by Closing Stages

Many Christians have been deluded into believing that they can somehow “change or convert” the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of God. In the process they have put their energies and hopes into bringing about the Kingdom of God by working towards getting more influence with government in order to transform government. Some even believe that Jesus will only return once we have transformed the world and created the millennial Kingdom.

This presupposes that the Kingdom of God is a better version of or improved earthly kingdom. But what does the Bible have to say about this?

In the study of Hermeneutics there are many principles to aid the student of Scripture, in the endeavor to discover truth. One such principle is called the first occurrence principle. The first mention of a subject in the Bible is often very significant for an understanding of that topic. Then following this topic through Scripture, a thread is often revealed and built upon until the last occurrence is mentioned providing a complete picture and comprehensive understanding of the topic in view.

The first mention of the word “kingdom” is in Genesis 10:10 when it says of Nimrod that “the beginning of his kingdom was Babel.” It was at Babel that the tower was built with the intention of reaching Heaven and that to this day remains the prime example of man’s pride, self-sufficiency and rebellion against God. Babel was the precursor and type of Babylon, the false world system and religion, which is the domain of the Antichrist (Revelation 17 & 18). It was at Babel that God brought division between the nations and broke their rebellious unity.

Furthermore it is remarkable and significant that the last time the word “kingdom” is mentioned is in Revelation 17:17 where it says that the world rulers will “be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast.” This will bring the world full-circle where they once again are united against God and once again establish Babel/Babylon.

The fact that the first and last mention of the word “kingdom” both relate to the false world system which is united in its rejection of God and that both speak of that which is man-made with an emphasis on man rather than God is not coincidental. By definition any kingdom built by man is anti-god and anti-Christ. The kingdoms of this world have never been, are not and never will be God’s Kingdom. They have different kings, different citizens, function by different principles and laws and have different goals.

When Satan tempted Jesus he “showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” (Luke 4:5-6). Jesus did not deny that this was in the Devil’s power to do and thus He acknowledges that the kingdoms of the world do indeed belong to the Devil. There are many theories as to how and when the Devil acquired them, but the fact remains that they are his to give. Several times Jesus refers to the Devil as “the ruler of this world” John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), confirming Satan’s dominion here on earth.

Many Christians feel that things changed after the Cross and that the Kingdoms of the world are now under God’s control. But Paul (after the Cross) still refers to Satan as “the god of this world (age)” (2Corinthinas 4:4). John (also after the Cross) states emphatically that “the whole world lies under the sway (NIV – “control”) of the wicked one” (1John 5:19). Thus the Devil is clearly the one who is in control of the world kingdomes, its systems, its religions, and its governments. Romans 13 says that authorities are appointed by God and that they are God’s servants or ministers. This does not mean that they are godly, they clearly are not. Nevertheless God uses them to accomplish His purposes (Revelation 17:17).

At no stage do the kingdoms of the world morph into the Kingdom of God. There is not a single Scripture to support this popular misconception. The kingdoms of this world are so evil that they are completely destroyed (Daniel 2 and Revelation 18) and they will be replaced by God’s Kingdom. This will be a work of God and not of man or the church. “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44). (See also Revelation 18 and 19). Christ’s Kingdom will ultimately become a physical kingdom, known as the Millennial Kingdom, but as said above, that will come about by a single cataclysmic (Day of the Lord’s Wrath) event when He sets up His Kingdom.¹

In Revelation 11:15 when the seventh trumpet is sounded it alludes to the kingdoms of this world becoming or morphing into the Kingdom of Christ. “Then the seventh angel sounded; And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” The Greek Word for “have become” is ginomai and means, “to come into existence, begin to be, receive being.” The seventh trumpet presents the consummation of God’s reign and the end of all world Government, the end of Satan’s authority over the earthly kingdoms, and the end of Antichrist’s 1230 day reign as Christ is now King over one single Kingdom. It is the seventh trumpet which ends the 70th Week of Daniel and the final bowl judgments are instituted within the extended 30 day period given in Daniel 12.

IN THE BEGINNING

In the Garden of Eden, when the serpent spoke to Eve concerning the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he told Eve, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5) (emphasis mine.) Driven out of the Garden, Adam and Eve had plunged mankind into spiritual darkness, separation from God, and with it man now had an unquenchable hunger for power and an insatiable thirst for godhood. Looking at Babel, under the leadership of Nimrod, a global community was formed as “the whole earth had one language and one speech” (Gen. 11:1). The appeal to personal power and recognition is seen in the building of a tower “whose top is in the heavens (vs.4).” Man sought to make a name for themselves and thus, make a statement, we can rule ourselves absent of God.

THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT (New Age)

Late in the 19th century there appeared the arousal of spiritualism known as Theosophy. It is believed by some that Theosophy, having Pagan origin, is the revival of a philosophy communicated by the Nephilim of old (See Gen. 6). Theosophy is any of various forms of philosophical or religious thought based on a mystical insight into the divine nature and is the system of belief and practice of the Theosophical Society. Though they deny the existence of any personal God, their views and doctrine express an intuitive insight into the divine nature. Today we call this movement the New Age Movement, however, it’s foundation rest upon the teachings of Madame Helena Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society. Blavatsky was heavily influenced by and involved in the supernatural and mythological.

The word “theosophia” appeared in both Greek and Latin in the works of the early church fathers as a synonym for theology. The theosophoi are “those who know divine matters.” During the Renaissance of the 12th century, use of this term converged into a gnostic knowledge that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation through a knowledge of the bonds that are believed to unite him to the world of divine or intermediary spirits, or Ascended Masters, as the theosophical society likes to call them.²

Through the use of intellect, mystical enlightenment, and by the teachings of the intermediary spirits, man will conqueror the earth and will himself become God. It is taught in every Masonic temple, every secret society, every secret brotherhood, every mystical temple, and every occult organization teaches the luciferian doctrine inspired by the ancient Egyptian mythology, Roman mythology, Greek mythology, Gnosticism and Western occultism.

The world rulers will “be of one mind, and give their kingdom to the beast” (Revelation 17:17), will again bring the world full-circle where they once again are united against God and once again establish Babel/Babylon.

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour…and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world”

1 John 2:18; 4:3

The Theosophical Society revived and codified the concept of the New World Order and today all New Age thought and doctrine is cradled in the early teachings of Madame Helena Blavatsky (ISIS UNVIELED 1877; A Magazine which she started in 1887 called “LUCIFER”; her principle work “THE SECRET DOCTRINE” was published in 1888; she also wrote “THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY” and “THE VOICE OF SILENCE”) It is said that her book “The Secret Doctrine” was channeled to her through an ascended master or highly evolved being. Though it is masked in secret societies, these teachings are openly advanced through political and religious institutions.

The World View

The New Age World view has many components such as astrological and zodiacal beliefs, channeling higher powers to achieve knowledge, contemplative meditation, the belief that all is one, and all forms of monism, the belief that we can obtain godhood, esotericism/re-interpreting ancient texts to find hidden meanings and unify all religious belief into one, and the belief we need a one world system for the coming age. Today it has become a political agenda to create a one world system, one world government, one world economy, the unity of humanity, control over humanity and the submission of the masses to the elite. Theosophy, Freemasonry, and Marxism are all connected with the New Age Movement. In fact, Freemasonry viewed doctrinally, is Theosophy³.

The Coming World Messiah

Many perpetrators of the New Age Movement have authored the coming of a world Messiah. Scott Nearing made a call in 1947 to shift society from nationalism to worldism asserting “The world man is here. His coming has been heralded through the ages by far-seeing individuals who felt and dreamed and thought in terms of human solidarity.⁴ The “World Teacher,” an advanced spiritual entity and high-ranking member of a hidden Spiritual Hierarchy, the so-called “Masters of the Ancient Wisdom” is also proclaimed to appear on the world scene. According to Theosophical doctrine, one of the hierarch’s functions is to oversee the evolution of Humankind. In accordance with this function, the (Maitrea) is said to hold the so-called Office of the World Teacher. Theosophical texts hypothesize that the purpose of this office is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge about the true constitution and workings of existence. Reputedly, one way the knowledge transfer is accomplished is by Mailtrea’s occasionally manifesting or incarnating in the physical realm; the manifested entity then assumes the role of World Teacher of Humankind. The Messianic Maitrea is linked to both Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions.

Human evolution then, is overseen by a hidden spiritual hierarchy, whose upper echelons consist of advanced spiritual beings. In addition to the stated objectives, as early as 1889 Helena Blavatsky publicly declared that the purpose of establishing the Society was to prepare humanity for the reception of the World Teacher. Another prominent Theosophist was Alice Bailey, she convinced New Agers that humanity needs to make a one world Government and one world Religion. She then taught the religion of Theosophy and speaking on the spiritual war between esotericism and the people who refuse to accept the new age, she stated:

“…it will be fought largely with mental weapons and in the world of thought; it will involve the emotional realm, from the standpoint of idealistic fanaticism. This inherent fanaticism will fight against the appearance of the coming world religion and the spread of esotericism…It must not be forgotten that only those souls who are on the Probationary Path or the Path of Discipleship will form the nucleus of the coming world religion…There is no question therefore that the work to be done in familiarizing the general public with the nature of the Mysteries is of paramount importance at this time…When the Great One comes with His disciples and initiates we shall have the restoration of the Mysteries and their exoteric presentation, as a consequence of the first initiation.”⁵ (Emphasis Mine)

The plan of freemissionary and the theosophical society is to abolish Christianity and infiltrate World governments in its agenda to create a new world order of a united humanity with a single global authority. The express aim of the Illuminati, Freemasons, and Theolosophical Society Orders is to eliminate Christianity, and overturn all civil government.

“But the future is now and the maneuvers are being unveiled. Christianity therefore as I say must either now come frankly forward and acknowledge it’s parentage from the great order of the past, seek to rehabilitate that and carry mankind one step forward in the path of evolution – or else it must perish, there is no alternative.”⁶ Acharya S.

“…people will either change or die,” for “that is the choice.” According to those who would concur with Hubbard, Christians will need to be more open minded so they too can receive the mark of the Antichrist. If they will not join with the global community and its agenda, they will be killed by the “opened minded” New Agers. She states that, “This act is as horrible as killing a cancer cell. It must be done (or the sake of the future of the whole. So be it; be prepared for the selection process which is now beginning. We, the elders, have been patiently waiting until the very last moment before the quantum transformation, to take action to cut out this corrupted and corrupting element in the body of humanity. It is like watching a cancer grow; something must be done before the whole body is destroyed…. The destructive one fourth must be eliminated from the social body.” ⁷ Barbara Marx Hubbard

New Age writer John Dunphy claims the New Age is replacing the “rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery.” New Age writer Foster Bailey has taught that those who do not live up to “New Age standards,” will end up “irreconcilable outcasts.”⁸

“Out of the full spectrum of human personality, one-forth is electing to transcend…One-forth is resistant to election. They are unattracted by life ever-evolving. Now, as we approach the quantum shift from creature-human to co-creative human the destructive one-forth must be eliminated from the social body…Fortunately you, dearly beloveds, are not responsible for this act. We are. We are in charge of God’s selection process for planet Earth. He selects, we destroy. We are the riders of the pale horse, Death.”⁹ Barbara Marx Hubbard (Emphasis Mine)

Interesting is the use of the fraction “one-forth” and the use of the term “The pale horse, Death” used by Barbara Marx Hubbard. It may interest you to know just how remarkably accurate she is as this is exactly what Scripture describes as the Great Tribulation spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:21 and meticulously recorded by the Apostle John in Revelation 6:7-8.

“When He opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the forth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a forth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” (Emphasis Mine)

G.H. Pember in his book “Earth’s Earliest Ages” devoted an entire chapter on Theosophy, and the Doctrines and ambitions of the Theosophical Society. Even during the Societies formative years their growth and organization was such that it drew the attention of men such as Pember who devoted his entire adult life to the study of the Antediluvian age, it’s mysteries, and it’s reemergence upon the world in the last days.

Pember states:

The objects of the Society were then set forth as follows.

1. To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.

2. To study Aryan literature, religion, and science.

3. To vindicate the importance of this inquiry.

4 To explore the hidden mysteries of Nature, and the latent powers of man.

Subsequently a fifth object of the Society, the destruction of Christianity, was revealed.

Pember later says, “It will, therefore, be seen that this foe has made a formal declaration of war.” This war at the beginning was not the genocide of Christians spoken of by the more recent New Age authors such as Barbara Marx Hubbard, Acharya S., and Alice Bailey. In the beginning they sought to infiltrate and corrupt Christianity.

Pember writes: “By the autumn of 1883 there were already seventy branches of the Society in India, and many thousands of Mahomedans, Buddhists, Hindus, Parsees, Christians, officials and non officials, governors and governed, have been brought together by its instrumentality.” Pember went on to say, “The Perfect Way, or the Finding of Christ, and its anonymous writers, for they claim inspiration, and decline to be styled authors, certainly display considerable ability; though in the case of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures they exhibit a knowledge far less accurate than that which they claim in regard to the doctrines of the Mysteries. Sometimes also, to suit their purpose, they give strange meanings to words, without condescending to hint at the process by which they reached their conclusion.”

It appears, their attempts to corrupt Christianity were mildly successful as over the next 125 years to this present time the New Age Movement has sought to subdue Christian Orthodoxy with false doctrine. Presently, their efforts over the last Century have paid off, with the birth of Contemplative Christianity, Mysticism, pantheism and Ecumenicalism. As Pember said of his time, and so true today: “Christians who take the trouble to reconnoiter (investigate) in the darkening twilight are well aware that hostile forces are converging from various quarters, but with unmistakable concert, upon their camp; while that camp itself is, alas! becoming thinned by the almost daily desertions of those who cease to believe in the Bible as the only revelation from God, and in the Lord Jesus Christ as the One Christ and Savior.”¹⁰

It becomes clear that the “one forth” who must be eliminated from the social body, as Barbara Marx Hubbard alleged, are those faithful Believers who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:2, 12:11,17; 14:12).

¹ Two Kingdoms by Pastor Anton Bosch; Revised by Michael Rogers.

² Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy

³ Wm. C. Irvine; Heresies Exposed.

⁴ Scott Nearing; “United World” Island Press, 1945, p.35

⁵ Alice Bailey, The Externalization of the Hierarchy, [Lucis Publishing, 2nd edition (June 1983)] p. 453, 511, 513, 514

⁶ Acharya S. “The Christ conspiracy, the greatest story ever sold”, [Adventures Unlimited Press, 1999]. [p. 416, 417]

⁷ Barbara Marx Hubbard; blessedhopechapel.org; The Coming Persecution

⁸ blessedhopechapel.org; The Coming Persecution.

⁹ Barbara Marx Hubbard; The Book of Co-Creation [1980 edition] p.59

¹⁰ G.H. Pember; Earth’s Earliest Ages; published 1876 by Hodder and Stoughton. Chapter 13, Theosophy.

There is some interesting word usage going on here and so had the opportunity to pick them apart with a friend of mine.

The first to consider are the words “do not”, which implies a command, not a suggestion. Do not, kindred to the very well known thou shalt not as used in the 10 commandments, very serious word choices.

What is holy? Strong’s identifies holy as 40 h’agios – properly, different (unlike), other, otherness, holy; for the believer, likeness of nature with the Lord because different from the world.  It implies something “set apart” and therefore “different (distinguished/distinct) because special to the Lord.

Mark 6:20…Herod was afraid of John (the Baptist), knowing that he was a righteous and holy man.

2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

We know that through Christ we are separated, set apart from the world, used by the Lord to be an influence to the lost and dying. This is why we separate ourselves from worldly things, desires and influences to be counted as holy and righteous.

Do not give what is holy to dogs. Strong’s 2965 k’yon explains dogs as scavenging canine, a spiritual predator who feeds off others.  Huh? A spiritual predator who feeds off others. A true “selah” moment. A loose dog was disdained in ancient times – viewed as “mooch pooch” that ran about as a scavenger.

“Mooch Pooch” – fitting, I like it. We’re coming back here.

Philippians 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

The dogs are evil workers, who put their confidence in their flesh, in whatever they have conceived in their own fleshy minds to be true. They go about from place to place taking what does not belong to them, they are beggars and liars using their fleshy lies to seduce money and fame from the untrained, the unsuspecting, those who are bent by emotion rather than by fact.

2 Corinthians 11:12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

The plan is to waylay the works of satan by cutting off those – the mooch pooches – who seek fame and admiration from their followers, those they have deceived. This has been an ongoing process as Paul is pointing out that what he does, he will continue to do. Sound familiar to anyone here?

There is more here in this scripture that needs to be looked at. Paul is going after false apostles, those who have disguised themselves as apostles of Christ.  In Matthew 24:5, Christ warns His disciples – “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” The “mooch pooches” use the name of the Lord all over their wares, just as liberally as a southern person uses sugar for their iced tea. Yet, there is no sweetness to be had, it is all rancid, putrid, crawling with flies. They have come in His name, yet know nothing of Him.

Paul continues that these false apostles are of satan in that he also disguises himself as light. I am reminded the words of Jesus in Matthew 8:44 “”You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  There is a distinct connection between satan and his followers – the truth is not in them – and we are seeing how to make that connection and how to handle these men and women once they are identified.

So now that we can see more clearly, Matthew 7:6 tells us do not give what is set apart for God to those who have no regard for Him. Some will be disguised as apostles of Christ, those who cling to no end to their lying doctrines of demons. Others will simply be those who will not hear the truth of the gospel. We will know them because they will be the ones without ears to hear.

To continue, do not throw your pearls before swine. It is of no surprise to anyone here that pearls are of great value. I prefer gemstones, especially the blue ones, but many ladies like the pearls, and that’s ok.  The Lord has regard for them as we see in Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. This is what we do, as we lay down our lives, giving over our will and maybe all that we have – our homes and families – for Christ, the pearl of great value.

This is the fun part and I do love my pork, but the bible, especially the old testament and those who follow the strict dietary laws of the middle east detest it. And here we have it used symbolically for what it used to be, that forbidden, cloven-hooved, dirty animal – the swine.  It is common knowledge that pigs can become quite viscous in their pens when given food. The scripture is telling us not to throw – toss, make sudden motion – our belief, our pearls to those are considered like swine, those who upon hearing the truth have no regard for it, and instead trample our words, and turn to tear us apart. Sometimes this is verbal, having spiritual affect, and for others it is to literally take their lives.I have to point out, that in many of the verbal attacks against me I have noticed an increase in the viciousness, murderous intent of their words. Maybe you have too.

Matthew 7:6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

I believe the gospel is for every person ever born on this earth and that Jesus died for all of us, and that it is the will of God that all would come to Him in repentance as sinners. I believe that through Christ we are given forgiveness and a relationship with the Father God, to one day live forever in His kingdom. I also believe the blessings given to us in this life are wonderful, yet nothing to be compared with what awaits us in “that day”. I believe we are called to spread the gospel as the Lord leads and not to hold back simply because of threats made against us, whether they be implied, verbal or physical.

But, here the bible is giving is clear distinctive instruction, even commands on how to handle people who are not willing to hear or even consider the truth set before them. It is giving us information to identify them and how to handle them and their false teaching. Knowing who to approach and how comes with discernment and guidance only the Holy Spirit can provide.

All of this has been for one purpose, to decide when enough is enough in dealing with people overcome with false doctrine. I’ve read, and certainly been a part of the endless debate and commenting, the urging that seems to go on and on without result – that one person who just will not see no matter the scripture set before them to prove otherwise.  The answer is truly simple -

Titus 3:10-11 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self condemned.

2 John 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

In Memory - Steven G. Kelly II -

Two years ago today, my husband’s son was murdered in Las Vegas.  The following is a copy of the impact letter I wrote to the judge for her consideration in sentencing the  man who killed him.

 

I offer this today to Steven’s memory and for those of us who share in the loss of our children. God sees all things.  Nothing escapes His gaze or His righteous judgement.

 

Your Honor;

I am addressing the untimely death of my step son Steven, who was forever taken from us in an act of rage, and outright murder.

Steven was my husband’s son who I met when he was about 9 years old. He was playful, curious and strong, and grew to be an astonishingly handsome man whose looks were striking. His death has created a huge hole in our hearts and also in our lives. Every person within a family has a special place that is only for them. That place is filled by the many ways of who they are. It is not a place filled by great social or societal accomplishment, but in small things that are shared, fun things, silly jokes that no one else “gets”, curious things, the things of laughter and of tears, of struggle and of resolve in things learned, in growing and growing up, things that only touch families. Why? Because we know of each other and are known by each other, creating the intimacy of family that God had in mind when He put us together. When a person is taken from their family that place is forever lost, the family is not what it was while that person was alive and it will never be so again. It has to reform, but is it forever broken. We are broken. The place that was Steven is now empty; it is a giant hole of nothingness and it will never close.

Steven will not be in the car that pulls into the driveway. When our phone rings his voice will not be heard on the other end. There will be no more well wishes on birthdays and holidays. There will be no more food fests and curiosities shared in the kitchen. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, and he was a friend. He was a big brother to my two daughters, especially my youngest – Jessica – who grew quite close to him just before her own death. Steven will not be here to continue to inquire as to how I am in losing her, his condolences are forever lost. His memories that he shared with her and of her will never again be repeated in my ear. In a sense, the loss of her is renewed to me in his death, in his absence. I will not see the blazing intensity of his eyes looking back at me in “those” conversations we often shared of life, of faith of relationship.  As for the future, there will be no grandchildren, no “little Stevies” to run around and carry on and remind us of Steven, his strength, his great looks his beautiful heart and smile.

After his death we met with some friends and neighbors there in Las Vegas who knew him. Every one commented on his helping nature, his great heart, that he was always around to help others despite his own problems or needs. We found those stories greatly encouraging because that was the Steven we knew too. For him was formed the motto “Always had a heart to help others”. We also met with a member of the police department, a field officer, who talked with us about Steven and assured us he was truly trying to work out his problems.

About one year before his death, Steven was diagnosed with Bi-polar. That diagnosis explained to us the suffering that he experienced in his lack of focus, the extremes in behavior, his ups and his downs. It explained to us why he could never just be who he was, or recognize the simple fact that he was hugely loved, a part of a very large family who nearly moved heaven and earth to help him.

He began treatment and  medication and for the first time we saw his focus, his desire to grow, a new ability to work in gainful employment, to settle, to begin to understand on a new level our love for him and how important he was to us as a family member. We saw a deeper relationship forming between us,  longer conversations of encouragement shared on both ends,  of love, courage and support. We had a hope that had not been there before. A hope that was lost the day he died. So again, all that Steven was to us, all that he could have been in the years to come was taken away forever.

How do I explain to you the impact of the loss of a child? It is my second time around. Truly, there are no words good enough, nor paper long enough to express that loss, that grief. It is a loss that will never end, as it is renewed every day upon waking. It is to wonder if why my own heart beats, or why it is necessary to draw in one more breath. How can I possibly go on without that life, that person I once knew who used to look at me, talk to me, laugh with me, and even argue with me? Yes, I miss that too!  It is a loss that is lived out every moment. The excruciating pain that is felt lessens as time passes, but it never heals. The emptiness from the hole in all of our lives, and in our hearts that was Steven will always be there. No one can take it away, no one can fill it – ever.

When I have tears and grieve over his death, they are not just for me, they are for the entire family. The grief I feel is for my beloved husband Steve, it is in my knowing first hand the horror of losing a child, the pain, the loss, the endless questioning of “why”.  It is in looking in his eyes and knowing the heart that I love suffers as I had suffered. I cry tears for him because I completely understand, I feel it with him, I walk it out with him every day. The grief is for Steven’s mother Kathy, whose own grief sent me to the floor on numerous occasions, again, knowing firsthand what she felt the shock, the horror, in our first conversation over the phone, more tears than words. Grief shared of our lost son…her son…their child…Steve and Kathy’s…their heartbeat. It is the initial shock and horror continued with the repeated loss, grief, tears of others, people who I love and who love me. People who loved Steven now with a loss that will never end.

When the Lord said, “You shall not murder” He did so in His great wisdom. Life is His to give and His to take. He knew the endless suffering that would come to families, to those who love and who are loved, at the hands of a murderer.

Your Honor, I thank you for your time and consideration.

M’Kayla Kelly
Vancouver, WA

FOR YOU LADIES:

“For this reason a MAN shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall BECOME ONE FLESH” Eph. 5:31

1. You cannot divided the number one  – - 1 divided by 1 = 1

2. Ever wonder why it wasn’t until Adam ate the fruit that both their eyes were opened? It’s because they were ONE, eve ate first but until Adam ate they could not have been plunged into spiritual darkness. The process was not complete until Adam ate. And, Adam knowingly, ate, knowing he was disobeying God.

3. Eve was not trying to liberate herself from her husband! If that were so, she would have never gave the fruit to her husband.

4. This is the most important part: Submission is a two way street in marriage, both are to submit to God, period. Both submit to each other, in different ways of course, but in reality, there is more of a submission role for the husband to the wife outlined in Ephesians 5 than there is for the wife to the husband. At the end of the day, they are still ONE.

Video by Caryl Matrisciana

Pagan Origins Argument.

Lucifer (who became Satan), is a created being and a former anointed cherubim angel. Prior to his fall, he was convinced he could “raise his throne above the stars of God” and make himself “like the Most High.” But his hopes of ruling over Almighty God and the universe was only a pipe dream. God clearly demonstrated Who was in charge and booted Lucifer and one-third of the angels out of heaven (Ezekiel chapter 28; Genesis chapter 3; Isaiah chapter 14; Revelation chapter 12).

Currently, Satan is the “prince of the power of the air,” who roams the earth like a roaring lion, seeking to kill and destroy (Ephesians 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8). His future is doomed: “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Now, there is only one God, who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Again, God created Lucifer, who became Satan. Satan is not omnipotent (all- powerful), omnipresent (everywhere at one time), or omnicient (all-knowing). Only God has those attributes.

Satan is evil and wickedness personified (study John chapter 8). He hates God and His creation. As a created being, he and his demons do not have the power to heal, nor do they have the power to create. Also, heavenly angels do not have the power to heal or create.

Satan does, however, perform “lying wonders” and phoney miracles. Think of him as a master magician, who plays mind games on his audience, and uses trickery and slight-of-hand to make things appear and disappear. Satan works through false prophets and false teachers to accomplish his goals. He is the master deceiver.

Consider this: If Satan could heal, why are so many faith healers being exposed for false healings? Why are the sick and dying leaving the “healing” crusades the same way the came in? Why do faith healers make excuses when amputated arms and legs aren’t restored, or when children suffering from crippling diseases are still confined to wheelchairs?

If Satan could heal, he would be a great benefit to faith healers, false prophets, and false teachers. As such, many more people would be drawn into Satan’s web of deception.

When Jesus returns, every believer will be healed and transformed (1 Corinthians chapter 15; Romans chapter 8). Until then, pay no attention to people who claim to be “prophets of God”. Deuteronomy 18:19-22 teaches us not to be afraid of false prophets (study Ephesians chapter 5; Romans chapter 16; and Acts 20:27-31).

As for those who claim to be healed from all sorts of debilitations, diseases, and illnesses, let me just say that pain is real. When doctors give up hope, sometimes those in pain become desperate, and seek other ways to relieve their pain. Sometimes, they turn to faith healers, who welcome them with open arms, and provide “hope” and promises to be healed.

But, feelings, emotions, and anticipation are real too. Ask anyone who suffers from pain if they would like to be healed, and they will shout “YES!” And, if they are made to think they can be healed, then the faith healer’s scam is almost complete (the following articles will help you understand the mind-set of a faith healer, and what God says about false prophets):

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Manasseh_Jordan3.htm

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/God&FalseProphets.htm

Keep in mind that adrenaline flowing through a person’s body plays a role in how they perceive things. For example, when a person in pain attends a “healing” crusade, their feelings, emotions, anticipation, and excitement of being healed causes adrenaline to flow, which generally provides temporary relief from pain.

Soldiers who have been wounded in combat do extraordinary things. Small people are able to lift heavy weights. People with legitimate physical problems are able to run and jump up-and-down. Adrenaline, coupled with feelings, emotions, and anticipation can cause the sick and dying to think and feel that they have been healed. But it is only temporary. When the crusade is over, and when the excitement has calmed down, the adrenaline stops flowing. It is then when the sick and dying realize they haven’t been healed.

Sadly, when faith healers say (or imply) that the sick and dying are healed, many stop taking their medicine and cancel their doctors’ appointments. They placed their faith in the faith healer. And, many paid the ultimate price.

Finally, what looks legitimate on the outside may be fake and deadly on the inside. Pray for those who are deceived, but stay away from them, or you will be drawn into their web of deception and turned away from the true and living God. I have seen it happen many times.

Erin, study your Bible, and never be afraid to ask questions. Stay close to those who care about you and your spiritual welfare. They will help you grow as a Christian.

God bless,
Bud Press

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

I heard a voice say to me, “Everything will be used against you.” Later, while sitting at my vanity table I considered those words for a time and then from my make up drawer, I chose a dark purple eye pencil and wrote them down on the glass top of my vanity table -“Everything will be used against you.”  I considered them again.

Were these words of an attempted scare-tactic by the enemy, or were they a warning from the Lord in how thing were going to go for me, a kind of prophecy?  I did not like they way the words sounded in my head as I considered these options. I did not like the sound they made or the ominous sense of fear that seemed to rise from them. Uncertainty, the fear of the unknown. I didn’t like that word “everything” and what did that mean, exactly? Again, I looked at the words I had written in my own script, the color of purple eye liner now looking more like black, and thought how fittingly so that color! Still, one part of me did not like those words, yet another part of me seemed to draw a strange kind of strength from them.  I got up and walked out of my walk-in closet, snapping off the light as I went, leaving those words to themselves in the darkness.

This morning I read a post written by a dear friend Line Drawn in the Sand. The opening words seemed to be so profound and I wondered,“wow, why can’t I write things that say that?” As I read, I began to laugh out loud, because I realized they were my words.

“…will you be a follower of man, or will you risk all – your ministry, your reputation, your friendships, and one day maybe even your very life to follow Christ? These are becoming perilous, dangerous times to be called by His name.”

This was a question I had posed in 2009, when I first set up my blog, “M’Kayla’s Korner”.

Then and there I was hit with the impact of all that has happened in my life over the last six weeks or so, and again I wondered at the prophetic sound of my words and the words uttered from the voice, “Everything will be used against you”.

I read the words of my Lord and coming from Him, somehow it all seems to make better sense, at least for this moment.

Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  

35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 36 and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 and he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of me.

39 He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Who’s Your Covering?

In light of its popularity and acceptance, one would think that it would be easy to document this teaching with Scripture. The truth is, however, that it is glaringly absent from Scripture. We never hear of Paul talking about his “covering,” nor do we hear him claiming to be anyone else’s “covering.” Instead, in Galatians 1:1, he speaks of his independence from the Twelve and other Christian leaders, declaring his apostolic calling to be, Not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead. To the Colossian believers who were being led astray by false teachers, Paul reminds them that they are complete, not in Paul, but in Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10).

Jesus too is silent about the need for a human “covering.” After cleansing the temple he was confronted by the religious leaders who demanded to know, By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority? They knew he was not ordained or authorized by them, so they wanted Him to explain His right or authority to carry out such an act? In contemporary terminology, they were asking, “Who’s your covering?”

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Men who are deceived, leaders following after other false leaders, apostles and prophets who have been given the place of the shepherd, will also be excused from their failure, the blame placed on the woman, or their wife who leads them into deception. Why? Because that is what women do. Men apparently have no responsibility for their actions or decisions, but to lay it upon the shoulders of their women. Really guys?

On a more personal note, the last time I approached a pastor on his decision to appoint a women’s minister who followed after Richard Foster and the Emergent Church, to their so called woman’s ministry, resulting in our decision to leave the church (among other things) and after having given him scriptures instructing us in what we were to do in that situation, I was reminded that  – I was a woman – . Wow.

Last night I found a very well written, seven part series on the fall of man, written by Bill Randles, in which part 2 he states:

Responsibility for the fall of man is laid at the feet of Adam, the father of us all, not Eve. Never in all of the revelation of God, is she seen as being primarily the cause of the fall. Adam was the person God called out immediately after the transgression, not Eve. Eve was deceived by the serpent, not Adam. The commission was given to Adam to guard and keep the garden.

Therefore it is interesting that the narrative of the fall centers around the woman. The serpent approached the woman, accused God to her, and presented his arguments to her. We are told in verse 6 that Adam was there with her, but verse six is an account of her inner thoughts which led to the transgression.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.(Genesis 3:6)

Is this not a warning that one of the tell-tale marks of the serpent is to marginalize the man from his God assigned position of primal responsibility?

And

When Adam passively allowed his wife to take the lead in the couple’s dealing with the serpent, by default he  abdicated his high calling to keep and guard the garden of God. He had been given the Word, and the commission to have dominion over the earth, not Eve.

But through the Serpent, Eve became the priest. It was Eve who mediated the serpent’s false “Word”, and she  who “ministered” to Adam the “sacrament”,(ie the forbidden fruit) . Adam perversely took part in the sinful rite which was supposed to “open their eyes” and make them wise, and to become “as gods”.

Personally, I have heard quoted Genesis 3:16 as the base scripture that a woman’s natural desire would be to rule over her husband, usurping his authority, still being under the curse.

Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.

I don’t see the meaning of usurping spiritual authority written in these words. A woman’s desire should be for her husband, to be with him, since she is a part of him, no longer two flesh, but one, created to be that way by God.

The word desire in the Hebrew is teshuwqah which Strong’s identifies the meaning as a stretching out after, longing – desire; and taken from shuq, which is to be in abundance, to overflow.

From my online English dictionary -

desire |dəˈzī(ə)r|
noun
a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen : [with infinitive ] a desire to work in the dirt with your bare hands.
• strong sexual feeling or appetite : they were clinging together in fierce mutual desire.
verb [ trans. ]
strongly wish for or want (something) : he never achieved the status he so desired | [as adj. ] ( desired) it failed to create the desired effect.
• want (someone) sexually : there had been a time, years ago, when he had desired her.
• archaic express a wish to (someone); request or entreat.
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French desir (noun), desirer (verb), from Latin desiderare (see desiderate ).

Also translated as a longing for:

longing |ˈlô ng i ng |
noun
a yearning desire : Miranda felt a wistful longing for the old days | [with infinitive ] a longing to be free | his tale of love and longing.
adjective
having or showing such desire : her longing eyes.
DERIVATIVES
longingly adverb
long 2
verb [ intrans. ]
have a strong wish or desire : she longed for a little more excitement | [with infinitive ] we are longing to see the new baby.
ORIGIN Old English langian [grow long, prolong,] also [dwell in thought, yearn,] of Germanic origin; related to Dutch langen ‘present, offer’ and German langen ‘reach, extend.’

In all that I still cannot connect the “usurping authority” thing because it simply and clearly is not there. You know how the scripture warns us of other gospels, of another jesus, well, it seems there is another garden scenario as well, another Eve. Lets be careful in how we continue to tell the outcome of this story.

Eve (before she was so named) was created as a helpmeet to her husband Adam, such would be the Godly role for all wives in the future. This is a place of help, just as it implies, not a place of selfish rule or stolen authority, but one to give wise and Godly counsel to him through the various issues and circumstances of their lives together. It is to love him, to honor him and to support him. This role does not imply spiritual authority, but one of submission, she to her husband as to the Lord, and he to her and to the Lord. Submission in that order is most important, one cannot operate without the other.

Wives who are looking to serve their Lord in all that implies, are not looking to control their husbands. It is spiritually impossible. They are looking also to please their husbands, through their own desire and longing for him, expressed in the ways of marriage and in the words “Your desire will be for your husband”.

The second part of verse 16 “he will rule over you” implies the true way of the flesh, manifested in man, which is always to rule over another, very often over woman, or the one who is weaker. God did not create or command one to rule over another in any gender role, but one is to lead in love, the way Jesus lead, in the way of a true servant. So the idea that a husband would rule over his wife, or that a wife would rule over her husband – which is the way often taught, yet not expressed in these words-  is completely out of context of the whole counsel of the bible.

I believe verse 16 was a warning to women and to men in the way their lives together would go, so long as there is not proper submission – authority and love, in the  manner laid out by God. As long as women are considered as sinners, the relationship between the two will be flawed, whether it be in marriage or ministry. Remember, Adam willingly gave over his God-given authority in a passive manner and Eve stepped in. When the natural course of creation is not followed, the unnatural takes over.

Consider so many women who are abused and battered throughout the world, hidden in their homes, some literally cloaked in black, heavy material constantly carrying the burden of the sin of another on their small shoulders. Consider also the same kind of black, heavy, spiritual cloaking done to Christian women over the years and through the misuse of this scripture, demonically twisted and distorted and taught as truth.

(I am aware of many women who seek to rule over their husbands, their churches and ministries in ways not appointed to them by God. They, however, are not the topic of this discussion.)

To conclude and teach women “Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you”  is God’s design as part of the curse from the fall, and that she will never be free from the need to control, is nothing short of spiritual abuse and is a lie from the pit of hell. We are not responsible for the sin of Eve, nor for the failure of Adam. We are forgiven and free to serve our Lord as He calls.

When the husband refuses to lead in the spiritual sense, what’s a girl to do? Cling to the One who died for us, who did not count it as loss to give up His place in heaven to die for our sins. His name is Jesus and He counts us a co-heirs with the men He also died for.

I am not Eve, nor are my sisters in Christ- we are free, forgiven, having been washed in the blood, longing for the day when Christ returns, submitted to His will for His purpose, for His glory, willingly laying down our own unfulfilled longings and desires for His. To God be the glory for delivering us from bondage and granting us the leading of the Holy Spirit in comfort, peace and in truth.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.