The Trail of Blood From the COVID Jabs

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. ~ Proverbs 18:13 KJV

Just in: More Proof the COVID Shots Can Kill

These two doctors claim they’ve discovered a way to test for spike protein in human tissue, and they’ve found spike protein in individuals who were injured or died from the shots. For this report, clear evidence of the body fatally attacking itself, including the heart, was found in 14 out of 15 bodies. ~ Mercola.com

____________________________

Dr. Joseph Mercola

Oct 12

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Abnormal blood clotting was one of the first mysterious health effects to emerge in the COVID pandemic, first, as an effect of the natural infection, and later, as a side effect of the COVID jabs. By mid-March 2021, 20 countries had suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID shot, either in full or in part, following reports of deadly blood clots

• In December 2021, a team of international scientists detailed the mechanism behind the AstraZeneca jab’s propensity to trigger blood clots. The shell of the vector — a weakened chimpanzee cold virus — in some people acts like a magnet and attracts platelets. Your body mistakes these platelets as a threat and produces antibodies to fight them, resulting in dangerous blood clots

• Israeli researchers have also linked the Pfizer jab with a rare blood clotting disorder

• A Swedish study found two doses of the COVID jab were 43% protective against Omicron infection at week 4. By week 14, protection had dropped to zero. Effectiveness against COVID-related hospitalization remained around 80% until week 25, but dropped to 40% by week 40. Using one statistical analysis method, COVID jabbed Swedes had a higher risk of death or hospitalization from COVID roughly a year after receiving their second dose

• A recent case report links the COVID shots to lethal myocarditis (heart inflammation) and encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Advertisement

Abnormal blood clotting was one of the first mysterious health effects to emerge in the COVID pandemic, first, as an effect of the natural infection, and later, as a side effect of the COVID jabs.

By mid-March 2021, barely four months after the rollout of the COVID injections, 19 European countries plus Thailand¹ had suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s injection, either in full or in part, following reports of deadly blood clots.^{2 3}

Contrary to the Moderna and Pfizer shots, the AstraZeneca jab uses a viral vector — a genetically modified and supposedly noninfectious chimpanzee cold virus — to deliver double-stranded DNA for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein into your cells.⁴

Earlier that month, The Defender had reported⁵ U.K. data showing the AstraZeneca jab was responsible for 77% more adverse events and 25% more deaths than the Pfizer shot. Around that same time, doctors at Oslo University Hospital also announced that the blood clotting disorders experienced by some recipients of the AstraZeneca shot were in fact caused by the injection.⁶ A March 18, 2021, article in Science Norway read, in part:⁷

“‘Our theory that this is a powerful immune response most likely triggered by the vaccine, has been confirmed,’ says professor and chief physician Pål Andre Holme … ‘In collaboration with experts in the field from the University Hospital of North Norway HF, we have found specific antibodies against blood platelets that can cause these reactions … the chief physician explains …

When asked to clarify why he says ‘most likely’ in the quote, Holme confidently responds that the reason for these rare cases of blood clots has been found.

‘We have the reason. Nothing but the vaccine can explain why these individuals had this immune response,’ he states. [Norwegian national newspaper] VG also asks how Holme can know that the immune response is not caused by something other than the vaccine.

‘There is nothing in the patient history of these individuals that can give such a powerful immune response. I am confident that the antibodies that we have found are the cause, and I see no other explanation than it being the vaccine which triggers it,’ he responds.”

Study Details Mechanism of Action

In early December 2021, a team of international scientists published a paper⁸ detailing the mechanism behind the AstraZeneca jab’s propensity to trigger blood clots. As reported by the Daily Mail at the time:⁹

“A team of international experts, involving researchers from AstraZeneca, say that in a very small number of cases — about one in 100,000 in the UK — the vaccine can set off a chain reaction which leads to the body confusing its own blood platelets for fragments of virus …

They found that the shell of the vector vaccine — the weakened cold virus used to teach cells how to neutralize COVID — sometimes acts like a magnet and attracts platelets, a protein found in the blood.

For reasons the scientists are still probing, the body then mistakes these platelets as a threat and produces antibodies to fight them. The combination of the platelets and the antibodies clumping together leads to the formation of dangerous blood clots …

Essentially, after being delivered into the body adenovirus binds with a specific protein in the blood, known as platelet factor 4 (PF4), which is normally used by the body to promote coagulation in case of injury.

Using incredibly detailed images of the adenovirus in the vaccine the scientists demonstrated the adenovirus in the Oxford-AstraZeneca is negatively charged, and could attract positively charged proteins like a magnet.

The researchers believe that in a case of ‘mistaken identity’ the body’s immune system considers this platelet cluster as threat and releases antibodies to attack it, clumping together to it and triggering potentially life threatening blood clots. This condition is called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).”

The following graphic was published in the Daily Mail to illustrate the potentially deadly chain reaction.

How Long Does Risk Remain?

As for how long the risk of blood clotting remains is unknown. In mid-September 2022, the American Heart Association reported that the risk of abnormal blood clotting remains elevated nearly a year after natural infection:¹⁰

“People who got COVID-19 had a higher risk of dangerous blood clots for close to a year later, according to a large new study¹¹ on the aftereffects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection …

COVID-19 was linked to a sharply increased risk of blood clot-related issues — including heart attack and stroke — immediately after diagnosis compared to people who never had COVID-19 [and] … that risk remained higher for some problems up to 49 weeks later …

Researchers found that the first week after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the risk of an arterial blood clot — the kind that could cause a heart attack or ischemic stroke by blocking blood flow to the heart or brain — was nearly 22 times higher than in someone without COVID-19. That risk dropped sharply, to less than four times higher, in the second week.

‘Between 27 and 49 weeks, there is an approximately 30% increased risk for arterial clots,’ [senior author, professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at the University of Bristol, Jonathan] Sterne said. ‘But the elevation is greater for longer’ for clots in veins, which include deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, when a clot travels to the lungs.

In the first week after a COVID-19 diagnosis, the risk of such venous problems was 33 times higher. By the third and fourth weeks after diagnosis, the risk was still about eight times higher. And between 27 and 49 weeks later, the risk was still 1.8 times higher than in somebody who had never had COVID-19.”

If the risk of blood clotting remains high for nearly a year after natural infection, it seems reasonable to suspect the risk is dramatically elevated far longer in those who got one or more COVID shots, as their bodies are now producing the toxic spike protein internally, and there’s no known off-switch.

We still do not know how long the human body continues to produce spike protein after a COVID jab. And, while AstraZeneca was singled out as the main culprit of blood clots, Pfizer’s and Moderna’s mRNA jabs are no safer in this regard.

Pfizer’s COVID Jab Linked to Blood Clotting Disorder

As early as June 2021, Israeli research suggested there was a link between the Pfizer shot and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which is very similar to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia or VITT. A list of distinguishing features between the syndromes can be found on UpToDate.com.¹² As reported by The Defender:¹³

“Scientists with the Institute of Hematology at Shamir Medical Center said they began researching the possible link after reports of a sudden increase in TTP across Israel — four cases detected in one month compared to two or three cases per year. TTP is an autoimmune disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels throughout the body …

The medical team said they found a ‘chronological connection’ between vaccination and the onset of TTP symptoms. They stressed this occurred in both new patients and in patients with pre-existing TTP whose disease had been in remission but flared up soon after getting the vaccine …

As The Defender reported in April, U.S. regulatory officials were alerted as far back as December 2020 that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — like AstraZeneca and J&J COVID vaccine — could pose similar risks of blood clots.”

Even before the rollout of the shots, experts warned that blood clots and cardiovascular problems were predictable. Among them were Dr. Patrick Whelan, a pediatric specialist, who in a letter¹⁴ to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that the shots could “cause microvascular injury and blood clots throughout the body including the brain, heart, liver and kidneys, in ways that were not assessed in the safety trials.”

He pointed out that studies looking at the natural infection had found that “viral proteins appear to cause tissue damage without actively replicating virus,” and if that was true, he suspected the spike protein produced in response to the jabs might also cause the same kind of damage. Today, ample evidence points to Whelan’s suspicions being correct.

Jabs May Raise Risk of COVID Death Over Time

Studies are now also coming out with evidence that the shots may be causing antibody dependent enhancement (ADE), and that they kill heart and brain cells. Starting with the ADE evidence, a Swedish study,¹⁵ using data from the entire Swedish population over the age of 12, a total of 9,153,456 people, found that two doses were 43% protective against Omicron infection at week 4. By week 14, protection had dropped to zero.

Effectiveness against COVID-related hospitalization remained around 80% until week 25, but dropped to 40% by week 40. While these data are highlighted in the abstract, a more intriguing finding remains buried in the text that few take the time to read. As reported by investigative journalist Alex Berenson:¹⁶

“Based on one statistical analysis [cubic spline method] vaccinated people had a HIGHER risk of death or hospitalization from COVID roughly a year after receiving their second dose. The charts — b and d below — show that vaccine protection against death and hospitalization begins to decline slowly after about five months and then plunges about nine months …

This data provides real-world evidence of possible vaccine-caused ‘antibody dependent enhancement.’ In ADE, vaccines cause our immune systems to produce antibodies that help a virus or other pathogen to attack us …

(The top chart shows the relative risk of infection, hospitalization, intensive care, and death by week after two vaccine doses. The red line marks zero effectiveness; when the blue line falls below it, it is suggesting vaccinated people are at higher risk of infection.)”

When they used another statistical method called standard polynomial regression, the shots remained moderately effective against hospitalization and death over time, falling to 45% protection against death around nine months, after which the effectiveness mysteriously started trending upward again.

According to Berenson, the lead author of the paper did not endorse either method as superior to the other. When asked for comment, Dr. Yiyi Xu told Berenson they “need more data to know which finding might be correct,” and that, at present, “the estimation is quite uncertain for both analyses.”

COVID Shots Kill Brain and Heart Cells

Another recent paper¹⁷ links the COVID shots to lethal myocarditis (heart inflammation) and encephalitis (brain inflammation). As reported by Steve Kirsch:¹⁸

“The paper is entitled: ‘A Case Report: Multifocal Necrotizing Encephalitis and Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination against COVID-19.’ It was published yesterday, Oct 1, and … already has over 100,000 views of the abstract and over 6,000 views of the full text.”

The report details the case of a 76-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who died three weeks after receiving his third COVID shot. His first injection was the AstraZeneca jab, received in May 2021, which was followed by two doses of Pfizer in July and December 2021 respectively.

Autopsy confirmed his Parkinson’s diagnosis, but it also revealed several unexpected conditions contributing to his death, including:

• Aspiration pneumonia

• Systemic arteriosclerosis

• Acute vasculitis (vascular inflammation) in both the brain and the heart

• Multifocal necrotizing encephalitis (meaning tissue death all over the brain)

• Chronic cardiomyopathy (heart disease), and

• Mild acute lympho-histiocytic myocarditis (a rare form of myocarditis that occurs wen lymphocytes, white blood cells, enter and inflame the heart muscle)

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 antigens (spike and nucleocapsid proteins) revealed the inflammation was in response to spike protein only, particularly in the endothelial cells of small blood vessels. As noted by the authors:¹⁹

“Since no nucleocapsid protein could be detected, the presence of spike protein must be ascribed to vaccination rather than to viral infection. The findings corroborate previous reports of encephalitis and myocarditis caused by gene-based COVID-19 vaccines.”

Irrefutable Evidence the COVID Shots Can Kill

Kirsch goes on to cite other evidence showing the COVID shots can kill, including a report²⁰ titled “On COVID Vaccines: Why They Cannot Work, and Irrefutable Evidence of Their Causative Role in the Deaths After Vaccination,” written by Drs. Sucharit Bhakdi and Arne Burkhardt.

“Of the 15 bodies their team examined — all of whom had died seven days to six months’ post-jab — 14 (93%) were found to have been killed by the COVID shot.

Bhakdi and Burkhardt claim to have developed a way to test for spike protein in human tissue, and say they’ve found spike protein in the tissues of people who have been injured and/or killed by the jabs.

Of the 15 bodies their team examined for this report — all of whom had died seven days to six months post-jab — 14 (93%) were found to have been killed by the COVID shot.²¹ The video above reviews their findings. All 14 had clear evidence of the body attacking itself, including the heart, with fatal consequences.

Resources for Those Injured by the COVID Jabs

If you got one or more jabs and suffered an injury, first and foremost, never ever take another COVID booster, another mRNA gene therapy shot or regular vaccine. You need to end the assault on your system. The same goes for anyone who has taken one or more COVID jabs and has had the good fortune of not experiencing debilitating side effects.

Your health may still be impacted long-term, so don’t take any more shots. When it comes to treatment, there are still more questions than answers, but many of the treatments that worked against severe COVID-19 infection also seem to ameliorate adverse effects from the jab. This makes sense, as the toxic, most damaging part of the virus is the spike protein, and that’s what your whole body is producing if you got the jab.

Two doctors who have started tackling the treatment of COVID jab injuries in earnest include Dr. Michelle Perro (DrMichellePerro.com), whom I’ve interviewed on this topic, and Dr. Pierre Kory (DrPierreKory.com).

Both agree that eliminating the spike protein your body is now continuously producing is a primary task. Perro’s preferred remedy for this is hydroxychloroquine, while Kory typically uses ivermectin. Both of these drugs bind and thereby facilitate the removal of spike protein.

As a founding member of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), Kory helped develop the FLCCC’s post-vaccine treatment protocol called I-RECOVER. Since the protocol is continuously updated as more data become available, your best bet is to download the latest version straight from the FLCCC website at covid19criticalcare.com²² (hyperlink to the correct page provided above).

Other Helpful Treatments and Remedies

In previous articles, I’ve also covered a number of treatments and remedies that can be helpful for COVID jab injuries, such as:

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially in cases involving stroke, heart attack, autoimmune diseases and/or neurodegenerative disorders. To learn more, see “Hyperbaric Therapy — A Vastly Underused Treatment Modality.”

• Time-restricted eating — Kory believes there may be ways to boost the immune system to allow it to degrade and eventually remove the spike from your cells naturally, over time. One of the strategies he recommends for this is TRE (time restricted eating), which stimulates autophagy, a natural cleaning process that eliminates damaged, misfolded and toxic proteins. Another strategy that can do the same thing would be sauna therapy.

  Most people eat more than 12 hours a day, which is a recipe for metabolic disaster. The ideal window for most everyone is 16 to 18 hours of continuous fasting with the least meal at least three hours before bed. If you are overweight, shoot for 18 hours of fasting each day; if you’re of normal weight, 16 hours.

• Lower your omega-6 intake — Linoleic acid is consumed in amounts 10 times above the ideal in well over 95% of the population, and contributes to massive oxidative stress that impairs your immune response. Seed oils and processed foods need to be diligently avoided. You can review this previous post for more information.

• Pharmaceutical grade methylene blue, which improves mitochondrial respiration and aid in mitochondrial repair. At 15 to 80 milligrams a day for those suffering from long-haul COVID could go a long way toward resolving some of the fatigue many suffer post-jab. Methylene blue is actually the parent molecule for hydroxychloroquine and has been used to treat malaria since 1890.

  It may also be helpful in acute strokes. The primary contraindication is if you have a G6PD deficiency (a hereditary genetic condition), in which case you should not use methylene blue at all. To learn more, see “The Surprising Health Benefits of Methylene Blue.”

• Near-infrared light, as it triggers production of melatonin in your mitochondria²³ where you need it most. By mopping up reactive oxygen species, it too helps improve mitochondrial function and repair. Natural sunlight is 54.3% infrared radiation,²⁴ so this treatment is available for free. For more information, see “What You Need to Know About Melatonin.”

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked.

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The subscription fee being requested is for access to the articles and information posted on this site, and is not being paid for any individual medical advice.

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

Resources

1 The Sun March 15, 2021, Updated March 16, 2021

2 The Defender March 16, 2021 Countries Suspend AstraZeneca Vaccine

3 The Defender March 11, 2021

4 New York Times February 3, 2021 (Archived)

5 The Defender March 2, 2021

6 Science Norway March 18, 2021

7 Science Norway March 18, 2021

8 Science Advances December 1, 2021; 7(49)

9 Daily Mail December 2, 2021

10 American Heart Association September 19, 2022

11 Circulation 2022; 146: 892-906

12 UpToDate VITT vs ITP vs TTP

13 The Defender June 23, 2021

14 Regulations.gov Comment from Patrick Whelan December 9, 2020

15 Lancet Preprint September 20, 2022

16 Alex Berenson Substack October 3, 2022

17 Vaccines 2022; 10(10): 1651

18 Steve Kirsch Substack October 2, 2022

19 Vaccines 2022; 10(10): 1651

20 On COVID Vaccines: Why They Cannot Work, and Irrefutable Evidence of Their Causative Role in the Deaths After Vaccination

21 Steve Kirsch Substack December 28, 2021

22 Covid19criticalcare.com

23 Physiology February 5, 2020 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00034.2019

24 Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology February 2016; 155: 78-85

Safe and Effective – A Second Opinion (2022) | Oracle Films

Were the COVID-19 vaccinations as ‘safe and effective’ as we were lead to believe?

Safe and Effective: A Second Opinion is a brand new documentary produced by Mark Sharman, former director of ITV’s network and regional news, and directed by Oracle Films.

The film explores the truth about Covid-19 vaccine injuries and an encompassing look at the systemic failings that enabled them. We look at leading analysis of pharmaceutical trials, the role of the MHRA in regulating these products, the role of the SAGE behavioural scientists in influencing policy and the role of the media and Big Tech companies in supressing free and open debate on the subject.

Watch now for free

Oracle Films ©2022 United Kingdom

Kirk Cameron’s “Saving Christmas” Film

It is with unhappiness and much sadness that I write this article as it relates to two men I came to respect and love in the ministry and had the privilege of meeting, labouring with and being instructed in the ways of open-air preaching and sharing the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By the providence of our Great God and Saviour I was able to leave the shores of Africa and visit the United States of America in June 2008 and briefly attend the Ambassadors’ Academy 3, a ministry of Living Waters, under the leadership of the two brothers in the faith, namely Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron of The Way of the Master ministry.

Just recently I viewed Kirk Cameron’s Facebook page where he had been promoting his “Saving Christmas” film as depicted here-above. I had been made aware of this film through an article that appeared at Christian News Network where it is surprisingly quoted:

Was Santa Claus a Christian? A ‘defender of the faith’? Is this reason to sit on the lap of the bearded man at the mall who “knows if you’ve been naughty or nice”? That is what Kirk Cameron is claiming as proof why Christians should celebrate Christmas in a new documentary that opens this Friday [November 14, 2014] in theatres across the country—an assertion that is raising concerns over Cameron’s confusion of Roman Catholicism with Christianity.

Cameron, best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the 80’s TV sitcom “Growing Pains” and films such as “Fireproof” and “Left Behind,” has been promoting his new film “Saving Christmas,” in which the actor seeks to “keep Christ in Christmas,” stating that some holiday traditions aren’t so bad or pagan after all.

After recently asserting that Christians should celebrate Halloween, in a video clip released last week entitled “Do You Love Santa Claus,” Cameron stated that “maybe someone like Santa Claus is actually on our team.” He then released a second video providing the history of the figure of Santa Claus, who was actually the Roman Catholic Bishop Nicholas of Myra, Turkey under Pope Sylvester I.

“He was a devout Christian,” Cameron states, but not noting Nicholas’ Roman Catholic faith. Read more Here (Full Report)

Another Christian News Network article that should be read appears at this link: ‘Maybe the Grinch Had a Point’: Kirk Cameron’s ‘Saving Christmas’ Won’t Be Saved From Critics.

Whilst I have personally not viewed the film, and will not be viewing the same in its entirety, I have watched the trailer and read some reviews on it, and have also seen the comments on Kirk Cameron’s Facebook page – for the film vs. against the film; pro-Christmas vs. anti-Christmas; man’s pagan traditions vs. Biblical Historical Truth. It all makes for interesting reading, but there can be only one Truth. Just as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said:

31  . . . If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ~ John 8:31,32 & 36

This is the saddest part of this blog posting. I had placed a comment on Kirk’s Facebook wall, including the birth chart to the left (click on it to enlarge in another tab), and my comment was deleted. You read right – D E L E T E D. It appears that when one confronts error with the literal Biblical Historical Truth you are summarily deleted and not allowed to “play in the play-group.” I am saddened and really disappointed by how professing Christians can censure Christians if they do not agree with their world view! It goes much deeper than that as it is a matter of Truth vs. error and those in error do not want to listen! Well argue with the Word of God then. When one reads the Holy Scriptures, are you able to find “Christmas Day” mentioned in YHVH’s Holy Feast Days in Leviticus 23? Or maybe it was instituted in the New Testament and I have just missed the Chapter and Verse! No, you can’t find it, because it doesn’t exist.

Surprisingly an initial comment with the chart also appears to have mysteriously disappeared on Ray Comfort’s Facebook wall, and this before I reposted three more comments randomly! It is also very surprisingly that Kirk Cameron who is attempting to evangelise the masses has also changed his comment settings and you have to “possibly like” his page before you can comment thereon; or is the comment feature only not available to me? Well, getting back to the initial comment on Kirk’s page which went something along these lines, not verbatim as the original one was deleted:

Christian, please read your Holy Bible and you will find out that Yeshua, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born on 15 Tishri (September/October) at the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and He was born in a Sukkot (Booth) and not a stable/cave. If you know what to look for start reading: Luke 1 and 2; 1 Chronicles 24:10; Leviticus 23:33-44; Deuteronomy 16:16; and many other Scriptures.

To help with the Scriptures quoted here-above please view the afore-stated Birth of Christ Chart together with the following powerpoint presentation: The Nativity of Yeshua HaMeshiach.

Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron receive literally thousands upon thousands of “hits/likes/shares/comments” on their Facebook accounts and it is mostly by idolising Christian folk. If a message is being proclaimed please make sure it is without error. In the past I too fell into the trap of “idolising” men such as Comfort and MacArthur, and I had to REPENT before God for being so caught up in men’s ministries in idolatry instead of listening to the leading Holy Spirit and walking with God. Don’t say it will never happen to you. For many of you it has already happened and you can’t see the woods for the trees!

The only conclusion I can arrive at is that the literal Biblical Historical Truth that I presented showed up the errors in Kirk Cameron’s “Saving Christmas.” My plea to ALL reading this is: Stop trying to put the Lord Jesus Christ into something He was never in to start off with! Do you think the “Christmas” practices that are undertaken every year were at His birth? Was there a Xmas tree and all the tinsel and trappings in the sukkot Yeshua, our Lord Jesus Christ was born in? Or do you think there is a Xmas tree in heaven before the throne of God Almighty every year to celebrate His Son’s birth? Obviously the first century believers never celebrated this way so why should you/we do so now? YES – certainly preach the Gospel at every opportunity including on December 25, but don’t be pagan like the rest of the heathen world. You can do so separated from the worldly system (see James 4:4). You are to be in the world, but not of the world, as it is written:

15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~ John 17:15-17

We are commanded to have unity in the Christian faith. Unfortunately we don’t see unity, but rather divisions. As it is written:

9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ~ 1 Corinthians 1:9-13

3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ~ Ephesians 4:3-6

14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ~ Ephesians 4:14,15

Christ Jesus made it abundantly clear how we are to remember Him. It is recorded what we are to do in remembrance of Him until He returns for His spotless, unified Bride:

23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; read with Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19,20. [my emphasis]

Maybe Chris Williams, movie reviewer for the Advisor and Source in Michigan has it right. At the second Christian News Network report above, quote: “Williams said that in the end, “Kirk Cameron hasn’t made a movie for Christians. He’s made a movie for Kirk Cameron.””  I would have thought Kirk would contend for the faith and would have told the literal Biblical Historical Truth and stood as a light in this dark wicked world, and “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We read further in Romans 13:12  “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). The “Saving Christmas” film is not reproving the unfruitful works of darkness, but encouraging them. If this is so, then brother Kirk Cameron in sincere love I call you to repentance.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

_______________

P.S. This blog posting will be placed on my Facebook wall and Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron will be tagged accordingly.

The Correct Rendering of Easter in Acts 12:4 ~ Part 2

This blog posting which follows on from Part 1, will deal with two videos that reveal the correct teaching pertaining to Easter being included in Acts 12:4 as opposed to Passover. Each video will also have a link to the text of each video for your study purposes.

We are instructed in Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Video 1

• Why we should not Passover Easter ~ Part 1 by Nick Sayers
• Why we should not Passover Easter ~ Part 2 by Nick Sayers

Video 2

If “Easter” is not the correct word, then every international language that translates “Happy Easter” with the Greek word “πασχα (pascha)”, or the Hebrew word “פסח‬‬ (pesach)”, needs to redefine their language as far as “Easter” is concerned. Here is a list for Happy Easter:

Afrikaans – geseënde Paasfees
Albanian – gëzuar Pashkët
Arabic – فِصْح سعيد
Basque – ondo izan Bazko garaian
Breton – Pask Seder
Bulgarian – честит Великден
Chinese (Cantonese) – 復活節快樂
Chinese (Mandarin) – 復活節快樂
Catalan – bona Pasqua
Cornish – Pask Lowen
Croatian – Sretan Uskrs
Czech – Veselé Velikonoce
Danish – God Påske
Dutch – Vrolijk Pasen / Zalige paasdagen
Esperanto – Feliĉan Paskon
Estonian – Häid lihavõttepühi
Finnish – hyvää pääsiäistä
Flemish – zalig Pasen
French – joyeuses Pâques
Gaelic (Irish) – Cáisc Shona Dhuit/Dhaoibh
Beannachtaí – na Cásca
Gaelic (Manx) – Caisht sonney dhyt
Gaelic (Scottish) – a’ Chàisg sona
Galician – boas Pascuas
German – frohe Ostern
Greek – Καλό Πάσχα
Hebrew – חג פסחא שמח
Hindi – īsṭar maṅgalamay ho
Hungarian – kellemes Húsvéti Ünnepeket
Icelandic – gledilega paska
Indonesian – Selamat Paskah
Italian – buona Pasqua
Japanese イースターおめでとう
Korean – 행복한 부활절이 되시길
Latin – prospera Pascha sit
Latvian – priecīgas Lieldienas
Lithuanian – su Šventom Velykom
Maltese – L-Għid it-tajjeb
Norwegian – god påske
Persian/Farsi – عيد پاک مبارک
Polish – Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych
Portuguese – Feliz Páscoa
Punjabi – īsṭar khuśyāṅvālā hove
Romanian – Paşte fericit
Russian – с праздником Пасхи
Serbian – срећан Ускрс
Sicilian – bona Pasqua
Slovak – milostiplné prežitie Veľkonočných sviatkov
Slovenian – Vesele velikonočne praznike
Spanish – felices Pascuas
Swahili – heri kwa sikukuu ya Pasaka
Swedish – glad Påsk
Tagalog – maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay
Thai – สุขสันต์วันอีสเตอร์
Turkish – paskalya bayramınız kutlu olsun
Ukranian – З Великодніми святами
Volapük – lesustanazäli yofik
Welsh – Pasg Hapus
Yoruba – Eku odun ajinde

It goes without saying, that the majority of the listed international languages translated here use the same root-word pascha/pasach! And that is for Easter!

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Correct Rendering of Easter in Acts 12:4 ~ Part 1

Dear Reader,

If there is one word that would confirm that the King James 1611 Authorised Version of the Holy Bible is correct in using the Textus Receptus and thus will show-up all other mistranslations in modern-day pervert bibles, it is the word “Easter.” This might sound like a bold-faced statement, some might even accuse that it is bordering on arrogance, but remember we all want the Truth – Right? As you embark on reading this article, please remember the following when studying the same:

Proverb 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

pervert v. /per-vert/ 1 alter from an original meaning or state to a distortion of what was first intended. 2 lead away from what is right, natural, or acceptable.

© South African Pocket Oxford Dictionary, 3rd Edition 2002

The Companion Bible shows in the Preface that its Text “is that of the Authorised Version of 1611 as published by the Revisers in their “Parallel Bible” in 1885.” This would appear to contradict itself as the 1881 Revised Version did not use the Textus Receptus, but the Textus Corruptus of Messrs Westcott-Hort’s eclectic Greek New Testament Text. Hereunder you will see how Acts 12:4 reads and also some footnotes in the Companion Bible that read as follows, “Easter. Gr. to pascha, the Passover. Easter is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T..” This latter quote will be proved later on in this blog posting to be fallible and a myth in its connection with the heathen goddesses, with due respect a figment of one’s imagination and a false teaching. It is also a false teaching that writer, Gary Stephen Crous, had to repent of. Now, let us get started with the Companion Bible:

The Tyndale Bible 1526 records it as follows:

2 congregation, to vex them. And he killed James the brother
3 of John with a* sword: and because he saw that it pleased the jews, he proceeded further, to take* Peter also. Then were the
4 days of unleavened* bread, and when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending after ester to bring him forth to the
5 people.

The Geneva Bible 1599 reads as follows:

And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword. And when he sawe that it pleased the Iewes, 2, 3
he proceeded further, to take Peter also (then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.) And when he 4
had caught him, he put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept, intending after the Passeouer to bring him foorth to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but 5

The King James Bible 1611 reads as follows:

2 And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Iewes, hee proceeded further, to take Peter also. (Then were the dayes of vnleauened bread.)
4 And when hee had apprehended him, hee put him in prison, and deliuered him to foure quaternions of souldiers to keepe him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church vnto God for him.

So which of the preceding versions are correct? All the modern versions of the Bible have the word “Passover” which is in the pre-crucifixion Old Covenant context from a Jews’ perspective and not “Easter” which is a post-crucifixion resurrection New Testament word from a Judeo-Christian’s perspective. To get a better understanding of the Truth, here is a brilliant teaching at KJV Today titled:

“Easter” or “Passover” in Acts 12:4?

Acts 12:4 in Greek and English

Acts 12:4:

Textus Receptus: “ον και πιασας εθετο εις φυλακην παραδους τεσσαρσιν τετραδιοις στρατιωτων φυλασσειν αυτον βουλομενος μετα το πασχα αναγαγειν αυτον τω λαω”

King James Version: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”

English Standard Version: “And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.”

The Greek word, “πασχα (pascha)”, is correctly translated as “Passover” 28 times in the New Testament in the KJV. For this reason, some critics say that the KJV’s isolated instance of translating the word as “Easter” in Acts 12:4 is an error. These critics agree with translations such as the ESV which has “Passover” in Acts 12:4. This article explains why the KJV is correct in translating “Pascha” as “Easter” in Acts 12:4. To begin with, we must set the record straight that “Easter” is not a pagan word.

Easter is not a pagan word

Myth 1: the KJV translators used “Easter” to refer to a pagan festival

The first myth to refute is the claim that the KJV uses “Easter” at Acts 12:4 to refer to a pagan holiday celebrated by king Herod. This myth is propagated by some KJV apologists who may be well-intentioned in upholding the inerrancy of the KJV. Yet such a myth defies what the KJV translators believed and practiced. Included in the 1611 edition of the KJV is a chart for finding the day of Easter in a given year. It is evident that the KJV translators viewed Easter as a Christian holiday. If the KJV translators considered Easter to be a Christian holiday, it is doubtful that they used it to mean a pagan holiday at Acts 12:4.

“To find Easter for ever.” (modern spelling)

The Holy Bible: 1611 Edition (Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

Myth 2: “Easter” comes from the goddess named “Ishtar” or “Astarte”

Those who propagate myth 1 typically identify Herod’s pagan holiday as that of the Semitic goddess, Ishtar or Astarte. This false connection between “Easter” and these names of a Semitic goddess can be traced to the work of the Scottish minister Alexander Hislop. Hislop was an outspoken critic of Roman Catholicism. His book The Two Babylons exposed many of the unbiblical doctrines and practices of Roman Catholicism. However, Hislop erred when it came to statements about the etymological relationship between Easter and the ancient idols, Ishtar or Astarte. At page 103 of his book, he writes:

What means the term Easter itself? It is not a Christian name. It bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven, whose name, as pronounced by the people of Nineveh, was evidently identical with that now in common use in this country. That name, as found by Layard on the Assyrian monuments, is Ishtar. (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons (1858), p. 103)

Sure enough, “Ishtar” (a form of “Astarte”) may sound similar to “Easter”, but the two words are not etymologically related. Astarte is “עשׁתּרות (ashtarot)” in Hebrew. This name is derived from the word “עשׁתּרה (‛ashterâh)” which means “increase” or “flock” (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions). “עשׁתּרה (‛ashterâh)” is translated as “flocks” four times in the KJV. Hence, the name “Astarte” or “Ishtar” is a Semitic word related to animal fertility. This makes sense because Astarte was regarded as a goddess of fertility.

The etymology of “Easter” on the other hand has nothing to do with “flocks” or animal fertility. “Easter” (“Ostern” in German) is a Germanic word derived from the word “east” (“Ost” in German). Today, “east” refers to the direction from which the sun rises. The direction of east goes by that name because the Saxon word “east” meant “dawn”, “sunrise” or “morning”. The etymology of “east” is as follows:

• “Old English east “east, easterly, eastward,” from Proto-Germanic *aus-to-, *austra- “east, toward the sunrise” (cf. Old Frisian ast “east,” aster “eastward,” Dutch oost Old Saxon ost, Old High German ostan, German Ost, Old Norse austr “from the east”), from PIE *aus- “to shine,” especially “dawn” (cf. Sanskrit ushas “dawn;” Greek aurion “morning;” Old Irish usah, Lithuanian auszra “dawn;” Latin aurora “dawn,” auster “south”), literally “to shine.” The east is the direction in which dawn breaks.” (Online Etymological Dictionary)

There is nothing in “East” that suggests animal fertility. Hence the word has nothing to do with Astarte or Ishtar. Relating the Germanic word “Easter” to the Semitic word “Ishtar” is as fallacious as relating the English word “Baby” to the Semitic word “Babylon”.

Myth 3: “Easter” comes from the goddess named “Eostre”

“Easter” means “dawn”

The Old English word for the month of April was “Eosturmonað”. The Venerable Bede (672-735) claimed that the word “Eostre” came from the name of a Saxon spring fertility goddess who went by that name. He wrote:

“Eostur-monath, qui nunc Paschalis mensis interpretatur, quondam a Dea illorum quæ Eostre vocabatur, et cui in illo festa celebrabant nomen habuit: a cujus nomine nunc Paschale tempus cognominant, consueto antiquæ observationis vocabulo gaudia novæ solemnitatis vocantes.” (De Ratione Temporum)

“Eostur-monath, which now is translated Paschal month, was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, and whose name was celebrated in the festival at that [time]: by whose name they now designate the Paschal season, calling the joys of the new festival by the familiar ancient observance.” (Translation by KJV Today)

Thus unlike the Easter/Ishtar connection myth, there is some linguistic basis to the claim that the name “Easter” comes from the name of a Saxon goddess called “Eostre”. However, if the feast of the goddess was as ancient as Bede claimed, it is doubtful that he would have actually known which came first, the name of the month “Eostur-monath” or the goddess “Eostre”. In fact, “Eostur-monath” comes from “Ōstar-mānod”, the Old Germanic name for the month of April. Thus the origin of this name of the month of April is more ancient than the Anglo-Saxon language itself. By Bede’s time, the tradition of the goddess had already been established so it may have appeared to him that the month was named after the goddess. However, it is far more logical that the name of the month, which means, “East/Sunrise month”, came first in the ancestral language of the Saxons, which is Old Germanic, because March is the time when the days noticeably begin to start earlier (as stated under the section for myth 2, the Saxon word “east” was a descriptive word that referred to the dawn or sunrise. The -er suffix in “Easter” comes from the influence of either the Proto-Germanic austra or the Old Frisian aster). This religiously neutral origin for the name of Eosturmonað, derived from the Old Germanic Ōstar-mānod, is very likely because each of the months of the Old Germanic calendar is named after a natural phenomenon that characterizes the month:

Modern months	Old Germanic months	Meaning
January	Harti-mánód	Severe frost month
February	Hornung	Shedding of antlers
March	Lenzin-mānod	Spring month
April	Ōstar-mānod	East/Sunrise month
May	Winni-mánód	Graze month
June	Brāh-mānod	Fallow month
July	Hewi-mānod	Hay month
August	Aran-mānod	Harvest month
September	Herbist-mānod	Leaves month
October	Wīndume-mānod	Vintage month
November	Wintar-mānod	Winter month
December	N/A	N/A

Given how all the Old Germanic months are named after seasonal characteristics, it is more likely than not that “Ōstar-mānod” was originally a name given to the month based on its seasonal characteristic of the sunrise starting earlier. The Saxons borrowed the name for April from Old Germanic. It is clear that by the time of the Saxons, some of the months had been named with religious overtones (e.g. Yule, Rheda, Blood (sacrifice)). It may well be that by the time of the Saxons, a pagan meaning had become attached to the name of “Eostur-mónaþ”; but that was a later development.

Modern months	Anglo-Saxon months	Meaning
January	Æftera Jéola	After Yule
February	Sol-mónaþ	Soil month
March	Hréð-mónaþ	Rheda’s month or wilderness month
April	Eostur-mónaþ	East/Sunrise month
May	Þrimilki-mónaþ	Three milkings month
June	Ærra Líða	Before midsummer
July	Æftera Líða	After midsummer
August	Weod-mónaþ	Plant month
September	Hærfest-mónaþ	Harvest month
October	Win-mónaþ	Wine month
November	Blót-mónaþ	Blood (sacrifice) month
December	Ærra Jéola	Before Yule

(sources: Wikipedia entry on “Germanic calendar“)

The naming of the first spring month as “East/Sunrise month” is logical and it is most likely afterwards that Old Germanic and Saxon pagans personified and deified this “sunrise” or “dawn” and celebrated her feast during the month (the Saxons called her “Eostre” and the Old Germans called her “Ostara”). What is commonly seen among cultures is that some words referring to natural phenomena become personified as pagan deities. For example, the Semitic fertility goddess Ashtoreth (Joshua 9:10) is the deification of the Semitic word “עשׁתּרה (‛ashterâh)” which means “flock” (e.g. Deuteronomy 7:13). Another example is the Semitic fertility god Dagon (Judges 16:23) who is the deification of the Semitic word “דּגן(dâgân)” which means “wheat” (e.g. Jeremiah 31:12). Another example is the name of the Roman goddess Aurora, which is the Latin word for “dawn”. The Latin word “aurora” just means “dawn” if it is used in an ordinary sense. If a Christian goes on an “Aurora Borealis Tour”, he is by no means participating in a pagan activity but is rather simply enjoying a magnificent “dawn-like” natural phenomenon in the arctic regions. Likewise, the fact that a Saxon goddess went by the name “Eostre” does not mean that “Easter” is a pagan word. Those who hold this myth make it sound as if there was once a goddess with a certain name and Saxon Christian simply took that name arbitrarily without any biblical basis. If, for example, the pagans worshiped a goddess by the name of “Sally” and Christians today refer to the day of the Lord’s resurrection as “Sally”, then surely we have a problem. But that is not the case for Saxon Christians using “Easter” as the name of the day of the Lord’s resurrection. As “easter” was a descriptive word that referred to the dawn or sunrise, we can understand why both pagans and Christians wished to use the word “east” for their respective purposes. Pagans wished to worship a goddess of sunrise so they called her “Eostre”. Christians on the other hand wished to celebrate a very special dawn, so they called the day “Easter”.

The resurrection morning = “dawn” par excellence

The Bible describes Christ’s resurrection as being discovered in the “morning” at “dawn” or at “the rising of the sun” (see John 20:1 where it says the stone was already rolled aside while “it was yet dark”):

• “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” (Matthew 28:1)

• “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” (Mark 16:2)

• “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.” (Luke 24:1)

As the Bible associates the resurrection with the dawn, there is biblical basis to calling the time of the resurrection the “dawn” par excellence. “Par excellence” means the reference is deserving of that noun more than any other. There have been many dawns throughout history, but that special dawn on the day of the resurrection is deserving of that noun more than any other. We often refer to notable biblical events using par excellence nouns, such as “the fall”, “the flood”, “the exodus”, “the exile”, “the advent”, “the cross”, etc. “Easter” is the Saxon word for this greatest dawn in all of history. By way of metonymical association, this term which refers to the “dawn” of the resurrection came to refer to the entire day of the resurrection.

The resurrection = spiritual “dawn”

Christ’s resurrection is a “dawn” also in a spiritual sense because that is when the light of salvation rose (resurrected) from the darkness of death. The following passages compare Christ to the sun rising from darkness:

• “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

• “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;” (Malachi 4:2)

• “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:76-79)

• “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” (2 Peter 1:19)

• “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)

Some Christians try to avoid anything that has to do with sunrise imagery, presuming that it is pagan. Yet God in his Holy word compares Christ to the rising sun. The word, “Easter” (austra in Proto-Germanic and aster in Old Frisian; see above), with its connotation of a sunrise, pays tribute to this biblical imagery of Christ as the “Sun of righteousness”. The word translated “dayspring” at Luke 1:78 is “ανατολη”, which means “1) a rising (of the sun and stars); 2) the east (the direction of the sun’s rising)” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). The Old West-Saxon version of the Gospel of Luke translates the word as “eastdæle”, which is the Saxon word for “east/sunrise”. Luke 1:78 in West-Saxon reads, “þurh innoþas ures godes mildheortnesse. on þam he us geneosode of eastdæle up springende;” This is another proof that the word “Easter” came from the biblical language of the Saxons.

The etymology of “Easter” is similar to that of Aνατελλω

“Easter” is etymologically related to “east” (the direction) and refers to the “rising” of our Lord. This connection between the eastern direction and the resurrection makes some Christians nervous about a possible pagan influence. However, there is no reason for such concern because this connection between the eastern direction and the verb “to rise” is even found in the language in which the New Testament was written. The Greek verb “ανατελλω (anatello)” means “to rise” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon) and it is the word translated as “arise” in the above passage in 2 Peter 1:19 about Christ rising in our hearts. It is also the word used in Hebrews 7:14 which says that our Lord “sprang out of Juda”. And “ανατελλω” is related to the word, “ανατολη (anatole)”, which means, “the east (the direction of the sun’s rising)” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). So there is a connection between the eastern direction and the verb “to rise” even in the language of the New Testament. The writers of the New Testament did not avoid using the verb “ανατελλω” (to rise) despite its derivation from the Greek word for “east”.

Myth 4: “Easter” is tainted by residual pagan etymology

Despite any explanation that “Easter” is derived from a generic Saxon word for “dawn” that is not pagan in and of itself (as with the Proto-Germanic austra and the Old Frisian aster), the mere possibility that a goddess went by the name of “Eostre” appears to scare some Christians into avoiding the word “Easter”. These Christians need to realize that pagans should not be given monopoly over valid words in the English lexicon. If today it is discovered that a pagan sect calls its goddess by the name “Dawn”, would these Christians abandon the word “dawn” from their everyday usage? No, that would be silly and it would amount to surrendering a perfectly biblical name to pagans. Anglo-Saxon and Old Germanic Christians may have been aware that a goddess went by the name “Eostre” or “Ostara”. These Christians may have deliberately taken a word that was popular among pagans in order to reclaim the proper use of the word. Thus the word “Easter” (“Ostern” in German) stands as a testimony of the Anglo-Saxon and Old Germanic Christians’ rejection of the goddess in reception of the true God, Jesus Christ. Such a victorious reclaiming of a beautiful word for the cause of Christ should be honored, not opposed.

The funny thing is that many Christians who oppose the use of the word “Easter” still celebrate Good Friday. Yet the word “Friday” is based on the name of a pagan goddess. The word “Friday” means “Day of Frige” – Frige being the name of a Norse goddess. “Good Friday” literally means “Good day of Frige (the goddess)”. Some Christians say that Christ died on Wednesday or Thursday and rose on Saturday. Yet “Wednesday”, “Thursday,” and “Saturday” are also derived from the names of the pagan gods Woden, Thor and Saturnus, respectively. If one would actually like to avoid a “pagan connection”, he would be wiser to avoid using the words “Friday”, “Thursday”, “Wednesday” and “Saturday” rather than the Christian word “Easter”. Avoiding all of these words, of course, is an impossibility if we wish to communicate with others regarding the days of the week. We just have to admit that the English language is the language of a people who were once pagan and that there are many vestiges of pagan etymology in English. Also to be noted is the irony that this word “Ishtar” which some Christians wish to avoid appears to be related to “Esther”, which is the name of an entire book of our Holy Bible. Esther lived in a pagan culture and was given a pagan name as with Mordecai (which is related to the pagan god Marduk). While it has been demonstrated that Easter has nothing to do with Ishtar, the Bible itself shows that God can redeem a name even if it is in fact related to Ishtar.

Myth 5: “Easter eggs” and “Easter bunnies” discredit Easter

Eggs and bunnies are fertility symbols and as such they can be considered pagan symbols. When Christians brought the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection to pagan nations, these symbols of spring became associated with the Christian celebration of Easter which happens in spring. Spring fertility festivals have ancient origins, and some of their practices are described in the Bible in passages such as Ezekiel 8:14-16 and Jeremiah 7:18 & 44:17-19. There are Christians today who avoid using the word “Easter” for fear that it necessarily refers to these pagan symbols and practices. However, the fact that our culture has come to associate fertility symbols with the name “Easter” does not mean that “Easter” itself is pagan. As with the word “Easter”, even the Greek word “Pascha” has become associated with pagan fertility symbols in present day Greece because “Pascha” is the Greek word for “Easter” (this will be explained in the next section of this article). Yet nobody in his right mind would advise Christians against using the word “Pascha”. Somehow the prejudice against the word “Easter” has become so strong among some Christians that logic no longer holds sway. Guilt by association is a logical fallacy. Moreover this logical fallacy is not applied consistently towards the word “Pascha”. Christians would be wise to purge Easter of its pagan symbols, but the word “Easter” itself remains a biblical word.

Myth 6: The calculation of the date of Easter is pagan

Even if the eggs and bunnies are taken out of Easter, some Christians might still oppose the celebration of Easter by virtue of its perceived roots in Roman Catholicism and paganism. What concerns these Christians is the date of Easter, which in Western countries is calculated based on a formula adopted by the Roman Catholic Church at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. According to this formula, Easter lands on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. Some Christians seem to think that this dependence on a Roman Catholic formula, which in turn is based on natural events such as the lunar cycle and the advent of spring, is in and of itself pagan.

While the scientific accuracy of the Nicaean formula for calculating the date of Easter is certainly open for debate, there is no basis to connect the formula to paganism. The formula is simply intended to make Easter land every year on a Sunday that is around the same time of the lunisolar year as when our Lord resurrected on that first Easter Sunday. Early Christians chose to celebrate the resurrection on a Sunday because the resurrection occurred on a Sunday (“the first day of the week” Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1). The celebration was to be held annually because of its connection to the Passover which happens annually. The date of Easter happens around the same time in spring not because of a calculated effort to coincide the date with a pagan spring festival, but because it is a historical fact that our Lord resurrected on a Sunday at this time of the year after the Jewish Passover, which happens in the first spring month of the Jewish calendar. Unlike the date of Christmas, the date of Easter is based on biblical and historical facts.

The use of a formula to observe an annual Sunday celebration around the same time of the lunisolar year each year is not pagan, as even the date of Passover is set based on a formula using the lunisolar year. There is no biblical precept requiring the use of the Nicaean formula for calculating the date of Easter, but there is also no precept forbidding such a formula. The fact that this formula was adopted by Roman Catholicism at the Council of Nicaea does not mean that it is based on a Roman Catholic heresy. The Council of Nicaea did offer many sound points of theology. Once it was determined that the celebration of Christ’s resurrection should occur each year on a Sunday around the same time of the year, the formula for calculating that date was purely based on the science of the time and not based on pagan practices. If Christians today wish to come up with a better formula for calculating the date to celebrate the resurrection or do not wish to celebrate the resurrection on an annual basis (perhaps based on the belief that the resurrection should be celebrated weekly or daily), these Christians have the liberty to do so. But Christians who choose to celebrate Easter according to the Nicaean formula have the liberty to do so and their practices should not be called pagan.

The KJV is correct in having “Easter” at Acts 12:4

“Pascha” means Easter today

Now that it has been demonstrated that “Easter” is a biblical word referring to the day to celebrate Christ’s resurrection, it will be shown why the KJV is correct in translating “Πάσχα (Pascha)” as “Easter” at Acts 12:4. For starters, here are some modern Greek-English dictionaries showing that at least in modern Greek the primary meaning of “Pascha” is “Easter”, not “Passover”:

Oxford Greek-English Learner’s Dictionary (Oxford UP, 2012)

Collins Greek-English Dictionary (HarperCollins, 2003)

Divry’s Modern English-Greek and Greek-English Desk Dictionary (D.C. Divry, 1991)

Divry’s Modern English-Greek and Greek-English Desk Dictionary (D.C. Divry, 1991)

“Pascha” is a polyseme, a word with multiple meanings. In certain contexts it refers to the Jewish Passover (celebration of the Exodus). In other contexts it refers to the Christian Easter. When used by Jews in a context prior to Christ’s resurrection, the word always refers to the Jewish Passover. However, when used by Greek Christians in a context after Christ’s resurrection (as Luke, the narrator of Acts, did in Acts 12:4), the word refers to Easter.

“Kalo Pascha”

A Greek Christian Easter Card

Many English-speaking people are deceived by the similar sounds between “Pascha” and “Passover” and therefore find it difficult to understand that “Pascha” could mean Easter. The English word, “Passover”, is a perfect translation of “Pascha” in the context of the Jewish celebration because the root Hebrew word, “פּסח (pasach)”, means “to pass over” (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions). Yet it is only in English that the verb, “pass over”, and “Pasach/Pascha” are phonetically similar. In other languages, it is not so obvious from phonetics that “Pascha” refers to the Passover. Perhaps that is why in most other languages the primary meaning of “Pascha” is not Passover. For example, in modern Greek, “Πάσχα (Pascha)” primarily means Easter. When a non-Jewish Greek person says, “Καλό Πάσχα! (Happy Pascha!)”, he is not wishing you a happy Jewish holiday but rather a happy Christian holiday. In modern Greek, Passover is the secondary meaning of “Pascha”. “Pascha” means Passover only when the context is clearly Jewish or when the word is qualified as being the Hebrew or Jewish “Pascha” as follows:

• Easter = Πάσχα (Pascha)
• Passover = εβραϊκό Πάσχα (Hebrew Pascha), Πάσχα των ιουδαίων (Pascha of the Jew)

Although “Pascha” was originally a Hebrew word (“פּסח (pesach)”), Greek, being the language of a predominantly Christian nation, had appropriated the Jewish word and gave it the Christian meaning of “Easter”. That is why in modern Greek, the primary meaning of “Πάσχα” is Easter and Passover is actually the secondary meaning when “Πάσχα” is qualified as the “εβραϊκό Πάσχα (Hebrew Pascha)” or the “Πάσχα των ιουδαίων (Pascha of the Jews)”. Many other languages of Christendom are like modern Greek in making Easter the primary meaning of the transliteration of “Pascha”:

Language	Word for Easter	Word for Passover
Danish	Påske	Påsken
Dutch	Pasen	Joods Paasfeest
French	Pâques	Pâques de Juifs
Italian	Pasqua	Pasqua ebraica
Latin	Pascha	Pascha
Portuguese	Páscoa	Páscoa dos judeus
Romanian	Paşti	Paștele evreiesc
Spanish	Pascua	Pascua Judía
Swedish	Påsk	Judarnas Påskhögtid

As with modern Greek, the transliteration of “Pascha” in these languages could refer to either Easter or Passover depending on context or a modifier. But often the primary meaning of “Pascha” is Easter. In French, for example, Easter is “Pâques” and Passover is “Pâques de Juifs” (“Pascha of the Jews”).

“Pascha” meant Easter in the first century

There is no doubt that “Πάσχα” means Easter in modern Greek. The charge, however, is that “Πάσχα” did not mean Easter until centuries after the composition of Acts 12:4. This is not true. In the Gospel of John there is already a distinction being made between the Christian Πάσχα and the Jewish Πάσχα. One of the words for Passover in modern Greek is “Πάσχα των ιουδαίων” (Passover of the Jews). We see this same phrase already in the time of John the Apostle:

• John 2:13: “And the Jews’ passover was at hand….” (και εγγυς ην το πασχα των ιουδαιων)

• John 11:55: “And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand….” (ην δε εγγυς το πασχα των ιουδαιων)

The fact that John writes, “Jews’ Pascha (πασχα των ιουδαιων)” indicates that there was a need to qualify the word “Pascha” for the immediate audience of John’s Gospel. Such a phrase would be redundant unless there were already a distinction between a “Jew’s” Pascha and “another” Pascha. Apparently within the first century, Christians had already appropriated the word “Pascha” to refer to the Christian celebration of the resurrection.

Eusebius’ testimony is clear that the Apostles were already celebrating the “Saviour’s Pascha”, which is clearly not the “Jews’ Pascha”:

“Ζητήσεως δῆτα κατὰ τούσδε οὐ σμικρᾶς ἀνακινηθείσης, ὅτι δὴ τῆς Ἀσίας ἁπάσης αἱ παροικίαι ὡς ἐκ παραδόσεως ἀρχαιοτέρας σελήνης τὴν τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην ᾤοντο δεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς τοῦ σωτηρίου πάσχα ἑορτῆς παραφυλάττειν, ἐν ᾗ θύειν τὸ πρόβατον Ἰουδαίοις προηγόρευτο, ὡς δέον ἐκ παντὸς κατὰ ταύτην, ὁποίᾳ δἂν ἡμέρᾳ τῆς ἑβδομάδος περιτυγχάνοι, τὰς τῶν ἀσιτιῶν ἐπιλύσεις ποιεῖσθαι, οὐκ ἔθους ὄντος τοῦτον ἐπιτελεῖν τὸν τρόπον ταῖς ἀνὰ τὴν λοιπὴν ἅπασαν οἰκουμένην ἐκκλησίαις, ἐξ ἀποστολικῆς παραδόσεως τὸ καὶ εἰς δεῦρο κρατῆσαν ἔθος φυλαττούσαις, ὡς μηδ’ ἑτέρᾳ προσήκειν παρὰ τὴν τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἡμέρᾳ τὰς νηστείας ἐπιλύεσθαι” (Church History, Book V, 23:1)

“A question of no small importance arose at that time. For the parishes of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should be observed as the feast of the Saviour’s passover. It was therefore necessary to end their fast on that day, whatever day of the week it should happen to be. But it was not the custom of the churches in the rest of the world to end it at this time, as they observed the practice which, from apostolic tradition, has prevailed to the present time, of terminating the fast on no other day than on that of the resurrection of our Saviour.” (Church History, Book V, 23:1, Translation from www.newadvent.org)

Typical English translations of Eusebius’ Church History, such as that above, translate “σωτηρίου πάσχα” as “Saviour’s passover”, but the literal translation is “Saviour’s Pascha”. Eusebius here is describing the Quartodecimanist controversy which arose when the churches in the second century could not agree on the day to celebrate the Saviour’s Pascha. While some Christians are rightly sceptical of the writings of Eusebius by virtue of his connection to the Roman Catholic church, his testimony above simply concerns a fact that Christians celebrated the Saviour’s Pascha. Eusebius gives a balanced report of the situation, even reporting that the Saviour’s Pascha originally fell on the date of the Passover instead of on a Sunday, contrary to later Roman Catholic practices. Regardless of who was right in the Quartodecimanist controversy, the fact is that Christians from early times were all celebrating the Saviour’s Pascha, which is the celebration of the resurrection of the Saviour. This was not the Jewish Passover but rather the Christian celebration of Easter.

Those who deny that “Πάσχα” came to mean “Easter” in Apostolic times are unable to explain when the shift in meaning arose. There is no record of councils or debates documenting the shift in the meaning of “Πάσχα” in Greek. There is also no logical reason for the shift in meaning to take place over hundreds of years. As far back as we can document, Greek Christians have accepted that “Πάσχα” refers to the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection, which is “Easter”. Given John’s use of the word and the uncontradicted testimonies of early church fathers, it is far more candid to accept that “Πάσχα” already meant “Easter” in the first century. In the Bible, “Πάσχα” means Passover only when used by Jews or by anyone specifically referring to the Jewish celebration. In passages prior to Christ’s resurrection, the KJV translates “Πάσχα” as “Passover” because the narrators and characters are still referring to the Jewish festival. The only times the KJV translates “Πάσχα” as “Passover” after the resurrection are in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and Hebrews 11:28. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, the word “passover” refers to the passover lamb rather than the day of the year, so it is correctly translated “passover”. In Hebrews 11:28, the narrative refers retrospectively to Moses’ conduct, which was before the resurrection, so the word is properly translated “passover”. The following diagram explains these distinctions visually:

“Pascha” meant Easter to Luke, the narrator of Acts 12:4

Whether “Πάσχα” should be Passover or Easter at Acts 12:4 must be determined by discerning who is using the word in this instance. If the word is used by a Jew, then the word would mean Passover. If the word is used by Herod, then the word would mean Passover or perhaps a pagan festival (although the possibility of “Πάσχα” referring to a pagan festival has no basis in history or etymology). Contrary to what many believe, it is neither the Jews nor Herod who is using the word “Πάσχα”at Acts 12:4. It is actually Luke, the Christian narrator of Acts, who is using the word “Πάσχα” to describe the timeline of events for his Christian readers in the latter first century, many of whom were Gentile Christians. At the time of Luke’s writing, “Πάσχα” at Acts 12:4 was no longer the Passover but Easter. When Luke speaks in Acts 12:4 as narrator, he is using words according to the mutual Christian perspective of himself and his readers. This is evident because he uses the word “church” (εκκλησία) at Acts 12:1 to refer to Christians. This is a dignifying Christian word to refer to the congregation of those who are called out by God. Neither Herod nor the Jews would have referred to these rebels as “the called-out ones”. However, when coming from a Christian narrator for a Christian audience, the word “εκκλησία” carries a Christian meaning. The same goes for the word “πασχα”. It may well be that Herod and the Jews had no concern or knowledge about Easter. Although Herod and the Jews were waiting for the Jewish Passover, Luke uses “πασχα” according to its Christian meaning of “Easter” to explain the timeline of events to his Christian readers. That is why “πασχα” is Easter in Acts 12:4.

/ Part 2 of 2 to follow …

South Africans Deceived

In accordance with the latest statistics on religious denominations in South Africa, one must go as far back as the Census 2001 to find out what you are looking for. The Census 2011 questionnaire did not even include any questions about religion due to what is perceived as low priority [a]. A 2012 poll indicated that the number of South Africans who considered themselves religious decreased from 83% of the population in 2005 to 64% of the population in 2012 [b]. It is estimated that in the world there are approximately 41 000 “Christian denominations” alone. This blog posting will show that this nation is NOT Christian as the vast majority of the South African population would like to think and believe they are. There is only a remnant of truly born-again disciples of the one and only True and Living GOD Yeshua Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, in South Africa.

Census 2001

Hereunder are the statistics of the vast denominations and religions within the South African demographics. It makes for some interesting reading of how the people groups classify themselves within the religious framework in South Africa.

Denomination	Adherents
Dutch Reformed churches	3,005,697
Zion Christian churches	4,971,931
Catholic churches	3,181,332
Methodist churches	3,035,719
Pentecostal/Charismatic churches	3,695,211
Anglican churches	1,722,076
Apostolic Faith Mission	246,193
Lutheran churches	1,130,983
Presbyterian churches	832,497
Bandla Lama Nazaretha	248,825
Baptist churches	691,235
Congregational churches	508,826
Orthodox churches	42,253
Other Apostolic churches	5,627,320
Other Zionist churches	1,887,147
Ethiopian type churches	1,150,102
Other Reformed churches	226,499
Other African independent churches	656,644
Other Christian churches	2,890,151
African Traditional Religion	125,898
Judaism	75,549
Hinduism	551,668
Islam	654,064
Other beliefs	283,815
No religion	6,767,165
Undetermined	610,974

Religion	Adherents 2001	%	Adherents 2007	%
Christianity	35,750,641	79.77	29,684,861	73.52
Non-religious	6,767,165	15.10	3,262,428	8.08
Other	283,815	0.63
Buddhism/Chinese folk			12,113	0.03
Islam	654,064	1.46	985,460	1.45
Undetermined	610,974	1.36
Hinduism	551,668	1.23	504,707	1.25
African Traditional Religion	125,898	0.28	6,056,487	15.00
Judaism	75,549	0.17	68,640	0.17

Kindly bear in mind that from the aforementioned statistics which appear at Wikipedia the grouping of all “denominations” that include the Roman Catholics, Zionist churches, Orthodox churches and other churches (that include the Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, and other cultic churches) are misrepresented as being ALL Christianity! They ALL certainly are NOT Christians holding to the Judeo-Christian doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ as contained in the Holy Bible’s Old and New Testaments which also exclude the Apocryphal books of the Roman Catholic church. This shows the deception that South Africans believe when they “agree that all who name the name of Christ are Christian”. This is not so! [*]

Overall, there has been a general decline in the religiosity of South Africans and it shows that even in the latest Census 2011 no questions were asked about religion. The South African Constitution still has in its preamble “God bless South Africa”, but since the democratically elected South African government of 1994, the ANC government has NOT governed this nation in accordance with Romans 13. We are told that the ‘rulers,’ which is the government, are not there to be “policing” good works, but to those that do evil. The Scriptures read as follows:

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

From what will follow, we will see that the ruling government has not ministered for God and eradicated evil from our society. In fact they are not the solution to godly rule, but has become the problem in not executing proper justice and by their promulgating ungodly legislation that pampers to the depravity of evil and wicked men. The latter part of the following Proverb is a true reflection of life in South Africa:

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

The tyranny of the Marxist socialist government is using the term “democracy” as a front in an otherwise communist state. The laws are ungodly and corruption, fraud, and lawlessness is the order of the day, so how can the government rule with justice? South Africa has the highest rates of murder and rape in the world. According to a factsheet compiled by Africa Check for the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, quote: “the violent crimes that cause the most fear and trauma amongst the public has increased. For the first time in six years there is an increase in both the number and rate of murders and attempted murders. Murder is an important indicator both because it is the most accurate of all crime categories and because it is internationally seen to be an indicator of a country’s stability. There was also a small increase in the number of sexual offences recorded by the police.

“The facts about the increases in inter-personal violence are as follows:

• Incidents of murder increased from 15 609 murders in 2011/12 to 16 259 murders in 2012/13.
• This means that there was an increase of 650 murder cases or a 4,2% increase when comparing the total numbers of murders with the previous year.
• This works out to almost two additional murders per day on average during the 2012/13 financial year.
• Consequently our murder rate increased from a total average of 43 murders per day to 45 murders per day.
• Using the correct census data for 2011, the murder rate in 2011/12 was 30,3 per 100 000 population and not 30,9 as reported by SAPS in the last reporting period.
• The murder rate for 2012/13 stood at 31,3 per 100 000 population which reflects an increase of 2,8% in the rate of murders (not 0,6% as presented officially).
• South Africa’s murder rate is therefore about four and a half times higher than the global average of 6,9 murders per 100 000. [writer’s emphasis]
• Attempted murder cases increased from 14 859 to 16 363, an increase of 10,1%.
• Attempted murder rates increased by 8,7% in the past year.
• Sexual offence cases increased from 64 514 to 66 387, an increase of 2,9%.
• Sexual offence rates increased from 125,1 per 100 000 to 127,0 per 100 000 population, an increase of 1,5%.

“The crimes above are not easy to reduce through policing alone. This is because most (around 60% to 70%) of murders, attempted murders and rapes, occur between people who know each other and occur as a result of a mix of particular social and economic factors. These crimes are often referred to by the police as inter-personal violent crimes. Only between 15% and 20% of murders and attempted murders are the result of aggravated robbery while inter-group conflicts and vigilantism make up the rest. …”, unquote. The remaining crime statistical data can be read at this link: FACTSHEET South Africa: Official crime statistics for 2012/13. [c]

The South African nation shows the depravity of man in this evil and wicked society. And whilst this nation is ecumenical in faith and belief systems worshipping all manner of gods, the blood of the murdered cries out from the soaked earth for revenge, and as a Christian I am comforted knowing that Almighty God will execute perfect justice come the Day of Judgment. Whilst the majority of the population are GOD-hating atheists, agnostics, environmentalists (a.k.a. evolutionists), custom and tradition ancestral worshippers, cultists, and false “christians” – those that are secular humanists, new agers and lukewarm compromising believers involved in a false-gospel, prosperity-teaching, easy-believism religion; the real believers at times seem to be asleep in the pews while this generation spirals out of control walking on the broad way to Hell (see Matthew 7:13,14). Christian soldier, forget about all the dainties of this life and the various church programs that make you feel good – Stop it and report for duty!! If necessary, Repent and seek God’s forgiveness.

Statistical data gives a reflection of what is taking place in any society. Given that in 2007 73,52% of the population were following the “Christianity” faith, it would therefore be expected that at least two-thirds of the population would vote for a Christian party in the 2014 General Elections that took place in South Africa on May 7, 2014. Well, let the truth be known – as with all denominations, there is no unity; and besides, the voters’ true hearts were revealed – they would rather vote for an ungodly communist government dictated by their Marxist ideology, a totalitarianism government that enforces their ungodly agendas that violate every command of YHVH (Yehovah God), as those professing christians agree in principal and by their conscience they have exercised their free speech that they accept the practices of abortions, homosexuality, same-sex marriages, co-habiting partner relationships (fornication), idolatry, alcohol and substance abuse, pornography, prostitution, human-trafficking, the destroying of Biblical family-life, the decline in education and moral values, as well as witchcraft! [d]. In fact as a Christian we are commanded by our Master and King Jesus Christ from His Word,

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

In fact, the government and majority of the population hold to the other extreme and call evil good and good evil, but hear the rebuke to such wickedness through the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isa 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isa 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Isa 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

From a Christian worldview perspective, the political results below show a sinful outcome that is certainly not God honouring. As a follower of The Way – a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, my conscience would not allow me to vote for any political party due to their many corruptions that are the work of darkness and the Devil! Even the two “Christian” parties have difficulty in finding unity! They might be Christian-based and Bible-believing, but I would truly love to see them preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ from the political platform from which they have an opportunity to do so. Sadly, most of the opportunities are lost. As Christians we are called to “earnestly contend for the faith” as we read:

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Results of the 2014 General Elections

Party	Votes	%	+/−	Seats	+/−
African National Congress	11,436,921	62.15	-3.75	249	-15
Democratic Alliance	4,091,584	22.23	+4.65	89	+18
Economic Freedom Fighters	1,169,259	6.35	New	25	New
Inkatha Freedom Party	441,854	2.40	-2.15	10	-8
National Freedom Party	288,742	1.57	New	6	New
United Democratic Movement	184,636	1.00	+0.16	4	0
Freedom Front Plus	165,715	0.90	+0.07	4	0
Congress of the People	123,235	0.67	-6.75	3	-27
African Christian Democratic Party	104,039	0.57	-0.24	3	0
African Independent Congress	97,642	0.53	New	3	New
Agang SA	52,350	0.28	New	2	New
Pan Africanist Congress	37,784	0.21	-0.07	1	0
African People’s Convention	30,676	0.17	-0.04	1	0
Al Jama-ah	25,976	0.14	-0.01	0	0
Minority Front	22,589	0.12	-0.12	0	-1
United Christian Democratic Party	21,744	0.12	-0.26	0	-2
Azanian People’s Organisation	20,421	0.11	-0.11	0	-1
Bushbuckridge Residents Association	15,271	0.08	New	0	New
Independent Civic Organisation	14,472	0.08	New	0	New
Patriotic Alliance	13,263	0.07	New	0	New
Workers and Socialist Party	8,331	0.05	New	0	New
Ubuntu Party	8,234	0.04	New	0	New
Kingdom Governance Movement	6,408	0.03	New	0	New
Front National	5,138	0.03	New	0	New
Keep It Straight and Simple	4,294	0.02	-0.01	0	0
Pan Africanist Movement	3,815	0.02	-0.01	0	0
First Nation Liberation Alliance	3,297	0.02	New	0	New
United Congress	3,136	0.02	New	0	New
Peoples Alliance	1,671	0.01	New	0	New
Total	18,402,497	100.00		400
Valid votes	18,402,497	98.65
Spoilt votes	251,960	1.35
Total votes cast	18,654,457	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	25,381,293	73.50
Source: IEC

Combined, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) (0.57%) and the United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP) (0.12%) achieved less than 1% (0.69%) of the General Election population’s vote. So in reality, the census figures are skewed, for there is only a remnant of believers. Kindly also bear in mind that from these statistics we are not guaranteed that all who voted for the ACDP and the UCDP are truly born-again believers who hold to the Judeo-Christian doctrine of the Holy Bible. [**] We are reminded in Scripture how we are to conduct our lives for the sole glory of God alone as we read in Second Corinthians:

2 Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Cor 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Cor 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

As we read from Matthew Henry’s commentary on the preceding verses, quote:

“The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles’ preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry.” [e]

To GOD be the glory alone!

Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

____________________

Resources:

[a] “Census 2011 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 22 October 2012. ~ Wikipedia

[b] “Fewer religious people in SA – survey”. news24.com. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012. ~ Wikipedia

[c] Africa Check a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and the media. www.africacheck.org

[d] It would have been prudent for Christians to have consulted “A Voter’s Guide for 2014” before going to the polls.

[e] Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, e-Sword.

[*] and [**] represent amendments included on July 25, 2014 to clarify the position surrounding true “Christianity” in accordance with the Judeo-Christian faith as contained in the doctrine of the Holy Bible.

15 Tishri ~ You Can Know the True Day of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Birth

We can truly know the correct day of the nativity of the God-man our Lord Jesus Christ, if Christians who hold to Sola Scriptura and who live by every Word of God will only read and trust the Scriptures as they say they always do.

Those who say they celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25 each year should go back and examine, study and search out the Scriptures that speak of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who exegete the Scriptures and know much historical accounts of the Word of God, choose to reject the historical evidence presented in God’s Word. To say God reveals every other detail of His story, but remains silent on the incarnation – the birth – of His only begotten Son is to be downright naive. The only possible reason that this might be the mindset of many Christians is that they do not wish to surrender their desire for the heathen day with all its pagan traditions. Too many people – family, friends, children and grandchildren are going to be affected by this change in their life. If there is no change, is this not going to be a compromising of the Word of God?

What we should realise is that daily Christians should be thankful for God coming to this world in the Person of His Son in order to redeem sinners to Himself. I do not think that any Christian denies the birth of our Saviour. It is just a matter of understanding when our Saviour was born into this world. In order to find out we should understand that our Lord Jesus Christ was born into this world still under the Jewish Levitical system and every detail revealed in Luke chapters 1 and 2 are of pertinent importance. Every Word is God breathed and has a real reason why God has revealed it in Scripture for our instruction and teaching and His clear revelation.

At any given time, we have at some time dealt with and made the complex calculations of the Daniel prophecy dealing with the 70th Week, without any problems it would seem, but when it comes to making the calculations surrounding the birth of our Saviour, Christians who are “Daniel experts” have found it a problem to tie up the information given to us to calculate the time of Christ’s birth, even saying we cannot be sure of His birth, but yet how can you then be sure of the complex Daniel prophecy? Is it not a choice to want to speak with authority on the Daniel prophecy, but neglect the birth of the Saviour out of a choice to be wilful ignorant holding to the “Christmas” tradition of man? Whilst some might look into dictionaries to find the meaning of “Christmas” or the “mas” portion of the word, we should in fact look to the very Word of God, examining the law and prophets, the historical events and the translations from the original Hebrew and Greek autographs, if possible. This will reveal the Truth; but we have the added benefit of Bible helps by being able to look into lexicons and concordances without being experts in the Hebrew and Greek tongues.

The Gospel of Luke is the foundation from where we can start our study leading to the calculation of when our Lord Jesus Christ was born. To start from the course of Abia (Abijah) cross referencing the Holy Scriptures to see that it was the eighth course according to 1 Chronicles 24:10 and that the Hebrew calendar was a 360-day lunar calendar that had 51 weeks (357 days) and that due to the priests appearing twice in the year according to the 24 courses of 1 Chronicles 24 plus the three festivals when all the males had to appear before the Lord in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16, “in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles,” we end up with 51 weeks = one year. We also know that the feast of unleavened bread was on the fifteenth Nisan (Leviticus 23:5-8) and the feast of weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost – Leviticus 23:15,16) appear in the early part of the year, therefore the course of Abia (Abijah) would be in effect week ten (2+8) and the feast of tabernacles (Booths – Leviticus 23:33-43) would appear in the Hebrew seventh month starting fifteenth Tishri (i.e. September/October). We learn that after an angel appears to Zacharias in the temple confirming that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and the child to be born would be named John (the Baptist) (see Luke 1:13) we are also told that John would be a forerunner to the Messiah who “shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias” (Elijah) (see Luke 1:17). We are then told that:

Luke 1:23  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. Luke 1:24  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Luke 1:25  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. Luke 1:26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, Luke 1:27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

So Elizabeth conceived, possibly after her monthly menstruation in accordance with Leviticus 15:19,25 which was after two weeks to comply with the purity laws which would then bring the conception of John to be in or about the 12th week of the year. If John was then born about thirty-nine weeks (nine months) later then John’s birth would take place at the Passover during or just after the fifty-first week (12+39=51). Also remember that Elizabeth’s cousin Mary also conceived in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. In Luke 1:31-36 we read:

Luke 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luke 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Luke 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Therefore, from these calculations that there is a six month gap between the conception of John and the conception of our Lord Jesus Christ we know that six months would take us from the Hebrew month of Nisan (March/April) to the Hebrew month of Tishri (September/October). Therefore, if John the Baptist was born at the Passover (Nisan), the Son of Man Jesus Christ was born six months later at the feast of tabernacles (Tishri). But how do we confirm these two dates. Well we need to look at what Scripture tells us. Let God speak to confirm His mandate and revelation.

In Jewish tradition of celebrating the Passover here is an extensive quote from a book penned by writer titled The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ which reads as follows:

The Jewish tradition during the Passover feast has a chair left open and a wine goblet set at Elijah’s place at the seder table each year awaiting his arrival.

The word seder is:

Hebrew for “set order”; the ritual Passover meal that is observed in specific order. (Christ in the Passover, Ceil & Moishe Rosen, Moody Publishers, Chicago, page 10 under definitions)

A quote from the book titled Christ in the Passover will also set out the setting of a traditional Jewish Passover seder table:

“Also at the seder table, beside each place setting are small wine goblets – small because four times they will be filled with sweet, red Passover wine during the seder. The custom of drinking four cups dates back to ancient Temple times. The Mishnah [Hebrew for the collection of oral law that forms the basis of the Talmud; compiled by Judah ha-Nasi (c. AD 135 to 220) – page 9 under definitions] teaches that, according to two authorities, Rabbi Yohanon and Rabbi Benayah, these four cups correspond to the four verbs in Exodus 6:6-7, describing God’s redemption: I will bring you out; I will free you; I will redeem you; I will take you to be My people.

“Two of the wine goblets at the table are usually larger and more ornate than the rest. They have silver, intricate pictures of the Bible history crafted into the metal. One of these goblets sits at the head of the table for the ruler of the feast; the other occupies a prominent place at the foot of the table, before an empty chair. It awaits the lips of Elijah, who, according to Malachi 4:5, is to announce the coming of the Messiah. The prophet is the invited guest of honor at every seder, for, should he come, it would indeed be the most festive of Passovers! The Messianic hope prevails more strongly at Passover than at any other time, for Midrashic tradition says: “Nisan is the month of redemption; in Nisan Israel was redeemed from Egypt; in Nisan Israel will again be redeemed” (Exodus Rabbah 15:12 Cf. chap. 6, 64-66) (Christ in the Passover, Ceil & Moishe Rosen, Moody Publishers, Chicago, pages 82-83)

More will be discussed later in this book under the Passover section dealing with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, during the Passover traditions, a child goes and opens the house door to see if Elijah has “arrived”, to accept the invitation to come inside and announce the coming of the Messiah, and as he is not outside the door, tradition has it that the Jewish Passover celebrators keep his place open awaiting the “arrival” possibly next year! This goes on year after year. Now let us read what Scripture says about John the Baptist coming in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). At the transfiguration of Christ, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus and His disciples Peter, James and John. And this is recorded in Matthew 17:10-13 ~

10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already [see Matthew 11:14], and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. [See also Mark 9:10-13 and Luke 9:33]”

We also read about the account of our Lord Jesus Christ that also confirms why He was born at the feast of tabernacles. A very important Scripture that reveals the Word of God who was with God and who was God becomes flesh and “dwelt” on the earth as we read:

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Let us examine the word “dwelt” that appears in the Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance as Greek word 4637 skēnoō, skay-no’-o; from 4636, to tent or encamp, i.e. (figurative) to occupy (as a mansion) or (special) to reside (as God did in the tabernacle of old, a symbol of protection and communion): – dwell. The Greek word 4636  skēnos, skay’-nos; from 4633; a hut or temporary residence, i.e. (figurative) the human body (as the abode of the spirit): – tabernacle. The first word skēnoō is the only time it appears in the New Testament. It is also a fact that when “a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed” (see Luke 2:1) took place it was at the time of the feast of tabernacles. For Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem for he was of the house and lineage of David (see Luke 2:4) and the place would have had also all the house of Israel to present themselves before the Lord in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:16 and as determined beforehand that our Lord would be born in the month of Tishri, there would have been an overcrowding where no place would be found in the inn. However, in accordance with the requirements of the feast of tabernacles, all Israelites were to dwell in booths as we read in Leviticus 23:39-43:

Lev 23:39  Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. Lev 23:40  And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. Lev 23:41  And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Lev 23:42  Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: Lev 23:43  That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

We therefore see that they stayed in a tabernacle – a booth for the duration of the feast as commanded by God, which then would dispel the notion of a stable, for the Holy Scriptures do not speak of a stable. The angels said the sign would be, as we read:

Luke 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

There is nothing that dispels this sign, as in booths mangers were found. We read in the Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance the Hebrew word 5521 sukkâh, sook-kaw’: feminine of 5520; a hut or lair – booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent. A feminine singular noun meaning a booth, a thicket. This term is used for temporary shelters used to cover animals (Ge 33:17); warriors (2Sa 11:11); and the prophet Jonah (Jnh 4:5). It is used poetically to refer to the clouds (Job 36:29; Ps 18:11[12]). A specialized usage is employed for booths constructed for the fall harvest festival (Le 23:42,43). The festival was known as the chag hassukkôwth (2282), the Feast of Booths (Dt 16:13,16). This was to remind the Israelites that they lived in booths when the Lord brought them up from Egypt (Le 23:43).

The feast of the tabernacle also fits with our Lord Jesus Christ being born on the first day, being fifteenth Tishri which was a Sabbath and He would have also been circumcised on the eighth day which was also a Sabbath. See also the significance that God rescued His people out of Egypt, a type of the world, and our Lord Jesus Christ was born at the festival to rescue sinners out of the world, too. Another quote from the text of The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ reads as follows:

If Jesus was born on the first day of Sukkot, “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD” (Leviticus 23:34), then He would have been circumcised on the “eighth great day” a festival following Sukkot. Shemini Atseret (“Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly”) is a festival observed immediately after Sukkot (Tabernacles), i.e., on 22nd Tishri (i.e. the seventh month), as laid down in the Pentateuch: “On the eighth day you shall observe a holy occasion … it is a solemn gathering (Atseret); you shall not work at your occupations” (Lev. 23:36; cf. Num. 29:35). The term Atseret (lit. “concluding festival”) is also applied to the last day of Passover (Deut. 16:8) and, by the rabbis, to Shavu’Ot (RH 1:2; Shev. 1:1). This day was the original “Simchat Torah” (Rejoicing of the Law) {n. Judaism A festival celebrating the Law of Moses and the completion of the year’s cycle and subsequent new beginning, observed on the 22nd or 23rd day of Tishri (September/October) – which is now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. [Hebrew śimhat tôrâ, rejoicing in the Torah, Simchat Torah: śimhâ, joy (from śāmēah, to rejoice) + tôrâ, torah.]} (www.answers.com/topics/shemini-atseret).

For a moment stop and consider this, that our Lord Jesus Christ who as a growing boy would have celebrated all the feast days as His Father God Almighty had commanded in the Torah, and most specifically whilst appearing before the Lord at the feast of tabernacles, as all the males had to appear as commanded in the law, our Lord Jesus Christ would have celebrated the holy convocation of how God had delivered His people Israel out of Egypt (bondage). He most probably also heard the account from Joseph and His mother Mary of His first nativity, that He was born at one of the feast of tabernacles and He would most probably have heard how He was laid in a manger and that the shepherds had come to see this wonderful event (see Luke 2:8-14). The people present would have also known about the birth of the Saviour in and amongst them, for the shepherds – the first evangelists – went about broadcasting the news to those present (see Luke 2:15-20). As a young child, in a house, with His mother, later He would also have experienced the wise men from the east coming to worship Him and giving Him gifts (see Matthew 2:11). Our Lord Jesus Christ would have understood that He was the Saviour who was born into this world to redeem His people just as God had redeemed His people. There would have been great celebration to God in heaven by the people, whilst right in their very midst was the Saviour, the Messiah who, too, would redeem His people, Jew and Gentile, one day in the future with His own precious blood as a sacrifice and an atonement, when our Lord Jesus Christ would fulfil another feast celebration at the feast of Passover/unleavened bread. There would have been no “Christmas trees, boughs of holly or mistletoe” in His booth or any booth for that matter. There would have been no intention to celebrate as such, for God had not commanded these particular practices, and certainly there would be no fat-man with a white beard in a red-suit named Satan Claus making his rounds from booth to booth delivering gifts to those in attendance, for the attendees were celebrating and remembering their journey in the wilderness and how God delivered and kept them and lead them into the promised land. And our Lord Jesus Christ fulfiled the feast by delivering and keeping His people and leading them into heaven. Besides, the Jews would have known what the prophet Jeremiah had spoken about “Learn not the way of the heathen” (see Jeremiah 10:2).

You see, the a foregoing Scriptures and many others, confirm the true birth day of our Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no other way, for Christ knows when He was born. Therefore, how can man, Christian or heathen, say the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was on December 25th? Why would anyone remember and celebrate the birth of God’s Son on a day He has not commanded in Old and New Testaments. In fact, it is clear that God’s Word speaks of another day in which the anointed of God took on human form, as we read:

Galatians 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: Galatians 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

In “the fulness of time” was at the feast of tabernacles, no other time. We are to be witnesses for Christ in this world sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are given a command how to remember our Lord Jesus Christ, by everyday, or as often as we partake in it, “this do in remembrance of me,” as we read:

Luke 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

1Cor 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1Cor 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Cor 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1Cor 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Nelson Mandela’s Wake

After all that has been said and done over the last ten days of mourning from Nelson Mandela’s death on December 5, 2013 at Houghton, Gauteng until his state funeral at Qunu in the Eastern Cape on December 15, 2013, it is sad that South African’s and the world communities from all nations have been mislead into much idolizing and placing the man Mandela on a pedestal, reverencing him as an idol, a god that is worshiped.

Many secular unbelievers and religious persons, together with professing Christians, who say they do not worship him or commit idolatry towards him, the very persons have given Mandela during his life and even now in his death cultic reverence that far exceeds the worship of the Creator of the world. At no other time in history has the majority of people in this world given such reverence to a mere man than at this time, when the same majority of people cannot even worship the One True God in the same way. Not every religion worships the same God and we can even see that Mandela sold out to the Devil’s wiles by giving all people groups in South Africa freedom of religion that blasphemously encourages even the cultural ancestral worship and Satanic worship in terms of the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996), and at the same time the preamble of the constitution reads “… May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, God seën Suid Afrika, God bless South Africa, …”. Why would God bless a nation that has rebelled against Him with false, evil and wicked idolatrise worship of other gods through religious works and man-made customs, traditions, commandments and legislation? God’s Word says that if any person does not believe upon His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that person is condemned already, as we read:

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

We also read:

John 3:36  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.

The world at large as well as South Africans repeatedly said that Mandela is “resting in peace” and countless messages give the eulogy that he must “R.I.P.” If Mandela was not born-again of God (see John 3:3,5-7) then he would not see the Kingdom of God. We also heard from Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe, to quote from The Witness newspaper dated June 28, 2013, Madiba’s daughter said “her father had been unequivocal. He had repeatedly said that when he died he would look for the ANC branch in heaven and join it.” The truth be told, the Holy Word of God as contained in the Holy Bible does not say that there are man-made political parties in heaven. Any believer in the Lord Jesus Christ would realise that he would be before the throne of God worshipping the Lamb of God, His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and not looking for any man-made communist-ideology party. We also note that there was no public profession of faith by Mandela that he was a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, he was one who pampered to the masses and gave them carte blanche to worship any god they wished, when the Creator of the heavens and earth, YHVH (Yehovah, LORD), said He will not give His glory to any other, as we read:

Isaiah 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 48:11  For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. Isa 48:12  Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

There is also an indictment against every nation that comes against God’s chosen people Israel (Jacob) and they do so at their own peril and demise. We also read about how God deals with those that worship false gods that He has not commanded nor will tolerate, as we read:

Judges 10:6  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. Judges 10:7  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

Judges 10:10  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. Judges 10:11  And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? Judges 10:12  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Judges 10:13  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Judges 10:14  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Judges 10:15  And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
Judges 10:16  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. [writer’s emphasis]

Nothing has changed since Mandela signed into law the practice of freedom of religion as we saw at the FNB Stadium Memorial that took place on December 10, 2013 before a world audience when proceedings were opened by the atheistic ANC regime who promotes all gods which in effect promotes no “God”, when an interfaith prayer session opened proceedings. This is ecumenical which is an affront to Almighty God, an abomination. When presidents of nations followed by their people say “God bless” after practicing such heinous debauchery against a Holy Sovereign Good and Perfect God, how can they even think the One and Only True God who revealed Himself as the Lord Jesus Christ, will bless them. In fact, the God you have blasphemed with your idolatrise practices and neglect of the good for the practice of the profane evil will not bless, but curse you and your earthly nations! The writing is on the wall and Judgment is at the door! The axe has been laid at the root of the people. The Lord Jesus Christ says:

John 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

There is no resting in peace when people die in their sin outside the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Irrespective of what you believe through your religious practices  or lack thereof, God has made only ONE WAY of receiving peace between Him and you and therefore you can ONLY have a relationship with God through His only begotten Son Jesus. No other way exists! God’s Word tells us, as we read:

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

and the Lord Jesus Christ said, as we read:

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

and we hear how we receive the righteousness of God, as we read:

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is with a grieved heart that we learn that up to the death of Mandela that the traditions and customs of men were still prevalent, which goes contrary to God’s Word. We also read in an article that appears online at MailOnline, where you can read the following, quote:

“During the last hours before his death at 8.50pm Johannesburg time, elders from Mandela’s native Thembu clan joined his relatives at his side.

“The elders would have performed, either at Mandela’s home or later in the mortuary, a traditional ceremony called ‘the closing of the eyes’, to herald the transition from life to the next stage.

“The ceremony would have involved the elders talking to Mandela, and also to his ancestors, to explain what was happening to his spirit during each stage as he passed from life on earth, CNN reported.” [end quote]

This description does not appear in God’s Word, but what God tells us in His Holy Word is that no-one is to speak to the dead, which is to be a necromancer. We read in Deuteronomy 18:10,11 as it is written:

Deu 18:10 There 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, Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

From the preceding portion of Scripture we see that God orders that there should be no “consulters with familiar spirits” or a “necromancer” and it is evident that upon the “elders talking to Mandela, and also to his ancestors” it is a clear violation of God’s command. This obviously is what Mandela believed in for the Mandela family practiced their “custom, ritual and taboo” of his early childhood [Wikipedia]. From these practices it is clear that what Christian background Mandela might have engaged in in his early years, he mixed it with his traditions and customs, which the Word of God says makes God’s Word of none effect (see Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13).

What is also sad, is that Satan wants the world to be deceived and we now see “everyone” wants to follow the legacy of Mandela, which goes against the Word of God. We also see that people are deceived by making such bold-faced statements that “God and Mandela will rule the universe” [a written note by a young mourner at a shrine outside Mandela’s Houghton home] or that “Mandela is the black man’s messiah.” The last statement was voiced quite brazenly by people waiting in lines during the empty corpse of Mandela laying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria as brothers-in-Christ Ricky Springer (Full Proof Gospel Ministry) and Gary Crous (Repent and Believe South Africa) preached our Lord Jesus Christ to them, calling men, women and children to repentance and faith in Christ the Saviour, the Only True and living God who can justify you and forgive you of your sin. An earnest call was made to repent and turn from their idolatrise behaviours to a merciful God, and to worship Him alone. [Photos of Mandela’s Wake]

What is disturbing is that citizens of South Africa are being indoctrinated and brain-washed with a communism technique that keeps people in bondage and fearful. Following a democracy does not give people freedom, it just makes you a slave of another political system. The Lord Jesus Christ said that if you knew the truth it shall make you free, as we read:

John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? John 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. John 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

And “your father” that the Lord Jesus Christ refers to is Satan, the Devil, as we read:

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

What the world needs now is not to follow the legacy of a dead man who could not resurrect himself, but to obey the commands of a living God who showed He is the Messiah by resurrecting Himself to life again, something Mandela could not do! Who you follow determines your eternal destiny. The Lord Jesus Christ said that you will know a man by his fruit – how he conducts his life. Is he living for Truth – which is a Person, not a set of rules and regulations – or is he deceived by lies? Whosoever committeth sin is a servant to sin (lawlessness – sin is the transgression of the law, see 1 John 3:4). What the world also sweeps away is the very conduct of Mandela. Sadly, after being released from prison, he did not leave his hatred behind in prison as the fable goes, as can be seen by him singing a “liberation” song from the heart, saying “we will kill the white man – amaBhulu.”

The same applies with the radical songs “Shoot the Boer” and “Take up your machine gun” that even the South African president Jacob Zuma has openly sung even after taking up power after apartheid. We read the following in God’s Holy Word:

Ephesians 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

It is clear that the vast majority of the people do not sing and make melody in their heart to the Lord as set out in the preceding Scripture as they are not believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, what prevails in and amongst the secular world is the very opposite, and sadly in and amongst professing Christians and those that masquerade as Gospel singers,  many of them do the singing for filthy lucre’s sake, for self-enrichment and out of greed and self-honour.  What is also evident is that it is not just the singing of so-called liberation songs, but there is a sinister evil practice afoot that has South Africans grossly gullible, blinded by a smokescreen masquerading as democracy as they believe the lie that South Africa is better off today than the dark days of apartheid. Sadly it starts with the indoctrination of our children through a god-hating regime who keeps brain-washing the populace with the so-called evils of apartheid without painting the full picture of the communist terrorism that prevailed through the military wing MK with the killing of both black and white civilians and the present genocide (watch the video of Genocide Watch at the link) that is taking place with atrocities against predominately white Afrikaner Boers who are the growing statistics of farm-murders. South Africa is also the murder and rape capital of the world with crime totally out of control. The sad reality that even so-called Christians cannot see is the prevalence of apartheid being practiced in reverse in the form of BBBEE right in our very midst, and this after Mandela said that never, never, and never again will one group rule over another (at his swearing-in as president of South Africa in 1994).

In closing, in the tribute given at the funeral in Qunu on December 15, 2013, by Nelson Mandela’s friend Ahmed Kathrada, he addressed Mandela as “Madala” as if he could hear him by saying: “What do we say to you in these, the last final moments together, before you exit the public stage forever?” In response Mr Kathrada, Mr Mandela departed into eternity the night he died. He could not hear you at the funeral. Kathrada then ended off the speech with the following statement: “When Walter [Sisulu] died, I lost a father and now I have lost a brother. My life is in a void and I don’t know who to turn to.” In response to your predicament, and all those who find themselves in the same predicament, the answer is simple: You need to repent and turn your sinful life over to the Lord Jesus Christ; He is your only hope.

South Africa and the world communities have been warned. This is your only hope, as we read in Philippians 2:1-15:

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

The God of Creation is not tolerant – He is intolerant of your abominable blasphemous idolatrise sin! Repent today, before it is too late! Ukupenduka!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

_______________

Related posts

Nelson Mandela Day 2011

The Face of Evil and Wicked South Africa

Nelson Mandela and the Iconic Man

The Mandelas, the ancestors, and a nation going to Hell

Nelson Mandela Day 2013

Eastern Cape Mission

Answer to Blaque

Another comment that needs to be corrected appeared at “The Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ HERESIES” (please read first) posted on August 15, 2012. The following comment from Blaque was received on June 16, 2013, quote:

“People like this Gary guy annoy me. I’m sure they are the ones that hate the idea that Jesus was a Black man and a human being. Born again con artists! U clearly have a problem and u hate Nongqunga. If its not zcc or Shembe nw its Tacc. Please leave people alone. There are many other religions why not address them. U have issues with anythng that has to with black people especialy if respects and acknowledges ancestors. Hayi Gary leave us alone with your “interpretation”.”

Repent and Believe South Africa ministries respond as follows:

Dear Blaque

Thank you for this comment. It is a shame that you are annoyed by the Truth that is being proclaimed! It is also clear that you do not believe the Truth and it would appear that you have never read the Bible for yourself. This is the problem that arises when you trust in a false apostle to interpret the Scriptures on your behalf. Have you never read John 4:22 ~

John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer is a Jew of the nation of Israel (Jacob). He is not a “Black man” as you allude. Many people have even foolishly referred to Him as being “African,” for that is where generally “Black men” come from, right? But they have failed to believe what God speaks of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth (in Galilee). Let us see the prophetic Word of God and their fulfilments. Jesus the Christ (Messiah) would be of the seed of Abraham, through Isaac and then Jacob (Israel) as we read in Genesis 12:3; 28:13,14

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Genesis 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

We also read that the Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah as it is written in Genesis 49:10 ~

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

The Lord Jesus Christ would also be Heir to the throne of David as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6,7 ~

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

And He would be born in Bethlehem as it is written in Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:1,6 ~

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

All of the preceding references are encapsulated in the Scriptures John 7:41-43, as it is written ~

John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

So the facts are – the Lord Jesus Christ is a Jew of Israel, a middle eastern people of origin.

Further, please understand that we do not hate Nongqunga! We do not hate our fellow man! We do however hate the evil false heretical teachings that he is involved in where millions of people are being deceived. The initial blog post that you have commented at would not have been necessary if the heresies were not publicly declared by the TACC and therefore we had to bring a public correction. This also goes for any other religious system, sect, or church that declares false teachings, of which we have previously addressed here on this blog under numerous postings and we will continue to declare the Truth without fear, favour or prejudice.

It would also be appreciated if you would refrain from your playing the racism-card. This has absolutely nothing to do with whether the man is black, green or white. Please also note that we do remember our ancestors, but God forbids speaking to, praying to and worshipping our ancestors. There is where the issue lies! An example is: My mother passed away on 29th February 2012. I do fondly remember her, and even think about the things she did for me and how we related to one another during her life-time, BUT I WILL NEVER now attempt to talk to her in her death, pray to her in her death or worship her in her death! Nor would I try to use her as a mediator between God Almighty and me! For here is what God’s Word says ~

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Deuteronomy 18:10 There 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,

Deuteronomy 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

A necromancer (see definition below at the foot hereof) is a consulter with the dead.

To end off with your last statement – “Hayi Gary leave us alone with your “interpretation”.” It is so difficult to just let falsehood go unchallenged. Reading your statement made me immediately think of a secular song by Pink Floyd titled “Another brick in the wall,” which lyrics go like this:

We don’t need no education;

We don’t need no thought control.

The dark sarcasm in the classroom;

HEY! Teacher! Leave us kids alone.

All-in-all it’s just a ‘nother brick in the wall.

All-in-all it’s just a ‘nother brick in the wall.

That is exactly it – mind control! People don’t want the TRUTH, so they would rather believe lies! Yeah, that is the work of the Devil!

Please repent, sir. Ukupenduka!

___________________________

nec·ro·man·cy (nkr-mns)

n.

1. The practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future.

2. Black magic; sorcery.

3. Magic qualities.

---

[Alteration of Middle English nigromancie, from Old French nigremancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantia, alteration (influenced by Latin niger, black) of Late Latin necromantia, from Greek nekromanteia : nekros, corpse; see nek-¹ in Indo-European roots + manteia, divination; see -mancy.]

---

necro·mancer n.

necro·mantic (-mntk) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Answer to Relebohile

Here is yet another comment received on June 1, 2013 that needs to be addressed by the Repent and Believe South Africa ministries. This comment is in response to a blog posting titled “The Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ HERESIES”  (please read first) that appeared on August 15, 2012.

Relebohile commented, quote:

“I wonder Gary if u think u wil c de kingdom of God while u r still in hatred with the Apostles, bcos wat u wrote here can jst tell d hatred dat u hv against the church or the leader of the church, read Jhn 3: 13-16. my qn is: do u really think dat u were gonna accept Christ if he was to cum 2u now, b careful dat u were jst gonna do de same things dat believers of his times did (read dis nd see if u r not thinking in d same way as dem, Jhn 7:27). Jst to let u knw dat de Apostles r going no where anytime sooner, read Jhn 17 de whole of it but plz read Jhn 17:20 twice, den Mthw 10:40; Acts 8:17-19; Mthw 28:18; Mthw 10:18-22 nd read wth understanding my dear brada or sista. And Jst 2help u out, Jesus Christ said the WILL of God is to believe the ONE He have sent (Jhn 6:29) not evn doz who knw the scriptures like u do my dear (Jhn 5:39). u can build ur church else where but if it is not on the rock foundation u will be jst lyk a some1 who didn’t build at all wen de rain cums (Mthw 7:24). TACC daz not preach hatred nd violence as u do, mayb if u can calm down nd giv dem a chance dey can teach u 1thing or 2, dey wil not judge u 4dey are givn d authority 2 4giv ur sins, instead dey wil giv u d love of God 4God nd Christ is only known by doz whom de son has chozn & revealed to dem, his disciples (Mthw 11:27)”

Repent and Believe South Africa responds as follows:

Dear Relebohile

Firstly, please note – It would be appreciated if you would write in eloquent English instead of the “electronic-media abbreviated speak” that can be misleading if someone doesn’t understand it. It would also help when someone wants to do a translation in “bing” or some other system, so it could help them to be a part of the conversation and understand what is being said. Otherwise, it looks just like gibberish!

I do not hate the true Apostles of the Holy Bible, nor do I hate the “false apostles” of the TACC. I however do wish that they will recant their false teachings and repent! Please understand, if any person says something that is contrary to what God’s Holy Word teaches, it needs to be examined in context. Pray to God and allow the Person of the Holy Spirit to teach you the Truth. Listen to how God brings an indictment against those that believe in “false apostles” even speaking through the true Apostle Paul who spoke to the ekklesia at Corinth as we read 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ~

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

From what you have said from your opening statement which reads “while u r still in hatred with the Apostles, bcos wat u wrote here can jst tell d hatred dat u hv against the church or the leader of the church, read Jhn 3: 13-16” it can be seen that you have misquoted Scripture just as the TACC members have wont to do to fit with their dogma. In your context you are making it known that “the Apostles” are in question here and you equate what has been written by me to be against “the church or the leader of the church.” The word “bcos” (because) links your accusation against the apostles with them being “the church  or the leader of the church.” When you go and read John 3:13-16 you will find that it does not speak of the apostles, as it is written:

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You see the portion of Scripture that you refer to is actually the Lord Jesus Christ speaking about Himself, being the Son of man. How can you misuse a portion of Scripture so elementary as reading it in context and not realise that it does not speak of the apostles’ church or leadership?

Sir, you go on and quote Scriptures making reference to the whole of John 17, then John 17:20 (I am not sure of the spiritual aspect of reading it twice as you requested?), Matthew 10:40, Acts 8:17-19, Matthew 28:18 and Matthew 10:18-22. These particular Scriptures do not limit the text just to “apostles” as you want them to read and understand them to be. Let us look at some of the Scripture portions you refer to with  a proper explanation ~

• John 17 ~ This chapter can be divided into three sections: 1. Christ prays for Himself (verses 1-5); 2. Christ prays for His disciples (verses 6-19); and 3. Christ prays for all believers (verses 20-26). There is no limitation. You read from the Holy Scriptures who the Lord Jesus Christ is praying for in context.
• John 17:20 ~ In context you can read and understand who the Lord Jesus Christ was addressing here. They are would be believers who would come to believe through the preaching of the disciples. Go to John 17: 18,19 which reads ~ “18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” In verse 20 the portion of text that says “Neither pray I for them alone,” makes reference to the commissioned disciples in the preceding verses to which the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for as He confirms that they “shall believe on me [Jesus] through their word [disciples];” [my emphasis and hereafter]. Cross reference the preceding sentence with the Holy Writ found in Acts 8:1 and 4 which read as follows ~ 1 And Saul [Paul] was consenting unto his death [Stephen]. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” You see disciples were commissioned and it is not only given to “apostles” as you allude to. That is the whole dogma of the TACC that only “living apostles” can lay hands and impart the Holy Spirit, and read and interpret the Scriptures.
• Matthew 10:40 ~ This text does not speak about “apostles.” It is referring to all disciples, believers upon the Lord Jesus Christ. To get context go back to Matthew 10:37 ~ “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” And cross reference in context with Luke 14:26 ~ “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Context is so important. Do not use verses in isolation.
• Acts 8:17-19 ~ You have not considered this portion of Scripture carefully. I agree that the first Apostles of the first century did lay their hands on people who received the Holy Spirit. This was attesting signs by the Apostles to confirm the Gospel. This is not the only way that the Holy Spirit was given. At Pentecost we read where no hands were laid on the disciples by “apostles” as we read in Acts 2:1-4 ~ 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Then we also read in Act 2:38 ~ “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  In Act 4:31 ~ “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” In Act 10:44 ~ “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” In Act 11:15 ~ “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” In Act 19:6 ~ “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” But here is how you get the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 11:13 ~ “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” You do not need a “living apostle” to lay hands on a person to receive the Holy Spirit as the TACC teaches in its dogma. That is why this is a TACC HERESIE!

There is sufficient evidence already presented from the Holy Word of God for us to discontinue with the exegesis of the other remaining Scriptures you mention. It only takes 0.01% untruth to corrupt the remaining 99.99%. TRUTH is 100% in the One True God Jesus Christ!

And to correct you sir, I certainly do not want to build a church in my name or any other name. The Lord Jesus Christ is Head and Builder of His Church. Man has made a churchianity system and put it in place calling it god (idolatry). How can you go to something which you are? Go figure!

If you have taken my love for hatred then you are deceived. Please read Isaiah 5:20,21 very carefully ~

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Please Repent sir, Ukupenduka!