Make no mistake. Satan wants to take over “the church.” He is doing so one believer at a time. It’s so easy, it’s like taking candy from a baby.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Ephesians 6: 12-19
The passage of scripture from God’s Holy Word is from Paul. The striking thing about this warning and exhortation is that it speaks about real enemies, albeit those we cannot see with our natural eyes. A big problem however, is that most Christians don’t know they are supposed to be fighting a battle, much less an all-out war. And, there is a war going on for the hearts and souls of men. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we are supposed to be on the front lines. We are not supposed to be bringing up the rear, or worse, AWOL. And, we definitely need to know our enemy.
We are fighting an enemy who is a master strategist. He knows the word of God better than Christians do. He has had a great deal of time to practice and to strategize. And, he is cunning, full of guile and he has really pulled a fast one on the church. How so, you ask? I am so glad you did.
The first thing a “new” Christian should do is study – no dig in to the Word of the Living God. This is a sure way to get to know who He is, what He expects of us, what we “enlisted” for and it helps us know our assignments. There is a big problem with this. First of all, most Christians don’t crack open their Bibles. And, when they do, they prefer “new” translations that shockingly leave out huge chunks of the precious word of our Father.
Before we delve deeper into this subject, please understand that this writer is fully aware that ALL of our English translations of the Bible have errors. Any person who spends much time studying scripture and who references back to the Greek and/or Hebrew text quickly sees how gross some of the errors are. Many “commentaries” by translators (even in the “King Jimmy” version) were originally notated as such. But now, these are included as if they are actually part of the text. This is misleading. And, not understanding the idioms used from Hebrew customs or context in light of the times in which the holy scriptures were written also lead to misunderstanding.
Therefore, let’s understand that this writer is not pushing the “King James is the only ‘true translation’ message” here. The purpose of this is to educate the reader as to exactly what has been done (by the enemy) to God’s Holy Word. If one doesn’t know the truth, how can one know he/she has been deceived? One cannot.
Not many reading this will argue the fact that it is the “plan” of those who are enlisted in the army of the prince of this world to seize world power by means of what we often refer to as a “One World Order” and prophetically speaking, this system will be fully enforced by the coming prince, otherwise known as the antichrist with great assistance from the false prophet. This is the system of the beast spoken of by the prophets, in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and in The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The plan was devised by Satan himself and he is in full frontal attack mode. The system has been planned for a very long time and it is here, my brothers and sisters. This commentary addresses just one way in which the very elect will be deceived. Remember, we were warned many times to be on guard, to watch, to use discernment for if that were not possible, our Lord and Savior would not have stated so. How secure is our faith if there is a possibility to be deceived? Do we know that God cannot and will not allow any manner of sin to enter His realm known as heaven? So, the eternal “security” many call “once saved, always saved” is a mirage of the human mind when one is not even reading the Word of God. Gasp! Yes, you read that correctly. That is a subject for another time.
This change from the “old order” (otherwise known as God’s order) to a new order has been taking place for a very long time. Despite best efforts otherwise, this commentary will be extensive but it must be written. It is important that it be read for this is the Word of God being addressed here. Quotations used herein are from the King James Version, except where notated, (not to imply that it doesn’t contain error) because it seems to contain less error than the most used “translations” of today. We will address the top five favorite and most used Bible translations today.
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; Behold all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
The “same” passage above is written in the New English Version as follows:
“If the old order is gone and a NEW ORDER has begun.” II Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Notice the language change used. Here is another example:
“Which stood only in meats and drinks, and diverse washings and carnal ordinances imposed upon them until the time of the reformation.” Hebrews 9:10
The passage above refers to Christ’s coming. But notice the change below:
“…Until the time of the NEW ORDER.” Hebrews 9:10 NIV
If the two examples above don’t have your attention, stay tuned. This clearly shows that people are being prepared and the changes above in the text of God’s Holy Word clearly show this divisive change. But let’s look at more:
“Therefore, thus saith the LORD God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone: a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make haste.” Isaiah 28:16
The passage of scripture above is speaking of the foundation which is Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. He is called the corner stone. Where is the foundation in relation to a building? Is it the top or the bottom? It is the bottom; the strong and unshakable stone upon which something is built. We know that Jesus Christ is the strength (the foundation) upon which all things are built. This is the base, the basis of all things. This is the truth.
“Unto you therefore, which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.” I Peter 2:7
However, notice that the NIV is calling Him the “Capstone” (the top):
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” I Peter 2:7 NIV
Interestingly enough in relation to the scriptures above, Americans have been told that the pyramid that appears on our paper currency with the “eye” on the top represents Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t represent Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah; it represents antichrist! Why? Well, Jesus is not the top, He is the foundation! It is clearly stated in the NIV and when put side by side with the King James Version it is quite obvious where this is headed folks. This is no conspiracy theory, for Jesus Christ Himself warned that to take away or to add to the words of the book would bring dire consequences. Did He just randomly throw that warning “out there” for us to read? No, He knew the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. He is pointing this out to us. We were warned of a great falling away and one way this is being done is by deception. One of the deceptions is the wrong, obviously wrong, wording from the original text of God’s Word to what Christians think is God’s Word, but is absolutely not!
The Word of God is under attack today. We must take a stand now and say no more to the adulteration that is taking place. This is a battle brothers and sisters just. It cannot be stressed enough how important this is. The agenda is satanic. It is to change the Bible and it is working because pastors are using these false words in their messages, in various teachings and in many cases, they are doing so even against the warnings and concerns of those sitting in the churches in which this is happening. So, what is the common response to these stated concerns? “Well, the King James is a great translation but it’s so hard to understand.” But this is Satan’s corruption of the very Word of God. These changes are not just accidental, inconsequential, minor changes. These are calculated and specific changes that attack basic Christian doctrine.
There are people who have many millions of dollars, who have an agenda, who publish corrupted Bibles and then promote them. These are major players in the media such as Zondervan (which also published “The Message” addressed in a previous commentary at length), which is owned by Harper Collins, a large secular media company. These Bibles are promoted in big retail stores and even put out front and center in churches! Churches are promoting this heresy. And what is their spin? Oh, these “new” translations make it easier for one to grasp the essentials of scripture. Yes, this is an actual selling point. They also say, “This is the Bible you ought to be reading. Get rid of that old King James and get the newer, better, and improved version.” In fact, an advertisement for the NIV Bible stated, “We put it all together, so you can too.” Really? I was under the impression that by the Holy Spirit we are guided. He puts it together for us, not a book published by man that distorts the Word of God!
From multiple sources it is determined that the most popular versions of the Bible used today are the New International Version (NIV), King James Version, New Living Translation (NLT), New King James, and the English Standard Version (ESV). Most people do not realize that there are hundreds of outright distortions in these versions. In many cases, whole passages of scripture are left completely out. But, there isn’t enough space here to look at each of these, so we will examine four corruptions that are the most popular.
The New International Version (NIV) is missing sixteen entire verses from the New Testament. These are: Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28, Luke 17:36, Luke 23:17, John 5:4, Acts 8:37 (also omitted from NLT, and ESV), Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, Acts 28:29 and Romans 16:24. These are totally missing. This is not addressing the thousands of changes made in addition to the omissions listed here. Note that Acts 8:37 points out that we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, we surrender our heart and lives and we are then baptized. So, the omission of that passage of scripture would lead one to think that baptism is okay without the other requirements set forth by God. It would lead one to believe that let’s just all go down to the river, get dunked and get saved. That is not biblical. It is diabolical. This is a direct attack upon Jesus Christ and it is perpetrated by Satan.
Not only were 16 entire passages of scripture left out of the New International Version (NIV), they also put notes on 27 other verses saying, “These verses were probably not in the original.” Again, this casts doubt upon God’s Word. Verses such as Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Verses such as, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” They haven’t omitted these passages, but they’ve put a note on it that renders it in the reader’s mind null and void. This takes authority away from God’s Word.
We believe that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. This is something that these modern versions constantly change and attack. Here are some examples: I John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record; the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” That is why we use the word trinity – three in one. The NIV on the other hand just says, “For there are three that testify.” That’s it. This doesn’t mention the Father, the Word (the Son) nor the Holy Ghost.
Look at what they’ve done with I Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” It was God who was made flesh and dwelt among us! This makes it crystal clear that Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the Passover Lamb slain as the ultimate sacrificial atonement for our sin, was God Himself. Seminaries teach that there is no difference that affects doctrine but that is not true. He who was is not God – at least that is what is implied by those teaching in seminaries today as well as in commentaries in modern versions of the Bible. This weakens the text tremendously. It directly attacks the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Another proof that Jesus Christ is God is Hebrews 1:8, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.” What is the Bible calling the Son here? God. Here is what the NIV states, “But about the Son he says, your throne, Oh God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.”
They attack Christ’s virgin birth, “And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.” Luke 2:33. The NIV on the other hand states, “The child’s mother and father marveled at what was said about him.” This appears in the ESV and the NLT, as well. These modern versions are calling Joseph the father of Jesus Christ! This is something that the King James Bible is careful to never do! In fact, later in this same chapter, Mary (the mother of Christ) refers to Joseph as Jesus’ father. And He corrects her immediately. “When they saw him they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I be about my Father’s business.”
He is saying to his mother that He is about His Father’s business when he is preaching the Word of God, because Joseph is His my father, God the Father is His Father!
People who read and believe the NIV are so blinded that they actually say, “See, this is the Bible calling Joseph Jesus’ father!” This as they point to the blatantly inaccurate statement in that detestable “version” of the Bible. No people! That’s Mary calling Joseph Jesus’ father and she is immediately rebuked by Jesus Christ Himself! We need to rebuke the New International Version! Somebody needs to correct the New Living Translation, somebody needs to rebuke the ESV saying, “Wait a minute, you are wrong that is not Jesus’ father, Jesus’ Father is God the Father.” Amen?
These changes addressed here are the deity of Christ and the virgin birth. These are pretty important, which is an understatement to say the least. Not only that, they attack His eternal pre-existence. Jesus Christ did not come into being in Bethlehem in a manger. Jesus Christ did not come into being in the womb of Mary. Rather, Jesus Christ has always existed and always will exist. He is the First and the Last, He is the Beginning and the Ending, the Alpha and the Omega. He is the One who was and Is and Is to be. This is crucial because if He is a created being, He cannot be God.
“But thou Bethelem Ephratheh, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2
From everlasting. Two very powerful words given here in Micah. They speak to the eternal pre-existence of Jesus Christ. Everlasting is something that goes on forever. So from everlasting would be something that comes from the eternal past. But see what the NIV states,
“But you Bethlehem Ephratheh, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”
What’s an origin? That is when something starts to exist, isn’t it? Did Jesus start to exist? No, but according to the NIV He originated at some point in ancient times. If He had an origin, then He is not God because God was and is and is to come. God has always existed, He is not a created being. This is attacking our Lord and Savior and this writer is extremely offended at this. All who read this should be very offended at this.
But this is where the NIV really delivers the Coup De Gras. Isaiah 14:12 says this:
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground
which did weaken the nations!”
Only one place in the entire Bible do we find the word Lucifer. That is, Isaiah 14:12. Lucifer puts a name on satan. The devil. Not only are we given his name, but we are also given his title, son of the morning.
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” The Revelation 22:16
What did Jesus call Himself in the passage above? The root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. The King James and the NIV both state in The Revelation that Jesus Christ is the morning star. What does the NIV call Lucifer falling down from heaven?
“How you have fallen heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who laid low the nations!” Isaiah 14:12 NIV.
Whoa! Instead of Lucifer being cast out of heaven, we have Jesus being cast out of heaven according to the NIV. Look, the Bible has told us that Lucifer or Satan has been cast out of heaven for wanting to be like the Most High. The NIV, after attacking Christ’s deity, after attacking Christ’s virgin birth, after attacking His pre-existence, it accuses Jesus Christ of WANTING to be like the Most High. He is the Most High! According to your NIV, Jesus fell from heaven and not Lucifer. The people who are behind these versions are of Satan. Satan wanted to corrupt the word in the Garden of Eden and we are not ignorant of his devices. The Word of God has great power. “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
Satan knows that if he can disarm us as Christians, he can defeat us. The goal is and always has been to disarm us of our weapon. Our weapon is the Word of God and it is powerful in every way possible. We must know it, we must know how to use it and we certainly must know what it says and does not say.
Look at history. When evil men what to conquer people, what is the first thing they do? They disarm them. They take away their weapons. This renders them harmless, defeats them. I submit to you today that yes, our government wants to take away our weapons. And, most will think of guns with that statement. But the government is and will try to take away our most powerful weapon and that is the Word of the Living God.
Evil men are used by Satan, our arch enemy, to try to destroy us as Christians. Russia, Germany, China, Uganda, Cambodia, have all disarmed their people. This makes them slaves to their government. Untold millions in these and other nations have been slaughtered as a result.
If Satan can disarm us from the one thing that we can use to defeat him, the one thing that we can engage him in battle, then it’s easy pickings for him. He would like nothing more than to take the two edged sword that is the true Word of God and replace it with a butter knife. I submit that this butter knife is the NIV, the ESV, the NLT, the NKJV, which are the “popular” Bibles today. There are others that are dangerous, and as stated previously, the Message has been addressed already. Satan does not want us to be able to do battle with the rulers of the darkness of this world.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed; the son of perdition.” II Thessalonians 2:3
Before the antichrist can come into power, before the new world order can take power there first has to come a falling away. What is a falling away? Apostasy. These modern Bible versions are key to Satan’s plan for a one world religion, a one world government, a new world order. The great falling away, the apostasy, will be as a result of these false, lying Bible versions that are twisting and changing God’s word and raping the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is interesting is the NIV uses the term “new order” about the coming of Christ:
“They are only a matter of food and drink, and various ceremonial washings – external regulations applying until the time of the new order.” Hebrews 9:10
Hebrews 9:10 speaks of the first coming of Jesus Christ and the renewing of the covenant through his crucifixion at Calvary. He magnified His law, did away with the sacrificial ceremonies and instituted the new order of a priesthood we know as Melchizedek. But the NIV says differently and in fact, if one reads verse 11 in the NIV it makes it sound as if it is something coming in the future. The Good News Translation comes right out and says it: “These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.” Does this give you chills of the not-so-good kind? If not, check your pulse.
The New English Version calls it the new order, the Common English Version calls it the new order, as well as the NIV. Guess what, there is a new order coming and it is established not by God but by the antichrist. And, it will be greatly facilitated by the apostasy we see in the church today; apostasy that is a direct result of the mangling and raping of God’s Word made possible by Christians who are too wrapped up in the world to study God’s Word, to pray, to know that they are supposed to be growing and maturing and fighting the spiritual battle that rages on now. These so-called Christians don’t know God, they don’t know the truth and they will be among those to whom Jesus Christ says, “Depart from me ye workers of lawlessness, for I never knew you.”
Comments or questions to sylvester.lea@gmail.com