Hermeneutics and other big words

Posted on March 17, 2012 by dknezacek

This week one of my advertising requests was turned down. Of course I was disappointed, but it was the reason given that got my goat. His explanation for his rejection of my ad was “I don’t want to promote the hermeneutic represented in this material.”

Hmm? Such big words! Just what does he mean by “hermeneutic”?

The word “hermeneutic” comes from the ancient Greek god Hermes, the supposed god of wisdom. You can find a definition from the University of Toronto here. Essentially hermeneutics simply means the interpretation of Scripture, through linguistic and grammatical rules and norms. It can be applied to any document, and really states that the meaning can be derived by simply reading what is there. It also means that the original intent can be translated into any language, and any normal literate person can understand, simply by reading what is there.

I was offended, initially, because the person in question is a Baptist pastor and teacher, at a Southern Baptist seminary. I shouldn’t have been. The term “Baptist”, like the term “Christian”, has lost its meaning over the last few hundred years. Today you can practice Yoga, be an Anti-semite, or a pagan and still call yourself a “Baptist”, or a “Christian”.  Both terms are essentially meaningless.

So what of my hermeneutic? What am I saying in The Spirit of Prophecy that this man would find so offensive, without even reading my book? He may have read my introduction on my website, or some of the articles on my blog. If so, he would have understood that I am saying that any person of average intelligence can understand the bible, by simply reading it, and applying normal grammatical rules to it. In other words, it is the plain-sense meaning that applies.

This does not mean that I am a hyper-literalist. When Jesus said “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (John 6:53) he was not speaking literally, as many have claimed.  He followed up this statement with the qualification: 63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Very clearly Jesus was stating that we are to eat him and drink his blood in a figurative, or spiritual way, not literally. At the last supper he said “this is my body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19) as he gave his disciples a broken piece of matzoh, but he was still in his body, standing before them. He obviously meant that the bread represented His body. It was not meant to be taken literally.

That’s my “hermeneutic” in short. We could expand on it to show that sometimes Scriptural passages can be misinterpreted if they are taken out of context. What does context mean? Do I need to get a bunch of books by ancient Middle Eastern scholars to be able to understand what is being said? Does the interpretation of Scripture depend on scholars? The short answer is “No!”

If we are going to understand what God wants us to understand we first need to understand that God Himself is the originator of language. On the day that God created Adam, Adam was able to understand the commands that God gave him immediately! He was also able to name the animals on that day and to remember the names. No, he didn’t have to remember the names of sub-species, like Chihuahua, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Terrier, etc. No he only needed to remember “dog”, or the equivalent in that language.

We can look at the dna that makes up our own bodies, and understand that it is made up of “words”. Not only this, but our dna is immensely more complicated than the words we type into our computers, or even the bible itself. This should tell us that God has a greater understanding of “words” than we ourselves. He gave us the words we need in the bible, and also provided the context we need to interpret them, all within that same document.

This is what so many of our leaders find so offensive. The idea that you, or I, can read the bible on our own, and understand the message God has for us, renders these leaders irrelevant, or even heretical! Its no wonder that such a man would not want to promote this hermeneutic. If he did, he would be working against himself!

There are some other things that the bible itself says that we need to look at, if we are to understand what it is saying to us. There are also some things the bible doesn’t say that are also relevant. For instance, the bible does not say that we need to go to our leaders to interpret Scripture. Rather it says that if we lean on the Holy Spirit, He will lead us to the truth.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

I Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

To understand Scriture you need to compare Scripture with Scripture, while relying on the Holy Spirit. There is no substitute for this, and no way around it. Notice also that God’s wisdom is often contrary to human wisdom.

I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So what is my hermeneutic? You have to accept the plain-sense meaning of the biblical text, but even then you will not understand it unless you ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to reveal His truth to you, in Jesus’ name. Notice here that the word used is “receiveth”. This doesn’t mean that the natural person cannot understand the plain-sense of the words being used, it simply means that he will reject them as foolish.

For instance; how could one man dying on a cross pay for all the sins of the world? The world is full of sin, and one man on a cross seems so small, but if that one man was God, the infinite God who created the world, then His blood could have infinite value! If that one small man was actually the God who measures the universe, as if it were the breadth of one hand, then He is a lot bigger than He seems. (Isaiah 40:12, 45:12, 48:13)

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (also Luke 11:9-10)

Jesus is not telling us to ask for wealth or physical things, but to ask God to reveal spiritual truth, through His word.

On a related note; this week I received news that the truth was presented last weekend at the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference in Bethlehem, Israel, and rejected by the majority there. In fact one speaker said that the literal interpretation of Scripture, which says that God is not done with Israel, is “the theology of fools who delight in their own idiocy”! So, why should I be offended if some don’t like what I am saying, or the way in which I am saying it? I am in good company!

The question is not “Do you believe in God”, but “Do you believe God?” This is the question of the ages, and still applies today. Satan called God a liar in the Garden of Eden, and our scholars are still doing the same today!

Do you believe what God says about you? Do you believe what God says about Himself? Do you believe what God says about this world and its future? Do you believe that God is intelligent enough to write down exactly what He wants us to know? Is God honest enough to write the truth about the creation of this world? If your answer to any of these questions is “no” you are not a (born-again) Christian, and need to repent.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14

Leaders like Rick Warren, and Bill Hybels, tell us that we need to work for the betterment of mankind. “Get involved in community projects.” This is in direct contrast to Jesus Christ who said:

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29

The only legitimate understanding of Scripture is the plain-sense, literal, hermeneutic. Anyone who says otherwise is a false teacher.

 

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The Gay Agenda and the Antichrist

Posted on March 13, 2012 by dknezacek

As a follow up to my last post, I thought I’d take a minute to talk about a subject I had skirted around at that time… the Gay Agenda.

First, I’d like to promote a book I have, which is politically incorrect, accurate, and eye opening: The Pink Swastika, by Scott Lively, and Kevin Abrams.  It can be read online, and I do recommend that you read it.

Before reading The Pink Swastika, I had already found some of the facts regarding the link between Nazism and homosexuality on my own, but this book put it all together.  Not only this but every controversial statement in The Pink Swastika is backed up with numerous sources.  This book is factually accurate, regardless of what the Gay lobbyists say about it.

One of the facts that has caused much confusion, is the dichotomy between the two groups often lumped under the one “gay” umbrella, the “Femmes” and the “Butches”.

There is a definite difference between these two groups, and it goes back a long way.  We can see them even in the bible, in passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,”

Notice that these two groups are mentioned here as either “effeminate” or “abusers of themselves with mankind”.  While God is angry with both lifestyles, there is a real difference between them.

Lively and Abrams examine an attack against a homosexual research organization, Magnus Hirschffeld’s Sex Research Institute on May 6th, 1933, by the Nazis.  This attack is often used to “prove” that the Nazis were anti-gay.  The truth is that gays are often hyper-masculine, and hyper-aggressive, and they have little regard for those who are effeminate.  This particular attack was really the result of a conflict between these two groups.

This conflict continued throughout the war, with several of the effeminate group actually spending some time in concentration camps.  As many as 6,000 “Pink Triangles”, died in the camps, however, please note that the Nazis often used false accusations to eliminate their opposition.  Many heterosexual men were sent to the concentration camps on trumped up charges.  One should also note that these people were not placed in death camps, but in work camps, and were often let out when they promised to join the army, or to change their behavior.

As I stated above, The Pink Swastika is factually accurate, and I have no argument with the facts they present.  They have done an excellent job of compiling a lot of information that has been suppressed since World War 2.  Yes indeed the Nazis were closely involved with the gays of their day, and the gay agenda does indeed intend to take away our freedoms, but the job of the Christian Church is not to take up arms as a freedom fighter, but to pick up the Sword of the Spirit and preach the gospel.

I do have a slight difference of opinion with the authors in the direction they are going.  It appears to me that Lively Ministries is dedicated to fighting the gay agenda, and imposing strict anti-gay regulations on society.

On this issue I go back to the apostle Paul.  There is no doubt that Paul stated that the homosexual lifestyle is offensive to God.  (Romans 21:27) God created sexuality for the purpose of populating the earth with people. (Genesis 1:22, 28, 8:17, Isaiah 45:18)  Homosexuality is rebellion against God’s plan for humanity.  Indeed there is a prevalent philosophy today that says that having children is a bad thing!  Even heterosexuals participate in this rebellion, and you can be sure it hasn’t escaped God’s attention!

I would also like to point to Paul’s treatment of Nero.

In Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars, in the chapter on TIBERIUS NERO CAESAR, section XXVIII, Suetonius records that Nero had a boy, named Sporus, castrated, and then married him.  We therefore know that gay marriage is not something new, but can be seen as early as the first century.  Rather than stand up and denounce Caesar publicly, Paul’s desire was to have an audience with him, and to give him the gospel. (Acts 25-28)  Paul understood that God has a strong desire to save every soul possible, even the gay Caesar.  This is something that is lost on many modern Christian activists.

While it appears that Paul was ultimately executed by Nero, he never led a rebellion against Rome.  Rather, he simply did, and said, that which was right in God’s eyes.

In a recent broadcast by Brannon Howse, Brannon notes that every time throughout history, that Christians have attempted to dominate the culture, it has always led to Christians abandoning the gospel, and becoming apostate. Don’t think that you will be the exception!

Does this subject have an application to the End Times?  Indirectly, yes.  While many believe that Daniell 11:37 indicates that the Antichrist will be gay, I personally believe the passage is speaking of something else.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

The phrase “the desire of women” is the one in question here.  Many scholars believe that since “the desire of women” is to marry and have children, that this reference indicates that the Antichrist will be gay.  While they are correct that this is the desire of women, this is not what is in view here.

If you look at women in the bible from Genesis 3:16, through the lives of women like Sarah, Rachel and Leah, Lot’s daughters, Hannah, the Shunnamite woman, and Elizabeth, you will indeed see that the desire of women is strongly connected to having a husband and children.  The Antichrist could not marry all the women of the world, but this is not a reference to his personal life.  This reference is to his policies as a law-maker.

This is a sign that the whole world will see, but because of false teaching on this subject, like those of the aforementioned scholars, the world will miss it!  Because of the widespread teaching that the Antichrist will be gay, the world will miss the signs if he is not gay!

But what did Paul say was a sign of the End Times?

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3

So we see here the link between “the desire of women” and the Antichrist’s actions in “not regarding” it.  The Antichrist will arise shortly after two major wars, those of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39.  As is usual in times of war, more men will die than women.  Generally soldiers kill other soldiers, and usually armies are mostly male in gender.

The bible actually gives us a ratio of men to women after the Gog/Magog war:

And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: Ezekiel 39:2

This passage has been removed from many of the modern versions.  I believe the reason is that Satan is trying to hide a major sign of the Antichrist!  As these soldiers leave Israel and return to the nations they have come from, they will be confronted by a situation where there are six women for each man.

The Antichrist will most likely be one of the administrators of these nations, appointed by either the UN or by Israel, in the aftermath of the Gog/Magog war.  This is the situation that Daniel 11:37 is referring to.  These nations are predominantly Muslim and the natural response of the survivors will be to allow polygamy so that no woman need live without children.  It has always been this way in those lands.  The Antichrist will respond by prohibiting polygamy.  He may prohibit all forms of marriage, I’m not sure, but he certainly will prohibit polygamy.  As a result, the western world will applaud this man as a “Man of God”.

How do I know this?  Did I just make it up myself?  I don’t think so.  All we need to do is look at a section regarding the return of Christ.  Isaiah 3 & 4 is the section I’m referring to.  The early part of chapter 3 is the prelude to the Tribulation.  It describes the sin of Israel, and God’s anger with them.  The setting starts off with ancient Israel, but then it shifts seamlessly to the distant future of the Tribulation period.  The sins of ancient Israel will be perpetuated in the Israel of the End Times.  Then God describes the effect of Armageddon:

Isaiah 3:24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. 25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Many have claimed that this must have been fulfilled in an ancient war.  It may be partially so, but it will have its ultimate fulfillment in Armageddon.  As we go into chapter 4, we see that the effects of this war will carry on into the millennial reign of Christ:

4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Barrenness, or the inability to have children has been called a “reproach” in at least two places in the bible. (Genesis 30:23, Luke 1:25) Notice also that these women are not asking for an illicit affair, but for the man’s name, or marriage.  This is key, for these women are saved women who have survived Armageddon.

“But this doesn’t say it occurs in the millennial reign of Christ”, I can hear you say.  Well, hold on.  Let’s look at the next verse:

2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

The phrase “In that day” can mean either “at the same time” or “the second event closely follows the first, as a direct result of it”.  What this phrase can not mean is “the second event follows the first by some two thousand years”!  No way!  To do so is to make a mockery of language, and render it incomprehensible!

So, Who is the “branch of the Lord”?  It is Jesus and none other!  Furthermore, Isaiah 53:2 records that at His first coming He “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”  This tells us, in no uncertain terms, that the passage in question is referring to the early years of the millennial reign of Christ.  We can go on and see it throughout the chapter:

3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

Does this situation exist today, or at any time in the past 2500 years? No!  It is a yet future event.  Not only are the residents of Jerusalem not holy today, but Jesus, the Branch is not physically here on earth.

4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Note that the very same women mentioned in verse 1 are mentioned again in verse 4, as having had their filth washed away.  These women would not ask this request of these men, without first having the permission of Jesus Christ Himself!  Not only this but the other events mentioned have not yet happened.  The cloud of smoke by day, and the pillar of fire by night, has not occurred since the Exodus from Egypt, and will not happen again until Jesus returns.

Isaiah 3-4 is a passage that encompasses the time from the return of Israel, up until the early years of the millennial reign of Christ.  It does not cover all the details, but only certain related events which will occur at that time.

Isaiah 4:1 gives us an exact reference point for the phrase “He shall not regard…the desire of women” of Daniel 11:37.  The desire of women is exactly expressed by the women in Isaiah 4:1.  It is this desire that the Antichrist will not “regard”, or care about, when he makes his laws as he begins to rule the world.  What shocks me is that Many Muslims, Hindu’s, and Buddhists, will begin to understand that there is something wrong with this man, while many Christians will be blissfully ignorant, and support him until it is too late!

This post has been an introduction to the main points of chapter 8 of The Spirit of Prophecy.  I have gone into detail with each passage and person referenced here, to show that I am indeed telling the truth, and there are many more relevant passages besides these.  We also study the law of Moses in relation to marriage as well as the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself.  You will see that there was no contradiction between Moses and Jesus on this subject.  If I have piqued your interest might I suggest that you get a copy yourself and study this subject in depth?

So, will the Antichrist be gay?  Since most of the Caesars were, there is a real possibility that he could be, but that is not what Daniel 11:37 is talking about.  This is a sign that the whole world will see.  Something that can be easily misinterpreted, and only a few will really understand what is going on.  There is a real possibility that this is the very first sign of the Antichrist, and it may occur before the rapture of the Church.  If you see it, I hope you will be wise.

 

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Tel Aviv voted “Worlds best gay city”

Posted on March 7, 2012 by dknezacek

Caution!  Politically incorrect message follows!  Anyone offended by biblical morality is advised to avoid this post!

This week I got the news that Tel Aviv, Israel, has been voted “World’s Best Gay City” in an American Airlines/GayCities.com contest. Tel Aviv received 43% of the votes, while the next runner-up, New York, received only 14%! Toronto, the third runner up, and the city I was born in, received 7%.

Photo by Gili Yaari/Flash90

Last years gay pride parade in Tel Aviv

First-off, this says more about American Airlines than it does about Tel Aviv. As Jesus said, “you cannot serve God and mammon (the god of money)” (Matt 6:24, Luke 16:13,I Timothy 6:10) It is very clear that American Airlines’ motivation for producing this contest is to promote business…money.

Gays often have a lot of money to spend. Let’s face it, no gay relationship, in the last 4,000 years, has ever produced any children. If you have no dependents, you have more money left over for things like travel and recreation. It is my opinion, therefore, that AA’s promotion of this contest is to promote tourism, and flights to the winning city, and to the runner’s-up cities.  I do wish Tel Aviv well, and would like to visit there some day.

I’m also sure that there are many in Tel Aviv who are embarrassed by the title. My heart goes out to them.

The Tanakh, The Old Testament, has much to say about the “gay” lifestyle. People often refer to the books of Moses as being “hateful” because they tells us that “sodomites” (the old term for “gay”) deserve death. There are actually 40 sins that had the death penalty at that time, only one of which was homosexuality. After the Law, the bible reveals more of the Holiness of God, so we know that ultimately all sin deserves death, not merely the 40 with the death penalty. See Ezekiel 18:4 & 20, Romans 5:12, & 6:23.

Deut. 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

Notice in Leviticus that the prohibition of sodomy is in the middle of prohibition of several other sins. We can know, therefore, that God views this sin the same way as the others. Why then do many churches preach against homosexuality, but allow adulterers in the pulpit?  The Jack Hyles story being one example in many.:

20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her. 21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: (Leviticus 18:20-24)

We see the same thing a couple chapters later:

12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. 13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. (Leviticus 20:12-15)

Please bear with me, I’m going somewhere with this…

It wasn’t only Moses, though if it was, that should be enough for us.  Later on we are told what the good kings of Israel did in this matter:

11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (I Kings 15:11-12)

And Jehoshaphat:

46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. (I Kings 22:46)

And Josiah:

And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. (II Kings 23:7)

The gay defenders like to tell us that it was other sins, for which Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. The problem is that there is some truth in what they are saying, but it’s not the whole truth:

48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. (Ezekiel 16:48-50)

Notice that He is referring to sodomy with the reference to “abomination”, but this wasn’t their only sin, and it isn’t the only sin of our society today. Read the whole chapter of Isaiah 16. There is so much there that we don’t have time to discuss. It clearly says that Israel’s iniquity was greater than that of Sodom, at that time!

This was the reason why Israel was scattered among the nations, and there is no indication that they will have abandoned their sin by the time they return to the land. Ezekiel 37:8 indicates that Israel will come together as a nation while there is yet no (spiritual) life in them. The bones came together, and flesh came upon them, but there was still no life in them. This is what we are seeing today.

Does this mean that we should loudly denounce these people, and shake our fists at them? Absolutely not! You and I are just as guilty.  Do you remember the story when a group of men brought a woman, caught in adultery, to Jesus?

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:3-11)

Jesus is our example!  What He said here applies to all of us sinners!

Note that the condemnation of adultery is from the same passage as the condemnation of homosexuality. Not only this, but Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law. The point of all of this is not so we can point to others, condemn them as sinners, and take their lives and/or freedom! No! The whole point of the Law was to prove to us that we are all sinners, deserving of death, every last one of us! When I looked at a woman in lust, I was just as guilty of adultery as the woman in John 8!

God does not insist that every sinner die, for if He did, this planet would be empty! He never did! Had Moses died for the murder he had committed, the Pentateuch, or Torah, would never have been written! (I know that many excuse Moses’ killing of the Egyptian, but even in the law Moses himself wrote, it is never OK to kill a man for beating a slave, and the very slave the Egyptian had been beating knew this!  See Exodus 2:11-15) Note the following, it too comes from the Old Testament:

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

This is the crux of the matter. God shows mercy to us, to give us time to repent. It doesn’t mean He’s soft on sin.:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)

God allows us to sin, because it is our sin that brings us to God! When we realize that our sin makes us ineligible for entrance into Heaven, then we are prompted to cry out to God for forgiveness. For some of us it takes a lot of sin. When I was a child, and had told a couple of lies to my parents, I didn’t think I was really a sinner. My sins were small, so it really didn’t matter, or so I thought.

I was ignorant of the Holiness of God. While one sin is all it takes to separate us from God forever, it usually takes many sins before we realize we are bankrupt, and in need of a Saviour. Often we must reach the end of ourselves, before we come to the place where we cry out for help! This is why God allows gossips, the proud, liars, thieves, idolators, adulterers, homosexuals, abortionists, and murderers, to keep on living. He uses our sin, and the law, like a tool, to convict us. Sometimes it takes a lot of sin, and this is why He gives us this freedom.

This is why it is wrong for Christians to affirm any sinful lifestyle. We must never condone any sin, though we may be guilty of it ourselves, but must always give the biblical answer. Preach the truth, warn them, but never take away the rights of others. Leave that to God.

Have Christians always acted in accordance with the teachings, and example, of Jesus on these subjects? No, absolutely not! Many Christians have thought that the biblical condemnation of sin meant that we must force our society to live holy lives. Catholics, Puritans, Protestants, and Baptists have all been guilty of this, at one time or another. (Most Baptists only do it in their own homes, but Jerry Falwell’s “Moral Majority” fits the pattern of the others)

All they succeeded in doing was to create a society of hypocrites. A society having a surface righteousness, who don’t understand their desperate situation before God!

This is the problem with the millennial reign of Christ. It will be a wonderful time, with Jesus personally ruling the earth from Jerusalem, but ultimately the world will reject Him. He will rule society in Holiness, and sin will not be tolerated. Consequently the only sin in existence will be very small. If one were to confront many a citizen during the millennial reign, they might say something like: “I’m not a sinner. Sinners are those people who get executed. Since I haven’t been executed I can’t be a sinner”. It will be very difficult to convince such a person that just thinking “God is wrong”, is a sin worthy of an eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is why we are told:

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (II Corinthians 6:2)

I think the root of the problem stems from an incorrect eschatology, and an incorrect theology. Those who believe they must create a paradise on earth, in order to hasten the return of Christ, are often involved in political causes, attempting to force the world into their mold. I am referring to dominionists, reconstructionists, amillennialists, and post-millennialists. The ideas these philosophies hold, will ultimately result in their acceptance of the Antichrist! (not all, but many) The idea that it is up to the Church to take over the world before Christ can come back, is a direct fulfilment of 1 Timothy 3:5

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (1 Timothy 3:1-5)

In case you haven’t gotten it yet, those who believe it is up to the Church to create “the kingdom of God on earth” are denying the ability of God to do it Himself! These people have a form of godliness, a morality that has the appearance of being biblical, but they are foreigners to God Himself! They don’t know Him!

This is a tricky situation that requires a delicate balance. It is right to make your voice heard on moral issues like abortion or gay marriage, but at the same time, taking the law into your own hand is not encouraged in the New Testament. In fact social activism is totally absent from the biblical account of the first century Church. The mission of the Church is to preach the gospel, not to transform society!

Christians are nowhere told to feed the poor without giving them the gospel. In fact Paul told us that we could do that, and it would not benefit us at all, if we don’t have love. But isn’t feeding the poor “love”? No! As Brannon Howse says, “that’s kind of like giving a person a bottle of water on their way to the Lake of Fire!”;

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing. I Corinthians 13:3

Those who think love is “acceptance” of everyone and everything, don’t know the true definition of love! We must get our definitions from the one who originated language, and not from our society’s norms.

For a Christian to love anyone, we must tell the truth, and not affirm a sinful lifestyle. It was God’s original intent, in allowing people to live such lifestyles, to show them that they are sinners, so they know they need a Savior. It is most loving to show them their lifestyle is sinful, and to show them that Jesus paid for all their sin, on the cross.

My sin condemned me, but I repented and Jesus saved me, by His grace.  I want nothing less for the world’s gays.   I want the best for them.

 

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North Korea tested Iranian bomb in 2010

Posted on March 5, 2012 by dknezacek

This morning Debka file is reporting that Japanese and German intelligence sources have confirmed that North Korea has been doing some testing of nuclear materials, possibly including nuclear bombs, or dirty conventional weapons.

Given that western governments have known of these tests for at least 11 months, one immediately wonders why Obama is still pushing for a diplomatic solution, and has been adamant on this point as recently as yesterday.  I don’t expect any different from his meeting with Netanyahu today, though I hope he will wake up soon!  Unfortunately, while Obama  supports Israel with his words, his actions tell a different story.

After three years of continued diplomatic pressure on Iran, the only response is an escalation of Iran’s nuclear program.

Chants of “Death to Israel”, and “Death to America” are routinely heard in the streets of Tehran, and have been for some time.  Even former Iranian “moderate” president Rafsanjani said “Israel is a one bomb country. One bomb and they are done”.  This “moderate” president was also pursuing nuclear weapons, so we know the problem did not originate with Ahmadinejad.  The problem is not a person, but an ideology.

“When you are dealing with people who think they can bring on their version of the Messiah by destroying civilization, who think that dying for the sake of their apocalyptic religion will give them the joys and benefits of martyrdom, who value life so little that they strap suicide vests on their children and slaughter one another as readily as they kill the infidel, you are not dealing with a rational enemy.” IranAware

The time to act is fast approaching.  Iran is not part of the Psalm 83 war, and so I am confident that something very soon will take them out of the game.  What will that event be?  An American attack on their nuclear facilities?  An Israeli attack?  A joint attack?  Perhaps an Israeli-Arab attack?  Unthinkable, perhaps, but not out of the question.  The Arabs are as concerned about an Iranian bomb as is Israel.

One thing is certain, the humanists are dead wrong.  When you believe that “man is basically good” you are not living in reality, but in a dream world!  The very definition of insanity!

All you have to do is take a quick look at history.  Are humanists less evil than religionists?  Just look at the hundreds of millions killed by humanists since the French Revolution.  In the last century, humanists, including Nazis and Communists, killed more than all the religious wars of earth’s history!  Unfortunately most of our leaders are humanists today, and so we are guaranteed more of the same!

The only hope for the human race is found in a man, born just over 2,000 years ago in Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, also known as the Christ.  It is not merely the principles He taught that can save us, but rather He Himself.  The Human race will self-destruct if Jesus doesn’t return, but He will, you can bet your life on it!

Dan Knezacek is the author of The Spirit of Prophecy.

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“Doing a PETA” replaces the term “Hypocrisy”

Posted on February 29, 2012 by dknezacek

Having first heard of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in the late 1990s, when they made the news by raiding organizations and “rescuing” animals which were the objects of experiments. I was initially shocked at the abusive behaviour of the organization toward educational and scientific organizations, however there was the tendency to excuse their behaviour because “they are animal lovers” as I am.  (There is a dog lying on a sleeping bag behind me, as I write this.)

Coda, my faithful companion

This week I was shocked to an even greater extent, when I heard about PETA’s tendency to kill animals in their care! In fact PETA, during 2011 killed over 95% of the animals they received, 84% within the first 24 hours of receiving them! 1911 cats and dogs were killed by PETA in 2011, while the organization found homes for only 24 animals!

This isn’t a new thing! Since 1998 PETA’s headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, has killed over 27,000 animals, the majority of which were adoptable. This is an average rate of 37 animals per week! Not only this but PETAs own facilities do not meet the standards for running a humane animal shelter, which they themselves have published. The word “hypocrite” just might be about to be replaced by the phrase “doing a PETA”.

Well, maybe PETA doesn’t have the money to care for those animals until an adoptive home is found, I hear you asking? PETAs 2011 budget was 37.4 million dollars! That’s $19,570 for every animal they destroyed! No. There is something else going on here.

“It appears PETA is more concerned with funding its media and advertising antics than finding suitable homes for these dogs and cats.” says Rick Berman, Executive Director, Center for Consumer Freedom.

PETA has become a big business. PETA solicits donations from sincere animal lovers, and they are using this money to line their own pockets, and to promote themselves. If you really want to assist animals in distress, make a donation to your local animal shelter, and make visits to see your donations being put to good use. Don’t assume people are really sincere when they ask for donations from you. In the majority of cases, the intended beneficiary does not receive very much from your donated dollar.  Do your homework before you donate!

Winslow has reason to worry!

The people at PETA aren’t more wicked than the rest of the society they come from, but more like a symptom of our society’s decay. They are normal sinners who get greedy, when accountability is removed from the equation. PETA is just like the other organizations who characterize themselves as “liberal”. “Do as I say, not as I do!”

What is the biblical definition of “liberal”? It is a person who is generous with their own wealth, examples of which would be men like Abraham or David. The biblical definition of liberal can be found by reading passages like Proverbs 11:25, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 2 Cor. 8:2, 9:13, and James 1:5.

What is the modern political liberal? Are they generous with their own money? No way! Our modern “liberals” whether the NDP, or the Liberal party, in Canada, or the Democrats in the USA have no intention of benefiting you with their own money. They will take from the people they consider “rich” and give it to those they consider “poor”, much like Robin Hood and his merry band of thugs!

This type of social policy is guaranteed to destroy any country’s economy that practices it, as has been proven by nearly 100 years of socialism around the world! Rather than learning the lessons taught by the innumerable victims of socialism over the last century, our politicians are addicted to this opiate of the political class, because it gets votes! These people do not understand that entrepreneurs are the engine of the economy. When you punish them you punish everyone!

This type of liberal did indeed exist during Isaiah’s day. The type of “liberal” this is speaking of are the same people who call themselves “liberal” today, people like the NDP, the Liberals, the Democrats and PETA;

“The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.” Isaiah 32:5

Remember this; Those who give away money, earned by others through their own hard labour, are not liberal. They are thieves, gaining election by making promises to gullible masses who don’t know that by enslaving, and victimizing, the “rich” they themselves will become slaves, and victims!

One thing I would like to add before I signoff:  There is a connection to End Times Biblical prophecy and PETA!  PETA preaches against the eating of animal meat, and the bible certainly does connect this idea with End Times error:

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

We can conclude from Paul’s letter to Timothy, that PETA’s ideas will grow, and will ultimately be picked up by none other than the Antichrist himself!  When Jesus returns He will find opposition from these very people, unless they repent in the mean time.

While claiming to love the earth, and making great noise about how sacred animals are, they will actually come very close to destroying the whole world!  Please don’t think I am picking only on liberals here, the whole world will support the Antichrist, including conservatives.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.  Revelation 11:18

People like PETA will almost succeed in destroying life on earth, all the while claiming to be saving it!  Yes God is love, and, yes He has made a way to escape for those people, but to all who refuse to repent, He has nothing but judgment!  He will save anyone who will come to Him, His way!

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. Mark 13:20

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The Ezekiel 38-39 timing debate

Posted on February 26, 2012 by dknezacek

During the week of Feb 19-25 I got into a bit of a debate on the Raptureintheairnow.com blog, about the timing of the Psalm 83 war and the Ezekiel 38-39 war, in relation to the Tribulation period.

One of the posters noted that Dr. Walvoord, and the staff of Dallas Theological Seminary believe that the Gog and Magog war, of Ezekiel 38-39 will occur at around the 4 year point of the Tribulation period.  The implication being that I must be wrong, because I disagree with such a group of eminent scholars.  I have somewhat of a disagreement with Dr. Walvoord, and the staff of DTS.  It could be that the scholars are wrong.

If the Gog and Magog war occurs approximately 4 years into the Tribulation, we have the problem of the fuel of the enemy armies being burned for 7 years. This would mean that Israel would be burning the fuel well into the millennial reign of Christ. (Eze. 39:9)

Since Jesus is going to restore Garden of Eden conditions at his return, I find it difficult to imagine that Israel will need to continue burning that fuel during the millennial reign.

Since Israel will be forced to flee to the wilderness around the mid point in the Tribulation, when the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation, there is the problem of who will be burying the soldiers of the enemy armies for seven months? (Eze. 39:11-12) Are the exiles of Israel going to come back from the wilderness to bury the dead, and then go back into hiding? This speaks of a war that will be over long before the Tribulation begins.

Are these people going to carry great quantities of fuel with them as they rush off, to get away from the Antichrist’s soldiers? Jesus said they would not even have time to go home to gather clothes! (Matt 24:17)

15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” (Matthew 24:15-18)

Is the burning of that fuel going to be interrupted by their flight, and then resumed when they return? Wouldn’t the Antichrist’s soldiers take advantge of fuel they find lying around in Israel? Of course they would! The only answer that make sense of all the facts regarding this conflict, is that it must occur during the last few days of the Church Age, shortly before the rapture of the Church.

If Walvoord is correct, that the Gog-Magog war will be at the 4 year point, then Israel will already be in hiding before it starts, since the abomination of desolation occurs at around the 3 1/2 year point. No, the seven years of burning the fuel will be over by the mid-point of the Tribulation.

The best answer for the timing of the Ezekiel 38-39 war, is that it precedes the Tribulation by at least 3 1/2 years. This war will cause the people of the world to expect the millennial reign of Christ, because they think they had just witnessed Armageddon. This interpretation will be a part of Satan’s deception.

While I have great respect for the effort that goes into obtaining degrees at DTS, they are dead wrong on this one. When you try to force events into your predetermined ideas you are bound to make mistakes.

Something else that few notice, is the fact of the placement of the people of Israel during the Gog-Magog war.  In Ezekiel 38:8 we are told that Israel has returned from all over the world, at the beginning of the war.

8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

In 39:25, however, we are told that NOW Israel will return from the nations, where they were sent; “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;”

At first glance this could look like a contradiction, but it isn’t.  In fact, the situation is rather much like that which we see in Israel today.  Since 1948 Jews have come from all over the world, back to Israel, but they haven’t all come back.  In fact there are more Israelites abroad today than there are at home in Israel.

I refer to “Israelites” because, while all Jews are Israelites, Jews come primarily from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, there are other Israelites from the remaining tribes who are still in the millions, in other parts of the world.  I examined just who they are and where they are today, in The Spirit of Prophecy.  They will come back in time for the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.  When the bible speaks of  the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” it is referring to the whole family of Jacob, not just three of his tribes.  The others will not miss it, as is often implied by scholars today.  They will return in time for the Tribulation!

Zechariah 10:10 states that when they do return, there will not be enough room for them in Israel, or Gilead (aka the Golan), and some of them will have to go to Lebanon!  Well, Hezbollah won’t let them into Lebanon today, but after the Psalm 83 war, Hezbollah will no longer be a factor.  In fact Zechariah 11:1-2 tells us that Lebanon will burn, and this will then make room for the Israelites who are coming back!

There is a trumpet that is associated with the final return of the Israelites back to the land.  It is found in Isaiah 27:12-13

12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

I believe this is a very important trumpet, for it does double duty!  Israel has already begun to return, but this is the final trumpet call for the Israelites to come back to the land.  I believe this is the same trumpet that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 15:52;

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Yes, I believe this is the same trumpet.  Paul had no knowledge of the book of Revelation,  which was written several years after his death.  If Paul had any knowledge of the trumpet judgments of that book, we would see him write of them, but he did not, in all of his writings.  Therefore we know that the trumpet he was referring to was an Old Testament trumpet.

Not only this, but since Daniel’s 70th week marks the return of God’s Old Testament dealing with the nations through Israel, then it makes sense that the trumpet that calls Israel home to the land, is the same trumpet that calls the Church home.

Joel 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

The Tribulation is about all of Israel, not merely the southern kingdom.  The 144,000 witnesses of Revelation 7 come from all the tribes of Israel, not merely Judah, Benjamin, and Levi.  Yes it is true that there are some from the other tribes in Israel today, but the bible is clear that this is the time that Israel will be reunited and they will all go through the Time of Jacob’s trouble together.

You can find more information on the timing of the Psalm 83 war, the Ezekiel 38-39 war, and the rapture of the Church in “The Spirit of Prophecy”, by Daniel Knezacek.

Check out my former post for more on the timing of these wars in relation to the rapture of the Church.

This subject is related to the subject of imminence.

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Send a Qur’an to Afghanistan

Posted on February 24, 2012 by dknezacek

With all the anger and protests over an American soldier burning a couple copies of the Qur’an, one wonders why all the fuss?  Where were the protests when the US military burned copies of the bible which were also headed for Afghanistan?

I have a suggestion; If the US military wants Qur’ans in Afghanistan, why not send them really accurate copies of it?  I’m referring, of course, to The Generous Qur’an, a translation by Usama Dakdok.

If you know a soldier working in Afghanistan, I would suggest you send them a copy of the most accurate English translation of the Qur’an.  You can get one from Usama Dakdok’s website.  Mr. Dakdok grew up in Egypt, and has first hand experience dealing with Muslims and Islam.  He has a great love for Muslims, and I think both soldiers and Muslims would benefit from his work.

To date most English copies of the Qur’an have been somewhat dishonest, often sugar coating passages that English speakers might find disturbing, or offensive.  Usama Dakdok, and several other scholars, took on the task of creating an accurate English translation, that doesn’t hide anything, but lets you see it as the Arabic speaker sees it.

Here is what The Straight Way of Grace says about this translation:

1. Accurate English Translation

2. Study Notes for the Reader

3. Errors and Contradictions

4. Comparison with Biblical Accounts

5. Points to Original Sources

6. Highlights non-arabic words and idioms in the Qur’an.

7. Includes Table of Bible prophecies about Jesus

8. Gospel Invitation

The Straight way of Grace ministry can be found here.

Dan Knezacek is the author of The Spirit of Prophecy.

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Movie Review: Defiance

Posted on February 19, 2012 by dknezacek

Staring Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, Liev Schreiber as Zus Bielski, Jamie Bell as Asael Bielski and George MacKay as Aron Bielski.

Director and Producer: Edward Zwick

Released in 2008, Defiance is a World-War era 2 drama, based on a true story, about four brothers who led a group of Jewish partisans, hiding from the Nazi occupiers of Belarus.

While there was some artistic license taken, in some of the action scenes, the movie is a believable story of a group of Jews who fought, not only the Nazis, but also racism among the Belorussian population.

Starting with the brothers meeting up shortly after the murder of their parents by the Nazis, the brothers hide out in the woods. Shortly thereafter they are joined by other small groups of Jews, ultimately growing to around 1,200 people, by the end of the war.  Today the descendants of the Bielsky partisans number close to 20,000!

These are not stereotypical heroes, but all struggle with very human issues of guilt, anger, love, and justice. The film also deals with the peculiar issues the Jewish community faced; whether to fight back, or trust God and/or government. There is tension between the brothers, over whether to fight, or save more people, resulting in a split with Zus, and a few others, joining a local band of Russian partisans.

I found the movie deals with the issues on a realistic level, and while there is enough action to satisfy action junkies, there is a deeper level that makes you think about the issues.

In one scene, during a funeral, the presiding rabbi prays; “Oh Lord, please choose another people…” For me this is probably the most prophetically interesting part of the movie. For years I had wondered how it could be possible for the Jews to accept a gentile messiah, and I think this sentiment provides an answer. I don’t know if they will, but it is food for thought.

Filmed a few miles away from the original setting, over the border in Lithuania, the scenery and architecture provide a setting that gives the feeling of authenticity.

If I were to rate this movie I would give it 5 stars out of 5, or two thumbs up! For anyone who wonders what it was like for people living through such horrific conditions, or for history buffs, this is a valuable movie. It is rated 14A because of violence and coarse language.  Small children will find it disturbing.

Due to the dramatically increasing amount of anti-Semitism in our world today, I think this movie should provide a counterbalance to some of the rampant racism we see around us!  While there were many Jews who were victims of the Nazis, there were some who stood their ground, and I say: Good for them!

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The Coming Middle East Conflict

Posted on February 17, 2012 by dknezacek

Brannon Howse of Worldview Weekend has recently posted an article by Michael Snyder, “24 Signs That We Are Getting Dangerously Close To A Major War In The Middle East” The article is so accurate that there is no point in me rewriting it, although I do have some relevant comments to add;

All the signs are there. Obama is doing everything possible to avoid a war, but it is coming nonetheless. In fact, by procrastinating, he is actually going to make it worse than it needs to be, as is usually the case when we procrastinate.

Coming from a prophetic perspective, my first question is; Does this war have prophetic significance?

The first thing we need to understand is, it hasn’t happened yet. Until it does, the details are rather murky.

As I have detailed in The Spirit of Prophecy, there are at least two prophetically significant End Times wars that will occur during the Church age. These are the Psalm 83 invasion of Israel by the Arabs, and then a few years later, the Ezekiel 38-39 war.

The details of these wars are spelled out for us in Scripture, and most of them are pretty straight forward. One item of significance is that there is no overlap of the antagonists of these two wars.

One significant aside I see, is the rift developing between Russia and the Arabs.  In the civil war in Syria, Russia is solidly on the side of Assad, while Saudi Arabia is supporting the Sunni rebels.  Should the rebels succeed in toppling Assad, I expect a cooling of the relationship between the Sunni Arab nations and Russia.  This all fits very well into the Psalm 83 war scenario.

The Arabs will make peace with Israel after being defeated in the Psalm 83 war, and are only in the Ezekiel account as neighboring nations who protest the war. They appear in Ezekiel 38:13 as “Sheba, Dedan and Tarshish”: Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Many scholars have speculated that these entities could be European, or even the USA, but the use of the word “come” should tell us that they are in close proximity to Israel. The attacking armies have to “come” through their territory to get to Israel. I would expect that due to a peace treaty they have made with Israel, after the Psalm 83 war, their armed forces are relatively small, and cannot stop the invading forces, so all they can do is lodge a diplomatic protest.

I have looked and have not found a war in Scripture where Iran and Syria attack Israel together, except Armageddon. In that event they will be joined by the rest of the world.

It appears, therefore, that the events going on right now with the civil war in Syria, and the nuclear standoff with Iran, are preliminary skirmishes. These conflicts are serving to align the nations of the Middle East into the two factions that will ultimately make up these two wars.

I expect we will see a circle of nations surrounding Israel, join together to attack her in the Psalm 83 war. As I proved in The Spirit of Prophecy, these nations are Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinians, and Egypt. They may be joined by the other Arab states of the Arabian peninsula, but will not include Turkey, Libya, Russia, Sudan, and Iran.

These last nations will attack Israel several years later, during the Gog and Magog war, and will be joined by the nations of the former Soviet Union, as well as several eastern countries, likely including Malaysia. That war will look so much like Armageddon, that many professing Christians will identify it as such. This is a mistake, and is the result of not comparing Scripture with Scripture. The problem is that after Armageddon Jesus will return, but after the Gog and Magog war, the Antichrist will arise. Getting these two wars mixed up will result in professing Christians supporting the Antichrist, as if he was the returned Christ!

These two wars make up the framework of what I have dubbed a pseudo, or artificial Tribulation Period.  The events surrounding these conflicts will include several duplicates of Revelation’s Tribulation scenario, including a European dictator who looks a lot like the Antichrist.

Can these two wars be stopped? No!

Can they be delayed? Maybe. They cannot be delayed by negotiation and appeasement, however. That will only serve to hasten them, as it did for World War II, with Chamberlain and Hitler. If the people of the earth were to turn to Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and pray for Him to intervene, the war might actually be delayed for a generation or so, but it doesn’t look like anything of that sort is about to happen. It actually looks like the west has turned their backs on Jesus Christ, and is attempting to solve their problems on their own.  This is a guaranteed recipe for disaster!

Dan Knezacek is the author of The Spirit of Prophecy

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New Book Review of The Spirit of Prophecy

Posted on February 14, 2012 by dknezacek

Today I received notification of a review being posted on Bible Prophecy – Signposts of the Times blog.  This review is mostly favorable, although there are a couple of differences of opinion.  Please see my comments at the end of his review for clarification.:

Monday, February 13, 2012

A review of “The Spirit of Prophecy” book

Recently we received a request from the author of prophecy related book to read and give a review of his book. The authors name is Daniel Knezacek and the title of his book is called:
The Spirit of Prophecy: A Groundbreaking New Analysis of the Bible’s End-Times Prophecies and is publish by Virtualbookworm.com Publishing Inc.

Mr. Knezacek is a fellow Canadian Christian and has an interest in the study of end-times prophecy. He holds to some similar view points as we have, but also holds to some ideas that run contrary to the general consensus amongst most bible prophecy experts, and with us as well.

The book covers a gamut of subjects from the study of the final 10 kingdoms spoken of in both the books of Daniel and Revelation, to the Millennial Kingdom. We found that we agreed with the author on most of his interpretations on the various subjects. Mr. Knezacek made a very good case that the Antichrist will arise out of the nation (just to the east of Israel), showing proof with many biblical references to back up his assertion. We ourselves express no particular opinion on the nationality of the Antichrist. In our view point he could be European or from the Muslim word, we have seen good cases for both opinions. Mr. Knezacek’s interpretation is another good case for an Antichrist from the Muslim world.

We also found the author’s discussion on the coming apostate church to be very relevant in today’s growing emergent church and new Christian right movements. We also found Mr. Knezaceks last chapter on the coming great deception to be most applicable to how we see events shaping up for this delusion; That being an alien or return of the Nephilim scenario.

The author presented a case for a psedo-Tribulation period that will occur prior to the actual seven year Tribulation period. The author asserts that this pseudo period would be a very deceptive facsimile causing the world to look for a messianic figure to save the world. Enter the Antichrist. We wished the author had spent more time in his book fleshing out this particular perspective.

Where we took great issue with the author is in his assertion that polygamy will make a return during the Millennial Kingdom. In the authors 8th chapter, he makes a very lengthy case that polygamy was never condemned by God and is in fact a legitimate lifestyle, (even today), that was used by God during the days of old Israel and will be used again to populate the world right after the Tribulation period. As we said, we have a vastly different viewpoint on this issue and expressed such to the author himself. However, we will leave it to any other readers of this book to come to their own opinion, with respect to what is written on this subject in the bible.

All in all, and interesting book which should cause the reader to grab their bible and a good expository book on bible prophecy to determine if what is written is true.

Duane Muir, Williams Lake, BC, Canada, Sign Posts of the Times blog

My Response:

What Mr. Muir is saying about chapter 8, and has said so in a couple of private emails, is that he does not believe that the conditions, that allowed men like Gideon and David to have multiple wives, will occur again during the millennial reign of Christ.  I agree with him in the sense that the return of Christ will not cause those conditions.  What I am saying in Chapter 8, is that those conditions will be caused by the destruction of the Tribulation and Armageddon, and will be carried through into the first generation of those who live during the millennial reign of Christ.

Chapter 8 proves, biblically, that what I am saying is true.  I am not asking the reader to believe me, I am asking you to check it out for yourselves.

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