What Is The Source of True Joy? – from Mike Ratliff
From Possessing the Treasure, Mike Ratliff
What Is The Source Of True Joy? 5/26/2015
Here is an article I recommend, it was a real blessing to start my day maybe it can be for you as well.
John
1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:”
Introducing Christians into the Occult! Roma Downey and crew – Little Boy: Believe the Impossible
For those reading our posts warning about Roma Downey and Mark Burnett here is a new movie they are introducing Christians to the occult. The link below covers this in great detail I recommend sharing it with anyone you can that they may be able to avoid this latest snare:
Little Boy: Believe the Impossible – Herescope by Pastor Larry DeBruyn
Just how big is the Universe we live? As a former Trekkie, Science Fiction lover here is a dose of reality if you dare to read it. For my Christian brothers and sisters I hope it is a blessing to you.
Hello!? Is Anybody Out There? – Just How Big is the Universe?
New Ager or Christian? Roma Downey and Mark Burnett
Roma Downey has NOT renounced New Age teachings! Beware if you are watching the AD series these two are not to be trusted! “Roma Downey has never renounced her New Age involvement and continues to promote it in one form or another.”
10 Important Things to Consider About Roma Downey’s Spiritual Affinities
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=16777
If time allows I will look into this further but the material at Lighthouse Trails lays it out well. If you are watching the AD series I have little doubt they are rewriting the Bible with their own narrative. If you are a Bible believing Christian, look very hard at what you are being presented even a cursory look I could see and hear things not aligning to scripture even adding to it. Bad, bad stuff!
John Beardsley
II Cor 10:5
Rapture Hypochondria!
by Kathy Beardsley
The title of this article is for analogy purposes only. It is not meant to mock, demean, or laugh at anyone.This is an article written out of nothing more than a burden on my heart for the truth to be told. I take matters of a biblical nature seriously. I do my best to reflect that in my writing. My only motive is to speak the truth according to scripture, but in doing so, toes might be stepped on. I promise you that offense is never intended. I pray you read this with a prayerful heart that the real truth, God’s truth, be revealed to you on this subject.
hy·po·chon·dria noun \ˌhī-pə-ˈkän-drē-ə\ : unusual or excessive concern about your health : a tendency to fear or imagine that you have illnesses that you do not actually have
Put this in the perspective of the rapture and you may better understand my dismay and deepening concern not only for my friends and loved ones, but for all who have fallen prey to this deception.
Many of those who believe in the rapture are excessively concerned with seeing the signs of it. They insist these signs are prophecy being fulfilled right before their eyes, and refuse to see that these “signs” are not signs at all. This is Scofield’s prophecy! The “signs” are what C.I. Scofield declares to be a dual prophecy in Matthew chapter 24. Nowhere in scripture is there any hint of dual prophecies. Sin will always abound, and because of that, history will be repeating itself, as will weather rotations that haven’t been seen in a hundred years, and earthquakes in places rarely experienced. These things will continue until our Lord returns at his Second Coming. Scofield has taken it upon himself to explain what HE believes is correct. He uses the word(s) “type” and “antitype” frequently in his notes when referring to future prophecy—namely, eschatology. He, NOT scripture equates these “types” to dual prophecies. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be more wrong and countless people have been deceived because of it. Moreover, a great number of these people have shown themselves to be susceptible in being drawn toward other false teachings—thinking them to be just one more revelation to the whole plan of God.
Scofield may be considered a great and mighty hammer in the tool box, but Satan is the force behind the lie and he’s doing everything he can to continue to drive this false teaching into the hearts of believers. What better way to encourage people to believe something than to make it seem “as if” signs are being fulfilled. Not to mention the fact that focusing on signs is contrary to what Christians are to be doing. Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites because they insisted on seeing a sign.
Matthew 12:39, 40 “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Jesus was of course referring to his death, burial, and resurrection. Jonah’s example was given as just that and not for a literal sign to watch for.
Matthew 16:2-4 “He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”
Scofield most likely believed everything he said and taught, but he was deceived. He no doubt heard the truth while in the company of men such as D.L. Moody, but he ultimately chose to follow another deceived man; dispensationalist John Nelson Darby. Scofield not only plagiarized Darby’s Bible, but he took it further and built a foundation based on his own interpretation of scripture.
2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
This is what is being taught today. If teaching about the rapture is supposed to cause people to come to Christ then why have we not seen true revival in their hearts? For instance, sins of the flesh are worse than ever; vanity, greed, selfishness, immorality, &c. Why has there not been a sense of greater urgency among the people to get saved and encourage others to do the same?
Click pic for review
The increase of movies, books, and television shows on the subject is nothing more than just another source of material for media entertainment. The fact that several “leaders” from various religions are consulted so the material can be “balanced” to appease most everyone speaks volumes as to why there is so much error, and it certainly doesn’t help when pastors endorse them.
Truth endures the test of time; it is always consistent (unchanging; void of variances added along the way), it is always a matter of fact. It is the root from which God’s Word stems. He is “…the way, the truth, and the life…” John 14:6.
The rapture theory has far too many variations to be consistent; it has only existed since the early 1800’s, not as some claim since the time of Paul; and most importantly, it is a privately interpreted man-made theory; therefore, there is no truth in it!
Watch out there’s another apocalyptic movie coming to the big screen near you!
Today, October 3rd 2014, a remake of Left Behind is released with a lineup of some big Hollywood names: Nicholas Cage, Chad Michael Murray, Cassi Thomson, Nicky Whelan, Jordin Sparks, Lea Thompson and directed by Vic Armstrong. The movie is promising to bring biblical prophecy to life:
“Left Behind is an apocalyptic Action-Thriller movie starring Nicolas Cage based on the New York Times bestselling novel that brings biblical prophecy to life in modern times. The most important event in the history of mankind is happening right now. In the blink of an eye, the biblical Rapture strikes the world. Millions of people disappear without a trace. All that remains are their clothes and belongings, and in an instant, terror and chaos spread around the world. The vanishings cause unmanned vehicles to crash and burn. Planes fall from the sky. Emergency forces everywhere are devastated. Gridlock, riots and looting overrun the cities. There is no one to help or provide answers. In a moment, the entire planet is plunged into darkness.” [emphasis in bold mine] (Online Source)
Compared to other Hollywood movies, this $16 million dollar production would be considered low cost. After all it’s nothing more than Christian *pulp fiction.
For our new reader who may not be familiar, the Left Behind movie being released today is largely derived from the 16 book series of the same title written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, and a remake of Left Behind: The Movie released in 2000 starring Kirk Cameron. Compared to the book it is said this remake is adapted to focus on the Rapture and what immediately follows.
The 2014 remake comes after a protracted legal battle of nine years between professing Christians Tim LaHaye vs. Cloud Ten Pictures including Paul Lalonde who is CEO of Stoney Lake Entertainment (SLE) and producing the latest version of the movie. Now that legal battles are settled, SLE gets a “big thumbs up” from series writers Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins bringing us their freshly regurgitated movie in Hollywood style. (Online source)
So how will this latest Left Behind measure (biblically speaking) compared to the movies Noah or Heaven is for Real? Well, as bad or worse. We reviewed the Left Behind books and year 2000 version of the movie back in 2001 (online source).
Obviously unchanged is the fictionalizing of Scripture which is an egregious offense in and of itself, not to mention, the theology presented in the books is grossly inaccurate regardless of how much the publisher wants you to believe his claim that “The series is guaranteed to be theologically sound.” Paul Lalonde represents this latest movie as biblical prophecy that “…has not happened yet.” So I guess the question is how, in what way the passage of time made the Left Behind, books or movies biblical? First, here are some examples from our book review of what remains unchanged to consider:
- One of the very questionable doctrines the Left Behind series teaches is that at the time of the rapture pregnant women will suddenly become un-pregnant (that is, the unborn babies will be taken in the rapture and will leave the unsaved mother, who is left behind, many pounds lighter!). A rapture for embryos! (vol. 1, Left Behind, pp. 46-47).
- The pope is raptured away! The books depict the Roman Catholic pope as a saved man who is taken away in the Rapture.
- The books feature the formation of a “Tribulation Force” to resist the Antichrist. There is nothing like this even hinted at in the Bible.
- Large numbers of relatives and friends of Christians are saved after the Rapture occurs.
- Prayers to the dead is taught in one of the books. During the funeral for a Tribulation-era pastor, one of the leaders of the Tribulation Force is depicted as praying to the dead man (vol. 3, Nicolae, p. 315).
- New Age/occult out-of-body experiences are encouraged. One of the characters in The Indwelling has an elaborate and richly detailed out-of-body experience (OBE); LaHaye glorifies OBE as a good way to pray. LaHaye’s OBE account is identical with OBEs described and marketed by countless New Agers on the Internet and in myriads of occult based books (vol. 7, The Indwelling, pp. 232-248).
- Satan is in charge of the weather. One of the key figures in the Left Behind books is the supposed leader of the 144,000 Jews. In book four, he sends out a message to believers throughout the world via the Internet and makes the following statement: “Eons ago, God the Father conceded control of earth’s weather to Satan himself, the prince and power of the air” (vol. 4, Soul Harvest, p. 232).
- The Christians in the books make major decisions based on their intuitions and human reasoning rather than on Bible precepts. For example, two of the heroes of the Left Behind series become romantically involved. Though they discuss the matter and wonder if it is God’s will, they get married and have a child in the midst of the Great Tribulation, with no apparent consultation of the Scriptures.
- Easy-believism and low moral standards are promoted in the Left Behind Based on a bathroom scene where the hero, Buck, gets converted, it appears all that is needed to be saved is mental assent to God’s existence. Then when Buck uses his credit card to embezzle and steal from his boss, this “Christian” deems all okay because the theft is for the cause of Christ (and his boss is the Antichrist).
- Female Bible teachers are acceptable. Book three has two female members of the “Tribulation Force” trained to teach the Bible to mixed groups of people (vol. 3,Nicolae, pp. 354,355). Contrast this teaching with 1 Timothy 2:12.
- Books 8 & 9 teach that recipients of the mark of the beast can still be saved. In The Mark, “the Chang scenario” is developed, whereby a character receives both the mark of the beast and the sealing of the Lord. In Desecration, Chang’s dual-marking was justified in the storyline.
(Online source Biblical Discernment Ministries)
Second, the new Left Behind movie violates a basic principle of partnering with the world as stated in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Even the Left Behind FAQ page demonstrates in their casting that being a Christian was not a requirement.
Third and most importantly, it is part of the Gospel where the Bible says of Jesus’ return: Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
John Nelson Darby November 1800 – April 1882 Founder of the “Exclusive Brethren”
The movie’s version of a “rapture” with Jesus secretly snatching us away is completely false, and in fact is the exact opposite to the truth of scripture; “…shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” What the movie is preaching is Jesus coming and secretly snatching us (all who believe along with dead believers resurrected) joining Him in the clouds, communing in Heaven for seven years while “The Great Tribulation” occurs on Earth. There are many books on the subject, but these teachings are NEW by biblical standards; an invention credited to John Nelson Darby in 1827 (or 1830 depending who you choose to believe) and later plagiarized & popularized of Cyrus Ingerson Scofield.
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (August 1843 – July 1921) Author of the Scofield Bible, unqualified to pastor divorced abandoned first wife and children, called a “scallywag” for his questionable financial transactions, self-awarded doctorate credentials and more.
When you look at the BIBLICAL picture of Jesus’ return it refers to His Second Coming. Acts 1:11 and many other verses tell of one event described with different verbs; Jesus Second Advent, return, coming, and appearing. The Bible says in context, [bold emphasis mine]
Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Mark 13:26 “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”
Luke 21:27 “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Revelation 1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”
Fourth, we have material on our site documenting the shady history of Darby and Scofield including proof that the theory of the rapture idea was born out of a vision from a 15 year old teenage girl involved with in the occult. This was during the same relative time-frame as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Irvingites and others. So is it only coincidence that this alleged biblical rapture doctrine got its start during a time of unprecedented heresy? Please, save you money, give it to a solid Bible believing church that is not promoting these false teachings and read your Bibles!
Why is this so very important you ask? Jesus IS coming again as the verses above proclaim! His coming will not be a two stage event as these “rapture” teachers say because the Bible only speaks of Jesus’ return once to gather His children:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Left Behind is just another in a long line of apocalyptic movies that Christians should ignore.
The rapture teachers are raving on and on about how bad things are in the world today when the Bible teaches Jesus returns, comes, and is revealed in a time of peace and safety, even merry making:
Matthew 24:37-39 “But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Luke 17:26-30 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
I have read the erroneous theory put forward by the rapture teachers, and I must judge by the fruit of the men Darby and Scofield. An honest look at these men and their teachings left me with a question, “Why are we listening to them versus well respected teachers who repudiated Darby’s teachings as cult-like!? Incidentally, Scofield was not qualified to be in the pulpit, the details are included here.
Some of these same verses in 1 Thessalonians 4 above are cherry-picked to support the “rapture” teachings but neither the word “rapture” nor the concept are ever used in the Bible. The use of “rapture” started being used synonymously with Jesus’ coming after 1830 and more frequently when popularized by the Scofield Bible with his footnotes in 1909.
There are many reasons I am against movies like Left Behind; they not only misrepresent the Gospel of Jesus – they add to and take away from scriptures, and in particular Biblical prophecy, that every Christian knows comes with one of the strongest condemnation in scriptures:
Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV) “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.”
Deviating from the context of the Bible is dangerous, but as we know Hollywood is no stranger to perverting scriptures. Why would Bible believing Christians want to partner with God hating Hollywood? I suppose they believe in some fashion the ends justify the means, but referring back to Revelation 22 you are literally playing with Hell fire! If you believe we can justify or rationalize changing any meaning from the plain words of scripture all I can say is – wow! I will pray for you!
Still not convinced? My wife has done research showing the root of the word rapture for Jesus’ coming according to the Oxford Exhaustive Dictionary until 1830 was related to an emotional experience, not in a prophetical biblical doctrine – to this day its primary definition is still an emotional experience.
As Christians we have a duty as the Bereans do to scripture, Acts 17:11 to see if these things are so and a plain reading of scriptures shows us no secret snatching away of Christians in the midst of troubled times. However, the Bible does teach if we would choose to live Godly we will suffer persecution. Any studying of the history of the past 2000 years plainly reveals brothers and sisters in Christ who have suffered horrible deaths for Christ! Yet were they miraculously raptured!? No! So from the start of the “Rapture” teachings it can be shown as patently false.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Reading further in 1 Thessalonians 5 you will see we are called the children of the light and children of the day – we have nothing to fear from mankind so why do so many Christians today fret about trials and tribulation!? Why are you looking to escape when we are all called, we are all chosen by the grace of God to be a light to this ever darkening world!? Now is the time to shine brighter to reach to the lost souls all around us. Now is the time to stand in faith, what can man’s wrath do to us?
One day Jesus will return to Earth to get his Bride the Church,
This is a certainty, and what follows is just as sure!
Do not call to hasten that awful Day of the Lord!
Only we look for His beautiful City, the New Jerusalem!
Made by His hands, not our own!
The Day of the Lord comes soon enough!
When all the tribes of Earth shall mourn!
But until that Day,
Terrible times may come by the wrath of men,
As we are hated and persecuted for Jesus’ cause,
But until the end we shall stand!!!
Never wavering held firm by His hand!
May we not seek to escape as some have been tricked,
May we keep the pure Gospel truth of Jesus death, burial and resurrection in front of us!
Today we must shine brighter than ever before,
For all men to see even to some who claim to love only Thee!
What is more frightening to this soul,
Are false brethren among us!
For over a hundred years making their paths appear straight,
Tearing at the foundations of the Church you built!
But in vain they bite and devour,
Because we carry Your light!
Lord Jesus we stand by Your might and whatever the cost,
We must do and say what is right!
We stand true, and yes to die means only to be with you!
As sheep to the slaughter? Perhaps not!
For greater things did you say we would do!
May we not only stand but boldly stand in this dark lonely world for you!
