What’s with this BCE and CE Nonsense?

For many years there has been a continuous effort to remove any reference to Jesus Christ in society. The major battles have long been lost with the Bible, and with prayer prohibited in schools and various other government organizations. The enemy is so dedicated to oppose the Lord Jesus, it is now going after the most trivial references to His holy Name.

Among the more irritating manifestations of anti-God political correctness is the attempt to replace the terms AD and BC with CE and BCE. CE stands for “common era” and BCE for “before the common era.”

Even the most obscure symbol of Christ is under attack. The Swedish Transport Administration has banned outdoor Christmas lights because they don’t want to upset Muslims. It came up with some weird concern over the weight of the lights:

“Poles are not designed for the weight of Christmas lights, and we have to remove anything that should not be there. We guarantee safety first,” says Eilin Isaksson, national coordinator at the STD.

Many churches are hosting Muslim refugees, and they regularly take down altars and crosses. Pastor Joachim Deterding is the overseer of a Protestant church in Oberhausen Germany. When his church provided temporary shelter for 50 refugees from the Middle East, he had the altar and pulpit removed to make the refugees feel more at home.

Unless these guests are all vampires, they shouldn’t have any problems with the image of a cross. Many of these Muslims are actually worse than vampires; they treat kindness with disgust. If the sight of something related to the Bible is going to cause Muslims to flip out, we may have an indication that these people are not compatible with our Christian culture.

It is an absolute disgrace for Christians to be so timid in their deals with Islamists. We are told to let our light shine to the unsaved. Jesus warned what would happen to anyone who was too ashamed to defend the gospel:

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

The hostility that Christianity faces has no equal in any other religion. Christmas has become almost totally secularized, and yet people still oppose it. Christmas lights, flying reindeer, and talking snowmen have zero connection to the birth of our Savior.

Years ago Saturday Night Live came up with a Hanukkah Harry character. He was a parody of the modern-day image of Santa Claus, delivering toys to good Jewish boys and girls. There is no Ramadan Randy because Muslims would not tolerate any attempt at applying secular figures to one of its holidays.

I have never heard anyone question why we have planets named after Greek gods. You don’t have people saying, “We can’t name a planet after the god of war. Let’s rename Mars to Flemington after Scottish scientist, Alexander Fleming—who discovered Penicillin.

Even the most hardcore atheists should perfectly happy with the AD and BC date system. If we are basing our timelines on Jesus’ birth, we might as well keep his name. The Muslims have their own yearly calendar. The current Islamic year is 1438 Hijri (Anno Hegirae or AH), which is the year of the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. Of course, you are never going to see a movement to change the Islamic year to something more secular.

The enemy of truth will never be content with even with the mildest form of Christianity. The name of Jesus sparks fear in the hearts of all who are under the judgment of sin. King Herod feared the baby Jesus and wanted to get rid of him. The King Herod’s of today have the same mindset. Their fixation on opposing our Lord shows that Jesus is the only way of salvation.

If Jesus was a fake, the lost would just laugh Him off with all the other pagan gods. Because He is the only path to God the Father we need to resist those that seek to defame His name.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

–Todd

 

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Prayer Wars

Never in American history has there been in presidential politics a time that more fits within the descriptive given in Ephesians 6:12 than the time we are currently experiencing. That spiritual battle describes succinctly, in my opinion, the time that has led up to Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ”

For decades it has been as if the dark, hellish forces of the ages have been turned loose against this nation, which has been so openly blessed by Heaven. The cultural and social “progress” thought to have been made, according to those who want to detach America from the Judeo-Christian mooring the founding fathers provided, are threatened by a significant challenge. We the people of God just might have decided we don’t wish that progressive agenda to proceed further. Thus, the war is on in a way perhaps unseen in the annals of U.S. presidential elections.

We as God’s people are told how to fight such warfare as that which we are presently engaged. We are to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11).

The Bible provides a description of that spiritual armor with which we are supposed to adorn ourselves in order to wage war against this most powerful and wicked enemy force. Once we are fully, spiritually armed, we are told we are to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

How well most Christians these days have fully armored up is in question. The dumbing-down by the godlessness of the secular world and–even more troubling–by the compromising churches of recent times, has taken a heavy toll. However, the one weapon mentioned in the apostle Paul’s spiritual battle preparation of Ephesians chapter 6 is in play during this war for the survival of this once-great republic.

I am believing that the core of the people in this nation who hold to the truth of the Word of God–the Bible– are “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” that the Lord will intervene in this war that is raging. It is a “prayer war” to be sure.

I’m aware of the seminary and other positions that say 2 Chronicles 7: 14 was only for Israel and doesn’t apply to America. But, the God of Heaven does not change. Jesus Christ, who is God, is the same yesterday, today and forever, the Scripture tells us. I am trusting, therefore, that that great promise given to Israel during their direst time of need applies equally to those of this day and time who are “called by His name.”

Although the nucleus of God’s people who hold fast to the Heavenly Father’s precepts and promises might be a dwindling number, we are still here in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. We are engaged in this Prayer War for a restoration of sanity in America’s government, society, and culture.

We are praying specifically that the evil forces that are raging to make this nation into a state totally apart from all godliness will be, at least on an interim basis, kept from their luciferian goal. I say “on an interim basis” because Bible prophecy plainly foretells that the satanic, globalist forces will for a time one day achieve establishment of a one-world order as Antichrist’s platform of power. It will happen. It’s just a matter of time. Meantime, however, while the Church of Jesus Christ is here, thus the Restrainer (the Holy Spirit) resident within that Body holding back evil, it is right and proper–and I believe expected–that God’s people, called by His name, are to pray the prayer of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Millions, I’m convinced, are even at this late hour just before this presidential election praying this prayer to the best of our ability. I believe movements and revelations of corruption within the political processes of late reflect directly the Lord’s attentiveness to the genuine prayers of His spiritually attuned prayer warriors. If America is to be so blessed by a positive answer to those prayers by Heaven’s throne room, I believe it will mean that the battle like that described in Ephesians chapter 6 will, after the election, intensify even more than if God’s answer is otherwise. And, it will, in that case, be this nation’s final dispensation of liberty, if there is not a turning back to God in a major way.

Very shortly after this commentary is posted, we will know God’s answer to those prayers–and, perhaps the nation’s disposition with regard to personal liberty for whatever time is left in this Age of Grace.

The war of the ages as this Church Age dispensation moves into its final stages will be fought most effectively by God’s people in the prayer closets of America. Let’s be sure to put on the whole armor before engaging in the battles we face.

–Terry

Reflections on the Life of Jack Chick

Chick Productions announced that their founder, Jack Chick, died peacefully in his sleep last Sunday evening at age 92. He was the creator of a series of tracts which presented his perspective on a variety of theological matters in a comic format. According to a statement on his website, “His burden has always been to get the gospel into the hands of millions of lost people around the world.”

This Was Your Life!” is the most popular Chick tract, which describes what would probably occur if someone dies lost without Christ and what one needs to do to avert that frightening destiny. That very popular tract has been translated into over 100 languages.

Jack Chick has had an enormous impact on the world. His company, Chick Publications, has reported that it has sold over 900 million tracts. It can be argued that he is the most read author on the planet.

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History included several Chick tracts in an exhibit on American pop culture. He could easily have been awarded a superstar status distinction at the Comic-Con gathering in San Diego, California if it were not for the religious nature of his material.

Unable to find a firm that would publish his work, Chick self-published his first cartoon revival book in 1961 using $800 he borrowed from a credit union. Chick Publications has been housed in a low-profile office in Rancho Cucamonga since it was founded in 1970.

Of course, you are not going to see any reference to Jack Chick on the nightly news. The few newspapers that bothered to make note of his passing only had negative things to say about him. They all slapped him with their favorite dirty word—fundamentalist.

He is remembered by some as the king of scaremongers. One site calledJezebel had the headline: “Jack Chick, the Creator of Bigoted Yet Weirdly Enjoyable Evangelical Comic Books, Has Died.” The LA Times noted that “Chick managed to offend Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims and Freemasons—who found their beliefs discounted, ridiculed or condemned as false—or worse.”

Mr. Chick’s work got the attention of many atheists. There are several links on YouTube which has a group of atheists reading out his tracts, and then providing profane mocking commentary. It proves the point that you can judge a man by his enemies.

The reclusive Chick did very few interviews. The last full interview he gave was in 1975. Jack did speak in 1997 to a Daily Bulletin reporter, Mike Cicchese, in his driveway for 10 minutes. He was also camera shy. Amazingly, there are more claimed photos of Bigfoot than of the man who ran the most successful tract ministry in world history.

From what little information there is written about Jack Chick, we learn that he chose comics over the pulpit after hearing a radio missionary explaining how the Chinese used comics as propaganda. Chick was an Independent Baptist who followed a pre-millennial dispensationalist view of the end-times.

David Daniels, Jack Chick’s chosen successor, said “Chick is widely misunderstood as a hateful person. He was a plain, ordinary guy who liked to draw. He was just a guy who wanted to please the Lord, use his drawings for God and help other people not go to hell. And that was it.”

My first experience with Chick tracts was when I was given them as a child in the early 1970s by my Sunday school teacher. They were easy to read and their low cost to produce makes it easy to understand how they spread all over the globe.

The world is rapidly becoming so dark; the day may soon come when much of his commentary is barred as hate speech. His books have already been banned in Canada, denounced by Christianity Today and the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and ejected from many Christian bookstores.

Years ago, I wrote an article titled, “God’s Billionaires.” It listed some of the people who obtained heavenly riches. I’m sure Jack Chick would be included on any expended lists of those who achieved wealth in the Lord. It is my hope that we will all soon join Jack in sharing the blessing that God has prepared for those “who love his appearing.”

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

–Todd

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Satan’s High Anxiety

Lucifer, the ultimate rebel against everything godly, is perhaps the most brilliant being produced from the holy mind of the Creator. This proud creature wanted and continues to want to supplant the one who created him. He has been about that iniquitous, self-appointed mission since the thought came into his thinking (Isaiah 14:14).

Satan, as he is now called by God, knows Bible prophecy. He believes Bible prophecy–all except the part where it says that he loses in the end.

The devil, as the Bible also refers to him, knows that God cannot lie, that the Creator of all things knows every intimate detail of everything from eternity past into eternity future. God has said that Satan loses at the end of human history. Yet the ultimate rebel believes he will still come out victorious over the omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God of Heaven.

Lucifer the fallen one–who was instrumental in man’s downfall in Eden–is the being that serves as best example of possessing the reprobate mind as outlined by the apostle Paul:

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32)

God’s Word calls Satan the father of lies. The Bible says of unbelievers that they are of their father, the devil. Those who continue to refuse God’s way–belief in Jesus Christ–ultimately suffer from the same insanity their spiritual father suffers–a reprobate mind.

This is a spiritual insanity that cannot discern truth. It is upside-down thinking in which the world as a whole is immersed. This is the reason we are witnessing the insanity in most every area of human endeavor at present. The affliction will one day soon bring all of humanity to the point of annihilation. Only Jesus Christ, Himself, will be able to save humankind (Matthew 24:22).

So Satan, obviously insane, though brilliant in his madness, continues on a course he believes will wrest control of planet earth from God Almighty. He knows and believes Bible prophecy, thus–I surmise–uses Bible prophecy to plot his overthrow of God’s Kingdom. He doesn’t know, however, the intimate details of how Bible prophecy will play out. He didn’t know, for example, that murdering God’s Son on the cross would result in Christ’s resurrection three days later and that this would be the formula to redeem mankind. Satan played into the Lord’s holy, perfect plan that provides salvation for lost men, women, and children.

The devil, I believe with all that is within me, knows there will come upon earth the final earthly dictator and a one-world-order regime. He has, I think history shows, had a man ready to assume that role of earth’s last and most terrible tyrant on a number of occasions throughout history.

Lucifer the fallen has been working increasingly harder with each succeeding era, with each succeeding generation, to bring about that Antichrist regime outlined in Revelation chapter 13. As we have covered in these commentaries, as have many others in their various forums, the devil has worked tirelessly to bring all nations into configuration ripe for his pawns–the supernatural and the geopolitical human minions–to institute the new world order.

America, as I have tried to point out, is, I believe, the primary national entity that is blocking the rest of the world from falling into line with the satanic blueprint for global order. National sovereignty–national borders–must be erased to accommodate a neo-Babel structure.

Satan cannot foresee the future, but can only try to anticipate with now-perverted supernatural intelligence. He knows–as do we who look at world events and developments through God’s lens of Bible prophecy–that everything seems just right for removing America as that roadblock. This election presents a clear-cut demarcation between maintaining America’s founding as a sovereign, God-inspired, republic, and bringing the U.S. into the neo-Babel configuration the globalist elites are determined to inflict.

That seems to me the reason we are witnessing an astounding attack upon the presidential campaign that wants to maintain the nation’s constitutional integrity as founded. The assaults, as anyone with any honesty at all will admit, constitute unbelievable rage from every possible quarter. They are absolutely satanic in their ferocity.

Satan knows everything is set up for his big opportunity to at last bring in his kingdom–the kingdom of Antichrist. But, he is full of uncertainty that this is the time Bible prophecy has given for the development of that end-times kingdom given by Daniel the prophet and John the Revelator.

The wicked one is full of anxiety about this election–thus the over-the-top rage as we near the day for voting in this presidential election. He doesn’t want to take any chances. His minions are in full attack mode.

Most who want a return to sanity in our beloved nation are anxious, of course. But, our nervousness don’t compare to the obvious anxiety Satan and his forces are projecting. The Lord has each of us who are called by His name here, at this volatile yet fascinating time, for His own good purposes. He will finish the work He has started in us, we are promised in His Word.

We as God’s people don’t have to be overly concerned. We are in the mighty hand of the One who knows the outcome of this election, of America’s fate, and of our glorious destiny in Jesus Christ.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

–Terry