Posted on 03/05/2002 11:32:49 PM PST by JohnHuang2
" But an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God."
Jesus Christ AD33 (John 16:2)Jesus Christ predicted that in the last days leading to his return, there would be a great wave of persecution against Christians. The unique thing about this particular prediction is that those who murder Christians will believe they are following God's word and performing a religious duty for Him. This can apply to various religions, but none more than the Muslim religion.
Under the Islamic doctrine of Jihad, Muslims have begun a concerted slaughter of Christians in many parts of the world. The most vicious treatment is reserved for Muslims who convert to Christianity. In many cases, converts are killed by their own family. Many Muslim nations have laws that require the death penalty for converts.
Again, Jesus predicted about those days, "And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another." (Matt. 24:11)
The Muslim religion is the most intolerant of any major religion in the world. Intolerance of other religions is a central part of their doctrine. It is particularly intolerant of Christians.
Muslim persecution of Christians is often not the kind of "persecution" one thinks of in the 21st century. We're not talking about denying Christians permission to vote, or harassing their churches, or denying them social equality although all three, of course, apply.
Rather, we are talking about the kind of persecution in which a Christian is given a choice between renouncing Jesus Christ and seeing themselves or their loved ones mutilated and/or murdered.
In an open letter published the other day on WorldNet Daily, the head of Servant's Purse recounted a story in which Sudanese Christians who refused to renounce Christ had a three-inch nail driven into their skulls.
"Persecution" in terms of what it means in the Sudan is too horrible to put into words. In the Sudan, forced conversion to Islam is a matter of official state policy.
In Nigeria, wearing of turbans and veils by male and female students in post-primary institutions is mandatory there are no exceptions. Fourteen church buildings have been slated for demolition by the state government. One third of the Nigeria's internal states have imposed Sharia law. In one state, Kaduna, more than 2,000 people were killed in Christian-Muslim riots linked to plans to introduce Islamic law there.
The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights says:
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Muslims not only violate these human rights, their religion teaches that they should do so. A Christian is not supposed to even be allowed on the Arabian Peninsula. Non-Muslims are not allowed at all in Mecca.
In Saudi Arabia, all citizens must be Muslims. Wearing of Christian symbols, distribution, or even possession of Christian literature is a crime for which non-Muslims can be arrested, imprisoned, lashed and deported.
There are three Ethiopian Christians currently being held and reportedly tortured in the Saudi Breman Deportation Center. They were reportedly flogged 80 times with a metal cable while they were suspended in the air. They are charged with worshipping Christ in a private home.
An American missionary couple held hostage in the southern Philippines for eight months by the Muslim rebel group Abu Sayyaf live moment to moment under the constant threat of execution by decapitation.
The Koran commands, "Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity against those who believe to be the Jews and those who are polytheists." (Surah 5.82) Christians are called "polytheists" because of our faith in Jesus as God. This sets up Christians for persecution.
"So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make [them] prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom [themselves] until the war terminates." (Surah 47.4)
"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Surah 9.5)
"O Prophet! Strive [Fight] hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination." (Surah 9.73)
It is fascinating to read of U.S. efforts to accommodate the religious sensibilities of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and of the human rights groups complaining Washington isn't doing enough. It would seem to me their services are more urgently required elsewhere.
Absurd. No Muslims fall away in latter days. The seed for their rebellion was planted thousands of years ago by Hagar and Ismael who were blessed by Yahweh, but preferred to return to their Egyptian cat gods and cow gods who had handmaidens of pharoahs buried alive. Modern day Hagars don't want to come out of Babylon.
Wake up, people! You cannot trust anyone who subscribes to (lives by) the Quran! They have a stated directive to kill you, and gov't counter-terrorism personnel can't be everywhere at once, so who do you think should be responsible for protecting your family? YOU!
Get with it or take accountability if/when you or yours become targets, and it IS possible for this to happen! Too many people think bad things only happen to others. Preparedness can deflect a WHOLE BUNCH (but not all, unfortunately) of bad things. Get prepared!
Do YOU have an islamic neighbor? You think you know them, right? Your kids play with their kids, right? Is one of their kids 16 years old, like the Saudi student in NYC who told his teacher in early September that the twin WTC towers wouldn't be there much longer? Sleep well tonight......
I'm being an alarmist, you say? I'm spreading rumors and creating problems where they don't exist, you say? Go back, read the Quran, look around the world at what islamics are doing daily to non-islamics, and come back to show me where I'm wrong! Frankly, I would LOVE to be wrong, but the evidence, the facts, are overwhelming! SIGH!
Yes! Love or compromise. There can be no true unity in the Spirit without holiness. Ecumenicism in all of its forms, are lies of the devil and the antichrist system manifest in government, media and the false teachers who have filled the church with their false doctrines designed to make the lukewarm middle the norm. They have leavened the whole loaf! The Lord warned to beware, but too few believed Him and know not they are traveling down the broad road to destruction.
Da 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
If a person is not yielding to the Holy Spirit by walking in holiness and obedience, then he is yielding to the world system (Mammon) and doing wickedly against the covenant and that system will corrupt him by flatteries. Rom 6:16.
Da 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Psalms 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Ecumenicism, Pluralism, Ceasefire, Disarmament, Flatteries, Tolerance, Multiculturalism, Diversity, Compromise, Unity, Cooperation, "Peace and Security" are all tools of the devil used to defeat Israel, America and the West. It is imperative that we return to God's rules and not play by the devil's. More here: #45
Get Ready for Twenty World Trade Center Bombings (A MUST READ interview from 1997)
Mr. Lindsey claims to know that these are the "end times" because of John 16:2, and how it can seem to apply to Muslims and what they're doing today. Let's analyze this:
First, Islam has always had its doctrine, and their rejection of other faiths since it was created about 1,600 years ago. Clearly the world didn't end 1,600 years ago.Second, and this is a more general criticism of "prophecies", the events as described in the Bible that will fortell Jesus' return can be applied to any era, as I demonstrated specifically in point one. Other examples include: Famine, earthquakes, wars, and rumors of wars, and general intolerance for Christianity, not just from those acting, in their belief, for God.
Finally, it is written that no man shall know the hour of His return. One may make the argument that that scripture refers to simply the "hour", and not the period of time, but I don't agree with that. Put another way, if you believe you can know the "period of time" He will return, what "period of time" are you talking about? A decade? A year? A month? A day? An "hour"? To me, it seems like there could be no end to the specificity of such prediction, once you open the floodgates, and allow yourself to go down that "slippery slope".
Then he had a radio program - that came on here on Saturdays from 1-2:30 PM. Don't know if it does any more.
But I remember from those programs that he was about the ONLY person talking about Iran as the danger it has become. He spoke about Iraq also, of course, during the Gulf War. But he kept saying over and over again that IRAN was where the real danger is. I don't remember all the the reasons - and I realize Iran is Persian - which is not the same as Arab - but still of course there was the Ayatollah Khomeni.
Now we have Iran identified as part of the "Axis of Evil" by our President and we also have Iraq and Iran becoming closer in their alliance (which I know was fractured by their long running war during the 80's).
In the book of Ezekiel - Iran is mentioned (Persia) but Iraq (Babylonia) is not - in Ezekiel 37, 38.
It's all very interesting. I believe that God gave America - and the world - a "reprieve" during the 80's (During Reagan's and Thatcher's term). I believe God has given America another "chance" to turn to Him - and that President Bush's leadership at this critical time is not an "accident."
I also believe that the persecution of Christians and Jews the world over is not going to decrease - but will increase - and will take hold in this country also. But, before then, the opportunities abound for Christian witnessing and, as you say, for prayer - especially for our young people!
When the "real" persecution starts in this country - I think we will know that we are truly "at the end" of things because there is not another country left to go to. We are it.
President Bush has called what is being attacked by the terrorists as "freedom" and I believe he means "freedom to Worship God" is what will disappear first if the terrorists triumph.
He is right. That baseline freedom to Worship God, for which our ancestors in this nation fled from European persecution, is the fundamental freedom of America. And when it goes, America goes.
This is the freedom (among others) for which we stand and fight and pray!
Those who work against our stand for FREEDOM (the Marxists and Communists in this country led by the Hitlery Clintons and the Tinpot Tommy Dashcle's) are of course working in league with those in Islam who want to end our FREEDOM to worship God - just as they have done to the non-Muslims in every country in which they dwell.
The fact that anti-(real)God Muslims are allied with anti-God Communists/Socialists/Marxists against those who believe in the FREEDOM to Worship God (as we choose) - IS NOT A SURPRISE!
It is the battle of the ages come down to this!
It is God vs. Anti God
Christ vs. AntiChrist
Allah (Satanic) vs. God (Holy)
It is civilization against barbarit
And it is life vs. death.
Who will triumph? God knows and is our only true bulwark against the flood of evil which we face today.
Those dear Christians in the Sudan who are suffering for their Christian faith and all those around the world who are suffering and will suffer - God is JUST. He is their and our sure defender! We must go forward with God!
And leave the rest to HIM!
"Add to cart" indeed! What shall a man give in chance for his soul? ...in some cases, just $21.99. There is a type of covenant or agreement that happens in the buying and selling of things. Even giving money to a false ministry links one to it spiritually because money represents a portion of one's life and power. Man is given things and the test is to see what we do with that which is given. Big money ministries are "given power" and credibility in man's eyes by the fact that they are rich, but it is often some poor undiscerning soul who has given his money to the false to validate that ministry. A gift perverteth judgment as does receiving false ministry, but people take cursed things in their homes all the time and ignore the Word on the subject.
It may be a worse sin to give money to a false ministry than to waste one's money in riotuous living. The former is leading many down the broad road to destruction.
Mr 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Do you have some cite or reference that I can look up to find a statement of Hal Lindsey where he stated categorically that Christ was going to return in the 1980's? I don't recall that he ever prophesied anything. I always theought that he was a biblical analyist and not a prophet.
Anyway, since you made the statement and then condemned him for it, I believe that you , as a Christian, owe it to Lindsey and to all the lurkers here to prove your statement.
If you can't prove it, then either modify it or retract it.
Thanks.
Looks to me like "searching after signs" is not an exclusively Romish trait.
No, that is a concept like the "spirit of niceness" from Ecumenicism (see post #66 above) which will deceive and send many to hell. More than anything else Jesus warned of deception. He warned to beware of false prophets. Paul didn't subject himself to false brethren for one hour, about the length of many church services!
Ga 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Titus also speaks of those who would come in and subvert whole houses. At that time the church met in houses. Today there are whole denominations led astray.
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
The command of scripture is to be come out and be separate, holy, set apart....departing from iniquity...purifying your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit....wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Lots of people need to be wiser lest they be seduced as cast away as in Prov. 1:20-33. Will you inherit Psalm 91 or Proverbs 1:20-33?
Luther added "alone" to saved by faith. That would of course mean that Luther "taught falsely" so what does that make him? Check it out here: #37.
Now, you can get some things right by accident. Certainly the CREATION of Israel in 1947 meant that anyone prophesying a "war" or "conflict" in parts of that region would be on pretty solid ground pretty much any time. But the measuring stick for a prophet of God is MUCH higher. The Bible says that all their prophecies will come true. So if he is off in so much as a single detail, the Bible says he is not to be listened to. It doesn't say to "dis" him, and I don't. But I remind my brothers and sisters that a prophet whose prophecies do not come true is not being given those prophecies by God.
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