Sermon Notes: Tribulation and Islam

On September 11, 2001 the United States of America suffered a savage attack in New York City, and at the Pentagon, and an attempt that murdered the passengers of United flight 93, all done by a coordinated effort by a small group of Muslims. 

The final count was 2,977 people that died from the attacks. But that does not include the people whose lives were cut short by the diseases from breathing that dust and debris. 

Fast forward to January 1, 2026, 25 years after those horrible attacks, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, an Ethiopian born Muslim Democrat Socialist, walked up to the center of the stage, placed his hand on the Quran, and was sworn in as Mayor of New York City. 

That same Quran teaches Muslims that under certain circumstances, lying may be tolerated, or even required. 

Muslims are taught to follow a larger legal principle in Islam: “necessities permit the prohibited”.

Today, 11 Muslims are mayors of United States cities, and more than 4.4 million Muslims live in America. 

What is happening?

How could we get to this point after the Muslim attacks on 9/11?

Reading 

Rev 20:1 KJV And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

 2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

 3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

 4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Pray

Over the days after 9/11 we watched TV as the various news agencies and commentators analyzed the events.

There were videos of living people jumping out of the tower windows to avoid the fire, only to die when they hit the ground.

I will never forget the sound of those bodies hitting the ground.

We watched the reports about people still being found alive, hoping for just one more.

Families are still grieving the loss of fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, senior citizens and children. 

We wondered how something like that could ever happen, and we vowed it would never happen again. 

We were right, it has not happened again.

We vowed that we would never forget. 

But, although we remembered the events, it was not enough for us to protect this land that we love.

Instead of the Muslims bombing New York City, or planes being crashed into cities, we just handed our property, our money, and our government over to the Muslims, and their helpers, the Socialists. 

Americans, many of them survivors of 9/11, just 24 years later, voted to have a Muslim Mayor rule over them.

Muslims are taking control.

What can we do to stop it?

Actually, there is very little that will be successful against the two-fold attack by the Socialists, or the Muslims.

Islam wants to be known as a religion of peace, but in reality it is a philosophy of war and conquest.

Quran 2:190-191

"Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors.

"And kill them (the infidels) wherever you overtake them, and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and disobedience is worse than killing."

By the way, you and me are the infidels. Any non-Muslim is an infidel to them.

In August 1996, 30 years ago, that is just 5 years prior to the destruction of 9/11, Osama bin Laden made his Declaration of Jihad on the Americans.

Osama bin Laden is dead, but his declaration is still in force. 

It is called the “Ladenese Epistle,” is still taken as the Muslim's and al Qaeda’s declaration of war on America.

Osama bin Laden said, "to fight in defense of religion and Belief is a collective duty; (that means it is every Muslim's duty) there is no other duty, after Belief [more important] than fighting the enemy (that is you and me) who is corrupting the life and the religion (of Islam). There are no preconditions for this duty, and the enemy should be fought with one's best abilities. 

"Even the people who are not practising Islam are not exempted from the duty of Jihad against the enemy."

By the way, This was said when Zohran Mamdani was 5 years old and living in his homeland, Kampala, Uganda, and beginning his training as a Muslim. 

Mamdani's Father was a Head, University Professor in Ugandan and in South African universities. 

In his 2004 book, Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror, written just 3 years after the Muslim suicide bombers attacked America, Mamdani's father writes that suicide bombers should be recognized "as a category of regular soldier" and "understood as a normal feature of modern political violence, rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism".

Zohran Momdani's father is so radical he hid in the background while his son was campaigning so as to not negatively influence the vote.

In 2013, Zohran Momdani's mother, Miranda Nair wrote: "I stand w/ Palestine for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel"

Zohran Momdani is as radical Muslim as you can get. He is like many people in our country today, a triple threat: Muslim, Socialist, and Democrat. 

The problem is that Islam and Muslims are currently at a state of war against America, but America is not at war against Islam or Muslims. 

Far from it, in fact, we are accommodating their war against us.

We are funding their war against us with our tax dollars, and we are electing Muslims into positions of authority in our government. 

Do not get your hopes up that America will ever survive this invasion because, America will never declare war on Islam or on the Muslims. 

The Muslims sleep comfortably at night knowing America has already surrendered in many critical areas.

How many Muslims are Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in our healthcare systems and pharmaceutical companies, even in your local Walmart pharmacy? I know we have a dedicated Muslim pharmacist at our Festus Walmart. 

How many Muslims are working in our infrastructure of electrical power, public water, law enforcement, public schools, and smaller government councils and boards. 

America has been invaded by a hostile force that considers themselves to be at war with us, and yet our streets are often flooded with Socialist people getting mad, not about the Muslim invasion, but they are chanting slogans about the wrongs of "Islamophobia," and how the Muslims are being oppressed by Americans. 

What is happening?

Will America survive this invasion?

The short answer is, "No!" America, along with the rest of the world, is on a collision course with God's discipline called the Great Tribulation. 

As it appears right now, it is highly likely, if we continue in the direction we are going, the Great Tribulation could begin very soon. 

Let us go back to our opening passage 

Rev 20:1 KJV And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

At this point in time an angel is sent from heaven 

He has two things, the key to the bottomless pit (which is found in the middle of the Earth) and a great chain

 2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

It only took one angel to arrest Satan.

Remember that when you think Satan is equal to God, or equal to Jesus. 

Jesus sent just one single angel to capture and bind Satan. No fight, no resistance, complete control. 

Satan was bound with the great chain the angel brought from heaven, and then he was cast into the bottomless pit, also known as hell.

Satan was bound there for 1,000 years.

 3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Satan was physically thrown into hell by this one angel from heaven. 

He was then locked in and the gates were sealed. The seal is an official imprint that is only opened by an authorized individual. 

We currently experience Satan's influence in the world today, but in the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, Satan will have no ability to deceive anyone, anywhere for 1,000 years. 

The 1,000 years Satan is bound is what we call the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ. 

That is when Jesus Christ returns to the earth and stands on the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem. 

The Mount of Olives is split by a great earthquake and Jesus then goes into Jerusalem, builds His temple, and rules the world for 1,000 years.

This will happen 7 years after the Rapture of the church, and immediately after the 7 year Great Tribulation when the Earth will be ruled by the Beast, also called the Anti-Christ. 

The Anti-Christ will be a Socialist man, that is a Muslim, that has the blood of both sons of Abraham, Ishmael AND Isaac, in his veins, and he will secretly be a homosexual. 

At the end of the Millennial Reign there will be a short time when Satan is released out of the bottomless pit to return to earth for one last temptation of the people.

During the 1,000 years Jesus is ruling and reigning, and we with Him, there will be no temptations from Satan. 

The only temptations will be the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. But nothing from a Satanic source. 

 4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:

Who are these on thrones? They are Christians, taken up in the Rapture, that have faithfully and obediently invested their lives in the Kingdom of God.

1. Dan 7:9 KJVLite I beheld till the thrones (of Satan) were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

2. Dan 7:18 KJVLite But the saints of the most High (that's you and me) shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan 7:21 KJV I beheld, and the same horn (that is the Anti-Christ) made war with the saints, and prevailed against them (that is during the Great Tribulation);

Dan 7:22 KJVLite Until the Ancient of days came (that is when King Jesus returns to earth), and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (That is the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on the earth)

4. Dan 7:27 KJVLite And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

7. 1Co 6:2 KJVLite Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

8. 1Co 6:3 KJVLite Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Now, back to our text:

Rev 20:4 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Along with us, there is a large group of Christians that received Salvation during the Great Tribulation. These are people that never heard the plan of salvation before the Rapture, they never worshipped the Beast, and never received the mark of the Beast in either their right hand or in their forehead.

In the Great Tribulation the Socialist Muslims will be in control of the whole earth.

Every government of every country will under the control of the Imam Madhi, known in the Bible as the Anti-Christ. 

Immediately after the Rapture of the church, the Anti-Christ will be given control of all governments of every country. 

Every true Christian alive on the earth in the Great Tribulation will be given an offer, accept the mark of the Beast or die.

But here is the part that reveals the presence of the Muslims: they are all beheaded.

The Quran says, "When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them" (Sura 9:5). 

"When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield, strike off their heads" (Sura 47:4). 

For the Muslim, the Koran's commands are valid for all time. 

Fifteen hundred years later, Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini is able to say, "Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Islam says Kill them (the non-Muslims), put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you!".

Are you ready for the Rapture?

Isn't it time to get ready?

END

My Response to "The Shack"

The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, was published in 2007, and it has nothing to do with the basketball player, “The Shaq” Shaquille O’Neal.  Author, William P. (Paul) Young, originally wrote it for the members of his family, and once written it grew quickly into a New York Times bestseller.  At the time of the writing Young was a former office manager and hotel night clerk, with no theological training.  

Classified as a “Christian Novel” it has received wide support from various Christian personalities and institutions including singer Michael W. Smith; Eugene Peterson, author of the Bible version, The Message; Today Show host Kathie Lee Gifford; Man vs Wild star, Bear Grylls; nationally syndicated radio host, Delilah Rene; comedian, Jeff Foxworthy as well as many church leaders.

Plugged In, a ministry of Focus on the Family reviews The Shack  by saying: “The Shack delivers significant messages about God in a world desperately looking and longing for answers. Does this story provoke valid, even significant theological concerns? Clearly, it does. But just as Mack was led in the film to discover more about God in his Gideon Bible, hopefully movie goers will respond the same way to the big-screen adaptation of The Shack.”

In sharp contrast Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY says, “The theology of The Shack is not incidental to the story. Indeed, at most points the narrative seems mainly to serve as a structure for the dialogues. And the dialogues reveal a theology that is unconventional at best, and undoubtedly heretical in certain respects.”

Conservative theological apologists Norman Geisler and Bill Roach conclude, “The Shack may do well for many in engaging the current culture, but not without compromising Christian truth. The book may be psychologically helpful to many who read it, but it is doctrinally harmful to all who are exposed to it. It has a false understanding of God, the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, the nature of man, the institution of the family and marriage, and the nature of the Gospel. For those not trained in orthodox Christian doctrine, this book is very dangerous.” 

The novel begins, when Mackenzie Phillips, or “Mack”, supernaturally receives a note in his mailbox saying "Papa", wants to meet with him at “The Shack” on the weekend.  Mack suspects it may be from God because his wife Nan refers to God as "Papa".  Meeting at The Shack is significant because it is the place where his daughter was abused and murdered.

Mack, a married father of three children took his family on a camping trip. Two of his children are playing in a canoe on a lake when it flips and almost drowns his son. Mack rushes into the water and saves his son, but leaves his youngest daughter Missy alone at the campsite. 

When Mack returns, Missy is gone. The police later reveal Missy was abducted and murdered by a serial killer and her bloodied clothing was found in an abandoned shack (“The Shack”) in the woods, but her body was not located. Mack's life sinks into what he calls "The Great Sadness".

Mack arrives and initially finds nothing, but as he is leaving, the shack and its surroundings are supernaturally transformed. He enters and encounters manifestations of the Trinity. God the Father takes the form of an African American woman who calls herself Elousia and Papa; Jesus Christ is a Middle-Eastern carpenter; and the Holy Spirit is an Asian woman named Sarayu.

The bulk of the book records Mack's conversations with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu as he comes to terms with Missy's death and his relationship with the three of them. Mack also has various experiences with these persons which causes him to rethink his understanding of God and life.

After spending the weekend at The Shack, Mack leaves and is nearly killed in an automobile accident. After his recovery, he realizes he did not, in fact, spend the weekend at a shack. From the information gained in his experience, Mack leads the police to the cave Papa revealed, and they find Missy's body. The forensic evidence, causes her killer to be arrested and put on trial.

So what does the Bible have to say on the subject?  The basis of our understanding must come from the warning found in 2Timothy 4:2-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 

Today, thousands of people are turning away from the truth of God’s Word and turning toward fables, made-up stories, like The Shack.  Fables are replacing Scripture in our seminaries, Bible colleges and even in our churches.  Many pastors are replacing expository sermons with heart-felt stories in defiance of preaching the word.  These fictitious, experience based stories lead people to a targeted emotional response while planting seeds of confusion and twisting the truth.

Didn’t Jesus use parables and stories?  Yes He did, and if we use the same stories the same way, we can too.  Jesus told those stories knowing what the people were thinking and knowing how they would respond to them.  He was both, fully God and fully man, not as The Shack claims, that Jesus was on earth only in His human power and human limitations.

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Peter wrote, “Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:15-16  

There are several areas where The Shack qualifies as a cunningly devised fable, but here are three related core issues:  First: The Shack, says Jesus is, “the best way any human can relate to Papa or Sarayu.” Did you catch the error?  What does “the best way” imply?  Right, “the best way” is not the same as the only way.  The “best way” means there are many ways people may choose to relate to God, but among all the various ways to relate to God, Jesus is the best.  

Is this what the real Jesus said?  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Does this sound like there is any other way?  How about Acts 4:12 which says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  So is Jesus the best way, or the only way?

Second: Almost any path leads to salvation.  In The Shack, the character playing Jesus says, “Those who love me come from every system that exists. They are Buddhists or Mormons, Baptist, or Muslims, ...and many who are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institution...  I have no desire to make them Christians, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa...” “Does that mean...that all roads will lead to you?” ... “Not at all.... Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you.” 

This statement implies the first teaching, “most roads lead to God” and brings in a second, “Either a path leads to God or it doesn’t lead anywhere.”  This error is exposed when examined in the light of Matthew 7:13-14, where the real Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”   John 3:36 teaches, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Telling people who are traveling a path leading to hell, “Most roads don’t lead anywhere” is lying in the worst possible way.

Now we arrive at a third false teaching: “Sin is not punished.”  The character playing God the Father, called “Papa” says, “I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie. I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It is not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.”  Clearly, God loves to cure sin, but The Shack was confused about the paths leading to God and what happens at the end of the wrong path (nothing), now The Shack teaches sin is only like a disease which devours from the inside.  It refuses to acknowledge Hell is an external reality.

In contrast Romans 6:23 warns, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  In Revelation 20:11-15 we are taught about the final judgment to come: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Should you see the movie or read the book, The Shack? Or Young’s next book, Eve? Ephesians 5:6-7 says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Don’t read their cunningly devised fables which allows their lies to take you from the truth of the Bible.

What the Bible says about Joan Rivers

This message was preached on Sunday night, September 7, 2014. The message audio is found posted on Podomatic here: http://brucetegg.podomatic.com/entry/2014-09-08T10_35_35-07_00

The Sermon notes are not an exact transcript of the sermon but will help to give the reader a sense of the message content.

As you know, Joan Rivers, went in for a simple “medical procedure” before everything was over, she died, unexpectedly.

There are so many stories and articles and news reports praising Joan Rivers for her courage and her sense of humor.  It is time you see the other side of Joan Rivers.

Joan Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to Russian immigrants Meyer and Beatrice Molinsky.  Her father was a doctor.

It doesn’t take long to hear or read a joke by Joan which was crude and vulgar.  I cannot and will not repeat the many “jokes” she had to say on the subject of body parts and about sex.

She was always trying to make the dirty into something funny.

When it came to God, she was not so funny:

"Everyone reaches God in any way they want to reach God.”

We know by this Joan was not a Christian in any sense of the word.  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Sadly, Joan is finding out too late you do not reach God in any way you want to reach God.  You can only reach God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  No amount of joking will get Joan out of hell today.

Many people have forgotten Joan’s early years.  Joan Rivers was always openly pro-homosexual.  She did not believe homosexuality was wrong.  In fact she even played the part of a lesbian in a play at Greenwich Village in the 1960’s.  Even more interesting she the woman who played her lesbian lover was Barbara Streisand and they shared a romantic kiss as a part of the play.

“The first play I did was in Greenwich Village in the early ’60s. Barbra Streisand and I played lovers and we kissed,” Rivers recalls. “This was before she was singing, before anything. I knew she was talented, but you never know what someone will be. She was a fabulous kisser, that’s what I knew.”

Rivers previously revealed the play was titled Driftwood and it was performed in New York in 1959. Rivers, then known as Joan Sandra Molinsky, says that the play originally called for a male character, but producers couldn’t cast it and she offered to do the play if the characters were made lesbians. Rivers says Streisand was “really thrilled” with the idea. (Barbara Streisand was 17 years old at the time and Joan Rivers was 26 – what would we call that today?)

God calls homosexuality a sin.  It is the greatest insult a person can give to God’s invention called the family.  Scripture is clear what God thinks of homosexuality – look at Romans 1

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Anyone in their right mind cannot be confused about God’s view of homosexuals after reading this passage.

Many people do not realize but although Joan Rivers was born of Jewish parents and was Jewish in her lineage, she was not Jewish in her faith.

Joan Rivers was an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church and as a minister, she performed the weddings of two different homosexual couples.

This from the Universal Life Church Monastery site, which lists not only Joan Rivers but over 31,000 other “ordained ministers” such as: Sammy Davis Jr.; Glenn Beck; Conan O’Brien; Ian McKellen (Gandolf on Lord of the Rings); Wendy Williams; Lady Gaga; Tony Danza; Kathy Griffin (another vulgar comedian); Hugh Hefner and John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

“The Universal Life Church Monastery strongly believes in the rights of all people from all faiths to practice their religious beliefs, regardless of what those beliefs are, be they Christian, Jew, Gentile, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Shinto, Pagan, Wiccan, Druid or even Dignity Catholics; so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others and are within the law of the land and one’s conscience.

We ordain ministers, priests, rabbis and clergy worldwide who are totally non-religious or even anti-religious. This may seem contradictory, but we are looking to change the negative perceptions of religion, faith and spirituality, by encouraging people to take control, stand up and speak truth to power by fearlessly stating their personal religious beliefs.”

Joan Rivers was an agent of Satan who degraded the holy as well as honoring the profane with her humor. 

The Bible warns us

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we are told we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices and don’t be fooled by the world’s humor.  God enjoys humor and pleasure – it was His invention, but Satan has taken Godly humor and corrupted it so we may embrace sin with a smile on our face.

Why a sermon about Joan Rivers?  Because you will not hear the truth from the TV, radio or news sources.  We need to tell “the rest of the story” and let people know, Joan Rivers is not in a better place today.  The worse place on earth, even if you are experiencing excruciating pain for years, is still better than one day in hell.  Sadly, Joan knows this now better than anyone.

It is too late for Joan – but it is not too late for you.  Are you saved?  Does your humor serve the Lord Jesus Christ, or Satan?  Who will you tell the truth to this week?

In Answer to an Article by Mr. Danny Zacharias

A friend of mine currently serving in the U.S. Army asked me to read and review an article.  This was written in hopes of helping to clear up the confusion. This is only a brief explanation of this complex conglomeration of issues.

Danny Zacharias, in his article, “Why Zionism is so Attractive—and Should be Rejected by Christians” argues against “Zionism” and yet does not fully define “Zionism.”  He also speaks against a collection of other issues and beliefs while attacking his version of “Zionism” leading the reader to believe all of these issues are interconnected, but they are not.  His article can be read here: http://www.dannyzacharias.net/blog/why-zionism-is-so-attractive-and-should-be-rejected-by-christians#.VAdkspV0zDd

Mr. Zacharias begins by asking several questions: “Do I believe that the Jewish people were promised and given that land by God? Do I believe that the people of God are only those who are in Christ? Do I think all this is part of the unfolding of prophecy in the Bible? Or is it just political circumstances?”  Here is a short evaluation of a few of his errors.

The Bible is God’s Word.  God alone is the Author and men were only the writers.  This means the entire Bible is from One Mind, and is both without error and without contradiction.  Every verse, when taken in proper context, compliments every other verse, not contradicts.  Two verses cannot say two conflicting ideas, or else God would be contradicting Himself.

Mr. Zacharias makes the statement, “Yet, in matters such as these, there comes a clear dividing line – Christians believe the NT is scripture and Jewish people do not.”  I know many Jewish people who believe the New Testament is Scripture.  I also know many Jewish people who have received Jesus as their Saviour and Lord – they are called “Christian Jews.”  I believe Mr. Zacharias was meaning to say Orthodox Jews do not believe the New Testament is Scripture.

Apparently, Mr. Zacharias does not agree with the statement: “...God has promised the land of Israel to the descendants of Israel and the promise will be fulfilled at some point.”  Also he seems to believe, “...Christ is the end/fulfillment (telos) of the law (Rom 10:4; 2 Cor 1:20; Heb 8:13), thus the OT cannot be used as any sort of support for the modern secular state of Israel.”  Finally, in this same paragraph Mr. Zacharias states, “it is hard to ignore the OT teaching that fulfillment of God's covenant promises was conditional on the people's covenant obedience (read Deuteronomy).”

I will address these three issues at this time: 1) Did God promise any land to the descendants of Abraham?  2) Is the Old Testament law no longer in effect?  3) Were all of God’s covenant promises conditional on the people’s covenant obedience?

First, the Bible says God promised a special land to the descendants of Israel and since the promise has yet to be fulfilled, and God is not a liar, the promise will be fulfilled at some point.  To understand the “promised land” you must go back to Genesis.  The Promised Land is actually the same land originally created for Adam and Woman (she wasn’t named Eve until after sin), prior to the fall.  Notice the East and West borders of the Garden of Eden:

Gen 2:13  And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14  And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

This means the Garden of Eden was bordered on the West by the Gihon (Nile) river in Ethiopia and on the East by the Euphrates, between Iraq and Iran.  Compare this to what was promised to Abram in Genesis 15 when God, Himself, established the covenant.  (As you know, a contract says, “If you keep your part, I will keep my part.”  A covenant says, “I will keep my part even if you do not keep your part.”)

Gen 15:17  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Notice the words, “have I given” used here in a past tense, an action already completed.  Look again at, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”  What is the condition of this promise?  None.  There was no, “If you, then I,” statement.  Look also at Genesis 13:15, 17:8, 35:12 and notice the lack of condition.

Notice how these are the borders of the original Garden of Eden.  Many people don’t get it but the true Promise Land was actually the old Garden of Eden being given to the descendents of Abraham.

Now someone may ask: “When will this land be given to Abraham’s Descendants to possess?”  As we can see, at no time in all of history has the descendents owned all the land from the Nile to the Euphrates.  There is no time where we can see the fulfillment of this covenant.  So, either God is a liar, and we know God never lies, or it is yet to be fulfilled.

We know in Revelation, Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.  We also know we will reign with Christ as kings and priests on this earth for that 1,000 years. (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6)

We find more clues in the book of Isaiah.

Isa 19:23  In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24  In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25  Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

“That day” is a theological term referring to when Jesus Christ will come to earth to judge the inhabitants and establish the Millennial Kingdom.  Notice what will happen here.  Verse 23 says there will be a “highway” made from Egypt (on the West) and from Assyria (on the East) through Israel.  Egypt has the Nile river, Assyria has the Euphrates river, and Israel will be between them.  This is when Israel will possess the land created for Adam and promised to Abraham.

Mr. Zacharias later says, “They do it because they believe that the OT prophets' words about returning to the land is for our future (though it is plain in the OT that the fulfillment happened already, Neh 9:23). They also misunderstand God's promise to the land and the fact that it was conditional (Lev 26:33, 42; Ezek 33:25-29).” 

God’s promise was not to the land, it was to a man.  In fact, it wasn’t a promise, it was a covenant.  Covenants are to be upheld in spite of what the other party does, not because of it.  As shown above, Abraham’s descendants were required to do nothing to receive the land, except for being a descendant of Abraham.

The Abrahamic Covenant was NOT fulfilled in Nehemiah’s time.  The prophecies of Isaiah were clearly not fulfilled in Nehemiah’s time or at any time since sin has entered into the world.

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Israel will be in their land when “that day” comes and, when “that day” arrives the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the kid and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  When has this ever happened?  Only in the Garden of Eden prior to sin entering into the world.

Again, Mr. Zacharias says, “But above all, they do it because they think they are helping to fulfill prophecy to bring Jesus back quicker. It is this religious motivation that ends up blinding them- they forget about the other human beings, specifically Palestinians.”

The Bible states in the New Testament the Temple will be rebuilt.  Look at 2Thessolonians 2:

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

This clearly says the Beast will be sitting in “the temple of God”.  Since this has not happened yet, it obviously has fulfillment in the future.  Some people try to wrongly claim this passage refers to Antiochus Epiphanes.  Only problem with their claim is Antiochus Epiphanes was already dead when this was written.  In fact Antiochus died before Jesus was born.

Can we “help” Jesus come earlier? In no way.  Jesus will come at the appointed time, no earlier and no later.  We cannot speed it up or slow it down.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  37  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.

This leaves us with the final issue I will address here: “Is the Old Testament law no longer in effect?”  Look at what Jesus said about the Old Testament: 

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

If the Old Testament is no longer in effect, why does every Christian carry one attached to their New Testament?  Why do we still hear sermons preached from it?  Why do we still give authority to the “Ten Commandments”?  Why read the Psalms or Proverbs?

Actually, when Jesus was still alive so was the Old Testament.  The New Testament could not begin until the death of Jesus Christ.  Once Jesus died the New Testament could begin.  Even after the New Testament began, what did Paul, Peter, John and the other writers quote as if it still had authority? The Old Testament.

Just two more pieces of evidence to prove my point, although there are several, look at Acts 2. 

Act 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If, as Mr. Zacharias says, all the Old Testament was fulfilled in Jesus Christ making the Old Testament a thing of the past, what is Peter doing quoting it as being fulfilled in the New Testament, after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ? 

Finally, look at what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17,

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Notice how Paul speaks of the “holy scriptures” Timothy was taught as a child.  This was obviously the Old Testament.  Observe how ALL Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) is given by the breath (inspiration) of God and both are profitable for DOCTRINE, REPROOF, CORRECTION AND INSTRUCTION.  If you throw out the Old Testament, you violate God’s testimony of its value.

I do agree we need to be reaching the lost, both Jews and non-Jews and I believe much money is wasted trying to build a temple which is going to be built anyway.  We need to be investing in the winning of souls and not the building of a building, but the bad behavior of a few people should not change our understanding of true biblical theology.

Thank you for reading.