The Ecumenical Puzzle

Everyone who has worked on a jigsaw puzzle knows it takes time, skill and patience to put the pieces together to make the final completed picture. One piece on its own, or even several pieces that make up a small area can only give a partial glimpse of the whole picture.

There are many things in life and our own spiritual journey that are similar to the puzzle analogy. As one goes through life we are often confronted with situations that can be compared to putting the pieces of a puzzle together. At the beginning there are pieces that may be scattered that seem somewhat disjointed. All the pieces appear to have come out of the same box but each peace is meaningless until all the pieces are put together.  When you look at one or two pieces out of context nothing seems to make sense.

This definitely is the case when we examine our own personal spiritual journey, particularly in these Last Days when there seems to be so much confusion. Some of us have been on a spiritual journey for three or more decades. Maybe even up until a few years ago it seemed as if our own spiritual puzzle was all in place. Then something happened. It was as if someone picked up the pieces off the table, mixed these pieces all together again, and threw them back into the box. The puzzle was destroyed and it was necessary to start all over again.

Over the past few months I have talked to many believers who have had this experience in their own churches they had attended for years. Their walk with the Lord was going on as usual. Suddenly their church turned upside down spiritually. Their pastor or the pastor who replaced their former pastor, started down a path that was questionable at best or just outright apostate. When they approached their pastor or church elders about the problems they were seeing as part of the postmodern compromise they were experiencing, they were told to either shut up or leave. They had given their time and resources to the church for years to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now they were treated as trash and swept out the door.

The Puzzle Becomes Clearer

The puzzle analogy can also be used to help us understand why churches that were once truly “evangelical” and “protestant” have become neo-evangelical and ecumenical. If there is any question what I mean about the words neo-evangelical or ecumenical, then let me help you out. There is one word that describes ecumenism and the neo or the new evangelical movement: apostasy

If we truly are in the Last Days, then apostasy is what we should expect according to the Bible. Christians should know that the Word of God is like a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet (Psalms 119:105).  We should be able to understand what is happening to the church because the Bible tells us what will happen. Those who once stood for the truth will fall into the “lie” because apostasy is the rule, not the exception. While this statement may sound harsh to some, based upon what God has revealed in his Word, there is no way around it (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

According to the Bible, we will have apostasy. We will have ecumenism. We will have a One World Religion that will set up one man to be king of the world, because this is what the Bible predicts (2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4).

You don’t have to be a spiritual giant to figure this out. When we speak of ecumenism, we mean two things: All groups that were once considered to be the “separated brethren” will head towards Rome. Second, all religions who follow any god will join with Rome in order to establish a global religion established for peace in the name of the Savior (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5). The fact that this is happening should be a wake up call to get ready for the return of Jesus Christ.

Now, what religious group qualifies to head up this one world religion in the name of Christ? Is there a religious group headed by a man who people believe is Jesus Christ here on earth? Of course there is! This is the pope and the headquarters is Rome. Jerusalem and the Temple and the Temple Mount are also involved in this Bible prophecy scenario. 

Is your church on the road to Rome? If your church is compromising and no longer true to the Word and supporting others who are on the slippery path to Rome, there is only one thing to do. Get out!

Recognizing the Apostates

Some of these new–evangelical-ecumenical organizations are easy to spot. For example, the Emerging Church–Purpose- Driven crowd are obvious for those with even just a little discernment. Such churches openly state their willingness to join hands with Rome. For example, leaders like Doug Pagitt, Leonard Sweet, Eugene Peterson, Brian Mclaren and Rick Warren openly support Roman Catholicism with their books, messages and actions. For documentation read “Faith Undone and Time of Departing.”

It is easy for discerning Christians to see the pieces of the puzzle coming together in most cases. However, the problem is that the number of discerning Christians seems to be on the decline. The reason for this is because of what was mentioned earlier. We are in the Last Days and this is going to be the way it is. Check out what Jesus said (Luke 18:8).

Now, the statement I am going to make next is meant for a specific target.  There are well known Christian leaders who people follow without thinking for themselves because they think it is safe. Remember what the Bible teaches about the blind leading the blind or the fact that there are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

What shocks me the most is what has happened to fellowships that had leaders who once stood up and told the truth but now have suddenly become silent. What is going on and why is this happening? When someone points out to the leaders in the fellowship that they are going south, they react by pointing fingers back or spreading lies about the person as a means of discrediting those who are actually trying to help them.

The Calvary Connection

In my Christian life, I have been part of two large fellowships of pastors – one in Canada and one in the USA. In the past both were known for their stand against apostasy and their promotion of the gospel. Both fellowships have Charismatic roots based on questionable doctrines that can be proven to be questionable and even unbiblical. Neither has made an effort to correct past mistakes.

In the past few years, the direction both of these fellowships of pastors have gone has been astounding. The word discernment has been removed from the vocabulary of many pastors within the fellowships. For the sake of compromise and the idea that they can and must reach the postmodern generation, they have become postmodern themselves. In other words they have become apostate. This is tragic!

More specifically the fellowships have turned to ecumenism. They have chosen to head down the Road to Rome and become part of the One World Religion for peace the Bible states will happen in the last days. All this can be understood because of the issue of rejecting the inerrant Word of God.

Jesus said: “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). When we deny or reject Christ, we reject His word. Ecumenism rejects and denies the Word of God, the name of Jesus.

The sword is the word of God, all or nothing. Either be slain for the word of God or follow ecumenism with all its fables and become part of the One World Religion for peace. Either love the Word of God all the way to death or love the flesh and become part of Satan’s army. It is one or the other. You cannot fall for “the lie” of ecumenism.

Jesus also said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Ecumenism seeks peace on earth, man’s way. Jesus sent a sword, the Word of God. There will never be peace on earth until He is King.

Attacking the Watchman

What is even more disturbing to me is that leaders in both of these fellowships have “marked” Bible-believing Christians for causing division among the brethren (Romans 16:7) when they warn about this apostasy. However, in context it is the one who is teaching false doctrine that is causing the division that should be “marked.” Someone who is bold enough to tell the truth and confront deception is just being a watchman because the pastors are not doing their job.

Some have the idea that no one should ever rock the boat or challenge pastors and their false teachings. They look to men as gods. This is not what the Bible teaches. We are to be watchmen and watchwomen not put men on a pedestal and worship everything they say or do. This is cultic.

If I were running for the most popular man of the year contest, obviously I would not have a chance. The point is this: I do not expect to be popular by going upstream, but if I am biblical I do expect to be right.  This is what counts.

Since my accident in July of 2009, I have been accused and slandered in an attempt to shut me up because I have been outspoken against the ecumenical movement. One of my former friends and board members has spread the rumor that I am “radioactive” and to stay away from me. Since my recovery from an accident when I was a “breath away from death,” I have promised God I will tell the truth and expose the ecumenical movement as long as I live.

So, the pieces of the puzzle are coming together once again. People from all over the world are getting the bigger picture. Some of them are humble lowly brothers and sisters as far away as Africa. Some of them are located in Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, England, Scotland, Ukraine and Russia.

Each day I receive letters and e-mails from friends of the ministry of Understand The Times around the world thanking me for taking a stand. While many of my former friends no longer want anything to do with me, I will continue to do God’s will as long as He gives me strength.

Now, one more word to those who would like to silence Understand The Times and render the ministry void. The Bible teaches there is a judgment seat.  Everyone will face the judge, Jesus Christ in the future. You may have power, possession and be loved by many people now because the sheep only see one side of you, but your tactics are pathetic and not ethical.

Threats against believers by using the scriptures to say that “God hates those who sow discord among the brethren” just because they are exposing “the lie” in public will not work. God’s Word states that He places His Word above His name. This tells me that the truth will win out in the end.

Then and only then will the puzzle be complete. There will be no opportunity to manipulate people. Why not repent now, and get things right?

The Calvary Chapel David Barton Connection - Why Is This So Significant?

After Understand the Times uncovered David Barton’s agenda in a News Alert posted May 12, 2011, some contacted us and asked the question: why would David Barton attempt to convince Calvary Chapel church audiences that America’s Founding Fathers were Christians by appearing to manipulate the words of the Founding Father documents? What would be the motive behind him doing this?

Some also asked, could the motive be for money, notoriety, popularity, making people look foolish, or something else? You would think that Barton would have realized that someone would eventually realize that the words of the documents he was using were manipulated and that he would eventually get caught. Or maybe Barton really believed he could get away with this manipulation. Or, maybe his reasoning was based on something completely different. Was it possible that he was developing a sinister method for deception that worked by appealing to the sinful heart of man?  As Jeremiah 17:9 states: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Pride, Pride, Pride

Satan knows scripture and he realizes that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. He also knows that sinful flesh can be tempted to be prideful. If Satan can get a believer, a church or a denomination into a state of pride, Satan knows he job is much easier. When man is deceived he can be easily manipulated. Satan is a master manipulator. This is how the deception plan works in the Last Days.

Obadiah 1:3 states: “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee….” We need to watch out for pride as the Bible teaches. But few who have a problem with pride recognize they have problem with pride. When followers of Christ think of temptation they usually think of sex, pornography, alcohol, food, lusts of various sorts, but never pride. Pride is the sin hardest to discern by those who are prideful.

Therefore, it is apparent that one of the “key” ingredients of being deceived is pride. Pride is the foundation of all sin because pride blinds one from believing there is no need to heed God’s word. Pride comes before a fall as stated in Proverbs 16:18. Pride gives one the feeling he or she does not need to fear God or tremble at His word. Pride gives us the attitude that “grace covers all sin” versus accepting that we receive grace so that we can be obedient to God’s word and limit sin (Romans 1:5). Pride gives us the imagination than we can be powerful. Pride makes man big and God small. Power is addicting for fallen man. Even pastors and church leaders can be addicted to pride and power.

Satan fell through pride.  Adam and Eve fell through pride by not needing to heed God’s one command of not eating from the tree. So pride is a real problem, isn’t it? Especially when the Lord commands all in James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” “ What is meant by “in the sight of the Lord”? It means the Lord is omnipresent. We should humble ourselves everywhere, all the time.

The Pride Plan

If your goal were to deceive a nation, what would you do? What if certain diabolic people realize they can deceive others by appealing to their pride and their sinful flesh? How far could they go to develop a plan to deceive?  Hitler did that, when he was able to manipulate Germany in to a sense of national pride and hunger for power. Hitler knew what he was doing. Hitler was in the occult. He was inspired by doctrines of demons.

In America, pride in America is looked on as a good thing. The American culture is built on pride with songs and slogans. In this commentary we will be looking at the Christian Nation and the Patriot Religion Heresy. We will examine this topic over the next several months by breaking down one of maybe Satan’s most brilliant deceptions in the history of mankind but particularly America.

Pride in the Last Days

We know from scripture that the Laodicean church Jesus described was a church filled with pride. In Revelation 3:17 we read:  “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” The Laodicean church “thinks” they need nothing: which is pride.

Jesus also said they were lukewarm, in one case reading and studying the Bible and the other case loving the American Dream pursuit. God Bless America, right?

So is God the God of America? The Bible states that the god of America is the god of this world. The god of this world is Satan, the devil, the dragon, the one who deceives the whole world.  Masons call this god, Lucifer.

We know that Satan will bring about a “one world system” that will also have a “one world religion in the Last Days. This One World Religion is known as the “666” plan. Satan knows Christians who are under the spell of deception through pride will have to be tricked into accepting this plan. They won’t buy into a blatant lie so Satan uses many tools to deceive them. Effective deception occurs when the deceived do not realize they are being deceived.

Remember, the Bible states in Genesis 3:1 – “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made…” A quick reminder of who Satan is and where we Christians live is helpful:

-          Satan has been given authority over ALL kingdoms on the planet (Luke 4:5-6).

-          Satan is the “ruler of the world” as Jesus stated three times in the Book of John. (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)

-          The whole world is under Satan’s power. (1 John 5:19)

-          Satan has one third of the angels (Rev 12:3-9) and most of the world’s population (Matthew 7:14) helping him.

Satan is using many tools in order to accomplish his ultimate goal of being worshiped as God. Satan has set up many ideas, groups and organizations inside and outside America as tools towards his goal.

Ecumenism Is A Sin

One of many ideas that Satan promotes is ecumenism. Ecumenism is a clever, sinful flesh way of either adding to or subtracting from the word of God. Ecumenism is anathema to the word of God. Another name for Jesus is “The Word Of God” (Revelation 19:13).

What makes ecumenism appeal to our flesh is that it removes the need to defend or even die for the word of God. In Revelation 6:9 the Bible mentions those who were slain for the word of God: “…I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:”

The Christian Nation Heresy

The Christian Nation Heresy is one of the most powerful tools to implement ecumenism.  It has been born in the U.S.A. and has been set in place by men with motives. These men are the Jesuits who have infiltrated many organizations that once stood for biblical truth. The Jesuit plan is to make the pope’s word the word of a god and the Word of God the word of man.

The Christian Nation Heresy, it will be shown, was founded by the Jesuits who have a plan to put the USA under the leadership of the pope and his kingdom. For many who profess to be Christian, they have been sucked into this deception without knowing it. Others are sucked into it and know it.

The dove is a common symbol found associated with the Jesuits all over the world. Some have called the Jesuits the “dove club.” They have a common goal to bring the separated brethren back to the mother of all churches, which, of course, is located in Rome.

 

It was the Roman Catholic, Lord Baltimore, and the Jesuit, Charles Carroll who were behind “Freedom of Religion” in the USA. The Roman Catholic mass with pagan worship of the worship of Mary as well as other pagan practices were originally banned in early America by the Protestant Pilgrims and Puritans. The Jesuit plan was to put an end to this. It is the Jesuits who wanted freedom of religion so their Babylonian style of worship would be tolerated. This was the beginning of Satan’s ecumenism in America.

We see from David Barton’s own statement on the Jon Stewart Show that he (David Barton) is OK with the Islamic Sharia Law:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbaXoqC2P8 .

Why would he do this? He is the one who has been going around speaking at various Calvary Chapels (also Charles Stanley’s church) promoting Christianity. Islam is an enemy of Bible-believing Christianity. You see, you just cannot have it both ways. There is something that is not quite right about this picture, don’t you think?

We also see below David Barton joining the Mormon, Glenn Beck on a trip to Israel:

Beck also seems to be a friend of the Vatican. Read this quote from Beck and then listen to his own words:

This is a quote from Beck:

" We are entering a…we are entering a dark, dark period of man. Um, I was, um, I was in the Vatican, and I was surprised that the individual I was speaking to knew who I was. And they said: ‘Of course we know who you are. What you’re doing is wildly important. We’re entering a period of great darkness, and if good people don’t stand up, we could enter a period unlike we have seen in a very long time.’ It was odd to stand in the Vatican and hear those words. Of all places that would understand the Dark Ages."

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=1626

Also note this photo of Beck wearing his Masonic sweater:

 

We can also see that David Barton is part of the “Black Robe Regiment” which is hyper ecumenical:

http://www.blackrobereg.org/

Notice that the cross with its flared ends and circle used in the logo is a Celtic Roman Catholic cross. The book on the top of the logo looks like the downward pointed Jesuit dove. Below, you will see the downward pointed Jesuit dove that is common throughout the world associated with Roman Catholicism:

The Nazi’s also used the Celtic cross with the swords:

We see the flared ends, the circle, and the swords. The professed Mormon, Glenn Beck, and David Barton both belong to the “Black Robe Regiment”.
“The Family” Also Called the Christian Mafia
 Investigative journalist and Fox News consultant, Wayne Madsen has done an important documentary. It is titled “The Christian Mafia,” and is a must read. It is located at http://www.insider-magazine.com/christianmafia.htm

Wayne Madsen lists David Barton as being a part of a “cult-like” group in the Washington DC area. This expose has gone undisputed since it was written a few years ago. The term “Christian Mafia” is a name this group calls themselves. This group is also called “The Fellowship”, “C Street”, ”K Street”, “The Cedars”, and “The Family”.

According to Wayne Madsen, “The Fellowship” goes all the way back to the 1930’s with “pro-Nazi” style, Abraham Vereide.

A quote from Madsen’s expose on “The Fellowship” states the following:

“Such global ecumenicalism is a founding principle for today’s Fellowship. With total devotion to Jesus and not necessarily His principles at its core, the Fellowship continues to reach out to Moslems (including Saudi extreme Wahhabi sect members), Buddhists, and Hindus.

The Thousand Year Rule and Reign

Its purpose has little to do with religion but everything to do with political and economic influence peddling and the reconstruction of the world in preparation for a thousand year Christian global dominion. Post-millennialism Fellowship members believe that Jesus will not return until there is a 1000-year pure Christian government established on Earth.

It is this mindset that has infused the foreign policy of George W. Bush and his administration. The desire for a thousand year political dominion of the world is not new. Hitler planned for a “Thousand Year Reich” over the planet. It is not a coincidence that Hitler desired this so-called Christian dominionist reconstructionist idea to set up a thousand year rule and reign here on planet earth.

These Christian dominionists are the political heirs of Hitler, the Norwegians Vereide and Quisling, Buchman, Opus Dei founder and fascist patron saint Josemaria Escriva and their political and religious cohorts.”

The pro-Nazi Christian Dominionism goes back to the Vatican. In 1493, Pope Alexander VI established Christian dominion over the New World. He issued a Papal Bull called "Inter Caetera". This Papal Bull has never been revoked.

The Roman Catholic religion with all its Mary worship, Fatima Peace Plan, praying to dead people and other occult practices is slowly and subtly working itself in to churches through many forms of ecumenism. Of course the Emerging Church is a just another road to Rome. Some have already have been drawn in and some are in the process of being draw in. This is why Understand The Times has been warning the church and particularly Calvary Chapel for over a decade.

Calvary Chapel Links Hands With David Barton

The Calvary Chapel movement basically refuses to pay attention to the facts with regards to ecumenism and the trend to move towards the Roman Catholic agenda. The Calvary Chapel movement can be compared to the Titanic.

Brian Brodersen is participating in an ecumenical union in Great Britain as he has joined hands with Nickie Gumbel of Holy Trinity Brompton. Gumbel has joined hands with the pope to partner together in the New Evangelization.

And what about David Barton and his relationship with Calvary Chapel? Is he in “The Fellowship”? Is David Barton a Jesuit or is he inspired by Jesuit influence? Is David Barton a Freemason or is he inspired by Masonic influence?

Time will tell, won’t it?

Jesus said to examine the fruit.

Ephesians 5:9 – “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”

Now, to answer the question: What is the significance of the David Barton-Calvary Chapel connection? You should be able to decide: we never spoon-feed those who read our commentaries.

Jesuit to Become Chaplain of the House

Comment from Understand the Times:

 

It is amazing how quickly Congress forgets history. There was a time when Congress agreed to condemn Jesuits for their subversive plans to take over the USA. They were banned from many countries for the same reason. What has happened? What has changed?

 

A Jesuit will be sworn in as the 60th chaplain of the House of Representatives on May 25, when he will become the first member of his order and second consecutive Catholic priest to serve the House. As chaplain, the Rev. Patrick Conroy will be in charge of opening House sessions with prayer, coordinating guest chaplains, counseling members of the House community and arranging memorial services, weddings and funerals.
Conroy was selected by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who consulted with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Both are Catholics.
"We are honored that Father Conroy has agreed to serve as House chaplain," Boehner said in a statement. "His dedication to God's work, commitment to serving others and experience working with people of faith from all traditions will make him an asset to the House community."
Conroy has master's degrees in philosophy, divinity and sacred theology, and a law degree from St. Louis University in Missouri. In the 1980s, he was pastor of several Washington missions and parishes, and later was chaplain at Georgetown University in Washington, for nearly a decade. He will celebrate his 28th year as a Jesuit on June 11

 

To read the full article, go to: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/05/jesuit-to-become-chaplain-of-the-house.php

Using Apps, Facebook and Twitter to pray the rosary

Comment from Understand the Times:
 

We have been warning about the New Evangelization introduced by Pope John Paul II for years. Watch the following video to see that the agenda to win the world to the Mother of the Eucharistic Jesus is clearly underway. Get ready. The Eucharistic Reign of Jesus is just around the corner.

 The Internet has revolutionized the world. Now, Catholics groups are using the web to revolutionize World Youth Day. It's a call to pray the rosary every Saturday, until the big day kicks off on August 16th.

Fr. James Phalan Director, Family Rosary International - “This is something concrete that can make a big difference, praying the rosary, praying the rosary to the family. It's something that JPII did.  He prayed rosary during his day. So we are convinced of the importance of the rosary for the new evangelization.”

The campaign is called “Firm in Faith With Mary.” The goal is to spread its message through social networking sites.  At www.firminfaith.org one can download logos, banners, videos and other resources for free. But it doesn't stop there. At www.familyrosary.org, one can actually follow the rosary in an interactive prayer while learning about its mysteries.  

There are also discussion forums on Facebook and twitter and even a section where you can submit a personal story on how praying the rosary has changed your life. Even more, rosaries can be requested for free.

Fr. James Phalan Director, Family Rosary International - “We receive rosaries from anyone, if anyone is making rosaries and they don't know how to distribute them in someway then we would be happy if they send them to us and we send them all over the world. We distribute around 1.5 to 2 million rosaries every year.”

For parents and teachers, the websites also include a section on how to teach the rosary to children and teenagers. It's a way to remind people, and especially the youth, to pray the Rosary.

News Alert From Understand The Times, International

Please copy and paste the lnks below into your internet browser to view the websites.

This is a News Alert for all who are seeking the truth, which should include all Calvary Chapel pastors, including leaders at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

Some new evidence has become available recently in what appears to be a "changing of information" coming from David Barton

David Barton was caught in what appears to be a plan to manipulate church audiences by attempting to convince unaware church audiences by misquoting Founding Father documents. It appears the out of context misquoting was an attempt to make these unaware audiences believe the Founding Father, John Adams believed in the Holy Ghost.

The actual words of the Founding Father document revealed that John Adams was mocking Christianity.

It appears that David Barton was originally exposed by an unbelieving journalist in 2008 in a video where it also appears David Barton was not being honest on a radio program as well as in the churches.

David Barton has gone all over the country performing this same “act”, along with other "acts" in churches and even did it on the Mormon Glenn Beck Show.

Award winning Christian film producer/director Chris Pinto, appears to have exposed David Barton in his just released documentary “The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers”.   

http://www.noiseofthunder.com/

The evidence:

1.)   Christian film producer, Chris Pinto appears to expose David Barton manipulating church audiences by changing the context of words of the John Adams letter (3 min, 15 seconds) -        

http://vimeo.com/22124000

David Barton is NOW saying on the Jon Stewart Show that he is NOT trying to make John Adams look like he is believing in the Holy Ghost. It appears that NOW David Barton is not being truthful with Jon Stewart and the TV audience.

2.)  Jon Stewart hosts David Barton where there appears to be a flip flop regarding the John Adams document - (23 seconds) –

       http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ck5R2Ssg8U4

So, now that it appears that David Barton has been exposed nationally by Chris Pinto through the documentary, it appears that everyone including Calvary Chapels should be aware of David Barton’s agenda.

David Barton is now saying Sharia Law is OK here in America based on a statement he made on Jon Stewart’s show.

3.)  Jon Stewart hosts David Barton, David Barton is OK with Sharia Law (48 seconds) –

       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbaXoqC2P8

One might ask the question, why is Calvary Chapel a big promoter of David Barton?

Here is a link of the “Rediscover God in America” conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on March 26th :

http://www.ipanews.com/?p=1363

http://americawebcast.com/speakers.htm 

Is Calvary Chapel now in favor of Sharia Law since they heavily promote and support David Barton? He is promoting Sharia law - the Law of Islam.

Now that it appears David Barton is not trying to convince people in churches that John Adams believed in the Holy Ghost, so what is going on?

An Update on the Titanic

Everyone knows the story of the fateful one-way voyage of the ship known as the Titanic. On its maiden voyage, one of the greatest ships ever made sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. While this tragedy could have been prevented, the pride of man may well be the reason so many perished prematurely.

The lesson of the sinking of the Titanic should always be a reminder to us what can happen when we place our trust in man. The Bible warns us that trusting in man is like a bush that grows in the desert compared to trusting in God, which is like a tree whose roots are planted by a steam of flowing water (Jeremiah 17: 5-8).

Sometime ago, Understand The Times published a commentary titled “Is Your Church Sinking Like the Titanic.” The purpose of this commentary was to get churchgoers to stop and think about the recent attack against the inerrancy of the Word of God that is sweeping the world in the name of Christ. Known as apostasy in the Bible, this falling away is directly associated with an ecumenical movement that attacks the Word of God and advances the word of the pope.

While that commentary was written purposely to challenge denominations once called Protestant and Evangelical, a particular association of fellowships that I was once part of took my article personally and considered it an attack against them. While this was not my intention, I am persuaded to believe an expression I once heard: “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that howls is the one that was hit.”

 An Update on the Titanic is just that. Perhaps there is still time for a final warning before the ship finally sinks. For many, the party is still going on in the ballroom and apparently danger has not been detected. While a few have headed to the lifeboats to get off the ship, most have not.

Why is it that grown men who are pastors would allow themselves to be manipulated and controlled so that they can no longer think for themselves? Of course, there is nothing terribly wrong with being associated with a denomination, but there are limits when it comes to what a pastor has to accept to be part of the club.

This kind of thinking is actually typical of Roman Catholic popery that does not allow priests to make their own decisions based on the Word of God. Priests are subservient to the pope, his edicts, and his dogmas and not to the Bible and Jesus Christ. When one man has all power, then Jesus is no longer number one, is He?

A perfect example of this kind of “follow the leader” mentality was the endorsement of the Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” that showed in movie theaters all over the world in 2004. While there were warnings that Gibson’s film was nothing but propaganda for the Eucharistic Christ promoted by the Roman Catholic Jesuit Plan, those who warned of the danger were considered negative in light of the endorsements by powerful church leaders like well known church leaders and others.

Some even purchased seating for their entire congregations to attend to see a film based on a vision from a book written by Anne Catherine Emerich, a Roman Catholic nun who claimed she was at the crucifixion by the way of a vision.

Now that these concerns have been verified by documentation from Mel Gibson himself, not one word has been said by those who heartily endorsed it to admit the warnings were right. The Road to Rome continues, and those who are in a position to do something to shine light on it and expose it remain silent.

A Further Word of Warning

Much could be said about the ongoing slippery slope towards Rome that has been embraced through the Emerging Church and the Purpose Driven by well-know Christian leaders—ones whom we never would have expected—because they lowered their standards.  How could this ecumenical madness have crept in unnoticed? Or was there an orchestrated plan that has been underway for years?

Are the Jesuits for real or not? Do they infiltrate churches and church organizations in various ways? Do they use lies and manipulation and even mind control? How about extortion? How can those on board the Titanic keep on dancing while it is already on the way to the bottom of the Atlantic.

I recently read a book in which the author claims that End Times deception can all be traced to the teachings of Karl Marx. However this book falls short of the real plan of deception that we read about in the Bible. Karl Marx may have been used as a tool of deception by Satan, but he is a small player compared to the plan Satan set up to form a one world ecumenical religion with Rome as the headquarters.

Get Off and Get Right

Why would you want to follow a man and go down with the boat? Wouldn’t it be better to get into the lifeboat and not stay in the sinking boat? The Lifeboat is Jesus Christ, our only hope. There are pastors who are in clubs, as an example, the “dove club.” Men love clubs because they love to follow men rather than Jesus Christ.

As well, men love power and love to play the role of a pope. Did you know there may be only one Roman Catholic pope at a time but there can be several Protestant popes?

Stop and think and ask yourself a question! Are you on a boat like the sinking Titanic? Maybe you are following a captain and have not noticed the warning signs.  If you have not headed for a lifeboat yet, now is the time.   Let Jesus be your captain while there is still time. Row away from the sinking boat and follow Jesus alone.  Do all you can to assist those who are drowning. Lend them a helping hand.

In most cases, captains go down with their ships. The exception would be unusual but sometimes there is an exception. If the captain were to tell the crew and the passengers all hope for the boat was lost and that all should abandon the ship, this would be good. Then the captain could get off. Of course, this would take a lot of courage from the captain. He would have to admit that some things had gone wrong, wouldn’t he?

We are in the last hour. The Word of God makes things very clear. Everyone should pray and ask the Lord what is the right thing to do. It is time to quit playing games and follow Jesus Christ, become an evangelist, and reach the lost.

Jesus said “follow Me and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4: 19).

From the Truth To Strong Delusion

Many have asked the question: how is it possible that End Times apostasy can sweep the world so quickly in these Last Days and so few see that it is happening? There is only one way to understand this phenomenon. The Bible foretells this would happen (Matthew 24: 3-4). Now that we are witnessing End Times spiritual deception fewer and fewer Bible professing Christians see what is taking place.

            When discerning believers confront their pastors or church leaders about the apostasy happening in their churches where they have worshiped for many years, they are often told to leave and go somewhere else. This “get out or shut up” attitude is common and follows a pattern. The teaching of the Word and the love of God once in fellowships of believers has got up and gone. How sad it is to see what is happening to the church of Jesus Christ in our time.

            Over the past three months, I have had the opportunity to meet with numerous brothers and sisters located in five different cities throughout North America. These people represent Christians who have been asked to leave the churches they once attended. All were serious Bible believing Christians who love the Lord and His Word. The churches they attended have all “gone south” by accepting postmodern “googly-gook” promoted by the emerging church/purpose driven movement. All of them have asked me the same question: how did it happen that strong delusion crept in so quickly?

The answer to this dilemma can only be understood in light of the Bible. The purpose of this commentary will be to try to explain what is happening from a biblical perspective, why this is happening, and where things are headed in the future.   We know that the Word of God is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching and for correction (2 Timothy 3: 16). We live in a day and age when God’s Word is ignored or annihilated. We need to stand firm on the Word and proclaim it.

Two Kingdoms

The Bible clearly describes a spiritual battle raging all around us (Ephesians 6: 12). Two kingdoms are in this battle: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan (Colossians 1: 13). God’s Kingdom is associated with light (Acts 26: 18). God’s Word is light and exposes darkness (Psalms 119:105). Satan’s agenda is to hide the light and to promote darkness (Revelation 16:10). God’s light will set us free from the wiles of the devil if we accept what God has revealed to us and act upon it accordingly (Psalms 119: 130). Satan’s kingdom is always associated with darkness. The Bible states that men like darkness more than they like light (John 3:19). The light of God shines into the darkness so that men can be saved, but men choose darkness over light (John 12:35). Even believers are not immune from Satan’s plan and they can be used as tools of deception because Satan is the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

            Therefore, in the Last Days both unbelievers and believers will be the target of Satan’s agenda. He wants to deceive the whole world, as he is the god of this world. Apostasy involves seducing those who once believed and deceiving them so they become part of the problem rather than the solution. Rather than warning others that the end is near and that the antichrist is at the door, they actually promote the lie that there is a PEACE Plan authored by man (I Thessalonians 5:3) These are the perilous times that Paul warned about (2 Timothy 3:1).

According to the Bible, the battle for the truth will intensify in the last days. If the Word of God is light and Satan’s kingdom is darkness, then it is easy to see what is happening. Satan has an agenda to attack the Word of God. One way he does this is through human manipulation. If he can make God’s Word the word of man and the pope’s word the “word of a god,” he will have succeeded. This is the goal of the Jesuits who are still operating throughout the world to bring the separated brethren back to the mother of all churches with headquarters in Rome.

While this agenda may seem far-fetched, you will find this plan explained in the Bible. One man will eventually rule the world with a system of control. The pope and his throne in Rome and a man who sets up his throne in the temple in Jerusalem certainly seem to provide the scenario the Bible foretells will happen. If you pay attention to current events, it is very close to happening right now!

Beware of Cults

While we are on the topic of following a man, it should be pointed out that no man or woman should ever follow any man. When you follow a man, you are in a cult. Cults are human structures set up to control property and people with their power. The leader of the cult claims that he or she is the anointed one and can never be wrong. When challenged, this leader often retorts: “Don’t touch God’s anointed.”

Surrounding the cult leader will be other powerful men who implement the cult leader’s orders. In the Roman Church, we would call these men the cardinals. However, cults can also operate in Protestant Evangelical circles. Because men love power, possession, and control over people, they will always become known by their fruit in time. They will even mix and teach the Word of God to accomplish their goals (a “whatever it takes” attitude), often using the Bible to seduce their flocks.

            It has been said that someone can become a cult leader and not even know it. This is part of Satan’s clever plan to deceive man. What better way to seduce the masses than to have a well- respected leader caught up in deception and then promote it as if he or she were God’s man or God’s woman. This is what we call the blind leading the blind or shepherds being clothed in wolves clothing. Paul warned about this as a sign of the Last Days apostasy (Acts 20 29).

            The ultimate Last Days cult will occur when the antichrist sets up his throne in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). Of course this will not happen overnight. The Church that once promoted the truth must be seduced to become part of the plan. In essence, this is what apostasy is really all about, a falling away from faith. When the signs become evident we are in the Last Days, it is time to speak up, not shut up (Matthew 24: 3-51). Then why is it that those who once warned about Last Days apostasy from a biblical prophetic scenario are now so quiet? Why have they been muzzled? Is there a reason?

            Black and White: Not Grey

            If there are two kingdoms representing God and Satan and one is darkness and the other is light, this would be the same as saying that one is black and the other is white, figuratively speaking. If Satan's kingdom is black and God’s Kingdom is white, then what about the color grey? Is there a grey kingdom as well?

            How do you think that the great deceiver works? Does he show up in a hideous looking devil’s suit? What would be a good way for Satan to get a foot in the door of the church and many would not know it?

            It seems apparent there is a grey plan that takes place in the Last Days that can best be described as the Last Days apostasy. If you can get leaders and pastors to embrace the lie at the expense of God’s Word, you have made your case. This is what is happening in the name of Christianity.

            The invasion of the emerging church/purpose driven movement into many once-sound Bible believing fellowships is happening like an avalanche. It seems that no one saw it coming until it was too late. Pastors with large churches were enamored by the possibility that “new” teachings would promote church growth, which would result in more people and bigger offerings. Instead of staying on track, they get sidetracked for the sake of power, possession, and other things. When it comes to apostasy, you can trace the source by following the money. The money trail will show you who, why, what, and where.

             How to Be Deceived

The path from light to darkness can be devious. It happens because pastors and teachers get caught in Satan’s trap, and may not even know it. It is possible to start off right and to end up wrong. This is the slippery slope so many pastors are on. They believe what they are doing is right, but instead they are totally deceived.

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world, and in Him there is no darkness at all. When people become followers of Jesus, they look to Jesus and to His Word.  

Then something often happens to them.They allow men to stand in the way of the pure light. Rather than see the light they see through a shadow thus perverting the clarity of the true light. Because the source of light is obscured by men casting their own shadows apostasy creeps in. Read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.

Those who were in the light now turn their back on the source of the light. They contemplate their own shadow and begin to glorify themselves and their foolish hearts are darkened. Professing to be wise they become fools and believe the lie instead of the truth (Romans 1: 18-25). Finally these men, many with reprobate minds, follow their own shadows and walk away from the light until they are lost in darkness (Romans 1: 26-32).

This analogy describes the slippery slope from the truth to darkness. The only solution to the problem is to repent, get back in the light of God to be exposed, and start over. Whenever we start believing that our sin does not matter or that we can do whatever we want and still be God’s ambassador, God will either put a stop to our plan, or he will expose our plan to other men.

Satan’s plan to convince man that he can be God and play the role of God is his ultimate plan. When a pastor falls into this plan and leads others astray, the ultimate deception has occurred. From what I understand about End Times deception, the delusion will be so great few will survive. Jesus asked the question: When the Son of Man returns will He find faith (Luke 18:4)? The answer to that question is there will be a few, a remnant. Do you want to be among the remnant? If so, stay true to the Word.