The Biblical Basis of Missions

We are busy reading and working through this book which is a must read for disciples of Jesus Christ. Every Christian is on Mission for God. Click the book to read in pdf format. This book also appears as an On-line Resource in the right-hand panel of this blog.

A Book

Here is a book that has been written about “The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ – A Biblical Account from the Holy Scriptures.” Have not been successful with a publisher. Besides, this work is placed here FREE to bring Glory to God!

“Christian bias on calendar” – The Witness

On Monday June 11, 2012 an article appeared in our local newspaper The Witness under the heading “PUBLIC INQUIRY LAUNCHED: Complaints over Christian bias on calendar – New look at public holidays” (by Philda Essop).

In the report the following statements appeared, quote:

“In a press statement issued last week the commission said a number of complaints and requests “have been received about the fact that public holidays recognise only Christianity and discriminate unfairly against the holidays of other faiths.”

“Afrikaans Handelsinstituut CEO Christo Van der Rheede said on inquiry yesterday that South Africa has too many holidays.

“”Holidays have a negative impact on productivity and economic growth. If we carry on like this, we run the risk of no longer being regarded as a productive country.” …

“I know that companies make internal arrangements with their staff during Jewish and Muslim festivals. Two Christian holidays, Good Friday and Christmas, are important, but some of the Christian holidays can be abolished,” said Van der Rheede, who was speaking in a personal capacity.”

There are three issues that need to be addressed and the record must be set straight. The press is a powerful media, that needs to be fair and should give honest reports, even exposing all corruption, fraud and lies, so we do need the freedom to report and know what is going on locally and internationally, but the press can also be misleading, corrupt and keep people uninformed and in bondage in their sin.

Firstly, whilst the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, No. 108 of 1996 respects and grants freedom of religion, and the choice of affiliation to all religions or none at all, God does not share the same view of man by respecting and granting a freedom to worship Him as they please through various religious practices. Jehovah, God Almighty has revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel) (see Exodus 4:5) and He gives commandment in His First (v.3) and Second (vv.4-6) Commandments to His created beings that:

³Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ⁴Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ~ Exodus 20:3-6

Although what might be interpreted as a bias toward Christian public holidays, there is no problem with this in that the God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, the God who reveals Himself in Isaiah 33:22 –

²²For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

He is the same God that is the Saviour of the world “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8) and He is the God who His disciples followed, “… And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

Therefore, there is no discrimination against other faiths. In man’s wicked and evil understanding and his idolatry against the one true God of Creation Jesus Christ, who has always been from eternity past to eternity future:

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ~ John 1:1-5

⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ~ 1 John 5:7

⁸I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. ~ Revelation 1:8, Jesus Christ

¹²And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. ¹³I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. ~ Revelation 22:12, 13, Jesus Christ

The problem here is not whether there is a bias of Christian public holidays against other faiths, but rather other religious faiths have turned from their Creator God and have blasphemed Him by worshipping false gods. The God who created you is Lord of you, whether you believe it or not!

Secondly, Mr Van der Rheede does not show wisdom at all with his statements, “Holidays have a negative impact on productivity and economic growth. If we carry on like this, we run the risk of no longer being regarded as a productive country.” The reason why this country is not blessed is that the crime and corruption by politicians and society is a result of following their wicked hearts and turning from their Creator, God Almighty. Holidays do not impact negatively on productivity and economic growth. Days do not control the markets, men do! If days control productivity then we have a real problem on our hands for we have too many weekend days – Saturdays and Sundays (104 per annum)! This is folly and shows the devoid of understanding of learned men. True wisdom comes from:

¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. ~ Psalm 111:10

The problems that South Africa experiences with the lack of productivity, a ridiculously poor currency, inflated prices of petrol and groceries is as a direct result of mismanagement in government and ineffectual parties appointed to key positions that require an honest work ethic, no wonder international companies do not want to invest in a country where there is nepotism, fraud, corruption, stealing, lying and embezzlement of state and public funds, and in an environment where workers are given carte blanche to strike at any opportunity where greed for money dictates. The ‘downing-of-tools’ and striking bring cash flow and productivity problems. No-one works as unto the Lord as the Bible dictates:

³Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. ~ Proverbs 16:3

And we are warned in Scripture that:

¹⁷The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. ~ Psalm 9:17

¹¹God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. ~ Psalm 7:11

²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. ²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. ~ Proverbs 28:26, 27

²When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ~ Proverbs 29:2

South Africa truly is mourning because the wicked beareth rule. Put religious public holidays aside for a moment and let us address “public holidays” that keep heroes of the past, dead and alive, continually being worshipped and glorified. This is idolatry and God says all idolaters will end up in Hell. Citizens of South Africa are continually being brainwashed into remembering the past which keeps them under bondage under a so-called democracy. As long as people are remembering the past, like June 16, 1976 – where were you on that day? – and having past events dramatized every year and every other occasion using the apartheid-card, there will be no healing and true forgiveness. Our Lord Jesus Christ says:

¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~ Matthew 6:14, 15

This is not a democracy; this is socialism / communism disguised as democracy! Citizens are not free; they are slaves to another man-made system. And they also are slaves to their sin. This country needs a Theocracy. God tells us that if we want to be free then we need to be obedient to His Word:

^31b… If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ~ John 8:31b, 32

³⁶If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ~ John 8:36

Jesus Christ said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). What God is saying is that there is no other way, no other truth, and no other life besides Him, as it is written:

¹⁹And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. ²⁰As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. ~ Deuteronomy 8:19, 20

Man is not in control of anything. God controls all things and even destroys nations that turn from Him. South Africa, you are warned. God will be glorified in your destruction. Just because a religion calls on “God”, it does not mean it is the True God of Creation. And that goes for professing Christians, too! Joining with other faiths or following schism doctrines in denominations and cults does not make you true believers in your worship of God Almighty.

Thirdly, dealing with the “two Christian holidays, Good Friday and Christmas,” do you not know that these days are man-made and pagan in origin? Have you never read the Holy Word of God, the Bible, properly and received revelation from the Holy Spirit, God Almighty? This world is duped into believing ‘a lot of stuff’, but sadly God’s people are perishing for lack of knowledge. True believers, born-again (John 3:3) children of God are commanded to worship God in spirit and truth:

²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:24

Our Christian faith does not rest on whether a public day is given during a year or not. We do not need a day to be set aside by man to worship God. But then again, even if a “Christian day” had to be taken away, how many other faiths who do not worship our Lord Jesus Christ enjoys the benefit of taking the holidays set aside for the Christians? Should they not remain at work during those times? It shows the hypocrisy of those faiths! Maybe you need to read the Bible first and only then, I would suggest reading:

The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

It is also not understood which “some of the Christian holidays can be abolished” is referred to by Mr Van der Rheede. Here are the South African “public holidays” which total twelve days (as it appears in 2012):

1 January	New Year’s Day
21 March	Human Rights Day
6 April	Good Friday
9 April	Family Day
27 April	Freedom Day
1 May	Workers’ Day
16 June	Youth Day
9 August	National Women’s Day
24 September	Heritage Day
16 December	Day of the Vow / Day of Reconciliation
25 December	Christmas Day
26 December	Day of Goodwill

A break down of category of days shows the following revealing statistics:

Public Holidays (12 days)	12/365	3.29%
Government Instituted (10 days)	10/365	2.74%
“Christian” Holidays (3 days)	3/365	0.82%	Includes Day of the Vow, Dec. 16
Weekends (104 days)	104/365	28.49%
Striking days (average of 20 days p.a.)	20/365	5.48%	This is a conservative estimate

One can see where the problems lay from a man’s perspective. From God’s perspective, the biggest problem idolaters have is that on the Day of Judgment when God will hold His Court, all unrepentant sinners will receive a just reward, equitable for their sins against their Creator God and be sent to Hell for all eternity. If guilty, you will receive a payment for the wages of sin is death. The only way that you can escape God’s anger and burning wrath against you is to flee to the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Righteous. South Africa, and any other national reading this, you are called to Repentance – Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). That is your only hope!

²⁰Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. ²¹Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. ²²Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. ²³I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. ²⁴Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. ~ Isaiah 45:20-24

Glorify thyself O Heavenly Father,

SOLI DEO GLORIA

________________________

Copied by e-mail to the following:

A request was made in The Witness newspaper to submit submissions by phoning the Commission on 011 537 7600.

Chairperson@crlcommission.org.za

ceo@crlcommission.org.za

info@crlcommission.org.za

Sunday Times Newspaper

Sunday Tribune Newspaper

The Witness Newspaper

AfriForum

Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 3

This is the third part that deals with the remaining idols and idolatries.

Idol

(1.) Heb. aven, “nothingness;” “vanity” (Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 41:29; Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Kings 16:13; Psalm 31:6; Jeremiah 8:19, etc.).

(2.) ‘Elil, “a thing of naught” (Psalm 97:7; Isaiah 19:3); a word of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezekiel 30:13).

(3.) ‘Emah, “terror,” in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jeremiah 50:38).

(4.) Miphletzeth, “a fright;” “horror” (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16).

(5.) Bosheth, “shame;” “shameful thing” (Jeremiah 11:13; Hosea 9:10); as characterizing the obscenity of the worship of Baal.

(6.) Gillulim, also a word of contempt, “dung;” “refuse” (Ezekiel 16:36; Ezekiel 20:8; Deuteronomy 29:17, marg.).

(7.) Shikkuts, “filth;” “impurity” (Ezekiel 37:23; Nahum 3:6).

(8.) Semel, “likeness;” “a carved image” (Deuteronomy 4:16).

(9.) Tselem, “a shadow” (Daniel 3:1; 1 Samuel 6:5), as distinguished from the “likeness,” or the exact counterpart.

(10.) Temunah, “similitude” (Deuteronomy 4:12-19). Here Moses forbids the several forms of Gentile idolatry.

(11.) ‘Atsab, “a figure;” from the root “to fashion,” “to labour;” denoting that idols are the result of man’s labour (Isaiah 48:5; Psalm 139:24, “wicked way;” literally, as some translate, “way of an idol”).

(12.) Tsir, “a form;” “shape” (Isaiah 45:16).

(13.) Matztzebah, a “statue” set up (Jeremiah 43:13); a memorial stone like that erected by Jacob (Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:45; Genesis 35:14, 20), by Joshua (Joshua 4:9), and by Samuel (1 Samuel 7:12). It is the name given to the statues of Baal (2 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 10:27).

(14.) Hammanim, “sun-images.” Hamman is a synonym of Baal, the sun-god of the Phoenicians (2 Chronicles 34:4, 7; 2 Chronicles 14:3, 5; Isaiah 17:8).

(15.) Maskith, “device” (Leviticus 26:1; Numbers 33:52). In Leviticus 26:1, the words “image of stone” (A.V.) denote “a stone or cippus with the image of an idol, as Baal, Astarte, etc.” In Ezekiel 8:12, “chambers of imagery” (maskith), are “chambers of which the walls are painted with the figures of idols;” compare Ezekiel 8:10, 11.

(16.) Pesel, “a graven” or “carved image” (Isaiah 44:10-20). It denotes also a figure cast in metal (Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 27:15; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 44:10).

(17.) Massekah, “a molten image” (Deuteronomy 9:12; Judges 17:3, 4).

(18.) Teraphim, pl., “images,” family gods (penates) worshipped by Abram’s kindred (Joshua 24:14). Put by Michal in David’s bed (Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14, 17, 18, 20; 1 Samuel 19:13).

“Nothing can be more instructive and significant than this multiplicity and variety of words designating the instruments and inventions of idolatry.”

Idolatry

Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25 : men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (Romans 1:28).

The forms of idolatry are,

(1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.

(2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.

(3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes.

In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with heathen nations. The first allusion to idolatry is in the account of Rachel stealing her father’s teraphim (Genesis 31:19), which were the relics of the worship of other gods by Laban’s progenitors “on the other side of the river in old time” (Joshua 24:2). During their long residence in Egypt the Hebrews fell into idolatry, and it was long before they were delivered from it (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:7). Many a token of God’s displeasure fell upon them because of this sin.

The idolatry learned in Egypt was probably rooted out from among the people during the forty years’ wanderings; but when the Jews entered Palestine, they came into contact with the monuments and associations of the idolatry of the old Canaanitish races, and showed a constant tendency to depart from the living God and follow the idolatrous practices of those heathen nations. It was their great national sin, which was only effectually rebuked by the Babylonian exile. That exile finally purified the Jews of all idolatrous tendencies.

The first and second commandments are directed against idolatry of every form. Individuals and communities were equally amenable to the rigorous code. The individual offender was devoted to destruction (Exodus 22:20). His nearest relatives were not only bound to denounce him and deliver him up to punishment (Deuteronomy 13:2-10), but their hands were to strike the first blow when, on the evidence of two witnesses at least, he was stoned (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). To attempt to seduce others to false worship was a crime of equal enormity (Deuteronomy 13:6-10). An idolatrous nation shared the same fate. No facts are more strongly declared in the Old Testament than that the extermination of the Canaanites was the punishment of their idolatry (Exodus 34:15, 16; Deuteronomy 7; Deuteronomy 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 20:17), and that the calamities of the Israelites were due to the same cause (Jeremiah 2:17). “A city guilty of idolatry was looked upon as a cancer in the state; it was considered to be in rebellion, and treated according to the laws of war. Its inhabitants and all their cattle were put to death.” Jehovah was the theocratic King of Israel, the civil Head of the commonwealth, and therefore to an Israelite idolatry was a state offense (1 Samuel 15:23), high treason. On taking possession of the land, the Jews were commanded to destroy all traces of every kind of the existing idolatry of the Canaanites (Exodus 23:24, 32; Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5, 25; Deuteronomy 12:1-3).

In the New Testament the term idolatry is used to designate covetousness (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5).

Jupiter

The principal deity of the ancient Greeks and Romans. He was worshipped by them under various epithets. Barnabas was identified with this god by the Lycaonians (Acts 14:12), because he was of stately and commanding presence, as they supposed Jupiter to be. There was a temple dedicated to this god outside the gates of Lystra (Acts 14:13).

Mercurius

The Hermes (i.e., “the speaker”) of the Greeks (Acts 14:12), a heathen god represented as the constant attendant of Jupiter, and the god of eloquence. The inhabitants of Lystra took Paul for this god because he was the “chief speaker.”

Moloch

King, the name of the national god of the Ammonites, to whom children were sacrificed by fire. He was the consuming and destroying and also at the same time the purifying fire. In Amos 5:26, “your Moloch” of the Authorized Version is “your king” in the Revised Version (Compare Acts 7:43). Solomon (1 Kings 11:7) erected a high place for this idol on the Mount of Olives, and from that time till the days of Josiah his worship continued (2 Kings 23:10, 13). In the days of Jehoahaz it was partially restored, but after the Captivity wholly disappeared. He is also called Molech (Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2-5, etc.), Milcom (1 Kings 11:5, 33, etc.), and Malcham (Zephaniah 1:5). This god became Chemosh among the Moabites.

Necromancer

(Deuteronomy 15:11), i.e., “one who interrogates the dead,” as the word literally means, with the view of discovering the secrets of futurity (Compare 1 Samuel 28:7).

Queen of Heaven

(Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 44:17, 25), the moon, worshipped by the Assyrians as the receptive power in nature.

Satan

Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article “the adversary” (Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more than thirty times.

He is also called “the dragon,” “the old serpent” (Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2); “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; John 14:30); “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2); “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4); “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). The distinct personality of Satan and his activity among men are thus obviously recognized. He tempted our Lord in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He is “Beelzebub, the prince of the devils” (Matthew 12:24). He is “the constant enemy of God, of Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all truth; full of falsehood and all malice, and exciting and seducing to evil in every possible way.” His power is very great in the world. He is a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Men are said to be “taken captive by him” (2 Timothy 2:26). Christians are warned against his “devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11), and called on to “resist” him (James 4:7).

Christ redeems his people from “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Satan has the “power of death,” not as lord, but simply as executioner.

Shrines, Silver

Little models and medallions of the temple and image of Diana of Ephesus (Acts 19:24). The manufacture of these was a very large and profitable business.

Sorcerer

From the Latin sortiarius, one who casts lots, or one who tells the lot of others.

In Daniel 2:2 it is the rendering of the Hebrew mekhashphim, i.e., mutterers, men who professed to have power with evil spirits. The practice of sorcery exposed to severest punishment (Malachi 3:5; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15).

Stargazers

(Isaiah 47:13), those who pretend to tell what will occur by looking upon the stars. The Chaldean astrologers “divined by the rising and setting, the motions, aspects, colour, degree of light, etc., of the stars.”

Stoics

A sect of Greek philosophers at Athens, so called from the Greek word stoa i.e., a “porch” or “portico,” where they have been called “the Pharisees of Greek paganism.” The founder of the Stoics was Zeno, who flourished about 300 B.C. He taught his disciples that a man’s happiness consisted in bringing himself into harmony with the course of the universe. They were trained to bear evils with indifference, and so to be independent of externals. Materialism, pantheism, fatalism, and pride were the leading features of this philosophy.

Tammuz

A corruption of Dumuzi, the Accadian sun-god (the Adonis of the Greeks), the husband of the goddess Ishtar. In the Chaldean calendar there was a month set apart in honour of this god, the month of June to July, the beginning of the summer solstice. At this festival, which lasted six days, the worshippers, with loud lamentations, bewailed the funeral of the god, they sat “weeping for Tammuz” (Ezekiel 8:14).

The name, also borrowed from Chaldea, of one of the months of the Hebrew calendar.

Tartak

Prince of darkness, one of the gods of the Arvites, who colonized part of Samaria after the deportation of Israel by Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:31).

Teraphim

Givers of prosperity, idols in human shape, large or small, analogous to the images of ancestors which were revered by the Romans. In order to deceive the guards sent by Saul to seize David, Michal his wife prepared one of the household teraphim, putting on it the goat’s, hair cap worn by sleepers and invalids, and laid it in a bed, covering it with a mantle. She pointed it out to the soldiers, and alleged that David was confined to his bed by a sudden illness (1 Samuel 19:13-16). Thus she gained time for David’s escape. It seems strange to read of teraphim, images of ancestors, preserved for superstitious purposes, being in the house of David. Probably they had been stealthily brought by Michal from her father’s house. “Perhaps,” says Bishop Wordsworth, “Saul, forsaken by God and possessed by the evil spirit, had resorted to witchcraft); and God overruled evil for good, and made his very teraphim (by the hand of his own daughter) to be an instrument for David’s escape.” –  Deane’s David, p. 32. Josiah attempted to suppress this form of idolatry (2 Kings 23:24). The ephod and teraphim are mentioned together in Hosea 3:4. It has been supposed by some (Cheyne’s Hosea) that the “ephod” here mentioned, and also in Judges 8:24-27, was not the part of the sacerdotal dress so called (Exodus 28:6-14), but an image of Jehovah overlaid with gold or silver (compare Judges 17:1-13, 18; 1 Samuel 21:9; 1 Samuel 23:6, 9; 1 Samuel 30:7, 8), and is thus associated with the teraphim.

Witch

Occurs only in Exodus 22:18, as the rendering of mekhashshepheh, the feminine form of the word, meaning “enchantress” (R.V., “sorceress”), and in Deuteronomy 18:10, as the rendering of mekhashshepheth, the masculine form of the word, meaning “enchanter.”

Witchcraft

(1 Samuel 15:23; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4; Galatians 5:20). In the popular sense of the word no mention is made either of witches or of witchcraft in Scripture. The “witch of En-dor” (1 Samuel 28) was a necromancer, i.e., one who feigned to hold converse with the dead. The damsel with “a spirit of divination” (Acts 16:16) was possessed by an evil spirit, or, as the words are literally rendered, “having a spirit, a pithon.” The reference is to the heathen god Apollo, who was regarded as the god of prophecy.

Wizard

A pretender to supernatural knowledge and power, “a knowing one,” as the original Hebrew word signifies.

Such an one was forbidden on pain of death to practice his deceptions (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6, 27; 1 Samuel 28:3; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3).

Worshipper

(Gr. neocoros = temple sweeper [Acts 19:35] of the great goddess Diana). This name neocoros appears on most of the extant Ephesian coins.

________________

Source Information: Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 2

We will look at the various idols and gods that were worshipped during the Old and New Testaments with extensive quotes from Easton’s Bible Dictionary and some references to the idolaters. The idols of today find many of their beginnings from the idol worship referred to in the Bible.

Asherah

Plural Asherim in Revised Version, instead of “grove” and “groves” of the Authorized Version. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols (“groves”) are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Exodus 34:13; Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Kings 16:33, etc.). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone (2 Kings 21:7; “the graven image of Asherah,” R.V.). (See GROVE [1].).

Ashtoreth

The moon goddess of the Phoenicians, representing the passive principle in nature, their principal female deity; frequently associated with the name of Baal, the sun-god, their chief male deity (Judges 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4; 1 Samuel 12:10). These names often occur in the plural (Ashtaroth, Baalim), probably as indicating either different statues or different modifications of the deities. This deity is spoken of as Ashtoreth of the Zidonians. She was the Ishtar of the Accadians and the Astarte of the Greeks (Jeremiah 44:17; 1 Kings 11:5, 1 Kings 11:33; 2 Kings 23:13). There was a temple of this goddess among the Philistines in the time of Saul (1 Samuel 31:10). Under the name of Ishtar, she was one of the great deities of the Assyrians. The Phoenicians called her Astarte. Solomon introduced the worship of this idol (1 Kings 11:33). Jezebel’s 400 priests were probably employed in its service (1 Kings 18:19). It was called the “queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 44:25).

Baal

Lord. The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM (Judges 2:11; Judges 10:10; 1 Kings 18:18; Jeremiah 2:23; Hosea 2:17). Baal is identified with Molech (Jeremiah 19:5). It was known to the Israelites as Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3; Deuteronomy 4:3), was worshipped till the time of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:4), and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-33; 1 Kings 18:19, 22). It prevailed also for a time in the kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 8:27; compare 2 Kings 11:18; 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chronicles 28:2). Till finally put an end to by the severe discipline of the Captivity (Zephaniah 1:4-6). The priests of Baal were in great numbers (1 Kings 18:19), and of various classes (2 Kings 10:19). Their mode of offering sacrifices is described in 1 Kings 18:25-29. The sun-god, under the general title of Baal, or “lord,” was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under the name of Baalim, or “lords.” Each Baal had a wife, who was a colourless reflection of himself.

Baalim

Plural of Baal; images of the god Baal (Judges 2:11; 1 Samuel 7:4).

Baal-peor

Lord of the opening, a god of the Moabites (Numbers 25:3; Numbers 31:16; Joshua 22:17), worshipped by obscene rites. So called from Mount Peor, where this worship was celebrated, the Baal of Peor. The Israelites fell into the worship of this idol (Numbers 25:3, 5, 18; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28; Hosea 9:10).

Baal-zebub

Fly-lord, the god of the Philistines at Ekron (2 Kings 1:2, 3, 16. This name was given to the god because he was supposed to be able to avert the plague of flies which in that region was to be feared. He was consulted by Ahaziah as to his recovery.

Beelzebub

(Gr. form Beelzebul), the name given to Satan, and found only in the New Testament (Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22). It is probably the same as Baalzebub (q.v.), the god of Ekron, meaning “the lord of flies,” or, as others think, “the lord of dung,” or “the dung-god.”

Bel

The Aramaic form of Baal, the national god of the Babylonians (Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:44). It signifies “lord.” (See BAAL.)

Chemarim

Black (Zephaniah 1:4; rendered “idolatrous priests” in 2 Kings 23:5, and “priests” in Hosea 10:5). Some derive this word from the Assyrian Kamaru, meaning “to throw down,” and interpret it as describing the idolatrous priests who prostrate themselves before the idols. Others regard it as meaning “those who go about in black” or “ascetics.”

Chemosh

The destroyer, subduer, or fishgod, the god of the Moabites (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7, 13, 46). The worship of this god, “the abomination of Moab,” was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). On the “Moabite Stone” (q.v.), Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, “And Chemosh drove him before my sight.”

Daemon

The Greek form, rendered “devil” in the Authorized Version of the New Testament. Daemons are spoken of as spiritual beings (Matthew 8:16; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 12:43-45) at enmity with God, and as having a certain power over man (James 2:19; Revelation 16:14). They recognize our Lord as the Son of God (Matthew 8:20; Luke 4:41). They belong to the number of those angels that “kept not their first estate, “unclean spirits,” “fallen angels,” the angels of the devil (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7-9). They are the “principalities and powers” against which we must “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12).

Dagon

Little fish; diminutive from dag = a fish, the fish-god; the national god of the Philistines (Judges 16:23). This idol had the body of a fish with the head and hands of a man. It was an Assyrio-Babylonian deity, the worship of which was introduced among the Philistines through Chaldea.

The most famous of the temples of Dagon were at Gaza (Judges 16:23-30) and Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-7).

Devil

(Gr. diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man’s spiritual interest (Job 1:6; Revelation 2:10; Zechariah 3:1). He is called also “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

In Leviticus 17:7 the word “devil” is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning a “goat” or “satyr” (Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the objects of idolatrous worship among the heathen.

In Deuteronomy 32:17 and Psalm 106:37 it is the translation of Hebrew shed, meaning lord, and idol, regarded by the Jews as a “demon,” as the word is rendered in the Revised Version.

In the narratives of the Gospels regarding the “casting out of devils” a different Greek word (daimon) is used. In the time of our Lord there were frequent cases of demoniacal possession (Matthew 12:25-30; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 4:35; Luke 10:18, etc.).

Diana

So called by the Romans; called Artemis by the Greeks, the “great” goddess worshipped among heathen nations under various modifications. Her most noted temple was that at Ephesus. It was built outside the city walls, and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. “First and last it was the work of 220 years; built of shining marble; 342 feet long by 164 feet broad; supported by a forest of columns, each 56 feet high; a sacred museum of masterpieces of sculpture and painting. At the centre, hidden by curtains, within a gorgeous shrine, stood the very ancient image of the goddess, on wood or ebony reputed to have fallen from the sky. Behind the shrine was a treasury, where, as in ‘the safest bank in Asia,’ nations and kings stored their most precious things. The temple as St. Paul saw it subsisted till A.D. 262, when it was ruined by the Goths” (Acts 19:23-41). Moule on Ephesians: Introduction.

Easter

Originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek pascha (the Passover). When the Authorized Version (1611) was formed, the word “passover” was used in all passages in which this word pascha occurred, except in Acts 12:4.

Epicureans

Followers of Epicurus (who died at Athens 270 B.C.), or adherents of the Epicurean philosophy (Acts 17:18). This philosophy was a system of atheism, and taught men to seek as their highest aim a pleasant and smooth life. They have been called the “Sadducees” of Greek paganism. They, with the Stoics, ridiculed the teaching of Paul (Acts 17:18). They appear to have been greatly esteemed at Athens.

Eth-baal

With Baal, a king of Sidon (940-908 B.C.), father of Jezebel, who was the wife of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31). He is said to have been also a priest of Astarte, whose worship was closely allied to that of Baal, and this may account for his daughter’] zeal in promoting idolatry in Israel. This marriage of Ahab was most fatal to both Israel and Judah. Dido, the founder of Carthage, was his granddaughter.

Familiar Spirit

Sorcerers or necromancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a “familiar spirit” (Deuteronomy 18:11; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an ‘ob, which properly means a leather bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was equivalent to the pytho of the Greeks, and was used to denote both the person and the spirit which possessed him (Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:8; compare Acts 16:16). The word “familiar” is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a “household servant,” and was intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands.

Graven Image

Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalm 97:7 (Heb. pesel), refers to the household gods of idolaters. “Every nation and city had its own gods. Yet every family had its separate household or tutelary god.”

Grove

(1.) Heb. ‘asherah, properly a wooden image, or a pillar representing Ashtoreth, a sensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually set up in a grove (2 Kings 21:7; 2 Kings 23:4). In the Revised Version the word “Asherah” (q.v.) is introduced as a proper noun, the name of the wooden symbol of a goddess, with the plurals Asherim (Exodus 34:13) and Asheroth (Judges 3:13).

The LXX. have rendered asherah in 2 Chronicles 15:16 by “Astarte.” The Vulgate has done this also in Judges 3:7.

(2.) Heb. ‘eshel (Genesis 21:33). In 1 Samuel 22:6 and 1 Samuel 31:13 the Authorized Version renders this word by “tree.” In all these passages the Revised Version renders by “tamarisk tree.” It has been identified with the Tamariscus orientalis, five species of which are found in Palestine.

(3.) The Heb. word ‘elon, uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “plain,” properly signifies a grove or plantation. In the Revised Version it is rendered, pl., “oaks” (Genesis 13:18; Genesis 14:13; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 12:6; Deuteronomy 11:30; Joshua 19:33). In the earliest times groves are mentioned in connection with religious worship. The heathen consecrated groves to particular gods, and for this reason they were forbidden to the Jews (Jeremiah 17:3; Ezekiel 20:28).

Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 1

This is an issue that needs to be discussed at length and a warning must be given to the millions upon millions of idolaters the world over who bow to and worship false gods in the name of their religion. Just recently, by the Grace of God, a Gospel Tract titled “Your Life: God’s Solution to Your Religion” was completed and this tract gets straight to the point of religion being idolatry before the One True God – the God of Creation who came to this world in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ to set sinners free – which includes their idolatries.

Idols take on many forms. Which ever form it takes, it still remains an evil abomination before our Creator – God Almighty, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob. This post will deal with the various gods worshipped and idols mentioned in the Bible. It will also look at the historical account of these vile deities that are worshipped which provokes our God to jealousy:

¹⁶They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. ~ Deuteronomy 32:16

⁵⁸For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. ~ Psalm 78:58

We will look at Scripture and much more Scripture as God’s Word is True and will never pass away. Let us see how God’s Word speaks out against idols, gods, graven and molten images, which are worshipped in idolatry. God commands that it is forbidden. We read, as it is written:

²I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ³Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ~ Exodus 20:2, 3

⁷Thou shalt have none other gods before me. ~ Deuteronomy 5:7

This consists of the following practices:

• Bowing down to images

⁵Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ~ Exodus 20:5

⁹Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, ~ Deuteronomy 5:9

• Worshipping images

¹⁷And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. ~ Isaiah 44:17

⁵That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: ¹⁰Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: ¹⁵Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? ~ Daniel 3:5, 10, 15

• Sacrificing to images

³⁸And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. ~ Psalm 106:38

⁴¹And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. ~ Acts 7:41

• Worshipping other gods

¹⁷But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; ~ Deuteronomy 30:17

⁹There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. ~ Psalm 81:9

• Swearing to other gods

¹³And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. ~ Exodus 23:13

⁷That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: ~ Joshua 23:7

• Walking after other gods

¹⁹And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. ~ Deuteronomy 8:19

• Speaking in the name of other gods

²⁰But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. ~ Deuteronomy 18:20

• Looking to other gods

¹Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. ~ Hosea 3:1

• Serving other gods

⁴For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. ~ Deuteronomy 7:4

¹⁹And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. ~ Jeremiah 5:19

• Fearing other gods

³⁵With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: ~ 2 Kings 17:35

• Sacrificing to other gods

²⁰He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. ~ Exodus 22:20

• Worshipping the true God by an image

⁴And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. ⁵And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. ⁶And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. ~ Exodus 32:4-6

¹⁹They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. ²⁰Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. ~ Psalm 106:19, 20

• Worshipping angels

¹⁸Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ~ Colossians 2:18

• Worshipping the host of heaven

¹⁹And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. ~ Deuteronomy 4:19

³And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; ~ Deuteronomy 17:3

This form of worship is done daily by millions of “stargazers” when they consult their horoscopes – looking to the stars and relying on planetary positions to determine their “luck” or future. They rely on gods known as clairvoyants or astrologers to predict the future for the individual. This is known as sorcery, which is witchcraft.

• Worshipping demons

⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ~ Matthew 4:9, 10

²⁰And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: ~ Revelation 9:20

• Worshipping dead men

¹⁰There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, ¹¹Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ~ Deuteronomy 18:10, 11

A necromancer is someone who speaks to the dead and even worships them; this practice of ancestral worship is also found in the Shembe church in South Africa.

²⁸They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. ~ Psalm 106:28

• Setting up idols in the heart

³Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? ⁴Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; ~ Ezekiel 14:3, 4

• Covetousness

⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ~ Ephesians 5:5

⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ~ Colossians 3:5

• Sensuality

¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) ~ Philippians 3:19

In the Holy Scriptures, God also warns that people are just like the idols that they worship and that the idols, graven images, are no gods. We read as follows:

¹Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. ²Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? ³But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. ⁴Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. ⁵They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: ⁶They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: ⁷They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. ⁸They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. ⁹O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. ¹⁰O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. ¹¹Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. ¹²The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. ¹³He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. ¹⁴The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. ¹⁵Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. ¹⁶The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. ¹⁷The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. ¹⁸But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD. ~ Psalm 115:1-18 (my emphasis added, and hereafter)

²⁶Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: ~ Acts 19:26

⁸I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. ¹⁷They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. ~ Isaiah 42:8, 17

In Parts 2 and 3 we will look at the idols and idolatry worshipped that is referred to in the Bible – which is against what God our Creator commanded! This is a warning to the idol worshipping religions of today, especially Hinduism, Buddhism, and Roman Catholicism. In fact, every religion on earth that worships another god other than the God of Creation Jesus Christ, is an idolatrise religion.

Where Are The Men of God?

O Father in Heaven, move men to stand up for the TRUTH!

The NIV Perversion of God

The believers, teachers, pastors and theologians that hold to the New International Version (NIV)(Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society) being a better translation than the King James Version (KJV – Authorised Version 1611)(No Copyright by man) should revisit their love for the perversion of God. Besides the hundreds of verses that have been omitted from the NIV which is considered to be a better translation some 362 years after the first publication of the King James Bible in 1611, it is wondered what English believers believed and read for all those years if the King James Bible was not a proper translation. The KJV has also recently celebrated its 400^th anniversary as opposed to the later translations. If no proper translation was available, as is the NIV’s argument, then man has not had every Word of God to live by as Jesus Christ rebuked Satan:

⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ~ Matthew 4:4

and then God has not given us a true and preserved full counsel of His Word for us to read and study, but it is written:

⁶The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. ⁷Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. ~ Psalm 12:6, 7

Thankfully and all glory to our Awesome God, we do know that all Scripture is inspired by God and He has given us His Word. But there is a problem when the NIV omits verses like Matthew 18:11, when it purports to be a better translation than the KJV! If the Son of God, Jesus Christ said:

¹¹For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. ~ Matthew 18:11

How could the omission be a better translation?

This is only one of many issues that one can look at in respect of the KJV vs. NIV saga, but the greatest perversion of the NIV will be dealt with in two verses in Scripture that blasphemes God, our Lord Jesus Christ, by calling Him Lucifer. The emphasis in bold is by me. Let us first look at what the NIV says:

¹²How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ~ Isaiah 14:12

¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” ~ Revelation 22:16

In a Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised)(Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002 by Zondervan) the commentary for verses Isaiah 14:12-15, “Some believe that Isaiah is giving a description of the fall of Satan … But the passage clearly applies to the king of Babylon, who is later used as a type (prefiguration) of the “beast”…” and then specifically for verse 14:12 it records, “ morning star. The Hebrew for this expression is translated lucifer (lit. “light-bearer”) in the Latin Vulgate, the origin of “Lucifer” in early English translations of this verse. For the true Morning Star see Rev. 22:16 …”. As can be seen there is a clear contradiction even in the “study notes” – is the morning star the king of Babylon? Lucifer (Hebrew translation)? Or Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:16? Jesus Christ calls Himself the Morning Star in Revelation 22:16 and our Lord Jesus Christ was never cast down to the earth or laid low the nations.

The King James Bible records the two aforementioned Scriptures as follows:

¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ~ Isaiah 14:12

¹⁶I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. ~ Revelation 22:16

In the true context Lucifer fulfils Isaiah 14:13-15, for it is written:

¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. ¹⁵Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

The NIV ascribes the morning star to have fulfilled verses Isaiah 14:13-15 when Jesus Christ says He is the morning star in Revelation 22:16. This is BLASPHEMY on the part of the NIV! For as it is written in Scripture:

¹⁸And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. ~ Luke 10:18 [Jesus Christ speaking]

How can believers hold to a perversion of God by reading the NIV? It clearly is a work of Satan to pervert the Holy Word of God. Your “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21) is required!

All Glory to God.

2012 Royal Agricultural Show – Days 9 & 10

After taking a day off on Friday from the streets to seek and pray to our Father in Heaven, Brother Lungisa and I were ready and willing to go and reach the lost for our great King and Saviour Jesus Christ come the weekend. We knew there would be great idolatry taking place there these last two days. We were also joined by Thulani Mkhize and Jono Anderson to hand out Gospel Tracts on Saturday.

The 9^th day – Saturday June 2^nd – would be a long day with much preaching to the hordes of humanity frequenting the Show. The white male that said he was an “ex-christian” who converted to Islam (never a Christian to start with!) from day 5 was seen again and it was established that he was the man sending me text messages saying the Bible contradicts itself. His name is Brian and from the Holy Scriptures of the Bible we again refuted his fallacies that the qur’an is true text and showed him that our Lord Jesus Christ confirms that He is God. Brian again laid down the challenge even asking me if we would be willing to stand up before men and debate – we are not respecters of men as if we would not stand before them, is he serious – has he not noticed our God gives us courage and boldness to stand on the street sidewalks calling wicked and evil people to repentance toward their Creator God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ?

I also had an interesting conversation with a 21 year old named Dane, who was working at the Show and happened to pass by delivering some purchases, who said he is a Christian and he proudly showed me a word “testify” tattooed on his right forearm – which he says opens up conversations with people to share Jesus! He also said that just the other night while he was out with his friend enjoying a beer … “And when you were out there was the temptation of looking at girls with lust also there?” I enquired – “Yep!” We wonder when so-called christians relate their stories, why do they look (he also has a barbed stud piercing through his left eyebrow) and speak so much like the world???? Please keep this young man in prayer that he will come to a fruit-bearing repentance toward God Almighty!

And then there was an African man named Bembe, a prison warden, who has been told by his own brother to convert to Islam. After hearing the preaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and hearing that men follow after abominable religions that will cause them to go to hell, a dialogue was started on the street outside the Show grounds and while this man considered converting, he ended up saying he will not convert! Praise God.

It was also a day where our Lord strengthened us and fed us spiritually. Lungisa preached across the road at a pedestrian crossing as the people were coming from the parking area, where they would wait and get the Gospel of Law and Grace preached to them, and then they would proceed when the traffic light allowed them and get the continuation of the Gospel of Law and Grace preached again to them as they made their way to Gate 2 on the opposite side of the road – and a Gospel Tract was also awaiting them there. This lasted continually for about six and a half hours from about 10H30 to 17H00. Praise God for giving us the strength. What was also refreshing was when a beautiful blond-haired young girl, about eight or so, passing by with her mother commented: “You are so brave doing this.” Was this an angel sent from God to encourage us? – I responded along the lines, something like: “Thank you dear one, it is all God’s strength and courage that he gives us.”

Then onto the last day – day ten – although the Show was officially ended with all stalls closed, this Sunday there would be the Ukhozi FM music concert. We were at Gate 7. The wickedness and evil degradation of the South African youth and public in general was prevalent. Much drunkenness, perversity, girls dressed like whores – and girls so drunk they couldn’t stand – blasphemy against God in word and action was the order of the day. It was sickening and a stench to see this first-hand – what must it be like before our Holy and Sovereign God Almighty? But we rejoice that our Father God gave us boldness, courage, wisdom and strength to GO and preach to this abominable generation. It was more satisfying than sitting in a pew in a citadel this Sunday when we were a yard from the gates of Hell calling all to repentance and faith! We will put together a video which will show the wickedness that prevailed upon the earth here in Pietermaritzburg today! Enough said!!

Photos can be viewed Here.

Soli Deo Gloria