriarchal Blessing
predicted LDS friends would turn their back on me</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">), </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">later pressured by the
Fundamentalists who held me prisoner because I wouldn't renounce the Christian
Jesus (s<i>ee my story, Escape From the Cult</i>), and when I entered a Christian church and went through the painful ordeal of adjusting to a new church culture after 35 long years. None of it this was easy--in fact, quite stressful </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(see my book, </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the Cults and into the Church</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">). </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What happened after I received that
experience</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">?</span></b></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I discovered
the Bible</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">― and became addicted to it!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> I fell in love with Jesus Christ, his principles, love and power!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">But I still
had a smattering of Mormon theology in me, one of which consisted of a negative
concept of God the Father. My impaired perception of him probably accounted for
why I focused more on reading the New Testament rather than the Old. I was
afraid of God, but loved Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">In my
Mormon concept of God, I envisioned him as a glorified man, just like Jesus,
but with a <i>totally</i> different
personality. He was stern, ungracious and, as portrayed in the Old Testament, a
hard, whip-cracking taskmaster who allowed for no mistakes or it was off with
your head. I’m sure the LDS Church’s impossible mandate of perfection, which I
knew I fell short of, influenced my fear of him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">But
that wasn’t all.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
also had a misunderstanding of forgiveness, attributable to the unbiblical
teaching of Spencer W. Kimball, the Mormon prophet and Church President at that
time, who said it was impossible to know whether Jesus had forgiven you. This
resulted in my never being sure if my repentance counted for anything.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Kimball
said forgiveness</span><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> could take years; maybe never in this lifetime</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">: </span></span></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<blockquote>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Your Heavenly Father has promised
forgiveness upon total repentance and meeting all the requirements, but that
forgiveness is not granted merely for the asking. There must be works-many
works…[Forgiveness] could be weeks, it could be years, it could be centuries
before that happy day when you have the positive assurance that the Lord has
forgiven you."</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/BLOG%20ARTICLES%20&amp;%20STATIC%20PGS/THE%20PETER%20TESTIMONY%20-%20PART%201.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Therefore, in view of all that error, Jesus felt it crucial to correct my misconceptions―to not only learn the truth about grace and forgiveness provided through his sacrifice on the cross where he took my place as a sinner, but also about God the Father’s true character and how reconciliation with him takes place.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">How did he
plan to set me straight on so much? Well, experience is the best teacher, and
seeing is believing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">One night,
I suddenly found myself in heaven standing before the throne of God. I have no
idea how I got there; it just happened. The whole atmosphere was pure white
with the light of the glory of God. I learned later from Rev. 21:23, heaven is
illuminated by the glory of God’s splendor and radiance and reflected in the
person of Jesus; therefore, no other light source is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> I looked up the steps leading to the throne
and saw Jesus seated in a white robe. Now, one would think I would have been absolutely overjoyed; but instead my
first reaction was fear. I thought, <i>"Uh oh…"</i> I felt like
Isaiah when he saw the Lord, "<i>Woe is me, I am doomed"</i> (Isa.
6:5 <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">nlt</span>). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I lowered
my head not daring to look at him, feeling totally guilty and unworthy. This
reaction was not some purposeful
intention on my part to fake a humility; rather, it was instinctive and
automatic. Just being in his presence seemed to naturally evoke the awareness
of my faulty nature. I knew I didn’t measure up, and expected the worst
kind of condemnation and rejection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">After a moment,
I cautiously glanced back up. Much to my surprise Jesus stood. His beautiful
face was smiling with a love and acceptance of me that was absolutely beyond
description. I didn’t just <i>see</i> love
in his face, I <i>felt</i> it. It went
through my whole being. He slowly came down the steps and walked towards me,
his arms outstretched with the clear and obvious intent to embrace me. As he
moved toward me, he didn’t have to speak to tell me he loved me for it was all
relayed through the affection radiating from him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">He wrapped his
arms around me in a rapturous embrace enveloping me with an indescribable kind
of glorious and exquisite love no English words could possibly relay, and at
that moment all sense of guilt and condemnation immediately evaporated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">But there was
also something else I felt…it was breathtaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Not only was I
immersed in Jesus’ personal love, but the whole atmosphere and the very breath
of heaven was suffused with love. You’ve heard the expression, "so thick
you could cut it with a knife;" that’s how the love was―palpable, like it
had a physical presence. You could feel it everywhere. There was no space where
it was not. Where was that love coming from? From God the Father’s love emanating
and which was manifesting the essence of his being which was also resident in
and reflected by Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Never</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> had I
experienced love like that! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The whole experience
of Jesus' (and the Father's) love and acceptance of me affected me powerfully.
Even though I had previously fallen in love with Jesus when I was turned on to
the Bible and had sensed he had loving qualities, it was nothing compared to
being submersed in both his and the Father’s love in such a wondrous way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I felt reconciled to God through Jesus, aware of the
Father's most magnanimous and loving act in sending his only begotten son to
die for mankind’s sins. I was one of those who now had the promise I would
never perish but spend eternity with him and enjoy his love forever (Jn. 3:16;
Eph. 2:18). To experience for eternity the kind of <i>love</i> I felt, is something I indeed look forward to!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><u>What God taught
me in that experience</u>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My
concept of a cruel and fearful "God the Father" was erroneous. His
total being is love, not the hard taskmaster I had envisioned for so many
years. Also, the Father is not a glorified man, but an omnipresent Spirit
breathing out his attribute of all-embracing love that permeates all of heaven.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God’s
love also resonates through the person of Jesus who "<i style="text-indent: 0in;">is the sole expression of the glory of God…the out-raying of the divine…the
perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature"</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> (Heb.1:3 </span><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0in;">ampc</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">).</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My
Mormon theology about the Godhead was straightened out, for I did not see God
as a resurrected man with a white beard standing alongside a resurrected Jesus.
Jesus sat alone on God’s throne, qualified to sit there because of what he did
on the cross:</span> <i style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">"When he had [offered]
himself [and] accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, he sat
down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high…"</i><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> (Heb. 1-3b </span><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">ampc</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">).</span><i style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> </i><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Jesus was the only one in human form; yet God, who is a Spirit,
was also present</span> .</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I did not have to perfect myself first and
then wait years or centuries, as Mormonism taught, to wonder if I would ever be
forgiven.</span> <span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Jesus,
in this experience, did</span><span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> not
reject me. </span><span class="woj" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">He immediately
loved and</span><span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> accepted
me, verifying</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> Romans 8:1: "</span><i style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">T<span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320;">here is no condemnation for those who
belong to Christ Jesus.</span></i></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know the reality of both the Father and Jesus’
all-encompassing and embracing love, what it feels like, now having experienced
it personally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No one, regardless of what they have done, need fear in
approaching his throne. His forgiveness, love and acceptance is guaranteed! </span></span><i style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into Christ’s presence." (Eph. 3:12 NLT)</span></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Those who will be able to stand before the glorious throne of God
are only those who have accepted Christ. At that time, the scriptures state that it is Christ's righteousness, imputed into believers, that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">God will see. (Certainly,
we can't claim we are righteous on our own.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My hope is built on nothing less<br />
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I dare not trust the
sweetest frame,<br />
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">When
He shall come with trumpet sound,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Oh,
may I then in Him be found;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Dressed
in <i>His</i> righteousness alone,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Faultless
to stand before the throne.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .4in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">On
Christ, the solid Rock I stand;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">All
other ground is sinking sand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">All other ground is
sinking sand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> (Hymn: <i>The Solid Rock) </i>[2])</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nDcA0M4hqi70Bke_7xvr_taABvnp67KFRDTYivcSmiof4lElF4VA5ohB9ZOZ9_NsmAFIDvT-D7IuBjDIjbMWWcGN97K77e-d8wsuQYaKoJj8EOSA4mZYwd-QZh6-aZ-MQC6ejJ-tjLQ/s1600/WORSHIP+%25238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nDcA0M4hqi70Bke_7xvr_taABvnp67KFRDTYivcSmiof4lElF4VA5ohB9ZOZ9_NsmAFIDvT-D7IuBjDIjbMWWcGN97K77e-d8wsuQYaKoJj8EOSA4mZYwd-QZh6-aZ-MQC6ejJ-tjLQ/s320/WORSHIP+%25238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">END OF PART 1</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Proceed to Part 2 for the
biblical explanation of the Peter Testimony.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/BLOG%20ARTICLES%20&amp;%20STATIC%20PGS/THE%20PETER%20TESTIMONY%20-%20PART%201.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span class="usercontent"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Miracle of Forgiveness</span></i></span><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt;">, </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Spencer W.
Kimball (</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Bookcraft Pub. Salt Lake City, Dec.17, 1968); </span><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">324-5.</span></span></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[2] </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Hymn: </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">The Solid Rock </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0in;">by Edward Mote, vv. 1,4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span class="usercontent"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THE PETER TESTIMONY </b></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">PART 2</span></b><b style="text-indent: 0in;"> </b></span></span></h2>
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u><br /></u></b>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u>The Biblical
explanation of the Peter Testimony</u></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">.</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
The scriptures don’t share with us how or exactly when the Holy Spirit gave
this special testimony to Peter, but Jesus was pleased because he knew he
hadn’t received it based on what others (flesh and blood) said, but what had
been revealed to him from heaven. And it is understandable that Jesus would ask
his disciples who they thought he was, considering that at that time they were
in an area where the worship of Baal and other false gods was prevalent. The
false gods were dead gods and Peter testified that unlike them, Jesus was the
son of the Father, a <i>living</i> God. <br />
<br />
But there was more significance to Jesus’ satisfaction with Peter’s
answer—something the LDS Church fails to see every time they quote this
scripture. <br />
<br />
Jesus knew that the receipt of this kind of revelation knowledge from heaven
would be required of all future Christians who would make up his church. They,
too, must receive the same revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit and have a
correct testimony of his person and mission as described in the Bible. Since
this is basic to salvation, believers would have to absolutely know this, not
via flesh and blood, or hearing others say he is the Christ; nor by logic,
intellect, or blind acceptance of some church’s written doctrinal statement;
but from their own personal, Holy Spirit testimony received from heaven. These
confessions of faith were to be the bedrock of the church. Without it, the
church would have no strength. <br />
<br />
Because of Peter’s solid-like-a-stone, Holy Spirit testimony, Jesus changed his
name from Simon to Peter (<i>petros</i>), which is Greek for a small stone.
After Jesus tells him he's blessed to have received this kind of revelation
from heaven, in the very <i>same</i> breath Jesus continues. "You are
Peter, a stone; and upon this rock (<i>petra</i>) [which is Greek for a solid,
immovable bedrock], "I will BUILD my church. While Jesus himself is known
as the Rock, the bedrock foundation for <u>building</u> His church would be the
rock of “revelation about Christ” that would be given to all believers. <br />
<br />
Peter was metaphorically called a "stone," because of his solid
testimony of revelation knowledge. And he wouldn't be the only one. He later
tells believers in I Pet. 2:4-5, that God will build his church based on the
strength of their Holy Spirit testimonies. They, like himself, were to be
"living stones" for God's use in building his church. </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span class="text1pet-2-4"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men
rejected</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-4"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and<i>
</i>threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><b><sup><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You
[believers], like living stones, are</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">being built up into a
spiritual house for a holy</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">dedicated
priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">pleasing to God through
Jesus Christ. (Amp)<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="text1pet-2-5"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Present yourselves as building stones </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">for the construction of a sanctuary <i><u>vibrant
with life</u></i>, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering
Christ-approved lives up to God.<span class="apple-converted-space"> (v. 5 MSG vers)</span></span></span></blockquote>
<h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What kind of church was
Jesus talking about that he would build</span></u></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">?</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The church is
not an institution, but worldwide, "called out believers." That’s
what the original word for “church” (<i style="text-indent: 0in;">ecclesia</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">) means. This is where
Mormons err in their understanding of this passage. While they rightly say the
true church will be built on revelation, they believe it is revelation given to
their formal institution (</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">)
solely to their prophet, the President of the Church. </span></span></span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This is wrong.
The strength of Christ's church Jesus said he would build, as seen in Matthew
16, must be built upon revelation-knowledge given to individual believers, not
to an institution or a single prophet. Without individual members also
receiving a revelatory testimony of Christ, they will not have the motivation
nor the consistent strength to persevere in building a church that is, as the
above Message Bible passage describes, “vibrant with life.”<br />
<br />
Now, the LDS Church <i>does</i> claim that members have Holy Spirit
testimonies. But their “programmed and memorized testimonies” include unbiblical
doctrines and beliefs. Here is a typical Mormon testimony they are trained to
say. It often is longer and may include temple work for the dead and more, but
the following are the basics that “must” be included:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I know by the
power of the Holy Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was
a prophet of God; that Jesus is the Christ; President Thomas S. Monson is a
prophet, seer and revelator; and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth. And I say these
things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This is not
what the Holy Spirit relays. His main function is to testify only to the truth
about Jesus, His ministry, death and resurrection as described in the Bible.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What are other ways of receiving the Peter Testimony</u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">? </span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are different ways in which the Holy Spirit may give this testimony:</span></span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by a dream,
vision, voice, or the way I received it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">meditating upon
the scriptures, during which time Christ will be unveiled to you in a powerful
way</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an inner,
audible voice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the impression
of words being spoken in your mind and heart</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or at the moment of your salvation experience
when you first accept the Biblical Jesus and his work and ask Him to come into
your heart and be Lord of your life. The most common experience is numbers 2
and 5</span>.</li>
</span></ol>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Which way you will receive
this testimony will be according to the grace of God and how and when he
decides to relay it to you; also your sincerity and spiritual receptivity. At
that moment, the Holy Spirit will cause a divine quickening in your spirit with
revelation knowledge about Jesus. And the testimony the Holy Spirit gives will
always agree with what the Bible teaches about Christ and his work—not the
additional things the Mormon Church teaches about him, such as God and Jesus
appearing to Joseph Smith telling him that Christianity is corrupted, the Bible
is unreliable, and sending an angel with a drawn sword threatening Joseph Smith
if he didn’t practice polygamy. <br />
<br />
When the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus and his work to believers, as he did to
Peter, it will come in such a convincing manner that recipients will know it is
not of themselves. It is the kind of testimony that Jesus told Peter, “flesh
and blood cannot reveal.” It will border on the supernatural because, after
all, it is a spiritual, other-worldly message from the Holy Spirit.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Should Mormons receive the Peter testimony</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">?</span> </span></span></b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some have, and it is imperative that they receive this testimony because God
wants to eventually bring them out of error and into the full truth of his
gospel. This will fully be accomplished if the recipients understand what
they’ve received, accept it for what it is, allow themselves be led to the
truth of Biblical Christianity; and further, not assume that the Peter
Testimony automatically incorporates Mormon doctrines into the witness they’ve
received. (<i style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Examples later</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">) Mormons claim a Holy Spirit testimony, but it
extends outside the range of the Holy Spirit's mission and includes far more
than Jesus ever taught.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Unfortunately,
there are Mormons who are not spiritually receptive to this Holy Spirit
testimony because they erroneously believe they have already received it. They
think this because they are able to stand up in their monthly testimony
meeting, often with tears, and verbalize the church’s memorized testimony.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
But, a legitimate Peter Testimony is not meant to convey anything that
contradicts the Bible, such as a testimony about Joseph Smith who taught the
Gnostic doctrines of vicarious work for the dead, insisted that God required
plural marriage, secret passwords and death penalties to get into heaven, and
who was married to women who, at the time, were still married to their lawful
husbands, and was also involved in the occult. (<i>See my archived article,
"Joseph Smith’s Involvement with Magic, Masonry and the Occult</i>.")
The Holy Spirit’s only job is to testify to the person and work of the Biblical
Jesus Christ. <br />
<br />
The following is how Mormons learn their special testimony; also, how converts
gain theirs. (<i>This is not to say that some Mormons have not received a
genuine Peter testimony, which will be covered later</i>.) <br />
<br />
Mormons who are born and raised in the church are taught from toddlerhood to
memorize the testimony quoted earlier in this article. Church leaders encourage
this, knowing that the verbalization of one’s faith tends to give more meaning
and appearance of truth to beliefs, even if done by memorization. So, as
children grow up they continue to rattle it off as a conditioned response,
which at the same time acts as an incentive for acceptance and approval. If
missionaries going into the field feel they don’t have one yet, they are urged,
as Boyd K. Packer (<i>President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles</i>)
admonished, to keep stating a testimony until they get one.(4) In other words,
keep saying it over and over again until the repetition produces an inner conviction
that it really is true and it’s so deeply embedded in your gut that you finally
believe it. <br />
<br />
When the Mormon’s inner conviction finally materializes through this process,
it often translates into an emotional experience—more so if they are active in
the church. Members are told that their emotion is proof the Holy Spirit is
confirming their beliefs. Further evidence is if tears are actually shed. But
the reiterating of words, plus tears is deceptive and doesn’t endow one with a
genuine testimony of revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">How do “converts” gain their testimony of Mormonism</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">?</span> </span></b><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Converts to the church are told that they are to gain a testimony of the
church. Of course, converts want to comply—especially when they attend the ward
and see other members bearing theirs in meetings. After all, they want to be
acceptable and like everyone else. So motivated by this, they pressure
themselves until they soon believe they have received a testimony to
Mormonism’s truthfulness. But what convinces them their testimony is true? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">What influences converts, is that they have already acquired an attraction and
love for the contents of the Book of Mormon. (</span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">They are not instructed to
pray for a Peter Testimony about Christ, just the Book of Mormon and Joseph
Smith</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">.) But why are potential converts thrilled over the Book of Mormon and
believe it must be true? Because Joseph Smith incorporated so much from the
Bible into it. He hadn’t come up with his more bizarre doctrines yet. (</span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">See
endnote 1 for more detail</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">.) Plus, new converts love all the outstanding
claims of the LDS Church—and indeed, they are outstanding. What other church
can boast visitations from God, Jesus, angels, Peter, James and John, Elijah
and John the Baptist? Then, there is the thrill, especially in today’s world,
in believing God has called a “living prophet” to head the church. The major
error is that potential converts pray about the “contents” and not the origin.
Naturally, the content is thrilling because it contains so many biblical principles.
But, one should pray: “Did an angel really give the Book of Mormon on gold
plates for Joseph Smith to transcribe? And was Joseph Smith a true prophet sent
by God?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
missionaries tell potential converts that their proof of a testimony about the
Book of Mormon from the Holy Spirit may be a tingling feeling in the spine or a
warm feeling in their chest—the Burning Bosom phenomenon (<i>covered later</i>).
Therefore, their feelings of love for the contents of the Book of Mormon, plus
the outstanding claims of the Mormon Church, and their feelings (<i>Burning
Bosom or spine tingling</i>), convinces them. <br />
<br />
Interestingly, you will find that Christians who receive a true Biblical Peter
Testimony do not necessarily experience emotion, warm chest or spine tingles while
they are receiving it—even with those who may have been caught up in a heavenly
vision. Afterwards, however, they may be elated to have received it and will
then be filled with joyful emotion over God’s love and the fact that they
received it, but emotions are not the test of truth or proof of a witness from
the Holy Spirit. To test the truth of whatever you are praying about, it must
agree with the Bible, lock, stock and barrel. Mormons are taught that <i>all</i>
you need is the Burning Bosom witness. Everything hinges on feelings. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Does God bless Mormons with not only a Peter Testimony, but also other
genuine experiences</u>?</span></b> <br />
There may be Mormons who have received a valid Peter Testimony, even heavenly
experiences, but who, by their own free will, choose to stay in the Mormon
Church and fail to follow through on what God wants to achieve in their lives.
The following is one example—an LDS man who prayed to know if his sins had
truly been forgiven. He received what I believe to be a valid vision. (12) <br />
<br />
This man, after anguishing prayer for forgiveness, was given a vision where he
witnessed Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. There, in the garden, he stood behind a
bush and watched it all, at the same time suffering immensely as he realized
how much his own sins had made Jesus suffer. When the vision closed, he still
remained in a state of sobbing and pleading to know if he was forgiven.
Finally, the voice of the Lord spoke to him, telling him that his sins were
forgiven. <br />
<br />
Why did God choose to give the Mormon man this Gethsemane vision? Because He
saw one of his children genuinely pleading for forgiveness and wanted to show
him what he went through and that he indeed died for his sins. <br />
<br />
Some may feel that the Lord should have reacted differently by saying something
like: <i>"Sorry, I can’t respond—you belong to the Mormon Church."</i>
When one of God’s children cries to him he is not going to give them a stone or
a serpent, despite the denomination they may be in. (See Luke 11:11). And while
we’d like to think that God loves only "us," in reality he also loves
"them." It is his nature. <br />
<br />
This was, no doubt, a wonderful experience for him. It certainly had to put a
conviction in his heart that Jesus died for his sins. Yet, at the same time, he
was influenced by Mormon doctrine and didn’t fully comprehend the atonement
well enough to know that he didn’t actually have to <i>wonder</i> and keep
asking whether his sins were forgiven. <br />
<br />
It is doubtful that this man ever came out of the church because of the
testimony he gave about it afterwards (<i>see below</i>). While he, like many
other Mormons love Christ and may even have had special experiences similar to
the Gethsemane vision, here’s the problem why so many stay in the church after
receiving them. It’s because they jump to the <i>wrong conclusion</i>. They
mistakenly lump the truth of their experience with their Mormon beliefs. I call
it the all-or-nothing logic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s how a Mormon’s mind can often work after
receiving a Peter Testimony or some other revelatory experience:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">I received this special
testimony about Jesus being the Christ (or whatever the heavenly vision
relays). Therefore, because I received it as a Mormon, it was also God’s way of
saying that Joseph Smith is a prophet, LDS doctrines and temple rituals are
true, and this is the only true church that He recognizes, etc.</span></blockquote>
Similarly, <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">this man who
received the Gethsemane experience testified afterwards that he knew with a
perfect knowledge that all men must be born again and sanctified…which is true.
But he also latched on to the all-or-nothing logic, by adding exaltation (</span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">meaning,
godhood</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">) into his testimony. He said: </span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">I now know with a perfect
knowledge that all men must be born again, or sanctified of the spirit in order
to receive their salvation </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">and obtain their exaltation</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jesus said
nothing, either in the Gethsemane vision or in his words of forgiveness about
exaltation and becoming a god. In addition, the man further tacked on to his
testimony that because of what he received, he also knew the LDS Church was the
only true church on the face of the earth, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, the
Bible is the word of God, although error-filled, that the Book of Mormon,
Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price are all God’s word, and that
those in the Mormon Church who are devoted to Christ as he now is, are endowed
with special keys of power through LDS temple ordinances. <br />
<br />
Jesus didn’t say or show to him anything about the LDS Church, its scriptures
or temple ordinances. But the man assumed that because he was favored to
receive this Gethsemane vision while a <i>Mormon</i>; that it also meant Jesus
was acknowledging that his church and all its beliefs were also true. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But upon
examination, this is not what the vision or the voice of the Savior conveyed to
him. Jesus did not say, <i>"My son, not only are your sins forgiven, but
you are blessed for your faithfulness in temple work and striving for
exaltation so you can become a god, and for belonging to the only true church
upon the face of the earth restored by my prophet, Joseph Smith."</i> <br />
<br />
A similar incident occurred when a Seventy (a male priesthood position) sat in
my front room and shared with me his experience of feeling the Savior’s loving
arms around him during a Sacrament meeting. "Therefore," he concluded
in all soberness, "the Mormon Church is the only true church." (Once
again, the all-in-one conclusion.)<br />
<br />
I politely told him that his experience was no doubt genuine because he loves
the Savior and the Savior loves him. The Savior wanted to show his love for
him. But just because he was a Mormon sitting in an LDS Ward chapel when he
received Jesus’ expression of love, did not automatically mean that the
experience was confirming the Mormon Church. If this were so, members of other
churches who receive similar experiences of God’s love—Methodists, Baptists,
Catholics, Hare Krishnas or Moonies—could rightly assume that their church is
the only one God approves of as well. Obviously, this isn’t so. All that was
relayed to this man was that Jesus loved him. <br />
<br />
God has compassion for all individuals who love Him, albeit they may be blindly
entrenched in a church organization that teaches erroneous doctrines. Loving
them anyway, he hopes to move them toward the full truth, as he did with me.
But many Mormons, still blinded by the all-or-one logic, choose to remain in
the church. <br />
<br />
I would venture to say that members who have received a genuine testimony and
witness about the Biblical Jesus or some aspect of his work, but stay in the
LDS Church because of the all-in-one logic, will find that Satan may take
advantage by giving them additional revelations that will verify Mormon
doctrines. It wouldn’t take much for these individuals, already feeling favored
with a valid manifestation, to believe any future revelation and be unaware of its
source. Satan tried to do this to me, but I was able to recognize the
experience for what it was. I may, at some point later, share this. <br />
<br />
The one difference between the testimony I received and the LDS man’s
experience of witnessing Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane, is that after receiving my
Peter Testimony I gained an even stronger testimony afterwards, because it led
me to read the Bible with <i>enlightened</i> eyes. I did not tack on, or make
any assumptions that because I was a Mormon, standing in a ward chapel that
Sunday morning on Christmas, that it also meant that the LDS Church was the
only true church on the face of the earth, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet,
or that exalted salvation can only be achieved through temple ordinances as
Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and others taught.(14) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Although the
man remained in the Mormon Church because he assumed incorrect things from his
Gethsemane experience, my experience eventually brought me out of the church
into the complete truth of Biblical Christianity. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Why did God give me my Peter Testimony while still a Mormon</u>?</span></b> <br />
Simply put . . . "<i>prevenient grace</i>." According to
Wikipedia.com, the term originated with John Wesley in the 18th century. In
today’s English, it could be restated as <i>preceding grace</i>; that is, "divine
grace that precedes human decision." (<i>See endnote 2 for scriptural
examples</i>.) I’m mentioning the subject of God’s grace because there are some
Christians who believe only they are entitled to receive it—certainly, not a
Mormon! <br />
<br />
God wants to exert his loving, prevenient grace on Mormons or any who are
involved in false religions, hoping he can lead them to come out and embrace
the truth. But if they choose to ignore his promptings or any experiences he
may graciously give them and stay in the Mormon Church, he will not force them
by violating their free will. The words to an old Protestant hymn says: <i>"He’ll
call, persuade, direct aright, and bless with wisdom, love and light. In
nameless ways be good and kind, but never force the human mind."</i> <br />
<br />
Free will (or free agency as Mormons call it) involves the soul (intellect,
behavior and emotions) and predominantly exerts strong dominion over a person.
Therefore, because it is the soul that is in charge of exercising the free
will, the soul often has the last word. So, if a Mormon has received a Peter
Testimony, or some other valid experience, his soul may dominate and he may
choose to stay. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">The reason may
be:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he or she has
used the all-or-nothing logic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">perceives the
devastating repercussions from leaving, including family estrangement<br />or</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">love and bias
for the LDS Church.</span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">The influence
of the LDS Church is indeed strong—so much so, that I have actually heard
Mormons say, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">"Even if God himself or an angel appeared to me and told
me the church was wrong, I would never leave."</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
<br />
Since I wanted to follow the Lord, come what may, I used my free agency and
eventually left, guided by the hand of God. But he knew how difficult this
would be for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, to begin with, he gave me the Peter
Testimony, knowing that if he was going to bring me out of false doctrine he had to give me a firm foundation to stand on—something that would
give me a solid foundation under my feet—a Rock that I could
stand on that would not crumble or shift when later I went through so much.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>Before I exited the Mormon Church, what did my Peter Testimony do for me</u>?</b>
</span><br />
A Peter Testimony will always draw one to the Bible with new eyes so as to
understand more about Jesus and his divine mission (<i>that is, if you have not
insisted upon using the all-or-nothing logic</i>). The Holy Spirit lit a fire
in me to do this and I discovered the Bible in a totally new and exciting way.
I began to read it from a non-Mormon perspective (a miracle in itself). I fell
in love with Jesus Christ, his work, doctrines, principles, love and power!
Then, I made posters of favorite scriptures and hung them all over the house,
one in particular on the wall at the end of my bed so I would see it the first
thing in the morning: <br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am crucified with Christ;
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I
now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and
gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20) </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was teaching the church’s
Gospel Doctrine class (<i>adult Sunday school) </i>and got into trouble one
time when I dared to interject some of my new thinking. I told the class that
Baptists also have their prayers answered. People actually stood up and walked
out of class over that! <br />
<br />
In addition, my Peter Testimony did other things for me. The Holy Spirit
quickened an inner ability to discern between correct and incorrect principles
promulgated in the church. I remember one example in the church magazine, when
President Harold B. Lee quoted the late President Heber J. Grant: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Brethren, keep your eye on
the President of this Church. If he tells you to do anything and it is </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">wrong</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">,
and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it. (Ensign, October 1972, p. 7.
Italics mine)</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whoa! Since when did God
say he’d bless individuals for doing something wrong just because someone tells
them to do it? It was an incorrect principle from the word go. Faithful Mormons
consider the President of the church a Prophet of God, so it is understandable
why they would accept this without questioning or praying about it. But the
Holy Spirit was teaching me. <br />
<br />
Another one blew my mind:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lucifer wins a great
victory when he can get members of the church to . . . do their own thinking .
. . When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done!" (Improvement Era,
June 1945, p. 354) </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What—no
thinking allowed? Prior to my experience I would have blindly accepted in a
heartbeat anything church leaders dictated—especially coming from the
"Prophet." But unquestioning obedience to anyone who states something
contrary to God’s Biblical principles without any thinking or weighing the
matter on their own and guided by the Holy Spirit, is definitely wrong. When I
asked a few individuals in the ward if they ever prayed about church
statements, they said, <i>"I don’t have to pray. I’m to do what my leaders
tell me—they won’t lead me astray."</i> (Members of Jim Jones’ church and
Kool-aid come to mind.) <br />
<br />
The eyes of my understanding, as Paul states in Eph. 1:18, continued to be
enlightened by the Holy Spirit wherein God gave me another insightful
revelation when I was teaching on the Dead Sea Scrolls. When I discovered that
95% of the words from the Isaiah scroll were identical with the Hebrew text in
our present Bible (5<i>% being minor slips of the pen and variations in
spelling</i>), I concluded that the Bible, despite the Mormon claim that it
isn’t translated correctly and is unreliable for doctrine, was well preserved
after all. My next thought, which would never have entered my mind prior to my
Peter Testimony was, "If my leaders are wrong about THAT, what else could
they be wrong about? This was daring, but God was bringing the blinders down. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">God gave me other wonderful lessons through visions and other ways, a few of
which I </span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">learned later during the time I left the mainline church and secretly
entered Mormon Fundamentalism to live a United Order for a year. There, I hoped
to perfect myself and grow closer to God by living in a community where I could
share everything I had with others. But, as I explain in my story, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Escape
from the Cult</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> (see the dashboard), God allowed me to go into that situation
knowing I was a studier with an intellectual bent, and would need to have a
thorough knowledge of the errors of Mormonism in black and white. He knew that
within that organization I would gain access to very old, out-of-print Mormon
books and manuscripts that had been carefully handed down from early Mormon
times, and would ultimately serve to be my route out. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
<br />
Through the material I read, I learned about the doctrines and practices that
Mormonism was founded upon. I discovered shocking things about Joseph Smith;
also, strange temple rituals that I never heard of, or witnessed when I went
through the temple. I read of men being sealed (married) to men instead of men
to women, and suggestive innuendoes of how these sealings were often
consummated, which a rare few Fundamentalist groups, practice today. In
addition, I was not prepared to read about women having plural husbands,
although I was familiar with the doctrine of plural wives. <br />
<br />
How could I belong to something that believed like that! And while the mainline
church today no longer practices many of them, it was, nevertheless, what the
church was <i>founded</i> upon. I was able to see it in black and white for
myself, and not from anti-Mormon literature erroneously declared by the church
to be lies. Intellectually, it was what I needed to complete my coming-out
process. Then, when things really got bad (<i>when the group held me prisoner
for refusing to renounce Jesus and I nearly died</i>), God audibly spoke to me,
enabled my escape, and later healed me of the physical infirmities I suffered
from the ordeal. After escaping, I briefly returned to the mainline church and
requested my excommunication. <br />
<br />
God gave me many experiences, but too many to share here. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>What is the "Burning Bosom" phenomenon</u>?</span></b> <br />
The "Burning Bosom" phenomenon is supposed to be a special witness
from God to a Mormon, or a convert, that Joseph Smith is a prophet and his
doctrines and scripture (<i>Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl
of Great Price</i>) are true. However, it is only fair for me to point out that
not all members believe that this is the method to use in finding truth. (<i>See
Elder Dalin H Oakes’ statement further down</i>.) A few teach that the burning
bosom phenomenon was only for Joseph Smith in translating records that were in
an unknown language. <br />
<br />
But for the majority of members, they believe in the testimony via the Burning
Bosom, with many claiming to have received it. The phenomenon is strictly a <i>bodily</i>
sensation (<i>further described below</i>), but is also subjective and often
emotionally based, thus, susceptible to deception. <br />
<br />
Leaders quote Doctrine and Covenants 9:8, which says that the procedure to
receive a Burning Bosom testimony for an individual seeking to know, for
example, if the Book of Mormon is true, is to first study it out in their mind.
Now, this is fine if converts or members, in their study, would compare
everything about the Book of Mormon and the story of its origin to the Bible,
but they don’t. They listen to the missionaries pull Bible passages out of
context and explain their "logic" on how a good "feeling"
is the evidence of a truthful witness. It is all very logical, so the convert’s
mind soon becomes convinced that Mormonism has to be true. (See my article, <i>Strategies
of the LDS Church</i>.) Once convinced, either by logic, their good feelings,
burning bosom or spine tingling, that they’ve received confirmation from the
Holy Spirit, their heart responds in a positive and joyful way. <br />
<br />
Usually, missionaries will tell potential converts to get a testimony of the
Book of Mormon first—and there’s a reason for this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joseph Smith plagiarized by loading the Book of
Mormon with scriptures and doctrines from the Bible. His bizarre doctrines came
later, so are not in the Book of Mormon. This is the reason missionaries focus
on the Book of Mormon and why it is such a good proselytizing tool. When I
first read the Book of Mormon, my heart responded to those truths and I
experienced a "joyful swelling" in my heart and felt a witness, for
the Holy Spirit can do nothing but witness to the truth of Biblical principles.
However, the Holy Spirit was <i>not</i> witnessing to the <i>source</i> claimed
for the Book of Mormon, e.g., the angel Moroni, etc. Interestingly, I never
received this same swelling joy concerning the angel Moroni, or Joseph Smith
and his gold plates, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price,
temple ordinances, or any burning bosom or spine tingles. But because I felt
the <i>contents</i> of the Book of Mormon so true, I just <i>assumed</i>
everything else about the church also had to be true. <br />
<br />
There are active Mormons who have never received this experience. Of course,
they don’t let anyone in the ward know this because they are concerned that it
would sound like they aren’t spiritual enough for God to give it to them. But
there are rare times, however, when they share their failure between close
friends. The wife of my Bishop shared with me that she had never received it.
Still, she stood up in testimony meeting and declared she knew by the power of
the Holy Spirit that the church was true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, including
Jesus is the Christ, etc. <br />
<br />
One Mormon, determined to receive a burning bosom testimony of the church,
believed the Book of Mormon when it said that all he had to do is ask God and
he’d manifest the truth to him. The church magazine, <i>The Ensign</i>,
published his story. Every night, he asked the same questions about whether the
Book of Mormon and the LDS church was true, and did Jesus really appear to
Joseph Smith, etc. He waited and waited for an answer, burning bosom, spine
tingles or something. But he received no answer. Then, finally to his surprise,
after he kept posing his questions, he thought he heard a voice inside him ask:
<br />
<br />
"What do you think?" <br />
<br />
He told God that he believed the church was true and that he never doubted it.
Then, the voice came again: <br />
<br />
"Then why do you ask?" <br />
<br />
The young man concluded that the worded-message was divine and that his
previous acceptance of the truth of Mormonism was sufficient as a testimony. He
didn’t need a burning bosom or special revelation—revelation was just for those
who need it.(16) The principle relayed in this man’s story was that God goes
along with whatever the person already believes. Not very Biblical.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>What does this phenomenon actually feel like</u>?</span></b> <br />
Some say the chest actually becomes physically warm, while others say it is
electric tingles, both considered valid by many, including the missionaries. A
Utah Bishop described his Holy Spirit witness to Mormonism as a strong tingling
down his spine, but admitted that he sometimes received a similar feeling while
watching a moving program on television.(5) The instruction manual for the
missionaries says that they are to tell potential converts that a "good
feeling" is the yardstick for truth. (<i>I have the manual in my
possession, and served two stake missions myself using the "good
feeling" logic</i>.) <br />
<br />
LDS, Elder Callin H. Oaks, speaking on the church's position on revelation and
in response to critics, states: <br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does it need to be a feeling
of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the
meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word
"burning" in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and
serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation
works"</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (13) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, in contrast to his
statement, I have actually heard individuals testify that they received this
"caloric heat," and described it as literally, a physical warmth in
their chest. If, according to Oaks, all a person has to receive is a feeling of
being "comfortable and serene," one has to wonder about those many
individuals in other unbiblical religious institutions who feel very serene and
comfortable in the religious setting they've embraced. For many years as a
Mormon, I did. <br />
<br />
When a bodily manifestation occurs, such as a tingling, burning bosom or
whatever, it is physical. However, the Biblical testimony of Jesus that is
imparted by the Holy Spirit is <i>spiritual</i>—not a physical tingling in the
body. Jesus never said to Peter, <i>"Blessed art thou, for flesh and blood
hath not revealed this to you, but the spine tingling, burning bosom,
heat-in-the-chest and feeling of comfort and serenity has."</i> <br />
<br />
Now, there’s nothing wrong with feeling joy in one’s heart over finding out that
something is true. But the Bible tells us that the heart is deceptive, so the
heart can't be reliable. Now, if one actually receives a genuine testimony via
the Holy Spirit, emotion and happiness of one's heart can follow <i>afterwards</i>.
But it isn’t the way to test the truthfulness of something. The test of truth
is by measuring everything with what God says in the Bible. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This, then, raises the
question: Can our own hearts and feelings deceive us? Yes, the Bible warns us
about this: <br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jer.17:9)<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
He feedeth on ashes; <i>a deceived heart hath turned him aside</i>, that he
cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? (Isaiah
44:20)<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean
not on your <u>own</u> understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool, but whoso walketh <u>wisely</u>,
he shall be delivered. (Prov. 28:26) </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What causes this Burning
Bosom or the electric tingle phenomena in the LDS Church? According to some,
there are three possible answers:</span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<ol><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A false spirit
can relay the burning.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Intimidation from others, so the person
unconsciously forces one up. (It’s not hard to get your spine to tingle.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One’s own heart and psyche can produce the experience simply because the
individual sincerely wants Mormonism to be true—after all, it’s claims are
quite spectacular. </span></li>
</span></ol>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m more inclined to
discount number 1, and believe that more often it is number 3, influenced by
number 2. <br />
<br />
Former Mormon, David McCament, a member for 13 years, says he received the
traditional feelings about the truthfulness of Mormonism, but began studying
and comparing the church’s doctrines to the Bible. Seeing that the two
contradicted each other, he went through a lot of turmoil and questioning. How
could this be when he had the typical and distinctive sensations after he
initially prayed concerning the Book of Mormon and the church? Eventually, he
reached a point where he went into the woods with his Bible and prayed: <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this state
of helplessness I began praying out loud. “What do you want me to do, Father?
I've studied hard, I've learned of significant problems with my church, but
when I've prayed I have felt a warmth in my heart that I have always believed
was the Holy Spirit telling me the Church was true.<br /> <br />
As I knelt there, waiting prayerfully upon the Lord, a gentle but persuasive
calm came over me. I cannot explain it nor adequately describe the entire
experience but somehow I heard the Lord speak to my spirit through a series of
thoughts or impressions. "Dave, I love you,"<br /> <span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">He assured me. "I know how hard you've looked for an answer about your
church and what to do. You thought you could figure it out on your own. Now you
realize you cannot. I've been waiting all this time to help you but you had to
come to Me first, like you are right now, helpless and surrendered, before I
could. What you hold in your hands [the Bible] contains the truth about the
Church and what you are to believe. You must place all of your trust in Me and
in My Word alone. I decided right then I would believe it by faith apart from
feelings. (Read his testimony at:
http://www.utlm.org/testimony/davemctestimony.htm)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--></span></span></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 12pt;">The test for truth </span></span></u></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Proverbs 28:26 admonishes us to check and see if what we are inquiring about
lines up with the Word of God. Testing must come by comparing what one is
evaluating with what the Bible says—not by emotional feelings, one's heart, or
bodily manifestations. The Bible is God’s official yardstick, purposely
preserved by his hand down through the ages so that all his children could
measure whether something is true or not and avoid being tossed to and fro by
every wind of doctrine. (Eph 4:14) Continuous discovery of more ancient
manuscripts is proving the Bible’s accuracy. </span></span></span></h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God also says in His Word that we are obliged to test whatever spirit or
influence is attempting to convert or convince us of something. </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beloved, do not put faith
in every spirit, but prove the spirits to discover whether they proceed from
God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. (1 Jn 4:1. Ampl) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, how do we test
religious claims? Not by electric tingles, burning bosom, goose bumps or good
feelings in our heart, but "<i>by every word that proceedeth from the
mouth of God</i>." (Mt 4:4) And where do we find God’s word? In the
Bible—and only the Bible. Paul, in Gal. 1:8, offers a specific test: </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach </span><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">any other</u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;"> gospel unto you than that which </span><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">we</u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
have preached unto you, let him be accursed.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does Mormonism teach a
different gospel? While they do teach that Christ died on the cross for their
sins, they believe he effected only a partial salvation. It will get you
resurrected, but full salvation (exaltation) has to be earned through
Mormonism’s unique doctrines and temple rituals they believe God has only
revealed to them because they are the elect. <br />
<br />
The LDS Church definitely preaches "another gospel," for neither
Jesus nor his apostles ever said that polygamy, secret passwords, death
penalties, and vicarious work for the dead (a Gnostic practice) were required
to enter the presence of God. Nor did they teach that God is not the Supreme
and only God, or that he had parents and grandparents and was a polygamous,
resurrected man from a previous world. They didn’t teach that men could become
gods (<i>Satan’s first lie to Adam and Eve. (Gen 3:5; Jn 8:44</i>), or that
Lucifer is Jesus’ brother, or that God physically came down and impregnated
Mary, or that salvation/exaltation can only come through Jesus and the say-so
of Joseph Smith. (<i>See comparison chart between Mormonism and Christianity,
endnote 7</i>.) <br />
<br />
Nor did the early-church LDS apostles say that one day what they stated about
the priesthood would later be subject to change so that LDS males could usurp
the Melchizedek priesthood, reserved only for Christ. (Heb. Ch 7) As far as
priesthood goes, the Bible only says that after Jesus’ resurrection, all believers,
male and female, would be declared a holy nation of royal priests, in that they
would from then on offer up <i>spiritual</i> sacrifices. (I Pet. 2:5; Rom.
12:1). But today's believers are not so presumptuous to assume that they hold
Christ’s priesthood.(9) <br />
<br />
Nor did the writers of the Bible say that High Priests (<i>who oversaw the
sacrificial system</i>) were still to be ordained and that there could be many
at the same time. In the Old Testament there was never but one High Priest at a
time, with the exception of one instance (6). Upon the death of the high
priest, another was appointed and this was repeated down through history until
Christ. But, when Christ, the perfect and ultimate sacrificial lamb died, he
became the final High Priest. (Heb. 7:27; 10:10) Ordinances were then nailed to
the cross (Col. 2:14 KJV) and Israel’s system of high priests and animal
sacrifices were done away with. After his resurrection, Jesus entered the Holy
of Holies in heaven and became our <i>eternal</i> and only High Priest. Since
he cannot die, there would be no need to appoint other High Priests like the
LDS Church does. (Heb. 3:1; 4:14-16; Chaps 5-10.) Anyone who would assume this
position should be ashamed. Neither should Mormons seize the Aaronic
Priesthood. This was a lineage priesthood that not even Jesus could hold. (9) <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>What is the difference between the Burning Bosom and the Peter Testimony</u>?</span></b><br />
Concisely put, the Burning Bosom is physical, a bodily manifestation which also
includes human emotions and feelings. The Peter Testimony is a <i>spiritual</i>
conviction imparted by the Holy Spirit who bears witness to our spirit--not our
body--with revelation knowledge that is not based on human feelings. It is
spirit to spirit, and what it conveys corroborates the Bible. <br />
<br />
Now, for the sake of fairness, let’s say the Holy Spirit does legitimately
witness the truth to a person with bodily manifestations and emotions. It still
begs the question: <i>How could a Burning Bosom testimony be valid concerning
Mormonism, when the LDS Church not only contradicts, criticizes and denies the
accuracy of the Bible, but also adds unbiblical doctrines that Jesus and the
apostles never taught?</i> In the long run, this is the crux of the matter. A
Christian’s testimony will be confirmed by the Bible, but the Bible will not
confirm Mormonism. <br />
<br />
If you are a Mormon and have received a Spirit-to-spirit conviction that the
Biblical Jesus’ work and his status as the Christ is true, just be sure you
don’t make the assumption, as so many have done, that it includes things other
than what the Holy Spirit actually conveyed to you. <br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>Is there an LDS concern about today’s Mormon receiving a Peter testimony
of Christ</u>?</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">There is a concern that members only focus on doctrines that appear biblical.
This is because LDS leaders today, hoping to draw more converts in, are now
bent on portraying the church as "Christian." To further facilitate
this, they are omitting their unbiblical doctrines from teaching manuals and
restricting ward leaders and teachers from making any reference to them. This
was a shock to long-time Mormon, Ken Driggs: </span></span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For a long time, I taught
the Gospel Principles class in my ward. One Sunday we sang a hymn in sacrament
meeting that referred to our Mother in Heaven, Eliza R. Snow’s <i>O My Father.
" In heav’n are parents single? / No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal / tells me I’ve a mother there.</i>"
The manual touched on family that Sunday, and I mentioned the Heavenly Mother
in my lesson. I did not see that belief as heretical. Rather, it was something
I had been taught all my life. After class a furious missionary scolded me for
bringing this up, for "not teaching from the manual." Apparently an
investigator had been in class and freaked out at the reference. (10) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore, ward leaders and
teachers are told to only focus on talking about Christ and general and
acceptable beliefs that sound more Christian. While this is commendable, it is
deceptive. Why? Because church leaders are not <i>renouncing</i> their
doctrines, but hiding them--which means they still really believe them. There
are, however, pros and cons to this, so for fuller coverage I recommend reading
my archived article, <i>Is the Mormon Church Turning Christian?</i> <br />
<br />
So, the danger for a Mormon in receiving a Peter Testimony today, especially
for converts, is because the church now focuses so much on Christ and conceals
its unbiblical doctrines. In view of this, they won’t see the advantage of
leaving the church to embrace <i>true</i> Christianity. Further, by staying in,
they will eventually be convinced that they must earn their salvation through
temple work and other activities so that one day they can become a god or
goddess. They will find their growth in true biblical doctrines stunted and
will fail to understand the <i>complete</i> and final work of the cross, not to
mention their eventual disappointment in heaven when they find these beliefs
false. It is still a church that believes in earning salvation through works as
verified in their Third Article of Faith: <br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We believe that through the
Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the <u>laws</u>
and <u>ordinances</u> of the Gospel. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gal. 2:16 tells us that,
"<i>…a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ.</i>" Those who put laws and ordinances into the <i>Good News</i>
of the Gospel, make it <i>bad news.</i>"(11) <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Have you received a biblically based Peter Testimony</u>?</span></b> <br />
I emphasize "Biblically-based," because the Peter Testimony that
Jesus is the Christ will only validate what the Bible says about Jesus and his
mission--nothing more, nothing less. This revelation knowledge can happen when
one genuinely receives a salvation experience. And since God is love, it is not
unusual for the Holy Spirit to relay God’s love during that experience. This,
then, provides a continuing joy thereafter, as Dean Kinzel describes:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I received Jesus as my
savior, there was such a great love that flooded over me in the recognition of
the fact that Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross for my sins. The
joy from this love was just indescribable; and still is as a matter of fact.
This I believe was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit...for it is the Holy
Spirit that is the very presence of God within us. (15) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Or, it can also happen
during prayer time, or as you are meditating on God’s word in the Bible. Former
Mormon, Dave McCament, commenting on his first experience in the woods, (<i>quoted
earlier</i>) says that revelation knowledge not only comes to him by God
speaking words within his spirit, but also from the Holy Spirit when he reads
the Bible. </span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">About the most direct
answer I ever had coming from God was when He told me He loved me, that He was
waiting for me to come to Him broken and surrendered, and that the answer I was
seeking was found in His Word. I knew God was speaking to me…but I can’t
explain how He did it. Sometimes enlightenment will come (an example is when
you are reading the Bible and a verse leaps off the page, hits you between the
eyes, and God says, "This is right for you now") during scripture
reading that is intense and blesses me deeply with greater understanding and
insight. I have a certainty of belief in Jesus that is Bible-based and kept
supernaturally alive in me via the Holy Spirit indwelling me.... My knowledge
of Jesus comes from faith in the Word of God and is centered in how He has
revealed Himself through scripture. (8) </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When one receives the Peter
testimony from the Holy Spirit, this indwelling comes in such a strong manner
and testifies of Christ so powerfully, "<i>you know that you know</i>"
that it is not of yourself. It is the kind of testimony that flesh and blood,
intellect, logic, heat in your bosom, electric tingles or your own heart can
never reveal to you--only God. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This testimony is the imperative foundation for all true
believers, and will always testify to the gospel that Jesus actually taught in
the Bible . ..that of full forgiveness, reconciliation to the Father and promise
of eternal life--not the kind of eternal life that Mormonism defines as temple
ritual, godhood and plural marriage.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When you come to the cross, there is
nothing else you can possibly do to "earn" your way to heaven.
However, a life of good works as admonished by Jesus follows because of one’s
faith, but there is no "earning" power in it. While James 2:20 says,
"faith without works is dead," you are still saved by a saving faith
alone. The Holy Spirit guarantees this:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">"</span><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">And when you believed
in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he
promised long ago. The Spirit is 'God’s guarantee' that he will give us
the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">" (</span><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Eph. 1:13-14</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">).</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrmHOTrEllf15FaWiNea83mWG41KhnueXi2WtzIJG_YiOGLp4hwGYW0OF8bpWqN7Xw_xJHJZ0NgOtJpZssrt69O3vaH9AiE8W_jsZ5OZgMoWTdbJGtsZAWwYY6jueJfHnf9hTKB_Qr_E/s1600/JESUS+HUGGINGjesus_abrazando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrmHOTrEllf15FaWiNea83mWG41KhnueXi2WtzIJG_YiOGLp4hwGYW0OF8bpWqN7Xw_xJHJZ0NgOtJpZssrt69O3vaH9AiE8W_jsZ5OZgMoWTdbJGtsZAWwYY6jueJfHnf9hTKB_Qr_E/s200/JESUS+HUGGINGjesus_abrazando.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">THE END</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><u>MISCELLANEOUS</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To read
Christian testimonies, go to: (http://www.precious-testimonies.com/General/a-e/BornAgainIndex.htm
) <br />
<br />
For former Mormon, David McCament’s testimony, go to: http://www.utlm.org/testimony/davemctestimony.htm<br />
<br />
The following site gives twenty-four ways to identify a false religion and how seductive deception can be. http://www.jubilee.org.nz/articles/how-to-identify-a-cult</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>ENDNOTES</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Book of Mormon is the easiest to gain a testimony about because it contains so
many Christian truths from the Bible. Joseph Smith also addressed many of the
issues taking place with the Christian evangelism of his day. Only later did he
come up with his bizarre doctrines. Therefore, when members testify about the
Book of Mormon, they are truly testifying to the Biblical truths contained in
it. They hardly even had to pray about it to know it’s true--which was the case
with me. But what they fail to pray about is whether an angel named Moroni
delivered gold plates to Joseph Smith. And because they receive a witness that
the "contents" of the Book of Mormon are true, they then
"assume" that everything else about Mormonism is also the truth,
including the angel and the gold plates. <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jeremiah
31:3: "...I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with <u>lovingkindness</u>
have I drawn thee."<br />
<br />
<u>Ezekiel</u> 34:11, 16: "(11) As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the
day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep,
and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the
cloudy an dark day.(16) I will seek that which was lost and bring again that
which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will
strengthen that which was sick. . . ." <u>Luke</u> 19:10: "For the
Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." <u>John</u>
6:44: "No man can come unto me, unless the Father who hath sent me, draw
him..." <u>Romans</u> 2:4: "...the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance..." <u>Philippians</u> 2:12-13: "...work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you according
to his good pleasure, both to will and to do." <u>1 John</u> 4:19:
"We love him, because he first loved us." <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A
Patriarchal Blessing in the LDS Church is a prophetic utterance in which
certain blessings are pronounced on members, their future often declared, and a
statement as to which tribe they descend from. Of interest is one particular
statement the patriarch said in mine—that I would be spit upon, hated and
disdained, but that I was to take heart for God would be with me. At the time
this puzzled me, for little did I know that this "disdaining" would
be fulfilled by my LDS friends when I left the church. <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Mike
H. Reynolds, "Preaching to the Choir," <i>The Inner Circle</i> 12,
No. 3 (March 1995): 6. <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">http://www.utlm.org/testimony/davemctestimony.htm</span></u></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -22.5pt;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There
were two high priests in the reign of David, apparently of nearly equal
authority, viz., Zadok and Abiathar (I Chron. 15:11; 2II Sam. 8:17; 15:24, 35).
It is not unlikely that after the death of Ahimelech and the secession of
Abiathar to David, Saul may have made Zadok priest, and that David may have
avoided the difficulty of deciding between the claims of his faithful friend
Abiathar and his new and important ally Zadok by appointing them to a joint
priesthood; the first place, with the ephod and Urim and Thummin remaining with
Abiathar, who was in actual possession of them. It appears that Abiathar had
special charge of the ark and the services connected therewith, which agrees
exactly with the possession of the ephod by Biathar and his previous position
with David before he became king. Abiathar, however, forfeited his place by
taking part with Adonijah against Solomon, and Zadok was made high priest in
his place." (Unger’s Bible Dictionary by Merrill F. Unger, Chicago. Moody
Press, 1980) 888.) <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. Differences Between Christianity and Mormonism
(below). Also, a study of Gnosticism will prove quite revealing to members and
investigators of Mormonism; see summary in my book, <i>The Mormon Missionaries</i>,
pages 185, 192-194.) </span></span><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, the late Mormon Prophet, Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, when if he believed in the traditional Christ of Christians, stated: </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"No, I don’t. The traditional Christ of whom they (the Christians)
speak is not the Christ of whom I speak."</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> (Church News, June 20, 1998,
p. 7) </span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Dave
McCament, Escondido, CA. Read his testimony at: <u>http://www.utlm.org/testimony/davemctestimony.htm</u>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 9. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (I Peter 2:9)</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />In the Old Testament only the High Priests qualified to have direct access to
God by presenting blood sacrifices. But since they were done away with in
Christ who was the ultimate blood sacrifice and he has become our High Priest,
God is accessible to all believers because of their royal priesthood. They can
approach God with boldness and are empowered to converse with God and minister
to others. Hebrews 4:14, 16 says: <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since, then, we have a
great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession [the faith we profess]. …Let us therefore </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and
find </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">grace to help in time of need. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the matter of the
Aaronic priesthood, this was reserved only for the descendants of Aaron.
Mormons claim to be of the tribes of Ephraim and Manassah, not Aaron. They,
however, believe that until a Mormon steps forth with a legitimate claim to
being a descendant of Aaron <i>(which is usually supernaturally disclosed
through one’s patriarchal blessing)</i>, members can substitutionally officiate
in those duties. So, now they ordain young men, older men if they are new
converts, to the Aaronic priesthood even though they are <i><u>not</u></i>
descendants of Aaron. But, what is so presumptuous is that in the Bible, God
was very strict about who could hold the Aaronic priesthood. Because Christ was
of the tribe of Judah, <u>even He couldn’t hold it</u>. (Heb. 7:14) That makes
Mormon men making themselves more privileged than Christ! That alone, ought to
refute the Mormon Aaronic priesthood. The following should be helpful:</span></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">10.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"A
New Future Requires a New Past." <i>(Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought</i>,
Vol. 41, No. 2, Summer 2008), 75. (Italics mine.) <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">11.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Truth."
<u>http://www.frontiernet.net/~avtruth/faithvworks.html</u> <br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">www.greaterthings.com/Essays/testimony.htm</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> <br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">13.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">http://en.fairmormon.org/Burning_in_the_bosom</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -22.5pt;">14.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -22.5pt;">The
Mormon Church does not believe Acts 4:12, that Christ is the only name under
heaven by which a man can be saved. Rather, to be resurrected or saved in any
of the three levels within the Celestial Kingdom, it is through membership in
the LDS Church and Joseph Smith's name. (<i>Doctrines of Salvation</i> 1:350) </span></span></div>
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<br />
Brigham Young and other church leaders reiterated this: <br />
<br />
"No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial
kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith." <br />
<br />
"No man or woman in this generation will get a <i>resurrection</i> and be
crowned <i>without Joseph saying so</i>. (Conference discourse on October 8,
1854. See also, (<i>Journal of Discourses</i>, Vol. VII, p. 289) <br />
<br />
"So hear it all ye ends of the earth; if you ever enter into the kingdom
of God, it is because Joseph Smith let you go there." <br />
<br />
"Every man and woman must have the certification of Joseph Smith, Junior,
as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ
are." (Brigham Young) <br />
<br />
There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. <br />
<br />
President Spencer W. Kimball said: "Exaltation is available only to
righteous members of the Church of Jesus Christ; only to those who accept the
gospel; only to those who have their endowments in holy temples of God and have
been sealed for eternity and who then continue to live righteously throughout
their lives. (Spencer W. Kimball, <i>The Miracle of Forgiveness</i>, 1969, 246.
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">15.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Dean
Kinzel, Marysville, WA. <br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">16.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: super;">©</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Copyright
2009. This story cannot be copied and/or used in a professional publication
without express permission of the author. However, please feel free to ask. I usually give permission.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s1600/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="123" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPjIxcKZAPBuLshSK2egETXxE3N5YD0rheb37foWBQUbmwc15VNYYThu9kFWh4d2kZXNVCaMVzPnnjLYZL3Ka68IC3149VPaXUNvpQUx6HtMPJquEV4Y16BdwRmhmwmKItnUx8IDusY/s200/POSE-1-%2521cid_B0149CCB-05DC-4E73-B613-1FD2B2030776.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Archaeologists continue to uncover ancient manuscripts and text fragments which reshape and revise the biblical account of Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We find much of this in the Gnostic gospels such as the Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Mary and others; also, the Book of Mormon. When something new about Jesus or the New Testament period is uncovered, the extravagant claims of these texts tend to excite people. But the information contained in these texts often leaves many confused on what the truth really is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">So, here is the important question:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><i> Out of all the available texts, how do we know which is
the most authentic? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Today’s guest blogger answers that question.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><u>Note</u></span>: <i>In
Mr. Bowman’s first paragraph, he mentions his lengthier article on this subject . Therefore, after you finish this article, I<u> highly</u> recommend clicking
on that link to read it. It contains more detail.</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">What Are the Most Reliable Sources about Jesus?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0in;">b</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-indent: 0in;">y Robert M. Bowman Jr.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a brief summary of a longer, heavily documented article, “</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i><a href="http://bib.irr.org/what-are-good-sources-jesus">What are Good Sources about Jesus</a></i><i><a href="http://bib.irr.org/what-are-good-sources-jesus">?</a>” (Part 2 in the series “The Bottom-Line Guide to Jesus”).</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">The existence of Jesus of Nazareth, a
Jewish teacher from Galilee executed by crucifixion</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at the order of Pontius
Pilate, is well-established historical fact. But where can we find reliable
information about him? For Christians, the best sources are the four New
Testament Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">However, many people today challenge
their reliability and often tout other writings as superior sources of
information about Jesus. If we are to know the truth about Jesus, we need to
know how reliable the available sources are.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Here are the main writings that people
of various beliefs argue are the best sources of information about Jesus:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">·</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<ul><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The four Gospels in the New Testament</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ancient apocrypha not in the New Testament,
notably the “Gnostic gospels”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The late medieval Islamic text called the
Gospel of Barnabas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Modern texts such as the Book of Mormon, <i>Life of Saint Issa</i>, and <i>Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ</i></span> </span></li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">To gauge the historical value of these
books, we need to consider (1) the textual evidence, (2) when and by whom they
were written, (3) what sort of books they are, and (4) how well they fit Jesus’
historical context.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The
Truth about the Texts</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The four New Testament Gospels enjoy </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">extensive</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> ancient textual evidence. We
have multiple fragments of Gospel manuscripts from the second and third
centuries, including a fragment of John copied perhaps 25 years after it was
written. We have complete copies of all four Gospels in their original Greek
language from the mid-300s and thereafter. This manuscript evidence is far
superior to that of all the other books about Jesus. Indeed, it is much better
than the manuscript evidence for virtually all other ancient writings.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By contrast, the ancient textual evidence
is <i>sparse</i> for the ancient apocryphal
gospels. We have no complete copies of any of them in their original Greek
text. For example, there is just one fourth-century copy of the Gospel of
Thomas in Coptic and a few earlier fragments in Greek. And that’s better than
the others. We have no complete copies in any language of the Gospel of Peter
or the Gospel of Mary. At least we have some ancient fragments of these books.
We have <i>no</i> ancient textual evidence
for any of the others. The earliest copy of the Gospel of Barnabas was made
about 1600 in Italian! The earliest known text for the Book of Mormon is the
one Joseph Smith dictated in 1829. Nicolas Notovitch claimed that his 1894 <i>Life of Saint Issa</i> was based on scrolls
read to him by Buddhist monks in Tibet, but investigators determined that no
such scrolls ever existed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Determining
the Dates<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Since Jesus was crucified in either AD
30 or 33, the closer a source is to those dates the better. The scholarly
consensus dates all four Gospels between about AD 50 and 100, within the
lifetimes of at least some of the eyewitnesses who knew Jesus personally. The
Gospels do not name their authors, but Christians in the early second century (about
AD 100 to 125) identified the authors by name.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The ancient apocryphal gospels trumpet
the names of their supposed authors—Thomas, Mary, Peter, etc.—but no scholars
think they were the actual authors. These books were probably written in the
second century, one or two generations too late to be produced by eyewitnesses
or by anyone who knew the eyewitnesses. The other books are hopelessly too late
in this regard. The Gospel of Barnabas was probably written between 1320 and
1348, thirteen centuries after the time of Jesus. Despite efforts by their
defenders to prove otherwise, the Book of Mormon and <i>Life of Saint Issa</i> clearly originated in the nineteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Biographies
and Other Kinds of Books</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The New Testament Gospels are written in
the style of ancient Greco-Roman biographies, just what one would expect if the
Gospels were ancient sources about Jesus. For example, like such ancient
biographies but unlike modern ones, they spend little or no time on Jesus’
youth and focus largely on the most momentous period of his life, which was the
week of his death.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The ancient apocryphal gospels do not
qualify as biographies in any sense. Generally speaking they contain little or
no narrative and don’t even <i>claim</i> to
present historical information about Jesus. The later apocrypha have the
opposite problem: They are fraudulent biographies or histories. The Gospel of
Barnabas is an extremely lengthy “harmony” of the New Testament Gospels,
weaving their contents together along with new material generally reflecting an
Islamic perspective. The Book of Mormon’s narrative about Jesus purports to be
historical but is not a biography of Jesus, since it says almost nothing about
the life of Jesus prior to his resurrection. The <i>Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ</i> looks like a modern biography,
correcting the supposed deficiencies of the New Testament Gospels. Thus, much
of the book tells stories about Jesus’ childhood and about his travels as a
young adult to India, Persia, Assyria, Greece, and Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How
Historical?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">While we cannot “prove” every detail of
the New Testament Gospels, their accounts about Jesus fit extremely well in the
context of his first-century life in Galilee and Judea. The Gospels report
Jesus going to real places, engaging with real people, and teaching on subjects
that were burning issues among the Jews of his day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The same cannot be said for the other
books, all of which betray their later origins. The Gnostic gospels portray
Jesus spouting statements that owe more to Platonic philosophy than to the Old
Testament. The Gospel of Barnabas weaves material from the New Testament
Gospels together into one long book in which Jesus is quoted presenting common
medieval Islamic arguments against Christianity. The Book of Mormon presents
Jesus quoting almost verbatim the entire Sermon on the Mount as recorded in
Matthew (in the King James Version), including cultural references that would
make no sense to his supposed ancient audience in the Americas, such as roads
leading to gates of walled cities (which didn’t exist in the first-century
ancient Americas).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion:
The New Testament Gospels Stand Alone<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Of all the texts surveyed in this brief
overview, only the New Testament Gospels pass the tests scholars apply to
literary works that claim to be ancient historical or biographical texts. The
following chart summarizes how works from each category measure up to these
common criteria.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.75pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">NT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gospels<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.45pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gospel of Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gospel of Barnabas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.6pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book of Mormon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.8pt;" valign="top" width="126"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Life of Saint Issa<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.75pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Text<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.45pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.6pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.8pt;" valign="top" width="126"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.75pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Author, Date<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.45pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.6pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.8pt;" valign="top" width="126"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Genre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.45pt;" valign="top" width="127"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Historical
Fit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.6pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">FINAL GRADE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">C-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">D<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F+<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If we want to know the facts about
Jesus, then, we need to go to the New Testament Gospels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kOVFhGOr-73M-D9Jmy4BPAnwYv5Lf_9fgtqOt-Soi1mQoicNMzf5VydHoJMZw-sHgHVfPaSz1-jFkwuZpMd_Ryomc8v7vq7ZsuI9q-po33fcRPA-ZLoPo-4aXl2Xz7nqOo0sidIrSfw/s200/PAGE-ENDER.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Robert M. Bowman Jr. is the executive director at the Institute
for Religious Research in Cedar Springs, Michigan. The organization’s website
is IRR.org. Rob has lectured on biblical studies, religion, and apologetics at Biola
University, Cornerstone University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary. He is the author of over sixty articles and the author or co-author
of thirteen books including <i>Putting Jesus
in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ</i> and <i>Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the
Christian Faith</i>. He holds the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies
from Fuller Theological Seminary and South African Theological Seminary.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-37037099758956945012017-03-20T15:23:00.000-07:002017-03-21T08:52:42.308-07:00GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLESPlease share.<br />
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<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, the subject of spiritual gifts, mentioned in I
Cor. 12:7-11, remains controversial among denominations. <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Some (continuationists) believe the Holy
Spirit can bestow spiritual gifts on persons today, whereas o</span>thers
(cessationists) believe the gifts <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">ceased with the apostolic age.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">But, if spiritual gifts were supposed to cease, then why,</span> long after the death
of the apostles, did the widespread gifts of the Holy Spirit, e.g., speaking in
tongues and interpretation, prophecy, healings, visions and miracles, continue
into the third and fourth-century church? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" is an interesting subject, and today's guest blogger presents well-researched evidence of the continuation of the gifts after the death of the apostles. Might we assume from this that God did not recall his gifts...that he is still using them for the good of the church in the same manner he did in apostolic times?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Gifts of the
Spirit for Centuries</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">by David W. T. Brattston</span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prophecy, speaking in tongues, and other gifts of the
Holy Spirit did not die out with the apostles or their first followers.
Documents in the second through fourth centuries show that miraculous powers
like those in the New Testament continued among Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Early
Second Century</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Quadratus was a Christian in Athens who witnessed to
the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the A.D. 120s, to prove that Christianity was the
true religion and was no harm to the empire. Quadratus reminded the emperor
that the miracles Christians performed in his day were genuine: "Nor did
they remain only during the sojourn of the Saviour on earth, but also a
considerable time after his departure; and, indeed, some of them have survived
even to our own times."<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Quadratus spoke as though the emperor was already familiar with Christian
miracles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Late
Second and Early Third Centuries</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Irenaeus of Lyons was raised a Christian near <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ephesus</st1:place></st1:city>, where he
associated with the apostles’ immediate followers. In A.D. 177 he became a
pastor in southern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Between the years 182 and 188, he wrote a book against perversions of
Christianity in which he compared the true faith to the sects. Among the
differences was that true Christians performed miracles to help other people.
He listed driving out demons, the gift of prophecy, visions, and healing the
sick by the laying on of hands as marks of genuine believers that were still
current in the A.D. 180s.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
He contrasted this with false Christians or sects, who could not give sight to
the blind, heal the deaf, exorcise wicked spirits, or cure the lame.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tertullian was a lawyer in the late second century.
After converting to Christ he returned to his hometown in what is now <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tunisia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
became a clergyman and writer on religious subjects. He recorded that in his
time believers still cast out demons, saw visions from God, interpreted
tongues, and received other spiritual gifts long after the death of the last
apostle.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Quadratus in Greece, Irenaeus in France, and
Tertullian in Tunisia all indicated that the continuance of full gifts of the
Spirit was not a local phenomenon but was widespread in the second-century
church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Origen</span></span></u></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Origen had been raised a Christian in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
and later became head of “the first Christian university” in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palestine</st1:place></st1:city>. In the late 240s, he wrote a book
defending Christianity from pagan attacks. He argued that Christ could be
proved to be divine from the success of His followers in working miracles,
clearly indicating the Spirit still moved in the middle of the third century: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“There are still
preserved among Christians traces of that Holy Spirit which appeared in the
form of a dove. They expel evil spirits, and perform many cures, and foresee
certain events, according to the will of the Logos.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The name of Jesus
can still remove distractions from the minds of men, and expel demons, and also
take away diseases; and also produce a marvellous meekness of spirit and
complete change of character."<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In<i> Homilies on Luke</i>
7.6 he noted that diseases of body and soul were cured in both Christ’s time
and his own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Origen also argued that Christianity had replaced
Judaism as the true religion because the Jews "have no longer prophets nor
miracles, traces of which to a considerable extent are still found among
Christians, and some of them more remarkable than any that existed among the
Jews; and these we ourselves have witnessed."<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the first half of third century, a Christian saint
completely cured a senator’s wife of <span class="ind">a form of malaria that
caused a fever every fourth day.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><span class="ind"> </span>In the first decade of the fourth century, Arnobius of Sicca
in <st1:place w:st="on">North Africa</st1:place> wrote that Jesus "appears
even now to righteous men of unpolluted mind" in visions and His name
still put evil spirits to flight and protected the faithful against occult
pagan practices.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Prophecy</span></span></u></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to the full outpouring of gifts, some
Christians mentioned that specific powers of the Spirit continued to their own
day. Sometime in the first or early second century, a church manual was
compiled in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
containing rules for the testing and support of Christian prophets.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
It provided guidance for deciding whether a person was speaking in the Spirit.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Nobody would have provided such regulations unless Christianity still had
prophecy. According to Origen, however, believers did not regard them as having
the same scriptural authority as prophecies which formed part of the Old
Testament.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Even half a century after Origen, two Christian martyrs, Marian and James (died 254 A. D.) were filled with
the Spirit and uttered prophecies of specific events.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Tongues</span></span></u></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In <i>Pagan and
Christian in an Age of Anxiety</i>, Eric Richard Dodds, a professor at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Oxford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and an agnostic, admits that speaking in tongues was "a Christian
specialty, from the days of St. Paul...down to those of Irenaeus, late in the
second century."<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Even later, in a series of sermons between A.D. 238 and 244, Origen indicated
that the gifts of speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues were
still current in his day.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Exorcise
of Demons</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>
in the 160s, a highly educated Christian named Justin mentioned in a debate
with a rabbi that Christians continued to expel evil spirits from people.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Elsewhere he mentioned that Christians successfully exorcised the victims of demon
possession, “though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and
those who used incantations and drugs.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
About the time Irenaeus wrote, Bishop Theophilus of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Antioch</st1:place></st1:city> said the Holy Spirit continued to be
manifest in the same way. Early in the next century, Tertullian commented that
“multitudes” could testify to the success of Christian exorcisms.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bishop Firmilian of Caesarea in Cappadocia (central
Turkey) mentioned an exorcism that had taken place in A.D. 234.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In a pastoral address to Christians in jail awaiting martyrdom, Pionius of
Ephesus mentioned that in A.D. 250 the name of Christ still expelled demons and
worked other wonders.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
The pastor-bishop of Carthage reported that exorcisms were common in the 250s.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Conclusion</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It appears from the evidence of Christians in
different parts of the Roman Empire that the gifts of the Spirit were still
manifested and that signs and wonders continued to follow those who believed
for generation after generation, as late as the early fourth century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Note, however, in the above quotes by Origen, his two
mentions of the word “traces,” which reinforce his statement of a few years
earlier that Christians of his time did not enjoy the same fullness of the Holy
Spirit as in apostolic times.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[22]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> This
is similar to the statement in the late second century of Theophilus of
Antioch, who observed that Christians cast out demons only “sometimes.”</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[23]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen
spoke of the resurrection of the bodies of the physically dead as having
applied only to the apostles, but added that some Christians of his time could
raise the spiritually dead.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[24]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">T</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">he miraculous activity of the Holy Spirit
did not end abruptly with the death of the apostles but became less and less
frequent over the centuries. Does it persist to our own day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">1 Corinthians 12: 1, 7-11</span> </b><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">kjv</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i>“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren,
I would not have you ignorant. …<b><sup> <o:p></o:p></sup></b></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="text"><i>Now there are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all. <b><sup> </sup></b>But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the
Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the
same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another
the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA">"<i>How much </i></span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818;">easier it is to be
critical than to be correct</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818;">.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #181818;">(Benjamin
Disraeli)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>About the author</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .4in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">David W. T. Brattston is a retired lawyer
residing in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. He holds degrees from three
Canadian universities. His mission is to make early Christian literature
known and used by all Christians, especially as Christian moral teaching from
before A.D. 250 relates to today. In the last quarter-century, over three
hundred of his articles on early and contemporary Christianity have been
published by a wide variety of denominations in every major English-speaking
country.</span></div>
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<div>
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<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Quadratus, <i>Apology</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Irenaeus, <i>Against Heresies</i> 2.32.4.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ibid., 2.31.2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Tertullian, <i>The Soul's Testimony</i>, 3; <i>To
Scapula</i>, 2; <i>Against Marcion</i> 5.8.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen, <i>Against Celsus</i> 1.46. See also 1.6 and 7.67.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ibid., 1.67.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ibid., 7.8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>Acts
of Saint Eugenia</i> 11</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Arnobius, <i>Against the Heathen</i>, 46</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>Didache</i>
13.1-7.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn11">
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.
11.7-8, 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn12">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen, <i>Against Celsus</i> 7.8.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn13">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>Martyrdom
of Marian and James</i> 12.7.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn14">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cambridge</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> Press, 1965 p.
55 n. 1.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn15">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen <i>Homilies
on Exodus</i> 13.2.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn16">
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin
Martyr, <i>Dialogue with Trypho</i>, 30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn17">
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
Justin Martyr, <i>2 Apology</i> 6.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn18">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Tertullian, <i>Scapula</i> 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Firmilian, Epistle 74.10, in the
collection of Cyprian.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn20">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>Martyrdom
of Pionius</i>, 13.6.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn21">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cyprian, Epistle 69.15.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn22">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen,<i>
Commentary on the Song of Songs</i>, Prologue Chapter 4.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn23">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Origen,<i>
Commentary on the Song of Songs</i>, Prologue Chapter 4.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Janis/Documents/BLOG%20-%20MINE/GUEST%20BLOGGERS-POTENTIAL/BLATTSTON%20-%20REVISED%204%20BLOG-Gifts%20of%20the%20Spirit%202016.doc#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[24]</span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Origen, <i>Homilies on Isaiah</i> 6.4.</span></div>
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<br />
This article by my two guest bloggers on facing trials when trying to exhibit faith, is powerful, Trials are admittedly difficult because of their sheer weight. Not only that, but they appear to contradict the promises God made. We wonder: "Will those promises ever materialize?"<br />
<div>
<br />
The article reveals there is a definite light at the end of the tunnel, and the believer must learn what that light is and rejoice in it. And yes, it can be done<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">―</span>even in the middle of the most severe testing.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1 align="center">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">THE 3 PHASES OF FAITH DURING MILESTONES OF TESTING</span><sup> ©</sup></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><sup><br /></sup></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By J. Michael Strawn and Latayne C. Scott </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2PgjgHNUgiRQbxuoW4O_a2N-MqJ_sTjWcSJQQ6psTohnpI3IKznaxRGqqIJ8GiYmGHDRUKWMktpW1ARAgSR1zE_R3oftz9k5qXP6PU9-suY4nfqwjFwpMsZjl1exp72rCnnKwurC3nM/s1600/TRIALS-PERSON+PRAYG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2PgjgHNUgiRQbxuoW4O_a2N-MqJ_sTjWcSJQQ6psTohnpI3IKznaxRGqqIJ8GiYmGHDRUKWMktpW1ARAgSR1zE_R3oftz9k5qXP6PU9-suY4nfqwjFwpMsZjl1exp72rCnnKwurC3nM/s200/TRIALS-PERSON+PRAYG.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">Does serving God
pay off</span></u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: blue;">?</span>
</span><b> </b><br />
While others around us in the world and even those in the church may conclude from
their own personal experiences that serving God doesn’t pay off in the real
world, they are echoing the thoughts we find in Malachi 3:14—</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>You have said,
“It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements
and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper and even
those who challenge God escape</i>.”</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those who say such
things have made fundamental mistakes in assessing personal experience, in
concluding that pleasantness of personal experience is equated with favor from
God. We find in a subsequent verse how
godly people responded to the above:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then those who
feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His
presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty,
“in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them just as in compassion a man
spares his son who serves him. And you
will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between
those who serve God and those who do not.”</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fact is that
God not only ultimately makes a distinction between those who are His and those
who are not in eternity; but He also tries and tests His people while on this
earth. We should talk to one another as
did the believers of Malachi’s day to encourage one another in our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">How does one build faith</span></span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">? </span><br />
There is a Biblical profile of faith, one that could even be regarded as one
regards a road map. If you know where
you are along a route, and you can see and be assured of the destination, you
won’t feel as “lost” along the way. The
building of personal faith is not a seamless, homogenous stream. If we example the great people of faith of
the Bible, we find that their faith was exercised in phases. But most often we
find ourselves in the middle phase of faith, where it is tested, and that is
where we often lose heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a Christian, personal suffering is never
meaningless or pointless. We live under
a completely different cause-and-effect system than others in the world. Not only do the personal circumstances of our
lives have meaning that is intended to build our faith, we are told to pay
attention to those events and learn from them. </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is
revealed.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">--1 Peter 4:12-13.</span></span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are told that we are to evaluate our
experience not in terms of how comfortable it makes us or how fulfilled it
makes us, but in terms of how much it contributes to the building up of our
faith.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! In His great mercy He has given
us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept
in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the
coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> –1 Peter 1:3-5.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Does God protect us during
testing</span></span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">? </span><br />
As Christians, we are shielded in a special way by God’s power. That thought is echoed in Romans 8:28:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">–Romans 8:28<o:p></o:p></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That means that in every
circumstance, either pleasant or unpleasant, God is constantly filtering out
everything that could ultimately harm the believer and his faith.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here’s a situation:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we could assure our children that they could
go into their classrooms at school, and if someone were to ignite tear gas in
that classroom, all the students, including them would probably go through the
experience with the same physical effects.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">However, the believers in that room could be assured that God would not
let anything come of that which would threaten their souls or dim their faith
if they trusted in Him and did not doubt His character or His intentions toward
them.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Non-believers, however, have no
such protection.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We truly do live in a
different cause and effect system than others.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here’s another assurance from
Scripture that this is true. When we
previously looked at 1 Peter chapter 1, we found that we are shielded by God’s
power. Peter continues:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater
worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved
genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed. Though you have not seen Him,
you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and
are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the
goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">– 1
Peter 1:6-9.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trials, says Peter, are used
by the Lord to refine your faith and to help you learn to love the God that you
cannot see in the midst of circumstances that overcome all your senses. This knowledge should fill you with joy,
because you should see them as mileposts along the road of your destination –
the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we know the roadmap or
Biblical profile of faith, we should look for these milestones of testing along
the way. 1 Peter 5:6-11 tells us plainly
that when we submit to God’s mighty hand, He will “in due time” lift us
up. No trial therefore is open-ended—the
God of grace and mercy will after the period of suffering restore us and make
us, who feel so weak in the middle of the trial, strong, firm and
steadfast. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hebrews 12: 1-13 reminds us
to look to Jesus who went through trials as well, and then not to forget the
fact that being disciplined is a mark of being a child of God. The Hebrews writer tells us flatly that we
tend to forget that, and lose heart and become discouraged when we ought
instead to be actively looking past the unpleasantness of the trial to a time
when God will surely give us a harvest of righteousness because we’ve been
trained by trial. And James 1:2-4 tells
us that our attitude in testing should be one of joy, because we “know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance” that leads to maturity and
completeness. Later in verses12-15 James
warns us not to accuse God of tempting us, but only in helping us in temptation
and trial that should be regarded as a test that is a prerequisite to a crown
of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From all of these verses we can see that unpleasant
circumstances, whether you call them trials or testings, are optimized by God
to build our faith if we are believers.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God is not random in His treatment of us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He has a particular will, a preference that
is best for us, in every situation.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He
does not want us to evaluate our own experience and choose those options that
seem most pleasant or comfortable for us.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He wants us instead to sacrifice our own judgment, our own
experience-based assessments, and even our preferences to the goal of finding
out what He wants in any situation.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore I urge
you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of
worship. Do not conform any longer to
the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” -- Romans 12:1-2 </span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">The development of our faith</span><br />
</u> We can see a progression here. If we lay on the altar everything that has to
do with our bodies – our desires for comfort, our senses; and give up the
world’s way of looking at things, the patterns of human experience and
assessment the world says will make things better or more pleasant for us, then
our minds will be renewed and we’ll be transformed. In that state, we are able to test and
approve just what it is that God wants for us in our daily situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of
course those decisions will not look sensible or practical to the world. Its patterns tell us to seek the path of
least resistance to our own personal happiness.
However, the Bible never advises that.
God most often calls us to hard, courageous acts that will not bring
immediate relief to trials, nor personal advancement, nor comfort and ease.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">Our responsibility</span><br />
</u> We must be strong in encouraging one another
in this matter. When our brothers or
sisters are suffering trial, we must help them look for the “roadmap” of faith
and see where they are along the way to their destination of glorifying God in
their lives. We must be honest and
forthright with new Christians and tell them up front that if they want to
truly live the richest and most rewarding Christian life that it will not be one
that makes everything easier for them –in fact, that the life of a committed
believer will probably be much harder on them than their previous life as an
unbeliever from the world’s point of view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">The 3 phases of our roadmap</span><br />
</u> If the profile of faith has a roadmap, we can
find it most clearly seen in the life of Abraham. Romans 4:12 tells us that we actually walk in
the footsteps, along the roadmap, of the father of our faith, Abraham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Abraham
experienced clearly the three phases of faith that we all undergo. Phase 1 is the expression of Promise by God; Phase 2 is the period of Contradiction, and Phase 3 is the Resolution of the trial. These phases are
cyclical in our lives as they were in the life of Abraham. He didn’t just have
one trial with the three phases, he had many.
Like us, he failed in some instances and triumphed in others, but
because he was like us not under the same cause-and-effect system as the world,
God made everything in his life work together for his good as He does for
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">PHASE
ONE: THE PROMISE</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
Phase 1, we are given promises from God.
2 Peter 1:4 speaks of the “great and precious promises” God gives us in
order to participate in His nature and escape the corruption of the world, and
the preceding verse 3 tells us that these promises are the outgrowth of his
divine power, which He assures us He transfers to us so that we will have
everything we need for both life—yes, everyday life—and godliness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
depend upon so many of those promises: that God will never leave us nor forsake
us (Hebrews 13:5), that He will meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19), that He
will take care of food and clothing for us (Matthew 6:25-32). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Abraham
was a man rich in promises. God spoke to him openly about what He wanted to do
for Abraham:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
12:1-3. Here God promised Abraham
guidance to a new place, personal protection against his enemies, and an
extended blessing to the whole world through Abraham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
12:7: the promise of at least one child,
and a land of inheritance for all his descendants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
13:14 and following: the promise of a
specific land and numerous offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
is significant that this promise was made to Abraham after he had made a
personal sacrifice by letting his nephew Lot choose what looked like a richer
land. But afterwards God told Abraham to
“walk around” in the land and assured him that everything in all four
directions would ultimately be his. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
14:21-24. Abraham showed his
understanding that these promises would come directly from the hand of God by
refusing to be enriched by his enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
15:1 and following. Abraham is told to
not fear; that God would be a shield for him against all dangers, a great
reward for him, that he would have a son from his own body, and that he would
have numerous offspring. In addition,
just trusting in God to provide what He’d promised would be put on Abraham’s
account of righteousness –in other words, his “line of credit” with God would
be without limits as long as he believed and trusted Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
15:8-21: In this passage Abraham gets
even a map of the boundaries of the land he’ll inherit. In addition, Abraham gets confirmation of the
promise of God by a covenant that God graphically illustrates by passing
between the cut halves of sacrificial animals.
God assures Abraham of his question about how he can know that he’ll gain possession with two assurances: one,
the appearance of a smoking pot signifying God’s presence passed between the
animal halves; and secondly God made a promise that He’d not only give the land
to Abraham’s descendants, they would temporarily give it up and then He’d
rescue them from slavery and give it again –this time not to rich, powerful
people like Abraham’s family, but to pitiful helpless slaves only alive because
God had personally fed them for 40 years.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
other words, what Abraham got was a symbol and then a promise of something that
would happen long after his lifetime.
(In the same way, are we not assured of God’s help by symbols and
assurances of things that will happen after our deaths as ultimate
vindication? Later, Moses would ask for
assurance from God of the future and be told something similar –you’ll know I
was with you, God said, when you’re back here at this mountain worshiping
Me—after the fact of your rescue! (Exodus 3:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">PHASE
TWO: THE CONTRADICTION</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As
we will see in the life of Abraham, after we know the promises of God we are
inevitably faced with a contradiction to those promises. For Abraham, he knew beyond any doubt that he
was to have at least one child to lead to descendants who would inherit all the
things that God talked to him about.
However, there was one problem.
Abraham was very old, and his wife Sarah was sterile. How, he must have wondered, could the
promises of God be fulfilled when he was getting old and his wife couldn’t have
children? It was at this point that
Abraham made a strategic mistake that we all make. He continued to believe that God’s promises
were valid, that’s true; but he decided that he needed to do something to “help
God out” in getting those things to become reality. He did not wait but rather took things into
his own hands and from that point on brought about a situation that caused him,
his wife, his concubine Hagar, his son Ishmael and indeed the entire Near
Eastern world to this day great grief.
He and Sarah decided not to wait on God but to move things along by
letting Hagar enter the picture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You
see, he had the promises, but the contradiction he saw – his age, Sarah’s age
and sterility, perhaps even a loss of hope—led to him not relying on God to
resolve the situation, but led to him thinking he ought to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
is not the first time that a contradiction has entered the picture of Abraham’s
life. Just after Abraham got his very
first assurance that God would bless and protect him, Abraham had found himself
in a position where he was afraid for his life.
In Genesis 12 he was told he’d be made into a great nation, that anyone
who challenged or cursed him would be cursed; but as soon as he found himself
in a famine he went to Egypt and let his desire for protecting himself lead him
to think that it would be best for him to let his wife Sarah be the price of
his own survival by letting her become the wife of Pharaoh. Only the direct intervention of God to make
sure that His purposes weren’t thwarted in spite of Abraham’s fears and devices
to protect himself saved the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
God is persistent in keeping His promises, and even in making more specific
promises to Abraham, about His specific will in Abraham’s life:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
17:1 and following: God reaffirms His own identity, elaborates on His promises
and even tells Abraham that He’s going to represent him with a new name and
that he and Sarai will have new identities as exemplified by the new
names. In addition, God institutes the
symbol of circumcision and tells Abraham in effect that the deed to the new
land is one that he will wear carved into his own flesh and into the flesh of
his descendants –more permanent and irreversible than a tattoo. He also tells Abraham the name of his son who
is to be born, and says specifically that Sarah the sterile one will be his
mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Genesis
18: As the three angelic visitors
elaborate on the promises previously made to Abraham, he is told that not only
is a child coming, but even the season of the year in which he is to be born;
and Abraham and Sarah are assured that nothing is too hard for the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
immediately when another contradiction emerges, Abraham takes the counsel of
his fears and his desire for self protection and again sells Sarah to another
man! He has seen God’s fury and wrath
against Sodom and Gomorrah, seen how God could protect even Lot against the mob
and the fire and brimstone; and still he resorts to self protection against
Abimelech in order to keep himself alive.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(A
thought for consideration: could it have been that Sarah had been childless all
these years because Abraham had begun to believe his own lies about her being
his sister? In Genesis 20:15 he said
that from the time God had told him to leave Ur, he had agreed with Sarah to
tell everyone, wherever they went, that she was his sister. Maybe that’s why Hagar mocked her, as an old
maid who had to travel around with her brother?) </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<i style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the situation
when Sarah returned from Abimelech was about to change. It was true that Abraham was 100 years old,
and that Sarah was long past the physical age of childbearing. But God completely overcame those factors
which seemed like ironclad contradictions to His promises of a son.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As it is written:
“I have made you a father of many nations.”
He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed –the God who
gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed
and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So
shall your offspring be.” Without
weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as
dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also
dead. Yet he did not waver through
unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and
gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had
promised. This is why “it was credited
to him as righteousness.” --Romans 4:17-23. </span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With
the birth of Isaac, we can see clearly the first two phases of faith: the
promises of God that were followed by contradictions that were real. Sarah was too old, and so was Abraham. But as in the faith of us all, the contradictions
were followed by an inevitable third phase: that of a resolution. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By faith Abraham,
even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become
a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as
dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as
the sand on the seashore.—Hebrews 11:11-12.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">PHASE
THREE: THE RESOLUTION</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the case of the birth of Isaac, God Himself miraculously resolved the situation
that Abraham had tried to work out himself with Hagar and with his own
reasoning processes when he speculated about Eliezar of Damascus (Genesis
15:2-3). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
very fact of the birth of Isaac had a profound effect on the faith of Abraham.
He had seen God bring life out of the death of his own body and the deadness of
Sarah’s womb. Like all resolutions, it was completely satisfying and built the
faith of the one who waited for God to resolve the situation. And like all resolutions, it was not just an
end in itself: it prepared Abraham for other contradictions in his life. And it prepares us and teaches us about
contradictions in our own lives: when we see that God has promised us certain
things and then it seems impossible to us that God will keep those promises
because of the great weight of the contradictions that seem to oppose them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the case of Abraham, a greater test would face him. In order for all the promises of progeny and
inheritance to come to fruition, Isaac would have to have children of his
own. Yet before the time that Isaac
married, God told Abraham to take his child, his only child, whom he loved, and
offer him on mountain as a burnt offering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promise:
many descendants through Isaac.
Contradiction: Take him to a mountain and offer him as a burnt
offering. Where could be the resolution
in that? Yet we know from the account in
Genesis 22 that Abraham believed that the child and he would return from the
place of sacrifice (verse 5) and that God Himself would provide for the
sacrifice and all its implications (verse 8). We must not forget the compliance
of the young man Isaac who carried the wood, trusted his father, and allowed
himself to be tied up and placed on the altar by an aged man he could surely have
resisted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Abraham reasoned that
since he’d seen life come out of death, a living child out of the dead womb of
Sarah, that life could come out of a sacrifice situation if need be.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By faith Abraham,
when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to
sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “it is through
Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively
speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.—Hebrews 11:17-19.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;">LIVING
IN THE PHASES OF FAITH</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now,
God has given all of us many precious promises about His protection, His
shielding of us, His provision for our needs.
We all at the moment of our baptisms become inheritors of those
promises, the Phase 1 of our faith. (For
many of us, just the act of accepting those promises is an act of faith.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
is only when those promises seemed to be challenged or contradicted by our own
circumstances that we enter into Phase 2—contradictions. God promises to protect us, but we find
ourselves in trouble. He promises never
to leave us, but we feel alone. He
promises us that He’ll provide for our needs but we face financial
troubles. Our child is ill, our husbands
or wives abandon us, our jobs fall apart, it seems that nothing is going right.
It is at this precise point that we can make a decision as did Abraham to trust
God, to believe His promises no matter what our circumstances look like; to
triumph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here
are seven things we should do when we find ourselves in Phase 2 contradictions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Elevate the promise above
the contradictions</u>. Abraham “considered Him
faithful who had made the promise” –Hebrews 11:11. In the midst of a contradiction, we must stay
close to the Lord and remember His promises.
We have something Abraham didn’t have—even though the Lord spoke
specific promises to him several times, we have a whole book of promises that
God swears He’ll keep to us! And we can,
like the believers of Malachi’s time, talk to one another about the Lord. Thus we have two resources even Abraham
didn’t have to be able to focus on the promises to us. In times of trial, we can write down all the
promises God has made that pertain to such a situation, and elevate those in
prayer and in our daily speaking to others about it. Think what a difference this would make in
Christian households if moms and dads in financial or other trouble told their
children and each other, “God promised to take care of us, and I’m willing to
take the repercussions of anything I’ve brought on myself and trust Him to
provide for us.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">2) </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Don’t let the contradiction
define the situation.</u> If we believe what 1
Peter and the other scriptures teach us about trials, they’re not about the
situations themselves but about how we respond to them –opportunities to let
God work, to build our faith, to triumph.
Many times we wish we could really show our faith like those of the
first century who gave up their lives for the cause of Christ, but often we
pass up our own opportunities for taking a stand for the promises of God in our
own lives. A financial reversal is not
about what we don’t have or no longer have; it is about looking earnestly for
God’s provision in it. After all, when
we’re comfortable and have all we need, how do we know that God is
providing? It is only when we are
without our own resources that we can see Him working. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
Exodus 15, 16 and 17 we see the sad story of how the children of Israel forgot
what God had just done for them by getting them out of Egypt, rescuing them
from Pharaoh’s army, and giving them manna and quail. Worse than that, they forgot the promises of
God that all those provisions signified.
Instead, they let the contradiction of their own needs define the
situation and begged to go back to the slavery of Egypt. The promises were meaningless to them, His
miracles had been wasted on them as they defined their situation not as another
opportunity for God to step forward and keep His promises but as the defeat of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Look for the resolution</u>. God doesn’t put us in situations just to
leave us there and let us squirm. He has
a plan and a reason for everything He does, and every promise and contradiction
are followed as night follows day by a resolution. Remember what 1 Peter said about suffering
for a little while so you could be lifted up?
And that there is a goal of our faith which is being achieved? <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
must always operate as did Abraham on the assumption that each situation we are
in is resolvable. That includes health issues and troubles. No cancer is unresolvable by God. No marital distress is unresolvable by
God. Nothing is hopeless, it is
resolvable –but only by God. We know
that He’s not just tempting us to sin (James 1) and that if it’s a situation
where we might be tempted to sin, there’s a way out. 1
Corinthians 10:13 tells us that when we’re tempted, to look for the way of
escape. God assures us that every box of
temptation in which we find ourselves has a door out. We don’t have to make the door, it’s built
in. We just have to keep turning around
in the situation, looking, feeling for the door out that God pre-planned into
the situation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even
the most-tested man of all history, Job, found that God is the one who resolved
his situation. And see how he did
it! In the grand scheme of things, Job’s
life was just a few years. During the
first part of his life, he lost his ten children to death, and all his
possessions. God resolved the situation
for Job, took him out of it, and gave him more riches than he’d ever had on
earth, and in eternity where Job is now, he has twenty children!<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
must be true that phase 3, the resolution, will fulfill all the requirements or
conditions posed by phase 1, the promise.
All contradictions in phase 2 will be resolved in the resolution that
God will bring about. Abraham operated
on this kind of faith. When he went up
on the mountain to offer his only beloved son, he assured his servants that "the
boy and I will come back." That's
the kind of faith God requires of us--not that we accurately predict -- or even
understand-- how He will resolve a situation; just that we trust that He surely
will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Learn to think
non-naturally</u>. This is what Abraham did. When he tried to reason in a natural way, the
solutions to his childlessness problem were: adopt Eliezar of Damascus or have
a child by an Egyptian woman. Each of
those solutions was not what God had in mind.
Abraham saw that God works non-naturally—having a son when you’re a
hundred years old is not natural! So by
the time another contradiction surfaced in his life, that of taking Isaac up on
a mountain to sacrifice him, Abraham already knew that non-natural reasoning
was his only way to use his mind. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
must learn to give up the habit of speculating on “natural” ways we can solve
our own problems, and learn as Abraham did that we should depend upon Him to
help us. And then when a non-natural
solution comes about as the result of our faith, we know who to honor, and who
did it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Wait</u>. The most often-repeated commandment in the
Bible is to wait on the Lord, yet it is probably one of the hardest for us to
keep. We want to take action, to solve
our own problems, to not be accused of being lazy or uncaring. Many times we are so busy solving our own
problems that we can’t see the way of escape before us, or we walk right past
the manna He is providing.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
He actually hems us in so we don’t have any choice and we should be careful to
see that not as a restriction but as a protection. When the children of Israel were crossing the
Red Sea, God had the waters pile up on each side of them. (It’s a great miracle to have the waters pile
up upstream, but to have them pile up downstream is a hydraulic impossibility
except by God.) Not only did that define
the path the Israelites were to walk in, it kept the Egyptian army from
dividing and flanking them on the side to attack them there. And God let the armies of Pharaoh, those men
furious with the tears of mourning for their dead children still wet on their
cheeks, God let those men get through the Sea too, almost to the other side
before He made the wheels of their chariots fall off so they couldn’t retreat
and then had the waters released to cover them up forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
God lets a situation get to the point of looking completely hopeless from the
human point of view so that we will clearly recognize it’s His power that has
rescued us from it. But unless we’re
willing to wait, to let it get to that point, we can’t know for sure that God
has done it. Moses told the people the
same thing we should remember: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance
the Lord will bring you today. The
Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to
be still.” –Exodus 14:13-14.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Look to the Lord</u>. Many times in a contradiction, we try to add
up our options and count up our resources and see what we can do. While the Lord doesn’t want us to be lazy or
to ignore our responsibilities, He doesn’t want the situation to be the focus
of our attention. He wants to be the focus of our attention. A contradiction is a training ground to teach
us to look up. James 5:13 says, “Is any
of you in trouble? He should pray.” That’s the focus we should have. In fact, all the situations of life—being
happy, being in trouble, being sick –are listed in James 5 as having only one
solution—looking to the Lord to resolve the situation (or in the case of
happiness, looking to Him to praise Him.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><u>Rejoice</u>. All of the passages from 1 Peter and Hebrews
12 tell us that we’re not to just face contradictions gritting our teeth but
that we are to have not only a mindset of joy, but our speech and our demeanor
must proclaim that to the world. We’ve
been counted worthy to be treated like God’s true sons and daughters, and the
opportunity to see Him work clearly in our lives and to increase our
faith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We get to walk in the footsteps of Abraham. We get to share in both the sufferings and glory of Jesus. And we get to be examples for our brothers and sisters. Finally, whatever is not accounted for here on earth will be put right in heaven by a God of justice who promises to wipe every tear from our eyes and to make it all up to us. To Him be all the praise and honor and glory!</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Dr.
Latayne C. Scott is the author of twenty published books, including The
Mormon Mirage.
Her website is <a href="http://www.latayne.com/">www.latayne.com</a>. Dr. J. Michael Strawn's writings, including more regarding The Phases of
Faith, can be found at <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.representationalresearch.com/">www.representationalresearch.com</a></span>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The concept of the Phases of Faith
is explored in detail in <i>The Hinge of Your History: The Phases of Faith</i> at<i> </i> </span><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/zm8ev7j"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://tinyurl.com/zm8ev7j</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">©</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Copyright, J. Michael Strawn and Latayne C. Scott</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-28946949715626211742016-11-23T16:27:00.000-08:002016-11-23T16:37:09.631-08:00EUTHANASIA: WHAT DID THE ORIGINAL CHRISTIANS THINK ABOUT IT?Please share.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The subject of Euthanasia (the act of putting one to
death painlessly; also called mercy killing) is one I have struggled with,
having faced this dilemma twice. It is indeed a personal, if not a moral,
dilemma. Personally, I have come to think a distinction should be made between
a family member deliberately killing a loved one ahead of time in anticipation of avoiding pain
and suffering, versus deciding to withdraw continued life-support methods when
the individual is absolutely beyond any natural hope of recovery. By removing
the machines, the person’s life can then, at least, be left in God’s hands
whether they survive or not. But, this is just my opinion. What do the churches say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today, the majority do make an allowance
by saying it is appropriate to follow a patient’s wishes who has a Living Will stating
not to perform any <i>extraordinary</i>
measures (<i>with emphasis on that word) </i>to resuscitate or maintain their body on
life support machines if they are beyond
any expectation of recovery. (Of special interest is the Catholic Church’s comprehensive
declaration at </span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/jxfelqs">http://tinyurl.com/jxfelqs</a></span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Keep in mind that the excellent article below, by
David T. Blattston, covers the attitudes held among First Century Christians on
the “deliberate hastening of death.” There were,
of course, no life-support machines or Living Wills during those time; but, perhaps it would have made no difference. Nevertheless, with
that said, scripture should be considered our guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>Original
Christians Against Euthanasia</b></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">©</span></sup><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>The
Problem</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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Christian principles of love and
genuine concern for the welfare of a patient or other disadvantaged person are
put forward as the motives for euthanasia. However, there is abundant evidence
in Scripture and other early Christian writings that “mercy killing” is grossly
immoral, beyond the pale of behavior acceptable from Christians.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Euthanasia
Described</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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Euthanasia is the deliberate
hastening of death to spare the patient a period of suffering or incapacity.
The usual cases for which euthanasia is advocated are persons with an incurable
disease or permanent coma, but secondary uses include sparing the deformed, the
mentally impaired, or the handicapped from languishing the rest of their lives
under irreversible barriers that prevent them from living a self-sufficient or
“full” life. Far from ill-will, the motives of the killers are thus laudable or
at least understandable, for they are rooted in compassion toward the patient;
hence the alterative terms “mercy killing” and “put them out of their misery”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Thou
Shalt Not Kil</b></span><b>l<o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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Despite this, the Fifth Commandment
clearly provides “Thou shalt not kill”, which is repeated in summaries of God’s
law in Matthew 19:18f, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9. But does “kill”
refer only to violent murder, such as in the course of armed robbery? In
considering the word in the New Testament, the church father Tertullian
believed “kill” there had a wider meaning. Referring to the Creator, Tertullian
wrote: “He puts His interdict on every sort of man-killing by that one summary
precept ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”<sup>(1)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Why
Consult the Early Sources</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Tertullian was a clergyman and the
founder of Latin Christian literature. His works cited in the present article
date from AD 197 to 220. The value of consulting him and other post-biblical
Christian writers before AD 249-251 is that the Bible interpretations and oral
teachings of Jesus, the apostles, and other New Testament writers were still
fresh in their memories and they preserved the exact sense and parameters of
“kill” in which it was understood by Christians—or Christians not many
generations earlier—who knew New Testament authors personally, and hence the
way in which Jesus had meant it to be understood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>All
Killing Forbidden, especially of the Innocent</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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The earliest Christians considered
any type of bloodshed to be forbidden. Paul the Apostle does so in Romans 3:15.
Tertullian concurred,<sup>(2)</sup> as did the <i>Epistle of the Apostles </i>35, which dates from between AD 140 and 160,
and twice by Origen, the most outstanding Bible scholar, teacher and preacher
of the first half of the third century.<sup>(3)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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The early sources particularly
discountenance killing the innocent. Remember that the people for whom
euthanasia is advocated have not committed any crime nor is it because of their
sins that they are to be put to death. They would be killed merely because they
have a disease or infirmity they did not bring upon themselves. The <i>First Epistle of Clement</i>, written while
some apostles were still alive, points out that in the Old Testament the
righteous “were slain, but only by the accursed”.<sup>(4)</sup> Sometime
between AD 175 and 200, Bishop Theophilus of Antioch, in summarizing God’s law
mandated “The innocent and the righteous thou shalt not slay”.<sup>(5)</sup>
The <i>Acts of Paul</i>, a compilation
around AD 160 to 170 of deeds of the apostle not found in the Bible, similarly
condemns shedding the blood of the innocent unjustly.<sup>(6)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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Among the innocent, aged parents are
the people for whom mercy killing is commonly sought. Killing adult family
members—especially parents—was the worst crime imaginable among the pagan
Greeks and Romans of early Christian times, and is condemned in 1 Timothy 1.9
and by such post-biblical authors as Tertullian,<sup>(7)</sup> the
mid-second-century <i>Acts of John</i> 48,
the Christian philosopher Aristides of Athens around AD 125,<sup>(8)</sup> and
by Bardesanes, a Christian in Syria who wrote a description of Christian
practices and customs in the early AD 200s.<sup>(9)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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Mercy killing is also sought for
infants, particularly newborns—the most innocent of all—to save them from a
lifetime of deformity, mental deficiency, dependence, handicap, or other
impediment to a “full” life due to congenital or genetic causes. In a
description and defense of Christianity to pagan readers, around AD 177 another
Christian philosopher in Athens stated as well-known Christian principles the
fact that the church forbid abortion and killing children at any stage of life.<sup>(10)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Motive
for Killing Irrelevant</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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Even the best intentions do not
justify killing anyone. Shortly after his conversion Tertullian wrote: “in
regard to child murder, as it does not matter whether it is committed for a
sacred object, or merely at one’s own self-impulse”.<sup>(11)</sup> <i>The Acts of Thomas</i> 51-52 in eastern
Syria in the early third century relate an incident not recorded in the Bible,
about a man who killed a woman to spare her entering a life of fornication but
God intervened to punish him, and the Apostle Thomas is alleged to have
considered the young man’s intention as a serious sin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Even with the consent of the victim,
euthanasia is still a sin, for then it is suicide—which is also a sin according
to Christian authors before AD 200.<sup>(12)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>An
Ancient Equivalent</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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The nearest approximation to
euthanasia in Christian literature before the mid-third century is the ancient
practice of “exposing” infants. If weak, sickly, deformed, or handicapped, a
baby would be abandoned in a remote unpopulated place to be devoured by wild
animals or die from neglect. The “lucky” victims were rescued by strangers who
raised them as slaves. This was perfectly acceptable practice under secular law
and provided the social advantages of improving the gene pool and reducing the
proportion of the population that takes but does not contribute to the economy,
as well as sparing the children themselves a lifetime of handicaps.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But early Christians believed we are
not wiser or more compassionate than God. Justin, who was martyred for the faith
around AD 165, wrote in describing Christian teachings and practices: “we have
been taught that to expose newly-born children is the part of wicked men”
because some are rescued and brought up to become prostitutes,<sup>(13) </sup>and
“[we fear to expose children], lest some of them be not picked up, but die, and
we become murderers.”<sup>(14)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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Origen’s predecessor as dean of the
world’s foremost Christian educational institution pointed out in the AD 190s:
“But what cause is there for the closure of a child? For the man who did not
desire to beget children had no right to marry at first; certainly not to have
become, through licentious indulgence, the murderer of his children.”<sup>(15)</sup>
In writing against people treating their pets better than human beings:<o:p></o:p></div>
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they do not receive
the orphan child; but they expose children that are born at home, and they take
up the young of birds, and prefer irrational to rational creatures; although
they ought to undertake the maintenance of old people with a character for
sobriety, who are fairer in mind than apes, and capable of uttering something
better than nightingales; and to set before them that saying, … “Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”<sup>(16)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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The infirmities of old age or bodily
defects do not render a potential euthanasia victim totally useless to church
or society. After writing of wrongdoing, particularly stealing, lying, hatred,
and deception, Bardesanes pointed out:<o:p></o:p></div>
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For even if a man
be poor, and sick, and old, and disabled in his limbs, he is able to avoid
doing all these things. And, as he is able to avoid doing these things, so is
he able to love, and to bless, and to speak the truth, and to pray for what is
good for everyone with whom he is acquainted.<sup>(17)<o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Advances
in Medical Technology</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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But might these traditional
Christians be outdated in the twenty-first century, now that we possess more
painless means of causing death? Actually, mercy killing is less justifiable
now than in ancient times because we also possess better and a wider variety of
painkillers. The only analgesic in early times was alcohol,<sup>(18)</sup> at
most mixed with myrrh.<sup>(19)</sup> Of course, this contributed to the sin of
drunkenness—which is a crime under United States secular law in certain
circumstances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moreover, modern medical science
makes great strides almost every day, with cures for painful or disabling
conditions suddenly becoming available. This should extend hope for intended
victims of euthanasia, and 1 Corinthians 13:13 enjoins Christians to have hope.
Nothing is more contrary to the virtue of hope than suicide or putting people
to death because they are thought incurable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jesus
Himself</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></u></div>
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Lastly, we have the teaching and
example of Christ Himself. First, whoever inflicts euthanasia on the least of
His brothers inflicts it on Jesus (Matthew 25:35-45). Secondly, when Jesus
encountered people who were diseased, handicapped, or suffering, He cured them
or otherwise relieved them of their afflictions for the rest of their natural
lives; He never “put them out of their misery” by killing them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>About the author</b></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">David W. T. Brattston is a retired lawyer
residing in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. He holds degrees from three
Canadian universities. His mission is to make early Christian literature
known and used by all Christians, especially as Christian moral teaching from
before A.D. 250 relates to today. In the
last quarter-century, over three hundred of his articles on early and
contemporary Christianity have been published by a wide variety of
denominations in every major English-speaking country.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>Notes</b></span><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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All direct quotations from the
church fathers are as translated in <i>The
Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers down to A.D.
325</i> ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Reprint of the <st1:city w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:city> ed. by A.
Cleveland Coxe (Buffalo, N.Y.: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885-96;
continuously reprinted Edinburgh: T & T Clark; Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans; Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson), cited as “ANF”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 Tertullian <i>De Spectaculis</i> 2 ANF 3.80.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 Tertullian <i>On Idolatry</i> 2 ANF 3.62.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 Origen <i>Homilies on Genesis</i> 3.6; Origen <i>Commentary
on Romans</i> 6.4.2.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4 <i>1 Clement</i> 45.4 ANF 1.17.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5 Theophilus <i>To Autolycus</i> 3.9 ANF 2.114.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 <i>Martyrdom of Paul</i> 6.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7 Tertullian <i>On Modesty</i> 14.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8 Aristides Apology 9.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9 Bardesanes <i>On Fate</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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10 Athenagoras <i>Presbeia</i> 35.<o:p></o:p></div>
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11 Tertullian <i>Apologeticum</i> 9 ANF 3.25.<o:p></o:p></div>
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12 Justin Martyr <i>2 Apology</i> 4; <i>Acts of John</i> 49; <i>Sentences of
Sextus</i> 321; <i>Three Books to Abercius
Marcellus</i> in Eusebius <i>Ecclesiastical
History</i> 5.l6.13.<o:p></o:p></div>
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13 Justin Martyr <i>1 Apology</i> 27 ANF 1.172.<o:p></o:p></div>
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14 Justin Martyr <i>1 Apology</i> 29 ANF 1.172.<o:p></o:p></div>
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15 Clement of Alexandria <i>Stromata</i> 2.18 ANF 2.368.<o:p></o:p></div>
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16 Clement of Alexandria <i>Paedagogus</i> 3.4 ANF 2.279.<o:p></o:p></div>
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17 Bardesanes <i>On Fate</i> ANF 8.725.<o:p></o:p></div>
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18 Proverbs 31:6.<o:p></o:p></div>
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19 Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23.</div>
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Copyright © Canada
2009 by David W. T. Brattston<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-87953733930889085932016-10-09T16:38:00.000-07:002016-10-09T16:38:37.371-07:00ABORTION: A SURPRISING PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 1ST CENTURY<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Please share</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a misunderstanding when it
comes to the subject of abortion. Many think when Christians proclaim their
pro-life stance, especially during election, they are pushing their
“religion” on others. Not the case. Albeit they are Christians, what they are
pushing is “<i>morality</i>," some</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">thing </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">today’s society has thumbed its nose at as </span><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">black and white
has faded into varying shades of gray,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;">and </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">women’s “coming of age” and attempting to
assert their “rights” has somehow extended from a legitimate need for equal pay
in the work place to a distorted escalation of having a right to kill their unborn
children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Therefore, I found the below article by guest blogger, retired attorney
David W. T. Brattston, to be quite informative. Since the Bible, other than Ex. 21:22-25 in the Old Testament, does not mention the subject, he offers a fresh perspective on attitudes outside of
the Bible by </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">first century Christians. Some would call this surprising, thinking abortion is only a phenomenon of this century and the previous one. These men </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">wrote because this ancient practice was still being performed in their day, and the prohibition of it was a commonly understood acceptance of God’s code of morality, not subject to change by societal whims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">But first, make yourself
acquainted with these facts: </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">From 1973 to 2015 there have been over 58 MILLION abortions in the U.S. and still counting. Baby
parts are now being sold for $50-$60 per specimen, and there is now a new plan
to yield fetal heads in late-term unborn babies for brain harvesting.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Read on!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">EARLY CHRISTIANS AND ABORTION</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">David W. T. Brattston</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfLiQo3P0-XmGxADDZY-VRoz-tScvemK_SPvFDSzZ1SEBuAhoMSrqA5GwIpKdwcPNqiqbtugFwIWi0CSLGCnf0-pRVKu6_WqMp5UsbRrxjk3We7Zujt2iNW0135ZQDoZMqwd4l2kSUOM/s1600/BABY+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfLiQo3P0-XmGxADDZY-VRoz-tScvemK_SPvFDSzZ1SEBuAhoMSrqA5GwIpKdwcPNqiqbtugFwIWi0CSLGCnf0-pRVKu6_WqMp5UsbRrxjk3We7Zujt2iNW0135ZQDoZMqwd4l2kSUOM/s200/BABY+%25232.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;">This article presents the Christian attitude toward abortion before the
first ecumenical council, that is, until A.D. 325. Because the New Testament
does not comment on the morality of abortion, this article considers the
writings of the first generations of Christians after the apostles in order to
find teachings that were handed on outside the Bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
With the exception of one author who wrote at length on the subject, early Christian writings do not discuss abortion in depth but merely state in a few words or phrases that it was forbidden to Christians. Most of the authors of the period do not touch on the subject but those who did considered it among the worst of sins.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>The earliest source</u></b> </span><br />
[This document] is an anonymous church manual of the late first century called <i>The Didache</i>. It commands <i>"thou shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten."</i> (at 2.2)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY8t4jtvb1F-lqhf_gz7ghSvoyT5kYkPx_ysptu0NSlDJR0thAbQiPntZAw5gfmH6tE1uJDh5vboJRZFoETGoi_Uub1tT1qVZRXkt9R229mUPC9ZAZ4KO3o-DsLJEIR-ATcz8qTlYFrE/s1600/DIDACHE+SCROLL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY8t4jtvb1F-lqhf_gz7ghSvoyT5kYkPx_ysptu0NSlDJR0thAbQiPntZAw5gfmH6tE1uJDh5vboJRZFoETGoi_Uub1tT1qVZRXkt9R229mUPC9ZAZ4KO3o-DsLJEIR-ATcz8qTlYFrE/s200/DIDACHE+SCROLL.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>The Didache means: "The Teachings of the 12 Apostles”. Intended as a handbook for Christian congregation and leaders. Contains ethical teachings of Jesus, reaching back to the very earliest stages of the Church's order and practices.</i></td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Epistle of Barnabas</span></b></u><b> </b><br />
[This document] contains a similar guide to Christian morality. It was composed sometime between A.D. 70 and 132 and was included in some early versions of the New Testament. In the midst of several chapters of instructions on ethics, it states: <i>"Thou shall not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shalt thou destroy it after it is born." </i>(19.5) The latter phrase refers to the ancient Greek and Roman practice of abandoning newborns to die in unpopulated areas if the baby was the "wrong" sex or suspected of health problems. To the author of Barnabas, this practice and abortion were equal in sinfulness.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lbBLyBDyTweMjBN-LAXWpeEgV3KdNNBe2GlRXOdzxoUs_441eQONdatjMM7toTq97l9ibaLsp0ipQMudurmPqiBQ1_Ut6-JuI6fuEo9y3uA_FpTYpJnDgvXXU9XTBjHCrPHpzsXik9I/s1600/BARNABUS%252C+EPISTLE+OF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lbBLyBDyTweMjBN-LAXWpeEgV3KdNNBe2GlRXOdzxoUs_441eQONdatjMM7toTq97l9ibaLsp0ipQMudurmPqiBQ1_Ut6-JuI6fuEo9y3uA_FpTYpJnDgvXXU9XTBjHCrPHpzsXik9I/s200/BARNABUS%252C+EPISTLE+OF.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Preserved complete in the 4th century Codex Sinaiticus (Christian Bible in Greek) where it appears at the end of the New Testament. The early-second-century epistle of Barnabus is one of the earliest expressions of gentile Christianity and describes Jesus as quasi-divine.</i></span></td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Revelation of Peter</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_lgg2HLtWzy2JguyK-FFPe7oFcPnCK4htZYwhgO_1H7ii6WAG0Qiz26ONylDnzVqxt9JU65SqckTEDeQjlGcjJIFBbkcClwxc4TvdKzQb5qbN41lpnDvEYL55wyu3xJ594qCAOsVliQ/s1600/PETER+-+REV+OF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_lgg2HLtWzy2JguyK-FFPe7oFcPnCK4htZYwhgO_1H7ii6WAG0Qiz26ONylDnzVqxt9JU65SqckTEDeQjlGcjJIFBbkcClwxc4TvdKzQb5qbN41lpnDvEYL55wyu3xJ594qCAOsVliQ/s200/PETER+-+REV+OF.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Ethiopian text. Sometimes called “The Apocalypse
of Peter.”</i></span><br />
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Dating from just before A.D. 150, the <i>Revelation of Peter</i> was still read in church services in fifth-century Palestine. It describes in detail the various punishments in hell according to different types of sin. The punishment for women who induced miscarriage was to sit up to their necks in blood and dirt while the aborted children shot sparks of fire into their eyes (Chapter 25). <br />
<br />
Clement of Alexandria, the principal of Christendom's foremost Christian educational institution at the end of the second century, accepted these statements as an accurate exposition of the Faith (Extracts from the Prophets 41; 48; 49).<br />
<br />
In Paedagogus 2.10.96, Clement spoke negatively of women who <i>"apply lethal drugs which directly lead to death, destroying all humane feeling simultaneously with the fetus"</i>.<br />
<br />
Clement and other early Christian writers often quoted from the <i>Sibylline Oracles</i> as the work of a pagan prophet who had predicted the coming Christ like the Jewish ones. Later, the Sibyllines were rewritten to increase the proportion of Christian ethical teaching. Oracle 2 describes abortion as contrary to God's law, while Oracle 3 commands people to raise their children instead of angering God by killing them.</div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">A Plea for the Christians</span></u></b></div>
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[W]ritten around A.D. 177 by "Athenagoras the Athenian, Philosopher and Christian", partly to convince the Roman Emperor that there was no truth in the rumor that Christians ritually murdered and ate babies. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBaouYxvyjQ9c_BFNxnX4DD_R4PWAuRQgnPC8Jo-srcm5pNxTnA3fM0GWoRTMXn0Ujg6z1oHRXq3NZPzvlY3VBgdCoNCSGqdkLoqctrYDA2NeUrDQzE43xcdtBXUPef48ZCoLu4UCCn8/s1600/PLEA+FOR+THE+XIANS-Athenagoras.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBaouYxvyjQ9c_BFNxnX4DD_R4PWAuRQgnPC8Jo-srcm5pNxTnA3fM0GWoRTMXn0Ujg6z1oHRXq3NZPzvlY3VBgdCoNCSGqdkLoqctrYDA2NeUrDQzE43xcdtBXUPef48ZCoLu4UCCn8/s200/PLEA+FOR+THE+XIANS-Athenagoras.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: rgb(241 , 241 , 241); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>A Plea for the
Christians by Athenagoras</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In declaring that such a practice was contrary to Christian ethics, Athenagoras emphasized the sacredness of unborn life:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
when we say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder,
and will have to give an account to God for the abortion, on what principle
should we commit murder? For it does not belong to the same person to regard
the very foetus in the womb as a created being, and therefore an object of
God's care, and when it has passed into life, to kill it; and not to expose an
infant, because those who expose them are chargeable with child-murder.
(Chapter 35) </span></blockquote>
To Athenagoras, abortion was the same as abandoning a newborn and other murder.</div>
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<div>
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Octavius of Minucius Felix</span></u></b> was composed sometime between A.D. 166 and 210, in part to prove that Christians had a higher morality than pagans.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRizdMML7KM5nSHPrn4C7X0HDtGhccZlm8spBF9t8J4v7uBnfOHslKr8nt5mSAyobQ7nYfSZtJTLGu_uWG1wnC3G4ZZzzCmT0VUzI-6bSq3hM_3x4xyVFX44cBBr7HIZR7JjqveomD1o/s1600/OCTAVIUS+of+Minucius+Felix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRizdMML7KM5nSHPrn4C7X0HDtGhccZlm8spBF9t8J4v7uBnfOHslKr8nt5mSAyobQ7nYfSZtJTLGu_uWG1wnC3G4ZZzzCmT0VUzI-6bSq3hM_3x4xyVFX44cBBr7HIZR7JjqveomD1o/s200/OCTAVIUS+of+Minucius+Felix.jpg" width="122" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Possibly the earliest piece of extant Christian
Latin literature. W</span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">ritten in the form of
a dialogue between the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism" title="Paganism"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 11.0pt;">pagan</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Caecilius Natalis and
the </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian" title="Christian"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-size: 11.0pt;">Christian</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Octavius Januarius, a
provincial lawyer, the friend and fellow-student of the author.</span></i></td></tr>
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In condemning pagan practices, Chapter 30 deplores the fact that <i>"There are some women who, by drinking medical preparations, extinguish the source of the future man in their very bowels, and thus commit [murder] before they bring forth."</i> <br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Tertullian</span></u></b><br />
Our next author is Tertullian, a lawyer who became a Christian and a theological writer. He wrote a large number of books on Christianity, three of which mention abortion: <i>Apologeticum </i>(A.D. 197), An <i>Exhortation to Chastity </i>(around A.D. 204) and <i>On the Soul</i><i> (</i>between A.D. 210 and 213). <br />
<br />
The <i>Apologeticum </i>was an introduction to Christianity for inquirers who wished to learn about it. Chapter 9 acquaints readers with the Christian position on abortion:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...murder
being once for all forbidden, we [Christians] may not destroy even the foetus
in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the
body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing;
nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one
that is coming to the birth.</span></blockquote>
<i>On the Soul </i>was the longest work related to abortion in the first three centuries of Christianity. According to Chapter 37, "<i>The embryo therefore becomes a human being in the womb from the moment that its form is completed. The law of Moses, indeed, punishes with due penalties the man who shall cause abortion, inasmuch as there exists already the rudiment of a human being</i>."<br />
<br />
In <i>An Exhortation to Chastity 12, </i>Tertullian mentioned that there were many difficulties in raising children but he asked: "<i>Are you to dissolve the conception by aid of drugs?</i>" and answers his own question with "<i>I think to us [Christians] it is no more lawful to hurt a child in the process of birth, than one already born.</i>" He recommended that life-long celibacy makes life freer because it relieves a Christian from the burdens of raising children; there is no alternative because, after a child is conceived, it is forbidden to kill it.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Refutation of All Heresies by Hippolytus</u> </span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">n
the early decades of the third century, Hippolytus was a bishop in central
Italy. Later, his followers purported to elect him bishop of Rome in opposition
to another candidate, thus becoming the first "antipope". For a few
years Hippolytus and his rival operated competing church organizations. In
his <i>Refutation of All Heresies </i>he made many
accusations of lax morality against the opposing side in an attempt to maintain
that it had departed from the standard of behavior commanded by the gospel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYFHStjh84AMATWnjk6ZUXWtCQxaV-ptvOn0OF9vrD7CADXWWDFy_s-zjC4sz8MkMGXutBUxtYs5sOEFPEWJIbk47KDVX1r-t0S6h9jA5-sRefkVTZ0Bhiu5SAEqiXdRBQD5e8uOXWwo/s1600/TERTULLIAN-refutationofallh02hipp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYFHStjh84AMATWnjk6ZUXWtCQxaV-ptvOn0OF9vrD7CADXWWDFy_s-zjC4sz8MkMGXutBUxtYs5sOEFPEWJIbk47KDVX1r-t0S6h9jA5-sRefkVTZ0Bhiu5SAEqiXdRBQD5e8uOXWwo/s200/TERTULLIAN-refutationofallh02hipp.jpg" width="114" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/hippolytus6.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Refutation of All Heresies</span></i></a><i>;</i> aka the <i>Philosophumena.</i>
Formerly attributed to Origen, but now to Hippolytus</span></td></tr>
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Among other practices, he charged that in the opposite camp, “…<i>women, reputed believers, began to resort to drugs for producing sterility, and to gird themselves round, so to expel what was being conceived on account of their not wishing to have a child either by a slave or by any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth</i>.” (9.7) <br />
<br />
Whatever the truth in these allegations against Hippolytus' opponents, this passage indicates common disapproval of abortion, sexual promiscuity and placing material considerations above the life of unborn children.</div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Cyprian</span></u></b><br />
A generation after Tertullian, Cyprian, the bishop of his city, listed abortion among the sins of a Christian who was causing a deep rift in the universal Church (Letter 52.2). By including the reference, he indicated that it was impermissible among Christians.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>The Apostolic Church Order or Ecclesiastical Canons of the Apostles</u></b> </span></div>
<div>
[These] were composed around A.D. 300 as a short law-book for Christians, ostensibly by eleven apostles. Its wide popularity is evidenced by the fact that it was translated into several languages. Included in Chapter 6 is a prohibition that Christians shall not kill a child, at birth or afterward. <br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Divine Institutes by Lactantius</span></u></b><br />
The Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in A.D. 314. This was the year Lactantius completed his decade of labor on the <i>Divine Institutes</i>. In it, he stated that when God forbids homicide, He prohibits not only illegal violence but even causing death in a manner allowed by secular laws. It is a very grave sin to kill newborns "<i>for God breathes into their souls for life, and not for death</i>." It is a crime to "<i>deprive souls as yet innocent and simple of the light</i>" which God has given (6.2). Lactantius' Epitome 64 similarly states that exposing or killing an infant is included in the Lord's prohibition of murder. <br />
<br />
After Christianity was legalized, congregations in various regions held conferences to regulate the affairs of the Church. One objective was to standardize the practices of excommunication and penances. <br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Council of Elvira in Spain</span></u></b><br />
About the time of Constantine's conversion, or perhaps a few years before, the Council of Elvira in Spain decreed that anyone who committed abortion was to be given the Eucharist only when in danger of death (Canon 63). This was the same penalty as for repeated adultery and child-molesting (Canons 47 and 71). The more lenient Council of Ancyra in Turkey (A.D. 314) enacted a ten-year suspension for women who caused abortion and for makers of drugs that induced miscarriage (Canon 21). The first ecumenical council, held at Nicaea in A.D. 325, did not itself condemn abortion but the third ecumenical council (Chalcedon, A.D. 451) adopted the decrees of Ancyra, including those against abortion. </div>
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<div>
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Bible</span></u></b><br />
The scriptures contain only one passage on abortion: Exodus 21.22-25. The only early Christian commentary on it was by a preacher and Bible scholar named Origen. He had succeeded Clement as president of the famous seminary at Alexandria and later established his own in Palestine. Around A.D. 240 he preached a series of sermons on Exodus, including Exodus 21. As was his custom, he did not comment on the obvious meaning of the passage but treated its contents as a series of symbols about higher spiritual truths and about other aspects of the Christian life (Homilies on Exodus 10.2).<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Conclusion</span></u></b><br />
In short, in the first three centuries after Jesus all Christian authors who mentioned abortion considered it a grave sin. Although Origen mentioned it without discussing its sinfulness, no Christian author in the three hundred years after Christ condoned it. This opposition was not merely local: Christian sources in Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Syria recognized abortion as forbidden by God and in the same category as any other murder. The condemnation was universal and unanimous.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<u style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">About the author</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">David
W. T. Brattston is a retired lawyer residing in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia,
Canada. He holds degrees from three Canadian universities. His
mission is to make early Christian literature known and used by all Christians,
especially as Christian moral teaching from before A.D. 250 relates to
today. In the last quarter-century, over
three hundred of his articles on early and contemporary Christianity have been
published by a wide variety of denominations in every major English-speaking country.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright © 2001 David W. T. Brattston. All rights reserved. To reproduce in whole or in part, please contact David. W. T. Brattson at <a href="mailto:dwtbrattston@hotmail.com">dwtbrattston@hotmail.com</a>.</span></i></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-55683177695689604182016-06-30T15:52:00.000-07:002016-08-08T23:17:37.169-07:00HOW DO YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY? (OR, THE PARABLE OF THE DUMB DONKEY)<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Please share</b></span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you get Christians to grow spiritually? It's a captivating question. But, more importantly is </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the concern: "<i>How can you make them </i><u><i>want</i></u><i> to?</i>" </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It's a tough question, but this article contains a principle that should solve the situation</b>. </span><br />
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</b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><b>ALSO, CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE AT:</b> <a href="http://www.janishutchinsonbooks.com./">www.JanisHutchinsonBooks.com.</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6Mrfacv2X0Py8OFY06OG6TVtgModl8mRDPmWVd8lo_IC7Qmg5nn3fLxDJmPoSRXFqheSbXKdgDho1WyP8AUVykvAOVYlem8c9OIDhjgbVsmTJ-E9s-PZX0RoV7rF5rGvbwYkmz1CXIo/s1600/PRAYER+-+CHILD%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6Mrfacv2X0Py8OFY06OG6TVtgModl8mRDPmWVd8lo_IC7Qmg5nn3fLxDJmPoSRXFqheSbXKdgDho1WyP8AUVykvAOVYlem8c9OIDhjgbVsmTJ-E9s-PZX0RoV7rF5rGvbwYkmz1CXIo/s200/PRAYER+-+CHILD%25231.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">HOW DO YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY?</span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">(Or, the parable of the dumb donkey)</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">How to spiritually grow into a mature Christian
is a fascinating subject, but also a puzzling one. For pastors, perhaps a
better word is, frustration.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa3Z13HIDtxTBv-GaiyjT7fh1SwkY6s6gZuvXH5EUHy7cYdfdC8ZRpsyTgaWL_U0d1oD3hVgVyfI8CK_IpBOhNErv6CtNN5ZuREpbE9_UgfSc6BYayI1aJ6OpfC_1K00uKf6I0lmvbL0/s1600/WORRIED+MAN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa3Z13HIDtxTBv-GaiyjT7fh1SwkY6s6gZuvXH5EUHy7cYdfdC8ZRpsyTgaWL_U0d1oD3hVgVyfI8CK_IpBOhNErv6CtNN5ZuREpbE9_UgfSc6BYayI1aJ6OpfC_1K00uKf6I0lmvbL0/s200/WORRIED+MAN.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>"How can I get my congregation to read the Bible?"<br />"How can I motivate them to <i>want</i> to grow spiritually?"</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some say, “It’s simple. Just tell them
to read the Bible so they can learn more about Jesus.” Well, if spiritual
growth is as simple as telling them that, why don’t the many lethargic
Christians who attend church every Sunday do it? Why are so many content to
relax in their pews satisfied with their status quo, tell the pastor afterwards
how good his sermon was, and for the rest of the week that’s the end of any
spiritual endeavors? Why are they not taking steps on their own to progress spiritually?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There may be more than one reason; nevertheless,
here’s what it boils down to. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsDZVuTxoiXCuiCfVpm5TQFlwh4ZWpzaM4SNYJL0jw32OEsBQaGl90kpHH9sRy8yQN6epBTIg7P2uMWlldOD7QbthKOm6a8FC614oMdlJAxOY3GGLYMgNDzAeQ4YFXOnMd282agKzkKc/s1600/HORSE-CAN%2527T+LEAD+TO+WATER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsDZVuTxoiXCuiCfVpm5TQFlwh4ZWpzaM4SNYJL0jw32OEsBQaGl90kpHH9sRy8yQN6epBTIg7P2uMWlldOD7QbthKOm6a8FC614oMdlJAxOY3GGLYMgNDzAeQ4YFXOnMd282agKzkKc/s1600/HORSE-CAN%2527T+LEAD+TO+WATER.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b>You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I continued to ponder the problem as I pulled
a package of carrots from the fridge and plopped them on the counter next to my
Jack LaLanne Power Juicer. Now, understand, I “hate” to juice because I have to
take the machine apart afterwards and wash all the parts. Nevertheless, despite
that I push ahead. Why? Because I have an incentive to do so ―the reward of the
nutritional benefits, especially Vitamin A for my computer-weary eyes. The
labor of washing up afterwards is worth it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I grabbed up the
first few carrots, dropped them into the chute, and listened as the machine whirled
out all the pulp. The cup below filled with the orange elixir. Too bad spiritual
maturity can’t be produced as easily, I thought. Plop a Christian into the church chute like a
carrot, and out comes a spiritually mature person. But getting the Christian to
jump into the chute in the first place is the problem. I stared into space,
thinking. Then . . .behold . . . I had a vision! Well, maybe not an
honest-to-goodness vision. But for some crazy reason the following picture
flashed across my mind:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SCfsULYGiFQOuVM9kHSTaoCO5GWypNHiotZIt9zLhmv1om6FotYxhDc65Qky_OivmNhsH9gMVjS-SPtCYeOvrvVGMHVm7-axzhQr8r13owXssgMSCSjzWkdX17Nn8NBFjiEiRq5Isoc/s1600/CARROT+ON+A+STICK%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SCfsULYGiFQOuVM9kHSTaoCO5GWypNHiotZIt9zLhmv1om6FotYxhDc65Qky_OivmNhsH9gMVjS-SPtCYeOvrvVGMHVm7-axzhQr8r13owXssgMSCSjzWkdX17Nn8NBFjiEiRq5Isoc/s1600/CARROT+ON+A+STICK%25233.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dumb</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>donkey.</i> I shook my head. He would never
move forward or do anything if there were no carrot dangling in front of him. No
reward, no incentive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hmmm. I wrinkled my brow and dropped
more carrots in. Maybe I’m like that stupid donkey. I’d have no incentive to
juice if I couldn’t visualize the benefits dangling in front of me on the end
of the proverbial stick. Then, a question popped into my head―one I never
thought of before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is <i>all</i>
behavior―I mean <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">all</span>!― activated <u>only</u>
when we can visualize a reward?</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRsxIWzsd9DiYt1ScwsjmA6alw3w8SnT2rGNKmmlMLgSCTQHKFUWI10rpRzgTQRgp8xpnyZ6IEJ4PRnKtOPecSUe0S24wQq-AuK3t-Jad7OEQHxNZ5D24Ldz6E-BVfLpzM7ydypCYyEs/s1600/QUESTION-TINIEST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRsxIWzsd9DiYt1ScwsjmA6alw3w8SnT2rGNKmmlMLgSCTQHKFUWI10rpRzgTQRgp8xpnyZ6IEJ4PRnKtOPecSUe0S24wQq-AuK3t-Jad7OEQHxNZ5D24Ldz6E-BVfLpzM7ydypCYyEs/s1600/QUESTION-TINIEST.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">I fought against the idea,
then suddenly stopped what I was doing. I raced to my computer and googled the
question.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vlGwpihOqWQqJfK4VTd-rsxMxcp6JNxBKkzQwKps_H9Ot50R6rJs7kFDpnWp0sYiVJrVURU-8pN5vqub0RO5yNT7YLNY7WnXRmImuIGROkEkX_e95gaZOtKj2FfDJfC5enVU3lKL9jI/s1600/COMPUTER-LABORG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vlGwpihOqWQqJfK4VTd-rsxMxcp6JNxBKkzQwKps_H9Ot50R6rJs7kFDpnWp0sYiVJrVURU-8pN5vqub0RO5yNT7YLNY7WnXRmImuIGROkEkX_e95gaZOtKj2FfDJfC5enVU3lKL9jI/s1600/COMPUTER-LABORG.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Sure enough. Psychologists confirmed it.
</span><u style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">All</u><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> behavior―everything we do is motivated by an incentive toward a
reward. So, I guess I had to admit I probably wouldn’t exercise if I weren’t
assured of being rewarded with physical energy…lower blood pressure...and more
mental alertness at the computer. Nor would I vacuum the dust in my house. Who
knows how long I might not vacuum unless I visualized that donkey-stick
dangling the reward of circumventing allergic sneezing. What a crazy world this
would be if there were no incentives. Everyone would sit around unmotivated and
do absolutely nothing.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yep, I was now convinced. Humans, like that
dumb donkey, will always need a carrot on the stick to motivate them to action.
There must be an obvious reward to act as incentive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I returned to the kitchen and finished juicing
the rest of the carrots and guzzled down my luscious juice, picturing Vitamin A
and antioxidants coursing through my blood stream. Then, with a sigh, I began
taking the juicer apart. But, facing my chore, I felt elated. I had the answer
to the dilemma of how to motivate spiritual growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How do
carrots and donkeys apply to growing spiritually</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">? </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Plenty. If no one is going to do anything
(physically, mentally, or spiritually), unless they have a reward dangling in
front of them on that stick, they're not going to move. The solution to a pastor’s dilemma of
how to motivate lethargic Christians is this: Use the donkey principal―provide an
incentive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MUqQd-kcK4YOce9XfvIZkwpTXvy2qX3HVfeZEnZxtiizInFT1IlwkUbMrx76kUwhUw-IMbalMgoMjWpJa8eqkShhNUQyBHSRBdngnfYTH-Or6dSWOl5Al-FWA-8D5cdgsCtyJjYU93M/s1600/DONKEY-TRYING+TO+PULL.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MUqQd-kcK4YOce9XfvIZkwpTXvy2qX3HVfeZEnZxtiizInFT1IlwkUbMrx76kUwhUw-IMbalMgoMjWpJa8eqkShhNUQyBHSRBdngnfYTH-Or6dSWOl5Al-FWA-8D5cdgsCtyJjYU93M/s1600/DONKEY-TRYING+TO+PULL.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">However . . . the
incentive must be in the form of an <i><u>immediate</u></i>
reward―not a pie-in-the-sky-after-life heavenly reward. That’s simply too far
away to act as a motivator. It has to apply to the <i>here and now,</i> or else, like the donkey, the Christian simply won’t
move forward. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="color: #0b5394; line-height: 150%;"><b>What
are some specific incentives</b></span></u><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>?</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I compiled a list of 8 incentives one can dangle
on a stick before a congregation that should motivate them to “want” to take
steps toward spiritual growth. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, <i>before </i>I present them, I decided there
was a necessary first step― something that should first be explained to members
to open their eyes to the fact that there is actually <i>more</i> spiritual knowledge
to be gained besides what they presently understand. A depth never dreamed possible. Some don't really realize this. When </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I discovered this back in Bible
College, it shook me to the core. I became aware of it through a shocking confession of Paul’s.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39llxVW03Lo1qfG6rGk1p6XC3R73i3d8oZ__gSfXgVH5Y13TRm_5rUuVMF_tjLEGmtYc5x0vOA0NNVec6-T1xdQBXNgZ4BRxnzGd1m93qHoxlPZ6_IaQ7c2ZLy6BbYzV4MkAEQK_VaW4/s1600/SHOCKED+OLD+WOMAN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39llxVW03Lo1qfG6rGk1p6XC3R73i3d8oZ__gSfXgVH5Y13TRm_5rUuVMF_tjLEGmtYc5x0vOA0NNVec6-T1xdQBXNgZ4BRxnzGd1m93qHoxlPZ6_IaQ7c2ZLy6BbYzV4MkAEQK_VaW4/s1600/SHOCKED+OLD+WOMAN.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: 0in;"><u><span style="background: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Paul’s confession</span></span></u></b></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">In his
writings, I </span>discovered that approximately 27 years <u>after</u> his conversion, he made a
shocking admission about his relationship with Christ. In the following, notice his
use of the word “<i>more</i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">” </span>and the concept of moving forward,<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>which I have capitalized:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> “I count everything as loss compared to the
possession of </span><span class="text"><i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">growing</span></i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> <i>progressively</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> and</span></i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> <i><u>more</u></i> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">deeply<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> &</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
thoroughly acquainted with him―</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">that I may know him even <span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><u>more</u> (</span></span><span style="background: white;">experientially<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">―</span><i>not intellectually</i>), and understand the
remarkable wonders of his person <span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><u>more</u></span>
<u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">completely</span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"> and of</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> perceiving and recognizing and understanding
him <span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><u>more</u></span> fully and clearly. (</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Philippians
3:8-12)</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Paul shockingly admits
that after all those years of serving Christ and receiving revelation he has
not<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>spiritually plumbed the full
depths of Christ yet. What? Yeah. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">He has come to realize he still needs to know and understand Christ<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><u>bette</u>r<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">…</span>wants to become <i><u>more</u></i>
intimately acquainted with him…and acquire and gain a <u>closer relationship</u>
and <i><u>deeper</u></i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><u>knowledge</u> of Him! <span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">I gasped. You mean Paul hadn’t
by that time? This</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> is a man who saw the risen Jesus on the Damascus
Road…was taught directly<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>by him…preached
a fervent gospel…and for Christ’s sake, suffered beatings, stonings, shipwreck,
imprisonment and death. A man who probably received more inspiration than I would
ever receive in my whole lifetime―and he was still seeking to know Christ more<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, up to that point at Bible College, the
passion of my life and constant<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>prayer
was to know Christ and have an intimate relationship with him. I’d had wonderful
experiences as result of prayer, so felt I already had a close relationship―actually
thought it couldn’t get any better. But after reading Paul’s statement, I thought,
Wow! With the passion Paul had and, after 27 years of already knowing Christ he still hadn’t attained all there was to know about Jesus<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">―</span>nor did he feel he had the closest<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>intimacy with him possible―the
shocking realization for me was this. . . “Well, if he hadn’t, neither had I<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was devastating; but it was also
exciting because<i> </i>it opened up the
possibility of a deeper<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>spirituality,
a depth<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>in Christ I could
progress further into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Paul’s attempt to describe that depth</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Paul remained
convinced there was indeed more to ascertain and grow in―a depth he hadn’t
fully plumbed yet. He called them "Christ's riches and treasures". But, how do you describe them when you haven’t fully experienced them yet? He
did, with these 6 interesting<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">adjectives:</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unsearchable Incalculable</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Boundless Exhaustless</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Endless Unfathomable (I'll focus on this one)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">One
might ask, “Why is he using such inexplicit words?” Perhaps we can discover why, by figuring out what </span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"><u>un</u></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">fathomable
means? It is defined as “<i>something deeper than what we think, and its great
depth can</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"><i> </i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>never be comprehended</i>.” I decided to focus on "unfathomable," and further discern what that word meant in his usage. I came up with some interpretive ideas.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<!--[endif]--><u style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSWPb-Vd_FCf3lbVj9lwwoVv01y-7Dm2XcaOcKGMDipVdr5qpoPlcbllSunNLYy6EW5ndS_zX80d3K__9rsFL9IdLKyhAvJ5tVOJf4PGJsMiOZWyB6AK49YI6XlpDAyiQ2TDQiMMf_Gk/s1600/LAKE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSWPb-Vd_FCf3lbVj9lwwoVv01y-7Dm2XcaOcKGMDipVdr5qpoPlcbllSunNLYy6EW5ndS_zX80d3K__9rsFL9IdLKyhAvJ5tVOJf4PGJsMiOZWyB6AK49YI6XlpDAyiQ2TDQiMMf_Gk/s200/LAKE.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">"Blue Lake" (Wendover, Utah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Years
ago I lived on the salt flats of Wendover, Utah. Out on the flats was a small
lake we swam in. We assumed the part of the lake that was over our head might
be about 1</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">0-15</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> feet deep. That
is, until two men decided to take a boat out to the middle and measure its
depth with a plumb line. They were shocked―their plumb line wasn’t long enough!
They went out a second time with a longer line, and this time they measured 60 feet!
No one, myself included, had any idea there was that kind of depth. There was
more to our experience of the lake we were swimming in than we imagined. (<i>Read this last sentence twice and see the Christian connection</i>.)</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Similarly, one can also picture the shock it must have been for sailors when the depth of the
Mariana Trench was measured by oceanographers and discovered to be over 36,000
feet! Sailors up on the water’s surface never imagined that kind of depth was beneath
them!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5dVC7b6fnA0R_TkQ-EupzNry9J8_9shSoT98pXUhYt0dQAhuQymyKJS2R4pDt-_FaJtxr2pcbxPy9Lr52PCi5mf8tVWpooe5HN0uE5Q0JHT5raKpI8Crx2NZN3-0XFmyEm-v2QjUe5E/s200/OCEAN+%2526+BOAT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Mariana Trench</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5dVC7b6fnA0R_TkQ-EupzNry9J8_9shSoT98pXUhYt0dQAhuQymyKJS2R4pDt-_FaJtxr2pcbxPy9Lr52PCi5mf8tVWpooe5HN0uE5Q0JHT5raKpI8Crx2NZN3-0XFmyEm-v2QjUe5E/s1600/OCEAN+%2526+BOAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Similarly, Paul’s 6 descriptive words suggest
there is more to our spiritual growth if we will lower our plumb line and dive into the
unfathomable riches of Christ. He makes it plain that in spiritual growth we can
discover more than we imagined!</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul’s passion, for which he was willing to
give his all, was to go spiritually deeper―deeper than my small Blue Lake’s 60 feet,
or the Mariana Trench’s 33 thousand.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> W</span>e
need to do the same―lower our spiritual plumb line into the “unfathomable” depths of Christ through a deeper study of the Word and consistent prayer. By so doing, one can move
closer and closer to Christ and his “treasures<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">.”
</span>Once a Christian understands there is a greater depth to be gained, they
should be eager to dive in and discover everything they can. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But what, specifically, are those "treasures?" Well,
they are “gifts” to us―but gifts that definitely invite further inquiry.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Below is</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> a
list of<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> 8 (</span><i>although far more could be listed</i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">).
</span>By acknowledging these gifts, the believer can more easily move on to
the later list that follows<span style="font-size: 12pt;">--</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">the 8 rewards . . .the carrot(s) on the stick―the prize,
as Paul said in Philip. 3:14: “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I press toward the mark for the <u>prize</u> (or the carrot) of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Of course, he was looking forward to his heavenly reward</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">―and there's certainly nothing wrong with that</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">. The below list of Christ's "treasures" (although
there are plenty more that could be listed) should</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> definitely make one want to reach out and move forward to grab
the prize. Certainly, every lethargic Christian should sit up and take notice.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpL7ze79FWY1q89eQJHyp7x6rpQ42VfPtwC4xxypHHDh3AuWhRe3VrC69o4OrbHpsa_oIVtIJCp9QS5X6_P4JnnBQd_wpYcOs8XMV5o297yvbmI526u0QIfEcjymnxNmRWA6WpIn_C3M/s1600/CARROT-MAN+REACHG+FOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpL7ze79FWY1q89eQJHyp7x6rpQ42VfPtwC4xxypHHDh3AuWhRe3VrC69o4OrbHpsa_oIVtIJCp9QS5X6_P4JnnBQd_wpYcOs8XMV5o297yvbmI526u0QIfEcjymnxNmRWA6WpIn_C3M/s1600/CARROT-MAN+REACHG+FOR.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Christ’s treasures</span></u></b></div>
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">E</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">very one of you were chosen
by God before the foundation of the world,<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">
</span>and given salvation grace through Christ Jesus. </span><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">You don’t have to earn salvation (although
one shows their faith by their works. Eph. 2:8-9).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You were chosen by God before the foundation
of the world,</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">and given an
additional “grace” through Christ Jesus</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">―</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">unconditional</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">love and acceptance.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> (</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Eph
1-2; 2 Tim. 1:9) Think how we respond to and love our pets because they give
us unconditional love. Now we have God giving us far more of the same and we should love
him as much as our pets, if not more.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; text-indent: 0in;">You are loved </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">by God with an <u>i</u><i>nseparable</i> love, to
the point that Rom. 8:38-39<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> says: <br />"Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to <i><u>separate </u></i>you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In accepting Christ, </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">you now have “Christ’s Holy Spirit in you―actually<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">, </span><u>inside</u> you<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">You are
guaranteed resurrection as a “free gift,” and will be “transformed” with new
bodies. (Phil 3:21)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You are redeemed and forgiven for all your
sins. (Eph 1:7; Rom. 6:23)</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Do you
really comprehend that? Or, do you still stress over past mistakes</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">? L</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">ower your plumb line into that</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">!</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">All the </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">promises</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> of God are “yes” for you</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">. (</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">2 Cor. 1:20</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">) D</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">o you actually know </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">what</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;"> those promises are that you can rely
on</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">? h</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">ave you gone through the
Bible and made a list of them? Or, do you still think you are unworthy of
claiming them</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">? </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lower your plumb
line deeper.!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In Christ Jesus all your
needs will be supplied! (Phil 4:19</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-transform: uppercase;">). </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Do
you really have faith in that</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-transform: uppercase;">? I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">f
not – dive in deeper.</span></li>
</ol>
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<!--[endif]--><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The above should make Christians aware
there’s more than what they have previously grasped, and be spurred on to
explore more of the unfathomable depths of Christ and take the steps to grow
spiritually. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, there may be some who take these gifts for granted, or who may still think that just knowing about the treasures is enough. But </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Paul tells us that we are to all come into the<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">…</span><i><u>knowledge</u></i> of the son of God…and the stature of the <i><u>fullness</u></i> of Christ”(Eph</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">. 4:13). </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">The word “knowledge</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">means – to have <u>full</u> <u>discernment</u><i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">―</span></i>a knowledge which <u>perfectly</u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><i><u>unites</u></i> the subject with the object. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br />Ask yourself: Has the<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><i>knowledge</i> and discernment of Christ you presently have<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">, </span><i>perfectly</i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><i>united</i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>you with him?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There still needs to be a carrot on the end of the stick―an
incentive, a reward―something a Christian will benefit from in the here and now. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore . . . <u>we</u></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u> mustn't forget the donkey principle</u>! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Below are the 8 benefits Christians will receive from plumbing the depths of Christ and moving forward to grow spiritually. They are the carrots on the end of the stick:</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">A
closer relationship and bonding with Christ. Remember those</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">iron-on
patches</i><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">? </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">When there was a
tear in our sheets we bonded the patch onto the sheet with a hot iron. It was
bonded SO tightly to the sheet, there was no way to pull it apart. Well, you can
have that same kind of bonding and closeness with Christ.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Through a closer
relationship, you will experience more of the<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>unfathomable riches and depths of Christ, and acquire more understanding of what
it actually means to have Christ<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>in you<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">. </span>It means, as you “worship the Lord in
the beauty of his holiness” (Ps. 96: 9-11), your relationship with Christ will
be enhanced and enriched with a more immediate “connectedness<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">”</span> with him.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">will receive profound insights and deeper thinking as you study and reflect on
biblical passages</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">. </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You’ll find yourself
with a deep thought, saying, “Wow” I never could have thought of that on my
own―that had to be the Holy Spirit!”</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">On </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">occasion, you’ll receive special confirmations</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">of Jesus’ love that will literally flood through your spirit. Often, you
can feel it physically.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">As </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">you
lengthen your plumb line into the depths of Christ and grow spiritually, it
also means he can communicate with you and use you more effectively in the work
of the church and in blessing</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">others</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In
your new-found relationship, you may or may not receive special visions, and
you may or may</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;"> not</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> receive the
ministration of angels. But in that respect, it’s important to remember that one
should not seek Christ with the aim of receiving visions or angels. If you
should receive them, they are just </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">by-products</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">
of the relationship, and given according to God’s good pleasure.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">will start hearing the still small voice of the Holy Spirit more noticeably.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You'll </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">find yourself guided by promptings
of the Holy Spirit in your daily activities. Sometimes it may save your life .
. .literally.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">You will </span>become<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>more like Christ in your
thoughts, your Christian walk, your behavior, your attitudes, and you will
respond more quickly to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">With
the above rewards accruing in spiritual growth (and I could have listed more), all in all you will
progressively experience the deep and unfathomable relationship with Christ
that Paul so passionately sought, yet realized he still had a long way to go.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One pastor said</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">:</span></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">“When I
come to a subject as vast as the unfathomable riches of Christ, I am almost
paralyzed</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">! </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">It makes me realize how little of
these immeasurable riches of Christ that I experience personally, and it
overwhelms me.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Summary</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Many
pastors are at a loss how to motivate their congregation to grow spiritually.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">All
behavior can only be motivated by providing an incentive toward a reward</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">Like
the donkey that won’t move unless he sees a carrot in front of him, lethargic
Christians also need an incentive―a reward for doing so; but the reward(s) must
be realized in the here and now, not when they get to heaven.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">There
is more spiritual knowledge to be gained besides what one presently knows.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Paul </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">admitted this and confessed he had not yet plumbed the full depths of Christ’s
treasures, and described the latter as </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">unsearchable,
boundless, endless, incalculable, exhaustless</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> and </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">unfathomable</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0in;">8
treasure, or gifts, of Christ were listed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">8 </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">rewards
were presented that should act as an incentive toward spiritual growth.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do we
consider everything as loss, as Paul said in Philippians 3:8-12, to experience the
unfathomable depth of Christ and his treasures? Or<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> </span>is our plumb line too short because we don’t think there’s more
depth to Christ than what we presently understand<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">? </span>When I was swimming around in that lake I had no idea there
was that much depth to it. Same, for Christ’s gospel.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">’</span>s an
additional secret to spiritual growth</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">? </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></u></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><span style="background: white;">You must want it above all
else</span></u></i><i><span style="background: white; text-transform: uppercase;">!</span></i><span style="background: white;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;">Since you now know about Christ's riches and treasures and the rewards dangling at the end of the stick,
they should provide enough incentive to promote action toward the goal of spiritual growth</span><span style="text-indent: 0in; text-transform: uppercase;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0in;">The blessings will be immeasurable!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Janis</span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-4641333128623053422015-12-08T16:58:00.000-08:002016-01-17T14:34:56.487-08:00BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: JOSEPH SMITH’S SECRET SOURCES FOR HIS REVELATIONS-PART. 3<b><span style="color: red;">Please share:</span></b><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">This is the last
in the 3 series on the Mormon Church’s practice of baptism for the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">In Posts 1 and 2
you learned:</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Why the Mormon Church performs proxy work</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">The probability of your name being submitted for temple baptism after you die</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">What takes place in the temple in proxy work for the dead</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">An explanation of baptism for the dead in I Cor. 15:29</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">The early Christian church's repudiation of the practice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">● </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph Smith's adoption of Gnostic beliefs concerning God, the Fall, passwords to enter heaven, salvation for the living and dead, and multiple heavens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><u>This final post will cover</u>:</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">●</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Other
ancient sources besides Gnosticism Joseph Smith borrowed from <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">●</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Where
and when these ancient sources originated, and who wrote them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">●</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> How
those beliefs arrived in America</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">●</span> <span style="font-family: "arial";">The unorthodox beliefs prevalent in New England in the 1800s
during Smith’s lifetime</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u>BAPTISM FOR THE
DEAD</u>: </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u>JOSEPH SMITH’S SECRET SOURCES FOR HIS REVELATIONS</u> - <u>Part 3</u></span></b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The ancient sources from which Joseph
Smith drew upon and claimed as “revelation” are indeed fascinating. The allure
of secret wisdom is powerful—something new always tickles the ears. That
includes me. I like reading Gnostic and apocryphal documents—but I can safely
do it because I am well able to recognize the contradictions to the Bible. This, therefore, brings up the subject of caution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I would not recommend </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">new believers in the Lord </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">reading
apocryphal documents. They can be very
influential and easily sway one who is not yet well grounded in the Bible. For
example, when you read in those unbiblical documents something Jesus was supposed to have said, it can get your mind mixed up with Bible scriptures you may already
know, and you won’t be able to distinguish whether the saying of Jesus came from apocryphal
literature or the Bible. I experienced that many years ago.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Now, I could easily veer off this subject and get into how the Bible is the inspired Word of God and how ancient manuscripts containing copies of the scriptures, as well as archaeological finds, have confirmed the authenticity and accuracy of the Bible we have today. But instead, I will refer you to my article, "<i>Is the Bible Reliable?" </i> On the dashboard, click "Archived Articles."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Even if one does not read the apocryphal books mentioned herein, for the sake of not being duped it is good to know the sources Joseph Smith used for his doctrines and see the specific doctrines he drew from each of those sources. Knowing this ahead of time will act as a safeguard should any fringe religion or sect try to sway you into believing their beliefs are from God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Why did Joseph Smith research these ancient sources?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I don’t know if he did it because he was desperate to come up with something new (<i>after
all, he was claiming God called him to be a latter-day prophet</i>), or whether
he truly believed that the more ancient a text, the more of God’s truth had
to be in it. But even if he believed they contained truths he should not have
claimed them as personal revelation from God to him. One would have thought he would have
double-checked them against the Bible, but he wasn't interested in doing that. He was obviously familiar with the
scriptures (<i>the Book of Mormon contains a lot of scripture and Protestant theology</i>). It obviously made no difference to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Nevertheless, I can imagine the excitement
Smith’s followers must have experienced when he claimed God gave him
revelations purposely hidden from the world to be revealed through him as
God’s latter day prophet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">What follows next is a brief summary of the </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">unbiblical
sources Joseph Smith drew from. Near the end of this article is a chart showing each source's particular beliefs Joseph Smith used as doctrines for his church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Joseph Smith’s unbiblical sources</b></span></u></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The major source for Joseph Smith’s
beliefs came from immigrants of the “<i>Radical Reformation” </i>in Europe, so this movement will be listed first. Many are unfamiliar with it. They are only knowledgeable about the “Protestant
Reformation” (<i>Luther, Calvin, etc</i>.). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Professor John L. Brooke, in <i>The Refiners Fire, p. 19, </i>states that the “Radical Reformation” in Europe was the "<i>immediate precursor of critical themes in the popular religion of the early American colonies</i>." (<i>I highly recommend this book!</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">The “Radical Reformation” of 12<sup>th</sup>
to 17<sup>th</sup> century Europe</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial";">. This movement consisted<i> of a</i> <i>variety of beliefs
promulgated by self-appointed prophets who felt the need for direct revelation
and a literal setting up of God's kingdom. They intended to reform Christendom, and mixed their new claims with Christian concepts. The last survivors of this
movement immigrated to America’s New England colonies. They carried with them their
unique beliefs and continued to practice them.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">This movement's beliefs drew from ancient manuscripts that
were in opposition to biblical Christianity. Among the many, they also drew upon Gnosticism (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">first and second century church period</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">). There were various Gnostic groups,
each with a slightly different bent to their beliefs, headed by such leaders as</span><i style="font-family: arial;">
</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Simon Magus, Marcion, Valentinus, and Carpocrates. Because the Gnostics used the same terminology as Christians (but with different meanings), they easily infiltrated the early church. Some theologians believe
the Carpocratian Gnostics were the target of Jude’s attack on those </span><i style="font-family: arial;">“certain
men who have secretly slipped in among you” </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">(</span><i style="font-family: arial;">Jude 4-19.) </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">(See
endnote)</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">(1)</sup><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The immigrants' practices and unique beliefs spread among the local Germans
and survived into the 1840s, Joseph Smith's time. They also practiced baptism for the dead, which was continued among the Quakers and Germans,
particularly by the "Zionitic Brotherhood of Priests" in the Euphrata
community of Pennsylvania. Smith copied this and many of their other beliefs, passing them off
to his followers as direct revelation from God, never telling anyone where he
really got them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But the <i>Radical Reformation</i> reformers of
Europe not only embraced Gnostic beliefs and practices, but others. It was
quite a conglomeration as you will see in the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">The “Cunning Folk</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red;">”</span>. <i>Teachings of white witches, healers,
magicians, occult diviners, use of magic rhymes and charms, practiced used </i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">within the context of
the various traditions of folklore in Christian Europe from at least the 15th
up until the early 20th century.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">One of the folk practices was using religious magic to find buried
treasure. This had a definite impact on Joseph who searched for buried treasure
as a living using occult practices. It also influenced his claim of finding
the </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Book of Mormon</i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> gold plates buried in the ground.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Hermeticism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. <i>Metaphysical teachings and
revelations of</i> <i>the Greek god,</i> "<i>Hermes Trismegistus" as contained in the Corpus Hermeticum, a series of sacred texts supposedly given to an ancient Egyptian prophet older than Moses. It discusses the divine, the cosmos, mind and nature, and touches upon alchemy, astrology, and also contains beliefs from the Jewish Kabbalah.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">he <i>Corpus Hermeticum</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.9333px;"> was </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">one of many
manuscripts found in Macedonia in 1460. In some traditions, Hermes Trismegistus was believed to have been the
incarnated Elijah who was prophesied to restore all truth. Within</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> the <i>Corpus</i> was a book called the <i>Pimander</i> which
greatly influenced Smith.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red;">The Pimande</span>r</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. <i>A book within the Corpus Hermeticum, nick-named
the “Egyptian Genesis</i>”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph Smith drew much
from this and copied it into his </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Pearl of Great Price</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">. Those familiar
with LDS teachings will recognize its below concepts:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The Pimander introduced:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creation </span><i style="font-family: arial;">ex deo—</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">creation
out of God instead of the biblical ex nihilo, creation out of nothing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Eternal primal matter (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">or
primal divine “intelligence”</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">) as the Divine Spirit from which sprang the
beginning of matter, the universe and the beginning of God Himself (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">a strong
Mormon teaching by Smith and expanded upon by LDS Apostle, Orson Pratt in “The
Seer</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">").</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Three heavens</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Universal salvation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Free agency (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">strong
teaching in LDS theology relating to the preexistence</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Portrayal of a divinely
empowered Adam helping in the creation and voluntarily giving up his divinity
to "mate with matter"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Adam’s fall was
voluntary and not a sin. (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">Those familiar with the Mormon temple ceremony and
the Adam-God doctrine will recognize this</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">.)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Alchemy</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Belief in the
ability to turn base metals into gold, with a metaphysical application to
turning human beings into gold—that is, divinizing them</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The origin of the
mystical side of “alchemy” </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">came from Greco-Roman Egypt, stating divinized
man could recover the divine power and perfection Adam possessed before the
Fall. (<i>The main thrust of Mormonism is divinizing faithful Mormons into
future Gods</i>.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">The Zohar</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <i>A
mystical interpretation of the Torah, and the foundational book for the Jewish
Kaballah</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Kaballah</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <i>R</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">abbinic Judaism's esoteric teachings explaining creation and the
universe, designed solely for those wishing to attain higher spiritual
realization. Also claims to contain the</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <i>original knowledge Adam received from God.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Smith’s knowledge of the Kaballah came from his friendship with </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Alexander Neibaur, a European Jewish dentist who
converted to Mormonism and was fluent in seven languages, including German,
Hebrew, Latin and Greek. He shared with Smith the Kabbalistic view of the Book
of Genesis and interpretation of Hebrew words, along with ancient Jewish rites,
metaphysical concepts, and information God supposedly told Adam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Interestingly, this was
at the same time Smith was “translating” the papyri from the Egyptian mummies ( <i>placed in the </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Pearl of Great Price </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">as the </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Book of Abraham and now</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> confirmed by experts <u>not</u> to be the writings of Abraham</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";">).
Later, Smith claimed personal revelation for the contents of his </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Book of
Moses</i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">also in the Pearl of Great Price</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">)</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">containing similar
information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br />
<b><u><span style="color: red;">Gnosticism</span></u>.</b> <i>One of the
mystery religions</i> during <i>the New Testament church period and thereafter.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Gnosticism shunned</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> the material world as evil because it was
created by a demiurge </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">(</span><i style="font-family: arial;">a lesser god</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">)</span><i style="font-family: arial;">. </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Salvation</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> </i><span style="font-family: "arial";">and
oneness with God came through special knowledge called </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Gnosis.</i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Its
rituals required, among many other things, for one to know certain passwords in order to pass
by the angels in heaven. (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">The objective of Mormon temple rites is to gain
similar knowledge.</i><span style="font-family: "arial";">)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Masonry</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <i>Temple
rituals supposedly connected with Solomon’s temple, using the square and
compass, secret passwords, oaths and handshakes. It also contains the Masonic
“Legend of Enoch”.</i></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were Masons,
and Smith, claiming revelation from God, copied their rituals into his own
temple ceremony making some alterations. He also based the details of his story
about the Hill Cumorah and how he obtained the gold plates of the <i>Book of
Mormon </i>using the <i>Legend of Enoch</i>.
(<i>More about this Masonic legend is in my book, “The Mormon Missionaries: An
inside look”</i>)<i> </i></span><u><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/h68e3e7">http://tinyurl.com/h68e3e7</a></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Other historical sources Joseph Smith used</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The following
are more sources, but from single individuals referred to as “mystics.” The
following contains only a brief description about them but later specific beliefs Joseph
Smith drew from them are spelled out in a comprehensive chart. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Christian Rosencreutz</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. (n.d.) Alleged German founder of the <i>Rosicrucians</i>.
Begun after he learned esoteric wisdom on a pilgrimage to the Middle East among
Turkish, Arab and Persian sages, possibly Sufi or Zoroastrian masters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Jacob Boehme</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (1575-1624) German Lutheran mystic and
theologian whose works were declared heretical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">Anabaptists</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Direct descendants of the <i>Radical
Reformation</i>. The Mennonites and other branches spread from them, assuming
different names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">John Dee</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">
(1527-1609) Mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occult philosopher.
He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic
philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";">John Saltmarsh</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">. </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">(17<sup>th</sup>
century) </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Studied
astrology, alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">The Muggletonians</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><span style="color: red;">.</span> </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> (1608-1658) Started
by John Reeve, but named after his cousin, Lodowicke Muggleton</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> who served as mouthpiece for Reeve’s revelations.
Both claimed to be the two witnesses of the last days mentioned in the <i>Book
of Revelation</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Paracelsus</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (1493-1541) born as </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><i>Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">, Swiss German </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">philosopher, physician,
botanist, astrologer, gnostic and general occultist.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">(2)</span><br />
<sup><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></sup>
<sup><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><u>Emanuel Swedenborg</u></b></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. (1688-1772) Swedish scientist, philosopher. theologian, revelator and mystic.</span></sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph, fascinated, studied everything he
could get his hands on—<i>Gnosticism,</i> the <i>Pimander, Kabbalah,</i> <i>Hermeticism,</i>
teachings of the <i>Radical Reformation,</i> and the mystics of later centuries, so as to come up with new revelations and doctrines for his church. Like the
writers of his ancient sources, he also mixed Christian concepts with them, utilizing the name of Jesus Christ and God the Father which greatly influenced
potential converts. His followers had no reason to question him. After all,
someone who had declared that God and Jesus appeared to him couldn't be wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Biblical Christianity, of course, renounces
all of Smith’s doctrines and teachings and declares the Bible the true word of
God and the only reliable account of God’s revelations to man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Below is the chart I mentioned earlier,
showing the particular beliefs Joseph Smith used for his doctrines and passed
off as revelation. Those familiar with Mormon teachings will readily see the
plagiarism. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">(<i>I'm sorry if the print is too small to read. I had real problems putting it on here. If anyone wants a PDF document of it, email me at janishutchinson@comcast.net.</i>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUrVXbIKOX3c7FT83fEf3Q8ZLQoEUG8dA39jchJjniR1LyuBj5jdKVL3Tzx6F_ZuEUNKS91sI-uIs_Hd1lRiKiBf0sOX56iydnYK-sHPYtt_kvNU6iETnbit_i5w5b15fEfoYVH1YRrg/s1600/BAPTISM+CHART+B%2526W-P.3GOOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUrVXbIKOX3c7FT83fEf3Q8ZLQoEUG8dA39jchJjniR1LyuBj5jdKVL3Tzx6F_ZuEUNKS91sI-uIs_Hd1lRiKiBf0sOX56iydnYK-sHPYtt_kvNU6iETnbit_i5w5b15fEfoYVH1YRrg/s640/BAPTISM+CHART+B%2526W-P.3GOOD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>End of Chart</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">
<b><u>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Hopefully, in all three
posts, you will have acquired a better understanding of why the LDS Church
practices vicarious work for the dead, where they got it from, and recognize
other of his doctrines gleaned from unorthodox sources. Their ancient nature does not necessarily make them God's truth. Christianity’s stance
about Mormon teachings is the same as declared by Paul in Galatians 1:8:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>But though we, or an
angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed.</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">If you would like more detail about all of
the above, plus a list of books in print available to Joseph Smith during his
lifetime, they can be found in my book, "<i>The Mormon Missionaries</i>: <i>An
inside look</i>. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Janis-Hutchinson/e/B001KHWDM0"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH298VQDnMIYpwfChTZPp10_1_mQQhAoolnvZA2vubq8fvBSUIrPH3TyBA8CjrG2TPwz6e2GzFDOBbvW5CbLx62lD9ZIQtVJvAvvs_IAVb-IkLTz7UUe85AQ0nahYj1LjJe8z5ZFxAj8/s200/Morman+Missionaries+2d+Edition.jpg" width="130" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Janis-Hutchinson/e/B001KHWDM0">Second edition available at Amazon, B&N and iTunes</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Until next time,</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Janis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Endnotes<br /><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">See <a href="http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/gnosticism-11629621.html">www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/gnosticism-11629621.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.25in;">Paracelsus:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/jpq5cb3">http://tinyurl.com/jpq5cb3</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">; </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/jr6fj5a">http://tinyurl.com/jr6fj5a</a>; also <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zonqme6">http://tinyurl.com/zonqme6</a>; <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zs3749">http://tinyurl.com/zs3749</a>x and</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/hjg2e2v">http://tinyurl.com/hjg2e2v</a>.</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-52671544623061944732015-11-02T16:33:00.000-08:002015-11-04T21:17:37.753-08:00BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: JOSEPH SMITH AND THE GNOSTICS PT 2<span style="color: red;"><b><u>Please share</u></b></span>.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Last
month’s post (Part I of this series), revealed the LDS Church’s temple practice
of vicariously baptizing the dead, a practice Joseph Smith passed off as
revelation from God, but in actuality took from the Gnostics who indulged in the
practice in the early New Testament church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Claiming
Joseph Smith did this is not taken as a negative statement by the LDS Church’s
scholars. They </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">readily admit their church's beliefs are Gnostic—in fact, pride
themselves on being able to reference early Gnostic documents as validation
for their baptism and other temple rituals for the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">This post will show other Mormon
doctrines, besides baptism for the dead, that Joseph Smith obtained from
Gnosticism, Hermeticism and the Kaballah (<i>defined later</i>) concerning God,
Satan, the Fall, temple rites, necessity of passwords, divine spirit of humans,
multiple heavens, salvation for the dead, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>BAPTISM
FOR THE DEAD: <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Joseph Smith and the
Gnostics</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">In the previous post, Part I (<i>scroll past this article)</i>, you learned
about:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The current
upset in the Jewish community over the Mormon Church proxy-baptizing deceased
holocaust survivors.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Comments from
the Hindu community concerning Mahatma Gandhi’s baptism.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Names of dead
celebrities who have been baptized without permission from their families
(Princess Diana, Pres. Obama’s mother, Whitney Houston; also, Joan of Arc,
Adolph Hitler, George Washington, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Why the Mormon
Church performs proxy work.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Information
about the Gnostic group practicing baptism for the dead that Paul referred to
that had infiltrated the Corinthian church.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">The strong likelihood you will be baptized by the
Mormon Church after you die.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">What takes place
in the temple when vicarious work will be performed for you.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>This article will cover</b>:</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sources LDS scholars use to validate their
temple rituals for the dead.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">What about I Cor. 15:29? Was Paul embracing baptism for the dead?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Do non-Mormon scholars state Mormonism is Gnostic?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph Smith’s other Gnostic doctrines. Where did he get them?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">A comparative list showing beliefs of Gnosticism and Mormonism.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";">What was the attitude of Christian councils in the early church
toward the Gnostics who practiced baptism for the dead?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Gnostic sources LDS scholars use to
validate their temple rituals for the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 3.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Apocryphal documents (<i>texts
left out of officially sanctioned canon of the Bible</i>) are a source the LDS
Church now uses to validate their practices, including baptism for the dead.
These documents have been available only in modern-day findings, many of which
contain secret, or esoteric, rituals during the early New Testament period. LDS
scholars now eagerly quote from them, not only to validate baptism for the dead
but their other vicarious temple work for the dead. (<i>These documents are
listed in my article, "T</i><a href="http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/reliability.pdf"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">he Reliability of the Bible</span></i></a><b><i>.</i></b><i>"</i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">What about I Cor. 15:29? Was Paul
embracing baptism for the dead?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">No. Although the
answer to this is covered in Part I of this series, scholars suggest that in
the beginning of Paul’s ministry he was not as familiar with Gnosticism as he
later became. The late Walter Schmithals, a German Protestant theologian, in
his book <i>Gnosticism in Corinth, </i>says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">If Paul, in his teaching on the bodily resurrection, had totally
understood that the group in the Corinthian church who was practicing baptism
for the dead were Gnostic infiltrators who only believed in the resurrection of
the spirit, he would never have used it, and it would never have been in his
letter for us to puzzle over centuries later. Further, Mormons would not have
been able to use it to validate their Gnostic practice. (</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial";">Gnosticism in
Corinth: An Investigation of the Letters to the Corinthians) </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";">(3)</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">After much
research, especially wading through Walter Schmithals scholarly book (<i>a very
demanding read</i>), I'm inclined to believe that Paul was only minimally aware
of the group's beliefs that was baptizing for the dead. He incorrectly surmised
they were doing it because they believed in a physical resurrection. He
probably thought, "<i>No harm done—at least they believe in the
resurrection,</i>" therefore referred to them in order to back up his
teaching on the resurrection of the body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But if he had
known that the group believed only in the <i><u>spirit</u></i> being
resurrected, not one’s body, he would not have used it, or else he would have
had to undo all his previous teaching on the subject. The dead, he taught, were
guaranteed to rise <i>bodily</i> in the resurrection because of Jesus'
redemptive death and his bodily resurrection. In view of that, there would
certainly be no need to perform special baptismal rites for dead people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 8.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Scholars have
studied this passage, and most agree that Paul was <i>not</i> talking about the
true Saints of the Corinthian church. Other scholars, however, say that Paul
was fully familiar with the group, and mentioned baptism for the dead as a slam
against their eccentric notions in order to turn their beliefs against them.
Either way, it was another group, not the Saints, who were baptizing for the
dead. This is why Paul, when he said “<i>why are <u>they</u> then baptized for
the dead</i>” referred to them as “they” instead of “we.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Do non-Mormon scholars say other LDS
Church’s temple rituals and beliefs are Gnostic?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">LDS scholars, who readily boast their
church's beliefs are Gnostic and reference early Gnostic documents to validate
their temple rituals and beliefs, quote profusely from non-Mormon writers who
expound on the Gnostic connection to Mormon beliefs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">One example is non-Mormon, Dr. Lance S.
Owens, whose works are revered by the <i>Mormon History Association </i>and
BYU's <i>FARMS <b>(</b>Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";">Joseph Smith had historical connection with late
remnants of Gnosticism conveyed by Renaissance Hermeticism* and Kabbalah*.
...Joseph Smith is taking on a new visage, and words like "<u>gnostic",
"kabbalistic"</u> and "<u>hermetic</u>" (<i>definitions below)</i> have suddenly gained a quite
prominent place in the vocabulary employed by those trying to understand him.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">(<i>"America's Hermetic
Prophet". </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.gnosis.org/ahp.htm#notes"><i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">http://www.gnosis.org/ahp.htm#notes</span></i></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">. emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">*Definitions: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Hermeticism</b></span></u><span style="font-family: "arial";">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">a set of philosophical
and religious beliefs based primarily upon the Hellenistic Egyptian
pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus who is the
representation of the congruence of the Egyptian god Thot and the Greek Hermes.
These beliefs heavily influenced the Western Esoteric Tradition and were
considered to be of great importance during the Renaissance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><u><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";"><b>Kabbalah</b></span></u></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";"><b>:</b> </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";">the mystical, esoteric
tradition and myths of Judaism.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Lance further states,
referring to the writings of Harold Bloom, a modern-day Jewish Gnostic and
critic of the creative imagination and its Kabbalistic, Gnostic undertones in
Western culture:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Bloom has intuitively
recognized within Joseph Smith a familiar spirit, a genius wed in nature to
both the millennia-old visions of Gnosticism in its many guises, and the
imaginative flux of poesy. Individuals less informed in the history and nature
of Kabbalism—or of Hermetic, Alchemical and Rosicrucian mysticism, traditions
influenced by a creative interaction with Kabbalah—may have difficulty
apprehending the basis of his insight. Indisputably, the aegis of
"orthodox" Mormon historiography is violently breached by Bloom's
intuition linking the prophet's visionary bent with the occult aspirations of
Jewish Kabbalah, the great mystical and prophetic tradition of Israel.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">From Joseph's adolescent years
forward he had repeated, sometime intimate and arguably influential associations
with distant legacies of Gnosticism conveyed by Kabbalah and Hermeticism.
Through his associations with ceremonial magic as a young treasure seer, Smith
contacted symbols and lore taken directly from Kabbalah. In his prophetic
translation of sacred writ, his hermeneutic method was in nature Kabbalistic.
With his initiation into Masonry, he entered a tradition born of the
Hermetic-Kabbalistic tradition.<span class="apple-converted-space"> (</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph
Smith and Kabbalah: The Occult Connection </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">by Lance S. Owens http://www.gnosis.org/jskabb1.htm)<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Harold Bloom states, in his book <i>The
American Religion:</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The God of Joseph Smith is a daring revival of the God of some of
the Kabbalists and Gnostics. . . Mormonism is a purely American Gnosis, for
which Joseph Smith was and is a far more crucial figure than Jesus could be.
(Harold Bloom, <i>The American Religion</i>, pp 99, 123)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Where did Joseph Smith get his other
doctrines, besides baptism for the dead</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify;">You probably are
asking, "</span><i style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">Why get into the rest of Joseph Smith's doctrines?</i><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify;">"
Because his other beliefs are embedded in other vicarious work for the dead
performed in their temple’s Endowment ceremony. Baptism for the dead is simply
the prerequisite to them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Examples of
these other beliefs are the washings and anointings that take place in the
temple's basement, the endowment ceremony's depiction of God, Michael's role in
the creation, existence of a pre-mortal world, holy garments, priesthoods,
death penalties, marriage for eternity, new names, passwords, Adam's choice to
fall, three heavens, and more. Therefore, knowing where Smith got these beliefs
should invoke the same pressing interest as when asking where he got baptism
for the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Joseph, or
course, always claimed he received it all via "revelation." But
that's not how he acquired them. It was not unusual for Smith to look for
practices used by various religious groups of his day as well as study books
containing old religious beliefs—especially those that had been transferred to
the New England states by immigrants from Europe who were survivors of the
Radical Reformation (<i>the birth of many radical Protestant groups b</i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">egun in 16<sup>th</sup> century Germany and Switzerland, which spread
throughout Europe</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";">). Smith kept his eyes and ears open for any sources that
could provide him with unique doctrines. When he did, he incorporated them into
his church and passed them off as revelation. This enhanced his status as
"prophet."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify;">The following
describes the many Mormon beliefs and their Gnostic source.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">GNOSTIC
AND MORMON BELIEFS COMPARED</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">God</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: God, the
eternal and superior Deity is pure light and <i><u>intelligence</u></i> <i><u>diffused</u></i>
throughout space, and is called the "Pleroma."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: A sea of
eternal <i><u>Intelligence</u></i>, co-eternal with God, is <i><u>diffused</u></i>
throughout space. The first superior God arose from this.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creation of
Lesser Gods and Spirit Beings<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: The divine
Pleroma produced <i><u>emanations</u></i> from <i><u>itself</u></i> and created
a <i><u>celestial family</u></i> of lesser Gods. The lesser gods that the high
God created were called Aeons, which included the “Demiurge,” God of the Old
Testament. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: <i><u>Transmigrations</u></i>
from the sea of eternal <i><u>Intelligence</u></i> produced a <i><u>celestial
family</u></i> of lesser Gods. (The firstborn to make up God’s council of
lesser gods was the future Jesus (who was also God of the Old Testament) and
Michael (who later became Adam). Also from this sea of Intelligence came
the souls of all mankind and the material for the universe. Thus, God did not
create the world out of nothing, but organized preexisting, eternal matter that
came from the sea of intelligence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Creation of the
World and Man</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: One of the
lesser Gods was the Demiurge, God of the Old Testament. He created the earth,
and formed man with a body of evil matter. The spirit of man contains a “divine
spark,” a connection with, or part of, God that is imprisoned in the evil body
of matter. One must, through gnosis (knowledge) learn to understand this, and
one can then return to God at death (not the body, only the spirit)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: One of the
lesser Gods was God's spirit offspring, Jesus, who was also the God of the Old
Testament. He created the earth (along with God/Eloheim and Michael, and formed
man (<i>Adam and Eve</i>) out of a lower level of matter. The spirit within
man, however, remains divine, regardless of the Fall, because it is a literal
offspring of God and a wife.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">The Divine
Nature of Man<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: The mortal
body of humans is evil, but man's <i>spirit</i> remains a divine emanation from
Deity. Birth into mortality robs one of this knowledge. By becoming a Gnostic
and acquiring <i>Gnosis </i>(special knowledge), man can then return to the
Pleroma and unite with others into the divine essence and family of God. The
Gnostic sect of Theodotus taught that resurrection would reunite one in heaven
with the "original divine spirit parents."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Man's spirit
is divine because all are literal offspring of Deity. Birth into mortality robs
one of this knowledge. By becoming a Mormon and learning this, you can return
to your divine parents in heaven.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">The Devil</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: The devil was
the son of the Demiurge, God of the Jews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Lucifer was
the son of God. Jesus, God of the Jews, was his spirit brother.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">The Fall</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: The fall of
man into mortality was not due to human agency. It was in the divine plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: The fall of
man was in God's divine plan. Adam deliberately partook of the fruit, knowing
that mankind could not come about unless he and Eve fell into mortality.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Secret Passwords
to Gain Entrance to Heaven<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Temple rites
equipped Gnostic members with special knowledge called <i>Gnosis,</i> and
included secret passwords that would allow them to pass by the angels who guard
heaven. Those who acquired Gnosis were more elite than other Christians because
they had the truth, along with their secret/sacred ordinances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Temple rites
equip members with special knowledge; also secret passwords to pass by the
angels who guard the gates of heaven. Mormons believe themselves to be God's
elect because they have the truth and the secret ordinances; thus, they are
elite over other religions, including Christians.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sacred Marriage</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Sacred
marriage was performed in their temple rites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Sacred
marriage for time and all eternity takes place in the Mormon temple.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Salvation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Jesus was the
latest Aeon (lesser God) to free men of matter (<i>become more spiritual</i>)
and to teach them how to achieve resurrection and salvation for their <u>spirits</u>.
Together, Jesus and the Holy Ghost, or Christ Principle, reveals the true God
to mankind and teaches gnostics that the physical body is evil, and the true
"Christ Principle" or divine spark is within them, has always resided
in their spirit since birth. This special knowledge allows them to enter back
into the sacred Pleroma. This is salvation, and one is no longer subject to
demons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Jesus is
a lesser God. The Holy Ghost testifies to the truth of Mormonism. The temple
ceremony teaches members that their spirit is divine and has always resided in
them since birth. The special knowledge gained by going through the temple
provides the opportunity for <u>full</u> salvation (<i>referred to as
exaltation</i>) and one can enter back into the sacred presence of God,
comparable to the Pleroma.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Multiple Heavens</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: There are
multiple heavens, and three kinds of people: (1) <u>Spiritual</u> (those with a
spiritual nature because they have received Gnosis-knowledge that allows them
to return to the divine Pleroma.) (2) <u>Psychical</u> (ordinary Christians who
will attain a lesser form of salvation), and (3) <u>Material</u> (Pagans and
Jews, doomed to perish)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: There are
multiple heavens, specifically three, and three types of individuals will enter
them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><b><u><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Telestial
Glory</span></u></b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">(comparable to the stars) Those who are worldly, wicked, liars, thieves,
sorcerers, adulterers, blasphemers and murderers. (<i>Mormon Doctrine, </i>p.
778)</span></li>
<li><b><u><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Terrestrial
Glory</span></u></b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">(comparable to the moon) Those who are lukewarm Mormons; the dead
who accept Mormonism in the spirit world after vicarious work is performed in
their behalf, and good people of the world who did not accept Mormonism when
alive. (<i>Mormon Doctrine</i>, 784)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: red;"><u>Celestial Glory</u></span> (comparable to the sun) The Celestial heaven contains three degrees within it, in order to accommodate three classes of people.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial";">(a)</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">faithful Mormons who adhered to all the rules of
the church (<i>tithing, Word of Wisdom, approval of Joseph Smith</i>), but did
not receive temple ordinances.</span><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">(b) those who
received the temple ordinances, but did not marry;</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> (c) those </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: 0.5in;">who received temple ordinances, married, and entered plural marriage, <br /> qualifying them to become Gods and Goddesses (exaltation).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> <o:p></o:p></span><b style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "arial";">Salvation
Depends Upon the Salvation of One’s Dead</span></u></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Gnostics</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: All the dead
must be saved before the living can be saved. Vicarious baptisms for the dead
free the <i><u>spirits</u></i> of the dead to merge (<i>be </i>resurrected)
into the Pleroma; therefore hastens one’s own salvation.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Mormonism</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">: Mormons also
believe they cannot be saved without their dead. Vicarious work in their behalf
is imperative.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">(End of comparative beliefs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">What was the
attitude of early Christian councils toward the Gnostics</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Gnosticism
created a huge controversy. Finally, after continual denouncing these sects as
deviant and heretical, two late fourth century Councils (in 393 and 397)
further decreed: "The Eucharist shall not be given to dead bodies, nor
baptism conferred upon them."(1)</span><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">T<b>he next post
(Part 3) </b>will reveal the specific beliefs that were prevalent in New England in
the 1800s from which Joseph Smith borrowed from, showing how he incorporated
them into his new church and claimed them as revelation.</span><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">DISCOVER HOW
JOSEPH SMITH UTILIZED THE TEACHINGS FROM THE</span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">EGYPTIAN GENESIS,
THE KABALLAH, HERMETICISM<i style="text-decoration: underline;"> </i>AND ALCHEMY, </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">AND PASSED THEM OFF AS REVELATION TO HIS
CHURCH!</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial";">ENDNOTES</span></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">1. M. l’AbbÈ (Jacques Paul)
Migne, <i>Dictionnaire Universel et Complet des Conciles </i>(Paris:
Ateliers Catholiques du Petit, 1847), Vol. I, Col. 477, and Rt. Rev. Charles
Joseph Hefele, DD, <i>History of the Councils of the Church </i>(Edinburgh:
T & T Clark, 1896), Vol. 2, 397ff. Cited in BYU scholar, John Tvedness'
article, "Baptism for the Dead: The Coptic Rationale."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">2. <i>Gnosticism in Corinth: An Investigation
of the Letters to the Corinthians. </i>Abington Press, 1971, pn unknown.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Followers of this blog know I am very
particular about noting sources. Above are only two. This is because many of
the references for this subject are so numerous and lengthy that I have
purposely not cited all of them. However, all the references can be found in my
book, “<i>The Mormon Missionaries,” </i>Chapter Six and its endnotes, which
discuss the occult connection with Gnosticism, Hermeticism and the Kaballah in
full detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span>his is an article I
posted three years ago. I’m posting it again for two reasons: (1) my workload
is too heavy right now to compose a new article, and (2) many newcomers have
signed on since then and have never read it. In my attempt to make each post
shorter (<i>I know my previous ones have been long</i>), I have divided it into
three parts.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Part I</b></u>: The LDS
Church’s practice of baptizing deceased celebrities in the Mormon temple</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e.g., Mahatma Gandhi,
Whitney Houston, Adolph Hitler, especially Holocaust victims, and the church’s attempt to
remedy the latter</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">also, the inevitability of </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> dead ancestors
being baptized in the Mormon temple, and some day, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you. </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And an explanation of where the doctrine originated.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Part II</u>:</b> How Joseph Smith adopted Gnostic
beliefs and baptism for the dead into his church and passed them
off as revelation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Part III</u>.</b> Other sources, besides
Gnosticism, where Joseph Smith picked up his temple rituals and vicarious baptism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MORMON BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: AFTER YOU DIE WILL THE LDS CHURCH BAPTIZE YOU?<br />(PT I)</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The controversy with Jews</span></u>.</b> A few years back, the headlines of
newspapers blazed across America reporting the hullabaloo over the Mormon
Church posthumously baptizing Jewish holocaust survivors. Jews understandably
considered it an affront to have their ancestors' names inscribed in Mormon
temple records, especially after LDS leaders promised in 1995, as well as
signing a pact with the Jewish community that they would quit. In 2006, it was
discovered that thousands of holocaust victims were still being baptized. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>We are outraged that such insensitive actions
continue in the Mormon temples</i>," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate
Dean at the Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.<sup>1</sup></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I am a holocaust survivor," </i>says Anti
Defamation League's Abe Foxman, also a holocaust survivor<i>. </i>"<i>It
is so offensive in the sense that holocaust victims were killed solely because
they were Jews. And here comes the Mormon Church taking away their Jewishness,
it's like killing them twice."</i><sup>2<br /> </sup></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i><span style="background: white;">The effort of
posthumous conversion stings our collective Jewish soul</span></i><span style="background: white;">," says Bernie M. Farber, former CEO of the
Canadian Jewish Congress and son of a Holocaust survivor, especially, he
explains, "<i>those who were murdered by the Nazis sanctifying God’s name
(in the Hebrew faith tradition...) as they were sent to their graves</i>."<sup>2a</sup></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The LDS Church apologized to the Jewish community, saying it
is the fault of members who ignore church policy and continue to submit Jewish
names. Leaders sent a letter to all wards instructing members to desist or face
disciplinary action, although admitting that no system is foolproof.<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2b</span></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How many deceased Jews
were baptized</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b> An estimated
600,000 were posthumously baptized. In January of 2012, holocaust victim Anne
Frank was vicariously baptized, as was Asher and Rosa Rapp Wiesenthal, the
deceased parents of Simon Wiesenthal who survived the Nazi death camps and
hunted down perpetrators. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An appeal to Mitt Romney by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie
Wiesel, a holocaust survivor and an official at the Wiesenthal Center in Los
Angeles, was issued, requesting that he ask LDS leaders to keep their word and
quit baptizing Jews. Some sources say that Elie Wiesel's name at that time was
in the Mormon database awaiting proxy baptism for when he dies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a 2015 article, the LDS website, FAIR<b> (</b><strong><i><span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;">Foundation
for Apologetic Information & Research</span></i></strong><strong><span style="background: white; font-weight: normal;">)
stated, concerning the church’s attempt to honor the agreement with the Jewish
community and remove names from their data base, “frustration may well continue
to surface.” The church blames its over zealous members who try to “</span></strong>circumvent the current monitoring
process for Jews by misspelling names,” but assures everyone:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“[O]ur
Heavenly Father directed the restoration of keys of priesthood authority and
surely intended no offense to any of His children. Quite to the contrary. He
intended to bless them. This doctrine and its ordinances are laden with love
and are intended to perpetuate the sweetest of all relationships — in families
forever.”<sup>(2c)<o:p></o:p></sup></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Who else besides Jews have
been baptized without the family's consent</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mahatma Gandhi's temple work took place between 1996 and 2009. Hindu
statesman Rjan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) said, as reported by the Voxy
News Engine:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it was appalling to note that Gandhi, who lived his
life as a Hindu and was cremated by Hindu traditions, had been reportedly
baptized by proxy by LDS. It was insensitive and hurtful to the feelings of
about one billion Hindus spread worldwide."</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrities are often baptized. Within two hours of Whitney
Houston's death, her name had been entered into the church's computer; also
Princess Diana.</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3)</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack
Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was proxy baptized. Mitt Romney's ancestors
were baptized and also included being posthumously married to multiple spouses
(</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">evidence that the LDS Church still believes in polygamy in heaven</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">).
Others include Princess Diana, Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy, Timothy McVeigh, Joan
of Arc, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, St.
Patrick, George Washington, Albert Einstein, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Malcom X, and various Catholic Saints.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Are you next</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b> Is this a possibility? Yes. Why? Because the
LDS Church's monumental undertaking is to search and copy all the world's
birth, marriage and death records, and posthumously do proxy baptisms,
priesthood conferring on men, endowments and marriages for them in the temple.
Therefore, with worldwide church genealogists hard at work, at some point after
your death <i>your</i> name may be submitted to the Mormon temple.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">What can you expect</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <b>(<i>if you're
watching from heaven</i>)</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For each of the following ordinances performed in your
behalf, the temple worker will continually state your name aloud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;"> temple worker will be
given your name on a piece of paper (women's names to women, and men's names to
men)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You will first be baptized
by proxy in the basement of the temple in a huge baptismal font with twelve sculptured
oxen surrounding it that represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The person who
has your name will say it aloud and be baptized in your behalf. This rite
allows the deceased person entrance through the gate that leads into the
Celestial kingdom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You will vicariously be
washed and anointed with water and oil; men to become Kings and Priests; the
women, Queens and Priestesses.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You will receive a new name
for the deceased and dressed in special undergarments of the Holy Priesthood
that has Masonic markings of the square and compass on them. Then you don white
clothes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You will participate in the
Endowment ceremony, where you will watch a drama of the Gods portrayed by
actors (and see it through the eyes of the temple worker representing you).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">You learn secret handshakes
and passwords that you must never reveal to anyone upon penalty of death except
to the angels who guard the gates of heaven.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly,
you will be sealed (<i>eternally married</i>) to your deceased spouse (<i>or
spouses, as the case may be</i>). Without this marriage ceremony, you cannot
become a God (or Goddesses). But with it, men will become Gods, create a new
planet, procreate spiritual children with their Goddess wives, and people their
new planet with offspring who will enter the physical bodies of babies on the
new earth.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Why does the Mormon Church
do this</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The church believes
that proxy baptisms and other ordinances will allow deceased persons to receive
the Mormon gospel in the afterlife, thus giving them a second shot at
salvation; also exaltation (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">becoming Gods and Goddesses</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). The departed,
or course, may accept or reject it; but it is believed that once a person
passes to the other side he or she will naturally be made aware that the LDS
Church is the only true church on earth and will readily accept the vicarious
work. The Mormon Church stipulates, however, that there is no second chance for
those who rejected Mormonism when they were alive on earth. LDS Spokesman and
Apostle Bruce R. McConkie reaffirms this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no such thing as a second chance to gain
salvation by accepting the gospel in the spirit world after spurning,
declining, or refusing to accept it in this life.<sup>(4)</sup> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, for those particular individuals, vicarious
temple work will still be performed for them; but it will only allow them to
avoid Hell and be saved in the second heaven, the Terrestrial Kingdom, never
the highest heaven, the Celestial. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Why is the Mormon Church
so concerned about the dead</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span> </b>The
main reason is that they believe <u>they</u> cannot be saved until all the dead
are saved. Joseph Smith said:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me assure you that these are principles in relation
to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to
our salvation. <i>For <u>their</u> salvation is necessary and essential to <u>our</u>
salvation</i>, as Paul says concerning the fathers [Heb. 11:40]— that they
without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made
perfect." (<i>Doctrine and Covenants 128:15. Emphasis mine</i>.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above, Smith, using Heb. 11:40, totally misinterprets it.
The correct interpretation is as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The writer of Hebrews is focusing on the promise of salvation through the atonement of Christ, not only to believers in the New Testament, but also those in the Old Testament. Old Testament prophets and believers lived faithful and heroic lives, but the Law could not make them perfect. They died without having seen the fulfillment of the promise of a Deliverer (the Messiah) who could do away with the Law and make them perfect. However, the NT saints did live to see it, and they were made complete and perfect through Jesus' substitutionary atonement. The writer to the Hebrews is saying that New Testament believers certainly can't be saved by themselves and leave faithful OT believers out in the cold with no salvation. Since the Messiah had come and Jesus died once for all (I Pet. 3:18) both OT and NT saints would ALL be made perfect together through the imputed righteousness of Christ and receive salvation and inherit the heavenly city as one family of God.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above passage in Hebrews has nothing to do with the OT believers'
salvation hinging on being baptized vicariously by New Testament believers, or
having temple rituals performed in their behalf in the Mormon Temple.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How does the LDS Church
validate baptism for the dead</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From three sources: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) Joseph Smith</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2) a single verse in the Bible (I Cor.
15:29)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) Apocryphal documents (<i>spurious texts from the periods of the
New Testament and first and second century AD that were ruled heretical and not
included in the official canon.</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Joseph Smith</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the revelation claimed by Joseph Smith on January 19, 1841,
which members accept as from the Lord. Verses 26-27 consist of the Lord telling
Smith to build a temple. Then, beginning with v. 28, the "Lord" says:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth,
that they, my saints, may be baptized for those who are dead. For this
ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the
days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me. But I
command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a
sufficient time to build a house unto me and during this time your baptisms
[for the dead] shall be acceptable unto me. But behold, at the end of this
appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if
you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be rejected as a
church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God. For verily I say unto you,
that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, wherein the
ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was
instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead
cannot be acceptable unto me . . ." (<i>Doctrine and Covenants</i>,
Section 124:28-33. See also D&C Sections 127 and 128. Brackets mine.)</span></blockquote>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I
Cor. 15:29</span></u></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This is the second source that the LDS
Church claims validates baptism for the dead. In this verse Paul, in a letter
to the Saints at the Corinthian church, is teaching on the bodily resurrection.
He says to them—and note the words I've italicized:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Else what shall <i>they </i>do
which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are <i>they </i>then
baptized for the dead? (KJV)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the dead will not be raised,
what point is there in <i>people </i>being baptized for those who are dead? Why
do it unless the dead will someday rise again? (NLT version)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul's use of the words "<i>they</i>" and/or <i>"people"</i>
plainly distinguishes the group practicing this rite, from the Christian
Saints. If the Corinthian Saints were the ones baptizing for the dead, his
sentence would have read: "<i>Why are <u>you</u> being baptized for the
dead, if the dead rise not at all?</i>" <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scholars have studied this passage, and they all agree that
Paul was <i>not</i> talking to the true Saints of the Corinthian church. Walter
Schmithals, late Emeritus professor at Humboldt University, Berlin, and author
of <i>Gnosticism in Corinth: An Investigation of the Letters to the
Corinthians, </i>suggests that Paul wasn't fully familiar at that time with the
beliefs of the group doing the baptizing as he became later on; because, if he
had realized that the group doing the vicarious baptisms rejected the idea of
the <i>physical</i> body of the dead being resurrected, only the <i>spirit</i>,
he could do nothing else but reject it because it would have contradicted all
his previous teachings on the resurrection. Other scholars, however, say that
Paul was fully familiar with the group, and mentioned baptism for the dead as a
slam against their eccentric notions in order to turn their beliefs against
them.<sup>(5)</sup> Either way, it was another group, not the Saints, who were
baptizing for the dead.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After much research, especially wading through Walter
Schmithals scholarly book (<i>a very demanding read</i>), I'm inclined to
believe that Paul was only minimally aware of the group's beliefs that was
baptizing for the dead. He incorrectly surmised they were doing it because they
believed in a physical resurrection. He probably thought, "<i>No harm
done—at least they believe in the resurrection,</i>" therefore referred to
them in order to back up his teaching on the resurrection of the body. But if
he had known that the group believed only in the spirit being resurrected, he
would not have used it, or else he would have had to undo all his previous
teaching on the subject. The dead were guaranteed to rise <i>bodily</i> in the
resurrection because of Jesus' redemptive death and His own bodily
resurrection. In view of that, there would certainly be no need to perform
special baptismal rites for dead people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Cor. 15:29 is the only place in the Bible where baptism
for the dead is mentioned. Neither is it mentioned in other early
"Christian" documents. Mention of these groups were made by
Tertullian (160-225 AD) in, <i>Against Marcion </i>(5, 10); Clement of
Alexandri (153 to 217 AD); in Excerpt 22 of <i>Excerpta ex Theodoto;</i> and
church apologist, Irenaeus, provided valuable information for today's scholars
on other beliefs of the baptism-for-the-dead groups. John Chrysostom also
mentions Christians who left and joined those groups, no longer believing in a
bodily resurrection and wanted to participate in their secret rituals.
Certainly, the idea of secret knowledge had a strong appeal.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This group's practice of baptism for the dead and their
other beliefs spread rapidly throughout the early Christian period, but were
consistently considered deviant by the church and denounced as heretical. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) <b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Apocryphal documents</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span> </b>This is the third source the LDS Church is
now using to validate baptism for the dead. These apocryphal documents have
been available only in modern-day findings that contain its rituals during the
early church period. LDS scholars now eagerly quote from them to not only
validate baptism for the dead but their other vicarious temple work for the
dead. (<i>These documents are listed in my article, "T</i><a href="http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/reliability.pdf"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">he Reliability of the Bible</span></i></a><b><i>.</i></b><i>"</i>)
It is doubtful that Joseph Smith had access to these in his day. (<i>The next
post in the series, Part II, will tell you the sources available to Smith; also
local groups that were practicing these concepts</i>.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Who was this group
practicing Baptism for the Dead</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The importance of knowing who they were, how their influence
grew in the Christian world, and that the church fathers viewed their practices
as unbiblical and heretical,<b> </b>is crucial to understanding that those who
baptized for the dead did <i>not</i> represent traditional, apostolic
Christianity. Who were they? Gnostics! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE GNOSTICS</span></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Did they just suddenly pop
up at Corinth</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">? </span> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No.
Gnosticism dates back before Christianity. They infiltrated the Judean system
before Christianity ever arrived on the scene, and Jewish Gnosticism existed
alongside of Orthodox Judaism. The mystical <i>Kabbalah</i> of the Jews took
many core Gnostic ideas and used them to reinterpret earlier Jewish sources.
The Jewish mystics did not, however, use Gnostic terminology but replaced it
with language of the Torah. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Jesus' death, the Gnostic groups that became
increasingly popular were the Basilidians, Valentinians, Marcionites,
Carpocratians and Marcosians. Therefore, the Gnostics were widespread in the
Syrian-Phoenician region, long before Paul's missionary journeys began. (<i>There
are also Gnostics groups today</i>)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Gnostic presence in
the Corinthian church</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">.</span></b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corinth was a port city on the Mediterranean and the virtual crossroads of
commerce between the east and west. The city was morally polluted with
unbridled sexual orgies, temple prostitutes, idol worship and doctrinal heresies
of all kinds. The city of Elusis, just north of Corinth, was famous for its
"Elusinian Mysteries." Baptism in the sea was practiced to guarantee
a good afterlife, and in the<span style="color: midnightblue;"> Temple of
Demeter, in their building</span> called the Telesterion, secret rites and
mysteries were performed which could not be revealed under penalty of death (<i>similar
to the death oaths in the LDS temple ceremony</i>). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as in Mormonism,
participants repeated formulaic passwords, sat in seats and watched actors play
out sacred dramas of their gods (<i>typical of most mystery religions of the
time</i>). Some scholars <span style="color: midnightblue;">conclude that some
form of Sacred Marriage probably took place at the Mysteries.</span> Libations
to the dead were also performed. So considering the milieu, the Corinthians
were heavily influenced by religious customs and beliefs of their environment.
Paul had to straighten them out on more than one occasion.<sup>(6)</sup> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, a group of
Gnostics had no doubt infiltrated the church there and influenced, if not
confused, the saints. (<i>Why Gnostics were attracted to Christianity is
explained below.) </i>Four divisive groups developed, each following after
someone different. Paul mentions how they referred to themselves: <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow
Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas;' still <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">another, <u>'I follow Christ</u>.'
(I Cor. 1:12)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "I-follow-Christ" group is referred to by
scholars as the "Christ party" or "Christ faction." In
other words, Gnostics who penetrated the church. They believed in a
"Christ Principle" they acquired through <i>Gnosis</i>, special
knowledge for the elite (<i>explained further below</i>). Christianity held a
strong attraction for them because of this, so joining the church at Corinth
was no problem for them and they merged right in with no one (<i>at first</i>)
being the wiser. But they created division.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the surface they did not appear that much different from
the Corinthian Saints. Merging into the church, they blended in like
chameleons, the small lizard whose skin adapts its color to its surroundings.
They could speak in tongues like the saints did, and their use of common terms
like "salvation," "redemption," "Christ,"
"gospel," etc. fooled the Saints into believing their use of those
terms held traditional Christian meanings. (<i>Similar to Mormon who use
Christian terms but with different meanings.</i>)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the major problems of the Gnostics was that they did
not believe Jesus the <u>man</u> was the Christ. The Christ Principle came into
the man Jesus at his baptism, but left at the crucifixion; therefore, Jesus the
man was not the Christ. Paul then gave the Saints a test question to
distinguish true Christians from Gnostics: "<i>No man speaking by the
spirit calleth <u>Jesus</u> accursed</i>." (<i>I Cor. 12:3</i>) Because of
the prevalence of this doctrine, John also reiterated it: "<i>Every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the <u>flesh</u> is of God: And
every spirit that confesseth <u>not</u> that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is not of God</i>." (<i>I Jn 4:2-3; 2 Jn 7. Emphasis mine</i>) <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gnostics' other problem was that they considered
themselves more elite than other Christians because they had "<i>Gnosis</i>,"
special knowledge that brought salvation to their <i>spirits</i>. They were not
concerned about the body at all. They believed the flesh was evil and the
spirit only was good. They were saved regardless of what their bodies did. To
demonstrate (and flaunt) their spiritual, elitist salvation to the rest of the
church, they allowed their bodies to indulge in incest and eat meat offered to
idols (<i>I Cor. 7:1; 8:1-13</i>). This confused the Saints so much, that Paul
had to write and set things straight on that matter as well.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why did the group practice baptism for the dead?
Resurrection of everyone's <i>spirit</i> (<i>including the dead's</i>)
mattered. All the <u>spirits</u> of the dead <u>had</u> to be saved before they
themselves could be saved. Without the ascension of all spirits of Gnostics,
dead and alive, the body of Christ, which is scattered in pieces in all men,
would be incomplete in heaven. Vicarious baptisms would set the spirits of the
dead free so they could resurrect spiritually and merge into the Pleroma of God
(<i>more on the Pleroma later</i>); thus hasten the living Gnostics' salvation.
Mormons follow suit. They believe they can only be redeemed when <i><u>all</u></i>
the dead are redeemed through Mormon rites.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How prevalent were Gnostic
beliefs</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gnostic beliefs continued throughout the New
Testament period and into the early centuries of the church, spread by zealous
missionaries and apostles. Irenaeus (circa 202 AD), early church father and
apologist, noted:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time of the
birth of Christ and thereafter, no religious movement besides the Christian
movement organized and executed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>such
an extended and deliberate missionary work as the Gnostic enterprise. (<i>source
unknown</i>)<span class="apple-tab-span"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">What were the Gnostics'
other beliefs</span></u><span style="color: #3d85c6;">?</span> </b>There were
many Gnostic groups in the early centuries, each teaching a variation on their main doctrines. They are very complex and too lengthy to include in this
three-post series. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, in Part II, I will list the basic beliefs, and
include a comparison to the Mormon Church's beliefs. It will show that Joseph
Smith adopted Gnostic beliefs into his church, to which LDS scholars readily
admit. In fact, they pride themselves on referencing early Gnostic documents to
validate their baptism for the dead and other temple rituals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>IN PART II (NEXT MONTH), FIND OUT THE SHOCKING GNOSTIC BELIEFS THAT JOSEPH SMITH BORROWED AND THEN CLAIMED AS REVELATION!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Endnotes</b></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. "Mormons
apologize for posthumous Jewish baptisms" by Jennifer Dobner. Seattle
Times, Feb. 14,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2012; also in many other
newspapers)<br />
2. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194298,00.html"><span style="color: #2aaadd;">http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194298,00.html</span></a></span><br />
2a. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/7t9m6ts"><span style="background: white; color: #2aaadd;">http://tinyurl.com/7t9m6ts</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2b. <span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/7wasyaa"><span style="color: #2aaadd;">http://tinyurl.com/7wasyaa</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">2c. </span><a href="http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_temples/Work_for_Holocaust_victims">http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_temples/Work_for_Holocaust_victims</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107396/How-Diana-baptised-Mormon.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107396/How-Diana-baptised-Mormon.html</a>.<br />
4. <i>Mormon Doctrine, 685-687.</i>)<br />
5. See "Heretics and Baptism for the
Dead" by David W. T. Brattston at <span style="background: white;">http://tinyurl.com/7eh8pk7</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">6. See<i> "</i>The Elusianian
Mysteries<i>" </i>at </span><a href="http://users.erols.com/nbeach/eleusis.html"><span style="background: white;">http://users.erols.com/nbeach/eleusis.html</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">.</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s1600/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s200/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
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<b>(Note: Aug. 24, 2015) I will have to forego posting a new article for August and September, as I am recuperating from an illness
and my energy level just isn’t back to normal yet to post a new one.</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Also, upon examining the inner workings of the poll that appears over in the right-hand column, apparently the votes weren't tabulated correctly by the system, so I'm putting a new voting box up.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Therefore, if you already voted, please consider voting again, and those who haven't voted at all, I will appreciate your input. It will really help me out. It only takes 1 click.) </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b><u>ATTN</u>: Please look over to the right sidebar for the <i><u>POLL BOX</u> and make your selection. </i></b></span></span><b style="color: magenta; font-size: 12pt;"><i><u>Your choice will remain anonymous</u>. </i></b><b style="color: magenta; font-size: 12pt;"><i>This will determine a possible change in what I present on this blog in the future. </i></b><b style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><i>I really appreciate your input!</i></b><br />
<b style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
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~</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>ARE ANGELS REAL, OR A FIGMENT OF ONE'S IMAGINATION</u>?</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i>Have you seen one? Seventy-seven percent <span style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); color: #0b5394;">of American adults believe in angels, and countless
have either seen an angel or felt their presence</span>—but what do you really know about them? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether you have seen an angel or not, this article
will reveal more than you ever knew about them and engender a deeper
appreciation for God in realizing how he has set up an entire program in heaven
to take care of you</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note what Billy Graham has to say:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>"I have never heard anyone preach a sermon on angels. As I have recently tried to correct this in my own ministry, I've asked myself, why this oversight? Why have we ignored the great biblical teachings about angels?"</i></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">(1)</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, to the article . . .</span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">HAVE YOU SEEN AN ANGEL?</span></b><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXmyT9Ad7ZFRxIEwMeujXTvaeTJXRu325UMIAyBGDDd5xwshlLF7sxAfkeZehBi0Hd83PvU9OugznMcljRF4lOutw9CfQzHYTjxJBBseCU8lg5bvDGMdGOIjEqhUuIRZ6nwCSum7cobk/s1600/ANGEL-GENERAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXmyT9Ad7ZFRxIEwMeujXTvaeTJXRu325UMIAyBGDDd5xwshlLF7sxAfkeZehBi0Hd83PvU9OugznMcljRF4lOutw9CfQzHYTjxJBBseCU8lg5bvDGMdGOIjEqhUuIRZ6nwCSum7cobk/s200/ANGEL-GENERAL.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_994562082"></span><span id="goog_994562083"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In this article you’ll
learn about</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3iCmuFUvObQbMWA2vavmTd1vh0LWMGyrw6nFD6rQ6hoKU7e9v77uBB35yHe6xgZtfuC2pF4W_bDQQsr2rrbe9Tu-RBtime6AhhTiZ7FKjU05wB1fsKC-_WAjP7aEF0UCASapaToYibc/s1600/ANGELS-TABLE+CONT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3iCmuFUvObQbMWA2vavmTd1vh0LWMGyrw6nFD6rQ6hoKU7e9v77uBB35yHe6xgZtfuC2pF4W_bDQQsr2rrbe9Tu-RBtime6AhhTiZ7FKjU05wB1fsKC-_WAjP7aEF0UCASapaToYibc/s640/ANGELS-TABLE+CONT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>NOTE</u>:</b> <b>There will be a “<i><u>FREE
OFFER</u></i>” at the end of this article. Don't miss it!</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="bodytext" style="background: #F2F2F2; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: blue;"><b>Individuals’ fascination with angels</b></span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Individuals in their desperate search for </span>spiritual meaning<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
are hungry to know more about heaven. This is evidenced by the popular
Christmas movie <i>It’s a Wonderful Life</i> with Jimmy Stewart and Clarence his guardian angel who hasn’t earned his wings yet, and the “<i>Touched by an
Angel</i>” and “<i>Highway to Heaven</i>” series, plus numerous articles in TV
documentaries<i>, Newsweek</i> and other magazines.<sup>(2)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">First,
let’s define what an angel is</span>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> are found in at least
34 books from Genesis to Revelation, including their </span>appearance to individuals. They<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
are spiritual beings created to serve God, the church, and believers. Angelic
beings are </span>described in the
Book of Hebrews as, “<i>ministering spirits</i>,” sent out to render service toward
those who will inherit salvation. (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; color: #357bba; padding: 0in;">Ps 91:11</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; color: #357bba; padding: 0in;">Matt 4:11</span></a>.)<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">. </span>Using angels is God’s established method
of communication and caring for his creation, and they are in close touch with
us. Many people today have encountered them, including yours truly.<sup>(3)</sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="background: #F2F2F2; color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><b>The reality of angels</b></span></u><b><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels were so real in the Old Testament period that people
began worshipping them (2 Kings 23:5), and the appearance of these Godly
messengers continued into the New Testament period. They are still ministering
today, and it makes sense. Heb. 13:8 says, “<i>God is the same yesterday,
today, and forever,”</i> which is another way of saying, “<i>God doesn’t change
horses in the middle of the stream</i>.”</span></div>
<h1>
<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A caution about angels</span></u></h1>
<h1>
<span style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Billy Graham said:</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><i><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">“The problem for people today is not simply believing angels exist,
but in their ability to distinguish between angels and demons.</span></i><sup><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">(4)</span></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When dealing with the
supernatural, especially angels, one has to be cautious. Why? Because “<i>Satan
himself can transform himself into an angel of light</i>.” (2 Cor. 11:14-15;
Matt 25:41; Eph. 6:12.)<span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>You mean, there
are bad angels</u>?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Yes. They are<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> fallen angels
headed by Satan who fell from their holy position and now stand in active
opposition to the work and plan of God. (2 Cor. 4:4) </span>Their major purpose
is to thwart God’s work by deceiving mankind, and will use every avenue at
their disposal. Satan is God of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and he counterfeits
God’s heavenly kingdom, including appearing as an angel. They are especially
intent on deceiving Christians. Billy Graham said, “<i>As soon as you know
Christ you’ll know the reality of demons.</i>”<sup>(5) </sup>(Demonic angels
often materialize to cult leaders.)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The apostles, aware of this, knew the demonic angels could
pass off false doctrine. This is why Paul warned:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach
any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. </i>(<i>Gal. 1:6-9)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demonic angels can appear in many forms:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as an
angel of light</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as a
recently deceased loved one</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can
also give prophetic dreams (<i>often predicting your own death</i>)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">can
attack you during the night and try to take over your body. (<i>Those who
describe this say it feels like they are going to be killed</i>)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as
temptation, by enticing one to do things contrary to God’s teachings. </span></li>
</ul>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They are the forces that fight against us. They prowl “<i>around
like a roaring lion seeking whom they may devour</i>” (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Paul confirms this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only way to avoid being
deceived is to know God’s truth. Study of the Bible enables one to recognize
false doctrine any angel may pass off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>When were angels created</u>?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, angels are not “eternal.” They were “created” as
immaterial spirits (Heb. 1:14) If they had always eternally existed, that would
make them coequal with God and they would not be required to bow down to Him.
But they do. (Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:2,5; Col. 1:16-17). No time period is given for
their creation, but it was some time before the creation of the earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God said, in speaking to Job:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where were you when I created the earth?</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell me, since you
know so much!</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who decided
on its size? Certainly you’ll know that!</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who came up with
the blueprints and measurements?</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How was its
foundation poured,</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and who set the
cornerstone,</span></span><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the
morning stars sang in chorus</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="textjob-38-2-job-38-11"><span style="background: white;">and all the <u>angels</u>
(<i>KJV=sons of God)</i> shouted praise? (</span></span>Job 38:2-11 Msg Bible)</span></blockquote>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>How many angels are there</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thousands! The books of Daniel and Revelation
say, "<i>thousand thousands ministered unto Him and the thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him</i>" (Dan 7:10 and Rev. 5:11). Ten thousand were present on Mt. Sinai when God gave the Law to Moses (Deut. 33:2). Luke records
"<i>a <u>multitude</u> of the heavenly host" praised our Lord </i>(Luke
2:13). Jesus also said: “<i>Do you
think I cannot ask My Father, and He will send Me more than twelve legions of
angels</i>?” (about 80,000) (Matt. 26:53) When Jesus comes in his glory, the
scriptures tell us he will bring “<i><u>all</u> the holy angels with Him</i>.”
(Matt 25:31). What a sight that will be!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSNji1cWx4FYNp5dCOiVEoWMIRHps2RJHKcZtEpaXLfy2Vt2w413tnvZzUSpPBgEuI_QbVMjfhoUKb4rCApgp8dafkkZYmP9hLGmb1jZMFec-qhFnIqZIqq0BBk4B9xx7HVVUKpHGFms/s1600/ANGEL-2D+COMING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSNji1cWx4FYNp5dCOiVEoWMIRHps2RJHKcZtEpaXLfy2Vt2w413tnvZzUSpPBgEuI_QbVMjfhoUKb4rCApgp8dafkkZYmP9hLGmb1jZMFec-qhFnIqZIqq0BBk4B9xx7HVVUKpHGFms/s200/ANGEL-2D+COMING.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Second Coming</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><u>Are angels humans minus a physical body</u></span>?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. Angels are entirely unrelated to man. They are non-human
spiritual entities. Nor are they the spirits of deceased men, as Joseph Smith
falsely taught. He declared all angels were humans at one time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Joseph Smith’s false teaching</b></u>:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no angels who minister to
this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam…is Michael the
Archangel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noah…is Gabriel.”<sup>(6)</sup></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="color: blue;">Biblical truths</span></u><o:p></o:p></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Angels are unique spirit beings (Heb. 1:14)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Although not human, they may appear to individuals as such (Gen.
18:2; 19:1)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">They do not descend from a common ancestor, do not marry, and do
not procreate (Matt. 22:30).<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Are not subject to death<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><u>They possess</u>:<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Intelligence (Matt 8:29; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pet. 1:12<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Emotion (Luke 2:14; James 2:19, Rev. 12:17<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Exercise will (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Tim. 2:26; Jude 6)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Have personality<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Can appear visibly or remain invisible (2 Kings 6:17)<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Do humans become
angels after they die</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No. Men and women
who die never become angels in heaven. We are told in Heb. 12:22-23 that
when we get to haven we will be met by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>two<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></u>groups: "<i>myriads
of angels</i>"<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>AND</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>"<i>the spirits of righteous men
made perfect.</i>" (deceased humans) Angels and human spirits are two
separate and distinct species. Humans can't change from one to the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Are
angels male or female</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue;">?</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite centuries of art work
that depict angels as beautiful females, there are no female angels mentioned
in the Bible, with the exception of two in Zechariah 5:9-11 (although it is
debatable whether these are good or bad angels).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible, in general, always
refers to angels as “males,” and the word “angel” in Hebrew (Old Testament) and
the Greek (New Testament) is always rendered in the masculine form. This is
because whenever they chose to take on human form to Old Testament men called
to be prophets and leaders, they appeared as men. (See Gen. 18:2; 19:1; Joshua
5; Rev. 12). The male perception of angels was also based on the only two (good)
angels named in the Bible, Gabriel and Michael. God also used male terms in the
below passage when he spoke to Job:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<h1>
</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">here wast thou when I laid the foundations of the
earth? . . . </span><span style="background: white;">When the morning stars sang
together, and all the <u>sons</u> (angels) of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4,7)</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, God was simply calling his angels “<u>sons</u> of
God” to distinguish them from being “sons of <u>men</u>.” Angels were created
genderless. They weren’t “born.” Further, “sons” does not suggest God and a
wife (as Mormons believe) procreated and gave birth to angels who are awaiting
their chance to be born on earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><u>Why did angels always decide to appear as men when
they took on human form</u></span>? </b>Since men dominated as leaders in Old
Testament society and religion, whatever human form angels took on (<i>referred
to as “angels in disguise” or “angels unaware”</i>) was designed to accommodate
the needed relationship with the person they were appearing to. If an angel had
appeared as a female to men in Old Testament times, it would have flown in
their faces because of the status of women at that time. Women were considered
“property and had no status (<i>with the exception of Debra and Huldah</i>). As
women became to be acknowledged as equals through Jesus’ gospel and Paul’s
teachings, there was gradual acceptance of females as prophetesses, such as
Anna and the daughters of Phillip. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, angels, when they appear as human, simply chose
a gender that will be most effective for the person they communicate with. I
know of examples today where an angel in disguise appeared as a female and
provided crucial information to the individuals. However, while there are no
angels in their “true, immaterial state” who are female (they’re genderless),
when an angel takes on a human form, he/it can either appear as male or female.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Are angels male and female in their true state</u>?</b></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels,
in their true state as they exist in heaven (<i>when they are not taking on a
human form</i>), are neither male nor female. God did not design them with
gender because gender is a biological function and angels are not biological,
needing to marry or reproduce. Jesus confirmed this in (Matt. 22:30) when he
said, that in the hereafter we will be like the angels who do not marry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The essence of angels is pure, spiritual intellect. They do
not have physical forms because they are immaterial. They belong to an entirely
different order of beings from humans. However, should God intend a human
recipient to see an angel in its true ethereal state, such as in a vision or
dream, they will be perceived according to how God wants them to see them based
on the message He wants to relay. Since God and his angels’ reality cannot be
fully comprehended by humans, He often has them appear as images that will
relay symbolic messages in an attempt to help the perceiver grasp a view of
that reality, albeit limited. Billy Graham said, "<i>The cherubim in the Bible were often symbolic of heavenly things." </i><span style="font-size: 8pt; vertical-align: super;">(29) </span>An example is Ezekiel’s
vision of the cherubim (discussed later).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If angels “appear unawares” (Heb 13:2) when appearing in
disguise as humans, they do so as not to cause alarm. This means they usually
assume the same ethnic features as the person they plan to encounter. Proof of
this is recipients are never disturbed by their looks. As one author put it:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">then angels are appearing as
Chinese to Chinese and Africans to Africans, as well as Americans to Americans
[and] that would mean there are angels appearing as blacks as well as
whites—probably as every nationality of the world.<sup>(13)</sup> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another author said:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">A missionary to the Andes saw an angel that looked like
a national from Ecuador; a Mexican family saw two angels who looked like
Mexicans; in Haiti the angels were very black; white Americans saw angels who
resembled their neighbors; black persons saw black angels. This is to be
expected. Being inconspicuous is often a part of the angel's ministry.”<sup>(14)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Another example is when an angel appeared as a man to
Samson’s mother (Judges 13:6). If he had not looked like an Israelite, she
wouldn’t have, so calmly, called him “a man of God.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>If angels are not male or female, what else are they
“not?</u>”</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are not kings, saviors, or
priests</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all-knowing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">forgivers of sins</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">living in us</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ substitutes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to be worshiped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">members of the Godhead</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">servants for us to order around</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or give day-to-day guidance and scriptural
insight to Christians. (This<i> </i>is the role of the Holy Spirit.)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Do angels have personal names</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only two Godly angels named in the Bible are Michael the
Archangel and Gabriel (Luke 1:26, Joshua 5 and Rev. 12). All other angels have
remained nameless. Therefore, generally speaking, Godly angels who appear to
humans (<i>whether in a vision or in person</i>) never introduce themselves
with a name. Their names are “secret” (KJV), or, as other versions say in
Judges 13:17-18, “too wonderful to understand.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="textjudg-13-17">And
Manoah said unto the angel of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textjudg-13-17">,
What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? </span><span class="textjudg-13-18">And the angel of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textjudg-13-18">said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is
secret?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Another reason for
this is the of angels, who are Christ-centered, is to always glorify God—not to
lift themselves up by identifying themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels with names definitely occur in cults; therefore, be
cautious. When visitations are claimed by cult leaders, the angel always has a
name. Joseph Smith’s angel introduced himself as Moroni; other cults claim
personal spirit guides with names. Demonic angels can also appear in visions
and dreams. Female angels were typical during the New Age and occult
movements. One in the 1980s, was called “Emma.”<sup>(6)</sup> (See endnote No. 6. Also, one test is whatever they may say can always be verified in
the Bible. They are not going to contradict it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>What is the purpose of angels</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are God’s ministering spirits sent to serve the Lord’s
purposes, the Christian church and its believers; also, the lost, whom God
knows will eventually become heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). They are also our
protectors. <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">They are
commanded to “<i>encamp all around us</i>” and keep us from harm. They
strengthen and minister to us (Luke 22:43, Psalm 34:7, 91:10-13, 103:21), and
one helped strengthen Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Their purpose is to also:</span> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Praise God (Ps. 148:1-2; Isa. 6:1-3; Rev 4-5)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worship God (Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:8-13)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve God (Ps. 103:20; Rev. 22:9)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Communicate God’s will to men.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Minister to humankind in times of need (Heb. 1:14; Gen
21:17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7; Matt 4:11)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give direction (Matt. 1:20-21; Acts 8:26)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appear in dreams or open visions and give messages</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deliver us from danger (Acts 5 and 12)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Protect us (Daniel 6:20-23; 2 Kings 6:13-17)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reveal information about the divine world (Acts 7:52-53; Luke
1:11-20)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aid in conversion by performing acts in behalf of
unbelievers whom God knows will eventually become heirs of salvation. (Heb.
1:14; Acts 8:26; 10:3)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are instruments of God’s judgments (Rev 7:1; 8:2)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Care for the righteous at the time of death and
carry their spirit to heaven. (Luke 16:22)<sup>(8)</sup></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>What do angels look like in their true state</u>? </b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What angels look like
depends upon what “<i>kind</i>” they are—cherubim, seraphim, archangel, or
angel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Many theologians suggest there is an “angelic order” with each having
specific roles, and also appear differently because scripture suggests there is
a hierarchal ranking of angels: </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">“<i>For everything, absolutely everything, above and below,<span class="apple-converted-space"> v</span></i></span><i><span style="background: white;">isible and invisible, <u>rank after rank after rank </u>of angels</span></i><span style="background: white;">” <i>(Col. 1:16 Msg)</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Billy Graham also said:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;"><i>"We cannot study the subject of angels in the Bible without becoming aware of ranks among angelic beings. The evidence shows that they are organized in terms of authority and glory."</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Billy Graham)<sup><span style="font-size: 8pt;">(27)</span></sup></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s take these ranks in
order based on how the Bible presents and describes them:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: blue;">THE CHERUBIM </span></u>(plural for Cherub)<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cherubim are mentioned
numerous times in the Old and New Testament and are <i>never</i> called angels <i>(Angels
are indicated in a lower rank</i>.) Cherubim are living creatures who are
involved in defending God’s holiness from any defilement of sin (Gen 3:24; Ex.
25:18,20; Ezek. 1:1-18)—which is the reason they were the ones to guard the
Tree of Life at the entrance to Eden so Adam and Eve could not reenter in their
sinful and fallen state. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Prepare yourself</u>—here is their biblical description. They are
not the darling, winged cherub babies depicted in paintings and on greeting
cards. The following description is based on what Ezekiel saw in a vision (Ezek
1):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIVgxAaAMl1LrFqc9P5E4nvcyVhfjYWw90ugmPsV2m_ZVr1RX0dns4ES0oEpSi6KBqeCpnoXp8EbCgJgM4647OOAJVczse8u-hYZOmyqx2fn-GjmSQGpaOOKpoP8OnnEuhcRft__wUWY/s1600/ANGEL-4+FACED2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIVgxAaAMl1LrFqc9P5E4nvcyVhfjYWw90ugmPsV2m_ZVr1RX0dns4ES0oEpSi6KBqeCpnoXp8EbCgJgM4647OOAJVczse8u-hYZOmyqx2fn-GjmSQGpaOOKpoP8OnnEuhcRft__wUWY/s400/ANGEL-4+FACED2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cherubim with four faces<span style="vertical-align: super;">(21)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="textezek-1-12"><i>(Ezek 1:1-20)</i></span> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 5pt; text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“…the heavens were
opened, and I saw visions of God.<span class="textezek-1-5"><b><sup>
</sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-5">Also out of the midst thereof
came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance;<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textezek-1-5">They had the <u>likeness of a man</u>. </span><span class="textezek-1-6"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-6">And every one had <u>four faces</u>, and every one had four wings.
</span><span class="textezek-1-7">And their <u>feet </u>were
straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot:
and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. </span><span class="textezek-1-8"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-8">And they had the <u>hands of a man </u>under their wings on their
four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. </span><span class="textezek-1-9">Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they
went; they went every one straight forward. </span><span class="textezek-1-10"><b><sup><br /><o:p></o:p></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-10">As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the <u>face of a
man</u>, and the <u>face of a lion</u>, on the right side: and they four had
the <u>face of an ox </u>on the left side; they four also had <u>the face of an
eagle</u>.</span><span class="textezek-1-11"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-11">Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two
wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. </span><span class="textezek-1-15" style="line-height: 12pt;">Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one <u>wheel </u>upon
the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. </span><span class="textezek-1-16" style="line-height: 12pt;">The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the
colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and
their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. </span><span class="textezek-1-17" style="line-height: 12pt;">When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned
not when they went.</span><span class="textezek-1-18" style="line-height: 12pt;"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-18" style="line-height: 12pt;">As for their rings (rims), they were so high that they were
dreadful; and their rings (rims) were <u>full of eyes </u>round about them
four. </span><span class="textezek-1-19" style="line-height: 12pt;">And when the living creatures
went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up
from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. </span><span class="textezek-1-20" style="line-height: 12pt;">Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their
spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit
of the living creature was in the wheels.</span><span class="textezek-1-12" style="line-height: 12pt;"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textezek-1-12" style="line-height: 12pt;">And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was
to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.</span></span></i></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i>For the sake of space, I omitted some
passages, but the content is included in the below summary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Here is a summary:</span><br />
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The
glory of the Lord hovered above the cherubim</span></b></u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;">. (Ezek 1:25-28)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">There
was a crystal platform above them that held a throne</span></b></u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;"> from which the voice of God spoke. (Ezek
1:22-27)<br /><b><u>Note</u>:</b> Cherubim are sometimes referred to as “throne angels;” also “carriers”
“thrones” and “chariots” for God’s throne. In religious iconography (pagan
included), they are always depicted as supporting the throne of the deity or a
king. An example is in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ps<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>18, where David<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>describes the sudden
descent of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08329a.htm"><span style="color: darkblue; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Jehovah</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to rescue him: "<i>He bowed the heavens and
came down, and darkness was under His feet. <u>He rode upon a</u></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><u> </u></i></span><i><u>cherub</u> and flew upon the wings of
the wind</i>." The same idea of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>cherubim as the chariot of
God is indicated in Ezekiel 1:26, saying<span class="apple-converted-space"> the “<i>glory of the Lord</i> <i><u>rode</u>”</i> above the
cherubim. Here is an artist’s rendition:</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5U-QEGeMcyZq9aqBKhMZD0MSZPvWu3NjgwuTJyDzVTKJ84hZUxtGp0yUxLTcLYAnG0vQpnJs6104UbIXIhkhtGIW1ORqno6qbRju1FSU4kbRNcsj1hU8dQ5OiBybbmvJIrPBRHNGvu4/s1600/ANGELS-WHEELS-GOD-THRONE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5U-QEGeMcyZq9aqBKhMZD0MSZPvWu3NjgwuTJyDzVTKJ84hZUxtGp0yUxLTcLYAnG0vQpnJs6104UbIXIhkhtGIW1ORqno6qbRju1FSU4kbRNcsj1hU8dQ5OiBybbmvJIrPBRHNGvu4/s1600/ANGELS-WHEELS-GOD-THRONE.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cherubim and wheels as
transporters of the throne of God</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 250); margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>They
were in the likeness of a man and had hands</b></span></u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;">. (Ezek 10:8)</span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>They
had four faces</b></span> </u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;">each
portrayed as a human, ox, lion, and eagle. The</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 15.6pt;"> four faces on the four side
of their heads were arranged in a square so it could travel in any direction
without having to turn. </span><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><br /></span><b style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><u>Note</u></b><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;">:</u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;"> In Moses’ Tabernacle and the Temple, the man-made figures
of the gold cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, and
also on the embroidered veils, have only one face. But this is understandable,
since it would be difficult to hand-carve a four-faced image, let alone
embroider this on veils. Further, in Ezekiel’s vision of the latter-day Jewish
temple (not yet built), he saw the walls covered with images of cherubim with
only two faces (human and lion) instead of four. (Ezek 41:18-19) Again,
understandable.</span></span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u>They had four wings</u> </b></span>(Ezek 1:11,23)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>They had straight legs like calve legs,
and their feet were like burnished calf hooves</b></span></u>. (Ezek: 1:7)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>They were covered with
eyes</b></span></u><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b> </b></span>all over their bodies.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="line-height: 15.6pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Next to their bodies was a large sparkling
“wheel within a wheel</b></span></u><span style="line-height: 15.6pt;">” turning crosswise to each
other and also covered with eyes. The spirit of the living being was in the
wheels and provided the direction the wheels should go. </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 15.6pt;">Some have interpreted the
“wheels” to be a group of celestial angels called “Ophanim,” which means
wheels.<sup>(9)</sup> (See endnote) </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0w6nIozq-oKhZc11Q4u2yZQKL9LH-Zbcq2uFuSku08b3UqsbLpsAay4Khj9SFwApUxRKvTH82iaNjKmWKIdKCPc1s6ymaVoJhkbUbzrbtqJb4YQyYsiPFefH5GUaldszlDv0wXwTfI/s1600/ANGELS+WHEELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0w6nIozq-oKhZc11Q4u2yZQKL9LH-Zbcq2uFuSku08b3UqsbLpsAay4Khj9SFwApUxRKvTH82iaNjKmWKIdKCPc1s6ymaVoJhkbUbzrbtqJb4YQyYsiPFefH5GUaldszlDv0wXwTfI/s1600/ANGELS+WHEELS.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wheels within wheels, with
eyes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">THE SERAPHIM </span></u></b>(plural for Seraph)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah,
Chapter 6, is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the
seraphim.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWmsuoWazE9mxDT1kSFf5PGgnx131BW6fyKdjDoLnmMiLdAJ01PXRIsZpoGhziqxe2x7J1pQ-HS_oNQqlcrIFocYOSwUk8-bdMPSnljt_ozIVgWIogk5RRA46DbR-6raM4yypRd2H-KA/s1600/ANGELS-SERAPHIM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWmsuoWazE9mxDT1kSFf5PGgnx131BW6fyKdjDoLnmMiLdAJ01PXRIsZpoGhziqxe2x7J1pQ-HS_oNQqlcrIFocYOSwUk8-bdMPSnljt_ozIVgWIogk5RRA46DbR-6raM4yypRd2H-KA/s200/ANGELS-SERAPHIM.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seraphim <sup>(22)</sup></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="textisa-6-3" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Isa. 6:1-3)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textisa-6-1">In the year that king Uzziah died I
saw also the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-6-1">sitting
upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. </span><span class="textisa-6-2"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textisa-6-2">Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain
he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did
fly. </span><span class="textisa-6-3"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textisa-6-3">And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textisa-6-3">of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.</span></span></i></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a summary:</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Their
face</b></span></u>. The number of
faces is not mentioned, probably because the seraphim covered their face with
two of their wings so Isaiah couldn’t see it. Other Bible versions say “faces,”
taking the liberty of assuming that if the Cherubim had more than one face,
surely the seraphim did, too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">They
have six wings</span></b></u>. Two
cover their face(s), two cover their feet, and the other two are used for
flying. They are “covered with eyes all around, even under the wings” (Rev.
4:8).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Their typical verbal
expressions are</span></b></u><span style="background-color: white;">:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">“</span><i>Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory</i><span style="background-color: white;">.” This suggests their
purpose for existing is to declare praise to God.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>T<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">hey are
awesome creatures of “fire.</span></b></u><span style="background-color: white;">” “Seraphim” in Hebrew means “the one that
burns.” Their ministry is to praise the name and character of God.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>The similarities to the cherubim</b></span></u>: Both are
focused on worshiping God and<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 250); color: #333333;"> to guard His Holy domain and presence from any sin and
corruption, which is perhaps why one flew to Isaiah, put a burning coal on his mouth,
and said: “<i>Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and
your sin atoned for.” </i>(Isa 6:7)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #FFFFFA; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span style="background-color: #fffffa;"><span style="color: red;">For an explanation of why the cherubim and seraphim are so <i>strange</i> looking, and
also “<i>why</i>” God chose to portray their images as such, see my “FREE OFFER” at the end of article.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #fffffa;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Aside from the cherubim, what
do other angels look like in their true form</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who have been seen today, report as follows:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can appear as bright as fire
(Heb. 1:7, Ps 104:4), or they can subdue their glory</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can appear in dreams to bring messages (e.g., Joseph was
warned by an angel in a dream about Herod’s plan to kill Jesus)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May reveal something about the divine world and some facts
about you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They can appear to humans either as themselves, or disguised
a human.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If seen in a vision, they do
not have wings.**<br /><b>**</b>Angels, sometimes seen in church worship services, are described as very
tall with wings. They do not deliver messages, but appear to be focusing their
attention on the worship and music. They are more in line with angels involved
in the worship of God. What they are “called” is unknown.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Michael the Archangel</u></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD9CLhuS20DfeWxN4lo8BFHQZQUj0NeXFwU_KZr1JnCAFcKNKvKMj0jd_ZTExi9XDd1Dct7BYBw9uB7z5rM76QXP_7b8Qbqx467z72c_rc-kKg4srXC8P1-dnZy37sa-iB4BEUbK6r8E/s1600/ARC+ANGEL-MICHAEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD9CLhuS20DfeWxN4lo8BFHQZQUj0NeXFwU_KZr1JnCAFcKNKvKMj0jd_ZTExi9XDd1Dct7BYBw9uB7z5rM76QXP_7b8Qbqx467z72c_rc-kKg4srXC8P1-dnZy37sa-iB4BEUbK6r8E/s200/ARC+ANGEL-MICHAEL.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michael<span style="vertical-align: super;">(23)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hebrew word <i>Archangel</i>
means “chief angel,” which suggests he is head over all other angels. In the
Bible, Michael is the patron angel and defender of Israel who fights against
the angels of other nations. He is called the “Prince of angels;” also “<i>The
Prince of the army of Yahweh</i>” (Joshua 5:13-15; cf Exod 23:23). He is
mentioned by name in Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Jer. 30:5; also in Rev. 12:7
where he wars with the dragon during the Great Tribulation. In 2 Thess 4:16 he
is mentioned heralding the coming of Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apocryphal literature and Christian tradition
suggest there are actually seven archangels: Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel,
Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael<sup>(10)</sup><span style="background: white; color: #252525;"> The</span> Orthodox Church accepts tradition and
apocryphal literature. Below is their icon of the Seven Archangels:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUOTue5KJpILHahm1RtBL7bTo7SJNJUYgNlYdf6UbZ9JkpqSn5PT5MOW3HWItp68YSc8HLWlRpQK6fa__LCK2_2wtx6K7VwO5MqENHS7vuJ4Zqau6rSLDjN4DsilAx0YfbpecnV2CsIQ/s1600/ARCANGELS-7-SYNAXIS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUOTue5KJpILHahm1RtBL7bTo7SJNJUYgNlYdf6UbZ9JkpqSn5PT5MOW3HWItp68YSc8HLWlRpQK6fa__LCK2_2wtx6K7VwO5MqENHS7vuJ4Zqau6rSLDjN4DsilAx0YfbpecnV2CsIQ/s200/ARCANGELS-7-SYNAXIS.JPG" width="164" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: #F9F9F9; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;">The Eastern Orthodox Church’s icon</span></i></span><i><span style="background: #F9F9F9; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;"> of the
"Seven Archangels.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Left
to right: Jegudiel, Gabriel, Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, Barachiel.
Below the circled image of Christ are representations of the Cheubim (in blue)
and seraphim (in red).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Gabriel</u></span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTpV6hGg_i-XnFZcGjDeAdIL5-q8rNMqV5s4UYPgSpIuLkwdlhGTgttSB7BP5jlQL6nKPJGupjacApoaBXL8FyAEVXwGmWo2qBTVoCZjm6W3EmTStHYE9pONrPqUAdZbemAhLlilzaJs/s1600/ANGEL-GABRIEL-GOLD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTpV6hGg_i-XnFZcGjDeAdIL5-q8rNMqV5s4UYPgSpIuLkwdlhGTgttSB7BP5jlQL6nKPJGupjacApoaBXL8FyAEVXwGmWo2qBTVoCZjm6W3EmTStHYE9pONrPqUAdZbemAhLlilzaJs/s200/ANGEL-GABRIEL-GOLD.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gabriel is a special messenger angel who identified himself
by saying: “<i>I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God</i>.” (Luke
1:17-26) He appeared to Daniel (8:15,16; 9:21); to Zechariah, father of John the
Baptist (Luke 1:17-20); and to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26). In Hebrew, his name means <i>God is great; the messenger of Jehovah </i>or <i>The Lord's messenger. </i>The scriptures never call him an archangel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Guardian
angels</u></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZuhsVffWx2MU6ZfVEytGMRe0ykqoTbVCxgoEtJavmbwz7zInwIoCCZX1-ust2pV-E7dr6iaBjtp49O_l4I1Zs5JWA4lCeYUwEUUdYpKkEolxFHQJzbMZL_6SzA__BB1kKus8C23N4_w/s1600/ANGEL-GUARDIAN2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZuhsVffWx2MU6ZfVEytGMRe0ykqoTbVCxgoEtJavmbwz7zInwIoCCZX1-ust2pV-E7dr6iaBjtp49O_l4I1Zs5JWA4lCeYUwEUUdYpKkEolxFHQJzbMZL_6SzA__BB1kKus8C23N4_w/s200/ANGEL-GUARDIAN2.jpg" width="157" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guardian Angel <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; vertical-align: super;">(25)</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seventy-eight percent of Americans believe in guardian
angels. The belief in a guardian angel was originally carried forward by the
Jews based on two passages from the Old Testament in the Psalms:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="textps-34-7"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">For the angel of the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textps-34-7"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">is a guard; he surrounds and
defends all who fear him.</span></i></span><i> (34:7).<br /> <o:p></o:p></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He will
give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (91:11)</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the New Testament,
however, there is only one scripture suggesting this. Jesus said, speaking of
children:</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell
you that in heaven <u>their angels</u> are always in the presence of my
heavenly Father</span></i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">. (</span>Matt 18:10)</span></blockquote>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inference is: Since God
is omniscient (knows everything), He is aware when one of his children needs
help. Their guardian angels, which are continually in God’s presence, can then
immediately be sent. The passage, however, has caused debate whether “little
ones” only refer to small children because there is no other New Testament
scripture indicating angels are also assigned to adults; only in the Old
Testament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Did my Guardian Angel
help me</u>?</b></span> If you were miraculously saved from an accident—maybe even saw
someone who disappears afterwards—you may have interpreted that angel to be <u>your</u>
guardian angel. Yet, it may be <i>any</i> angel since that is part of all
angels’ job description. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The perplexing problem
raised about having personal guardian angels is <span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">why one person is killed in an accident, but another is
not; or why one dies from cancer and another one doesn’t. Many ask, “<i>Where
were their angels?” </i>The only answer available is, God is sovereign and
all-knowing, so He knows about it. We simply don’t have all the answers on this
one. (<i>However, in my forthcoming book, The Joshua List, I offer an
experience I had with my now deceased husband that sheds some comforting light
on this.</i>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Is there a hierarchy
that ranks angels with specific roles</u>?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible lists ten ranks of
angels:</span><br />
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seraphim (Isa. 6)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cherubim Ezek. <span class="textezek-1-12"><i>1:1-20</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thrones (Col. 1:16)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dominions (Eph. 1:21; Col.
1:16)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Principalities (Eph. 1:21;
6:12; Rom. 8:38; Col. 1:16)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powers (Eph. 1:21; Rom.
8:38; Col. 1:16; 1 Pet. 3:22)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Archangels (I Thess. 4:16; Jude 1:9; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels (Rom. 8:38; 1 Pet.
3:22)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(also, wicked spirits: angels who rebelled)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The concept of a hierarchy has come down
through three sources: Christian tradition, early church fathers, and
apocryphal literature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible gives no details but certainly
alludes to it in the passages listed above, a couple which are spelled out
below:<i><span style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242);"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="texteph-1-20"><i>Which
he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places, </i></span><span class="texteph-1-21"><i><u>Far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion</u></i></span><span class="texteph-1-21"><i>, and <u>every name </u>that is named, not only in this world, but
also in that which is to come.” (Eph 1:21)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be <u>thrones</u>, or <u>dominions</u>, or <u>principalities</u>,
or <u>powers</u>: all things were created by him, and for him. (Col. 1:16 KJV)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="texteph-1-21"><i>For
everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, <u>rank
after rank after rank</u></i></span><span class="texteph-1-21"><u> </u></span><span class="texteph-1-21"><i>of angels.” (Col 1:16 Message Bible)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible stories also suggest different roles. For example,
cherubim and seraphim, who are the closest to the throne of God, have different
roles from Michael, who has a fighting-protection role as “<i>Prince of the
army of Yahweh.</i>” Whether one angel in the vast hierarchy is considered
“higher” than the other in the heavenly chain of command is biblically unknown,
but apocryphal literature and early Christian traditions do suggest it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cherubim and seraphim’s roles mostly just appear without
saying much except to praise God while someone else delivers the message, and
they usually appear more specifically to God’s chosen prophets. Nevertheless,
interestingly, St. Francis of Assisi in 1224, after praying and fasting for a
month to understand more about the depth of God’s love for humanity, said he
saw a Seraph. He said, “<i>I saw a seraph with six fiery and shining wings
descend from the height of heaven…Two of the wings were lifted above his head,
two were extended for flight and two covered his whole body.”</i><sup>(11) <o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since there are cherubim, seraphim, archangels
and other angelic beings with different roles, it is interesting to take a look
to see what “tradition” (<i>outside of the Protestant Bible</i>), has to say
about an angelic hierarchy. The most popular is Pseudo-Dionysius, the
Areopagite. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
“<i><u><span style="color: blue;">Pseudo</span></u></i><span style="color: blue;">” <u>in this
context means</u> </span>another Christian wrote it under the name of the “real” Dionysius
who lived in the first century AD and was a convert of Paul’s. (<i>Doing this
was a common and acceptable practice at the time</i>.) Below is the artist’s
conception of Pseudo-Dionysius that appears on the cover of his book:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3s6YV3MHn3vsGWIvWSeXa8aRaSRpERppTNZp6L6qU5s2AdwZ4PRcUtt4zdMkYsOAta3zjB552Q3p579VfSYaujkU025IRkXZ2jxgEe3DkYAWK2udEWyDQSN2Ulij8mpHqLF2QgS61zI/s1600/DIONYSIUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3s6YV3MHn3vsGWIvWSeXa8aRaSRpERppTNZp6L6qU5s2AdwZ4PRcUtt4zdMkYsOAta3zjB552Q3p579VfSYaujkU025IRkXZ2jxgEe3DkYAWK2udEWyDQSN2Ulij8mpHqLF2QgS61zI/s200/DIONYSIUS.jpg" width="195" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(485-528 <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">ad</span>)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><u>But first, who was the “real” Dionysius the Areopagite</u></span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">?</span></b></span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">The real one </span>was a convert of Paul’s, converted during
Paul’s speech at Mars Hill. (Acts 17:34) Tradition says Dionysius received
information on the hierarchy from the apostle Paul after he (Paul) was caught
up to the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2); however, there is no biblical scripture
that states this. According to tradition, he traveled with Paul three years
preaching the gospel, and later was chosen as the first Bishop of Athens. After
Paul’s death, Dionysius traveled and preached in Rome, Germany, Spain, and was
later beheaded in 96 AD at Athens, although some sources say in Lutetia (old
name for Paris, France). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>Who was P-Dionysius</u>?</b></span>
(<i>hereinafter P-Dionysius</i>) Living centuries after the real Dionysius,
he claimed he was a “communicator of tradition.” Because of his claim, his
angelic hierarchy is accepted in the Orthodox Church, although not in
Protestant churches. His hierarchy portrays how God manifests His will to the
higher order first, who in turn gives it to the lower orders of angels via a
chain of command. (<i>This idea of a heavenly hierarchy is not unique to
Christianity. Called the Great Chain of Being, it can be seen in other world
religions</i>.)<sup>(12)</sup> (See endnote.)
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the Bible is
relatively silent on the subject, the idea of an angelic hierarchy seems
plausible, for in Zech 2:3, Dan 8:15-17 and Ezek 10:1-5, we find one angel
telling another angel what to do. In Daniel, one angel attempted to answer Daniel's prayer but was waylaid by a demon spirit who delayed him. At that point, Michael came to help the subordinate angel, freeing him to fulfill his mission to Daniel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to P-Dionysius’
hierarchy. . . but first this is what Billy Graham has to say:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Medieval theologians divided angelic beings into nine grades. ...Perhaps any list that ranks angelic beings will err, but we can be sure they differ in power, some having authority others do not possess. While I do not wish to be dogmatic, I think there are different ranks of them and that the list given in Colossians does refer to these celestial personalities."</i><span style="font-size: 8pt; vertical-align: super;"><i>(</i>28)</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psuedo-Dionysius,
the Areopagite’s Nine-Rank Hierarchy of Angels</span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(See
endnote No. 16 for the source of this material.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any quote marks in the
description below are St. Demetrius of Rostov’s who compiled P-Dionysius’
writings. The rest are my paraphrases. Also, since the Bible gives no
elaborate detail such as P-Dionysius presents, I only post his hierarchy for
the sake of interesting information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnU5bZe7puEZcyS553yDbOm_D8up4Hm6BOPA0-te_S9sS992_caAWk6-zN_F8adVsZNlMx-BU-kvoJdbDKV9yQNC6vc2QD6FA_qdPrdD5W5TQ5snzlRALjlm-N0zRcbmNoBsL_vEQPzQ/s1600/ANGELS-HIERARCHY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnU5bZe7puEZcyS553yDbOm_D8up4Hm6BOPA0-te_S9sS992_caAWk6-zN_F8adVsZNlMx-BU-kvoJdbDKV9yQNC6vc2QD6FA_qdPrdD5W5TQ5snzlRALjlm-N0zRcbmNoBsL_vEQPzQ/s640/ANGELS-HIERARCHY.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
nine ranks above are grouped in three hierarchies consisting of: the highest,
the middle, and the lowest. Although each angelic level has different names
assigned to them, e.g., cherubim, seraphim, thrones, principalities, etc., and
one is specifically called “angels” in the lowest rung, collectively they are
all called “angels.” Each level of
angelic beings has its own roles. They differ in roles because, as P-Dionysius
explained, the wise Creator does not reveal the mysteries of His divine will to
each rank equally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">The Highest Hierarchy</span></u></b><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Seraphim</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
are closest to the throne. Isaiah said, “<i>Seraphs stood round about God” </i>(Isa
6:2). Since the seraphim stand before such fiery glory, the seraphim are
themselves fiery (“seraphim” means, burning or fiery). Heb. 1:7,14 and Ps 104:4
say: “<i>He maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.</i>”
Heb. 12:29 also says: “<i>Our God is a
consuming fire</i>.” <i>His throne is like a fiery flame;</i> and on Mt. Sinai,
<i>“The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire”</i> (Ex.
24:17). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Cherubim</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
are slightly below the throne. They stand in God’s transcendent light, before
the One who is all-knowing, wise, knowledgeable and righteous. Because they
dwell in God’s transcendent light, they are also radiant. According to
P-Dionysius, their role is to illumine humans through the “highest faculty of
the person’s heart--that part of one’s being which perceives God and His
presence through His grace<i>.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Thrones</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These
are angelic beings who stand before God’s throne just below the cherubim. They
represent judgment and are called “God-bearing” by St. Maximus the Confessor.
St. Basil explains they are called God-bearing, not according to their essence
(<i>for example, Jesus was God-bearing because of his undivided union and
essence with God</i>) but because of the “kind” of service entrusted to the
thrones, which is ministering judgment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seated
upon these thrones “in a way that cannot be described, God ordains His
judgments, as David said (Ps. 9:4): <i>‘Thou hast sat upon a throne, O Thou
that judgest righteousness</i>.’ Therefore, it is through the thrones that God
brings to pass His righteous judgments, for they are the ministers of His
justice.” The thrones also impart “to
the tribunals of magistrates below, and to kings and lords [on earth], the
ability to pass righteous judgment.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The
Middle Hierarchy</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: blue;"><b>Dominions
and authorities</b></span></u><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels
called “Dominions” act like heavenly governors and preside over nations. They
rule over and regulate the duties of the lower angels subject to them. They
also pour down upon earthly authorities ordained by God, to rule wisely and to
exercise dominion judiciously. They also teach mankind to rule over their
senses, lusts and passions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u><b>Powers
and authorities</b></u></span><u style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The
powers and authorities serve the mighty and powerful will of the all-powerful
and omnipotent Lord without hesitation.” They work the marvels, and the grace
to impart them, to God’s elect “who have been deemed worthy to work wonders, to
heal every illness, and to foretell the future.” They also “strengthen men in
their labor, bearing the yoke, strengthening them to fulfill the obligations of
their station in life and helping the feeble in their weakness. They assist men
to be patient and not to weaken in trials, but to endure everything that comes
to pass with nobility of soul and resolute courage, humbly giving thanks to God
who orders all things for our benefit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Virtues</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></u></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
have authority over the devil, subduing their power, warding off temptations,
and protecting those who struggle for virtue’s sake to see they are not
deprived of the spiritual kingdom. They also forbid the demons to harm men as
they desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">Principalities</span></u></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They
rule over the angels below them and direct them to fulfill God’s commands. They
watch over the world, protecting and guarding every kingdom and principality,
every province and people, tribe and nation, for each of these has its own
angel of this rank as guardian and governor. It is the duty of this order to
teach men to render to all in authority the honor due their station…usher
worthy men into such positions as they merit and instruct them not to use their
offices for their own gain or profit.”<i> </i>They carry out the orders of the
Dominions and serve as guardian angels for large groups such as nations and
leaders of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Archangels</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525;">God appointed Michael as commander of the entire nine
angelic orders. Archangels are the messengers of good tidings. They learn what
God’s will is from the higher ranks and pass it on down to angels below them
who, in turn, declare them to men. They are the ones who deliver special
announcements and prophecies to men, and enlighten them to understand the will
of God. They are: </span>Gabriel,
Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael. (<i>My comment: This is
probably why Gabriel is always shown blowing a trumpet/horn</i>).<span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Angels</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is the lowest position in the hierarchy of heaven, and closest in rank to men.
“They reveal the lesser mysteries of God and His intentions to men whom they
guide to live virtuously and righteously. Each of the faithful is entrusted to
one of them.” (<i>suggests a Guardian angel</i>) “They support those of us who stand firm, and they raise up the
fallen. Even if we sin, they do not forsake us but are always ready to help us,
if only we desire it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(End of P-Dionysius' Hierarchy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*
* *</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>Do angels appear today</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angels can appear in an
everyday human form to individuals, and have the ability to withhold the
brilliance of their glory (as in the case of Abraham and Lot). <span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">Billy Graham said</span><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"> that in order to fulfill their function of bringing messages: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">"...<i>angels have not infrequently assumed visible, human form. ...Intrinsically,
they [the angels] do not possess physical bodies, although they may take on
physical bodies when God appoints them to special tasks</i>.”<sup>(15)</sup></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Their disguise as humans is so
complete that Hebrews 13:2 cautions us to be hospitable because we may
entertain angels unaware.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, an angel can decide to appear as a
glorious man, as in Daniel 10:5-6. The brilliance was so shocking and his voice
so powerful that Daniel said his strength left and he fainted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">I lifted my eyes and looked,
and behold, there was a certain man</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">dressed in linen, whose waist
was</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">girded
with</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">a
belt of</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">pure</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-5"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">gold of Uphaz.</span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;"> </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">His body also</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">was</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">like</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">beryl, his face</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">had the appearance of
lightning,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">his
eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished
bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">tumult</span></i></span><span class="textdan-10-6"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often, to avoid startling the recipient,
they preface what they have to say with, <i>“Do not be afraid,” </i>or <i>“Fear
not.” </i>This occurred in Luke 1:11-13, when an angel appeared to Mary, and in
Luke 2, when the shepherds saw a host of them. Also, the Roman soldiers who
guarded Jesus’ tomb became “like dead men” at the lightning-like appearance of
the angel who rolled the stone away. (Mt 28:4)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a variety of
accounts seeing angels—stories of a stranger preventing injury or death then
mysteriously disappearing … a glimpse of a white-clothed being … a feeling as
though arms or wings were wrapped around one… an angel coming to them in a
dream or open vision, or being caught up to heaven and having an angel show
them facets of the divine world or their mission in life—too many testimonies
to dismiss. These messengers (<i>which is what “angel” means</i>) are probably
those angels on the lowest rung who are closest in rank to men. Perhaps that is
why they usually appear as a man. Their unseen presence can sometimes be
detected by their fragrance, a very, very delicate smell similar to a mix of
roses and carnations—an event experienced by many, and one of which I have had
more than once. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The angels are <i>not</i> to
be worshipped. One angel corrected John in the Book of Revelation: </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me,
See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that
hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10 ASV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>Can we pray and ask for an angel to appear to us</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one in the Old or New Testament who received an
appearance ever prayed for one. They happened when least expected. Recipients
of angelic appearances today say the same thing. “They just happen with no
beforehand warning.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One reason we should not insist that God send us an angel is
because God is not subject to our demands. Neither are the angels, for they are
also subject to God. Therefore, any appearance is by God’s will and according
to His timing. However, a most passionate prayer for help that does not
necessarily include asking for an angel, may result in an angel coming. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>What are we to conclude from all this</u>? </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Bible indicates that angels are awesome, glorious, and beautiful beyond
description.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (I Cor. 2:9).<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there are too many testimonies about their reality to
dismiss; second, the study of them is important. Recognizing their reality
gives us a strong awareness of God’s love for us in seeing how he has
established an organized system of all kinds of angels to handle every situation
in our lives. He is mindful of us, blesses, protects, guides, and guards us,
and sees that we are brought to salvation through Christ. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, no matter what problems we face in life, even the
unexpected tragedies, we can know from the scriptures that God and his angels
are aware. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy Graham said: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer
than you think…God has given ‘his angels charge of you, to guard you in your
ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a
stone.”<sup>(17)</sup> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Now, to the free offer . . .</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Why is it that Ezekiel’s description of the biblical cherubim and their
symbolic features strangely resemble ancient statues of angel-sphinxes?</span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwkJ5s-20SNIGIt9X89d4Mnd5_rDTgqkbxGLRv0MTKHO9CdDrW1TBGc-EPTqTgAzk-tvttEbgVPr4R2fClLjFZu_JPVN3kueL2yxP_juoyaivlx5_U4-QouofRceOg822DDPrJgjx9GU/s1600/ANGEL-SPHINX-WHEELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwkJ5s-20SNIGIt9X89d4Mnd5_rDTgqkbxGLRv0MTKHO9CdDrW1TBGc-EPTqTgAzk-tvttEbgVPr4R2fClLjFZu_JPVN3kueL2yxP_juoyaivlx5_U4-QouofRceOg822DDPrJgjx9GU/s200/ANGEL-SPHINX-WHEELS.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assyrian/Mesopotamian
winged sphinx with wheels<sup> </sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8<sup>th</sup>-9<sup>th</sup> century BC<sup>(26)</sup></span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></sup></div>
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<sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>THE ANSWER IS IN THIS FREE OFFER . . . </i></b></span></sup></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></sup></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"<i>FREE</i>" DOCUMENT!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU-Y0J-NCH5pWCGMltDW0UWbXenAI5i13hiMYvIumbP_fD4XVVso4pu6qWen7ypbwV3qKM4jfO0WAmsFtJAX_IvUVoPkdxrTJN8PTpBV3PdLP-JdqP-HfUKvzHi4knXSY8YdOCmDSVkY/s1600/BOXED+TEXT%25237-ANGELS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU-Y0J-NCH5pWCGMltDW0UWbXenAI5i13hiMYvIumbP_fD4XVVso4pu6qWen7ypbwV3qKM4jfO0WAmsFtJAX_IvUVoPkdxrTJN8PTpBV3PdLP-JdqP-HfUKvzHi4knXSY8YdOCmDSVkY/s640/BOXED+TEXT%25237-ANGELS.jpg" width="619" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time, Janis</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>ENDNOTES</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.
Billy Graham, <i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Angels:
God's Secret Agents</span></i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"> by Billy Graham (Garden City, NY, Doubleday and Company,
Inc., 1995), p.45.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.
<span style="background: #F2F2F2; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;">“<i>Angels:
the Mysterious Messengers</i>” (1994 on ABC).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.
See <a href="http://www.biblestudy.org/question/are-there-appearances-of-angels-in-new-testament.html">http://www.biblestudy.org/question/are-there-appearances-of-angels-in-new-testament.html</a>).</span></div>
<div style="background: #FFFFFA; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <span style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242);">Billy Graham, op cit. p.
xiii.<br />
5. Billy Graham (s</span>ource unknown)<br />
6. See <a href="http://people.opposingviews.com/jesus-angels-mormonism-2790.html">http://people.opposingviews.com/jesus-angels-mormonism-2790.html</a>
and <a href="http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Angels">http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Angels</a>;
also, <i>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, </i>p. 157<i>.<br />
</i>7. <a href="http://www.alexanderseibel.de/who_is_angel_emma.htm">http://www.alexanderseibel.de/who_is_angel_emma.htm</a>)<br />
8. Excerpts from <a href="http://blog.getitinyoursoul.com/index.php/2014/12/angels-demons-satan/">http://blog.getitinyoursoul.com/index.php/2014/12/angels-demons-satan/</a>
“Angels, Demons, & Satan” by Jane Brown, p. viii.<br />
9. The Ophanim<span style="color: #333333;">
are described in the Dead Sea Scrolls and apocryphal books, and are referred to
as the “many-eyed ones” who never sleep, but guard the throne of God. From the
apocryphal Book of Enoch we read:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"And He summoneth all the Hosts of
Heaven, and all the Holy Ones above — the Seraphim, the Cherubim, the <u>Ophanim</u>,
all the Spirits of Power, the Blessed Ones, and all the Spirits of
Principalities, the Angels, and the Powers on earth and over the water: with
one voice shall they bless and glorify and exalt the Lord…”<br />
</i>10. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Archangels">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Archangels</a>)<br />
11. <a href="http://angels.about.com/od/AngelsReligiousTexts/a/A-Seraphim-Angel-Gives-Saint-Francis-Of-Assisi-Stigmata-Wounds.htm">http://angels.about.com/od/AngelsReligiousTexts/a/A-Seraphim-Angel-Gives-Saint-Francis-Of-Assisi-Stigmata-Wounds.htm</a><br />
12. The idea of a heavenly hierarchy is
not unique to Christianity. Called the <i>Great Chain of Being,</i> it starts
from God, progressing downward through angels, then to demons, the planetary
system, animal, plant, and mineral world. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) also
developed an angelic hierarchy from Colossians and Ephesians. The universal
belief in this hierarchy can also be seen in Confucianism, Japan’s Shinto
religion, Plato, Aristotle, Milton’s <i>Paradise Lost</i>, as well as Moses’
priestly system. Secular life followed suit, reflecting the divine pecking
order: Kings at the top, then Lords, princes, nobles, down to peasants. In the
home, the father at the top, then wife, children, etc. The LDS Church also has
a hierarchal ladder with their leadership, and a heavenly hierarchy portrayed
in their doctrine.<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">13.
Terry Law, in <i>Everyone's Guide to Angels, </i>by Charisma House (p.
7).<br />
14. <a href="http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2007/06/What-Do-Angels-Look-Like.aspx?p=2">http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Angels/2007/06/What-Do-Angels-Look-Like.aspx?p=2</a><br />
15. Billy Graham, <i><span style="background: white;">Angels,
op. cit.,</span></i><span style="background: white;"> pp. 28, 30, 31.<br />
16. </span>The material on
Pseudo-Dioysius’ hierarchy is taken from a homily given by Father Theophylact
of Ochrid (1050-1126) entitled, “<i>Synaxis of the Holy Chief Commander Michael
and the Other Bodiless Powers.”</i> Fr. Theophylact took his information from,
“<i>The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints,” Volume 3:
November, compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov </i>(1651-1709).
Rostov probably obtained his information from Pseudo-Dionysius’ book, <i>On the
Celestial Hierachies.</i> Cited at <a href="http://www.chrysostompress.org/lives_8_november.html">http://www.chrysostompress.org/lives_8_november.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">17.
Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 39.<br />
18. Time Magazine article “Angels Among
Us” by Nancy Gibbs; Sam Allis; Nancy Harbert & Lisa H. Towle; Dec. 27,
1993)<br />
19. Fanpop.com<br />
20. Thefeastofhispromise.com<br />
21. Cgtruth.org (permission received)<br />
22. Petite-emi.deviantart.com <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span> 23. beliefnet.com<br />
24. purposely left blank<br />
25. <span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #252525;">German postcard, 1900 (from
wikipedia)<br />
26. </span>The Metropolitan Museum of Art <span style="background: white; color: #262626;"><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/">www.metmuseum.org</a></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">27. </span>Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 49.<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">28. </span></span>Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 49, 50.<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-transform: uppercase;">29. </span>Billy Graham, Angels, op. cit., p. 56)</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s1600/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s200/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you heard the news? According to the recent <i>World
News Daily Report</i> gold plates linked to Joseph Smith have been unearthed in
a cavern in the Hill Cumorah! Can it really be true? <i>Really</i>?</span><br />
<br />
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This startling discovery, the report states, was made by an archaeological team headed by Professor Abraham Jones, associated with BYU’s faculty of Archaeology—and (<i>hang on</i>) the hieroglyphic symbols on these plates are amazingly identical to those the prophet Joseph Smith copied from the gold plates of the <i>Book of Mormon!</i></div>
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<i></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZKMboOxwcm2QWqfnI6MoDPVxGCIIRRLXOWMI4zmryMAxQ5THPHikpWZ5LTJ12aZi_aEmXkbcRmXPik7C5acLNrWqOFOFZ-7PVnDrjPi5PBTN26GUbxXcu5-V3XHVYp1W7FeBLbkFUZk/s1600/PLATES+FOUND+AT+CUMORAH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZKMboOxwcm2QWqfnI6MoDPVxGCIIRRLXOWMI4zmryMAxQ5THPHikpWZ5LTJ12aZi_aEmXkbcRmXPik7C5acLNrWqOFOFZ-7PVnDrjPi5PBTN26GUbxXcu5-V3XHVYp1W7FeBLbkFUZk/s320/PLATES+FOUND+AT+CUMORAH.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">See article at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/p9q14ru">http://tinyurl.com/p9q14ru</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The article states they compared the hieroglyphic symbols with those Joseph Smith drew from his gold plates "<i>in 1928</i>." Say what?? (<i>No doubt, he rose from the dead</i>.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwaR2QBUMT_R1n5K8xohsvUXCzBFyIXjOiHhOc30NCxdBkTE3hSTBbXQnC1JIaj6B6QRWO-2vxgDXteHuIYyUFL2vj3fJGclq3U4hRjGAbQXG7mHDrW9xtMwwSjU07zYMgLHLYXIQ6Cw/s1600/RESURRECTION2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwaR2QBUMT_R1n5K8xohsvUXCzBFyIXjOiHhOc30NCxdBkTE3hSTBbXQnC1JIaj6B6QRWO-2vxgDXteHuIYyUFL2vj3fJGclq3U4hRjGAbQXG7mHDrW9xtMwwSjU07zYMgLHLYXIQ6Cw/s1600/RESURRECTION2.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course, there is no Professor Abraham Jones connected with BYU . . . and the above picture of plates are actually a picture of the faked “Lead Codices of Jordan” but passed off as plates found in the Hill Cumorah. </span><span style="font-size: small;">(For those of you who don't know what the <i>Book of Mormon </i>is</span><span style="font-size: small;">, it </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">claims to contain</span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> writings of ancient prophets between 2200 BC to AD 421 who sailed from Jerusalem to the American continent.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So . . . welcome to the exciting world of fakery </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">par excellence!</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: small;">(Be sure to s</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>ee Endnote 33 for the WNDR's </i>(</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>World News Daily Report</i>)</span><span style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> witty Disclaimer Notice</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;">—</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><i>it'</i></span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">s</i><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> worth the chuckle).</span></i><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05n64gwGrYQx7mOOU3y3eBaWBr48kluXj2kSqt1w18rr18hfn5p5oRXeHQp6rdWB_bEoQFhcBlk2zuXoS0P8mO_NZMqIr3TWSHyPUFozaAx1kQoRquplyBzvZjute8zkS6B0hyphenhyphenSuVCuU/s1600/SHINE-SMILEY+FACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05n64gwGrYQx7mOOU3y3eBaWBr48kluXj2kSqt1w18rr18hfn5p5oRXeHQp6rdWB_bEoQFhcBlk2zuXoS0P8mO_NZMqIr3TWSHyPUFozaAx1kQoRquplyBzvZjute8zkS6B0hyphenhyphenSuVCuU/s1600/SHINE-SMILEY+FACE.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">THE WITNESSES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON: </span></u></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">WHAT DID THEY REALLY SEE</span></span></u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">?</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The WNDR's article is typical of those who like to pull jokes on people<span style="text-align: center;">—which</span> brings us to the subject of this post. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Fooling the public was nothing new to Joseph Smith.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">This was especially true concerning the gold plates of the </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">Book of Mormon</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> and the witnesses he manipulated to sign a statement saying they saw them. However, they actually never saw them! They later </span><span style="font-size: small;">admitted it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">How did Joseph Smith manage to pull it off?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, this is what this post is all about.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">This article will look at the
claim of the three men who testified an angel appeared and showed them
Joseph Smith’s gold plates; also, eight other men who, although did not claim to
see an angel, testified Smith allowed them to "heft" the plates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We will look at:<span style="background: white; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The testimony of the three men </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The testimony of the eight men</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who actually
wrote the statements they signed.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What the three
witnesses admitted they really saw.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What plates
did the eight witnesses “heft?” Did Joseph Smith forge a fake set?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What was the
witnesses’ motivation in maintaining their testimony after rejecting Smith
and the church?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where are
the gold plates now?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">What does
the Bible say about all this?</span></li>
</ul>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><b>The Printed Statement
of the Three Witnesses to the Gold Plates</b></span></span></u><br />
<u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><b>of the <i>Book Of Mormon</i></b></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w-urWJsewcrMrZvOl1ZXvXOAu9f12LjT-FX4WtJ7OOqi8mhL1cLxoU9Oi8GBUj1J7yqOEdbDvJkXOa1h_UgvbcDmr7xINVK07b7BoipFfwjGQQWDlEgejNLjTqUGs-Np1YpJWWRqX5g/s1600/THREE+WITNESSES+TOGTHR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w-urWJsewcrMrZvOl1ZXvXOAu9f12LjT-FX4WtJ7OOqi8mhL1cLxoU9Oi8GBUj1J7yqOEdbDvJkXOa1h_UgvbcDmr7xINVK07b7BoipFfwjGQQWDlEgejNLjTqUGs-Np1YpJWWRqX5g/s320/THREE+WITNESSES+TOGTHR.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Oliver Cowdery David Whitmer Martin Harris</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBCspwpg9rtS6bb51fQs8y4drgF3jq7LKnPq6yFIECOwPjXA1-kdRtQBiCFQNuSUNuFngXtdZTVPpQQ14nPoY_SstBI2bUcY3i2dGKRt2bkBAwniP_4f5-eI0Uj7h4xaDL1azZF3hWI8/s1600/ANGEL+SHOWG+PLATES+TO+3+WITNESSES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBCspwpg9rtS6bb51fQs8y4drgF3jq7LKnPq6yFIECOwPjXA1-kdRtQBiCFQNuSUNuFngXtdZTVPpQQ14nPoY_SstBI2bUcY3i2dGKRt2bkBAwniP_4f5-eI0Uj7h4xaDL1azZF3hWI8/s1600/ANGEL+SHOWG+PLATES+TO+3+WITNESSES.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Artist's rendition of angel showing places to the three witnesses</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Below is the three witnesses’
statement printed in the front of the <i>Book
of Mormon, </i>stating an angel showed them the gold plates and engravings. (<i>For
the sake of space, the following is an excerpt from that lengthy paragraph
focusing only on this particular claim. The rest of the paragraph mostly
mentions the Book of Mormon people and religious verbiage)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">“That we, through the
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which
contain this record…And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which
are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and
not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that <u>an angel of God
came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes</u>, that we
beheld and <u>saw the plates</u>, and the engravings thereon; and we know that
it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld
and bear record that these things are true.<br /> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Oliver
Cowdery</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">David
Whitmer</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">Martin
Harris”<br /> </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">(Excerpt;
underlining mine)</span></i></blockquote>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">The printed statement
of the eight witnesses to the gold plates</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IYCHq_pLNgtaQov2-4OQWYXdDpdSBPDaM7PNQnpJK9mzzI3XD8Q6Afub4NXAk9J13_-1OwiojzABLhpRjb2PVFIuUor1KcqFst-4FRVL31DEljr9YLBqPQjNkpYlou9Z9kT0IqS2fb0/s1600/JS+SHOWG+PLATES+TO+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IYCHq_pLNgtaQov2-4OQWYXdDpdSBPDaM7PNQnpJK9mzzI3XD8Q6Afub4NXAk9J13_-1OwiojzABLhpRjb2PVFIuUor1KcqFst-4FRVL31DEljr9YLBqPQjNkpYlou9Z9kT0IqS2fb0/s1600/JS+SHOWG+PLATES+TO+8.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Artist's rendition of Joseph Smith showing the plates to the eight men</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The printed statement of the
eight witnesses is slightly different. They do not claim an angel showed the
plates to them; instead, Joseph Smith showed the plates to them and they
“hefted” them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">“…Joseph
Smith, Jun., the translator of this work has <u>shown </u>unto us the plates of
which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the
leaves as the said Smith has translated we did <u>handle</u> with our hands;
and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of
ancient work, and of curious workmanship. …for we have <u>seen and hefted</u>,
and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have
spoken.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Christian Whitmer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hiram Page<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Jacob Whitmer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Joseph Smith, Sen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Peter Whitmer, Jun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hyrum Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">John Whitmer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Samuel H. Smith” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">(<i>excerpt; underlining mine</i>)</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Many ask, “Certainly, these men
wouldn’t testify to something unless it was true! Or, would they?” </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">First, let’s ask the following question: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Who Actually Wrote the Testimony of the Witnesses</u>?</span><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Where did the statement of these
witnesses, Martin Harris,<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"> </span>Oliver Cowdery
and David Whitmer, come from? Did they write the testimony themselves? The
answer is “No.” Joseph Smith actually did, and then each man supposedly signed
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is strongly maintained by LDS
Church writers that Joseph Smith wrote the <u>original</u> version of the two
testimonials for all eleven men to sign. We have no visual record of their
signatures. The original manuscript of the <i>Book of Mormon,</i> which
supposedly contained the original signatures, was placed by Smith in the
cornerstone of the Nauvoo house in 1841. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The only visual record the LDS
Church has is the “printers copy” made by Oliver Cowdery, all in his
handwriting, including the signatures of the three men. It is called the
“printer’s copy” to distinguish it from the original manuscript.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Below is a copy of the eight witnesses’
statement, including the signatures, <u>all in Cowdery’s handwriting</u>. Whether this
is really the “printer’s copy” may be suspect. It could actually be the
original, revealing that the men never actually signed it but only allowed
their name to be placed under the statement of testimony, persuaded by Smith.
However, this is just a suspicion of my own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxLJDqONs08_Zw9FGLe8ROj0TMPvlyChGb1QQsldLXrEv0pUE14to1QpRiJ2iZHGt_nRbhvrFY9xsaUgdsSx2Jxz8D1Q3PiSfIhyphenhyphenoj25w3vgULa7zd-jkCHO7y4hyphenhyphenPe8OFFP4ygiBs80/s1600/ORIG+DOC+8+WITNESSES+TESTIMONY+FR+PRINTERS+COPY+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxLJDqONs08_Zw9FGLe8ROj0TMPvlyChGb1QQsldLXrEv0pUE14to1QpRiJ2iZHGt_nRbhvrFY9xsaUgdsSx2Jxz8D1Q3PiSfIhyphenhyphenoj25w3vgULa7zd-jkCHO7y4hyphenhyphenPe8OFFP4ygiBs80/s320/ORIG+DOC+8+WITNESSES+TESTIMONY+FR+PRINTERS+COPY+.jpg" width="316" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Was the original <i>Book of
Mormon </i>manuscript, including the two testimonials ever retrieved from the
cornerstone of the Nauvoo House</u>?</span><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yes. The original was eventually
retrieved from the cornerstone of the Nauvoo building. Only 28% of the
manuscript survived. LDS writer, Royal Skousen, says “Most of it was severely
damaged by water that had seeped in as well as by mold that ate away a lot of
the manuscript.” Therefore, the church says: “As a result of this, we do not
have the portion of the original Book of Mormon manuscript containing the
witness statements.”<sup>(30) </sup>(Perhaps
it never did contain actual signatures.)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><u>WHAT DID THE THREE WITNESSES SEE</u>?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX99C-zD91kjgKY4UXs8GUNgsYchMmpZDPR8UAPm_Jm7BkfGQ-RFuGJ3C2iIepS_arRnZr8FN8O0KvpbOhJH_sVkIhB_T1vfeBY20j5Pjjqm14jfFIQtjhkIehAhxgj05sIIt28IYMA_k/s1600/HALUCINATION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX99C-zD91kjgKY4UXs8GUNgsYchMmpZDPR8UAPm_Jm7BkfGQ-RFuGJ3C2iIepS_arRnZr8FN8O0KvpbOhJH_sVkIhB_T1vfeBY20j5Pjjqm14jfFIQtjhkIehAhxgj05sIIt28IYMA_k/s200/HALUCINATION.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We’ll focus mostly on the three
witnesses, since their account is the most fanciful; then later, the eight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Whatever Martin Harris, Oliver
Cowdery and David Whitmer saw, and by whatever means, it was not, by their own
admission, in the dimension of physical reality. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Martin Harris admitted he never
saw anything with his “natural eyes.” He stated: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“I never saw the
golden plates, only in a visionary or entranced state.”<sup>(2) </sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Harris admitted the same to John
H. Gilbert, the printer who set up the type for the <i>Book of Mormon</i>. During
the printing of the first edition of the Book
of Mormon, Harris was in the print shop while the type was being set for
the testimony of the three witnesses. The printer, John Gilbert, asked him if
he had seen the plates with his naked eye. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Martin looked
down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, ‘No, I saw them with a
spiritual eye.”<sup>(3) </sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Harris further told a Palmyra
lawyer who asked him, “Did you see the plates and the engravings upon them with
your bodily eyes?” responded with:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I did not see
them as I do that pencil-case, yet I saw them with the <u>eye of faith</u>; I saw them just as
distinctly as I see anything around me - though at the time they were <u>covered
with a cloth</u>.<sup>(4)</sup> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(underlining
mine)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Harris further let the cat out of
the bag when he revealed the other eight witnesses saw no plates either even
though in the printed statement they claimed Smith showed the plates to them.
Even Joseph Smith admitted the three only saw the plates in a “vision.” (<i>See
History of the Church vol 1, p. 55</i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">How many knew about this?</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On April 15, 1838, Stephen Burnett,
a High Priest and missionary, denounced Joseph Smith and the three witnesses’
testimony and submitted the following letter to Lyman E. Johnson, a former
twelve apostle, explaining his withdrawal from the church:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Br[other]
Johnson – my heart is sickened within me when I reflect upon the manner in
which we with many of this Church have been led & the losses which we have
sustained all by means of two men in whom we placed implicit confidence, that
Joseph Smith & Sidney Rigdon are notorious liars I do not hesitate to
affirm, & can prove by a cloud of witnesses…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have reflected
long and deliberately upon the history of this church & weighed the
evidence for & against it - loth to give it up - but when I came to hear <u>Martin
Harris state in public</u> that he never saw the plates with his natural eyes
only in vision or imagination, <u>neither Oliver nor David </u>& also that <u>the
eight witnesses never saw them & hesitated
to sign</u> that
instrument for that reason, but were <u>persuaded</u>
to do it, the last pedestal gave away . . . . I therefore three weeks since in
the Stone Chapel gave . . . the reasons why I took the course which I was
resolved to do, and renounced the Book of Mormon. . . .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was followed
by W. Parrish, Luke Johnson & John Boynton, all of who concurred with me,
(sic) after we were done speaking M. Harris arose & said he was sorry for
any man who rejected the Book of Mormon for he knew it was true, he said he had
hefted the plates repeatedly in a box <u>with only a tablecloth or a
handkerchief over them</u>, but <u>he never saw them</u>, only as he saw a city
through a mountain. And said that he never should have told that the testimony
of the eight was false, if it had not been picked out of (him) but should have
let it passed as it was.<sup>(5)</sup> (<i>underlining mine</i>) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, in reality, the witnesses saw <i><u>nothing</u>. </i>They even
hesitated to sign the testimony, making it obvious it was written by Joseph
Smith.<i><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>“</i>Well<i>,</i>” some might
insist, “Harris and the eight wouldn’t have signed a statement if they hadn’t
seen <i><u>something</u>. </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">Doesn't the 'eye of faith' count?"</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What they saw was a product of
their own mind. Remember, by Martin Harris’ own admission, everything he and
the others saw, came as a vision. Historical accounts reflect the witnesses
were effectively induced to see the plates in a vision because of Smith’s
mesmerizing methods. How did he manipulate them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">First, Smith persisted in
badgering them by telling them that only the <u>faithful</u> could see them. That kind of remark would belittle
the best of men. He used the manipulative method of intimidation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Playing upon the witnesses’
emotions, he engineered them into conjuring up a vision by telling them God was
not allowing them to see the plates because they were “unworthy” and needed to
“repent.” With that kind of pressure, individuals will see exactly what they
are expected to see. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">An example of how Smith coerced
them to see a vision was told to the Governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford by more
than one of Smith’s key men:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">They [Smith’s men] told Ford that the witnesses
were “set to continual prayer, and other spiritual exercises.” Then at last “he
(Smith) assembled them in a room, and produced a box which he said contained
the precious treasure. The lid was opened; the witnesses peeped into it, but
making no discovery, for the box was <i><u>empty</u>,</i>
they said, ‘Brother Joseph, we do not see the plates.’ The prophet answered
them, ‘O ye of little faith! How long
will God bear with this wicked and perverse generation? Down on your knees,
brethren, every one of you, and pray God for the forgiveness of your sins, and
for a holy and living faith which cometh down from heaven.’ The disciples
dropped to their knees, and began to pray in the fervency of their spirit,
supplicating God for <i><u>more than two
hours</u></i> with fanatical earnestness; at the end of which time, looking
again into the (empty) box, they were now persuaded that they saw the plates.”<sup>(9)</sup>
(<i>Parentheses and emphasis mine</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: x-large;">?</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTx8PaJWRHnzn444NwAo2hBo65EVi9yHGNxCuflOk5D9JGVTB20ZRfRqNrDWkOHFP7vHI1Jw6uZJHQrDfUufhWIUM_R61u2fXgqHXip2-gNSqH_jCbxLFpqfuamUZ278pvFzAbtlTIjU/s1600/BOX+EMPTY-MAN+LKG+INTO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTx8PaJWRHnzn444NwAo2hBo65EVi9yHGNxCuflOk5D9JGVTB20ZRfRqNrDWkOHFP7vHI1Jw6uZJHQrDfUufhWIUM_R61u2fXgqHXip2-gNSqH_jCbxLFpqfuamUZ278pvFzAbtlTIjU/s200/BOX+EMPTY-MAN+LKG+INTO.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Seeing the plates with their <i>spiritual</i> eyes instead of natural, accounts for newspaper reports
that said all three witnesses told <i>different</i>
versions. This “makes it all the more likely,” author Fawn Brodie wrote in her
book, <i>No Man Knows My History</i>, “that
the men were not conspirators but <i><u>victims</u></i>
of Joseph’s unconscious but positive talent at hypnosis.”<sup>(10)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Persuasion of this nature is
similar to the ploy Mormon missionaries use today. To the Investigator
(potential convert), they read Moroni’s promise at the end of the <i>Book of
Mormon</i>, which says that if one asks God in the name of Christ with a <u>sincere</u><i> </i>heart, the truth of the book will be manifest to them by the Holy
Ghost. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This can’t help but suggest to
the investigator that if he <u>doesn’t</u>
get an answer he or she is not sincere. When the missionaries tell them others have received an answer, it doesn’t
take much for the investigator to be intimidated. He asks himself: <i>“What’s wrong with me? Why won’t God give me
a confirmation?”</i> As a result many Investigators keep praying <u>until</u> they do get some kind of
manifestation. It may be goose bumps, or some kind of sensation, but they
finally take it as an answer even if it is produced by their own psyche. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">For Mormons, that kind of answer
is okay. The Mormon Church teaches that <i>feelings</i>
are the way God authenticates truth.<sup>(6)</sup> Nevertheless, that should
sound an alarm because that is not what the Bible teaches. How should one go
about determining if the <i>Book of Mormon </i>is true?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One should use a combination of
methods, remembering I Thessalonians 5:21 says one must <i>prove</i> all
things. Decision-making must utilize every avenue at one’s disposal. In other
words, God gave us a brain to use. He doesn’t expect us, as Josh McDowell says,
to commit “intellectual suicide.”<sup>(8)<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">First, pray to initiate guidance
in:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Researching the historical facts of Mormonism</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Compare the facts with God’s Word</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Seek counsel from Christian pastors</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Pray to confirm what has been gleaned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> (<i>Don’t pray about
the “contents,” because Smith copied much of the Bible into it, but pray about
the <u>origin</u></i>.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now, to the eight witnesses’
testimony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><u>WHAT EXACTLY DID THE OTHER EIGHT WITNESSES “</u><i><u>HEFT</u>”</i>?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ9fhDZySBarchGKlcBVWIyd1pND8vGSeMpLMNXCSIihRgHJ-xhVdCkhdzhCln-TDAx4EoKC8xDZ819pBuw-FbGXOvlUvkLYoq0X3ZIkXxM2caS7-xVlEZv-grIpU1JkP3M6UUE8zc5s/s1600/GOLD+PLATES-UNOPENED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ9fhDZySBarchGKlcBVWIyd1pND8vGSeMpLMNXCSIihRgHJ-xhVdCkhdzhCln-TDAx4EoKC8xDZ819pBuw-FbGXOvlUvkLYoq0X3ZIkXxM2caS7-xVlEZv-grIpU1JkP3M6UUE8zc5s/s200/GOLD+PLATES-UNOPENED.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“<i>We
have seen and hefted and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the
plates of which we have spoken.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The eight witnesses stated they <i><u>hefted</u></i> the gold plates, and
described them as “weighing between forty and sixty pounds and being
approximately eight inches long, five or six inches wide, and five or six
inches thick.”<sup>(18)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In the first place, if they were
pure gold there is no way they could have lifted them in the casual manner they
describe. According to the measurements these plates of gold would have weighed
nearly 230 pounds—unless, of course, they weren’t pure gold. This is what LDS
writer, Michael De Groote claims in an article entitled, “How Gold Were the
Golden Plates?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He references LDS Metallurgist,
Read H. Putnam, who suggests the plates were a metal alloy of gold and copper
called "tumbaga" by the Spaniards. It would look like ordinary gold
but would weigh less. “Putnam estimated a solid block of the ideal engraving-friendly
copper/gold alloy would weigh about 107 pounds. Take half of that away to
account for air between the plates and "the weight of the stack of plates
would be about 53 pounds."<sup>(29)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While it may be the plates
weren’t pure gold, it is believed Smith may still have duped the eight
witnesses in the same way he duped two of his friends, William T. Hussey and
Azel Vandruver. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He showed them the supposed
plates in a chest concealed beneath a <u>canvas</u>. Smith convinced them the
plates were so sacred that if they looked directly upon them they would die. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">SHussey became so excited, he
ripped off the canvas, saying “Egad, I’ll see the critter, live or die!”<sup>(19)</sup>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What did he see? Nothing but “a
large tile brick.”<sup>(20)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Smith was always pulling tricks like this, taking great
delight in fooling people. Once, after a rain shower, Smith discovered some
white sand. He “tied up several quarts of it [in his ‘frock’] and then went
home.” His family was eager to know
what he had. Smith later told Peter Ingersol:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At that moment I happened to think about
a history found in Canada, called the Golden Bible; so I very gravely told them
it was the Golden Bible. To my surprise they were credulous enough to believe
what I said.<sup>(21)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Since Hussey saw a tile brick,
some may figure it safe to assume that whatever the eight witnesses hefted
could have been another large brick covered with a cloth or canvas and Smith
was able to persuade them it was the original plates. However, that won’t work
because the men’s printed testimony claims they saw the engravings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Could
Joseph have forged false plates and engravings for the eight witnesses to see</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">?</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Many feel Smith concocted some kind of plates of his own.
Oliver Cowdery could certainly have made such a set, including engravings, since
he’d been a blacksmith in his youth.<sup>(22)</sup> Fawn Brodie, in her book,
also suggests that Joseph built a makeshift set of plates.<sup>(23)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But the gears in Joseph Smith’s mind were working toward
another motive in making a set, besides fooling the eight men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Brodie notes in her book that by
making real<i> </i>plates, Smith hoped to make money by exhibiting them. John C.
Bennett, a close associate, said that Smith asked him to go to New York and
obtain some falsely engraved plates so that he could exhibit them, at “25 cents
a sight.”<sup>(24)</sup> While anything Bennett could say might be suspect
considering his reputation, nevertheless, in this instance, Bennett’s story was
backed up by Sarah, the wife of Mormon historian and Apostle, Orson Pratt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When one researches the facts
(instead of relying on feelings<i>)</i>, one can only reach one
conclusion: <i><u>the plates were an elaborate hoax</u></i>.<sup>(25)</sup> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One has to pity the witnesses
who, at first, may not have wished to testify to something that wasn’t true,
even indicating they were reluctant to have their names under the testimony,
but were manipulated and intimidated by a man they believed was a prophet of
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is also thought by some, that
they were influenced further because of the family connections. Four of the
eight witnesses were Whitmers; Hiram Page married a Whitmer daughter; and three
were members of Joseph’s own family. Mark Twain later observed: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I could not feel more satisfied
and at rest if the entire Whitmer family had testified.<sup>(26)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stretching or misrepresenting the truth was no
problem for Smith. He<span class="MsoPageNumber"> also altered his
“revelations.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoPageNumber"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqVCzgE-Som3463j_XcCUIiOpwe1hY-GjEuibJWv3lso3Dp8BcWMdgY0Yr5Ged4bjHO6poU0Xvc3NzvYTdFIg8ul4Zzq1N9dpImfoQar0BiWbS7wh3jXvdDRgfmdPWuyQyXA8BrupB9Q/s1600/RUBBERBAND-CARTOON1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqVCzgE-Som3463j_XcCUIiOpwe1hY-GjEuibJWv3lso3Dp8BcWMdgY0Yr5Ged4bjHO6poU0Xvc3NzvYTdFIg8ul4Zzq1N9dpImfoQar0BiWbS7wh3jXvdDRgfmdPWuyQyXA8BrupB9Q/s1600/RUBBERBAND-CARTOON1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Apostle William E. McLellin said,
regarding the printed statement entitled, “<i>Testimony of the Twelve Apostles
to the Truth of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants</i>” contained in the
“Explanatory Introduction” to the <i>Doctrine
and Covenants</i>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">"So far as
the testimony of the Twelve published in that book (Doc. & Cov.) is
concerned, it was a <u>base forgery</u>.<sup>(38)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is not unreasonable to suppose
the testimony of the three and eight witnesses were also forgeries. David
Whitmer, listed as one of the three witnesses in the latter, accused Joseph of
that very thing.<sup>(1)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He also said Smith had seriously
altered other revelations:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">…I was often in
Joseph's office, and know positively that some of the revelations were so
altered, mutilated and changed that a good scholar would scarcely know them. In
one revelation I counted 20 alterations! Hence, who can depend upon them? I
cannot. I will not. ... All your trouble arises from your taking that mutilated
and altered Doctrine and Covenants.<sup>(1)</sup> (<em>Saints Herald</em>, Vol.
17:556, 557, as quoted in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Changing
of the Revelations</em>, page 6)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; text-indent: 11.25pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Charles. W. Lamb quotes this
statement from a letter written by Apostle William McLellin in 1877:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="quote" style="background: white; margin-left: 33.75pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I
found that Smith did not always tell the truth... he materially altered his own
revelations before they were ever printed."<sup>(1)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>DID THE
WITNESSES EVER DENY THEIR TESTIMONY</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Mormon Church, of course, claims that none of the three
witnesses ever denied their testimony of seeing the plates. But Oliver Cowdery,
according to the Mormon publication <i><u>Times
and Seasons</u>, </i>did deny. Published in 1841, J. H. Johnson, a believer in
the <i>Book of Mormon,</i> reflected the sentiments of the community when he
wrote a poem echoing the fact that men (like Oliver Cowdery) lie, but it
doesn’t necessarily invalidate the truth of the <i>Book of Mormon</i>. The last
stanza reads: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">…Or prove that Christ was not the Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Because that Peter cursed and swore?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u>Or
Book of Mormon not his word</u></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i><u>Because
denied, by Oliver</u></i>?<sup>(12)</sup> (emphasis mine)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oliver Cowdery said he was
willing to make a public recantation and he was “sorry and ashamed of his
connection with Mormonism” and left the Mormon Church and joined the Methodist
Church.<sup>(13)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oliver Cowdery died, not
in Utah, but at the home of fellow witness David Whitmer, who had also left the
Mormon church. Whitmer makes it clear that Cowdery “died believing as I do
to-day,” which included a belief that Joseph was a fallen prophet, and that the
Doctrine and Covenants contained false revelations.<sup>(28)</sup> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Mormon Church, however,
claims Cowdery came back to the church. But if he did, he must have left again
because when he died he was buried by a Methodist minister in Richmond,
Missouri.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">David Whitmer became a member of
the Church of Christ<i>,</i>
and died still rejecting the LDS Church, but said he continued to
believe in the <i>Book of Mormon</i> (<i>probably its “contents” because of the
many Biblical passages in it</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Martin Harris joined Anna Lee’s
church, the <i>Shakers, </i>saying that his
testimony of Shakerism was greater than that of the <i>Book of Mormon</i>.<sup>(14)</sup>
Although later in life he came back to the Mormon Church and took out his
temple endowments, he admitted it was just to find out “what was going on in
there.”<sup>(15)</sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Interestingly, as often happens
with time and celebrity status, there are accounts in the witnesses’ <i><u>later</u></i> years, where they greatly
enlarged their testimony about the plates. Whereas both men (Harris and
Whitmer) had admitted years earlier to only seeing the plates in a “vision” or
“entranced state” and not as a physical reality, they are quoted in later years
as giving very different and exaggerated accounts from their original
testimony. Fawn Brodie notes, in <i>No Man
Knows My History</i>, that David Whitmer’s testimony, given <u>49 years later</u>,
was too “richly embellished.” Whitmer added a long list of things he supposedly
saw, which were not mentioned in his earlier account:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">the brass
plates, the plates of the book of Ether ., . . a table with many records or
plates upon it . . . also the Sword of Laban, the directors - i.e., the ball
which Lehi had, and the Interpreters (Urim and Thummin).”(16) (parentheses
mine.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>WHAT WOULD
MOTIVATE THE WITNESSES TO MAINTAIN THEIR TESTIMONY ABOUT THE PLATES IN SPITE OF
THEIR REJECTION OF THE MORMON CHURCH</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Embellished or not, why would the
three witnesses persevere in their testimony about the plates later in life,
even though they renounced Joseph Smith and left the Mormon Church? Why?
Because they had become celebrities!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">But there were five other possible reasons:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They didn’t want to disillusion and destroy the faith of
those who had converted to the <i>Book of Mormon </i>through their original testimony.<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They probably retained a special feeling for the
<i>Book of Mormon</i> because of its many Biblical passages, which Smith
plagiarized from the Bible. (He hadn’t come up with his unbiblical doctrines
yet.) The biblical content is the leading reason the book converts people.<sup>(31)</sup>
Author, Bryant H. McGill stated: “Truth is often the favorite tool of those who
deceive<i>.”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They would look pretty silly telling people that what they
testified to and allowed to appear in print really didn’t happen. Their
credibility would be suspect the rest of their life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Since their declaration is stated in the name of the
“Father, Son and Holy Ghost,” they would not want to appear guilty of perjury
by denying it.<br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In their own minds their witness was not with their “natural
“ eyes, so would not want to admit they deceived themselves.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><u>WHERE
ARE THE GOLD PLATES NOW</u>?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">?</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRv7h6EKxVVzURfuq1Dr22BuKlSubXgLMH5e8wZypXscnMhXrycHY4xBoUBDaUq1dhuWDJE3LwdxPfMpuxkkp3LzwY0iA0PBE2OpVmgcoyxp7Ggyrqp3jnmY32hDuTEIi-SBYzJXn_A8/s1600/PUZZLED-SILHOUETTE+MAN+SCRATCHG+HEAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRv7h6EKxVVzURfuq1Dr22BuKlSubXgLMH5e8wZypXscnMhXrycHY4xBoUBDaUq1dhuWDJE3LwdxPfMpuxkkp3LzwY0iA0PBE2OpVmgcoyxp7Ggyrqp3jnmY32hDuTEIi-SBYzJXn_A8/s200/PUZZLED-SILHOUETTE+MAN+SCRATCHG+HEAD.jpg" width="117" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Joseph Smith said that after 1829, when
through translating, the gold plates were returned to the angel Moroni. He
didn’t elaborate on it. All he said was:<o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“Thereafter the plates were
returned to the custody of Moroni.”<sup>(34)</sup> </span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A story by early church leaders was that Smith, accompanied
by Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith and David Whitmer <span style="color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">accompanied him and instead of giving them to the angel,
they returned the plates to a cave inside the Hill Cumorah. They said Smith placed
the plates on a table near “many wagon loads” of other ancient records.<sup>(35)</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mormon
apologist, John Tvedtnes, doubts the Hill Cumorah contains <u>any</u> caves
based on scientific evidence. He states: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The New York Hill Cumorah is a
moraine laid down anciently by a glacier in motion. It is comprised of gravel
and earth. Geologically, it is <u>impossible</u> for the hill to have a cave,
and all those who have gone in search of the cave have come back empty-handed.
If, therefore, the story attributed to Oliver Cowdery (by others) is true, then
the visits to the cave perhaps represent <u>visions</u>, perhaps of some far
distant hill, not physical events.<sup>(36)</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Even though geologically impossible, Mormons traditionally
continue to tell the story of the cavern containing the gold plates and other
ancient records. Bill McKeever of Mormonism Research Ministry, in his article,
“Where are the Gold Plates Now? says:</span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No doubt [repeating] this tradition is meant to strengthen
the faith of members who need to believe the plates actually existed. But it
should come as no surprise that the actual evidence for such a conclusion is
anything but compelling.<sup>(37)</sup> <i>(brackets mine)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><u>OBSERVATIONS</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">If the plates really existed, it
would have been unnecessary for Smith to force the witnesses to pray until they
conjured up a vision of them.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Historical accounts reveal the
witnesses never saw the gold plates because they were either covered with a
cloth, or in an empty box; they could only be seen in a vision or entranced
state after being told they lacked faith. They therefore had to conjure up
their own personal vision in order to see the nonexistent plates. Never did
they say they saw them with their natural eyes.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">It is believed Joseph Smith wrote
the </span><i style="font-size: medium;">Book of Mormon </i><span style="font-size: small;">testimony-statements for the witnesses, and induced
them to consent to signing, even though Smith knew none of the witnesses had
ever seen any plates. Nevertheless, he worded the statement as if they had.</span><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The gold plates the eight
witnesses hefted and said Smith showed them, were probably a fake set of plates
made by Smith. That he did forge false plates with engravings, was stated by
John C. Bennett and Sarah Pratt, wife of Apostle Orson Pratt.</span><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">All three witnesses, plus many of
the eight, left the church and embraced another faith.</span><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The testimony of the witnesses in
their old age, proved to be embellished and exaggerated.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">No gold plates are available for proof because
they were supposedly returned to the angel who took them to heaven; or else
placed in an “impossible” cave inside the Hill Cumorah.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If the <i>Book of Mormon</i> is
true, wouldn’t God want to provide archaeological evidence comparable to the
kind discovered by archaeologists throughout the Holy Land? There are two
reasons: (1) No such evidence exists because the <i>Book of Mormon </i>people
never existed, and (2) God would not provide evidence to a church and prophet’s
doctrines that contradict the Bible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>DOES THE BIBLE
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON</u></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>AND JOSEPH SMITH</u>?</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No…absolutely nothing .</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The LDS Church claims the <i>Book of Mormon</i> is a “Second
Testament” to Jesus Christ and contains the “fullness of the everlasting
gospel,” even though it doesn’t contain all the unbiblical doctrines Joseph
Smith later passed off as revelation from God. The Bible says no “Second
Testament” is needed because the fullness of the everlasting gospel is already
contained within its pages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately,
the witnesses’ testimony of the gold plates has attracted a membership of over
fifteen million, with over 296,000 converts baptized
for the year ending December 31, 2014, although
thousands later leave, or become inactive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mormon
converts continue to be deceived who accept the story of the gold plates
without investigating the facts<i>.</i><sup>(27)
</sup><span style="background: white;"> </span><span style="background: white;">D<em><span style="font-style: normal;">eception</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> is: <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">To delude and ensnare. U</span></span><span style="background: white;">sing a lie
to promote something that is not of value.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">(See a comparison chart between what
Christianity and Mormonism teaches at endnote number 32.)<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Bible <span style="background: white;">is the God-breathed word of God. It is powerful and life
changing, is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, and reveals the
true God to us. It is</span> credible, validated by archaeological discoveries,
and we<span style="background: white;"> can
be assured what we learn in the Bible comes from Him! </span>(see my article, “Is the Bible Reliable?” at <a href="http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/reliability.pdf">http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/reliability.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Did an angel deliver the <i>Book of Mormon,</i> and did God
call Joseph Smith as a latter-day prophet?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The apostle Paul made it very clear in Galatians 1:8 that no
“Second Testament” is needed. He warned that anyone preaching doctrine
different from what he and the other apostles taught is false:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320; font-size: x-small;"><i>But
though we, or an <u>angel</u> from heaven, preach <u>any other</u> gospel unto
you than that which <u>we</u> have preached unto you, let him be accursed.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b><i>The Holy Bible</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Until next time,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Janis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;">THANK YOU FOR VISITING!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>endnotes</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">1. </span><em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;">McLellin’s
statement: S</span></em><em><span style="background: white;">aints Herald</span></em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, Vol. 17:556, 557, and the Charles Lamb
statement both cited at <a href="http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changingtherevelations.htm">http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changingtherevelations.htm</a>.
The David Whitmer accusation cited in <i>Mormonism-Shadow or Reality?</i> By Jerald and Sandra Tanner (Salt Lake,
Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1972), 31.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">2. </span>David Persuitte, <i><u>Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book
of Mormon</u></i> (McFarland & Co. Pub., Jefferson, NC) 2nd Ed. 1991, p.
97.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">3. </span>Persuitte, p. 96. His quote is from Wilford C. Wood, <i><u>Joseph Smith Begins His work</u></i>,
Vol. 1, forepart, “Memorandum made by John H. Gilbert, Esq.” (John H. Gilbert’s memorandum was a prepared
statement in preparation for the World’s Fair held in Chicago, ILL, in 1892)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">4. Interview with Ole Jensen in Clarkston,
Utah, published in J.M. Sjodahl: <u>Introduction to the Study of the Book of
Mormon</u><i>, </i>pp 58-60, as quoted in
Fawn Brodie’s <i><u>No Man Knows My History</u></i>,
(2nd Ed. NY, Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), 78. (emphasis mine)<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">5. </span>Letter from Stephen Burnett
to Lyman E. Johnson. (Italics,
mine.) A copy of this letter is in the
Joseph Smith Collection in the LDS Church Archives. Cited in Persuitte, 96.<br />
<br />
6. See <i><u>The Mormon Missionaries: An inside look at their real message and
methods</u>,</i> by Janis Hutchinson (Grand Rapids, Kregel Pub., 1995), Chapter
4.<br />
<br />
7. See Hutchinson, <i><u>The Mormon Missionaries</u>, </i>204-205.<br />
<br />
8. Josh McDowell, <i><u>Evidence that Demands a Verdict</u></i>, rev. ed. (San Bernardino:
Here’s Life Pub. 1979), 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><br />
9. </span><i><u>History of Illinois</u></i> (Chicago,
1854), 257. (Italics mine.) Cited in Brodie, 79-80.<br />
<br />
10. Brodie, 77. (Italics mine.)<br />
<br />
11. In David Whitmer’s <i><u>Address to All Believers in Christ</u></i>;
he stated: “All of the eight witnesses who were then living (except the three
Smiths) came out [of the LDS Church].
Peter and Christian Whitmer were dead.
Oliver Cowdery came out also. (28).
Cited in Marvin W. Cowan’s <i><u>Mormon
Claims Answered</u></i> (Marvin W. Cowan, 1989), 57.<br />
<br />
12. From <i><u>Times and Seasons</u></i> (2:482).
Also quoted in <i><u>Oliver Cowdery -
The Man Outstanding</u></i>, by Joseph Hyrum Greehalgh, Phoenix, Ariz., 1965,
p. 28, as cited in Tanner, 55.<br />
<br />
13. Affidavit by G.J. Keen. See also,
Tanner, 54.<br />
<br />
14. <i><u>Martin
Harris-Witness and Benefactor of the Book of Mormon</u></i>, 1955, p. 52. Cited in Cowan, 56. Martin Harris was well
known for his religious instability and that he changed his religious
affiliation at least thirteen times in his life. In addition, he gave false
prophecies and became carried away with his own visions. In one vision he saw Jesus in the form of a
deer. In another, he said the devil
looked like a jackass and had short smooth hair like a mouse. (See Tanner, <i><u>Mormonism-Shadow or Reality</u></i>? p. 56.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><br />
15. </span>Tanner, op cit 58.<br />
<br />
16. Brodie, 78. Compare the Palmyra <i>Reflector</i>, March 19, 1831, and David Whitmer’s interview with Orson
Pratt 49 years later, as published in the <i>Millennial
Star,</i> Vol. XL, pp. 771-2.<br />
<br />
17. Intentionally left blank.<br />
<br />
18. Anderson, op cit 9.<br />
<br />
19. James H. Snowden, <i><u>The Truth About Mormonism</u></i> (N.Y.,
George H. Doran Co., 1926), 60.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">20. Snowden, op cit 60. See also, “The Salt Lake Daily
Tribune,” October 25, 1879 at <a href="http://www.truthandgrace.com/1879translating.htm">http://www.truthandgrace.com/1879translating.htm</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<span style="font-size: small;">21. <i><u>Palmyra Reflector</u></i>, February 28,
1831. See also Snowden, 57, citing an affidavit
given in <i><u>Mormonism Unveiled</u></i> by
Howe, 235-36.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">22. Tanner, op cit 59.<br />
<br />
23. Tanner, op cit, 59.<br />
<br />
23. Brodie, <i>No Man Knows My History,
</i>80.<br />
<br />
24. Brodie, op cit 316-317<br />
<br />
25. See Hutchinson, <i><u>Mormon Missionaries</u></i>, Chapter 7
entitled “Magic and Masonry: How Joseph Smith put it all together”.<br />
<br />
26. Brodie, op cit 79.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">27.
</span>2014 Statistical Report for 2015 April General Conference. <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/2014-statistical-report-for-2015-april-general-conference">http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/2014-statistical-report-for-2015-april-general-conference</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">28. </span>“An Address To All Believers
In Christ, 1887, Pp. 1-2). Cited at exmormon.Org/D6/Drupal/File9.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;">29.<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“How
Gold Were the Golden Plates?” by Michael De Groote, dated July 7, 2010. <i>Deseret
News</i>. Cited at <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705384964/How-gold-were-the-golden-plates.html?pg=all">http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705384964/How-gold-were-the-golden-plates.html?pg=all</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">30. <span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Witnesses/Signatures_on_their_testimonies#cite_note-1"><span style="text-transform: none;">http://en.fairmormon.org/book_of_mormon/witnesses/signatures_on_their_testimonies#cite_note-1</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">31.<span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>Joseph
Smith plagiarized thousands of words from the Bible to insert in the <i>Book of
Mormon.</i> He borrowed from the Presbyterian’s<i> Westminster Confession of Faith</i> <i>and Catechisms</i>; the <i>Apocrypha,</i>
and quoted from <i>Malachi</i>, a book
written <u>after</u> 600 B.C., (when the Nephites supposedly landed in the
Americas); copied 21 chapters of <i>Isaiah</i>,
and, according to one author, 27,000 words total from the 1769 KJV of the
Bible, including italicized words added by the translators. (See Tanner, op
cit., 68-73)<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">32.<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--> Comparison chart: <span style="color: #cc0000;">(Sorry, I couldn't align the right-hand column; but you can still read it okay.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mormonism
teaches:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <u>Christianity
teaches:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
Existence of many Gods There
is only one God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">(Journal of Discourses
2:345) (Deut.
6:4; Isaiah 43:10</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
the Father is an exalted man God
the Father is not a man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Doctrine & Covenants
130:22) (Numbers
23:19; Isaiah 31:3)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
the Father has a physical body God
the Father is Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Doctrine & Covenants
130:22) (John
4:24)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
the Father had a beginning God
the Father is Eternal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(The Seer, 132) (Isaiah
43:13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
the Father has parents God
the Father has no parents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(The Seer, 132) (Isaiah
43:13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
the Father is a polygamist God
is not married<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(The Seer, 172) (Mark
12:28-30)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God
only “organized” the universe God
created the universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Mormon Doctrine 589-590) (Genesis
1:1; John 1:1)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
was the physical Son of God Jesus
was begotten by the Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Mormon Doctrine, 546-547) (Matt.
1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
became a God Jesus
has always been God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Deseret News, June 17,
1901) (John
1:1-18; Colossians 2:9)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
and Satan are brothers Satan
is only a created being<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Gospel Through the Ages,
15) (Isaiah
14:12-15; Rev. 12:9)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
was a polygamist Jesus
has only one bride: the Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Journal of discourses,
1:345-346) (Revelation
19:7-9; 21:9)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Men
can become Gods Men
can only become children of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Journal of Discourses,
2:345) (John
1:12; Romans 8:23)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is salvation after death There
is no salvation after death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Mormon Doctrine 669-672) (Hebrews
9:27)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is salvation only in the LDS Church There
is salvation only in Jesus Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Doctrines of Salvation
1:350) (John
14:6)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Salvation
is through Jesus and Joseph Smith Salvation
is only through Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Journal of Discourses,
7:289) (John
3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -21pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.0pt; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 21.0pt; text-indent: -21.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><b>33.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><i>“World News Daily Report </i>(WNDR) by Barbara Johnson, dated April 3, 2015<i><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">. </span></i><b><span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/m7myrm9">http://tinyurl.com/m7myrm9</a>:</span></b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">WNDR “assumes however all responsibility for
the <u>satirical</u> nature of its articles and for the <u>fictional</u>
nature of their content. All characters appearing in the articles in
this website – even those based on real people – <u>are entirely fictional</u> and any
resemblance between them and any persons, living, dead, or undead is <u>purely a</u>
<u>miracle</u>.” (emphasis mine) </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">34. Joseph Smith 2:27-65; D&C 27:5; <i>Doctrines
of Salvation</i>, vol. 3, pp 215-226. See also, Bruce R. McConkie<i>
Mormon Doctrine,</i> p.327, 1979
edition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">35. <span class="citation"><span style="color: #252525;">Packer, J.
Cameron (2004),</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><span style="color: #252525;"><a href="http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=jbms&id=338"><span style="color: #663366;">"Cumorah's Cave"</span></a>,<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_Book_of_Mormon_Studies" title="Journal of Book of Mormon Studies"><span style="color: #0b0080;">Journal
of Book of Mormon Studies</span></a></i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><span style="color: #252525;">(Provo, Utah:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Institute" title="Maxwell Institute"><span style="color: #0b0080;">Maxwell Institute</span></a>)</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><b><span style="color: #252525;">13</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><span style="color: #252525;">(1): 50–57</span></span><span style="color: #252525;">.</span> See also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_plates#Returning_the_plates">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_plates#Returning_the_plates</a>.</span></div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">36. FARMS Review of Books, vol. 2 (1990),
p.261).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">37. </span><a href="http://www.mrm.org/where-are-the-gold-plates">http://www.mrm.org/where-are-the-gold-plates</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;">38. </span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cited at <a href="http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changingtherevelations.htm">http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changingtherevelations.htm</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I was asked an interesting question the other day: <i>Why
was Judah selected as the chosen line instead of Joseph? </i>The reasoning
behind the person’s question was: Joseph was a firstborn, Judah wasn’t; and in
the Old Testament birthright promises were usually given to firstborns. So, why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave a brief response, then later thought the subject worth pursuing more fully—especially after researching the
Internet and seeing so many<i> </i>people asking this same question but finding no site offering any real detailed explanation.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So . . . Do you know why Judah was chosen over his brother? <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX3PJ3JzetcuxXy-BZmOyKgTf47wFQYuQRrKaes9zUJAOvY1JZ24GXutGHplbJU9c4a-7TUGMFkNRA-k7F9yh0Aynr4w5SMyuA9ICndv9CancLFHUEjGS-hX6uxfi5dnVZrfFMAy3X3o/s1600/SMOTHER+BROTHERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOX3PJ3JzetcuxXy-BZmOyKgTf47wFQYuQRrKaes9zUJAOvY1JZ24GXutGHplbJU9c4a-7TUGMFkNRA-k7F9yh0Aynr4w5SMyuA9ICndv9CancLFHUEjGS-hX6uxfi5dnVZrfFMAy3X3o/s1600/SMOTHER+BROTHERS.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"Mom always did like you best."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfgrREmy68A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfgrREmy68A</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Smothers Brothers were huge in TV entertainment back in the sixties. Many of you may never have heard of them but I remember well their comedic stand-up routines. I couldn't resist using this bit of humor because it illustrates the idea that some children think a parent has a favorite child, therefore showers more benefits on them. Was this true of Judah? Was he his father’s favorite?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is at the core of the originally posed question as to why Judah was given the chosen line and Joseph, the firstborn, wasn't. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
Was Jacob, the father who pronounced the blessing, prejudiced—that is, was he playing favorites?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
Did God have anything to do in the matter? If so, what?</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>WHY WAS JUDAH
SELECTED AS THE CHOSEN TRIBE INSTEAD OF JOSEPH?</b></span><span style="color: #0a0909; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>What was a birthright blessing</u>?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Through Adam’s elect line (<i>Seth, Enoch, Noah,
Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc</i>.) each patriarch, before he died, laid
hands on his sons and pronounced a special, prophetic blessing for each,
stating what God had designed for each of their lives. The firstborn usually
inherited everything of the father’s, such as land and possessions. He, in
turn, was to hand down these same things to his firstborn and so on down the line.
The sons who were <i>not</i> firstborns were blessed with other things, often including prophetic words about the destiny of their
posterity. This was done by the laying on of hands.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhrEY8yoxahyc-sTbhAjSEiKvkT0QgIbdNOV0HRVw0lkIvntpB7LwQE-cZBDq38zPqdouOasB1YCfQ5QCwH9xN_A8wJDPsZjhF0WjENTFrUcKsuyIfvMHMcN47u0pvQaNZegwkVGmJjU/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-PAINTING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhrEY8yoxahyc-sTbhAjSEiKvkT0QgIbdNOV0HRVw0lkIvntpB7LwQE-cZBDq38zPqdouOasB1YCfQ5QCwH9xN_A8wJDPsZjhF0WjENTFrUcKsuyIfvMHMcN47u0pvQaNZegwkVGmJjU/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-PAINTING.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Birthright blessing given by laying on of hands</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But besides land and possessions there was a hidden aspect within the birthright blessing that was to lay
dormant until the time of Judah. It was the divine right of kings (<i>which
will be discussed further down</i>).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Blessings by inspiration</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The important part was that inspired revelation from God
always played a part in birthright blessings. God's will was always predominant. This can be seen later when
Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and crossed his hands
bypassing Manasseh, the firstborn.<i> </i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMVgYz26VglQMQXnFdLgge2AsCsbzWnIWSK3Pr3aq8U-skUIcKsAoIO6_TLOBE7WBn2a1EcqvOa2OMvD9D7uCjIL9l3cm1Eijobn2KF_ilwmHpeJ9fRWP5zFV3ID2LCZXdMw2Qexbrw0/s1600/JACOB+CROSSG+HANDS-BEST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMVgYz26VglQMQXnFdLgge2AsCsbzWnIWSK3Pr3aq8U-skUIcKsAoIO6_TLOBE7WBn2a1EcqvOa2OMvD9D7uCjIL9l3cm1Eijobn2KF_ilwmHpeJ9fRWP5zFV3ID2LCZXdMw2Qexbrw0/s1600/JACOB+CROSSG+HANDS-BEST.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob crossing his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Therefore, revelation and divine
sovereignty played a major part in a father’s blessing.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why did God’s divine sovereignty have a role? Because God had pre-determined (pre-elected) certain individuals to fill special callings.
Scriptures bear this out. For example, God told Jeremiah he was chosen to be a
prophet before he was born:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<em><span style="background: white;">Before
I formed thee in the belly</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><i><span style="background: white;">I
knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and
I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations</span></i><span style="background: white;">. (Jer. 1:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;">Also,
in the case of Jacob and Esau (Esau being the firstborn, but lost his
birthright blessing to Jacob):</span></em></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;"><b>...</b></span>but when Rebecca also had conceived by
one, even by our father Isaac;</span><span class="textrom-9-11">
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to <u>election</u> might stand, not of works,
but of him that calleth;) </span><span class="textrom-9-12"><b><sup> </sup></b></span><span class="textrom-9-12">It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. </span><span class="textrom-9-13">As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I rejected.
(Rom. 9:10-13; emphasis mine)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="textrom-9-13">We
could also include the special calling of Moses (Ex. 3:4-10), Aaron, and
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is logical, then, to rightly assume that since Judah was not a
firstborn he was pre-elected to be the chosen line of Israel. This would mean his
earthly line would consist of kings and eventually Jesus, King of the Jews.
This was the part of the birthright blessing that lay dormant until the time of Judah. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore, this suggests there were 2 aspects, or parts, to
the birthright blessing:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
Part 1: Inheriting the land and all the father has; usually a blessing to
be fruitful.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
Part 2: The right to rule as a King</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Note</u>:</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Bible does not call these two features Part 1 and 2; these are
my designations for use in this article.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Understanding the 2 parts;
how the concept of birthright was initiated by God and handed down</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To understand the birthright concept more fully, let’s take
it chronologically, beginning with Adam, to see how it was transmitted in time as one
single, all-inclusive blessing at first—starting with Adam down through
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—but then separated into two birthright blessings at
the time at the time of Judah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>ADAM</u></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgdTRYdzhYz_fu_-7tTUkl0OBZTuGz3RN0EQw_OiNV1o1lFOfjNzKvrW1JVmtBOy5xVyiO-2dWnGHGsSf2YXfeT1fldqxUeFeFRJbEokj66BfIVRo2n_2QBdIOTnM9wUVOfhyphenhyphenxB6oKz8/s1600/ADAM-GOD+TOUCHG-PAINTG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgdTRYdzhYz_fu_-7tTUkl0OBZTuGz3RN0EQw_OiNV1o1lFOfjNzKvrW1JVmtBOy5xVyiO-2dWnGHGsSf2YXfeT1fldqxUeFeFRJbEokj66BfIVRo2n_2QBdIOTnM9wUVOfhyphenhyphenxB6oKz8/s1600/ADAM-GOD+TOUCHG-PAINTG.jpg" height="147" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">God endowing the birthright to Adam</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
In the
beginning, God, as Adam’s father, gave him the birthright blessing of “<i>dominion</i>” over the earth (Gen
1:26-28). This was his “inheritance” since he was God’s firstborn earthly son.
It has to be assumed that this “dominion” included the two features, Part 1 and
2. Details of what that “dominion” covered was given in a general statement. Adam was
to have “<i>dominion</i>” over animals, fish and birds and also to “<i>govern</i>”
the earth. (<i>It would be spelled out more specifically later in the Abrahamic Covenant.</i>) Both words, “dominion” and “govern,” would suggest the inclusion in
the “blessing of inheritance” of not only Part 1, inheritance of land, but also Part 2—the divine
right to rule as a king on earth. Perhaps more specific detail about the divine
right of rulership as kings wasn’t necessary at this point because in those
early days God was their King and there was no call for an earthly one yet. (<i>This wouldn’t take place until 1 Samuel 8.)</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>NOAH AND THE FLOOD</b></span></span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpvDv-hv9x-OjFaEjicsg8DCxj66JJtnO-0G-kylAhxeJ23SnIphme_qtfxBA6EishjqRZ77wXvgYGzqbWCZ90cHYYPlczG3sO5oS2U4xRP24qFYmAg9eN95ABT7Tc10FeeRMkJDXWeQ/s1600/NOAH+LAYG+HANDS+ON+SON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpvDv-hv9x-OjFaEjicsg8DCxj66JJtnO-0G-kylAhxeJ23SnIphme_qtfxBA6EishjqRZ77wXvgYGzqbWCZ90cHYYPlczG3sO5oS2U4xRP24qFYmAg9eN95ABT7Tc10FeeRMkJDXWeQ/s1600/NOAH+LAYG+HANDS+ON+SON.jpg" height="200" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Birthright handed down to Noah's son, Shem.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This birthright inheritance for firstborn sons, comprising Parts 1 and 2, was handed down in the elect line to Noah
and continued after the flood by Shem, from whom Abraham later descended.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>ABRAHAM'S TIME</u></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtmaL7i5i5VBmOoG9ljBzmX125Rgumsr2wBw2dDm2t1gCMx8_ko2p7QsPv2_kERDfHDDjydI5tmKeRTOAqpsF879m44yxJafvfhWer0RwTP0zLYrLKRj9Q6M02OXSiznQzGRzgB8Cet0/s1600/ABRAHAM+LISTENING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtmaL7i5i5VBmOoG9ljBzmX125Rgumsr2wBw2dDm2t1gCMx8_ko2p7QsPv2_kERDfHDDjydI5tmKeRTOAqpsF879m44yxJafvfhWer0RwTP0zLYrLKRj9Q6M02OXSiznQzGRzgB8Cet0/s1600/ABRAHAM+LISTENING.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>God makes a birthright covenant with Abraham</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
God gave Abraham a blessing
in Gen. 17:6 and also made a Covenant with him. At that time these two parts were still combined into one all-inclusive blessing. There was no separation
of the two parts yet. The kingly right still lay dormant in the blessing;
but with Abraham the <u>details</u> of what Adam’s “<i>dominion</i>” and “<i>governing</i>” blessing consisted of were spelled out for him:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
Part 1: <u>Land, a numerous posterity and becoming a great nation(s)</u>:
“<i>I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee.”</i>
(Gen 17:6)<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
Part 2: <u>The right to rule as a King</u>: “<i><u>Kings</u> shall come
out of thee.” <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></i><span style="font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
Still an all-inclusive blessing, Abraham handed it down to
his firstborn Isaac, who in turn handed it down to Jacob.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk6bvuASAcoY3YbEV1AvNo0zXs8c5N2tjs0Q1SUMsaK7MHnRvFy5yWuFJPd6DHIq5X2rDsugDvs4RJDh830GocyM6KMvoRS_jpy3PhNjlNPp8UGg4sdLnbdw7g_G5m3XXRDdrLR2l9Vk/s1600/JACOB+RECVG+BLSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk6bvuASAcoY3YbEV1AvNo0zXs8c5N2tjs0Q1SUMsaK7MHnRvFy5yWuFJPd6DHIq5X2rDsugDvs4RJDh830GocyM6KMvoRS_jpy3PhNjlNPp8UGg4sdLnbdw7g_G5m3XXRDdrLR2l9Vk/s1600/JACOB+RECVG+BLSG.jpg" height="200" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Isaac handing birthright down to Jacob</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>JACOB (RENAMED "ISRAEL")</u></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDNVfeQmjrSiJ1b9PI-xt5BUucP3bxJY-i62XjpccQLtVkZtnv2P8q24to5pXVyQGjX8iI7k_znEXoZwh0ee829-BOW_CmbvWD3CGK9QXCoVJE0k4Tt4PD_b77Mgw93ej1QbQ4SIAW-A/s1600/DEATHBED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDNVfeQmjrSiJ1b9PI-xt5BUucP3bxJY-i62XjpccQLtVkZtnv2P8q24to5pXVyQGjX8iI7k_znEXoZwh0ee829-BOW_CmbvWD3CGK9QXCoVJE0k4Tt4PD_b77Mgw93ej1QbQ4SIAW-A/s1600/DEATHBED.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jacob on his deathbed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In preparation for the need of a specially chosen royal
line containing the divine right to be kings, God decided when Jacob was nearing death it was time the birthright blessing containing the
two features should be divided.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jacob, on his deathbed, gave Joseph and Judah their
blessings (also his other sons). Because of God’s sovereignty and pre-election, God directed Jacob to
choose Judah (<i>the fourth son of his first wife, Leah—obviously not a firstborn</i>),
for the royal line that previously had been lumped into all firstborn sons’ single blessing of inheritance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u>JOSEPH</u> as firstborn received
Part 1 of the Abrahamic blessing pertaining to the Kingdom of God; that is,
inheritance of the land, having a great posterity and becoming a great nation:
“<i>Joseph is a fruitful bough</i>…, etc.” (See Gen. 49:22-16)<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Technically, Joseph was not the rightful firstborn; Reuben was, being the firstborn from Jacob’s first wife, Leah; but Reuben forfeited that right because he slept with one of his father’s wives. Therefore, Joseph, who was the firstborn of Jacob's second wife, Rachel, was placed in his stead.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There may be some confusion about Joseph being called the firstborn, when we know he was actually Jacob's eleventh son. However, he was only Jacob's eleventh son chronologically (in order of time), but he was the firstborn of Jacob's 2nd wife, Rachel. Here is Jacob's genealogy chart for his wives and sons, showing Joseph as the eleventh son, but the firstborn of Rachel:</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfwZ2EcZO2ZdhOANB1sjGvsSjtOEljYfCjQWFnYEOkDGeBB7cXlJOFzd0l5-JJIJteAtxcQxlnCq4m6ez0wPswT-p9Yqrx56snvnQ7lluxKgapNKvrEIgoObo8P7BR9YiqwMyJr3F7SU/s1600/JACOB'S%2BWIVES%2B%26%2BCHLDREN-GENEALOGY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfwZ2EcZO2ZdhOANB1sjGvsSjtOEljYfCjQWFnYEOkDGeBB7cXlJOFzd0l5-JJIJteAtxcQxlnCq4m6ez0wPswT-p9Yqrx56snvnQ7lluxKgapNKvrEIgoObo8P7BR9YiqwMyJr3F7SU/s1600/JACOB'S%2BWIVES%2B%26%2BCHLDREN-GENEALOGY.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u>JUDAH</u> received Part 2, the right to rule as a king: “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. …The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (the Messiah) come.” (See Gen. 49:8-12) </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>(God was already working through Judah: When Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers, Judah was the one who suggested he be sold rather than killed as his brothers wanted, thus saving his life. Also, when Joseph was ruling in Egypt and sent his brothers back for their father but wanted them to leave Benjamin, the youngest, behind with him, Judah was willing to sacrifice his own freedom, even die, so Benjamin could return to his father.</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After Judah received the kingly right, from then on only Part 1, the feature about land, posterity and becoming a great nation, would be automatically inherited by firstborns (<i>unless God intervened for some reason</i>). And from then on, only Judah's line would carry the divine right to be kings.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">The line of kings begins<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Saul was the first king of Israel. He was, however, of
the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah, which has puzzled scholars. Two reasons have
been suggested for this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Saul was the
man who could, <i>battle-wise</i>, deliver Israel from foreign oppression which
was the pressing need at the moment, and probably no one in the line of Judah
qualified at that time</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></b><!--[endif]-->God may have given the people Saul as their first
king because of their sin of disobedience in insisting on a king “like the
other nations had” instead of Him.<b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Saul did not prove a good king.
Therefore, God chose David of the line of Judah, a man after his own heart, as the next king. He and
his posterity from then on would inherit the divine right of kings that belonged only to the line of Judah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">What
was the whole idea of setting up a chosen line of kings</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">?</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;">Setting
up an earthly kingly line was a necessity because there was another <span style="color: red;"><i>purpose</i></span> for
the chosen line.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;"><b style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: red;"> <u>THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE GOD-GIVEN KINGLY LINE</u></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
The kingly line of Judah
was also intended to bring forth the Messiah. Why? Since Jesus was to become a
king, he had to come through Judah’s authoritative, God-given line so he could <i>legitimately</i>
acquire that title and secure His throne-rights to rule as King of the Jews
over the Household of Israel—but he had to die to receive that full kingship.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The original blessing of kings given to Judah by Jacob also included a picture of a lion in a crouching position covered with blood<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">—</span>a prophetic picture of Jesus, and why he is referred to as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah."</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="textgen-49-9" style="line-height: 14.4pt;">“Judah
is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he
couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? …</span><span class="textgen-49-11" style="line-height: 14.4pt;"> he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of
grapes…</span><span class="textgen-49-12" style="line-height: 14.4pt;">His eyes shall be red with wine…” (Gen.
49:8-12)</span></blockquote>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpHpGGRa392leLp9GBvSVW9ReAC0hNtRdWBeb1MxOfnj1WpNqdoYKl93kXd5I5Ztj3p8-_Bz9QUcYeN9f2cvM3KxvCjr_wxJDhtDJ9N29FNCQmbAY_ihf9UeATD8CadBpE7eewwnHvFQ/s1600/LION+OF+TRIBE+OF+JUDAH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpHpGGRa392leLp9GBvSVW9ReAC0hNtRdWBeb1MxOfnj1WpNqdoYKl93kXd5I5Ztj3p8-_Bz9QUcYeN9f2cvM3KxvCjr_wxJDhtDJ9N29FNCQmbAY_ihf9UeATD8CadBpE7eewwnHvFQ/s1600/LION+OF+TRIBE+OF+JUDAH2.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jesus - Lion of the Tribe of Judah</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>SUMMARY</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>God gave Adam dominion over the earth and the right to govern
it. That blessing was handed down to firstborn sons by way of inheritance. Part
1, inheriting land and having great posterity, and Part 2, the kingly right to
rule, was included. Prior to Judah receiving, these two features continued to
be embedded within the single inherited blessing given to each firstborn son.</li>
<li>The continuation of this
inherited blessing, containing the two features, went down to Noah and
continued after the flood through his son Shem, from whom Abraham descended.</li>
<li>God’s covenant with Abraham
and his descendants, known as the “Abrahamic Covenant” spelled the two features
out in more detail versus the ambiguity of Gen. 1:26-28. From Abraham on, the
all-inclusive blessing containing the two features were passed down to
Abraham’s son, Isaac <i>until</i> the time of Jacob where it was drawn forth.</li>
<li>Jacob, inspired by God, was
directed to divide the two features, giving Part 1 to Joseph, and Part 2 to
Judah. From that point on, firstborn sons would inherit only Part 1 (land,
posterity, etc.), <u>not</u> the right to rule as king. This was specifically
designated, by pre-election, to Judah and his posterity.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><u>CONCLUSION</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The reason Judah was selected for the chosen line was due to
God’s sovereignty and <u>pre-election,</u> as was the case with the calling of
Jeremiah <span style="background: white;">(Jer. 1:5)</span>, and Jacob over Esau <span class="textrom-9-13">(Rom. 9:10-13), Moses
and others.</span> And it goes without saying, Jesus was also
pre-elected “<i>before the foundations of the world</i>.” (1 Pet. 1:20) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Judah was designated as the chosen line through which future
earthly kings would reign by divine right and through which the Messiah,
out of necessity, had to come through to secure a legitimate right to his
kingly throne-rights over the House of Israel.<br /> </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I hope this helps to answer the question.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Until next time,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Janis</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>THANK YOU FOR VISITING!</b></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-22632129704580337362015-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:002015-04-04T17:51:32.839-07:00INTERVIEW WITH JANIS HUTCHINSON: HER EXPERIENCE IN THE MORMON CHURCH<span style="color: red;"><b>Please share. </b></span><span class="st_facebook_large" displaytext="Facebook"></span>
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<h1 style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .05in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</h1>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">This month, I thought I would give you something
less heavy to read. Below is a copy of my recent interview on the blog of
Desiree </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mondesir</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">, Managing Editor for <i>Gospel Today Magazine</i>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<h2 style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.05in; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><a href="http://www.desireemmondesir.com/home/2015/2/16/janis-hutchinson-escape-from-fundamental-mormonism"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Janis Hutchinson:
Escape from Fundamental Mormonism</span></span></a></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Interview of Janis Hutchinson by Desiree Mondesir </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
February 16 and 17, 2015 – Part I and 2</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ogcfgmd">http://tinyurl.com/ogcfgmd</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="date1"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgZFDc55JmifDAchj9nGYs5qwePlTJ9mqc2mDfUq89Saseo623LUQhd9Ty082CrWn7Rn2NuMteIXi9aLOY25E_It39FR6YrWCkTCo9YtlFnpVjIBuvCIDpv4kLLxppoUkbW2ow5ckrBo/s1600/DESIREE+MONDESIR+6723368313_fe52473417_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgZFDc55JmifDAchj9nGYs5qwePlTJ9mqc2mDfUq89Saseo623LUQhd9Ty082CrWn7Rn2NuMteIXi9aLOY25E_It39FR6YrWCkTCo9YtlFnpVjIBuvCIDpv4kLLxppoUkbW2ow5ckrBo/s1600/DESIREE+MONDESIR+6723368313_fe52473417_b.jpg" height="200" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14.3999996185303px; line-height: 24.1919994354248px; text-align: start;">Desiree M. Mondesir, CEO, </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.65pt; margin-right: -8.65pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<em>I</em><em>’</em><em>d like you all to meet Janis Hutchinson:
blogger, author, and former Mormon. Janis hails from Southern California (like
me!) and comes out of the mainstream LDS Church as well as a branch of
fundamentalist Mormonism. Janis has kindly agreed to share her diverse
experience in the Mormon Church with us to show was what the deal really is.
Learn about some major fundamental differences between Mormonism and
Christianity as well as how to witness to the Mormon Missionaries who seek to
convert you! You can read Janis</em><em>’</em><em>
full,</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/p/escape-from-cult-my-personal-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">harrowing tale of escape here</span></a></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em>and
also check out her</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">blog</span></a></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em>and</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em><a href="http://wwwbooksbyjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">books</span></a>.
It</em><em>’</em><em>s a wealth of information. </em><em>Also, be sure to stop by</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Janis</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">’</span><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">
blog</span></a></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em>and
follow her on<a href="https://twitter.com/JANISHUTCHINSO1"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Twitter</span></a></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><em>and</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/janis.hutchinson1" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a>!
<em>Enjoy!</em></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.65pt; margin-right: -8.65pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<em><br /></em></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: How long were you in the
Mormon faith, overall? Did you have family ties to the church?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I was a member of the mainline
LDS Church for 35 years, during which time I served two Stake missions, married
in the temple, and was active in all the organizations, mainly teaching the
Gospel Doctrine class. I also had articles published in the church’s magazine, excerpts of which were used in their radio programs to
promote the family. I had no family ties in the church prior to joining.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
By the way, I consider
Fundamentalist groups “cults”;
the LDS Church a “sect” or “fringe religion.” I
don’t like to call the LDS Church a cult because it conjures up images
of a Jim Jones type of destructive cult.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: Why did you decide to
join the LDS Church?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I didn’t make a decision to join. My mother was looking for a church with
a good youth program and seeing the excellence of the LDS Church’s [programs], joined and had my sister and I baptized. I was 14 at
the time. By the age of 19, I became thoroughly converted to its theology through
its genealogy program and temple work for the dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: What were the positives
of your LDS experience?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The church’s programs and activities helped to bring me out of my shell. I
gained confidence in myself, learned how to speak before congregations, and
teach classes. Also, ethics and high moral standards were taught directly from
the pulpit, something I miss in today’s
Christian churches. Actually, I can think of nothing negative to say about the
church as far as its programs, the Ward community, and taking care of one
another. Its theology, however, is another matter. For someone who was as happy
as I to leave the LDS Church, definitely suggests there had to be a good
reason.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>DMM: What were some key
differences between the LDS and Christian faiths that you personally observed?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>When I was a Mormon, I didn’t even pay attention to Christian faiths, except for my
grandmother’s. She was not LDS and all I knew
was she was a good woman and loved her Bible. The reason I didn’t pay attention to other religions was that we were taught that
Christians who only believed in the Bible were on a kindergarten level, whereas
we had more advanced knowledge. In my mind, I thought, “Why would I want to demote myself to something lesser?” I had no problem believing we had more, as I was hooked on the
writings of an early church leader, Orson Pratt, who deeply expounded on
creation, the world of spirit that existed before the physical creation, the
transmigration of particles and other applicable scientific data, an
explanation of the original God, who was the First Great Cause and how He came
to be, as well as detail about the hereafter. Pratt’s scientific approach validating doctrines appealed to me because
it was so deep; therefore, I knew we had more than Christians had.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: What were some feelings
you personally experienced while being in the LDS Church?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>My personal experience in the
church was positive until, very slowly, I began recognizing incorrect
principles being taught by church leaders. My blinders began to lift and I
became aware of the requirement of “blind” obedience when the church’s
magazine came out with a message from headquarters:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
Brethren,
keep your eye on the President of the Church and if he tells you to do
something and it’s wrong, the Lord will bless you for
it.</blockquote>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whoa! Houston, we have a
problem here! Since when does God bless someone for doing something wrong just
because someone else tells them to do it? Generally speaking, obedience to
leaders is fine; but should not be “blind.” I recall saying to a few members, “Don’t you think you ought to pray about such and such.” Their answer? “Oh,
we don’t need to pray, we know the leaders speak for God and won’t lead us astray.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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A few<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Guidepost Magazines</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>fell into my hands, via my grandmother,
and I read about individuals in other religions having prayers answered.
Latter-day Saints claimed only they received answers to prayer because they
belonged to the only true church. I began to suspect differently and dared to
make the comment in my adult Sunday school class that Baptists also had their
prayers answered. Some immediately got up and walked out of class, and the
looks from others was like I should be stoned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another wake-up call regarded
the Bible. I had been taught that it was full of error because of faulty
translations and therefore, untrustworthy. Later, when I taught a class on the
Dead Sea Scrolls, I saw that scholars had compared the Bible’s Masoretic text with the Isaiah text in the scrolls and they were
word-for-word identical in more than 95 percent of the text. The other five
percent of variation consisted primarily of obvious slips of the pen and
spelling alterations. It left me with the thought: “If my leaders are wrong about the Bible’s unreliability, could they be wrong about other things?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: What led you to try out
fundamental Mormonism?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Mormon Fundamentalist groups
are apostate offshoots of the mainline LDS Church who pride themselves on
practicing doctrines of the early church that the mainline LDS Church no longer
teaches. Many of those doctrines were difficult to live, requiring much
self-sacrifice. Spurred on by the LDS Church’s
teaching to strive for perfection, and hungry for an additional opportunity to
draw closer to God, I thought that by perfecting myself I would achieve that.
Knowing in earlier times the mainline LDS church under Brigham Young practiced
United Orders<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>living communally and having all
things in common, I thought if I could live that kind of life it would be a
good test to see if I could unselfishly share everything I had with others and
purge out any hidden selfishness I might have and thus become perfect and
closer to God. Since the New Testament saints had tried it in the Book of Acts,
I believed it was a heavenly principle and that God had restored it through
Joseph Smith. It<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>seemed like an
answer to my prayer and I began attending a Fundamentalist group’s secret meetings in Salt Lake City.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I learned about comparable
"United Effort" groups that shared goods and finances, operating on a
smaller scale.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The group I investigated was
not the FLDS Church that has received notoriety in the news. There are many
Fundamentalist groups, some large and very well organized; but also some called
“Independents”
consisting of those who once belonged to a large, organized group but left to
form their own group on a smaller scale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: Can you tell us a bit
about your experience at the Order?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In 1978, I was very excited to
secretly join an independent group in Montana and gain a new communal “Christian” experience. At first I was given
the royal treatment and showered at every turn. This, I later learned, is
called the “honeymoon period”; only it didn’t
last. It was not paradise and they did not love each other with the love of
Christ as I supposed. Typical of cults, things gradually changed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Amidst the strife, jealousy,
and contention, the Order grew progressively worse. Stricter rules were added
and robot obedience to the leader's priesthood authority was demanded.
Individual interests and opinions were absolutely prohibited. The joy I
experienced at first was gone—I
felt desolate. I never heard anything about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But despite the strict
atmosphere of control, my one freedom was driving up to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Flathead Lake on Sunday mornings to
pray and meditate. This was allowed since the Order’s services were held in the afternoon. (This was sort of a lie.)
What I really needed was to get away from what seemed like a dark cloud God
showed me was hovering over the farm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the lake, I would pray
asking God to lift my depression and also to give me humility for submission
and also charity to withstand the leader’s
wife’s verbal abuse that always left me in tears.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I had my car but I never considered
fleeing. I had covenanted before God to share my belongings and felt sincerely
obligated to keep it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once Winter set in, I was no
longer able to drive to the lake, so I drove aimlessly over the barren plains.
On one such day, in the middle of nowhere, I happened upon The Little Brown
Church. I decided to go in, realizing that I would have to keep it a secret,
and quietly slipped into the back row.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The peaceful, loving
atmosphere was a sharp contrast to life in the Order and my spirits immediately
lifted. The leaders were loving and kind and I began to gain a clearer
perspective of how wrong things were. But I still felt bound to stay and keep
my covenant with God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a short period of time, The
Little Brown Church taught me about grace—something
the LDS Church never expounded on in my day. I also learned works would never
get me into heaven. My head was in a confused whirl. Calvary and reconciliation
were explained. And contrary to Mormon teaching, I learned Adam's sin
definitely applied to me. Inherently, I was a sinner—not a basically good person who was a literal, divine, spiritual
offspring of God! That was a tough pill to swallow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nevertheless, I began to gain
a new understanding of what Jesus did for me on the cross. But I still only
thought of simply incorporated these new concepts into my Mormon thinking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But soon, my worst fears were
realized—I was followed!<o:p></o:p></div>
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One afternoon upon returning
to the farm, the leader confronted me yelling, </div>
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"Have you been attending
that Little Brown Church?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I admitted that I had, and
tried to tell him about Jesus but he cut me off. I’d seen individuals lose their temper before, but never rage. All
hell literally broke loose! They accused me of spiritual
adultery and “worshiping at the Altar of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.desireemmondesir.com/home/2014/7/23/rebellion-the-original-baal-worship" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Baal</span></a>.” I was confused because I thought we
all believed in Jesus. My leader’s
response?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Of course...but you
found him in a Christian church instead of through me! I'm your spiritual head!
You learn through me!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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They demanded my car keys,
which I dutifully handed over, and confined me to the unfinished building at
the back of the farm in an 8x10 room that was only sheet rocked. There was a
bed, a dresser, and a small window. A bare light bulb hung from a hole in the
ceiling, and there was no running water or toilet facilities—only a thunder bucket.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was expected to remain in
isolation until I repented. Everyone was forbidden to interact with me in any
way. I could only be reinstated in fellowship once I came into their Sunday
Sacrament service and publicly repent of my sin—and denounced the Christian Jesus—at
the Sunday Sacrament meeting. My refusal came automatically and naturally from
my heart and spirit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was held prisoner for nine
months. The leader periodically came into my room to rail and revile me yelling,
"Repent!" But I kept refusing. I wouldn’t
renounce the Christian Jesus even if they killed me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meanwhile, my health
deteriorated. I grew dangerously thin and my thinking processes became
sluggish, no doubt the combination of poor food, poor living conditions, and
abuse. My thinking varied between extremes, at times it was difficult to even
think. Other times, I found myself going through mental gymnastics in a feeble
attempt to rationalize my circumstances. I soon began to believe that I deserved
my situation (common among cult prisoners).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I slipped in and out of deep
depression—even to the verge of suicide. Yet
even in all this, I never entertained thoughts of escape. Why? Because I was
still concerned about my commitment to the Order and covenant with God. I didn’t want to break my promise, even if it meant dying. Plus, the
leader's brainwashing words "God doesn't like a covenant breaker"
were pounded into my head.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My health grew worse and I
lost all incentive to live. When I would ask my leader
"Why don't you let me die?" his response was always the same.
"You're staying alive<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">—</span></b>you’re not going to bring law down on me!" He felt that if I died
and the police came in, he might face a murder charge. I began to wonder how
long it would take to actually die<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">—</span></b>my
answer came sooner than I anticipated. One of the children snuck into the
building to visit me and found me on the floor, unconscious, and ran to the
leader. He and his cohorts put me on my bed and prayed (I was told later) I
would not die—for the sake of their leader.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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While I couldn’t measure the length of time I was in that state, my body felt so
horribly weak and my skin was grotesquely discolored: a solid fusion of black,
gray, and purple. (After my escape, I was told by an RN that I had actually
died.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the next two months, I
slowly regained a degree of strength because the leader ordered his wife to
bring me better food. Still, my health progressively worsened. The worst were
the crippling spasms that felt like electric shocks through my neck and back
and struck without warning. After I escaped, I was in bad shape with a host of
health problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One day something strange but
marvelous happened. I knelt by my bed praying aloud, entertaining no thoughts
of escape, when I was totally interrupted with these words:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -2.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
"I shall deliver
you."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wow! I thought. God evidently
approved of my leaving! Which meant he wouldn’t
consider me a covenant-breaker. It was all I needed. Although extremely thin
and still suffering from serious physical problems, I became excited about
leaving and planned my escape, which can be read<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/p/escape-from-cult-my-personal-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">here</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I finally arrived home in
Northern California it was over—or
so I thought. I was unaware of the length of time it would take to overcome all
the physical and emotional aftereffects. I experienced three to eight years of
flashbacks, conflicting emotions, nightmares, as well as grappled with
disorientation and an inability to speak and relate to people from 9 months of
isolation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also had anxiety attacks,
fearing the cult leader would find me and either force me back to the cult, or
carry out the doctrine of "Blood Atonement" on me. I was afraid to
walk by any window at night, for fear of being shot, knowing in the cult's eyes
I had apostatized from God, and Jesus' blood couldn't cover something that
terrible. The only way I would inherit some degree of salvation in heaven was
if my own blood were spilt—and
it was their responsibility to see it done.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1980, I requested my
excommunication from the LDS Church and entered Christianity with my whole
heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: Wow! That eerily reminds
me of an old</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><em><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zodmm_rVgwc" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Walker, Texas Ranger </span></a></b></em><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zodmm_rVgwc" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">episode</span></a></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><strong>where
the Assistant D.A., Alex Cahill, was kept in a similar room as you and
experienced similar abuses. I know law enforcement shows often try to mimic or
borrow from real-life situations. Do you find that your experience was singular
or have you met or heard of others who had similar experiences to yours?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m unfamiliar with the episode of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Walker,
Texas Ranger</em>so unable to comment on that. However, I have heard stories
that trickled down from other Fundamentalist groups about physical and
emotional abuse, but have never personally talked with anyone who had the same
experience as I. I’m sure there are plenty. A TV
documentary interviewed one former member who had been locked in a closet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>DMM: Tell us about your book</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Cults-Into-Church-Understanding/dp/0825428858" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Out of the Cults and Into the Church: Understanding
and Encouraging Ex-Cultists</span></em></a>. <o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Based upon my 35 years of
experience of coming out of Mormonism and including former members from the
Mormon Church, Unification Church, Hare Krishna, and others, the book presents
the difficulties former members of tightly structured fringe religions face in leaving
their tightly structured religious community with its unique doctrines when
they try to enter an orthodox Christian church. It explains the emotional
trauma and the difficult questions they face that Christians can’t always answer, offering practical, non-technical suggestions for
pastors, counselors, and friends on how to understand and encourage ex-cultists
through the difficult times of post-conversion stress.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is the only book on the
Christian market to describe, in extensive detail, these traumatic
difficulties. The book is also designed for new converts to Christ to read who
will see, probably for the first time, why they are having such
severe problems. Many have told me this book “saved
their life.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>DMM: In your opinion, how does
the experience of those leaving the Mormon Church (any sect) differ from those
who leave other cults?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I see no difference, which is
why I included former members of other false religions in my book,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Out of the Cults and Into the
Church</em>. For example, when the World Wide Church of God rejected the
teachings of its founder, Herbert J. Armstrong, and shifted to orthodox
Christianity, there was such a traumatic shock among its members that for a
while the church gave my book to its ministers to help members through the
transition. I have had former members of other fringe religions tell me my book
also applied to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: Would you mind telling us
about your other book</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><strong><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ky8gy9d">The Mormon Missionaries: An Inside Look at Their Real Message and Methods?</a><o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This book examines the Mormon
Missionary program and what they don't tell upfront<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">—</span></b>from its unorthodox
theological and political beliefs to its carefully planned strategies to win
converts. Written like a novel, the story is set against the backdrop of a
Christian Bible College where I taught for a short time. Two Mormon
missionaries venture onto the campus and Susan, a student, falls for one of the
handsome Mormon missionaries. Believing she can convert him, she agrees to take
their lessons and soon finds herself in over her head, torn between her
romantic feelings and her Christian faith. A concerned teacher on campus, a
former Mormon, accompanies her to the missionaries' lessons, counsels Susan
about their false claims, and discusses the Mormon material and their beliefs
in her Comparative Religions class. The book also describes the LDS Church's
present evangelistic manual, Preach My Gospel, that outlines the
missionaries' lesson material, enabling Christians to be prepared ahead of time
when conversing with them.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: What are some main
methods Mormon Missionaries employ to gain new converts?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The first role of the
missionary’s manual is to convert the
missionaries since many have never studied the church and its doctrines and do
not have a strong testimony, if any. Their testimony, the church explains to
them, is the major tool in converting prospective members. The church, after
studying marketing techniques, how people behave, and have scrutinized how
sentences should be worded to make people respond more readily, pass these
strategies on to the missionaries.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The missionaries focus on four
objectives. </div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. First, make the Investigator “feel
emotion.” Good feelings are what will
accomplish conversions. Therefore, they are to strive to have the person:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Feel a good spiritual
relationship with the missionaries, more than casual friendship.</li>
<li>Feel good when the
missionaries bear their testimony.</li>
<li>Feel good in believing that
the missionaries are uplifting them spiritually.</li>
<li>Feel good about keeping the
commitments they are invited to make.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Missionaries are taught how to use persuasive logic to bring about
various commitments, and use Christian terms that have different Mormon
meanings. For example, the word “Gospel” means something entirely different. This subtly leads
unsuspecting Investigators into non-Biblical doctrines.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Missionaries </span>are cautioned not
to have Investigators check the Bible against what they are saying (otherwise
contradictions will appear); however, they do use Bible scriptures that are
general in nature, such as God’s
love, prayer, etc.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gradually, Bible scriptures
are replaced with more Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants scriptures,
explaining to the person that the Bible is untrustworthy due to faulty
translation, but the good news is that the Book of Mormon is the pure word of
God. It is the old “bait and switch” strategy, meaning you are sold one thing,
then delivered another.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: In my experience with
Mormons, why is it that whenever someone starts asking them </strong><strong>“</strong><strong>hard questions</strong><strong>”</strong><strong> about their doctrine, they always
have to pass you off to someone else who knows more than them?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This is because the majority
of young missionaries are unfamiliar with their church’s deeper doctrines. This is because many of them:</div>
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</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>Were previously living a contrary
lifestyle and sent as a last ditch effort by parents and bishops to
straighten them out</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Accept a mission call only
because it is expected of them (a rite of passage).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Have never studied the church
or its doctrines.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Do not have a testimony about
the LDS Church's beliefs or its claim to a divine origin.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Are LDS leaders aware of this?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes. When these young men and women
arrive at the Missionary Training Center and leaders tell them that it will be
the power and fervor of their personal testimony about the Mormon Church,
Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon that will influence potential
converts to join, without which they will never bring in converts, how do you
think that affects these young missionaries? Panic is putting it mildly.
Missionaries respond with: </div>
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</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>What if we don't have a
testimony?</li>
<li>How are we supposed to get
one?</li>
<li>Won't it be dishonest if we
fake it?</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the church claims that a
testimony is given to members from the Holy Ghost, these young men and women
plunge into a quandary on how they can grab hold of the Holy Ghost in the time
allotted.</div>
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<br />
Addressing the missionaries' dilemma of "how to get a testimony,"
Apostle Boyd K. Packer provided a surprising answer, albeit a deficient one. In
a speech to Mission Presidents, he said: "A testimony is to be found in
the bearing of it!" A clever strategy well known in psychological circles.
The principle is that if individuals verbally declare something often enough,
they will grow to believe it. It is a kind of self-brainwashing that works for
any declared affirmation regardless of the beliefs involved. This reveals why
the church programs its young children in the Primary organization to
"memorize" the required testimony about Joseph Smith, the
Book of Mormon, and the LDS Church. Their continual recitations of it
eventually become a conditioned response, producing an inner conviction that
Joseph Smith was really a prophet and that the Book of Mormon and the LDS
Church are true, which leaders hope will carry into adulthood. Leaders know
that their repetitious, rote-like declarations will soon have them believing
it. Unconverted missionaries are expected to use the same method. Soon, they
too will have a “testimony” and come to believe it is from the Holy Ghost.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>DMM: In high school, I had
many LDS friends and I noticed that they all attended church at their stakes
before school each day. What is this meeting and what is its purpose?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For High School students, it
is called “Seminary.” For college level, it is called “Institute
of Religion.” It is a course for students to
study the literature of the church, e.g.,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>The
Book of Mormon</em>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Doctrine
and Covenants</em>, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Pearl
of Great Price</em>, basically to strengthen their faith in Mormonism so they’ll remain converted during the age when statistics show that most
become disinterested in their religion. Since the church launched its big PR
program years back to start emphasizing Jesus Christ and sound more Christian,
the official description of the Seminary program’s
objective has now changed to read:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To help youth understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, understand the doctrines and principles of the gospel as found in the scriptures (meaning the Book of Mormon and other church literature considered ‘scripture’) and the words of the prophets (from the Book of Mormon and early church presidents), and to learn how to qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven. Also to prepare them to teach the (LDS) gospel to others.</blockquote>
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<strong>DMM: Utah, which contains a
population of about 51% Mormons (~81% in Utah County), </strong><strong>“</strong><strong>boasts</strong><strong>”</strong><strong> some of the highest divorce rates
in the nation as well as high rape, incest, depression, and suicide rates. From
your own experience, can you tell us why that is?</strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><i>Suicide</i></strong><strong>:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In 1999, Utah health officials
ranked the state's suicide rate as 10th highest in the nation and the leading
cause of death for males between 15 and 44, exceeding the national rate by 30%.
In 2012, Utah was the 7th highest in the nation for suicide, still higher than
the U.S. rate and the fourth leading cause of death among Utahans ages 24 to
64. Since 2010, an average of 501 Utahans each year have died by suicide and
another 3,968 were hospitalized or treated in emergency rooms from injuries due
to suicide attempts according to the Utah Department of Health.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Utah and other states in the Rockies
consistently have the highest suicide rates in the country aside from
Alaska. In 2014, the region became known as the "suicide belt."
An even more concerning statistic is that the state is ranked fifth for youth
suicides.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Why so many suicides with the
males, especially the youth? I can give you a real live example. In St. George,
where my mother lived, a youth who had just come off a mission committed
suicide. He left a note explaining that he just couldn’t live up to the code of perfection demanded by his bishop. This
was not an isolated case. Some of the males, too young to have yet gone on a
mission who committed suicide may have been victims of incest. Many have
testified to this (including females), and reporting it to the bishop does no
good because if the father holds the priesthood, allowances are made. Some
youth may commit suicide because they have committed some sexual sin such as
experimenting with masturbation, done innocently at first due to their young
age. They are reprimanded so harshly and made to feel extremely guilty, with
the bishop using the leverage of their never making it to the Celestial Kingdom
nor being with their family for eternity, they feel all hope is totally lost
and they will never measure up to the standard of perfection demanded by the
church. Some, after coming off the restrictive lifestyle of their mission also
experiment with smoking and drinking. Coupled with all this is the sense they
have let their family down and caused them great sorrow. Older men may have
committed adultery and also feel all is lost, plus do not want to face their
bishop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><i>Depression</i></strong><strong>:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>2014:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Utah is the No. 1 state for antidepressant
use. Among adults in Utah, 10.14% experienced a depressive episode in the past
year and 14.58% experienced serious psychological distress. Among adolescents
in Utah, 10.14% experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.
Individuals in Utah reported having on average 3.27 poor mental health days in
the past 30 days.” I have read that the depression
exists mostly with the women because their husbands are so controlling. The
latter become this way because of the doctrine and their temple experience
which states they will become a God, and their wife is to be totally subject to
them. “I am your God; therefore, do as I say.” A wife of a member of the bishopric, who was close friends with
my mother, told her that she went to the bishop and showed him all the bruises
on her body from her husband’s
abuse. Absolutely nothing was done. Interestingly, Perry Renshaw, a
neuroscientist at the University of Utah blames the “altitude,” saying it is because high altitude
oxygen decreases as altitude rises and thus effects the brain making it go
through metabolic changes. While some people can adapt, others can’t, based on their DNA. He claims scientific research bears his
theory out. However, knowing what goes on behind closed doors in the Mormon
culture, I don’t think this theory is going to
carry much weight as explaining the suicides and depression.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>DMM: I</strong><strong>’</strong><strong>ve noticed a pattern with people who
leave the Mormon faith: the Mormon Church almost always tries to assassinate
their character. Can you tell us why that is and have you had any experience
with this?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Fortunately, the only
experience I had was when I requested my excommunication. My friends in the
Ward were told by the bishop that I was now in the “devil’s territory” because I had apostatized from the truth. They all rejected me;
even literally turning their backs on me and crossing the street should they
see me coming down the same sidewalk. That really hurt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Has the church tried to
assassinate me because of my books and blog articles on Mormonism? I know they
are aware of me because every time I post a new article on my blog, one of the
email addresses checking the article out is “BYU
Studies.” However, I have had no accusatory
repercussions directed to me from the church nor mention me in their list of
anti’s. I think there are 3 reasons:</div>
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<ul>
<li>My articles don’t “bash” the Mormon Church like a few Christian writers do.</li>
<li>I quote LDS leaders accurately.</li>
<li>I just present what Mormons believe in a respectful manner, despite showing the biblical perspective that opposes their beliefs.<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<strong>DMM: You mentioned blood
atonement in your tale. Can you explain what this is in Mormon terms?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Blood atonement is the belief
that if you apostatize from the truth, Jesus’
sacrificial blood is not enough to cover that sin; therefore, it is the leaders’ responsibility to shed your blood for you to save your soul.
While this is no longer practiced in the modern-day church (although they favor
state executions by shooting so that blood is literally spilled), it was
practiced in the early church.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<br />
Brigham Young said:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is loving your neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, p. 220)</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
Joseph Fielding Smith said:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ...Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 1, p 135) </blockquote>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: Is blood atonement still
actively practiced today? If so, how often is it carried out and who by?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>A rare few Fundamentalist
groups practice it. I was fearful of this after I escaped the group I was in. I
was afraid to walk by my window at night for fear someone was outside in the
dark intending to shoot me. I also had nightmares, thinking that even though
they may not kill me, they might kidnap me and take me back to the cult to be
punished. The only group I became aware of was<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mormonfundamentalism.com/Photos/LeBarons/Ervil-booked-into-jail.gif" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ervil LeBaron</span></a>’s
Fundamentalist group.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>murdered opponents as well as
disobedient family members in the name of blood atonement, including his own
17-year-old daughter Rebecca, who was pregnant with her second child and who
had hoped to leave the group. He also had members carry out his murders. Caught
and sentenced to life, he continued to order murders from his cell, which his
faithful followers committed. He died in prison in 1981. An excellent 5 minute
video featuring LeBaron’s daughter before she was killed,
can be seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzLpdx1-Lc8" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
Today<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">—</span></b>and this is just conjecture<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;">—</span></b>I do
not doubt there may be some unexplained murders that are committed by some of
the groups. As late as 1989, former members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints (renamed in 2001 the Community of Christ) killed in
cold blood the five member of the Avery family on April 17, 1989, and buried
their bodies in the floor of a barn. Unless one reads it in the news, it’s difficult to know about them.</div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: What advice would you
give someone like me trying to witness to Mormons? Does it differ depending on
which Mormon sect they belong to?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes. It depends. Witnessing to
a mainline Mormon is different than witnessing to a non-Christian; and
witnessing to a Fundamentalist is also different from witnessing to a Mormon.
Since there are too many facets in the differences between witnessing to a
mainline Mormon, a missionary, a Fundamentalist and a non-Christian to list
here, I’ll just address the mainline Mormon, although other strategies are
answered in the next section. Here are a few pointers:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>I have found the use of the word “blood” (as in saved by the blood), with reference to Jesus’ death on the cross, too bloody and gross for mainline Mormons to handle, so avoid that word.</li>
<li>Don’t come on like gangbusters with every negative thing you can think about their church, telling them how all their doctrines are wrong. Since they’re trained in defense mechanisms, you are not going to convert them--at least while they’re on their mission. You’ll only get into a heated argument. Think more about planting positive seeds that may sprout later. Don’t underestimate the growth potential of a seed. After their mission there is a chance they may convert to Christianity, even as my daughter did.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If you are a former Mormon, tell them about your LDS background and positions held. The more impressive, the better. This leads to questions.</li>
<li>Don’t try to take on the Mormon missionaries in a theological debate until you’ve dealt with the average Mormon, and don’t take on the average Mormon without a thorough understanding of Mormonism.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>When backed into a corner unable to provide an answer, the missionary will revert to his “testimony,” which he claims is given him by the Holy Ghost, because how can one refute a personal testimony. They will give something similar to the following:<br />“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon is true, and I know the LDS Church is the only true church upon the face of the earth, and Joseph Smith and President Thomas Spencer Monson are prophets of God.”</li>
</ul>
Their use of “I know” indicates (supposedly) the Holy Ghost has given this to them. Therefore, you need to be prepared by memorizing a Christian testimony. The following is an example, emphasizing the word “know:”<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Christ and Savior of the world…that he died for my sins, was resurrected, and that I have forgiveness of all sin, not just some; that I am saved by grace and not by works and will inherit the highest heaven upon that principle because the Bible tells me so. I also know God hears and answers prayer and know all this, not only by the feeling I have of the inner witness of the Holy Ghost (not Holy Spirit, as they believe they are two separate entities), but also by the reliability of God’s word, the Bible, which declares it to be so. And I also know that because of my relationship with Christ he has changed my life, continues to bless me, and answers my prayers.” (You might want to give an example of the latter.)</blockquote>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
Be prepared that the
missionary will probably fudge through it well, may even smile and say
something to the effect that they accept your testimony. Nevertheless, say, “Well, since we both have testimonies about our own religions, how
are we to determine which one is correct?”
That’s when you say, the Bible has to be the yardstick, and take it
from there. Also point out that the Bible is not faulty through mistranslation
(as Mormons believe).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>DMM: What would you say to
someone enthralled in the Mormon faith?<o:p></o:p></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -8.85pt; margin-right: -8.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<strong>JH:</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Here are 4 options I have used
with individuals: You can say:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. “Do you believe that God’s truths are eternal, the same yesterday, today and forever?” (They usually say yes.) “Well then, how do you handle the idea that the church used to teach that, but now teaches that truth is changeable—that each president of the church can change revelations issued by past presidents who were considered prophets? How, then can you rely on a present truth being taught by the church, knowing a next president may change it?”</blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I often use this when I bump into missionaries because it plants a
seed of doubt: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2. “I understand the Book of Mormon is supposed to contain the “fullness of the gospel.” (They give me an excited yes.) “Well, if that’s so, if you can show me in the Book of Mormon where it teaches the same concept of God the Father as is taught in the church today, I’ll join your church.” (They usually say, still excited, “Well, we can’t put our finger on it right this minute, but give us your telephone number and we’ll call you with the answer and reference.”) Of course, I never receive that call because the Book of Mormon teaches the Christian concept of God (Joseph Smith hadn’t yet started teaching his more bizarre doctrines about the godhead). The Book of Mormon, in Alma 18:26-28, teaches God is a Spirit; Mosiah 15:1-4 teaches Jesus is God; and Alma 11:26-31 teaches against a plurality of gods, all of which is contrary to what Joseph Smith later taught and what the LDS Church believes today—which is: God is not a spirit, but a resurrected man from a previous world who earned his godhood; Jesus is not God, but a separate and distinct third member of the Godhead who was a literal offspring of God and one of his wives; and there is a plurality of gods consisting of all those in worlds past who earned their godhood.<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3. Actually, the best witnessing method is sharing what God has done in my life. Now, it cannot be a general statement like, “God blesses me every day” but something specific that resulted from a specific prayer.<br />
When my daughter was on her LDS mission (she’s now a Christian), she and her partner kept running into, as she called them, “those crazy, born-again Christians” who excitedly testified to specific things God had done in their lives. While she and her partner would give a polite response, inside their heads they were confused, thinking, “How can God be in this lady’s life when she doesn’t belong to the only true church?” That kind of witness by Christians, plus a few other things observed on her mission, brought my daughter out of the LDS Church.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
4. I ask a converted member: “Did you pray about the Book of Mormon?” They will say, “Oh yes. I know it’s true because I received a good feeling in my heart about it.”<br />
<br />
“Well, I answer, did you pray about its “contents” or its “origin” about Joseph Smith receiving it from an angel?” Their answer is “on the contents.”<br />
<br />
I then explain that there’s no question that the principles and concepts in the text of the Book of Mormon are true, because Joseph Smith plagiarized the United Presbyterian's Westminster Confession, used names influenced by the Book of Genesis, quoted over 18 chapters of Isaiah, the Ten Commandments, and portions from Deuteronomy, Malachi, and other parts of the Old Testament; also borrowed from Matthew, Mark, and Paul's writings, paralleling New Testament stories. Therefore, naturally the contents will ring true to your spirit and give you a confirming feeling. Therefore, it is not the content you should pray about, but the origin. And to be sure your own feelings won’t interfere, before you pray you should objectively research the Internet on the origin.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I also add: “Did you also know that according to the early church’s records, it wasn’t Moroni who was in charge of the plates, but a “toad” who changed itself into a “bloody Spaniard? His story was because he and his family relished pirates' tales that were prevalent in that day. Later, Smith said the messenger of the plates was not a toad, but "Nephi," (not "Moroni). (The first edition of the Pearl of Great Price states Nephi.) Later, Mormon officials became embarrassed by all of Smith's discrepancy, so changed both the History of the Church and the Pearl of Great Price to read "Moroni."</blockquote>
<b>END OF INTERVIEW</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: red;"><u>SPECIAL NOTE</u></span> to those who wish to make a comment in the comment box shown further below (it has a small icon with a pencil by it). If you want to hear back from me when you have a specific question, you'll have to include (within your message) your email address. Without it, I can only respond directly on my blog, which means you will have to revisit this page to see my response to your question.</b><br />
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COMMENTS:</b></u></span><br />
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Mary P. Nettles said...<br />
Jan, What a powerful testimony! Is it in the two books mentioned in t he interview? A biography or an autobiography? If so, How do I get a copy for my church library?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>RESPONSE</b></u></span>:<br />
Mary, I do not have my story in book form. However, it is printed out on my dashboard under "My personal story" at wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com (no dot after the www). All I can suggest is to copy and paste it onto your own computer, and then print it out and put a copy in your library. The only published books I have are the 2 mentioned in the interview. They are on Amazon. BTW, if you would like to be on my mailing list to receive an email announcement whenever I post a new article (about once a month), email me at janishutchinson@comcast.net and give me your email address.<br />
Blessings!<br />
Janis<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
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Janis</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Below is my article on the Mormon "Law of Adoption and Sealing of Men to Men,” including Joseph Smith’s revelation to set up an
earthly <i>Church of the Firstborn, </i>claimed to be an exact replica of the heavenly one mentioned in the Bible, plus much more. You’re going to
be surprised—maybe shocked is a better word. Definitely an eye-opener!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><u>My historical suspense novel, Ultimate Justice</u> is now published and on Amazon. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">I was inspired to write this book because of my years-ago encounter with a man who had escaped from a Virginia chain gang and was living in my town of Wendover, Utah under an alias. He became a member of the adult Sunday school class I was teaching back when I was still a member of the Mormon Church. His story, and what happened to him after that, was so poignant that I vowed that some day I would write about it. However, because I didn't know the details of his earlier life before his imprisonment, I had to take a lot of literary license--so much so, that I had to end up not calling it a true story but a novel, <span style="font-family: inherit;">a</span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> powerful story that probes the depths of one man's determination to fight for justice. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><u><b>Here's what the story is about</b></u><b>:</b></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">ULTIMATE JUSTICE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 6pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">Unjustly convicted in 1938 for the murder of his wife,
reporter Ed Bowman escapes the Virginia State Penitentiary and is in the race
of his life to catch the real killer and bring him to justice. With police
breathing down his neck, he tracks the killer to the small desert town of
Wendover, Utah. But when he finds the one piece of evidence that will bring him
to justice, a friend’s unexpected treachery and a betrayal by a Mormon leader
lead to his arrest and extradition back to Virginia leaving him with no hope
short of a miracle</b><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;">.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now,
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>THE MORMON LAW OF ADOPTION AND SEALING</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b> OF MEN TO MEN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The article contains the following:</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><u>SECTION 1</u> - Strange teachings of the early Mormon Church</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph Smith’s creation of an earthly <i>Church of the Firstborn, </i>separate from the
general LDS Church, including the bizarre “Law of Adoption”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith’s new
priesthood—<i>Patriarchal.</i> (higher than Melchizedek)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sealing
ritual of the new priesthood’s chain of command for eternity, consisting of <u>non-biological</u>
“Fathers” and “Sons.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <u>three</u>
phases of Smith’s temple endowment and what each consisted of.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Law of
Adoption’s ritual of sealing men to men. Was sex involved?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do today’s
Mormon Fundamentalists practice sex between men in their higher rituals?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Janis
Hutchinson’s personal experience with Fundamentalists’ and their higher
rituals.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Second
Endowment (<i>aka Second Anointing</i>) practiced in today’s LDS temples.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is the Law of
Adoption practiced today?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the
grand objective of Mormonism?</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">SECTION 2</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> - </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
Christian perspective of the <i>Church of the Firstborn</i> and the Law of
Adoption</span></span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible’s
definition of the <i>Church of the Firstborn</i>, mentioned in Heb. 10:22.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The biblical understanding of the Law of Adoption. How does it
differ from Joseph Smith’s version?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Mormon
understanding of the Fall and becoming children of God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s original
purpose for priesthood in the Old Testament.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Objective of the
Old Testament temple veil, and why the veil and priesthood were done away with
at Christ’s death.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
opening of the Holy of Holies and access to God.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">A few notes first</span><i><span style="color: blue;">:</span></i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. This article, when
referring to the early Mormon Church, will use ”Mormon Church” or “LDS
Church,” even though the name of the original church was “Church of
Christ” and went through a series of names before it became the name it
bears today. Capitalization of “Fathers” and “Sons” is not referring
to God or Jesus, but to depict special classifications assigned
to the male priesthood in the Law of Adoption.</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);">1</span></sup><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Much of the quoted
material of early church documents was gained from the publications of
Fred C. Collier, avid researcher and Mormon Fundamentalist. During the 1960s and 70s, he
and his wife acquired copies of church documents by smuggling them in and
out of the LDS Church Archives. Also included are insights from my own experience of LDS temple ritual, and having rubbed shoulders with Fundamentalists.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">THE MORMON CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN<i>,</i> LAW OF ADOPTION, SEALING OF MEN TO MEN, PRIESTHOOD POWER, AND GODHOOD</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjEAE1woB1F1MwLzrj8EYMa3ESIh_xasQwKfgKgG4A0PnzhRP5Kj5ExJb9DD4wF4Wyp2BCMvuPoxXmvTn82XVNVJQEfnFBsJ63_EN16REF8swK3rBFXVUAm0ctjduxgcXVT0SG0MLNm8/s1600/JOSEPH+SMITH+PICTURE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjEAE1woB1F1MwLzrj8EYMa3ESIh_xasQwKfgKgG4A0PnzhRP5Kj5ExJb9DD4wF4Wyp2BCMvuPoxXmvTn82XVNVJQEfnFBsJ63_EN16REF8swK3rBFXVUAm0ctjduxgcXVT0SG0MLNm8/s1600/JOSEPH+SMITH+PICTURE.jpg" width="148" /></a></span></div>
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<i>“Truly this is a day long to be remembered by the Saints of the last days—a day in which the God of heaven has begun to restore the ancient order of his kingdom unto…His people”</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Joseph Smith)<sup>9</sup></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">HOW DID THE DOCTRINE OF ADOPTION AND SEALING MEN TO MEN ORIGINATE</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue;">?</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The concept of this doctrine, along with
its temple-required ceremony, came from a revelation supposedly given to Joseph
Smith by God, and claimed to be a “higher understanding and order of the
Kingdom of God.”<sup>26</sup> Smith was to create an “earthly” <i>Church of the
Firstborn</i> patterned after the heavenly one, a separate organization from
the general church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith maintained that his revelation
revealed the “governmental structure” that existed in the heavenly <i>Church of
the Firstborn</i> mentioned in Hebrews 12:23, composed of the “<i>spirits of
just men made perfect</i>.” Coupled with his new revelation, he interpreted the
scripture to mean Mormon men who reached perfection and Godhood. To accomplish this would require the
following through a temple ritual that would include the Law of Adoption:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A higher priesthood: <i>Patriarchal,</i> instead of
Melchizedek.<br /><br />Boyd K. Packer, one of the 12 LDS Apostles, in his "<i>Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government,"</i> explains that the Patriarchal priesthood is not a separate priesthood but "a part of the Melchizedek Priesthood which enables endowed and worthy men to <u>preside over their posterity</u> in time and eternity."</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">11</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> (underlining mine) It is not to be confused with the calling of the Patriarch to the LDS Church.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plural marriage</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sealing of men to men in the Law of Adoption to form a
perfect hierarchal priesthood chain of command both on earth and in heaven.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Second Endowment, aka Second Anointing (versus the First
Endowment had by the general church).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Operate as an inner-circle organization, separate from the
general LDS Church’s organization</span>.<sup>2</sup></span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Second Endowment and Law of Adoption would enable
members of Smith’s <i>Church of the </i><i>Firstborn </i>to:</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">gain perfection</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">gain “full” salvation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">achieve exaltation (Godhood).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preside as a God and have dominion over their posterity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">enjoy joint heirship with Jesus Christ</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith’s new organization</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">would
guarantee membership not only in his earthly </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Church of the Firstborn,</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
but also in the heavenly </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Church of the Firstborn,</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> mentioned in Heb.
12:23. (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The biblical understanding of the Church of the Firstborn is found
in Endnote No. 48</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">)</span><br />
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<u><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMITH'S <i>CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN AND THE GENERAL CHURCH</i></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Fred C. Collier,
researcher and Fundamentalist, explains that the governmental setup of Smith’s
earthly <i>Church of the Firstborn</i> (separate from the general church) was
initiated and directed by <u>God, the Father</u>, but the regular LDS Church
was initiated and directed by <u>Jesus</u>. (Eventually, the belief was that
Adam was God their father.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u>The temple
ritual</u>:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> The general
church’s temple ritual consisted of the First Endowment, sealings of marriages
and the “Law of Consecration”; whereas, Smith’s </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">Church of the Firstborn</i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
included the Second Endowment, the Law of Adoption (sealing of men to men) and
the “Law of Total Commitment (explained later). </span><i style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Collier explains
how Smith’s earthly <i>Church of the Firstborn </i>was not to be confused with
the general church: (<i>Note: Where he refers to the “Church of Christ,” he
means the early Mormon Church since that was its original name</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">… others have confused the issue…by
assigning the ordinances of the one church to the other, thus they have failed
to comprehend the need for the other church and the full opportunities which
the Father has offered to man on this earth if he would obey His laws. Those
who are more informed however, know this to be incorrect; that these two names not
only refer to <i>different organizations</i>, but that their missions are also
different. … As <u>Christ's mission</u> is to bring man again into the presence
of the Father, so the Church of Christ [original name] is to <u>prepare</u> man
for the higher opportunities of <i><u>Exaltation</u></i> offered in the Church
of the <u>Father</u> [<i>Church of the Firstborn]</i>. In short, the Church of
Christ was established to prepare the saints for membership in the Church of
the Firstborn, which is the Celestial organization that will stand in eternity.<sup>3</sup> (Italics,
Colliers; brackets
and underlining mine.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">NO "FULL" SALVATION OUTSIDE JOSEPH SMITH'S </span><i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN</span></i></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">There
could absolutely be no salvation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom
unless one belonged to Smith’s <i>Church of the Firstborn</i> and entered into
the Law of Adoption and sealing of men. Brigham Young said the <i>Church of the
Firstborn</i> was “<i>the means of salvation to bring us back to God</i>.”<sup>4</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Joseph
Smith reiterated this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“The question is frequently asked, ‘Can we not be saved without
going through with <i>all those ordinances, &c.?’</i>(sic)<i> </i>I would
answer, No, not the <u>fullness</u> of salvation.”<sup>5</sup> (italics
the authors; underlining mine.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Collier defines the objective of “full” salvation as
obtained through Smith’s new church:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The purpose of it is to <i><u>exalt man</u></i><u> </u>through the
administration of its laws, doctrines and ordinances, that through the
principles of <i>Eternal/Celestial/Marriage</i>, <i>Adoption</i> and the <i>Endowment
Covenants</i>, men and women might be prepared to become <i>Gods</i> and <i>Goddesses</i>.
The Temple Ordinances - those having to do with the <u>family</u>, are, in
fact, the ordinances of the Church of the Firstborn.<sup>6</sup> (<i>Italics, Collier’s; underlining mine</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">(<i>The Bible says: “For
whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased</i>.” <i>Luke 14:11</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Joseph Smith
taught the necessity of entering into the Law of Adoption, and its new kind of
non-biological “family,” as a training program to learn how to be a God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">You
have got to <i><u>learn how to be Gods yourselves</u></i><span style="color: #2f393a;">
and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you,
namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to
a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you
attain to the </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/topics/resurrection?lang=eng"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; color: #2f393a; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; padding: 0in;">resurrection</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #2f393a;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2f393a;">of the dead, and are able to
dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in <u>glory</u>, as do those who sit <u>enthroned
in everlasting power</u>.<sup>7</sup> (emphasis mine) </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Joseph Smith, echoed by later leaders,
believed that only the salvation gained through his <i>Church of the Firstborn </i>would
bring “fullness of joy” (defined as exaltation of men to Godhood), plural
marriage and ability to produce children forever, a plan that originated in
eternity. Fred Collier explains:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It is the ultimate desire of
all mankind to obtain a <u>fulness of joy </u>in their existence. In the
eternities of the past it was discovered that a <u>fulness of joy was the
harvest of exaltation</u>, that exaltation can be won only through
organization, and that organization required government. It was in fulfillment
of [this need] …that the Church of the Firstborn and its governing authority
were established in the <u>eternities of the past</u>…to <u>exalt man</u>, that
he might obtain a fulness of joy in his existence…<sup>8</sup> (emphasis and
brackets mine.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Joseph Smith, excited over his new
doctrine, wrote in his journal on Jan. 6, 1842:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Truly this is a day long to be remembered by the Saints of the
last days—a day in which the God of heaven has begun to restore the <i>ancient
order of his kingdom</i> unto….His people—a day in which all things are
concurring to bring about the completion of the <u>fullness</u> of the Gospel…a
day in which those things begin to be made manifest, which have been hid <i>from
before the foundation of the world,</i> and which Jehovah has promised should
be made known in His own due time unto His servants, to prepare the earth <i>for
the return of His glory, even a celestial glory, and a kingdom of [Mormon]
Priests and Kings to God and the Lamb, forever, on Mount Zion, and with him the
</i>hundred and forty and four thousand <i>[D&C 77:11].</i><sup>9</sup> (underlining
mine)<i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</h3>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><u>MEMBERS OF THE </u><i style="text-decoration: underline;">CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN TO BE CALLED</i><u> “SAVIORS ON MT. ZION</u>"</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Individuals
attaining exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom would also bear the title of
“Saviors on Mt. Zion” because they had “redeemed the dead” through genealogical
work and vicariously did their temple work on earth. (This is a title now given
today to the general membership who effect their ancestors’ temple work.)
Brigham Young also referred to this genealogical work as “redeeming the dead.”<sup>10</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: none; color: red;"><span style="border: none;">This is not,<span style="border: none;"> of course, what the
Bible says. It says Jesus is the only one who, through the shedding of his
blood on the cross became qualified to “redeem” both the living and the dead
and obtain eternal redemption for us. </span></span></span><span style="border: none; color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“<i>With his own blood [not by
a temple ritual or by man]…he entered the Most Holy Place once <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">for all time and obtained
eternal redemption for us</span></i><span style="color: red;">.” Heb. 9:12. Brackets mine)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">SMITH'S NEW PATRIARCHAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE </span></u></b><i><b><u style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The new government would be ruled by men
holding a more distinguished priesthood, the “Patriarchal,” which would consist
of a family organization of men being sealed to each other in the Adoption
ritual (<i>comparable to a ceremony that seals husband to wife</i>). Each
family group would be headed by a Patriarchal “Father” over family groups of
“Sons” and their families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
</div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These “Fathers” and their “Sons” would
not necessarily be biological (detail later). These “Fathers” and “Sons,” along
with their families, would exist in a hierarchal (or pyramidal) method of
governmental structure to form an unbroken, priesthood chain of command from
man to man that would trace itself back to Joseph Smith, whom leaders referred
to as the God of this last dispensation, and then to Jesus Christ.<sup>12 &
16</sup> It would be like a family tree or genealogy chart, only not
biological. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CKQLPWCGKIBaAwtVlP1Un5eFVmGQDGMAW3cFeRLEVrtOpEXrODbxvXQcS0tfyDhyQBTC8WJ2i3nlJmiSz9ubTmS7cl4YTWNRhRCbime228JrACm0VTQX1Z1OqTxBR-0SXflvnSref_A/s1600/ADOPTION-FAMILYTREE%232images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CKQLPWCGKIBaAwtVlP1Un5eFVmGQDGMAW3cFeRLEVrtOpEXrODbxvXQcS0tfyDhyQBTC8WJ2i3nlJmiSz9ubTmS7cl4YTWNRhRCbime228JrACm0VTQX1Z1OqTxBR-0SXflvnSref_A/s1600/ADOPTION-FAMILYTREE%232images.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">LEADERSHIP OF SMITH'S <i>CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN </i>DIFFERENT FROM LEADERSHIP OF THE GENERAL CHURCH</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
patriarchal governing structure of Smith’s new organization was different from
the structure that existed in the general church. The general church was based
on the General Authorities, apostles, stake presidents, bishops, bishops and
wards. Members of the <i>Church
of the Firstborn </i>would no longer be subject to the General Authorities or
stake and ward leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Collier
explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The way the Prophet taught it, and the
way he originally intended it, <i>after a man received his endowments, Wards
and Stakes would cease to be a part of his life</i>. You would no longer have a
Bishop to whom you would go and ask for a Temple Recommend. You wouldn't be
going to your Bishop to pay tithing.<sup>14</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s
no room or need for Bishops – there’s no room or need for Stake Presidents –
your authority in the Priesthood comes through the family. If you need
ordinances done – if you need to have an Eternal Marriage done – if your
children need to have a Marriage Sealing, they go to their father or their
mother for the ordinances. Fathers and mothers administer the ordinances for
their children.”<sup>15</sup><o:p></o:p></span>(Collier’s emphasis)</div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><u>THE NEW SEALING RITUAL OF ADOPTION AND CONCEPT OF "FATHER," "SON," AND "FAMILY</u>"</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All
men holding the Patriarchal Priesthood in this fatherly organization, could
become both a non-biological “Father”—also a non-biological “Son to another man
higher up on the ladder. Many
men who were “Fathers” to families of “Sons” below them, also chose to become a
“Son” to church leaders, hoping to share in their adoptive father’s honor not
only in this life but the next. The sealings would be
established in the Adoption ritual contained only in the Second
Endowment/Anointing. The men also had to be married to one or more wives. (A
minimum of 3 was required, which would constitute a Quorum.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The procedure</span></b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A
man who wanted to be a “Father” would request another husband (more often
non-biological, but not always) to be adopted to him. The adopted husband would
then become the Father’s “Son.” “Sons”
would often take on the surname of their new “Father.”<sup>20</sup><b> </b>The more families of “sons” a man could accumulate as a
“Father” would be to his glory as a God and build up his kingdom to rule over
in eternity. It would also give him special status in this life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The “Sons’” wives were not only subject
to their own husbands as their God, but also to the adopted “Father” who was over her
husband.</span><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">22& </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup>32 </sup></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The men to men sealings always included the package of
the husband’s wife and children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wilford Woodruff, 4<sup>th</sup> Pres. of
the church, said that between 1834-1896 “I officiated in Adopting 96 Men to
men.”<sup>23</sup> Between 1834-1885, he said, “I had <i>45 Persons Adopted to
me."</i><sup>24</sup> Brigham Young was sealed to Joseph Smith as a “Son,”
and Young himself had 38 young men sealed to him as “sons.” John D. Lee had 19
young men and their wives adopted to him.<sup>25</sup><b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Between
1849 and 1854 the ‘waiting list’ of those desiring to join Brigham Young’s
family increased by 175 names.”<sup>21 & 22</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph
Smith said that every man who entered into the Law of Adoption would be…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">made a partaker of the <i>celestial glory</i> <b>in its fullness, </b>will
hold <i>lawful <b>jurisdiction</b> over his own children, and over <b>all the
families</b> which spring of them </i>to all generations, forever and ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By that law [of adoption] a <i>son is <b>subject</b> to his [new]
father <b>forever</b> and ever, worlds without end.</i><sup>19</sup><i> </i>(bolding,
<i>Millenial Star</i>; brackets and underlining, mine) <b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: none;"><span style="border: none;">Those
that are adopted into my family and take me for their counselor, if I co<span style="border: none;">ntinue faithfully I will preside over them throughout all
eternity. “I will stand at their head, and Joseph will stand at the head of
this Church and will be their president, prophet and god to the people in this
dispensation. (</span></span></span><i>See full quote in endnote 16</i><span style="border: none;">) </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="Default" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Jesus, of course, taught that no man should have
authority or dominion over another man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“Ye know that they which are
accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it
<u>not</u> be among you; <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">but whosoever will be great
among you, shall be your minister.” (Mark 10:45-45)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young
said on Nov. 30, 1862:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Under
the priesthood which is under the [Order of the] Son of God and the power of an
endless life, each father <b>being a son,</b> will always, <b>throughout time</b>
and eternity, <b>be subject to his father, as his king, dictator, father, Lord,
</b>and <b>God. </b>Each son in his own turn becomes a <b>father</b> and is
entitled to the <b>same obedience</b> from the line of his descendants.<sup>55</sup>
(bolding, Collier’s) <b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young
clarifies further:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the economy of heaven, Adoption is as vital as the marriage covenant. In fact,
neither the marriage or Adoption<b> </b>Covenant is valid independent of the
other. A woman cannot be legitimately sealed to a man <i>who is not himself
already sealed into the Family by adoption. </i>On the other hand, in order to
be adopted, a man must find two parents who are themselves already married in
the New and Everlasting Covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Together
both the Marriage and Adoption Covenant becomes the means of creating <i>a new
form of human government</i> – a government which the Prophet Joseph Smith
described as “<b><i>a Perfect Law of Theocracy”</i></b><i>. </i>The governing
power in this <i>theocratic order</i> is vested in the hands of parents, who
hold the <i>Fulness of the <b>Patriarchal Priesthood. </b></i>Through the
viable authority of this Priesthood parents stand <b>as God </b>to their own <b><i>Family
Kingdom</i></b>, holding all the Keys to administer “Endless lives” to their
sons and daughters.<sup>56</sup> (bolding, Collier’s) <b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
control that “Fathers” would exert would require complete submission in all
things by the “Sons” to the “Fathers.” The Father acted as counselor and
guardian with <u>full control </u>over the son’s estate in this life, including
his wives and children.<sup>18</sup></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The father may be either younger or older than the son, but in any case assumes the character of guardian, with <u>full control of the labor and estate</u> of the adopted son (<i>History of Utah; </i>underlining mine).<sup style="font-family: inherit;">17</sup><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgoZPNqyM0jwODxMXNWUvqSQprKtWVVferAxxugYMmupHYOQqqZX2VxdTvPKLIi3yirunzfhDjU2QZGSdE3AQJ74l93sVzWPKsTTEddFbR7w1UwmYyq0Hk3dMvKTVbyMH5YU23x0-I-c/s1600/ADOPTION-SUBMISSION-SEALG+MENimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgoZPNqyM0jwODxMXNWUvqSQprKtWVVferAxxugYMmupHYOQqqZX2VxdTvPKLIi3yirunzfhDjU2QZGSdE3AQJ74l93sVzWPKsTTEddFbR7w1UwmYyq0Hk3dMvKTVbyMH5YU23x0-I-c/s1600/ADOPTION-SUBMISSION-SEALG+MENimages.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="Default" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; text-align: center; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“An alliance with a powerful person is never
safe.” (Phaedrus)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(See also endnote 16 for the 12 apostles’ direct lineage to Abraham</i><b> </b><i>used to “ingraft” and seal
males to them who had previously forfeited temple rights by marrying Gentiles
but wanted blessings restored.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“No family could exist on an eternal
basis without entering into the Doctrine of Adoption.”<sup>26</sup>
Therefore, if church members wanted to gain salvation, become joint-heirs with
Christ, be exalted to the Celestial Kingdom, become Gods and have their family
for eternity, they were required to enter into the Patriarchal Order through
the sealing and Adoption ritual contained in the Second Endowment ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><u>WHEN DID SMITH'S ADOPTION SEALING OF MEN TO MEN START</u>?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The exact date the
adoptions officially started is unknown, but it is believed that Smith
initiated “certain trusted leaders into the adoptionary order as early as
1842,” so stated Gordon Irving who worked for the church’s Historical
Department.<sup>27</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">The adoptive sealing of men to men to take place in a special room<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
sealing of men to men in the early church was performed in a different location
in the temple than sealings of husbands to wives. In a sermon by Brigham Young,
as reported by John Read in a letter to one of his wives, Read explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">…Brigham
referred to some future time 'when <b><i>men would be sealed to men </i></b>in
the priesthood in <b><i>a more solemn ordinance than that by which women were
sealed to men,</i></b> and in <b><i>a room over that in which women were sealed
to man </i></b>in the temple of the Lord.<sup>28</sup> (emphasis the author’s)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether sex was involved between the
sealed men will be discussed further down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">WHAT DO SEALING RITUALS CONSIST OF IN TODAY'S LDS CHURCH</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue;">? </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith’s
Patriarchal priesthood and family organization, including adoption of men to
men is no longer practiced today. LDS ritual sealings for the general church
today, consist only of the sealing-marriage of live husbands and wives in a
temple ceremony known as the “First Endowment. (It is also performed vicariously for the dead; discussed
later.) The Second Endowment, however, is given to a select few. Whether it
includes the Law of Adoption and sealing of men to men is unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Today’s procedure for live marriages (aka sealings)</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wives
and husbands, immediately upon completing the general temple endowment (first
endowment), are sealed together (married) for eternity. This takes place in a
special sealing room in the temple by kneeling at an altar facing each other. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHsvGn1IbTuLz6ev8STTbb-dGBh1Sy204mpiNDNDMXau8HgA9XnjHu5RM_02u-TTJVU9R0MkGY_Eo0dtki5hvEf3-muiX6vQ5lZWFDro5ZCarE1rLLQXc7n4mSXWcIGQ4xBWaYRIG_sg/s1600/DALLAS+TX+SEALING+ROOM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHsvGn1IbTuLz6ev8STTbb-dGBh1Sy204mpiNDNDMXau8HgA9XnjHu5RM_02u-TTJVU9R0MkGY_Eo0dtki5hvEf3-muiX6vQ5lZWFDro5ZCarE1rLLQXc7n4mSXWcIGQ4xBWaYRIG_sg/s1600/DALLAS+TX+SEALING+ROOM.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Sealing room in Dallas, Texas</span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Across
the top of the altar, the man and woman join hands in a special clasp known as
the “Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Patriarchal Grip or “Sure sign
of the nail” (learned earlier in the Endowment). The officiator speaks words
over them and then pronounces them man and wife for all eternity, instead of
death do you part.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Children
born <u>after</u> that temple marriage are considered automatically “born under
the covenant” and do not have to have a later ritual to seal them to their
parents. However, if the couple was previously married in a civil ceremony
prior to their temple marriage and they already had children, those children
would need to be ritually sealed to them or they could not belong to the parents
in eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>The
mandate for children to be sealed to already civilly-married couples</u></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
necessity of this was stated by Orson Pratt, who declared that even if couples
had been married civilly prior to a later temple marriage and had children,
their children were still “bastards.” Therefore, children had to be ritually
sealed to their parents. He said:</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">…all the ordinances of the gospel administered by the world since
the apostasy [death of the last New Testament apostle] of the Church was
illegal, in like manner was the marriage ceremony illegal and all the world who
had been begotten [children] through the illegal marriage were Bastards, not
sons & hence they had to enter into the law of adoption & be adopted
into the Priesthood in order to become sons & legal heirs of salvation.<sup>29</sup>
<b>(</b>brackets mine.)<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><u>WHAT ABOUT MARRIAGES AND SEALINGS FOR THE DEAD</u>?</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
today’s LDS Church, the sealing ritual is performed vicariously for those who
are dead. Members do genealogical research to identify the vital statistics of
their biological ancestors, and then submit the names to the temple for
baptism, priesthood (for the men), the First Endowment ceremony, and
marrying/sealing of deceased husbands and wives, including their deceased
children. If a deceased man had other wives who were deceased before he took
his last wife, those wives would also be sealed to him because polygamy is part
and parcel of heaven. (A wife, however, can only be sealed to one man.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
main difference between today’s sealing ceremonies and the early church’s is
that the present LDS ceremony does not include the Second Endowment (aka Second
Anointing)—at least not for the general membership. The Second Endowment is
offered to a select few via a separate secret ceremony. Nor does it contain the
ordination of the Patriarchal priesthood, or sealing of men to men as in
Smith’s <i>Church of the Firstborn</i>.<sup>30</sup> (<i>See this endnote for
description and pictures of the First and Second Endowments</i>.)<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">THE "COVENANT" MADE IN SMITH'S LAW OF ADOPTION</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mormon
Fundamentalists tell us there was one particular covenant (among others) in
both the First and Second endowments based on the principle of<i> </i>total
commitment. The Second endowment’s covenant is similar, but not exactly. The
commitment participants make in <u>today’s</u> Endowment, called the <i>Law of
Consecration</i>, is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #202020; font-family: inherit;">You and
each of you covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at
this altar, that you do accept the Law of Consecration as contained in the
Doctrine and Covenants, in that you do consecrate yourselves, your time,
talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he
may bless you, to the <u>Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</u>, for
the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of
Zion. Each of you bow your head and say yes.<sup>31</sup> (<i>underlining
mine</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the Second endowment, however, participants consecrate everything to the
“Family,” consisting of all the men and their families they were sealed to.
Collier explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Total Commitment</i> is in fact <i>the</i>
<b><i>cardinal principle</i></b> <i>of the Church of the Firstborn</i>, and it
is through this concept and doctrine that the Church of the Firstborn is
created on an eternal basis, and through which the individuals therein become <b>united
as one</b>.<sup>33</sup> (emphasis, Collier’s)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Adoption Covenant [sealing of men to men] it was required
that the son consecrate <b><i>his whole being </i></b><i>to his </i>[new] <b><i>father
</i></b><i>and <b>mother</b>– and not only himself, but also his wife, his
children, his </i>time <i>and talents</i> and all that he <i>did <b>or ever
would possess.</b></i><sup>32</sup><b> </b>(<i>bolding and italics, Collier’s;
brackets mine</i>.)<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since,
in the early church, there were 3 phases to the endowment, this Total
Commitment to the “Father” and “Mother” was not given until phase 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><u>THE THREE PHASES IN SMITH'S TEMPLE ENDOWMENT OF TOTAL COMMITMENT</u> </span><sup style="text-decoration: underline;">34</sup></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Smith’s First
Endowment temple ordinances for the <i>Church of the Firstborn</i>, there were
2 phases, or levels, before one could advance and receive the 3<sup>rd</sup> phase, which was the Second Endowment/aka Second Anointing, wherein one’s calling and election is made <u>sure </u></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(a take off from 2 Pet.
1:10),</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and membership is
guaranteed in the heavenly </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Church of the Firstborn</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;">34</sup></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">1<sup>st</sup> Phase</span></u></b>: This consisted of the general First
Endowment today’s members are familiar with, where one is washed with water and anointed with oil—pronouncing men to "eventually become” Priests and Kings to the <u>Most
High God</u>.<span style="font-size: large;">*</span> The women are anointed to eventually become Queens and
Priestesses to their husbands. One might ask, “Why doesn't the pronouncement over women promise them to become
Queens and Priestesses to the Most High God like the men?” Because a wife’s
husband will become her God in the hereafter and she must worship him instead. Participants also
receive the sacred “(under)garment of the Holy Priesthood” with its Masonic
markings (explained below).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span> <i>Most High God </i>may (or may not) be interpreted to mean the highest God in the sealing chain of priesthood command, rather than
Jehovah God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham Young did make this defense about
men being made a God:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“This will not detract anything from the
glory and might of our Heavenly Father, for he will remain our Father, and we
shall still be subject to him and as we progress in Glory and Power, it the
more enhances the glory and power of our Heavenly Father. ”<sup>58 </sup><o:p></o:p></span>(<i>In other words, the extent of God's glory and power depends upon the Mormon Gods below him</i>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>The Masonic influence</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The undergarment bears the obvious
imprint of Freemasonry, with the “V” on the left breast (referred to in the
early church as “The Compasses” and a reverse “L” on the right breast (referred
to as “The Square”). Today’s garments carry the same, including the horizontal
marks at the navel and over the right knee).<sup>57</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the 1st phase, participants are given the First and
Second Tokens of the Aaronic Priesthood, with their passwords, names, signs and
penalties, and also the <u>First</u> Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Sign
of the Nail, with its name, “The Son,” all with secret handclasps, passwords,
penalties and signs. However, the <u>second</u> token of the Melchizedek
Priesthood, with its "name," is not yet given.<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first 1<sup>st</sup> phase also includes
the “<b>Law of Consecration</b>” <b>to the Mormon Churc</b>h (quoted earlier), same as
contained in today’s LDS Endowment. Phase 1 of</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the temple
endowment was an “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">introduction”</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to the 2</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: inherit;"> phase, after which participants were then </span><em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: normal;">placed in a </span></em><em style="font-family: inherit;">probationary
state</em><em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> to give time to learn how to live the </span></em><em style="font-family: inherit;">Law of Consecration </em><em style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: normal;">before progressing to
the 2<sup>nd</sup> phase.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">2<sup>nd</sup> Phase</span></u></b>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If proved worthy
over a period of time to the covenants and the “Law of Consecration” in phase 1, the person returns to the temple and receives the 2<sup>nd</sup>
phase. It contains everything in the 1<sup>st</sup> phase, but this time they are given the <b>Law of
Total Commitment to the “Family</b>,” sealing of men to men, and the <i><u>Second</u>
Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal grip, Sure Sign of the
Nail</i>, with its “<i>name.</i>” (The “name” of the Second token is also
included in the present-day church’s temple ceremony).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Collier explains the Law of Adoption: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through the
principle of Total Commitment as it is implemented in the Endowment of the 4th
Token,* you enter into <i>family relationships</i> and <i>create
an eternal union</i>. This union is a lot deeper than what you have in a Stake
with your Bishop or Stake President - through the covenant of the Endowment of
the 4th Token, you begin to build an <i>eternal family relationship</i>.”<sup>6</sup>
(emphasis, Colliers; brackets mine)
</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">*The
second token of the Melchizedek priesthood was often referred to as the 4<sup>th</sup>
token—two for the Aaronic priesthood and two for the Melchizedek.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At
the temple veil, which to many represents death, participants receive the "name" of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood by way of an embrace copied
from the Masonic ritual called the “five points of a fellowship.” (Today, the
fellowship embrace has been removed and consists only of each participant’s
hand touching the others’ shoulder.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The following is the “name of the second
token (aka 4<sup>th</sup>) of the Melchizedek priesthood, Patriarchal Grip or
Sure Sign of the Nail: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Health
in the navel, marrow in the bone, strength in the loins and in the sinews, <u>power
in the priesthood be upon me and upon my posterity through all generations of
time and throughout all eternity</u>.</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-style: normal;">The first part of the sentence is obviously necessary
in producing children for eternity. The second part, the predominance of the
priesthood over all participants and their posterity in eternity, is apparent and
reminiscent of Smith’s </span>Church of the Firstborn’s</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> family government chain of command, where all
families will be under the dominion and rule of many Patriarchal priesthood
holders.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-style: normal;">At completion of Phase 2, participants are placed in another probationary state to
give them time to learn how to live the Total
Commitment principle before they can progress to the 3<sup>rd</sup> phase,
which will <u>secure</u> and guarantee their position in the heavenly </span></em><em>Church of the Firstborn,</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> and be ordained to the “</span></em><em>Eternal
Godhead</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>3</u><sup>rd </sup></span><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Phase:</span> Second Endowment (aka Second anointing) and ordination to the “</u><i style="text-decoration: underline;">Eternal
Godhead</i></b><b>”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The following is acquired in the 3<sup>rd</sup>
phase of this Endowment (not necessarily in this order):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><br />
<ol><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Participants are qualified and confirmed as members of both
the earthly and heavenly </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Church of the Firstborn</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">One’s Calling and Election is “made sure.”</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their Calling and Election qualifies participants to receive
the Second Comforter, which is a personal manifestation of Christ.</span></li>
</span></ol>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When and if they receive a visit from the Savior, he will manifest God the Father to them and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">participants can see God’s face and live. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">(This is, of course, contrary to what God told Moses Ex. 33:20).</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> If Christ’s visit happens, the special privilege itself is supposed to doubly confirm their Calling and Election.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph Smith said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ himself…</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">[who will] attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even he will manifest the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith, pp. 150-151.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul></ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">However, the biblical way to confirm one's Calling and Election is explained in 2 Pet. 10:3,5-7.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;">"Wherefore, <i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i></span><i style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure sure: for <u>if </u></i><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><u>ye do these things</u></span></i><u style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"> (listed in next paragraph)</span></u><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;">,ye shall never fail</span></i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">.” (2 Peter 10:10)</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">[by] "adding your DILIGENCE...employ[ing] every effort in exercising your FAITH to develop VIRTUE (excellence, resolution, Christian energy)...KNOWLEDGE (intelligence)... SELF-CONTROL ...STEADFASTNESS (patience, endurance)... GODLINESS PIETY...BROTHERLY AFFECTION and...CHRISTIAN LOVE." (emphasis mine.) </span></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited]</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">to <u>life and godliness</u>.”</span></i><span style="color: red;">[not Godhood] </span></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> (2 Pet. 1:3) Brackets mine.</span></i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. The husband’s marriage to his wife, and/or wives, is sealed by the “Holy Spirit of Promise” and “made sure,” guaranteeing their marriage in the hereafter, along with their children, all of whom will remain as a family unit in the Celestial Kingdom forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">This is not how one receives
the Holy Spirit of Promise. The Bible says it is given, not as a temple ritual,
but when one hears the biblical “gospel” and is “saved,” both terms defined in
I Corinthians and Ephesians further below, and receives salvation. Believers
then receive the Holy Spirit of Promise:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">And you also were included in
Christ when you <u>heard the message of truth</u>, the <u>gospel</u> of your salvation. <u>When you believed</u>, you
were <u>marked</u> in him with a <u>seal</u>, the <u>promised Holy Spirit</u>. (Ephes. 1:13,
NIV.)</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text1cor-15-1"><span style="color: red;">Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; </span></span><span class="text1cor-15-2"><span style="color: red;">By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. </span></span><span class="text1cor-15-3"><span style="color: red;">For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; </span></span><span class="text1cor-15-4"><span style="color: red;">And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures. (I Cor. 15:1-4)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Participants are ordained as Kings, Priests, Queens,
Priestesses. (The earlier Endowment only anointed them to eventually become
such.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Husband and wife, and/or wives, are </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">ordained to the
Eternal Godhead</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of the future worlds they will be in charge of. Below are
examples of those in the early church who received this.</span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Joseph Smith, in his diary (also in Wilford
Woodruff’s private journal) states that he and his wife, Emma, four months
after having their First Endowment marriage, were “<u>anointed & ord[ained]
to the highest and holiest order of the priesthood</u>…”and <u>ordained to the eternal
Godhead</u>.<sup>35</sup> (underlining mine) </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In 1844, Heber C. Kimball and his wife received this
anointing (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">recorded in the Book of Anointings, in the Church Archives which
lists all recipients of the Second Anointing in the Nauvoo Temple</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">). Kimball
and his wife were promised the “blessing of the Holy reserection (sic), Even to
the </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Eternal Godhead</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">.” The church’s “Book of Anointings” also records
that Brigham Young was blessed that he would “attain unto [the] Eternal
Godhead,” as was his wife, Mary Ann.</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;">36</sup><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (underlining mine) (See
article on the Second Anointing at </span><a href="http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/ceremony.pdf" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/ceremony.pdf</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">)
For an occurrence of this Second Endowment anointing in today’s church, see
former Stake President Tom Phillips’ account at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l/DAQFbd11H/www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon508.htm" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3b5998;">http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon508.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">)</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: none;"><span style="border: none;">This Second Endowment also includes the husband and wife going into a special room, aka the Bridal <span style="border: none;">Chamber. There, the wife washes the husband’s feet, and anoints her husband’s head, stomach and feet. She dries his body with her required (at that time) long hair. She also pronounces a blessing upon him.</span></span></span><span style="border: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While this portion of the second anointing is referred to in historical records as the washing and anointing of <i>feet</i>, the records indicate that portions of the body other than the feet were washed and anointed as well. One record speaks of anointing the feet, head, and stomach; <span style="background: white;">another speaks of being washed and anointed "from head to foot.”</span><sup>51</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Its significance is related to the resurrection of the dead. She anoints her husband in her capacity as priestess to her husband, who is her Lord and will, in fact, be her God. The early church taught that that Mary of Bethany was one of Jesus’ wives, and the bodily anointing was preparation for his burial and resurrection. The church felt it important to include in their ritual because Jesus said it should be a memorial forever. The husband/God will also be the one to call the wife forth at the resurrection by her new name received in the temple. (See my article, “The Mormon Temple Ceremony” at <span style="background: white;">http://tinyurl.com/p7lk8sp)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="border: none;">In the early church it is believed that sexual intercourse by married couple was performed in the Holy o<span style="border: none;">f Holies.</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
if someone sins after receiving the Second Endowment? Orson Pratt answered:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “[T]he Saint who has been sealed unto eternal
life and falls in transgression and does not repent, but dies in his sin, will
be afflicted and tormented [meaning, in hell] after he leaves this vale of
tears until the day of redemption; but having been sealed with the spirit of
promise through the ordinances of the house of God, those things which have been sealed upon his head
will be realized by him in the morning of the resurrection.<sup>53</sup>
(brackets, mine)</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="color: blue;">WAS SEX INVOLVED IN THE SECOND ENDOWMENT SEALING BETWEEN MEN</span></u></b><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNwODfi882Hta8QOWnqOFsXhOx-4TsEOI5lJcL2xxtnDI0r0pMBquggzaidYQBxvQEb-vYcz6-D2NtDEmj8X-l0Ni53d5liHqmmTGRpYplIq4aD7ypKDpMWgWRgMdlNmQaWrgQ9KkEEw/s1600/ADOPTION-MANHUGGINGMAN%232images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNwODfi882Hta8QOWnqOFsXhOx-4TsEOI5lJcL2xxtnDI0r0pMBquggzaidYQBxvQEb-vYcz6-D2NtDEmj8X-l0Ni53d5liHqmmTGRpYplIq4aD7ypKDpMWgWRgMdlNmQaWrgQ9KkEEw/s1600/ADOPTION-MANHUGGINGMAN%232images.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is believed, also contained in
other books, that in the early church’s <i><u>First</u></i> Endowment, temple
marriages were consummated by the newly <u>married</u> husband and wife. It is
also believed (although no proof) that the <u>Second</u> Endowment also
consisted of the already-married husband and wife consummating their new union
in a special room, aka Bridal Chamber, in the temple. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, in the sealing
of men to men, it has been suggested that this may also have been the case. In
recent times, in the Fundamentalist group, <i>Church of Christ Patriarchal,</i>
led by John Bryant, this was practiced. (more later).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandra Tanner noted:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although we have not
found any evidence that immoral activities were involved in the sealing of men
to men, the practice certainly could have opened a door for those predisposed
to homosexual temptations. It seems obvious that the men who were sealed to one
another were likely to have closer contact with one another than those who did
not enter into the practice. (We do know that in recent times some missionaries
who were constantly in close contact with their companions yielded to
homosexual activities and were sent home from their missions.)<sup>37</sup><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><sup><br /></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham
Young’s grandson, Kimball Young made this statement:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: none;"><span style="border: none;">There
are obviously latent homosexual features in this idea and its cultural aspect
has many familiar parallels in other religions. … This is true of armies; it is
true of priestly orders in all religions; and certainly in man<span style="border: none;">y aspects of the occupational guides of the Middle Ages.</span></span></span><sup><span style="border: none;"><span style="border: none;">38</span></span></sup><span style="border: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In more recent
times, Gay Mormons hoped to obtain approval from the LDS Church to restore the
Law of Adoption and be sealed to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the 1970s, some members of Affirmation: Gay and
Lesbian Mormons<span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="apple-converted-space">suggested</span> that the LDS Church
should restore the law of adoption so that same-sex couples<span class="apple-converted-space"> could
</span>be sealed to each other in the temple. The LDS Church didn’t
respond. The group, in 1985, established the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Church_of_Jesus_Christ" title="Restoration Church of Jesus Christ"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Restoration Church
of Jesus Christ</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(commonly referred to as
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Gay
Mormon Church</i>) and the First Presidency of <u>that</u> church restored the
Law of Adoption, citing it as the theological justification for their practice
of homosexual<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_marriage" title="Celestial marriage"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">celestial marriage</span></a>, and
practiced same-sex marriage. (underlining mine).<sup>39</sup><b> </b><span style="border: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading7">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><u>DO FUNDAMENTALIST GROUPS TODAY PRACTICE SEX BETWEEN MEN IN THEIR SECOND ENDOWMENT</u>? - (JANIS HUTCHINSON'S STORY)</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This section is not to suggest that everything I'm going to describe below with some Mormon Fundamentalists is what actually took place in the early church endowment; only that sex is a potent symbol for religious ritual and many succumb to it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
first inkling I had of this possibility was when I was held prisoner years ago
by a Fundamentalist group (see <b><span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/crrxuvz">http://tinyurl.com/crrxuvz</a>). </span></b><span style="background: white;">The</span> leader brought me old books and manuscripts dating to the early
church to read that had been carefully handed down within Fundamentalist
circles. I read descriptions that heavily suggested sex between men was
involved in the temple. Unfortunately, once I finished reading them the leader
took them back, so I don’t have the names of the books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
later discovered that the inner circle of the Fundamentalist group, <i><span lang="EN">Church of Christ Patriarchal</span></i><span lang="EN">, led by John Bryant,
practiced sex between men at one of its higher rituals. Lesbianism was also indulged in.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my story of how I first found out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">I moved to St. George, Utah and attended Bryant’s general meetings with my
mother who had been attending for some time. It was a general understanding in the group that there was advancement for members into higher levels. The first level (when becoming a member) was the <i>Aaronic; </i>the second level, <i>Melchizedek;</i>
the third level, <i>Patriarchal.</i> The latter level was supposed to consist of the same rituals as practiced by Joseph Smith. (<i>I assume, at this writing, he was referring to the Second Endowment</i>) Bryant claimed that he received them from the deceased Joseph Smith himself. (<i>He claimed visitations from many deceased LDS Church and Bible notables.</i>)<i> </i>In my ignorance at the time, I assumed his higher rituals were the same as the general endowment of the LDS Church. (I had been
married in the temple.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">Now, some of
you may have a problem with what I’m going to tell next if you don’t believe in
“<i>God-dreams</i>” (where God reveals something one could not possibly have known
beforehand). But that’s okay; you can take it or leave it. I was used to
having precognitive dreams, so I considered this dream a revealling warning of the evil that was
going on in the group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">In my dream I was looking through a dark veil. On the other side of the veil I could see Bryant and his inner-circle, few elite men and their wives involved in a ritual. Each man
was taking turns having sex with each others’ wives. Then I saw something like an
organizational flow-chart that explained, from Bryant's perspective, of how, priesthood-wise, he and the
other men were collectively considered “the bridegroom” and all the wives were
considered the collective “bride.” If all men were a single “bridegroom,” therefore,
all wives were also like a single "bride" and belonged to all the collective bridegrooms. This gave the men the right to have sex
with any of the wives. There was more to it, but this will suffice. (<i>Note: At this point, I had never read anything about similar rituals with the Gnostics, Masonry or other false religions until years later, so this was completely new to me.</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">Upon awakening, I immediately wrote down a
copy of the flow-chart and the explanation and made an appointment with Bryant, prepared to show it to him and see if it was true. (I<i> had easy access to him because a close relative of mine
was one of his plural wives. She was 40+ years older than Bryant and the
understanding was that their marriage was for eternity only and they would not live together nor have sex. Just marriage in name only. However, after the ceremony, Bryant explained to her that when marriage for eternity takes place, first-time
sex would be required in order to “seal” the marriage.) </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">At my meeting with Bryant, I didn’t tell him at first that I’d
received the information in a dream. I showed him my chart, illustrating his Patriarchal priesthood ritual of who constituted the Bridegroom and Bride and asked, “<i>Is this going on?</i>”
Shocked, he stared at the chart, then at me with his mouth hanging open, then asked, “<i>How could you know this? How did you find out?</i>” I answered, “<i>God showed me in a
dream</i>.” His reaction? He became absolutely delighted! He assumed that because God gave me a dream about it, it was a confirmation of its truthfulness and I should be willing to join his third level and participate. I left, saying, “<i>No thank you.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">Some time later, my mother and I heard that Bryant's temple ordinance book was stolen and a copy given to the LDS Church archives in Salt Lake City. (<i>The book was later nicknamed by others in Fundamentalist circles as the "Black Ordinance Book," named after Robert Black who stole the book.)</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
We traveled to the archives and read the manuscript (filed under "The Bryanites"). At first, the librarian, an elderly man, was hesitant to let us read it because we were females (<i>he obviously knew its contents</i>), so we had to concoct a valid-sounding story as to why we needed to read it. The book was so voluminous, we were there 7 hours--only able to read fast in order to get it done in a day. We both took notes.</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: inherit;">Bryant’s book described the exchange of wives in the
bridal chamber with the "bridegroom" and "bride" explanation that exactly depicted what I saw in my
dream. There was also naked praying, rituals where bodily fluids of both men
and women were drunk as a Eucharist commemorating Christ’s passion (<i>Years later, I found out that the first
century Gnostics did this in their rituals, (the Gospel of Phillip makes coded references to it.) And years later
I saw a PBS documentary describing the Gnostics' practice of this.)</i> Bryant's book
also contained homosexual rituals, which I certainly won't describe here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the book, the concept that sex (as in pagan rites) was the ultimate religious
expression was promoted. (</span><i>Every false religion from the time of the Old Testament and on has engaged in sexual activity, supposedly symbolic of spiritual principles.</i>) <span style="font-family: inherit;">The altar of the temple, where the males worshiped, was not an
item of furniture but the woman herself, suggesting that intercourse took place
in the temple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">The passwords described in Bryant</span>’<span lang="EN">s book were all four letter words, </span><span lang="EN">explained in the endowment as </span>“<span lang="EN">power words</span>”<span lang="EN"> which society had perverted. The whole thing
was sickening<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>to read. In
fact, the male librarian, who knew its contents, would periodically walk over
to our table, concerned about two women reading it, and ask, </span>“<i><span lang="EN">Are you okay?</span></i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">Years later, upon researching Masonry, I saw similarities
in Bryant</span>’<span lang="EN">s rituals to the old French Masonic rituals. In the upper degrees of Masonry (<i>Joseph Smith was a
Mason and transferred much of it into his rituals</i>), practically all their
symbols (square and compass with the </span>“<span lang="EN">G</span>”<span lang="EN"> in the middle, the point within a circle, the triangle and hexagram),
related to male and female sex (see endnote). Lower degree Masons were given a
different, more acceptable, interpretation, but in the higher, they got the
full Monty. The French also had a </span>“<span lang="EN">Rite of Adoption</span>”<span lang="EN"> into their Masonic order when they decided to
allow females to be initiated.<sup>40</sup></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">After reading Bryant</span>’<span lang="EN">s book,
and also remembering Bryant boasting that he had the same endowment Joseph
Smith had, my mother and I heard, through the Fundamentalist grapevine, that he<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>copied
much of the sexual rituals from Fred Collier’s research taken from archived LDS church manuscripts of the early
church’s endowment. If Bryant’s rituals were indeed the same as Joseph Smith’s, I wanted to confirm this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wrote to
Collier and asked him. He responded by denying any sexual ordinances in church
manuscripts as Bryant describes, but did make reference to his research of the
Second Anointing, saying sexual activity “may” have been engaged in. (<i>As an active Fundamentalist, I</i><i>’</i><i>m sure he wouldn</i><i>’</i><i>t reveal this or say anything
to make the early church look bad, even if he does, as a Fundamentalist,
believe the present-day church is in apostasy</i>)<i>.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nevertheless, he made this interesting
statement in his letter back to me:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In connection with this, you may be interested to know
that the sealing altar in the Salt Lake Temple was originally covered with
phalic (sic) symbols - this was so until the present day leaders discovered its
symbolical meaning, whereupon they had it removed from the Temple.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoBlockText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All the
above is not to suggest that the early church</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">s temple endowment did indeed
practice sex comparable to the Gnostics or John Bryant</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">s rituals. Even if suspected, there
is no proof. However, I feel that sex between "married couples"probably took
place in the temple. Again, I can</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">t prove it. Husbands and wives who later leave the LDS
Church and</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> participated in today's Second Endowment and mention the "room" they went into,
never give</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">all</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the
details of what went on when they were alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether today's other
Fundamentalist organizations practice the sex between men can</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">t be proved either. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> They certainly wouldn’t admit it.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> John Bryant's group may have been the only one.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">PROBLEMS THAT LED TO THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE LAW OF ADOPTION</span></u></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The gradual awareness that adoption of a
man and his family to a high-ranking family in the church gave one a special
status that not all enjoyed, grew into resentment and jealousy by
others. And when it came to the sealing ceremony, some bumped heads because
both men wanted to be the “Father.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“Unlimited power corrupts the
possessor.” (William Pitt)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An
issue in <i>BYU University Studies </i>explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="quote" style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Adoption
as a system of social organization was troubled not only by fathers who
demanded too much of their sons, but also by some of the children who in turn
expected too much from their fathers…In theory the importance of adoption lay
in the validation of one's sonship in the family of God. But some were more
interested in being fathers and exercising authority over others than they were
in being sons of God. Kingdom-building, or the gathering together of a large
number of people over whom one could rule in eternity, enjoyed a good deal of
popularity. Brigham Young complained: were I to say to the elders you now have
the liberty to build up your kingdoms, one half of them would lie, swear, steal
and fight like the devil to get men and women sealed to them. They would even
try to pass right by me and go to Jos[eph]…"<sup>41</sup><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKi3eYzEDaUJkj2UEQnS9fw_6QpfcxFWnCG1xpLMs0sOL5WWxeZkstbA2T_N79ngm4QHkPQhKqdKjUT4jyZQHQB4L6YcpC2EnZHtphSa19E3VLBo7AgOFze7m3Doxrjw1XWZ60HF9HBg/s1600/ADOPTION-MEN-MEN-FIGHTINGimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKi3eYzEDaUJkj2UEQnS9fw_6QpfcxFWnCG1xpLMs0sOL5WWxeZkstbA2T_N79ngm4QHkPQhKqdKjUT4jyZQHQB4L6YcpC2EnZHtphSa19E3VLBo7AgOFze7m3Doxrjw1XWZ60HF9HBg/s1600/ADOPTION-MEN-MEN-FIGHTINGimages.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">WHEN DID THE DOCTRINE OFFICIALLY END</span></u></b><b><span style="color: blue;">? </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brigham
Young and Wilford Woodruff (who later became the 4<sup>th</sup> President of
the Church), were at odds with each about the doctrine of sealing men to men,
with Woodruff claiming he had a revelation to do away with it. Therefore, in
1894, Wilford Woodruff, along with other church officials, publicly renounced
the doctrine. From then on, temple sealings were to consist only of men being
sealed to their biological father and biological ancestors. This continues in
today’s church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>The resulting dilemma</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After
doing away with the doctrine and focusing only on sealing individuals to their
own lineage, a dilemma arose because double sealings now existed. Men had been
sealed to non-biological fathers, but now were being sealed to their biological
fathers. <i>Whose kingdom in heaven were they to be in? Who would be their God?
Which families would they be God over?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gordon Irving, who worked in the Church Historical Dept, explains
how the dilemma was handled:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only real problem was what to do about the more than 13,000
souls<i>,<b> </b></i>most of them dead, who had already been adopted to persons
other than their natural parents. After some consideration the First Presidency
and the Twelve ruled that these people should be sealed to their own parents
but that the old records should be left standing. Any possible problems would
be straitened out in the hereafter."<sup>42</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">“</span><u><span style="color: blue;"><i>POWER IN THE PRIESTHOOD</i>" STILL DOMINANT</span><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though the
ordaining to the Patriarchal priesthood and sealing of non-biological men to
men in the Law of Adoption was discontinued, “Power in the Priesthood” was, and
still is, the focus in today’s temple ceremony. The priority of
priesthood is evidenced by “priesthood” being indelibly stamped on everything in the rituals—the name of the sacred undergarment, “<i>Garment
of the Holy Priesthood,</i>” including all covenants, handclasps and tokens
made in the names of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. The very last
ritual given at the temple veil also pertains to the priesthood, which will now
be discussed in more detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">THE RITUAL AT THE VEIL</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
following is a very “brief” description of what occurs at the veil of the
temple.<sup>44</sup> (<i>See endnote for videos and articles on the temple
ceremony</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Terrestrial room, a
lecturer explains the markings on the veil, giving very biblical-sounding
definitions to the Masonic emblems of the square and compass which also
appears on the participants’ sacred undergarment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
lecturer concludes with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brethren
and sisters, these endowments as herein administered, long withheld from the
children of men, pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times and have
been revealed to prepare the people for exaltation.<sup>59</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brethren
and sisters, strive to comprehend the glorious things presented to you this
day. No other people on earth have ever had this privilege, except as they have
received the keys of the priesthood given in the endowment.<sup>52</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These
are what are termed the mysteries of godliness—that which will enable you to
understand the expression of the Savior, made just prior to his betrayal: “This
is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou has sent.<sup>52</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When
the participants go to the veil, they are required to recite the previous
passwords, tokens, names and handclasps of the Aaronic and Melchizedek
priesthoods they have learned so far, all of which are to enable
participants, after they die, to pass by the angels who guard the gates into
heaven that pertain to exaltation (also a Gnostic belief). If you forget them,
you’re out of luck. While it isn’t verbally stated in the Endowment about
passing by the angels, Brigham Young taught it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="indent" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Your
endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which
are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk
back to the presence of the Father, <u>passing the angels who stand as
sentinels</u>, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens,
pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of
earth and hell.<sup>43</sup> (<i><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Journal of Discourses</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>2:31.
(emphasis, mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="indent" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="indent" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444;">It is also in the <i>Doctrine and Covenants:</i></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="indent" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="indent" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">[those
who enter into eternal marriage and remain worthy, “shall pass by the angels,
and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things,
as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and a
continuation of the seeds forever and ever” (D&C 132:19).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although participants have
been given the name of the First token (the Son) of the Melchizedek priesthood,
Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail, they have not yet been given the
“name” for the <u>Second </u>Token. The veil is where they are to receive it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">The procedure<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A male worker behind the
white veil representing the Lord, projects his hand through a slit so
participants can be quizzed on all the tokens, handshakes, passwords, signs and
names received up to that point. Then they are given the “name” of the Second
Token of the Melchizedek priesthood. That name, which is one’s passport into the
highest heaven, emphasizes what the dominant feature the Celestial Kingdom is
to be predicated upon—<i>Priesthood power. </i>The name of Christ isn’t even
mentioned at the veil as being necessary to enter heaven. Here it is again:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">
<em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal;">Health in the
navel, marrow in the bone, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in
the priesthood be upon me and upon my posterity through all generations of time
and throughout all eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once
the “name” is learned, the person is allowed to pass through the veil and enter
a room that represents the Celestial Kingdom in heaven. Nothing happens in that
room. The ceremony is over, unless there are marriages to perform. Those are
held in rooms adjacent to the Celestial room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">According
to God’s word in the Bible, none of this ritual is required to enter God’s
celestial heaven; only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, being Born Again,
receiving the Holy Spirit, being adopted into his family, and remaining
faithful to the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;">One
would think that the final name of the Second Melchizedek priesthood,
supposedly providing entrance into the Celestial Kingdom, would be a worded
declaration by the participant of humble gratitude, acknowledging that he or
she is privileged to enter heaven only because of Jesus’ redemptive work on the
cross—certainly not via any priesthood the Bible says was done away with at
Christ’s death and resurrection.</span> <span style="color: red;">(<i>See
section entitled, </i>“<i>The Biblical Purpose of the Old Testament Priesthood
and the Veil in Jewish Temples</i>.”)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><u>IS THE SECOND ENDOWMENT'S LAW OF ADOPTION SECRETLY PRACTICED IN LDS TEMPLES TODAY BY ELITE MEMBERS</u></span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">?</span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only thing I know is that it is not
practiced by the general membership. Nevertheless, the Second Endowment, aka
Second Anointing, is still practiced by a select few. That fact makes me wonder
if the doctrine of Adoption may also be included. If not, at least by the
General Authorities. There is no proof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore,
the Adoption of men to men today, remains speculative. (See former Stake
President Tom Phillip’s account of receiving the Second Endowment [he later
left the church]. (<i>See endnote No. 60</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph
Smith’s implementation of a <i>Church of the Firstborn</i> with its Patriarchal
Priesthood, unique governmental structure, doctrine of Adoption of men to men,
and its Law of Total Commitment, was looked upon as the “Perfect Law of a
Celestial Theocracy.” So central and vital was this level of commitment that no
“family could exist on an eternal basis without it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF MORMONNISM</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
entire purpose of the church and its temple rituals is to promote the
following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Power
in the male priesthood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Plural
marriage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Being
sealed in the Law of Adoption<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Priesthood
dominion over others who will constitute their kingdom both on earth and in
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Receiving
the Holy Spirit of Promise and making one’s Calling and Election sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Securing
Godhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 39.15pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 39.15pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list 39.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Being
“sealed to the Eternal Godhead.<sup>45</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
unbiblical doctrine of Adoption continues to be revered, especially with
Fundamentalists, as Collier declares:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">…the
most Christ-like doctrine ever revealed to man on the Earth. …In its <b>celestial
context, </b>it is the greatest single witness that Joseph Smith was indeed a
Prophet of God, who was sent down on Earth to restore <i>the <b>whole doctrine </b>of
Jesus…</i>.<i>it is the principle which Elijah revealed, and </i>without which<i>
the whole Earth would be <b>‘utterly wasted’ </b></i>at the coming of the Lord.
It is at the hearts’ core and the very essence of the <b><i>Perfect Law of a
Celestial Theocracy…</i></b><sup>46</sup><b><i> </i></b>(emphasis, Collier’s)<b>
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
believe that in some members’ eyes it was a beautiful concept of Celestial
union and harmony in preparation for eternity—a chain of families living in
perfect love and respect, peace and total commitment to each other. Brigham
Young and others even used Jesus’ sayings about unity from John 17, where Jesus
admonished oneness between each other. But Brigham’s interpretation was way
off. (notice his inclusion of “dominion”):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>[the oneness Jesus spoke of] “…is nothing more than <b>a key-word </b>to
<b><u>Exaltation</u>, </b>Glory, Power, and <b>Excellency</b>, </i>by which <i>Principalities, <b>Kingdom[s],
<u>Dominions</u>, </b>and Eternal Lives </i>[meaning eternal production of
children] <b><i>will surround us.” </i></b><sup>47</sup><i> </i>(Bolding, the
author’s; underlining and bracket, mine.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One
can see why unity and submission had to be stressed and seen as a necessity in
Smith’s concept. It <u>had</u> to be a factor, considering the chain of
priesthood families linked together, or else mandates coming down from each
family’s “Father/God” would never be submitted to, at least not without an
argument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">SUMMATION OF SECTION I</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On
the surface, the Law of Adoption may have sounded good, but one has to look at
its <u>ultimate </u>objective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.6pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 38.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 38.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Exaltation
of men to Gods; also, women to Goddesses, subject to their husband/God to whom
only they must worship (not the biblical God).</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.6pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 38.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 38.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Men
glorying in their priesthood power where, as “Fathers” and “Gods,” they will
rule in heaven and have dominion over all families sealed to them.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.6pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 38.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 38.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Enjoying
more than one wife and having sex forever in heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 20.6pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 20.6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.6pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 38.6pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 38.6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Retaining
the lofty title of “Saviors on Mt. Zion,” because they <u>redeemed</u> their dead
ancestors by doing their temple work. </span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is nothing in the above list to indicate recipients
are gaining heaven where they will continue to be humble servants who glorify
only the God of the universe. Instead, any glorifying will be given to the Mormon Gods.
Neither is it suggested, in the "name" that provides entry through the temple veil, that
they are doing so in recognition that Christ is the one who redeemed them and given them the privilege of entering heaven. To the Mormon, entering heaven only
consists in being faithful and being able to recite all the tokens and
passwords. <o:p></o:p></span>Jesus’ redemptive work doesn’t seem to apply anywhere. Only Jesus has the power to redeem individuals.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
next section contain:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
New Testament perspective of the Law of Adoption<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
Old Testament priesthood and meaning of the veil in the Jewish temples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
know this has been a long article, but without understanding the Bible’s
teachings on the <i>Law of Adoption </i>and how the Old Testament temple veil
and all the ordinances were done away with at Christ’s death, you’re going to
fall short of understanding God’s plan for <u>you</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>SECTION 2</b><br />THE NEW TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAW OF ADOPTION</span></h2>
<div style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhAZkocjLVypphMhsOICzd0Cq3hrxvKPbBMnNxnjpvFRHUz3SVRfgEb6XHL7AlGjebtX0aj85rt4aQdrnE57fO-jSn3fb0yS4hQNL9HMIwCzOKugxYCsAZBywby2GtKrYsEB1M_f0uy0/s1600/ADOPTION-JESUSHUGGINGimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhAZkocjLVypphMhsOICzd0Cq3hrxvKPbBMnNxnjpvFRHUz3SVRfgEb6XHL7AlGjebtX0aj85rt4aQdrnE57fO-jSn3fb0yS4hQNL9HMIwCzOKugxYCsAZBywby2GtKrYsEB1M_f0uy0/s1600/ADOPTION-JESUSHUGGINGimages.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><u>HOW DOES THE BIBLE DEFINE THE LAW OF ADOPTION</u></b><b>?</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Biblical
Adoption is a spiritual act, a part of the Christian’s Born Again experience
where believers are adopted by God and given the right to joint heirship with Christ.
No temple ritual is required. Here is a more succinct definition of the biblical <i>Law of
Adoption</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">God
graciously adopts believers in Christ into his spiritual family and grants them
all the privileges of heirship when believers give their hearts to Him and
trust in and through Christ. They then become children of God, a position they
lost at the Fall. </span><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">This right is
given only to those whom God has justified by faith and has caused to be born
again. (<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Romans%203.28" target="_blank">Rom
3:28</a>)</span></strong></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:26)</span></strong></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The Bible makes it clear
that we lost our status as “children” in God’s family as a result of the fall
and inheriting the sin nature. This caused a spiritual death, meaning a
separation between God and us. Only acceptance and faith in Christ who redeemed
us from sin and our being Born Again, can restore it.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; color: red;">But as many as received Him [Christ], to them He
gave the <u>right</u> to become</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: red;"> </span></i></span><i><u><span style="background: white; color: red;">children</span></u></i><i><span style="background: white; color: red;"> of God, </span></i><em><span style="background: white; border: 0in none windowtext; color: red; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">even</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; color: red;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: red;">to those who
believe in His name (Jn 1:12) (emphasis, mine)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading8">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">MORMON (MIS)UNDERSTANDING OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD, AND THE FALL</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mormons believe they have always been children of God. Adam and Eve’s fall
did not make them lose that status. This is because they believe their spirit
bodies were <u>literally</u> born through God and one of his wives before this
world was created, and their spirits sent down to inhabit the physical bodies
of babies. As a result, they have divine blood flowing through their spiritual
veins; therefore, there’s no need to “make” them children of God, certainly not
through any born again experience. They are also taught that the fall was a “stumble
upward” in the plan of God who intended Adam and Eve to fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Generally
speaking, yes, we are all children of God simply because he created us; but,
there is a difference between our being created and being in the “family” of
God as the Bible teaches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textrom-8-14"><span style="color: red;">"For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, <u>they</u> are the sons of God.</span></span><span class="textrom-8-15"><b><sup><span style="color: red;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-8-15"><span style="color: red;">For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the <u>Spirit of adoption</u>, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. </span></span><span class="textrom-8-16"><span style="color: red;">The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: </span></span><span class="textrom-8-17"><b><sup><span style="color: red;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrom-8-17"><span style="color: red;">And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together." Rom. 8:14-17. (underlining, mine)</span></span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textrom-8-17"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textgal-4-4"><span style="color: red;">"But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, t</span></span><span class="textgal-4-5"><span style="color: red;">o
redeem them that were under the law, that we might <u>receive the adoption of
sons</u>. </span></span><span class="textgal-4-6"><b><sup><span style="color: red;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textgal-4-6"><span style="color: red;">And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. </span></span><span class="textgal-4-7"><b><sup><span style="color: red;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textgal-4-7"><span style="color: red;">Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a <u>son</u>; and if a
son, then an <u>heir</u> of God through Christ." Gal 4:4-7. (underlining mine) </span></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textgal-4-7"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><u>WHEN DID GOD DECIDE HE WANTED TO ADOPT US BACK INTO HIS FAMILY</u></b><b>? </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God chose, in
eternity past, to save sinners eternally by bringing us into his family, and
making us his very own children. His plan was to be implemented through His
son, Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (Jn
3:16)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">We can’t achieve Adoption into God’s family by our own works--temple, or otherwise. Only
through God’s grace and accepting Christ into one’s heart. Especially not
through a temple ritual and learning passwords. If that were the case, God
would not have had to send Jesus. The Bible tells us that he</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">predestined
us to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">adoption as
sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">according to
<u>His</u> will—not through any effort of our own:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="texteph-1-5"><i><span style="color: red;">Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children <u>by Jesus Christ</u> to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, </span></i></span><span class="texteph-1-6"><i><span style="color: red;">To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath <u>made</u>
us <u>accepted</u> in the beloved. Eph. 1:5-6 (underlining mine) </span></i></span><i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red;">But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [and daughters] of God,
even to them that believe on his name: w</span></i><span class="textjohn-1-13"><i><span style="color: red;">hich
were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will<u> </u>of
man, but of <u>God</u>. (Jn 1:12-13) (bracket mine)</span></i></span><i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;">“</span><i><span style="color: red;">Sooner or later, man has always
had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God</span></i><span style="color: red;">.”</span> <i><span style="color: red;">Arnold J. Toynbee</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white;">For a fuller explanation of the meaning of “Adoption” and why
Paul used this term, see endnote No. </span></i><span style="background: white;">49.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only process of Adoption into God’s family, as his children, is the
biblical way—not by being subservient to a series of Mormon, Patriarchal
priesthood-holding “Father/Gods” of many wives, to whom other men and families
must be submissive to throughout eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;">THE PURPOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD, MEANING OF THE TEMPLE VEIL, AND WHY BOTH WERE DONE AWAY WITH AT CHRIST'S DEATH</span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;">THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF PRIESTHOOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT</span></u></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
only purpose for priesthood in the beginning was to offer burnt offerings and blood sacrifices of animals for forgiveness of the people’s sins. God set
it up to be a type and shadow pointing to the day when Jesus, the ultimate Lamb
of God, should come and shed his blood for the forgiveness of sin. T, and Christ
would enter into heaven as our only high priest—the <u>only</u> one to hold
that title from then on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: inherit;">Without the shedding of blood there is no remission
of sins. Heb. 9:22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Old Testament blood sacrifices gave the Israelites forgiveness for the year’s
sins, but had to be repeated every year. It was only temporary until Christ
could come and offer a once-for-all sacrifice for sin that would be eternally
permanent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">With the shedding of his blood and his resurrection, Jesus became
our High Priest in heaven after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 4:14; 6:20)—</span></i><span style="color: red;">the <u>only </u>one to hold
this from then on!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to
come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats
and calves, but through His <u>own blood</u>, He entered the holy place <u>once
for all</u>, having obtained <u>eternal </u>redemption (for all). (Heb.
9:11-12. emphasis, mine)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;">THE VEIL IN MOSES' TABERNACLE AND LATER JEWISH TEMPLES</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
veil is first mentioned in the Old Testament tabernacle set up by Moses at
God’s command. A veil separated and kept everyone out from the Holy of Holies
where the presence of God was. The veil represented man’s sinful flesh-nature.
This meant no sinful person could go in and have access to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VfsSVCvF7MvgBybxhmP8pnkVRHQq7u8n63Ll01Cq33zDrGoTIYSZOUEa0rMsbSd-vEA2U31-OQs4QRta35CriovKsbzuTIStKj19r3teUIw_kqjetmpqjc6ilq7-mmV91CXJtKjaOVQ/s1600/OLD+TESTATMENT-VEIL-HP+ON+1+SIDEimages.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Veil of the temple</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VfsSVCvF7MvgBybxhmP8pnkVRHQq7u8n63Ll01Cq33zDrGoTIYSZOUEa0rMsbSd-vEA2U31-OQs4QRta35CriovKsbzuTIStKj19r3teUIw_kqjetmpqjc6ilq7-mmV91CXJtKjaOVQ/s1600/OLD+TESTATMENT-VEIL-HP+ON+1+SIDEimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There
was one exception. The high priest could go in once a year; nevertheless, had
to set up a smoke screen so he couldn’t see the actual presence of God on the
mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. This was on the Day of Atonement. The
high priest would sprinkle the blood of sacrificed animals in the Holy of
Holies. The Israelites, through that blood, would be forgiven of their sins,
but had to be done over every year. Forgiveness </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">before</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Christ was never
permanent.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Why blood</u></b><b>?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
blood, as mentioned earlier, was symbolic and pointed to the final, sacrificial
blood Jesus would shed on the cross for the sins of the world. Even as the high
priest could never enter God’s presence without the sacrificed animals’ blood,
similarly, we cannot enter the presence of God except through the sacrificial blood
of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With
Jesus’ death and his perfect blood offering for sin, a veil was no longer
needed representing man’s sinful nature to prevent him from going into the
Holy of Holies and God’s presence because Jesus had no sin nature. His flesh,
representing no sin, became the new veil of the temple made without hands (Acts
7:48; Mark 14:58). His blood contained permanent forgiveness for sins and would
allow believers access to God’s presence. All physical temple ritual was done
away with, including the Levitical priesthood and high priests. Jesus’
sacrifice and resurrection rendered all temple ritual null and void. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">“<i>And
you being dead in your sins… hath he quickened together with him, blotting out
the handwriting of <u>ordinances</u> [of the Old Testament laws]that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross</i>.” <i>(Col. 2:14) (underlining and bracket mine)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
is why, at Jesus’ death, the veil guarding the entrance to the Holy of Holies
was rent:<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRZ9vHcxGu6sf_mm0vzCqhm-4mev9V5O1sYJZwyaJ4amzx_yWvpLcZ-4SA7r2Nw1xhj6dfK0tnfnH87v-Ri8vurH-JeWlSH2wmV5E4-IPseFdmcJRZ0nKy6V-WEedwxFxvHw_CrefTLc/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-VEILRENTimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRZ9vHcxGu6sf_mm0vzCqhm-4mev9V5O1sYJZwyaJ4amzx_yWvpLcZ-4SA7r2Nw1xhj6dfK0tnfnH87v-Ri8vurH-JeWlSH2wmV5E4-IPseFdmcJRZ0nKy6V-WEedwxFxvHw_CrefTLc/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-VEILRENTimages.jpg" width="165" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from
the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” (Matt
27:51)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textheb-6-19"><span style="background: white;">God's plan, through Christ Jesus,is
a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain
into God’s inner sanctuary.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textheb-6-20"><span style="background: white;">Jesus has already gone in there for us and has become our
eternal High Melchizedek Priest. (Heb. 6:19-20 NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">[We
now have] <i>“<u>boldness</u> to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his [sinless] flesh.” (Heb. 10:19-20. </i>Underlining and
bracket mine) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Message Bible puts it even plainer:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God,
into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice,
acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
(Heb. 10:19-21)</span></i><i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As
children adopted into God’s family through faith in Christ, we belong to the <i>Church
of the Firstborn</i>. Speaking to believers, the writer of Hebrews said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textheb-12-22"><i><span style="color: red;">[Y]ou have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal
gathering, a</span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-23"><i><span style="color: red;">nd to
the <u>church</u> (assembly) <u>of the Firstborn </u>who are <u>registered</u>
[as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the <u>spirits
of the righteous </u>(the <u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">redeemed</span></u>
in heaven) <u>who have been made perfect</u>, a</span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i><span style="color: red;">nd to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and
to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i><span style="color: red;">and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i><span style="color: red;">nobler</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i><span style="color: red;">and</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i><span style="color: red;">more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for
vengeance]. (Heb. 10:22-24 Amp. Emphasis, mine)</span></i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span class="textheb-12-24">(<i>The “spirits of the
righteous include those from the Old Testament who had died and redeemed in
heaven because they were justified by their faith</i>.)</span><b><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoHeading8">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">CONCLUSION</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No temple
ritual, Mormon or otherwise, requires one to go through a temple veil with
secret passwords to enter God’s presence in order to belong to the heavenly <i>Church
of the Firstborn</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Entering into Jesus' <u>true</u> <i>Church of the Firstborn</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> (</span><i>see
full explanation in endnote 48</i>) is
gained through faith in Jesus’ redemptive act on the cross, being born again,
walking in the Holy Spirit, which results in being adopted into God’s family, a
position we lost at the Fall. Mormon rituals won’t do it.</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG124tyQfDWPC_HYLzKiSDjubQ0zW-t-y03UjaYD-gZsU2ksn-3bLO1H3sZP1HbFBcebmkx39crjd9jv2HMPYxjTbnFtACFBRDJjodaM1ZNXIqPQnXO2_OoaYrudBA0RmBuG2g7KbMOw/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-VEIL-JESUS+OPENINGimages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG124tyQfDWPC_HYLzKiSDjubQ0zW-t-y03UjaYD-gZsU2ksn-3bLO1H3sZP1HbFBcebmkx39crjd9jv2HMPYxjTbnFtACFBRDJjodaM1ZNXIqPQnXO2_OoaYrudBA0RmBuG2g7KbMOw/s1600/OLD+TESTAMENT-VEIL-JESUS+OPENINGimages.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Christ, as our eternal high priest, has
granted us access to God in the spiritual Holy of Holies</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus warned
against false religions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="versiontext"><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="versiontext"><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth
up <u>some other way</u>, <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span class="versiontext"><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: red;"><b>the same is a thief and a robber.</b> </span></i></span><span class="versiontext"><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: red;">(Jn 10:1. Emphasis mine)</span></span></span><span class="versiontext"><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The apostle Paul
added:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b>But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach <u>any other</u>
gospel unto you </b></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: white; color: red;"><b>than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed.</b></span></i><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: red;"> (Gal. 1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Janis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="color: blue;">COMMENTS</span></u></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">"Thank you, Janis, for this "further light and knowledge" about the rituals I
used to embrace. Thank you even more for the explanation of what the Bible means
by teaching us of our relationship with God and Christ. Thanks again." (Anonymous)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;">(You're welcome)</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;">ENDNOTES</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;">The LDS Church teaches that it is a continuation
of the “Church of Christ” established in 1830 by Joseph Smith. This original
church underwent several name changes during the 1830s, being called the Church
of Jesus Christ, the Church of God,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
then in 1834, the name was officially changed to the Church of the Latter Day
Saints.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In April 1838, the name
was officially changed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
After Smith died, Brigham Young and the largest body of Smith's followers
incorporated the LDS Church in 1851 by legislation of the State of Deseret</span> <span style="background: white;">under the name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints," which included a hyphenated "Latter-day" and a
British-style lower-case “d”. (</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);">Wikipedia)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Adoption—Law of the Kingdom—Forgotten Doctrine of Mormonism, by
Fred C. Collier, Introduction, np; <u>hereinafter “Forgotten Doctrine</u>.”</i> Apr. 1988, Vol. 8 No. 4,
Collier’s Publishing Co.<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“The Church of the Firstborn and the Holy Order of God, Pt 1”, Fred C. Collier, np. <u>Hereinafter,
“Holy Order of God</u>.”<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Speech
of Brigham Young recorded in the <i>Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-47 and 1859, </i>edited
by Charles Kelley, pages 80-81. Brigham
Young also made it clear that obedience to the law of adoption was essential
for those seeking salvation: "I have gathered a
number of families around me through the <i>law of adoption </i>and seal of the
covenant according to the order of the priesthood and others have done
likewise, it being the <i>means of salvation </i>to bring us back to God."<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->HC
6:184-185; TPJS 331; WJS 319. Cited in <i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, Collier, pp
5-6.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(6)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“The Church of
the Firstborn and its Formal
Organization…Together with a
Brief Summary of its Principles and Doctrinal Teachings <i>and a Short History
of Succession in the Priesthood” a talk b</i><i>y Fred C. Collier</i>, April 3rd, 1992. np. <u>Hereinafter
“Church of Firstborn Organization</u>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(7)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Times
and Seasons, </i>Vol. 5,
pages 613-14. Emphasis, mine. Cited at <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/ensign/1971/04/the-king-follett-sermon?lang=eng</a>,
np <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(8)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->“Holy Order of God,” Pt 1, Fred C. Collier, np.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(9)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><em><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; color: #2f393a; padding: 0in;">History of the Church</span></em><em><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; color: #2f393a; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">,</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="color: #2f393a;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="color: #2f393a;">4:492–93;
</span></i><span style="color: #2f393a;">from a Joseph Smith journal entry, Jan. 6, 1842, Nauvoo,
Illinois.</span> Cited
at https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-44?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(10)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Journals
of John D. Lee, p. 89.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="citation">(11)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“What Every Elder Should Know—and Every Sister as Well: A Primer
on Principles of Priesthood Government”,<span class="apple-converted-space"> Boyd K. Packer, </span><span class="citation"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_(LDS_magazine)" title="Ensign (LDS magazine)"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ensign</span></a></i></span><span class="reference-text"> </span><span class="citation">February 1993.)</span><span class="citation"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(12)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, Collier, op cit., p. 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(13)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="color: #252525;">McConkie, <i>Mormon
Doctrine</i>, p. 558.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(14)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Church
of Firstborn Organization,” Collier. np.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(15)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Church of the Firstborn Organization.” Collier. np.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(16)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->TPJS 323,
363; TPBY 2:2/16/47. Cited in <i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, op cit., p. 41.)
Regarding adoption to the 12 Apostles: “<span style="background: white;">It was
ascertained that many of the saints had inter-married with gentile stock, and
were thus debarred from a full enjoyment of the rights and privileges of the
house and lineage of Abraham. But these lost blessings could be restored by
ingraftment upon the stock of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, represented
by the twelve apostles, each of whom was deemed as in lineal descent from
Abraham, tracing his consanguinity [kinship] to Isaac and Jacob, and thence to
himself as a chief of one of the tribes. Romans, xi. 16, is quoted as
authorizing the doctrine, which requires every member of the church, except the
twelve, to choose a father fresh one of the latter.” (“Hubert Howe Bancroft’s
History of Utah 1540-1886” p.361. Cited at
www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/bancroftshistoryofutah_chapter15b.htm.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(17)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>History of Utah</u>, p. 361) Cited at <a href="http://20truths.info/mormon/doctrine.html">http://20truths.info/mormon/doctrine.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(18)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Sealing
Men to Men” <i>Salt Lake
City Messenger</i>, Issue 92, Sandra and Jerald(?) Tanner. at <a href="http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no92.htm">http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no92.htm</a>
<u>Hereinafter “Men to Men</u>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(19)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span class="fn">Joseph Smith, “Celestial Family Organization” <i>The Latter-Day
Saints' Millennial Star</i></span><span class="subtitle1"><b>, </b></span><span class="subtitle1">Vol. 5-7, </span><span class="ebook-msg"><span style="color: #333333;">p.
189. Cited at </span></span><span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/mqc8ma2">http://tinyurl.com/mqc8ma2</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(20)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>History
of Utah</i>, p. 361) Cited
at <a href="http://20truths.info/mormon/doctrine.html">http://20truths.info/mormon/doctrine.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(21)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Men to
Men.” Tanner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(22)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Wilford
Woodruff’s Journal</i>, Vol.
3, pg. 131; cited in Tanner, “Men to Men.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(23)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Wilford
Woodruff's Journal, </i>1833-1898,
typescript, edited by Scott G. Kenney, 1985, Vol. 9, page 408) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(24)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Wilford
Woodruff's Journal, </i>1833-1898,
typescript, edited by Scott G. Kenney, 1985, Vol. 8, page 352A. Cited in
Tanner, “Men to Men” <i>Salt Lake City Messenger</i>, Issue 92. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(25)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>John D.
Lee: Zealot - Pioneer -Builder -Scapegoat, </i>page 73. Cited in Tanner, “Men to Men,” Issue 92.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(26)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Forgotten
Doctrine. </i>Introduction,
np. Collier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(27)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Gordon
Irving, who worked for the Historical Department, stated this in an article in <i>The
Latter-Day Saints’ Millennial Star,</i> June 1843, Vol. 4, pgs 17-19: "No
consensus exists with regard to the date when the first adoptions were performed...
It is certainly possible, perhaps probable, that Joseph Smith did initiate
certain trusted leaders into the adoptionary order as early as 1842." See also <i>Brigham Young University
Studies, Spring 1974, p. 295; cited at </i><span style="background: white;"><a href="http://www.utlm.org/newsletters/no92.htm">www.utlm.org/newsletters/no92.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(28)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Brigham
Young’s grandson, Kimball Young, Chairman of the Dept. of Sociology at
Northwestern University, cited in “Men to Men,” issue 93. Tanner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(29)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Wilford
Woodruff’s report of Pratt’s speech given on August 15, 1847 <i>Wilford
Woodruff Journals</i> 3:260), cited in <i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, p. 53.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(30)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->For Second
Endowment description, see <span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/p7lk8sp"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt;">http://tinyurl.com/p7lk8sp</span></a> and scroll down about 8
pages. </span><span style="background: white;">For First Endowment, including pictures, see</span> <span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/bqdjbzt"><span style="color: black;">http://tinyurl.com/bqdjbzt</span></a></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(31)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="background: white; color: #202020;">Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?
Jerald and Sandra Tanner, </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202020;">p. 471.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(32)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, Collier, p. 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(33)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Holy
Order” Collier. np.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(34)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Material
taken from “The
Church of the Firstborn and its Formal
Organization on April 3rd, 1992, Together
with a Brief Summary of its Principles and Doctrinal Teachings and a Short
History of Succession in the Priesthood.” A speech given by Collier on the evening
of April 16th, 1992, in the home of Ursula Lemesany, at Manti, Utah by Fred C.
Collier<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(35)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Joseph Smith Diary</i>, 28 Sept. 1843, LDS Church Archives.
Also in <i>Wilford Woodruff’s Historian’s Private Journal</i>, 1858, typescript
p. 24; original in LDS Church Archives. Cited in “Fullness of the Priesthood:
The Second Anointing in Latter-day Saint Theology and Practice,” David John
Buerger, p. 21-22. <u>Hereinafter “Buerger</u>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(36)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Book of
Anointings</i>, 8 Jan.
1846…original in LDS Church Archives. Cited in Buerger, pp. 3-4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(37)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Men to
Men” Issue No. 92. Tanner <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(38)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Isn't One Wife Enough? The Story of Mormon Polygamy, </i>1954, pages 278-280. Cited in
Tanner’s newsletter Issue 92.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l15 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(39)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Law of
Adoption (Mormonism)” at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_adoption_%28Mormonism%29">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_adoption_%28Mormonism%29</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">(40)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The <span lang="EN">following
are informative sites on double-meaning symbols: <br />
<u>Sexual symbols</u>: <a href="http://www.cuttingedge.org/free16.htm">http://www.cuttingedge.org/free16.htm</a>.
<br />
<u>Rite of Adoption in French Masonic orders</u>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Adoption">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Adoption</a>
and also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Freemasonry_in_France">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Freemasonry_in_France</a>.
<br />
<u>Sexual orientation</u>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Orient_de_France#Sexual_orientation">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Orient_de_France#Sexual_orientation</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(41)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Brigham Young University Studies</i>,
Spring 1974, pp. 299-303.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(42)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Brigham Young University Studies, </i>Spring 1974, pages 312-313.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(43)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.ldsendowment.org/veil.html">http://www.ldsendowment.org/veil.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(44)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Video
of full temple ceremony: <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 229);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F0qbgCQZKc"><span style="color: black;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F0qbgCQZKc</span></a>.
<br />
Video of doing baptisms for the dead: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6udew9axmdM"><span style="color: black;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6udew9axmdM</span></a>.
<br />
My personal account of going through the temple, including information on the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Endowment: <a href="http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/ceremony.pdf"><span style="color: black;">http://www.janishutchinson.com/newsletters/ceremony.pdf</span></a>.
<br />
Article on First Endowment w/ pictures: <a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-mormon-temple-ceremony-first-hand.html"><span style="color: black;">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-mormon-temple-ceremony-first-hand.html</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(45)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, Collier. Introduction, np.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(46)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, p. 8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(47)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>JD 1:272. </i>Cited in <i>Forgotten Doctrine</i>, p. 57.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(48)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>The Biblical <i>Church of the Firstborn</i></u>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible makes it clear
that the <i>Church of the Firstborn</i> means the <i>Church of Jesus Christ in
heaven. </i>Describing Jesus as the <i>Firstborn</i> does not refer to his
literal human birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; tab-stops: 117.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Greek understanding of “firstborn” meant preeminent. <i>Proto </i>and totokos =
prototokos<i>, means “first, pre-eminent” and “first in time.”</i> They used it
not only to indicate preeminence, but also priority as first in a rank from a
beginning, meaning eternity. <span class="passage-display-bcv">Colossians
1:15</span><span class="passage-display-version"> (AMP) confirms this:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textcol-1-15"><i> [Now] He is the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="textcol-1-15"><i>exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of
the invisible]; He is the <u>Firstborn of all creation</u>. </i></span><span class="textcol-1-15">(emphasis mine)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, He was first, back in the beginning of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="versechapter-1" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textjohn-1-1"><i>In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-1"><i>Himself. </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-2"><i>He
was present originally with God. </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-3"><i>All
things were made</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-3"><i>and</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-3"><i>came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one
thing made that has come into being.(Jn 1:1-3)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="versechapter-1" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textjohn-1-14"><i>And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. </i></span><span class="textjohn-1-15"><i>John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I
spake, He that cometh after me is <u>preferred</u> before me: for he was <u>before
me</u>. (emphasis mine) (Jn 1:14-15 Ampl)</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The writer of Hebrews calls the entire New Testament church the
“Church of the Firstborn” to indicate their church’s association with Jesus,
acknowledging his priority and preeminence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.5pt; margin-bottom: 5.2pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5.2pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textheb-12-22"><b><i><sup> </sup></i></b></span><span class="textheb-12-22"><i>But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, </i></span><span class="textheb-12-23"><i>To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect, </i></span><span class="textheb-12-24"><i>And
to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel. (</i></span><span class="passage-display-bcv"><i>Heb. 12:22-24)</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nowhere does the Bible describe temple rituals as necessary to
belong to the <i>Church of the Firstborn, </i>requiring secret handshakes and
passwords, men ruling over men by virtue of their priesthood power, becoming
Gods, plurality of marriage and continued sex in heaven. Neither does it even
hint one’s salvation will fall short if believers don’t participate in the
Mormon-type temple rituals here on earth, or by having it done vicariously for
them after they’re dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is what forgave and redeemed
believers from their sins. His death also did away with the Old Testament,
yearly ordinances for forgiveness of sins and all temple ritual:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320;">Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us
[because of our sins], and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Cross.
(brackets mine) (Col. 2:14)</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no longer any condemnation for believers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textrom-8-1"><i>There
is therefore now no <u>condemnation</u> to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. </i></span><span class="textrom-8-2"><i>For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the <u>law</u> of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The
biblical understanding is what brings membership in the <i>Church of the
Firstborn.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(49) <b><u>Explanation
of Paul’s use of the term of Adoption<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul used the term ‘adopted as sons,’ or
becoming “adult sons’ into God’s family, when he wrote to the believers in
Rome. He knew the Roman and Greek believers would understand this concept
because of their understanding of Roman law and customs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In that culture, if you were an adopted
son, you had legal rights as if you were a son born naturally in the family.
The adopted son had the right to the family name of the person who adopted him,
and the right to the full inheritance of the father’s property. This was
attested to in a public ceremony. Similarly, Sonship was also a status of biological
sons when they came of age and inherited all the rights of the father. Those
still holding the status of “child”<!--[if supportFields]><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><u><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span></span></u></i><span style='font-family:
"Times New Roman"'> XE "Child:status of" </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><u><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span></u></i><![endif]--> could <u>not</u> receive any inheritance, even though biologically
born into the family<!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-family:
"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span> XE
"Inheritance" </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]-->. (Gal 4:1) This is what happens when God
adopts us as his children. We come of age when we are Born Again. Adoption was
the only way, since man lost that relationship after the Fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
biblical Law of Adoption mentioned in Eph. 1:5-6, that bestows “Sonship” and “Daughtership”
status<!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span> XE "Sonship status" </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--> into God’s family, gives believers three privileges they didn’t
have before: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A personal
relationship as son and daughter with God as their Abba Father—an intimate term
comparable to <i>daddy</i> or <i>papa.</i><u> </u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A <!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>XE "Abba Father" </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]-->joint heir with Christ. </span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Qualification
to inherit everything the Heavenly Father has. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>How does “Sonship” work inside our spirit</u></b><b>?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Galatians
3:26 says, “<i>Ye are all the children of Godby <u>faith</u> in Christ Jesus</i>.”
Faith and the Born Again experience brings Jesus Christ into the believer’s
heart—and since Jesus already holds <i>Sonship</i> position with God, believers
<u>automatically</u> acquire Christ’s Sonship status<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span>
XE "Sonship status" </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--> when He enters them. And
the way God confirms that one has gained this status, is explained in Romans
4:6: <i><u>Because ye are sons, God hath
sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father</u>. </i>[He is now your <u>real</u> Father.]</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
other words, Christ as son in the believer’s heart, <i><u>enables</u></i> him or her to call God, Abba Father. In reality,
however, it is not really the individual who calls out to God as Abba Father,
but the Spirit of Christ the <i><u>Son</u></i>,
speaking from <i>within</i> the believer’s
heart. This is the “mystery of Christ <i><u>in
us</u></i>” which, Colossians
1:27 teaches is our only <i><u>hope</u></i>
for an inheritance in glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">Once we become a child of God, “</span></em><i>The Spirit Himself<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Romans%208.16-17#footnote0"></a> testifies
with our spirit that we are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>children
of God, and if children,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>heirs
also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><em><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;">Him</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>so that we may also be glorified with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><em>Him.</em><em><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; font-style: normal; padding: 0in;"> (Rom. 8:16-17)<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Can you get this status of “Sonship”
through a Mormon ritual</u>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s only one way to be adopted into
God’s family and become a Son or Daughter, and that’s by faith—being
spiritually born again, accepting and loving Christ, and walking and living by
the Holy Spirit. He or she then becomes a “new creature;” that is, he is “born
again” and has access to the presence of God. The whole redemptive purpose of
the cross was that we might receive this adoption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.1pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Females are included in this adoption,
and confirmed in Galatians:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 5pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320; font-family: inherit;">There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, <u>male
and female</u>. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28 NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(50)
Links for articles on the Godhead at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Part 1: <a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/01/god-and-trinity-part-i.html">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/01/god-and-trinity-part-i.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Part 2: <a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/03/god-and-trinity-part-2.html">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/03/god-and-trinity-part-2.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Part 3: <a href="http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/04/god-and-trinity-pt-3-mormon-%0B%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20perspective.html">http://wwwjanishutchinson.blogspot.com/2014/04/god-and-trinity-pt-3-mormon-<br />
<span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span>perspective.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(51)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“The Second
Anointing.” www.ldsendowment.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(52)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.ldsendowment.org/veil.html">www.ldsendowment.org/veil.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(53)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><i>Journal
of Discourses</i>, 2:260. Cited in
Buerger, p. 37,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(54)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.cuttingedge.org/articles/p294.htm">www.cuttingedge.org/articles/p294.htm</a>.
The many words bolded and underlined in this quote by the author was purposely
removed by me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(55)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->TPBY
5:11/30/62. Cited in <i>President Brigham Young’s Doctrine on Deity</i>, Fred
Collier, Vol. 1, p. 194. Cited at <b><span style="background: white;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/lc3taj8">http://tinyurl.com/lc3taj8</a>.
</span></b><u><span style="background: white;">Hereinafter “Deity.</span></u><span style="background: white;">”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(56)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Deity”
Collier, Vol. 1, p. 193. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #252525;">(57)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“The Development
of the Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony,” <i>Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon
Thought </i>4:33-76.<span style="color: #252525;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(58)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“Deity.”
Collier, Vol. 1, p. 193. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -30.75pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">(59)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>Mormonism, Shadow or Reality</u>, Tanner, p. 471.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"> (60) Tom Phillips account: <a href="http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon508.htm">http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon508.htm</a>.</span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-39571733985725813882014-11-29T10:49:00.000-08:002014-12-04T17:12:20.355-08:00PASSAGES OF THE HEART-A SHORT STORY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s1600/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA30Bo95dq1hiYcD12IJJJ-oXJGLQTPZTn35DpqMEdMlteh9U81E4Yt0Nb-vMBUGRr0hPsf3GLNP4lP0ZKpaRCl43Do5Bj5YF_AXdrmvpeaB5H0j2HHKFvvlmF9CIA93wi4TqHnK_NBME/s1600/Janis+Picture_small.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, I am crunched for time this month, so here's another short story of mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br />This poignant story of two Kurdish children, ages three and twelve, survivors of the 1988 massacre at Halabja, is fictional but based on fact, recounting the genocide perpetrated by Saddam Hussein’s forces when chemical bombs of cyanide, mustard gas, and nerve agents were dropped on Kurdistan villages. <br />(<i>To see the model I used for Tomar's little sister, Nusha, see the very end for a picture and an interesting fact</i>. <i>You may want to scroll down and look at the picture first before you read the story</i>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>Update on my novel</b></u>: I had hoped to have my book, <i>Ultimate Justice</i>, completed and ready for submission last week. What happened? I decided to do another word count and found it was way over the acceptable limit publishers prefer. So, I'm having to go through the whole book again, tighten up sentences, and see what passages or chapters I can possibly delete. Will keep you posted.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i>You can see what my novel is about by clicking on "My Books" on the dashboard and then scrolling down.</i></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">PASSAGES OF THE
HEART</span><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="text-align: center;">by</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Janis Hutchinson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This short story
won First Place in the Arts Commission Literary Contest at the 1988 “</i><em><span style="font-style: normal;">Write on the Sound Writers' Conference”</span></em><i>
in Edmonds, Washington.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyTextIndent3">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar couldn't help but spread a wide smile across his sun-bronzed face as he hastened through the dusty streets lined with mud-brick houses and stone-rubble huts. The joy he felt, especially today, radiated from his face, pushing his boyish cheeks upward and crinkling the edges of his brown eyes. He sucked in a deep breath as he passed an outdoor clay oven, sniffing in the pleasant aroma of bread baking. At the same time, he kept an eye on Nusha, his three-year-old sister, who skipped ahead of her twelve-year-old brother. The caress of the morning sun and the warm breeze that wafted in from the south promised that nothing would mar this special day. Tomar had no reason to believe otherwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He headed toward the outskirts of
his small village, Halabja, situated near the Iranian border, and wound through
the same by-ways he and Nusha always followed. Passing his grandmother’s home,
he spied her carrying an armful of wood across the yard. Shading his eyes from
the sun with his hand, he called to her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Good morning, grandmother!” At the
same time, he flashed her a wide grin to relay his excitement about the
festivities the family planned for the evening. She looked up, smiled, and
returned the greeting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> That night they were to celebrate
his father’s birthday. There would be dilok, the spirited dancing, and he
intended to wear his best shirt and pants, along with the colored sash that his
mother made. He could hardly wait. And the food…his eyes widened with
anticipation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Grandmother would bring Baslog,
filled with nuts and sprinkled with shredded coconut. His aunts and cousins
would bring sweet cakes and other delicacies, and his mother, Fesenjam chicken
with pomegranate molasses and walnuts. There would also be fresh bread and
thick honey. The house would fill with relatives and neighbors laughing and
talking, and everyone would nibble on Nakho-Chi cookies topped with sugar and
pistachios. They would also sip Chai Kurdi tea through sugar cubes held in
their teeth, Tomar’s favorite. He loved the soothing taste of the cinnamon. It
reminded him of the feeling he got when his mother tucked the covers around him
at night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Then, after dinner, his father
would work music on his flute-like zornah, accompanied by his grandfather
drumming his fingers on the dahol, and everyone would sing the stories of their
Kurdish heroes, especially the Peshmerga—the village fighters who face death
for Kurdistan’s freedom. The music often varied but the words were always the
same so that they could be memorized and handed down to posterity. Often, his
father told him, “Tomar, some day you will make a fine warrior.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> This morning, he and Nusha’s task
was to climb the high hill and pick berries and almonds for the celebration.
Tomar carried two baskets for this, a third for the wildflowers which Nusha
would fill. She ran down the street ahead of him in anticipation, her short
black hair bouncing up and down about her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> They cut across the square, a small
open space and the focal point of the village. In the center stood an old
gnarled walnut tree with branches that shaded most of the plaza. The area was
already noisy with chattering women and loud voices of competing vendors
bargaining over apples, sugar beets and tobacco. He and Nusha finally reached
the outskirts of the village, skirted a wheat field and headed for the
foothills. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> They climbed the hill under a
brilliant blue sky with puffs of white clouds. Within an hour they reached
Tomar’s favorite place, the plateau, where the sun slid golden fluid down the
slopes that overlooked their peaceful village. A mild breeze wafted the tall
grass into soft, rolling waves. Only the gentle lapping of a nearby stream
broke the profound quiet of the hillside with its perfumed fragrance of
honeysuckle and wildflowers. Something special always stirred deep inside Tomar
in the palpable silence on the hill, much the same comforting feeling the
cinnamon’s aroma gave him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He spent the next hour picking
berries, loading his basket and shaking enough almonds down from tree branches
to fill the other. After that, he plopped down on the ground to rest. Nusha
continued to dart about barefoot, picking purple and yellow flowers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Shading his eyes with his hand,
Tomar took in the panorama lying in the valley below him. Sun-drenched fields
and pastures rolled endlessly in all directions. Beyond them, more villages. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> With a pleased smile, he lowered
his head and started to reach into his pocket for his pencil and small drawing
tablet that he had brought along. But a sudden noise startled him. He looked
up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> That’s when he saw them—low-flying
airplanes swooping down over his village. He let out a half-choking gasp, and
leapt to his feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In an instant, thunderous bombs
dropped from the planes, ripping the ground apart. Explosions shattered the air
. . . homes blew into fragments . . . people screamed. Thick, blackish-yellow
clouds of deadly gas mushroomed over his village. Then, a deep rumble resonated
against the hillside, accompanied by a surging gust of wind that rushed up the
slope to where Tomar stood. It smelled like rotten garlic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Transfixed with terror, his eyes
riveted on the roaring planes that whipped about in fury. They circled and
dived, dropping their loads of destruction. Then they banked. Half of them sped
off toward the horizon but the other half headed straight in his direction. He
widened his eyes in panic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nauseating spurts of adrenaline
coursed through his body as he rushed forward, grabbed Nusha and bolted up the
slope. Stumbling and falling with her screams in his ears, he headed for the
cover of nearby trees just as the planes roared overhead and disappeared over
the rim of the hill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When he could no longer hear them,
he emerged slowly from his hiding place. Nusha clung to him, still crying, her
arms wrapped tightly about his neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Shhh, now,” he said, patting her
on the back. “They are gone . . . they are gone.” Her cries gradually subsided
but her body still trembled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Continuing to calm her, his eyes
swept down the mountainside scanning the distressing scene. He looked for small
spaces on the streets beneath the smoke hoping to spot some sign of life. He
zeroed in on the village square, then widened his gaze to take in the vicinity
of his house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> From his vantage point, a
scattering of still objects dotted the streets. The gradual realization that
they were bodies caused a dissonant reaction as feelings of denial clashed with
the reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Then came more horrific booms of
explosions that once again startled him. Lifting his head, he looked toward the
horizon—toward the other distant villages. The same ugly-colored clouds rose
high into the air.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In a few seconds, another flurry of
wind swept up the slope and Tomar wrinkled his nose. His insides lurched with
urgency—the ominous smell was growing stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Without hesitation, he tightened
his arms around Nusha and broke into a run. His legs hammered into the ground
as he ran up the hill, zigzagging around boulders, plowing through tall weeds
and leaping over clumps of brush. Nusha began screaming again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Shhh . . . shhh, little sister,”
he managed breathlessly into her ear as he ran. “It will . . . be okay.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Reaching the summit, he shot down
the other side, tripping, sliding, twice losing his balance and falling but
with his arms still wrapped firmly around Nusha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Reaching the bottom of the hill, he
collapsed by some trees. He huddled down, still clutching Nusha’s small body
tight to his chest. His shirt and pants had torn from falling, exposing bloody
scrapes and bruises. He quickly examined Nusha. She was all right—his arms had
protected her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He stroked her hair to calm her,
while anxieties turbulently spun about in his head. His parents would need him
I must return! But there was something menacing about the smell that made him
reluctant. Maybe it would dissipate if he waited an hour or two.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Peeking out from under the thicket,
he crawled out. The smell wasn’t as strong. He took Nusha’s hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Come, little sister, we are going
home.” She took a few quavering steps, and then followed him across the
clearing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It took twenty minutes to climb
back up the summit. During that time, Tomar continually scanned the sky for
planes. As soon as they reached the top he anxiously looked down at Halabja.
Most of the smoke had cleared, but he saw far more bodies than before. Still,
in his heart he knew his parents were alive. He needed to hurry—they were
probably searching for him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Fifteen minutes into their descent
back to the plateau, the pungent vapors grew stronger. Tomar’s eyes smarted and
he began coughing. Then Nusha started crying, doing the same thing. He stopped,
instinctively sensing they should go no further.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Suddenly, off to his right came the
sound of branches and dry leaves crunching under stumbling feet. Grabbing
Nusha’s hand, he turned to run. But before he could move, a man broke through
the trees. A quick scrutiny of his clothes and color of his striped turban that
hung askew on one side of his head, told Tomar that he was from his village.
His spirits lifted. Now, they were not alone. The man would tell him what to
do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> But the expression on Tomar’s face
gradually changed as he stared at the man tripping and falling, coming closer
to him across the clearing. His face and arms were covered with ugly,
mustard-colored blisters. One eye was stuck shut, and blood matted his hair and
trickled from his nose and ears. A shiver shot down Tomar’s spine as he studied
the man’s facial expression. It reflected an agony that he had never seen
before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Despite the blood and oozing sores
on his body, Tomar recognized him. He owned the market, only a block away from
his parent’s house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Child . . . you . . . must flee,”
he spoke in strangled tones as he lurched toward him, his body shaking. He
could barely whisper. “Poison gas . .
.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar stared into the man’s one
opened eye that excreted a yellow liquid and the twitching muscles that
distorted his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Our neighborhood,” Tomar gulped .
. . near the square?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Hardest . . . hit,” came the man’s
halting response, struggling for breath. “All dead. I was . . . in another part of town . . . ran toward home. But .
. . none survived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> His words sent Tomar’s emotions
reeling. Everyone? His father . . . his mother . . . his grandparents?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “There could be,” the man
interrupted, his lips quivering and now coughing up greenish colored blood, “a
few survivors from other . . . sections of the village. Still . . . you must
not go there. If you go, this,” he said, pointing to his own body, “is what
will happen . . . to you.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “But…” Tomar stammered, “where
shall I…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Anywhere…but the village.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “You will…come with us?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The man shook his head. “You must
leave me. I . . . cannot keep up.” He
then crumpled to the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar recoiled, as the man’s body
violently convulsed. A</span> horrible gurgling sound rose up in his throat. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Blood bubbled from his mouth and His vacuous face froze in muted agony and his one good
eye stopped blinking. It stared at nothing. He no longer moved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> An avalanche of fear crashed over
Tomar. He didn’t want to die like that. But if he returned that’s what would
happen—to Nusha, too. His arms tightened around her as he stepped away from the
man’s body.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Despite the trepidation enshrouding
him, he had to leave. He took one last glance at Halabja and slowly turned his
back on the only home he’d ever known—where his family boasted they had lived
for twenty grandfathers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He began walking—to where, he
didn’t know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> They trudged for hours. Now and
then he carried Nusha, continually reassuring her that everything was all
right. Occasionally, Tomar turned and glanced behind him. A sickly cloud on the
distant horizon could still be seen. He walked faster, remembering how the man died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It was late afternoon and he
plodded on, still carrying Nusha. His back hurt, his legs ached, and the hard
ground beneath his sore feet felt like solid rock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Sweat dripped from his forehead as
he moved onto the scorching plains that stretched out before him. Temperatures
soared and his lungs burned from breathing in the dry, gritty dust that swirled
about his feet. Now and then he would find himself hoping that they would come
across friendly villagers who would take them in. But then he recalled what his
father told him. “Remember, Tomar,
Kurds have no friends.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Realizing how easily he and Nusha
could be spotted from the air, he decided to hide during the day and travel by
night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The next day, while the intense
heat undulated from the plains, they hunkered down under an overhanging ledge
that jutted out from a group of huge boulders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The vision of Halabja and the
bodies he saw from the hillside played over and over in his mind until he
nearly went crazy picturing his family, his father’s birthday celebration that
would never take place, the man with the oozing blisters and his ominous words
that broke Tomar’s heart. “None survived . . .”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He studied Nusha. She didn’t cry as
often anymore. She just stared and refused to move more than two feet away from
him. How was he, a boy of twelve, to take care of her? He tried to clear his
mind by drawing in a few deep breaths and forcing a slow exhalation. Then, over
the remaining hours he carefully processed his thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> By evening, he knew what he had to
do. By following the remains of old irrigation canals that laced the sand, he
would locate the Tigris. By keeping the river well in sight, it would lead him
to his destination—Diyarbakir.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Journeying through the black silence
of night for the next three weeks, he and Nusha passed through bomb-shattered
villages and deserted dwellings that fortunately had no bad smell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Trudging up and down valleys,
gorges and over bony, moon-swept hills, they eventually crossed over the Turkish
border and found an abandoned village.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Shudders of fear swept through
Tomar as he crept into the eerie quiet of the darkened streets. Clutching his
sister’s hand, he pulled, half-dragged, her along, her tiny legs barely able to
keep up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When he finally stopped, Nusha
collapsed onto the ground. She let out a whimper, and rubbed her sore feet. He
looked down at her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Poor little Nusha. She had been so
good to walk for many days with no shoes—crossing the border into Turkey,
trudging bleak paths and roads, staying in dark Zivinge caves—whereas, he was
accustomed to traveling great distances. He often hiked with his father to the
cool pastures of the remote mountain plateaus to herd sheep and goats. It was a
long trek; but there, the animals could feed on the profusion of pink and
lavender wild flowers that blanketed the slopes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He smiled dreamily, remembering the
joy when they returned home—everyone gathering around the fire in the evening,
his mother laughing and playing with little Nusha, his father working music on
his zornah.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar’s eyes misted. He glanced
again at his little sister, who now rested her head against his legs, and stared
into her tired, frightened eyes. He reached down and stroked her hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> She looked up, letting out a
shivery sob.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Nusha . . . hungry.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Letting out a deep sigh, he glanced
around the darkened streets of the village—it was too dark to scrounge for
food. He thought of his mother’s Fesenjam chicken and flat bread brushed with
spicy oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He plopped down onto a segment of
broken concrete, his head pounding. His chin fell dejectedly onto his chest as
he massaged his temples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Would he find food tomorrow? So
far, they’d been fortunate to find some in a few deserted villages. A couple of
times he came across Khans, places built for caravans and travelers. Inside the
courtyards by the wells he found a couple of gourds to fill with water. At one,
a lone nomad who spoke a different dialect offered them cheese, bread and a few
Nabugs, a plum-like fruit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha began crying softly. “Hush
now, my sister.” He gently pulled her
up onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. He rocked back and forth—the
way his mother used to. He kissed her short black hair and whispered, “Shhh,
soon you will not cry anymore. I will sing our mother’s song.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Swaying slightly from side to side,
he sang the familiar tune.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Hush the night is coming on,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Rest upon my breast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Hush, my little baby child,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Close your eyes and rest.<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Lullabies are nice, he thought wistfully, remembering the comforting warmth of his mother's voice that flowed like soft silk in the evenings. He hoped the song worked for Nusha this time. Lately, it didn't</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">—especially the last few days when her crying had become more persistent and she kept calling for her mother. He didn't have the heart to tell her that she would never again see her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Continuing to hum the tune, he watched his sister’s face. Soon, her crying softened to faint sobs and
an occasional hiccup. Her eyelids closed. Tomar heaved a sigh of relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He wiped her tear-stained cheeks
with the ragged edge of his cuff and straightened her dress that he had managed
to wash clean in a bucket of rainwater the day before. “You must look as nice
as possible,” he whispered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Knowing what he had to do, he felt
pressed with the urgency but clenched his eyes shut. How could he go through
with it? Nusha was all that he had left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It would mean that she would never
again celebrate the feast of Newroz, follow the Qirdik clown with her friends
or go door to door to receive gifts from the townspeople. She would not
participate in any village customs or hear the legends of their Kurdish
ancestors. She would grow up and not know any of this. Was he doing the right
thing? His whole body became a cauldron of swirling emotions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Shivering suddenly from a gust of
wind that blew through the streets, he raised his head and then wrinkled his
nose. The air still wasn’t right. The last few days when it wafted in on the
breeze it stunk like fertilizer. He knew that this far away it couldn’t be
from Halabja, but other towns that had been attacked. But the odor, faint or
not, only reinforced what he had to do.
His mouth tightened into a firm line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “I have reached Sin Al-Bulugh,” he
said, “the age of maturity.” Had not his father confirmed this by proudly
responding to those who asked his age, “Gihaye tifinge, he can use a rifle—he
is a man now.” Therefore, he must return and join the Peshmerga—those who face
death for Kurdistan’s freedom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He was too exhausted to travel any
more that night. Holding her tightly to his chest so as not to awaken her, he
carefully stood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Skulking through the deserted
streets he searched for a place to sleep. Spectral shadows seemed to reach for him with ghostly fingers and his heart rate climbed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He finally found an old weathered
lean-to no bigger than a chicken coop at the edge of the debris-strewn village.
It smelled of damp, rotting wood and part of the roof was caved in. He gathered
old rags that were scattered about and made Nusha a soft bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He lay down next to her on the
wood-planked floor and gazed up through the hole in the broken roof. Tiny stars
studded the cobalt sky. It was the clearest he had seen for many nights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> At home, when his mother tucked
them in at bedtime, she had told them about the silver river of stars—the big
bear, Terme Merxe, the small bear, Terme Adem¾and how they guided
travelers. She also said that whenever they saw a large star encircled by
smaller ones, to remember her—it was a sign of a mother’s love for her children
and the togetherness they would always have. He diligently searched for a large
star encircled by smaller ones but saw none.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> His sobs burst upward in great
heart-breaking rushes, then he fell asleep and dreamed he was eating his
mother’s bread drenched in home-churned butter and olive oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The next evening, as the sun
slipped down over the horizon and the warm, pink glow on the rocky landscape
faded, Tomar awakened Nusha and they resumed their moonlight trek. She sleepily
stumbled along beside him, clutching on to his pant leg. Only when clouds
obscured the moon and it turned pitch-black did he stop. But the rest of the
time he kept the moon-spangled water of the Tigris well in sight and kept
searching the horizon for the distant lights of Diyarbakir.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When he was young, his father had
taken him there. At that time, there was less to fear from the Turks about
their Kurdish nationality. But now it was different. Both the Kurdish flag and
his language were prohibited—Halabja was an example of the hatred the regime
felt. It was dangerous, but that’s where he needed to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Yet, despite the danger, he
remembered his fascination with the city’s tall, gilt-domed buildings and
mosques covered with shiny tiles etched with palms and pomegranates, and
skilled weavers who made prayer beads and bracelets with thin threads of
silver. Best of all he enjoyed the marketplace because before heading for home
his father loaded up his truck with watermelons. Then, during their return trip
across the desert they would periodically stop and eat a few slices. He
remembered the sweet taste . . . the fun of seeing which one could spit seeds
the farthest . . . and how the sticky juice dribbled down their chins, hands
and arms. It was a special time he would always remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> But for now, another attraction in
the city held more significance for him than grand buildings or nostalgic
memories. The few lone travelers they had met along the way said it was still
there. He panicked at the thought that it might not be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The sun dipped low at the end of
the day and the sky turned a smoky, purplish-orange. They started out again as
a cool breeze came in on the tail of the blanketing dusk. Nusha was draped over
his shoulder, asleep. She barely cried at all anymore except on brief
occasions, which was a relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> By late evening, he spied the dim
lights of Diyarbakir in the distance. Within two hours, he reached the black,
basalt megaliths that formed its city wall and began looking for Mardin, one of
the five gates. It was the one he and his father used, as had caravan travelers
of old.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha stirred and began crying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Shhh . . . we are almost there,”
he said. He shifted her onto his other shoulder, straddling her legs on his
hip. Nusha, sobbing softly, laid her head back down upon his shoulder and
closed her eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar soon found the gate and
fearfully crept through the shadowy entranceway. Thoughts of the regime’s
powerful hatred against Kurds made him extra cautious that no one see him. His
heart nearly hammered its way out of his chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He hesitated for a few seconds.
Swallowing dryly, he ran his tongue over cracked lips. Nevertheless, his
face remained resolute. There could be no change of plans. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Allah excused transgressions of
children; but now it was different—he was a man. He must follow through on his
first duty, or a sin would be charged against him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Moving through the moonlit streets,
he passed the domed mausoleums, tile-covered mosques and familiar market place
with its awning-covered fruit stands. He was certain he was headed in the right
direction and that he would recognize the place. His father pointed it out to
him once when showing him around the city. He had stopped in front of it long
enough to explain its purpose, emphasizing that their family was fortunate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He paused at a familiar corner and hesitantly
peered around the corner of a building. He started down the dim alleyway and
soon stopped in front of a wooden building.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A quiver ran down his back, and his
knees went spongy as he stared at the arched doorway that marked his journey’s
end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A yellow glow shone from the crack
beneath the door, spilled down the three wooden steps, and spread out across the
narrow alleyway. His throat constricted as he looked up at the small,
weather-beaten sign that hung over the entranceway . . . <i>Children’s Home</i>. His
arms tightened around Nusha and his heart beat like the wings of frightened
birds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Wake up . . . little . . .
sister,” his voice quavered. “We are . . . here.” Nusha drowsily opened her eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He nervously glanced up and down
the darkened street and then placed her on the ground. Nusha looked up at him
with sleep-filled eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “You must look nice,” he said,
managing to speak in a matter-of-fact tone. He knelt down in front of her and
smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress, pausing to examine a rip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha looked down at it and her
chin quivered. Tomar smiled and quickly took her hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Do not worry about the rip now.
They will love you anyway, for you are a good little sister.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He licked his fingers and smoothed
her short, black hair. Nusha smiled at him, raised her arm and with her small
hand patted her hair. Tears came to Tomar’s eyes but he brushed them away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Pulling his pencil and tablet from
his pocket, he tore off a sheet. He moved up the creaky steps and slowly began
writing in the dim light coming from beneath the crack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Please take care of my sister. Our
parents are dead many </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> weeks. I am twelve, and can no
longer find food for this </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> small sister. To my ears came news
of your house, so I </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> bring Nusha to you.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He reread the note twice, came back
down the steps and knelt down pressing it into her tiny hand. Nusha glanced at
the paper, puzzled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “You must stand here . . . in front
of the door,” he said, firmly resting his hands on her shoulders. Then,
standing he started to move back up the steps toward the door. Nusha
instinctively bolted forward. Tomar pried loose the tiny arms that clung about
his legs and squatted down in front of her. He kissed her cheek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Little Nusha . . . In there,” he
pointed at the door, “they will give you food so you won’t be hungry and put
shoes on your sore feet. You will have a bed with warm covers and will no
longer cry at night when you go to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “These honorable people will send
you to live with a family where you can play with their happy children. And do
you know why they are happy? Because their mothers can mend tears in dresses,
fix warm bowls of rice, and sing the lullaby.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He sadly shook his head. “I cannot
do these things.” He felt a cold fist close over his heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha, her eyes fixed on him,
listened intently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Oh, little sister, you do not know
what I am saying and . . . his face locked with pain . . . “you will not
remember me.” Tomar quickly blinked
his tears away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “May you . . . gaze up to much happiness, Nusha.” He felt his
heart breaking into so many pieces that they were rising up and plugging his
throat so he could no longer speak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Moving up the wooden steps, he
grabbed the slender rope that hung to the side of the door and gave it a tug.
The tinkling of a bell sounded inside the building. Turning, he returned to
where Nusha stood watching him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Stay right here,” he said,
pointing his finger to the spot where she stood. Then, turning away, he slowly
moved down the street a few steps at a time, the knot in his stomach twisting
harder. He glanced back at her over his shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha, her eyes wide, let out a cry
and started after him. Tomar whirled around and rushed forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “No, no, little sister!” He spoke
sharply, pushing her back. “You cannot come. I will just be a few minutes. Wait
for me here . . . and . . . I will return.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The last word caught in his
throat—he had disgraced his parents with this lie. He only hoped that Allah
would some day forgive him. He pointed up the steps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> “Look, someone will open the door
soon. Give them the paper!” Nusha, her chin trembling, turned back and stared
at the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Those few seconds were all Tomar
needed. He ran a few yards and ducked within the shadows of a small moon gate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Peering from his hiding place, he
watched breathlessly. The door opened, letting the yellow light from inside
fall upon Nusha. Tomar swallowed hard as he watched her look up into the faces
of two women.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> One of them stepped out, knelt in
front of Nusha and tenderly put her arms around her. She spoke softly, and
Tomar thought he saw Nusha smile in return. He smiled too . . . a little.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Nusha held out the note. Tomar
stopped breathing. When the lady finished reading it she gently gathered Nusha
into her arms and reentered the building.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The door swung shut . . . the
street was quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Tomar slowly sank to the ground. He
leaned back against a large barrel and sat motionless for a few minutes.
Turning his head, he stared down the alley where he last saw Nusha. Would he
ever see her again?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Glancing down at his shirt, he
pressed it together where a button was gone. Then he tightened his sash and
brushed an imaginary speck from his trousers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He looked up at the sky. The silver
river of heaven was fading. Hints of dawn now touched the sky and soft rays of
light were slowly poking slender beams between the wooden buildings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Rising to his feet he took a few
uncertain steps, paused and took one last glance over his shoulder. Then, he</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> moved down the street with
slow, hesitant steps, pushing a small rock with his foot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> He was glad the lady put her arms
around Nusha. He hoped she could sing the lullaby.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> THE END</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<u>Interesting Fact About This Story</u> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">The story’s ending and the note that
Tomar writes, is a copy of an actual note written by a twelve-year-old boy when he left
his two-year-old sister, Su Ying, at the Babies’ Home in Taichung, Formosa. I
simply changed the country and incorporated it into this story. </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">Her touching picture was published in the </span><i style="line-height: 200%;">Saturday
Evening Post (</i><span style="line-height: 200%;">1967)</span><i style="line-height: 200%;"> </i><span style="line-height: 200%;">in a “Save the Children” ad for Christian Children’s Fund,
Inc. Further below is her picture and story.</span><span style="line-height: 32px;"><br /></span><b style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><u>COMMENTS</u> </b><span style="color: red; line-height: normal;">(To leave a comment, click on "post your comment" in the box further below.) </span><br />
<span arial="" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" red="" sans-serif="" small="" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Bernie.</b> </span>Janis, You did it again--you touched my heart and I wept. This is a great story written by an excellent story teller. I was carried along with such clarity of description, I could virtually see the landscape in my mind's eye.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><b>Deb. H.</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Janis, Thank you for sharing this story. I realize it is fiction, but having taught ESL (English as second language) to Kurdish refugees, I know from their stories that this is not an exaggeration of the horrors they endured. I truly enjoy following your contributions in this group. Blessings, Deb Harrell.</span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653192988132183609.post-22060911060263416592014-11-02T13:18:00.000-08:002014-11-09T12:20:29.107-08:00REFLECTIONS IN COUNTERPOINT<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b>When I
am crunched for time, I often re-post one of my short stories instead of writing a new article. This is what I am doing this month. I need more time to put the finishing touches on my novel, <i>Ultimate
Justice</i>, a historical, suspense thriller, and prepare it for submission to an agent (very time-consuming). You can see what it's about by clicking on "My Books" at the top of this page, and then scroll down.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you enjoy the below story – especially you music lovers.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This true story won
First Place in the 2002 </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Write on the Sound
Literary Contest.” </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">REFLECTIONS IN COUNTERPOINT</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The rigid legs of the wooden chair screeched against the classroom floor as Mrs. Waterbury, my high school piano teacher, shoved it out from behind her desk. She stood up and stepped around in front, adjusting the coiled knot of smoky-gray hair that rested at the nape of her neck.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Play middle C," she said.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It was my turn at the piano that day and I
dutifully plunked the key down. The harsh, twangy tone sounded from beneath the
mahogany instrument’s half-opened lid.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"No," she said. "Play it, not
murder it!" She rushed over and slid onto the oblong bench beside me. I
ducked my head to hide my stricken look.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>She raised her finger, poising it dramatically
above the keyboard. Slowly, it floated downward until the ball of her finger
pressed into the ivory key. The heel of her hand dipped down to the left,
circled and came up in an arc to the right. The warm, vibrant “C” resonated
throughout the room as her finger slowly pivoted up and away from the key with
a graceful flourish.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“Few,” she said, sliding off the bench, “know
how to play C."<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The knot in my stomach tightened. My hope of
becoming a concert pianist was dashed. Nevertheless, what she said next opened
a whole new world for me.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“Remember, class,” she added, stepping back
behind her desk. “’C’ means,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>see</i>.
When combined with other notes and enhanced by instruments, you will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>see</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>something you never saw before.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>To illustrate this, she had us listen to
Prokoviev’s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Peter and the Wolf</i>.
My dull, gray existence expanded into brilliancy as I found myself delightfully
skipping along with Peter into the grassy meadow, cringing when French horns
warned of the wolf’s presence and lamenting when the dirge-like oboe portrayed
the sad end of the duck. When Peter lowered the lasso around the wolf’s tail I
cheered and jubilantly marched off with the cast of characters in the finale’s
triumphant procession.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Next, we listened to Smetana’s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Moldau</i>. I found myself
buoyantly swept up into the rolling boil of the river’s current. Whirling atop
the swells and surges, I glided in glittering gurgles of pure joy, hugging
slopes and hillsides and passing village festivals along green-wooded, Bohemian
banks. <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“Now,” Mrs. Waterbury concluded, “you have seen
what the composers intended you to see. But the real magic of music comes when
you see beyond that—when it touches an emotional chord deep inside you and
causes you to see your own life.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>At age fourteen, she rather lost me on that; but
I honestly tried. I listened to Debussy’s<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i>Clair
de Lune,</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>which<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>only made me long for a
peaceful, serene life—away from the despair of my abusive living conditions and miserable
sense of worthlessness. Sousa’s bold and precise metronomic marches made me
wish that my life could be punctuated with that kind of strength and
significance.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Try as I did, I could<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>see</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>nothing about my life in any of the
music. While<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Peter and the
Wolf<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>was enjoyable, Debussy
and Sousa’s music only made me yearn for something that I didn’t have. To find
a musical composition that truly reflected the distressing realities of my life
would require finding one that was even more dissonant and clashing than
Khatchaturian’s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Sabre Dance!</i> Yet,
who would want to listen to something like<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>that</i>? <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Then, Mrs. Waterbury had the class listen to one
of Bach's fugues. <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In open-mouthed astonishment I listened to
chaotic counterpoints fighting against each other, its tangles of kaleidoscopic
notes viciously slamming into the helpless melody. Bach fit! It exactly matched
my life!<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>But as much as I identified with all that
cacophony, there was one drawback. What was the point of all that perpetual,
directionless struggling? Was there any end in sight? Or was Bach, like myself,
powerless to control his own music? Unfortunately, the school bell rang before the
piece ended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“See you on Monday,” Mrs. Waterbury called,
pushing the stop button on the recorder.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I walked out of the classroom, intrigued. I felt
some kind of enigmatic bond to Bach and knew that I had to hear the end. Maybe
at the conclusion of the composition something would predict who would win—the
relentless, hard-hitting counterpoints, or the helpless melody. I dashed to the
school library, checked out the recording and rushed home.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Alone in my bedroom I shoved it into the tape
deck and flipped the switch. Pleasant notes lilted singly, one by one, through
the silence of my room—but not for long. Furious counterpoints charged in with
window-rattling intensity. I grabbed a ruler as a baton and began orchestrating
all the incomprehensible notes of his composition.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In mighty sweeps and flourishes, I kept pace
with the quarrelsome notes that rushed in to overwhelm the poor, struggling
melody—a melody that simply wanted to sing its own song.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I continued my frenzied conducting, hoping that
by the end the fugue-like jumble would somehow unscramble into a meaningful
structure. Then, as Mrs. Waterbury promised,<span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>I
would "see<i>"</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>something
about my life—some definitive design that would reveal the why of everything
and show that the melody could survive despite the opposition.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>My baton whipped back and forth, up and down,
following the helter-skelter race of turbulent notes that swirled about me. The
crescendos and dynamics of my tangled life rose and plunged as the unrelenting
counterpoints hurled my hopeless existence out of control.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>As my life intertwined with that of Bach’s
fugue, the thunderous, incongruous notes began to shift into a surprising
synthesis of unity and diversity and I found myself delighting in the effusive
experience.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Then, something unexpected happened. In a
strange sense of soul-awakening harmonies, the counterpoints began to sidle
alongside the original melody and yield to the same rhythmic pace. The notes, moving into
a purposeful pattern, fused into a connective continuity and melded into
a dynamic and unified composition. No longer were they fighting against each
other, but riding upon a resplendent continuum!<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>But it was the <span style="background: white;">conclusion that totally overwhelmed me. Bach ended his piece, not in a
conglomeration of conflicting melodies still fighting against each other, but
with a slow, deliberate and grand momentous coming-together of harmonizing
chords. All the scattered and diverse melodies were no longer at odds with each
other, but met together with full purpose and meaning.</span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">I quivered
with anticipation as the final, impassioned chords came together in
synchronic and thunderous tones like the doxology of a heavenly choir. In one
majestic<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Amen</i>, they burst
open the door to my soul, flooding my heart with an indefinable, but resonating
assurance. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Then, all was still.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">In the
flow of silence that followed, like the interpretive hush of a period
at the end of a sentence, the final, impassioned note punctuated the full
meaning of my schizophrenic existence, revealing design, purpose and a promise
of ultimate fulfillment.</span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">I sank onto the
edge of my bed. </span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">"Wow,"
I whispered, “<i>Now</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>I</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>see</i>—I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>can</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>survive the counterpoints! Whatever
lay ahead of me—even if chaotic and discordant—like Bach I can orchestrate the
whole wondrous composition of my life to a harmonizing end."</span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background: white;">With a shout, I
instinctively leaped to my feet.</span><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;"><b>"Bravo!"</b></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: red;"><u>COMMENTS </u>(use the comment box further below)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Caryl McAdoo:</b></span></span><br />
<b style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><i>Janis, well done! Being a lover of music, I thoroughly
enjoyed your story! Bravo! Thak you for sharing!</i> (Nov. 5, 2014)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: red;">Bernie Jensen:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think I
remember this story. Thoroughly enjoyed it again. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have a
marvelous literary ability, a gifting from above, and you use it well. </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Have a good day
and keep writing.</i> (Nov. 8, 2014)</span></span></b></div>
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