In the midst of chaos an answer is always sought after. Who, what, when, where, and why seems to always prelude the unanswered questions. Who did this, what caused it, when did it happen, where can I find the answer, or why did it happen, all these questions seem to be asked, but it seems only when life comes to a place of complete disorder do we realize these questions have always been there. These questions nag and itch our spirit until the proper answer is received.

The swine flu is just another such event in a long list of unanswered questions many are asking right now and rightly so. Those affected and those watching should ask such questions, should seek answers, and should never leave the question open without pursuit. Just like any other unanswered question, it becomes a mystery demanding a conclusion, and with the right amount of investigation and reasonable application of uncovered clues the investigation renders valuable answers.

The pursuit of answers is often easier said than done. Most of the time it seems the best we can do is present our own ideas, but if these ideas are left unproven, the lack of proven truth promotes instability with a greater potential of collapse, thus the typical fate of speculation. If you are like me, when truth seems to be ever so elusive, the determination to uncover answers whole-heartedly takes over until truth's antidote soothes my burning desire for closure.

It seems we are always in a vicious cycle, searching for answers, consciously or unconsciously driven to search for the answers to life and ultimately fulfill the deep down desires to complete our being. A certain level of self-motivation drives us all, some more than others, while some obsess others seem to not care at all, but even the laziest of sloth seeks out food. What is it that causes us to seek completion, what or who are we pursuing, and why must we satisfy the insatiable crave.

With each endeavor is a purpose; with each motive is a central cause or reason. For some happiness (generally just the illusion of) seems to only be found in the pursuit and possession of money. For others it is not wholly about money, but the pursuit of an illusive love, multiple sex partners, drugs, alcohol, power, and carnal acceptance, all seem to bring momentary comfort and personal fulfillment, with each the satisfaction fades, leading to the next temporary high. These are just a few examples, millions of different scenarios and combinations of pleasures can fuel desire, but for the purpose of this post, the basic rock and roll image: drugs, alcohol, sex, money, and self will prove adequate.

Having lived the drugs, alcohol, sex, money, and rock and roll lifestyle personally, I can reflect back upon previous experiences and personal interactions, (with now opened eyes, thank you Jesus Christ), and see that everyone including myself, though perverse, was pursing completion or temporary satisfaction some how. Even in the midst of the drunken stupors, drug inflected dementia, indulgences in flesh, and no matter how much money I (or we) had something still nagged inside. Nothing ever quenched it, even the temporary satisfactions were never complete, and every attempt fell short desperately short.

The demand for a better high, better sex, more money, more friends, better car, bigger house, more, more, more, yet never are we complete and still abandoned we feel inside. The deeper the desire, the further away completion seems, until the weight of such pursuit begins to bear down and crush us, the pursuer. The search is never ending, the craving, the desire for completion, we continue to tell ourselves, "Just this one last thing, this one last time, or if I could just do this and I will be complete." The list of potential JUSTS is forever long and never satisfactory.

Brothers and sisters, it is natural to search, it is natural to ask questions. We are all driven to pursue completion, having been engineered for a specific purpose this desire is instilled in the soul of every being. Once the realization that something within us is missing, it is only natural to find something to fill the void. Who are we filling it with, what are we filling it with, when are we going to fill it, where are we going to find the substance to fill it with, and why should we care about what we fill it with anyways?

The answer to this is simple, though many will try to complicate its simplicity. We need only to go to one place to find the answer; as a result of going to this place we will view the two following places from a different perspective.

The first place is a cross on a hill; the scene is over 2,000 years ago, at a place called Golgotha, a hill called the skull. Upon this hill a massive instrument of intense brutality, of which the sole purpose was to inflect the most amount of pain. Engineered for suffering, the roman cross insured prolonged agony and certain death. Though this cross was made the same as the others, this cross was different, upon this roman cross hung a man who was spotless, sinless, and bore the name Emmanuel, for upon it was the same God who is with us as He was that day on the cross.

As the Messiah, the King of kings, our Blessed Redeemer hung there, His Blood raining down in torrents, the cross driven into earth becoming the alter, His body was sacrificed and presented as the atonement for every sin committed past, present, and future for all who would accept Him as King. A man who at any minute could call 12 legions of angels from heaven to rescue Him, to spare Him from the mortal pain, though many forget the sin of mankind alone was enough to tear in two the heart of the sinless Lamb. A man who even in death pleaded for the lives of those who drove the spikes deep into His flesh, weeping for the lives of every soul that would reject His death, yet inside encouraged by the souls He would redeem.

Upon the last breath, once the Holy Ghost left, the earth moved, the temple veil was spilt, man could now come before Jehovah, and He even caused the hardest of roman soldiers to acknowledge He was the Christ. In death it all seemed to come to life. Salvation was set in place, the Blood of Christ was spilt, this is where we must go, and this is the sacrifice that we must never forget.

Such a selfless sacrifice by the King of kings is impossible for our inept minds to grasp, yet it seems to satisfy a longing so deep it must be the key to life. His act of love so incomprehensible it seems easier for the majority to reject the notion. If we can't bring ourselves to the cross of our Redeemer, then there is no further endeavor worth pursuit.

Under the shadow of the cross we must kneel, allowing the warm Blood of Jesus Christ to rain down upon our sinful souls, and allowing it to melt the icy heart sin produces. Under the body of Christ we find the key to completion, we see He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All our questions answered by one man's response upon the cross. It is here that we must acknowledge Jesus Christ bore the burden of our sin, opening for us the door to eternal salvation, and presented His life as a sacrificial payment for our soul damning debt.

After we accept Jesus Christ for who He is, after we accept where He fits within our lives, we are ultimately shown another place.

In a tomb on loan we see the brief vision of our Savior's body being placed on a Rock. Wrapped in burial cloth and sprinkled with the sweet fragrance of perfume, not the typical burial for a king, but this was not a typical king, this was the King of kings. Just like in life, even in the grave the Son of man had no place of His own to lay His head. He, like His Ekklesia, are just traveling through, concerned more with the will of His Father, and the fulfillment of such a will meant continual sacrifice and separation from worldly substance, so why would this tomb be any different?

The door was blocked and sealed, guards posted in an attempt to keep someone from taking the body of Christ, never realizing that the King would emerge from within. Death's seeming defeat of Jesus Christ seemed complete, impossible to overcome, but Jesus Christ is the Overcomer! No man, no tomb, and even the icy grip of death cannot hold the King of kings in an earthly grave. Three days later after hanging on a cross, just as the prophets had prophesied, HE IS RISEN! He's alive and we're forgiven, heaven's gates where opened wide, HE'S ALIVE!

Here at the tomb we are validated, we too conquer death, we too are victorious, having seen the tomb empty we understand further the questions we have sought to answer.

The final place is the Throne. If you are reading this I can safely say you are still alive and haven't seen the Throne of Jehovah. We can only at best imagine what it will be like to stand before the Eternal and Righteous King of kings. The Day of Judgment will be the completion or eternal damnation for each and every soul that stands before the King. Did you accept Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb or did you accept the temporary pleasures of a temporary earthly world, the gifts of our adversary Satan? If you have chosen the temporary instead of the eternal, you will receive the same judgment as Satan whose pleasure you shared in and helped to advance in the earthly realm. Eternal damnation, forever from the presence of Jehovah, whether burning or in utter darkness with memories of blatant opportunities to accept the Lamb of God, nothing will compare to the knowledge of never being eternally bound to the Creator and King. If you have chosen Jesus Christ, and followed after His instruction, enduring the sacrifices faced by separating yourself from a dying world, you will inherit all that Jehovah has given Jesus Christ. Eternal life and the completion of our creation, something we can never comprehend and will most definitely take eternity to enjoy and experience.

The last place we go is only the beginning. At this point eternal will take a whole new meaning and at this point in life a concept we are incapable of understanding, but that doesn't change the validity of the Truth. Will you enter in as a good and faithful servant and child of Jehovah or will you be cast away as one Jehovah never knew?

Nothing in this world is worth our pursuit if it is void of Jesus Christ and His direction. It is not our will that we should ever be concerned with, but rather the will of our Eternal Father. We must come to this place in our life, just as Jesus Christ did His whole life, and follow daily the Heavenly Father's path that is straight and narrow.

If it is the answer to life that you seek, here it is....... His name is Jesus Christ.

He is the Who, His sacrifice is the What, the When was 2,000 years ago on a roman cross, Where was a place called Golgotha, and the Why.... Because He loved each and every single one of us.

If you haven't given your life to Jesus Christ, I urge you too, life is short, but our soul is eternal.

God Bless, Daniel Eggers

1 And Hannah prayed and said:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
My strength is exalted in the LORD.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 "No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 "Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.

4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.

6 "The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.

8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.

"For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,
And He has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

"For by strength no man shall prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
1 Samuel 2:1-10

God Bless, Daniel Eggers

Today Washington through the voice of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a warning to Israel; cautioning Israel's new right wing government lead by Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue Palestinian peace talks if Israel expects to receive any help from the Arab nations (and hinted US support) with the current Iranian threat.

This is what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee:

"For Israel to get the kind of strong support it is looking for vis-à-vis Iran, it can't stay on the sidelines with respect to the Palestinians and the peace efforts. They go hand in hand."

She went on to say a couple of other things, but this comment really sticks out as a carrot on a string.

It seems Washington is trying to use common knowledge held by most that Israel needs the support of the US if it is to confront Iran militarily; I believe this is a grave misconception. Despite the US firm belief Israel must have the support of their military, Israeli intelligence officials and high ranking Israeli military leadership believe Israel has the military capability if needed to attack Iran on it's own, though Israel has stated on several occasions that a coordinated strike with the aid of the US is preferred.

The statement out of Washington today is troubling for several reasons.

1. Washington is conditioning its level of support for Israel in regards to a potential military strike against Iran on the level of commitment Israel is willing to devote to the US/Arab nation brokered peace incentive.
2. By stating their level of support hinges on Israel's cooperation, Washington is establishing its role to dictate how the Palestinian State will be set in motion.
3. The purposed peace plan Washington will expect Israel to adhere to if Israel would like to receive support against Iran is void of any Israeli input, formulated by the US and Arab Nations, thus US / Arab peace incentive.

Netanyahu will be making a trip to Washington in May to receive the Obama administration (and Arab Nations) purposed plan for a Palestinian State, at which time Netanyahu will present Israel's purposed plan. The plan formulated by Netanyahu's government is sure to be the opposite of the plan brokered by the US and Arab nations, only increasing the tension between the two governments.

In an interesting move, one that I believe holds great significance for the future state of America, Obama is planning in a televised address to the nation to state his administration's stance and aggressive role in the coming peace negotiations. We must pay close attention to the address and the information that Obama presents. I believe it will carry with it a heavy penalty if any of the following statements are made:

1. This (Obama) administration believes Israel should considered Jerusalem and/or the West Bank as the potential future site for a Palestinian State.
2. The Golan Heights should be returned to Syria and as a result the Syrian government has agreed to continue negotiations for the recognition of Israel and a committed stance against Hezbollah.
3. Any support in confronting Iran's nuclear threat will hinge upon Israel's commitment to the Peace incentive brokered by Washington and the Arab nations.
4. Israel must recognize a Hamas shared Palestinian government as part of the Washington / Arab nations peace incentive.

I don't know for sure if these will be the demands of Obama's televised address, I am only stating that if any of these, or all, are stated, a heavy price will have to be paid by the nation or nations that support such demands against Israel. Whether or not any of these points are made, I believe this televised address holds a great deal of significance. This event will happen sometime towards the end of May.

Keep your eyes set on Israel and your prayers directed to the continued peace of Jerusalem.

God Bless, Daniel Eggers

Heavenly Father, as the burdenstone is put in place and the cup of trembling is filled, protect Your children who bear the mark of Jesus Christ. Lead the governors of Judah in Your guidance, that they will forever trust the Lord of Hosts. Amen

Clinton says Israel risks losing support on Iran

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE53M5CZ20090423
 

Today Debkafile reported the Obama administration has opted to follow the peace plan initiated by Saudi Arabia. This had been stated by Middle East envoy George Mitchell last week, when he informed Netanyahu's government that Obama would incorporate the Saudis peace plan into the peace plan Obama was formulating.

This peace plan will demand Israel withdraw to the pre-1967 war lines, i.e. evacuating the West Bank, Golan Heights and historic Jerusalem, and only after complying to these demands and accepting the foundation of a Palestinian state will the Arab world recognize Israel as a sovereign state.

The Obama administration said that the plan would be presented to Netanyahu in June when he comes to Washington, with the new administration in Washington making it very clear to Netanyahu, this plan will be actively pursued.

Obama is even considering a televised address before Netanyahu comes to Washington, a move to inform the nation on the administrations position on the future of Israel as Obama sees it.

Let me blunt, this only spells disaster.

This will only further strain the once robust ties between Washington and Israel.

Netanyahu will never agree to the withdraw of either the Golan Heights or the West Bank, and Obama can forget Jerusalem, Netanyahu will never give up Jerusalem. All three of these areas Netanyahu has already made clear are not up for negotiation.

Obama is taking the final steps to national destruction. His lies, deceit, pride, and fist in Jehovah's face will not go unnoticed; all that is left now is the betrayal.

This is how Obama treats his friends? I don't think Obama really cares who or what Israel is. With every bow, every handshake, and everyday that goes by without making a stand for Israel, I believe the signs are before us.

Heavenly Father, protect Israel in the days ahead, give her leadership the wisdom and guidance needed to confront the snake and the dragon. Break every back of every nation that tries to consume her, defend her from the wickedness that grows on her borders and throughout the world. Prepare us Jehovah; protect the vine of Israel and the vine that has been grafted in. Amen

Obama to ask Israel for direct peace talks based on Arab League peace plan

 

by Rev Michael Bresciani

Excited media and political pundits are chomping at the bit to discuss the merits or the failures of President Obama's worldwide romp through Europe and Muslim countries. Here is one view.

Bowing to the King of a Muslim Nation, Proclaiming America is not a Christian nation while in Turkey and romping through Europe apologizing for arrogant Americans, Obama returns to an insulted and belittled nation. Will we get an apology? Not likely!

Liberal historians and secular academicians in the U.S. may have of late been able to re-write history and plug it to a generation that is graduating from high school with fifth grade reading skills. They have not been allowed to erase the voluminous works of U.S. history archived and protected so far by law. That history defies, denies and decries the lie that America is not a Christian nation.

It is those revered documents that when contrasted to Mr. Obama's rhetoric in Turkey before the public and President Abdullah Gul that tend to leave a sick feeling in the stomach and a feeling of betrayal in the heart.

Mr. Obama said ""Although...we have a large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation.  We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

The only way to mitigate the outrageous statement made by the President is the consideration that he may have missed American History 101 while attending Muslim Madrassah schools in Kenya, or Indonesia.

With over three fourths of Americans claiming to be Christian and a landscape dotted with Catholic cathedrals and Christian churches from rural to urban America we have only to wonder if the President was speaking about another America as he toured the world.

Perhaps, Barack has decided that his popularity is a mandate to proclaim that there is another America. With a touch of magic liberal progressive stardust to sprinkle on the minds of those who can't tell the difference between a reality TV series and a deadly national political shift toward socialism Obama gets applause and reality gets the boot.

Obama says that America has been arrogant. But here is arrogance. Obama says it; liberals believe it and that settles it, history, prolific Christianity, historical records and national pride notwithstanding.

Here is arrogance. That no commitments were made by any nation in the world to send combatants to Afghanistan but in America a commitment was made of continued presidential support for an army of medical professionals who are standing by to suck the life blood out of unborn babies at the rate of 4000 a day. Here is an army we can be proud of.

Here is arrogance. A wife who is not proud of America, a flag that is not worthy of a pledge, appointees to the judicial bench who think Sharia law might work in America and political appointees that openly profess and practice homosexuality. All this capped off by the latest appointee to the Presidents "faith based" initiative of an openly gay person. Glibly labeling the summarily disgusted as ‘homophobes' and then barreling blithely down the gay agenda highway to the new world order. This is super arrogance.

Here is arrogance. Sitting at the feet of a minister who ‘damns' America, pillaging America's treasury and castigating CEOs for bonuses even while spending multi-millions of dollars on the most extravagant inauguration party in American history.

Here is arrogance. The obfuscation and denial of the Christian foundations of America and the predominant practice of Christianity in this country even while Obama's own history remains in question including a fully signed birth certificate, the missing school records and the mysterious name change from Barry Soetoro to Barack Hussein Obama.

Here is arrogance. Allowing the re-writing of American history while disallowing anyone to uncover the personal history of only one man by using a team of legal experts to block school records, birth records and travel documents.

Here is the ultimate arrogance. To traverse the world garnering accolades and applause while labeling those in America as divisive and arrogant and return to carry on in business as usual. To ignore the insult to those living today and the untold millions of souls who gave their lives to defend this nation and its principles. To disregard the blood shed by Americans to deal with the scourge of fascism, communism, totalitarianism, bully-ism and megalomaniacal dictators even while Europe danced to the big bands and Nazi-ism waited in the wings.

It is safe to say that while the number is not known for sure a conservative guess would be that there are many millions who would be served and placated in some way by an apology from President Obama for the apologies that have insulted us not in one place but throughout the entire world.

The word haughty is used synonymously for the word arrogant both as the dictionary definition and in the Bible. It is often defined as pride but in many cases it is used to describe the business of putting someone down to lift your self up. It's rarely effective because it usually results in others seeing you as condescending and deceitful. The rest of the world will have to answer the question of whether Mr. Obama is either of these things but for many Americans the question is already answered.

The Bible has a more universal answer that warrants serious attention because it is a condition usually associated with the demise of a man or an entire nation. Its usage in this particular passage has to do with the ensuing final intervention of God in the affairs of men and judgment. To wit, "And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." (Isaiah 13:11)

With the unanswered questions about his past, socialistic policies to glaring to hide, a dismal voting record as a state lawmaker and his mind boggling initial policies as a President, Mr. Obama's apologies for America's arrogance would be better addressed by a New Testament passage spoken by Christ himself and often quoted in this ‘non-Christian' nation known as America.

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Luke 6:41)

I feel this may be one of, if not the last messages that I will write about the coming judgment upon America. Events soon to come will have me doing other things for the Lord and my personal Savior Jesus Christ. For now this has been my calling and I pray I have served Jehovah well. This is long, but I have no doubt this is the message the Lord has placed upon my heart to share. - Daniel

The Word of God vs. The Structural Integrity of America's Foundation

"In this day of gathering storms, as moral deterioration of political power spreads its growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base upon which this nation is founded; for it has been that base which has been the motivating impulse to our moral and national growth. History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual reawakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster." -General Douglas MacArthur

Did General Douglas MacArthur get a glimpse of America's future?

As I came across this quote I couldn't help but appreciate the words captured so eloquently by the late General. A statement so bold and so true, the words almost seem prophetic. What did the General know then that our nation doesn't seem to know now?

A nation is only as solid as its foundation. As simple as this concept is, many today have forgotten just how important a foundation is. A foundation isn't just for looks; it's the first step to a successful and sound structure. I know a carpenter; He explained it this way,

Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be like a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and the beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. -Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:24-27)

Okay so Jesus was speaking in terms of ones spirituality and salvation. But the principle is the same and is especially important for a nation's stability. Build upon the rock and the house stands, build upon the sand and great is the destruction.

So what does this have to do with America?

America's foundation has been compromised, undermined, and sold off greedily in countless exchanges for worldly lusts. The cornerstone is no longer established on the Rock of Jesus Christ. Does it seem so hard to believe America was at one time built upon the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ and lived by Judeo Christian values?  We must look back at history before it was rewritten and before Christianity started to be expunged from the books of history.

Here is an excerpt from The Watchman and 911, (this kind of history is hard, if not impossible, to find in our latest text books, but it is true and can be found with diligent research.)

America was born, not on July 4th but was conceived on July 4th... America was born as a fully formed nation on April 30th, 1789. On that day, for the first time, America had a Constitution, a House of Representatives and a President together. It was the birth of the United States as a fully formed, constituted nation.

On that day, the government, the House, the Senate and the President all gathered in the Capital together, it was the Inauguration of George Washington. It was the nation‘s Dedication Day.

Now often in the Bible, the threshold of a new beginning gives promises and warnings and prophetic truths: Moses at the Jordan River, Solomon at the dedication of the Temple. So after being sworn in, Washington went inside the Capitol Building and issued the first Presidential address. The first Presidential words were short and in the middle of it was a prophetic warning. He (George Washington) said this:

 "We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and the right which heaven itself has ordained."

The warning was, [that] America‘s future blessing would be, as with Israel, will hang on its relationship to God. If America should begin to depart from God, its blessings its prosperity and its protection shall be lifted up.

The warning was given on the Nation‘s first day, its day of dedication. After finishing the address and giving his warning, the first act of the American government was undertaken. It was this:

After the address, Washington, and all the other officials, the Senators, the House of Representatives, the Vice President, all left the place of Inauguration, traveled on foot to a small church, a chapel, they went inside...and we don‘t know exactly what they said, but we do know they were there for one purpose. For two hours they prayed, committed, and they consecrated this nation into God‘s hands. The entire government was kneeling before God.

[End excerpt]

So there really was a time in American history that our government as a whole bent knee before the Almighty God and consecrated this land to Jehovah's Holy and Heavenly name. It really is true that George Washington gave this nation wholly into the hands of God, acknowledging that this great land and America's blessing hung upon a righteous relationship with the Almighty God. This couldn't be true, could it? Sounds like our first president and the rest of the government for that matter understood the importance of a solid foundation.

That was America in the past; now to look at America's foundation in the present. To do this I will use what I call the "Three-stage system to national destruction" found throughout the book of Isaiah, it's as follows:
1. Spiritual apostasy
2. Moral awfulness
3. Political anarchy

From start to finish as each stage is completed, more of the original foundation deteriorates and becomes replaced with corruption and deceit. With each stage of deterioration also comes a cycle, with each cycle comes opportunities to repent and return once again to the original place of blessing under God and the reestablishment upon the sturdy foundation of Jehovah. We can see the children of Israel demonstrate this in the book of Judges and through out the rest of the Bible.

Upon her birth, America was dedicated to the Lord, thus she first started in a place of blessing. This nation's founding fathers and first president, as apparent through their first act as the newly ruling government, committed and consecrated this great land into the hands of God. Dedicating her at birth, they openly acknowledged she had been placed under the laws and guidance of God Almighty. For a time the government and the people of America continued to worship God and live by His moral code, governing and enforcing laws by this code.

After a time spiritual apostasy began to infiltrate the sound doctrine the government and the nation had originally used to establish America on a Godly foundation. America's Godly foundation came under attack by false religious doctrines, perverting the Truth ever so slightly. As always with sin, the first temptation always seems harmless. The little attacks of spiritual apostasy slowly undermined God's solid spiritual direction. America began ever so slightly to deviate from the moral code that had established her righteous relationship with God. After years of these minor changes, the changes as a whole added up to a huge shift in America's moral alignment with God. As one change led to another and as the cycle continued over a couple hundred years with increased intensity, the persistent spiritual apostasy achieved the 180° degree turnabout from righteousness, thus the completion of America's spiritual apostasy. Upon completion, America became guilty of forsaking the one and only true God and His divine instruction. 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

The next stage, moral awfulness begins to take root sometime after spiritual apostasy has already begun to alter a society's spiritual landscape. As heresy after heresy corrupts the moral code and sound doctrine of Jehovah, moral awfulness roots deeper into the conscience of the nation, government, and people. This continued spiritual and moral decline leads the nation, government, and the people to continually drift further away from a moral God-fearing conscience. Once spiritual apostasy has rendered the conscience mute of Godly conviction, ambition becomes driven by moral awfulness, lead by the seductive voice of carnal guidance. Carnal guidance leads to the path and propagation of all moral deficiencies, leading the nation, government, and her people to seek out carnal satisfaction no matter the amount of causalities created along the way. Both the physical and spiritual cost of such worldly pursuits, lead by the voice of carnal guidance, comes at a high price.

Before Moses died he told the children of Israel what would happen if they followed the seductive voice of carnal guidance and turned to wickedness.

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt [yourselves], and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 31:29

If corruption from replacing God's guidance with carnal guidance provoked Jehovah then, it can definitely be concluded it would have the same effect on America now.

As a direct effect of spiritual apostasy and moral awfulness the moral infrastructure of America became no longer established on the Laws of Jehovah, her foundation has become void of Jehovah's moral conscience, rendering America's foundation incapable of bearing the weight of even the smallest feather. If her foundation, void of Jehovah's righteous code cannot carry even the payload of the smallest feather without crumbling, how does it continue to carry the immeasurable weight of her continually compounded sins?

It can only be explained through the loving grace of God. It is by the Words of God's mouth that America's foundation hasn't already catastrophically crumbled under the weight of such tremendous sin. He continues to give the nation, government, and her people time to repent and turn from wickedness, for the time is coming when He will reveal the true integrity of America's foundation. Until then the foundation only has the illusion of stability, the same illusion of stability all sin attempts to project. Truth and history shows us all things void of integrity will surely be exposed by the integrity test of the Almighty hand of God.

According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abides which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know you not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Corinthians 3:10-19

Through the repetition of moral awfulness every facet of selfish desire becomes harder to achieve without further advancement and deeper dedication to sin. Once deeper in sin the sinner becomes a slave to sin, with a slave master that demands forsaking all of God's instruction bit by bit. Having forsaken God and His Laws only seems to make the pursuit of such motives easier to achieve. Each step from God and His righteousness leads to a deeper saturation in sin, each step leading further from the light of God's divine Truth. Void of the Light found only in Truth the path becomes darker with every step. Once a heart is void of the Light that only knowledge of the Truth can shed, the path becomes foreign and the clarity of one's purpose becomes a vapor in the wind. When the eyes of the soul can no longer see the Light of Truth, wicked and perverse imaginations begin to take course. The mind is the devil's playground, without the strength of the Holy Spirit; NO one can resist the grasp of Satan's wicked grasp.

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Romans 1:19-23

If a nation (as with man) continues on the path of destruction, destruction will eventually come. Depression and war seem to come once moral awfulness as a result of spiritual apostasy has come to full unrepentant maturity. In a spiritual application, sin has engulfed and consumed every part of the original Godly conscience and the hollow void that now remains becomes filled with perverted imaginations leading to immoral instability. Once any nation reaches this point, political anarchy has already overthrown the once moral and just government. A government void of God is a government bound for judgment.

Upon the final stage, as all throughout the path leading to destruction, God sends His messengers to urge the people and government of the nation recant their wicked ways and repent. Through history it seems that few have chosen the path of repentance, blinded by arrogance and pride, swallowed up by their own lust for sin, and content with pursing sin even after the effects of depression has consumed all they once were. Pride has caused too many nations (and people) to refuse repentance, pride has caused too many nations to become blind to the tell-tell signs of defeat, and pride will forever be the harbinger of a great fall.

As stated in the infallible Word of God, pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, thus the completion of political anarchy.
Pride comes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13

Man may change, but GOD always stays the same. God's instruction has always stayed the same, His course has never changed, and His way is set for eternity. He established the moral code that man has long challenged and before man Satan too challenged His authority.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

My belief is America is in the final stage of political anarchy. The hands of the nation are covered in the innocent blood of millions, permeated with homosexuality, women and men practicing and promoting unnatural affections, rebellion, promoting idols while the true God is torn down, wickedness, divorce, murder, theft, adultery, pornography, brutality, liars, etc....

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:21-32

America has received a call to repent, just like Nineveh with Jonah, except unlike Nineveh she has failed to receive the warning within the message.

The days ahead are dark for America. She and her leadership are seconds away from placing the last foot across the final threshold to judgment. She has gotten here through stages, with each crossroad the chance was given to repent, a chance to return back to the blessing of God, and each time she continued down her own path.

Soon her destruction will come in the form of division. She will attempt to divide that which is not hers to divide, which will lead to America being divided by the hand of the Almighty God.

Arrogance and pride has blinded the government of America, has set her eyes upon the division of Israel, and the appeasement of her enemies.

Soon, with a passion unlike any other previous passions, the government leaders of this nation will say yes we can. The arrogance and pride to demand Israel's sacred land be given to the very enemy that demands her destruction and the streets to be filled with the blood of her people will not go unnoticed by the King that sits on the Highest Throne. This nation's blood will be required for such an evil and wicked petition.

For our government to tell Israel she cannot defend herself against what any other country would deem a verified threat to national security would not go unpunished. To financially support the very enemies that demand Israel's destruction, to pursue reckless dialog, and to vocally promote the advancement of Iranian nuclear capabilities doesn't strengthen the bond between Israel and America, it only makes America Israel's enemy.

In the coming months Israel will strike Iran and our government will cause America to turn her back on Israel. Within minutes and the proceeding hours judgment will rain down upon the land of America. She will be so violently moved that all will know it is the Almighty hand of Jehovah.

As America's turns her back upon Israel she will come face to face with her righteous Judge and ALL her sins not covered by the Blood of the Lamb will be called to remembrance, of which she will have no defense, and these sins will be the cause for such severe sentencing.

The weight of such sin will crush America; God will cause the burden stone of Israel to grind America into powder. America's collapse will be great and her destruction mighty. The whole world will look upon her once great and majestic shores, through the smoke and fire they will shout with great horror, "Was that not the mighty America, she has surely stored up the wrath of God and He has judged her."

Israel will be America's final straw. Jehovah is a sovereign, just, and righteous God. Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse Israel will be cursed. The nations in the final days that burden themselves with her will be lacerated and cut down by the Almighty hand of God. America is right now on the threshold of cursing the apple of God's eye and the only Nation He has promised to defend.

The words are hard to swallow, even harder to share. America is already preparing the steps to isolate Israel and demand her obedience. Not just America, all nations are beginning to isolate and pressure Israel to fall in line. Just has Jehovah said all nations would rise against Israel He has said he will defend her. Once this final step is completed, Jehovah will intervene, America will first receiver her judgment, and the rest of the world will soon follow, setting the stage for the anti-Christ.

With this message we must all heed the warning. The days ahead for America are very dark, and her sins will cause God Almighty to consume her, but it doesn't have to be for you.

The Word of God tells us that if we will call upon His name He will hear our cry. If we will repent from our sins, He will forgive.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us in the days ahead if we have made Him the King of our heart. Just like the children of Israel in during the plagues of Egypt, the judgments fell upon Egypt with power only found in the hand of God. Though the children of Israel where in the midst, God kept His hand of protection upon them.

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 1 Samuel 12:22

The Angel of Death is waiting upon the shores of America, waiting for the sound of God's command. Will you place the Blood of the Lamb upon the door post of your heart? Will you too prepare your house to serve the Lord? The days ahead will consume the wicked; men, women, children, young, and old will die who have chosen to continue in wickedness.

These days are coming, make a decision to live for Jesus Christ. Don't live in fear, only live in the way the Lord has directed us to live, in His arms is the only way of escape. Under His pavilion is the only protection from fear. And thru Him you can obtain peace that exceeds all understanding and in the days ahead, peace found through Truth will be the key. Jesus Christ is the Key to life eternal!

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:3

God Bless, Daniel Eggers

 

Barna conducted a nationwide survey to see how many adults consider themselves to have a biblical worldview. These results were compared with similar surveys conducted by the company in 1995, 2000, and 2005. The results are disturbing.

Criteria

On the survey the following questions were asked:

• Absolute moral truth exists.
• The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.
• Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic.
• A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works.
• Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
• God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview.

Those surveyed out of the sixty subgroups who professed to be born again Christians, As noted, "born again Christians" were defined as people who said they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that was still important in their life today and who also indicated they believed that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "born again."

Of the born again sub category only 19% hold a biblical worldview.

However, that meant that even among born again Christians, less than one out of every five (19%) had such an outlook on life.

Of the same questions asked of respondents in national surveys by Barna in 1995, 2000 and 2005 the results indicated the percentage of adults with a biblical worldview, as defined above, has remained unchanged for more than a decade.

Non Born again            Born Again

1995 7%                      1995 18%

2000 10%                    2000 22%

2005 11%                    2005 21%

2009 9%                      2009 19%  

Varying numbers of Americans embrace the different aspects of biblical worldview thinking. The survey found that:

■Moral truth is absolute and unaffected by circumstances.

One-third of all adults (34%)

Almost half of Born Again (46%)

*68 Million out of 206* million

²44 million out of 95* million born again

John 16.13 = ... the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...

John 14.6 = Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life...

■The Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches.

Half of all adults (50%) This proportion includes the four-fifths of born again adults (79%) who concur.

103 million out of 206 million adults aged 23-65

75 million out of 95 million born again

28 million outside of the born again status or (14%) of adults in America.

Hebrews 6:18 = ... in which it was impossible for God to lie...

Titus 1:2 = In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie...

Psalm 19:7-9 = The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psalm 119:160 = Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endures forever.

■Satan is a real being or force, not just symbolic.

One-quarter of adults (27%)

Short of Half for Born Again (40%)

56 Million out of 206 million adults aged 23-65

38 million of 95 million born again

18 million outside of the born again status or (9%) of adults in America

2 Corinthians 11:14 = And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

John 8:44 = You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

To say that Satan does not exist to people who hold the scriptures as absolutely trustworthy is like asking them to throw as much as one fifth of the Bible in the trash. The scriptures make reference to Satan, the Devil, demons and devils over 185 times between Old and New Testaments. The Gospels even tell of the real-life failed temptations of Satan against Jesus while Jesus was fasting and praying in the wilderness. Satan was not symbolic, or just an ideology then, and he is still very real now.

■Believe it is impossible for someone to earn his or her way into Heaven through good behavior.

One-quarter of adults (28%)

Not quite half of all Born Again (47%) strongly reject the notion of earning salvation through their deeds.

58 Million out of 206 million adults aged 23-65

44 Million of 95 million born again.

14 million outside of the born again status or (7%) of adults in America

Eph 2:8,9 = For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 = Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

■Believe Jesus Christ lived a sinless life while He was on earth.

The minority of American adults (40%)

Slightly less than two-thirds of the born again (62%) strongly believes that He was sinless.

83 Million out of 206 million adults aged 23-65

59 Million of 95 million born again.

24 million outside of the born again status or (12%) of adults in America

1 Peter 2:21,22 = For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

1 John 3:5 = And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

■God is the all-powerful, all knowing, creator of the universe who still rules it today.

Seven out of ten adults (70%)

That includes the 93% of born again adults who hold that conviction.

145 Million out of 206 million adults aged 23-65

88 Million of 95 million born again

57 million outside of the born again status or (28%) of adults in America and this doesn't specify what God.

1 John 3:20 = For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Jeremiah 32:17 = Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Psalm 93:1-2 = The LORD reigns, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

*Est. American population July 2008

²Est. Professing born again believers Sept 2007

Most disturbing numbers

The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation - i.e., those aged 18 to 23 - have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.

Other groups that possess a below average likelihood of having a biblical worldview included people who describe themselves as liberal on social and political matters (also less than one-half of one percent); Catholics (2%); Democrats (4%) and residents of the Northeast (4%).

Why It Matters

Ongoing research by The Barna Group on these matters consistently demonstrates the powerful impact a person's worldview has on their life. A worldview serves as a person's decision-making filter, enabling them to make sense of the complex and huge amount of information, experiences, relationships and opportunities they face in life. By helping to clarify what a person believes to be important, true and desirable, a worldview has a dramatic influence on a person's choices in any given situation.

Barna's research has discovered that there are unusually large differences in behavior related to matters such as media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices.

The firm's studies have also pointed out that a person's worldview is primarily shaped and is firmly in place by the time someone reaches the age of 13; it is refined through experience during the teen and early adult years; and then it is passed on to others during their adult life. Such studies underscore the necessity of parents and other influencers being intentional in how they help develop the worldview of children.

About the Research

This report draws information from four nationwide telephone interviews conducted by The Barna Group, each including between 1,002 to 1,005 adults randomly selected, during the years 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2008. The range of sampling error associated with a survey of 1,000 people is ±1.5 to ±3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Each of the surveys utilized minimal statistical weighting to calibrate the aggregate sample to known population percentages in relation to several key demographic variables. All interviews were conducted among a sampling of adults in the 48 continental states.

Readers are encouraged to realize that the figures described above regarding a biblical worldview are somewhat different than a similar measure reported by The Barna Group in prior years. The earlier measure included an additional component, which had to do with the source of their worldview. When that measure is included, it typically decreases the percentage of people with a biblical worldview by about half.

What this means for the End Times and the day in which we lives.

A brother in Christ reminded me of this:

"The Falling Away" Comes First

Paul also wrote to the Thessalonian congregation, which he planted that a great "falling away" would come before the appearance of the "anti-Christ." "Let no one deceive you; for the Day will not come unless the falling away comes first" (2 Thess. 2:3).

In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul writes that "the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons."

I believe that the Restrainer of the Holy Spirit is also being removed from much of professing Christianity, as we witness a massive abandonment of true faith and rebellion against God's word.  This apostate harlot church is polluted with false gospels, and false prophets who cry from pulpits, television screens and the Internet:  "Prosperity!" and "No recession!"  "Send us your hard earned money!"  "Feel good" sermonettes have replaced the preaching of the cross.

Oddly enough this survey supports the words spoken by Jesus over two thousand years ago, Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13,14)

Since 2000 the percentage of Biblical worldview persons has continued to get smaller. It leaves us with this question Jesus asked Peter, " Who do you say I am," one that I am sure most today cannot properly answer. I can only imagine how disappointed Jesus Christ would be with the majority, Jew and Gentile alike.

God Bless! Daniel Eggers

Barna Survey

by Rev Michael Bresciani

Most debates never settle anything and are usually held so someone can be proclaimed a winner; even if they are dead wrong. In a world where popular acceptance is the new morality what might we expect? Can we eliminate the father of lies with an opinion? Let's see.

ABC's ‘Nightline' Face-Off: Does Satan Exist moderated by Dan Harris and aired on Thursday March 26, 2009 ignored both scriptural admonishments from Romans 1:29 and 1Corinthians 12:20 that warn against entering into debates to try to prove the faith to anyone. Christianity can only proclaim the gospel for best effect. The rest is up to the hearer.

The discipline of theological proofs known commonly as apologetics serves to engage the seeker or the scoffer in providing evidence of gospel truths but Christ drew a line on even that when he said, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Mt 7:6) While at first glance this may seem like a harsh statement if viewed from a converse standpoint it could be seen as "God don't want anyone to come in a kickin and draggin their feet."

To say that Satan does not exist to people who hold the scriptures as absolutely trustworthy is like asking them to throw as much as one fifth of the Bible in the trash. The scriptures make reference to Satan, the Devil, demons and devils over 185 times between Old and New Testaments.

Besides being called the "father of lies" (John 8:44) and the arch deceiver (Revelation 12:9) Satan is identified not as a playful spirit who calls man to choose the little temptations they are daily faced with but as the "god of this world." (2 Cor 4:4)

The Greek word for ‘world' in the New Testament is kosmos. The anglicized version of the word is the more familiar ‘cosmos' like the famous fashion magazine. What this literally means is that Satan is the ruler of the ‘kosmos' or more properly the ‘world system of evil.'

He is not the spoofed red demon like man with a tail and a pitchfork but a powerful covering spirit that has angels, demons and minions subordinate to him who are feeding the world every kind of lust, temptation and distraction along with a pervasive and total deception which is to keep men from believing in God.

Unknown to most is the fact that his second most powerful deception is to keep anyone from believing that he exists as well. Playing on the very part of his nature (pride) that got him removed from the presence of God in the first place he appeals to the pride of man. Most men would not have God or Satan ruling any part of their lives. Convincing men that they are the captains of both their own souls and their own destinies is his biggest job by far, and it is the work he has the most success with.

His greatest temptations are the call to power, fame and fortune but he has a buffet or cornucopia of other lesser callings of every sort and description. Jesus spoke of this when he warned that the world offered a million diversions in the "broad way" but only a few in the life of faith in God. (Mt 7:13) There is something for everyone in Satan's great seething pot.

The whole matter of his existence becomes far more serious when it is seen that in the last days he takes up residence in a single man known as the ‘antichrist.' This will be the world's last and worst dictator who will have by the very power of Satan all the available wisdom of this world at his disposal. (Rev 13:2) He will be seen as an attractive revolutionary economic, political and military genius. Most of the world will not recognize him as Satan in the flesh.

Although he is not born as a direct result of a relationship with Satan and a women at some point in his life he will yield so thoroughly to the god of this world that he will be completely possessed not with demos but by Satan himself. In a way he will mock the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. This man will be the very incarnation of the god of this world or Satan in the flesh. No pitchforks, no fire and brimstone just good looks worldliness and an agenda that will lead the world to the battle of Armageddon.

If he were as corny and silly as we like to portray him his deception wouldn't get very far. But he is able to lead the entire world into an economic system that looks better than anything they have ever seen; for a while it actually works.

Far from being an obscure or hidden matter the Bible is quite clear on where, when (the season) and why he succeeds in bringing every man women and child on the earth under his sway who does not have faith in God. More than creating an irresistible economic system he requires that everyone be a part of it, like it or not. (Rev 13:16, 17)

Millions of believers throughout the world are convinced by the huge fulfillment of pre-millennial prophecies in this generation that he is alive today. I have no doubt of it. I also believe along with others that shortly after the Lisbon Treaty is ratified in the EU he will appear in that country after a bit of initial wrangling among that ruling bodies first few choices for president.

What I am also very sure of is that the same people who now doubt the existence of Satan will not have a clue about who he really is. Only after he presents himself as the very essence of God on the earth will they know otherwise. That proclamation and the act associated with it, commonly know as the ‘abomination of desolation' in the scriptures will precipitate the finish of all prophecy and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment.

In addition to the Dante's Inferno kind of depictions of Satan and Hell other far more imaginative but goofy ideas exist today. Making Satan a mythological like creature is easy to accept but if that's hard to swallow then Hollywood has dozens of portrayals from cartoonish to bloodthirsty and murderous. Playing on man's proclivity to use logic, science or their own narcissistically driven personal conclusions the result is the same; he doesn't exist.

One of the worst results of believing in a Dante's Inferno kind of devil and hell is that it fosters another misconception that is the worst one of all. That error is that Satan is the ruler of a subterranean kingdom of fire and brimstone. Satan does not rule hell and no one who accompanies him there will be ruling anything, he is its chief victim. (Rev 20:10f)

C.S. Lewis said that modern man is so arrogant that if Christ were here today in his public ministry they wouldn't argue with him. Lewis said, they would invite him to dinner, hear what he had to say and then spend the remainder of the evening making fun of him.

Lewis could have added that if modern man saw Jesus cast the four to twelve thousand devils out of the Gadarene demoniac (Luke 8:26f) who then went into a herd of swine causing them to race down a hill and into the sea and drown; they would insist he apologize to the owner of the herd and news of animal rights charges and an impending lawsuit would have reached Jesus within days.

Today as they debate Satan's existence on national TV forums the far more important question of ‘how many devils can one man have' is rarely ever asked. This is befitting in a time when in order to work the greatest deception in the history of mankind Satan, the antichrist and his cohort the false prophet solicit the help of powerful demonic spirits to pull it off. (Rev 16: 13, 14) But hey, if it were obvious it wouldn't make much of a deception!

Forget ‘Touched by an Angel,' who do you think gets touched by the demonic hordes sent out to prepare the world for the last and greatest deception?

The most often repeated phrase on the Nightline show was that it is time to give up the ‘myth.' We have to wonder if that would include dropping the endless courses on Shakespeare, classic fiction and Greek and Roman mythology offered in every university in the nation. Don't think so.

Deepak Chopra and others on Nightline had little to convince any biblically grounded believer that Satan is not real and those pre-disposed to dismiss his existence were already well primed to assent to Chopra's assertions. So what was accomplished? For the pre-disposed, nothing which is exactly what they started with.

For others the powerful testimonies of former hooker Annie Lobert added yet more credence to one of my favorite sayings "a man (or woman) with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

The debate was laced with some hypocrisy. Chopra insisted that former hooker Annie Lobert was blaming Satan for choices she alone made. Yet one of the big tools in modern psychiatry and pop culture therapy is to find someone to blame. It's almost as American as apple pie to blame society, dysfunctional parents or oppressive childhood influences for every bad behavior we can produce. So much for honesty!

Lobert was clear about it and admitted that while she made the choice, Satan implemented or facilitated the course of action she chose. She was affirming what is taught in the epistle of James. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." (James 1:14)

Another of Chopra's arguments was that since the ‘big bang' the natural order of things could not possibly produce something like Satan. Ignoring the affirmations that Satan does indeed exist might seem almost reasonable if it were not for the one who made the affirmations. Christ started his public ministry only after a direct confrontation with Satan and then went on to preach the gospel, heal the sick and raise the dead.

Conspicuously missing from Chopra's argument was the fact that not one single human being witnessed the big bang but an entire nation watched the miracles of Jesus Christ. When did the big bang become an authoritative reference on the supernatural as opposed to Christ?

The entire show was a bit clownish and leaves anyone to wonder why evening news formats are trying to answer deep theological questions. It was indeed futile to see those who already don't believe in something speaking to others who don't believe it either. That's what made it seem altogether unbelievable!

Modern psychiatry has accomplished a few saves and rehab programs can reform some others but for centuries faith in the power of the gospel has changed, renewed and converted untold millions. It is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." (2Cor 5:17)