Wednesday, April 23, 2008

HEGELIAN DIALECTICS AND CONSPIRACY



Hegelian Dialectics and Conspiracy
As I speak tonight, try to relate what I say to your observation of our own country, and our Western (once Christian) allies. As we examine the philosophy behind national and international affairs, we discover it has a common purpose and source in every major nation, with the exception of perhaps China. At first sight, militant national power appears to be the major force in history; but if there is a power which can bring nations into military conflict, it is a superior power. Is there such a power, and where, if anywhere, is it located? There is a relationship between Finance, Centralization, and World Hegemony. Until the outbreak of the First World War, money appeared to be a mere mechanism. But the arrangements made to finance the war reveal that the money system was in fact the vehicle of a POLICY, and that that policy was the CENTRALIZATION of power leading progressively to World Government. Prior to the outbreak of war, Great Britain was the CENTRE (but not the BEING) of world financial control; with the war, financial control was transferred to New York and from there used to dismantle the British Empire which, by reason of British traditions and the Anglo-Saxon character, had been the great barrier to World Dominion by those operating through the world financial system. The fall of the British Empire was a FINANCIAL accomplishment, not a military one. But the terms of 'peace' imposed on 'victorious' Britain are those which might have been expected following military DEFEAT. But the Power which emerged into the open in this century had its birth long before that. It was incubated (but not conceived) in the Secret Societies of Europe, appeared briefly in the French Revolution, and spread to Britain in the form of Fabianism, and to America in the form of various Socialist societies. Following the first phase of the war, it openly took over Russia, and since has visibly spread as International Communism until it has taken over the greater part of the globe. Current history, which looks episodic, is in fact the culminating stages of a very long-term policy moving internationally, but visible only in the long perspective of time. What we think we see is often an illusion intentionally presented, like the conjuror who would have you to believe he holds an orange in his right hand, when it is actually in his left hand. Citizens of the world, whether their sympathies are left-wing or right-wing, monarchist or republican, have been used as pawns in their game of Hegelian psychology by the hidden hand that rules. In reality, the orange is in neither left nor right hand. The Hegelian dialectic process is the notion that conflict creates history. (See brain2.htm "Brainwash").From this axiom it follows that controlled conflict can create a predetermined history. For example when the Trilateral Commission discusses 'managed conflict', as it does extensively in its literature, it implies the managed use of conflict for long run predetermined ends - not for the mere random exercise of manipulative control to solve a problem. The dialectic takes this Trilateral 'managed conflict' process one step further. In Hegelian terms, an existing force (the thesis) generates a counterforce (the antithesis). Conflict between the two forces results in the forming of a synthesis. Then the process starts all over again: Thesis vs. antithesis results in synthesis. It's like two companies with undisclosed common stockholding submitting competitive tenders for a project on a site for which their stockholder has different plans altogether. Whatever the outcome, the stockholder is in beneficial control.

Here are some illustrations of the Hegelian Dialectic process:-


The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

Marxist Russia Nazi Germany
Conflict of
World War II
1917 Bolshevik Revolution 1933 Hitler's accession to power
USA Constructs and subsidizes USA constructs and subsidizes
Soviet Union 1920 -- present National Socialism

Profit

Synthesis

Post World War II United Nations, a step towards New World Order
__________________________________________
Since World War II:-
The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

Marxist Russia Capitalist West
(no longer Free Enterprise)
Conflict of
Cold War
USA Constructs and subsidizes USA constructs and subsidizes
Soviet Union Germany, Japan, Israel, Foreign
Aid, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

Profit

Synthesis

Detente, Glasnost, Perestroika, destruction of the Berlin Wall
and supposed collapse of Soviet Union. One step closer to NWO.
__________________________________________
At the present day:-
The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

Communist China USA and/or CIS (Russia)
Conflict

West see Russia as under threat from China and unite with CIS

Profit

Synthesis

New World Order
__________________________________________
In our adversarial 'two' party politics:-
The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

Aust. Liberal Party Aust. Labor Party
or or
(US. Republican Party) (US. Democratic Party)
Conflict of
general election
Multimillion dollar borrowing of campaign funds

Profit

Synthesis

Australia becomes a Republic so that new Constitution permits
usurpation of States' sovereignty and National Sovereignty
surrendered for Asian regionalization in NWO.
__________________________________________
In recent Sydney news:-
The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

NSW State Government Aborigine activists in Redfern
Developers/financiers
Conflict of street
violence and arson
Desire to evict and resettle Free relocation of Aboriginie
Aboriginie residents outside tenants to brand new homes.
Metropolitan Sydney prior to Profit from redevelopment of
2000 Olympic Games. Beautify site and subsequent sale of
and redevelop as commercial slums transformed to luxury
or inner-city apartments for inner-city apartments, shopping
wealthy Chinese with a view and commercial complex whilst
to huge increase in rates. retaining some ownership.

Profit

Synthesis

A FURTHER step towards the destruction of Australia's once
homogeneous society with development of largest Asian Colony
to date in the heart of Sydney.
__________________________________________
In the religious world of AD325:-
Satan

Constantine and Rome

Thesis Antithesis

Athanasius Arius
Conflict of
theology
Trinitarianism Unitarianism

Conflict of human reasoning
culminating in First Nicea Council

Profit

Synthesis

Recognition of carnal reasoning against Christian faith and
its institutionalization under State patronage and control.
Eventual outlawing of Christian faith and the persecution of
true saints by the false church until today, true Christianity
is accounted heresy and ridiculed by most Bible students.
__________________________________________
In the religious world of Papal Rome:-
Satan

The Globalist Elite

Thesis Antithesis

Roman Catholicism Protestantism
Conflict of
theology
Counter Reformation Reformation
Great harlot Prostitute daughters
Vatican II World Council of Churches
End of Gentile Dispensation
Beast unites with Image to the Beast
Incarnation of Pope Apostasy

Profit

Synthesis

Union of churches to stop Communism and rule New World Order
__________________________________________
In his novel "Conningsby", Disraeli wrote "the world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes".Woodrow Wilson said, "Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of somebody, are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it".Now for our text. In Matthew 16:6, Jesus said, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees".This is another illustration of Hegelian dialectics or logical argument. In other words, the mark of the beast: wisdom against faith.Here were two denominations each inspired by Satan, whose purpose was to contest the Laws and Ordinances of the Old Testament. One was the THESIS, the other its ANTITHESIS. Neither could agree on the Word or recognize It manifested before them. The SYNTHESIS through the apostasy of both parties was their own damnation through rejection and crucifixion of Messiah. Even their high priest declared, "His blood be upon us and upon our people". And It has been ever since.The synthesis sought by the Establishment is called the New World Order. Without CONTROLLED conflict, this New World Order will not come about. RANDOM individual actions of persons in society would not lead to this synthesis, it is ARTIFICIAL, therefore it has to be created. And this is being done with the calculated, MANAGED, use of conflict. And all the while this synthesis is being sought, there is no profit in playing the involved parties against one another. (Hence World War I was postponed three times until the pawns were in their predetermined places). This also explains why the International bankers backed the Nazis, the Soviet Union, North Korea, North Vietnam, etc., against the United States. The 'conflict' built profits while pushing the world ever closer to One World Government.The Establishment is ruled by elite, secret societies. Their operations must be seen and explained in terms of the Hegelian dialectic process. Their operations cannot be explained in terms of any other philosophy; therefore they cannot be described as "right" or "left", Marxist or Capitalist. However, one group is secular, and another is religious. The religious force is the Roman Catholic church. We are familiar with their place in history and in prophecy. Our teaching will consider the secular group and its objectives which is ALL of these and NONE of these.In Hegelian philosophy the conflict of political 'right' and political 'left', or thesis and antithesis in Hegelian terms, is essential to the forward movement of history and historical change itself. Conflict between thesis and antithesis brings about a synthesis or new historical situation.Our descriptive world history in the West and Marxist countries consists only of description and analysis within a political framework of 'right' or 'left'. For example, historical work published in the West looks at communism and socialism either through the eyes of financial capitalism, or Marxism. While historical work published in Russia looks at the West only through Marxist eyes. However, there is another frame of historical analysis that has never been utilized. This would employ a framework of Hegelian logic, to determine if the elites who control the State use the dialectic process to create a predetermined historical synthesis.The current world situation was deliberately created by elitist power more or less by manipulation of 'right' and 'left' elements. Over the past 100 years or so they've developed both right and left elements to bring about a NWO. Right-left situations have been deliberately created and then placed in conflict mode to bring about a synthesis.Since the rise of Kant (who stressed reason and experience) in German philosophy, we can identify two conflicting systems of philosophy; and therefore two opposing ideas of the State, society and culture.In the U.S., the British Commonwealth and France, philosophy is based on the individual and the rights of the individual. Whereas in Germany from the time of Kant, through Fichte and Hegel up to 1945, basic philosophy has been universal brotherhood, rejection of individualism, and general opposition to Western classical liberal thought in almost all of its aspects. German idealism was the philosophical basis for the work of Karl Marx and the LEFT Hegelians, as well as Bismarck, Hitler and the RIGHT Hegelians. The paradox is that Hegel gave a theoretical basis not only to the most conservative of German movements, but also to most of the revolutionary movements of the 19th century. Both Marx and Hitler have their philosophical roots in Hegel.From the Hegelian system of political thought, alien to most of us in the West, stem such absurdities as the State seen as the "March of God through history", that the State is also God, and the only duty of a citizen is to serve God by serving the State, that the State is Absolute Reason and citizens can only find freedom by worship and utter obedience to the State. Other Hegelian absurdities have thoroughly penetrated our education system. But that is for another topic.From this system of Hegelian philosophy comes the historical dialectic, "that all historical events emerge from a conflict between opposing forces." These emerging events are above and different from the conflicting events. Any idea or implementation of an idea may be seen as THESIS. This thesis will encourage emergence of opposing forces, known as ANTITHESIS. The final outcome will be NEITHER thesis nor antithesis, but a SYNTHESIS of the two forces in conflict.In DAS KAPITAL, Marx posed capitalism as thesis and communism as antithesis. What has been completely ignored by historians, including Marxists, is that any clash between these forces cannot lead to a society which is either capitalist or communist but must lead to a society characterized by a SYNTHESIS of the two conflicting forces. The clash of opposites must in the Hegelian system, bring about a society neither capitalist nor communist. Moreover, in the Hegelian scheme of events, this new synthesis will reflect the concept of the State as God, and the individual as totally subordinate to an all powerful State. This was the thought we encountered in "Hubris".The function of a Parliament or a Congress is for Hegelians, psychology. Merely to allow individuals to feel that their opinions have some value, and to allow a government to take advantage of whatever wisdom the 'peasant' may accidentally demonstrate. This is so obvious in Australian politics today. As Hegel puts it:"By virtue of this participation, subjective liberty and conceit, with their general opinion, (individuals) can show themselves palpably efficacious and enjoy the satisfaction of feeling themselves to count for something."War, the organized conflict of nations for Hegelians, is only the visible outcome of the clash between ideas. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, Social Creditor C.H. Douglas said, "The international money marketeers care no more for the immolation of the peoples of a continent that for the death of a sparrow"; and "unfortunately the world is in the grasp of theorists to whom misery and death of millions is a grain of sand beside the working out of their designs". As John Dewey, the Hegelian darling of the modern educational system, puts it:"War is the most effective preacher of the vanity of all merely finite interests, it puts an end to that selfish egoism of the individual by which he would claim his life and his property as his own or as his family's."Above all, the Hegelian doctrine is the divine right of States rather than the divine right of kings. The State for Hegel and Hegelians is God on earth:"The march of God in history is the cause of the existence of states, their foundation is the power of Reason realizing itself as will. Every state, whatever it be, participates in the Divine essence. The State is not the work of human art, only Reason could produce it."For Hegel the individual is nothing, the individual has no rights, morality consists solely in following a leader.Compare this to the spirit and letter of the Australian Constitution: "WHEREAS the people" grant the State some powers and reserve all others to the people. Whilst it recognizes no State denomination, it places the Christian God as its Head, unlike Hegel's "the State is God on earth." To elitists like The Order in the USA, The Group in the UK, Illuminati in Germany, and the Politburo in Russia, the State is supreme, and a self-appointed elite running the State acts as God on earth.Manipulation of 'left' and 'right' in domestic USA, where Wall Street supports both Republicans and Democrats, as their Australian associates support Liberal and Labor, is duplicated in the international field where 'left' and 'right' political structures are artificially constructed and collapsed in the drive for a one-world synthesis. In fact, 'left' and 'right' are two controlled factions of the Illuminati.Textbooks present war and revolution as more or less accidental results of conflicting forces. The decay of political negotiations into physical conflict comes about, according to these books, after valiant efforts to avoid war. Unfortunately, this is nonsense. War is always a deliberate creative act by individuals.The Tribunals that investigated Nazi war criminals were careful to censor any records of Western Assistance to Hitler. And Western textbooks on Soviet economic development omit any description of the economic and financial aid given to the 1917 Revolution and subsequent economic development by Western firms and banks.Revolution is always recorded as a spontaneous event by the politically or economically deprived against an autocratic state. Western textbooks never reveal the evidence that revolutions need finance; and the source of the finance in many cases traces back to Wall Street.Of course our Western history is every bit as distorted, censored, and largely useless as that of Hitler's Germany, the Soviet Union or Communist China. No Western foundation will award grants to investigate their own benefactors. Few Western scholars can survive by researching such theses, and publishing houses daring to accept such manuscripts suffer intimidation or even violence from the Establishment. The recent trials of David Irving with his erstwhile publisher bears this out.Like the true revelation of God's Word, largely unrecorded history tells a story contrary to what we've been taught to regard as truth. A story of the deliberate creation of war, the knowing finance of revolution to change governments, and the use of conflict to create a New World Order.We will explore thesis and antithesis in the development and construction of the Soviet Union (thesis) and Hitler's Germany (antithesis). We will also explore the continuation of this dialectic conflict into the last few decades, specifically in China today and show that the purpose is to create a new synthesis, a New World Order along Hegelian lines where the State is Absolute and the individual can find freedom only in blind obedience to the State.Something we have to do is to break an almost universal mindset, that Communists and Capitalists are bitter enemies. This Marxist axiom is a false statement and for a century has fooled academics and investigators alike. The key to understanding modern history is that elitists had as close working relations with both Marxists and Nazis as they have with Marxists and Capitalists.After World War II the world stage was changed. After 1945 it became the Soviet Union on one side versus the United States on the other. The first dialectical clash led to the formation of the United Nations, an elementary step on the road to world government. The second dialectical clash led to the Trilateral Commission and REGIONAL groups, like Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia from "1984," and more subtly to efforts for a merger of the United States and the Soviet Union. Definitely Orwellian! Various stooges 'fronting' for the faceless elite agitate for a new Constitution that will enable them to usurp Australia's sovereignty and absorb us into an Asian Bloc, ruled from Beijing or Tokyo.Western Christian civilization, whose domain was very nearly the world, had expanded without notable recession until in 1914. In 1917 it began a retreat that has since been uninterrupted (Matthew 24:7-8). Huge amounts of Western property, much of it in land, factories and mines, has been stolen by revolutionaries, or abandoned by Western owners. Political and strategic losses are of more lasting and fundamental importance. But it is not politically correct to criticize its demise today.World history since 1917 reflects an application of Hegelian dialectics. Russia was taken over by mainly Askenazi Jews from the East End of New York who established Socialism, later called Communism. This Revolution was planned by international financiers and financed by Wall Street. Indeed Woodrow Wilson sent US troops who took over and held the Siberian Railroad from 1918 to impede the transport of grain and raw materials to Germany, and so far as possible prevent commerce, until the Soviets were sufficiently established to take over. US troops remained until 1920.Thus we see governments need censorship to classify certain files for thirty or fifty years after events, to protect the living from charges of treason, and to conceal the past intrigues and long term goals of the hidden elite who call the shots.Soviet Russia's first Five Year Plan was devised by Detroit-based Albert Kahn, Inc., and Russia's industry financed by Wall Street. Thus was the THESIS: Communism, established.But the MARXIST version of the Hegelian dialectic poses financial CAPITALISM as thesis, and Marxist revolution as antithesis. An obvious puzzle in this Marxian statement is the nature of the SYNTHESIS presumed to evolve out of the clash of these OPPOSITES. It cannot be Communism!Lenin's statement that the State will wither away at the synthesis stage is nonsensical. In fact, as all contemporary Marxist states testify, in practice, the State becomes all powerful. The immediate task of "the revolution" is to convey all power to the State, and modern Marxist states operate under a constant paranoia that power may indeed pass away from the hands of the State into the hands of the people.If MARXISM is posed as the thesis and NATIONAL SOCIALISM as antithesis, then the most likely SYNTHESIS becomes a Hegelian NEW WORLD ORDER, a synthesis evolving out of the clash of Marxism and national socialism. Moreover, in THIS statement those who FINANCE and MANAGE the clash of opposites can REMAIN in control of the synthesis.The elite have artificially encouraged and developed BOTH revolutionary Marxism and national socialism while retaining some control over the nature and degree of the conflict, therefore it is able to determine the evolution and nature of the New World Order.Out of war and revolution come opportunities for profit by corporations under the control and influence of these elites. In the two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnamese Wars, there are numerous examples of American banks and corporations trading with the enemy.The antithesis, National Socialism, is no more. The Cold War is over, so we're taught the thesis of Russian Communism is also dead. This leaves the once Christian now Capitalist West. Since we are 'friends', the West now finances Russia at government level, increasing profits and reducing risks for the international bankers.To prevent history coming to its end (he says tongue in cheek) the elite introduced a new dialectic process. World War II was the culmination of the dialectic process created in the 1920s and 1930s. The clash between 'left' and 'right', the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, led to creation of a synthesis - the UN, and a start towards regional groupings in NATO, the Common Market, UNESCO, Warsaw Pact, SEATO, CIS, then the Trilateral Commission. A start towards New World Order.World War II left the Elite with the necessity to create a new dialectical situation to promote MORE conflict to achieve a higher level synthesis.The source of this process may be found in US National Security Memorandum No. 68 of 1950 which opened up the road for Western technology to build a more advanced Soviet Union - which it did in the 1960s and 1970s with computerized space-age technology. In true Hegelian tradition it simultaneously argued for massive expansion of US defenses - on grounds of a future Soviet threat. (Which would not have been possible without the transfer of Western technology). Thus the internationalists profited from Soviet and US purchases.The principal devices used to control the dialectic process in the past two decades have been (a) information, (b) debt and (c) technology. These have become diluted over time. They don't work as well today as they did in the 1950s.By and large, control of INFORMATION has been successful because the intellectual world is still locked into a phony verbal battle between 'left' and 'right', whereas the real struggle is the battle between individual freedom and the encroaching power of the absolute State. The Soviet Union, with its tight censorship, presents a strictly Marxist ('left') orientation to its citizens. The enemy is always the 'fascist' United States. The West is a little more complicated but not much more so. Whereas financial power is used to control politics, information is used to control human perceptions.Brethren, to the elites, we're 'human cattle' participating in a double blind laboratory experiment. By God's Grace, the elect can't be deceived on the revealed Word of God, which, as a sharp two-edged sword, divides asunder these deceptions.In the West the choice is basically between a controlled 'left-oriented' information, and a controlled 'right-oriented' information. The conflict between the two CONTROLLED groups keeps an apparent informational conflict alive. Unwelcome facts that fall into either camp are conveniently forgotten. Books that fall into either camp can be effectively neutralized because they will incur the wrath of both 'right' and 'left'. The faster the cattle run, the faster the treadmill takes them to nowhere.Any publication which points up the fallacy of the Left-Right dichotomy is ignored . . . and citizens keep trooping down to the polling booths in the belief they have a 'choice'. Witness Australian elections. The Labor and Liberal Parties frankly admit their policies are common.The second control mechanism is DEBT. We all understand that. If Marxist countries have to import technology, they need to earn or borrow Western currencies to pay for it. Loans have to be repaid. So to some extent, debtors are under control of creditors, unless they default. And therein lies the weakness.The third control mechanism is TECHNOLOGY. If technology to advance to more efficient production levels has to be imported, then the recipient is always kept away from the 'state of the art'. The weakness for the elite is that military technology does not require a market system.The dialectic plan therefore misfired for several reasons. Firstly, the informational blackouts were not as successful as they expected. Control of Time and Newsweek gave them dominance over weekly news summaries. The TV networks have been able to orchestrate viewers reactions - to some extent - by propaganda in movies. (For example, when I went to the giant IMAX movie theatre, I noticed propaganda for the 'Greenhouse' HOAX had been subtly included in the narrative). But the elite were unable to restrict individuals and relatively small non-academic groups, almost always outside Universities (whose curricula they control) from exploring obvious inconsistencies in Establishment propaganda. These groups, often mistakenly termed 'left' or 'right,' are outside the manipulated left-right spectrum.Secondly, the debt weapon was over-used. Communist countries are now saturated with debt to Western bankers.Thirdly, while technology is still a useful weapon, there are distinct stirrings among independent analysts of the danger posed for the Western world by building enemies.We've spent 50 years arming our enemies, and developing their industries with our technology. And under the LIMA Agreement, have transferred our manufacturing infrastructure offshore. Last year China purchased the whole of New Zealand's forests "in perpetuity" for US$80 million donated by Australia. No wonder our Aborigines are caught up in Communist ideas when we give money to foreign nations who consider us "barbarians," and to others, who have the Northern half of our continent colored green and labeled "South Irian" in their school atlases and on military maps.Brother Branham said the West was trying to buy her friends, and when we can no longer afford to bribe them we will discover they are our enemies (This Day This Scripture, 16:132; Influences, 7:40; Genesis 3:15).Even without interference by the international bankers the consequences are alarming, both for America and for the Western world. The West has a brief opportunity between the decline of Russia and the rise of China. Europe has wasted most of the present decade by pursuing the dangerous IRRELEVANCE of the single currency. (No doubt a ploy of her fairweather banking friends). America has wasted it on a shallow prosperity; even the recovery hasn't greatly strengthened the US economy. Neither Europe nor America is prepared for the global competition of the next century. For America, the progressive shift of wealth and power to Asia will be humiliating, and perhaps destabilizing.Consequently, in today's world we can identify two facts in construction of a new dialectic. First, cautious reinforcement of the Marxian arm - for example: Marxist Angola got a green light, Marxist Grenada got a red light.Second, the construction of a completely new arm, that of Communist China, itself Marxist, but with conflict potential for the Soviet Union. Major efforts are in progress, only partly revealed in the press, to create a new superpower in conflict mode with the Soviet Union. This is the new antithesis, replacing Nazi Germany.American involvement in China began with Wall Street's intervention into Dr. Sun Yat Sen's revolution of 1911. During World War II the US helped the Chinese Communists into power. The decision to build Communist China as a new arm of the dialectic was made under Richard Nixon and executed by Henry Kissinger and George Bush.By the turn of the century, Communist China will be a "superpower" built by American technology and skill, presumably for conflict with Russia. What then is left for the USA but an 'accommodation' with the CIS to set up a world government."And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared" (Revelation 16:12). The drawing-away of the Holy Spirit from apostatising Western (once Christian) civilization gradually diminished our invisible barrier and defence of faith in the Word. Thus the pagan ways of the kings of the East were entertained and adopted in place of faith. Foreign aid, intermarriage, immigration and preferential tariffs began. We have since transferred our manufacturing industries to these strange people. With no manufacturing we have unemployment and no self-reliance in the event of hostilities. Furthermore, we fall further under obligation to the foreign bankers.The Hegelian dialectic is being employed to secure and sustain absolute world power and authority to an elite. We have fallen into a Hegelian trap and don't know it. bb970219.htm

FOR JUDGMENT I AM COME...

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

John 9:35-41

APOSTASY PREPARES THE WAY

Apostasy Prepares the Way

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thess. 2:3.


When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of "heresy."... {Mar 165.1}

Whenever the church has obtained secular power, she has employed it to punish dissent from her doctrines. Protestant churches that have followed in the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience. An example of this is given in the long-continued persecution of dissenters by the Church of England. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of nonconformist ministers were forced to flee from their churches, and many, both of pastors and people, were subjected to fine, imprisonment, torture, and martyrdom. {Mar 165.2}

It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy--the beast. Said Paul: "There" shall "come a falling away..., and that man of sin be revealed." 2 Thessalonians 2:3. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast. {Mar 165.3}

Satan will work with all power and "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight. To God's people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth's sake. But out of that night of darkness God's light will shine. {Mar 165.4}

Maranatha, E. G. White, p.165.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

U.S TEAM MEETS N.K. NUCLEAR ENVOY

U.S. team meets N.K. nuclear envoy

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. delegation met North Korea's top nuclear envoy in Pyongyang to discuss the country's declaration of its nuclear activities as the George W. Bush administration was planning to brief lawmakers in Washington on the North's suspected proliferation to Syria.

Sung Kim, director of Korean affairs at the State Department, and his interagency team met with Kim Kye-gwan, North Korea's deputy foreign minister, department spokesman Tom Casey said Tuesday.

"Their focus...is to work on the declaration," he said.

The U.S. team's visit is the latest effort to push forward the six-party talks, a forum comprised of South and North Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan with the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Kye-gwan is North Korea's chief delegate to the six-party talks.

The negotiations have stalled since Pyongyang missed the year-end deadline in 2007 to submit a declaration showing its nuclear inventory and any proliferation to other countries.

An unexplained Israeli air strike on a Syrian site last September started suspicions and allegations that Pyongyang had transferred its nuclear technology to Damascus. Israel claims that the site housed a nuclear facility that North Korea was helping to equip. Both Pyongyang and Damascus deny any such cooperation.

According to Reuters, the Bush administration plans to brief members of Congress in a closed-door session on North Korea-Syria connection.

Citing congressional sources, the report said the briefing is scheduled for Thursday.

ldm@yna.co.kr
(END)

Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2008/04/23/39/0301000000AEN20080423000300315F.HTML


WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT A CLOSED SESSION OF CONGRESS?

U.S. House of Representatives

What was discussed at a closed session of the U.S. House of Representatives?


Tuesday March 25, 2008 7:37pm EST

BRISBANE, Australia - The House has held a closed session for the first time in 25 years and apparently discussed a hotly contested surveillance bill.

Republicans had requested privacy for what they termed "an honest debate" on the new Democratic eavesdropping measure.

Conspiracy theorists around the world have filled many pages of blogs and emails with theories as to why the public was prevented to hear what their elected representatives said and heard.

That is the nature of secrets: those "kept in the dark" want to know and in the absence of knowledge, seek answers.

Writers suggested that the special closed session of the U.S. House of Representatives discussed a lot more than the pending security surveillance provisions.

Last week's session was only the fourth time in 176 years that Congress has closed it's doors to the public.

Word has begun leaking from last weeks special, closed-door session of the United States House of Representatives.

Theorists wrote "Not only did members discuss new surveillance provisions as was the publicly stated reason for the closed door session, they also discussed: The imminent collapse of the U.S. economy to occur by September 2008, the imminent collapse of US federal government finances by February 2009, the possibility of Civil War inside the USA as a result of the collapse and advance round-ups of "insurgent U.S. citizens" likely to move against the government.

Also theorised was the detention of those rounded-up at "REX 84" camps constructed throughout the USA and the possibility of retaliation against members of Congress for the collapses and the location of "safe facilities" for members of Congress and their families to reside during expected massive civil unrest

Other answers included "the necessary and unavoidable merger of the United States with Canada" (for its natural resources) and with Mexico (for its cheap labor pool), the issuance of a new currency - THE AMERO - for all three nations as the proposed solution to the coming economic armageddon.

Members of Congress were FORBIDDEN to reveal what was discussed and ABC News via WCPO web site at the link below CONFIRMS congress members were FORBIDDEN to talk about it!

Several are so furious and concerned about the future of the country, they have begun leaking info. More details coming later today and over the weekend.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1fde2498-d8c8-44f3-9c94-4a27f8407536

That is the problem with secrets and inadequate explanations for their necessity, imaginations run wild.

Source: http://www.australia.to/story/0,25197,23040466-922,00,00.html

YOU ARE INVITED TO CAPITOL HILL!

April 15, 2008

YOU are invited to Capitol Hill! June 12-14, 2008

By James Standish

Come to Capitol Hill and be a part of history! Come and raise God’s banner of “truth and religious liberty” high! Come and make your voice count! Come and be a part of the annual Religious Liberty Summit, June 12 – 14, 2008. For all the details, click on the Events tab in the column to the left of this blog or visit the following Web site: www.religiousliberty.info/article.php?id=11

Source: http://religiousliberty.info/

* Highlight and Bold added by Blogman.

HOW ABOUT THE BISHOP OF ROME'S VISIT?

Yeah, How about the Bishop of Rome's visit?



Not, James D. Standish, not Jan Paulsen, not John Graz; None, uttered a single word while we were bombarded by written and broadcast media, while they paraded the Man of Sin with impunity before our eyes; Making a mockery of the civil and religious liberty of this free nation. By the silence displayed; What occured is as it's referred to in the contemporary vernacular, a missed opportunity.
  1. Was this intentional?
  2. Is this a manifestation of the leadership being beholden to the powers that be?
  3. Who will give the trumpet the certain sound?
  4. Where are the Watchmen on the wall?
  5. Where are the faithful Caleb(s)?


Rhetoric makes good speeches;
But, when you have a remnant people who depend on an able leadership to call error by its rightful name, keeping hush in a time when the Three Angels' Message should be shouted from the rooftops; It's time for the laymen to come to the fore and repair the breach. They should not pay any mind to those that woud 'lull' the people into a deadly lethargy. It is later than many think or would let on.

Brethren, here's the issue: At such a time as this we should boldly proclaim our heavenly given standards. We shouldn't hide our distinctive truths like the unfaithful servant. When Ben Edict came to America, the Silver Spring Headquarters should have given our nation an alternative message; We missed the boat!
CAN'T anyone see, but me, that all this pomp and glory, all this sabre rattling by this 'Papist' in the White House, challenging established laws, such as SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE, is preparing the soon persecution our Creator's faithful people, and me? Ben Edict came, with all his lies. Spoke to hundreds of thousands, and no authority figure from modern Israel challenged his infernal deception.

Is something wrong with this picture?


You be the judge brethren? We are not to judge.
But, the Scriptures also state:

"Ye shall know them by their fruits". Matthew 7:16.
Arsenio.

ELIAN'S 'RESCUE' ANNIVERSARY



APRIL 22, 2000

THE LEFT AND EUROPE'S RELIGIOUS ROOTS

The Left and Europe’s religious roots


By Gaither Stewart
Online Journal Contributing Writer

Apr 21, 2008, 00:16

ROME -- Pope Benedict XVI, the Bavarian conservative Joseph Ratzinger, arrived in the USA last week asking forgiveness for the pedophiles in the repressed ranks of the church he largely fashioned: the reactionary, retrograde and still restive Roman Catholic Church.

In America, as in Italy and in the world, his message is a return to the obscurantism of a bureaucratic religious order and more temporal power as seen in the Roman Church’s battle against divorce, birth control, abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, same sex marriage and women’s rights. Centered on opposition to Islam, his major thrust today is the primacy of religion over the secular and its centrality in the roots of Europe.

After a short stay in America some decades ago, I told a German friend how glad I was to be back in Europe. He wagged his finger and said, “Ah, you Americans, you speak of Europe as if it were one place. Europeans think in terms of nations, of Germany or France or Italy.” Those were two opposed concepts of Europe. It really was that way once.

“Where are you vacationing this year?”

“Oh, we thought we’d go over to Europe . . . see the Old World.”

In those times I was a supporter of the still dreamy idea of European unity. But today I’m repenting. Not that I believe that old times are necessarily better times. But, in this case, I miss those old borders and nationalities each with its own culture, its own economy and I often wish that Europe was still a continent of separate, variegated and distinct lands and peoples instead of the globalized multinationalandia it is becoming . . . or has become.

Although many of the national differences remain, it is now quite proper to speak of “Europe” as foreign visitors once did. Today, it’s truer than ever that sometimes the non-European visitor can’t even tell one country from the other. The old tourist joke still holds: It’s Wednesday, so we must be in Vienna.

But Europe is not the European Union its dreamers-founders imagined. Not at all. Though it is a curious sensation to use one currency from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, to cross borders without a passport and drive from Rome to Amsterdam without international insurance, and in a way feel a certain sense of pride in belonging to a big idea, I fear the best of United Europe is in the past and that the worst is yet to come. For the present union is not the “Europe of peoples” dreamers dreamed of, but a union of multinationals and Eurocrats.

So how did it happen that the dream was shattered? How did it come about that the European dream -- like the American dream -- from day to day, from year to year, is more and more a contorted ungraspable nightmare for many of its peoples?

Their leaden feet dragging as if they were emerging from a coma, schizophrenic Europeans, overnight morphed into bewildered Europeanists, are suddenly wondering who they are. Though they admit that they are still first of all Italians or Spaniards, or Germans or French, willy-nilly they have become Europeans, too.

That duality creates confusion, often more social divergence than political unity.

Now, Europeanist leaders striving for unity and Europeans of diverse political shades and nationalities, of differing levels of economic and social-political development are engaged in a search for an identity.

In a sudden obsession with pinpointing their common roots, one outdoes the other in propagandizing the results of their feverish soul seeking. On one hand, in order to convince themselves of the rightness of the United Europe edifice, Euroskeptical neoliberal conservatives and the Roman Catholic Church bemoan the influence of secularists-atheists-moral relativists and in the name of sacred “values” insist on Europe’s Christian roots. On the other, the increasingly emasculated Left, despite the low political clout their social programs contain, holds fast to ideas promulgated by the French Revolution.

The European

What divides the diverse peoples of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) is clear to everyone. It’s the common denominator that is so elusive. That has always been elusive. Yet, though different languages, traditions, national histories, as well as multiple streams of Christianity, are divisive, there does exist a form of Europeanness. There is something in the European, whether Slovak, Brit or Pole, that makes him unmistakably European.

I hesitate however to claim that such an identity is positive today because, in combination with the European passport and disappearance of physical borders, it nourishes the disease of Eurocentrism vis-à-vis the rest of the world. Though perhaps a less dangerous phenomenon than Americanism, this nascent Eurocentrism contains the germ of Europeanism.

Who are we? Europeans wonder

The extension of the European Union (EU) from the Atlantic to Slavic lands of the East, from Scandinavia to Malta and Cyprus -- an area embracing 500 million people, with a parliament and among 15 of its member nations a common currency, an enormous market, now the producer of the world’s greatest GNP, and a constitution in the making -- has accelerated the debate about the continent’s identity. Though the issue of roots is a social-political conundrum for all the peoples of the union, it rages especially hot precisely where you would have thought the issue had been resolved long ago -- among the union’s founding members of the original European Coal and Steel Community of 1957, of France, German, Italy and the Benelux, the forerunner of the EU.

First of all, let’s dispense with a misunderstanding. The idea of a united Europe is not new. Many have tried to bring it about. It has been the dream of unifiers and conquerors, of Charlemagne and Napoleon, of the Hapsburgs, Adolf Hitler and the original founders of Russian Communism. Mythologically, the aspiration for union in Europe was born with Europa, the daughter of Zeus. Roman law arriving in the wake of the legions then hammered it home. Followed the Holy Roman Empire and the Renaissance -- unifying ideas all -- the French Revolution and finally 20th century ideas of social justice, which for the Left is the acme of the European Idea.

Though the European Idea of social justice was not powerful enough to avert bloody nationalistic wars -- not even Social Democracy at its pinnacle -- the long-range idea of Europe, the conscience of Europe, has been an antidote against other potential degenerations of illiberal nationalisms such as Nazism and Fascism.

Individual nations or European Union?

Recent historiography has investigated themes of national identity and the historic roots of a common European sentiment. Historians continue to delve into analyses of values, symbols and images at the very roots of the tree of European identity. The attempt to reconcile the idea of nation with Europeistic aspirations was a constant of the historiography of Federico Chabod (1901-1960). But even Italy’s great historian, once president of the International Society of Historians, noted that the idea of Europe has long suffered from a high level of utopianism.

Yet, though the same problems and dangers cited by Chabod continue to accompany unitary aspirations, the idea of a united Europe has never died. Today it thrives, but in doubt and trepidation. The central idea is clear: European mentality must prevail over the interests of individual states. It is therefore difficult to gainsay the growing Eurocentrism. It has always lurked in Europe, strong enough to be exported to America where the governing elite of European heritage is infected with a much deadlier form of centrism.

The Christian identity

After such premises, one can grasp the reasons for the intellectual hyper-activity surrounding the Europeanness standing behind the idea of the union -- the belief in a “European idea” as the glue for the amalgamation of the diverse cultural and political realities of the single states of the continent. The identification of that “idea” is the point. Until today this unitary aspiration has also been supported by belief in globalization, for participation in which a united Europe was a must. However, today, in an abrupt awakening, confidence in the global economy is waning -- foreshadowed by the French and Dutch rejection of the proposed European Constitution three years ago, thus undermining the unity idea and strengthening nationalisms.

Since then much discussion has centered on Europe’s Christian roots which the Right and the Catholic Church foster. Fausto Bertinotti, founder of the European Left Party (an all-European party founded in 2004 in Rome) and outgoing president of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, writes in his recent book, The Europe of Strong Passions (L’Europa delle passioni forti), “The search for the identity of Europe has concentrated the discussion on roots, and precisely religious roots, leading however nowhere. . . .

“We come from a tradition in which religions were considered a possible enrichment, also of a Socialist perspective, with the premise however that politics remains the sovereign dimension. We could not have imagined that the religious conflict, even in the form of war and terrorism, could on the contrary take the place of politics. In the absolutization of religion I note the tendency toward the primacy of religion over the secular dimension of politics, which constitutes per se the profound crisis of politics and its incapacity of configuring major options and alternatives of society.”

Thinking Americans will agree that Bertinotti hits the nail precisely on the head: the thirst of organized religions for temporal power. In Italy and Spain as in the USA, in Israel as in Iran, the result is the war and terrorism that religion purports to oppose.

Of the major suggested influences and inspirations of European culture, none is more powerful, yet divisive, than the proposal to make explicit reference to Christianity in the Preamble to the Draft Constitution of the European Union. The question posed is: Does God and Christianity have a place in the Constitution?

The Right’s insistence on stressing the Judeo-Christian roots of Europe is particularly significant in light of current tensions between the West and the Islamic world and the threat posed by the clash of civilizations on which the USA motivates its policy of perpetual preventive war.

Some say aprioristically: “Without Christianity, the heart of Europe would be missing.”

Or summarily: “Europe is based on its Christian heritage.”

Opponents of the mention of God and Christianity in the basic document point out that reference to God erects unnecessary barriers in Europe which must be secular for it to be unified. Especially the Left proposes reference to Europe’s cultural heritage since it is pluralistic and defeats the idea of a single identity. A French Socialist sums up that “it is absurd to mention God and Christianity because it excludes Muslims and non-Christian faiths, as well as citizens who do not believe in God at all.”

Still, illogically and counterproductively, in many places the religious aspect prevails over other powerful influences on European identity, such as the role of the Enlightenment and Reason, the technological and scientific revolution, the French Revolution and the workers movement. Moreover, though the discussion is transversal in nature, it involves in an evident manner, precisely as in the USA, the Right and Left of the political spectrum.

Chabod and the philosopher Benedetto Croce claimed, “Europeans are Christians and cannot not be so, even if we no longer follow the practices of the cult, because Christianity molded our way of feeling and thinking in an indelible manner.”

One objects to such simplifications, as would Dostoevsky who taught that Christ appeared in the world not to construct a civilization but to save humanity from existing civilizations. Bertinotti notes the attempt to substitute Christ with the history of Christianity is behavior which is more that of Christianists than Christians.

In this extensive and all-European search for the European identity, the European Left Party steps forward to break a lance in favor of the multiple values defining Europe, especially culture and the idea of social justice, as did Antonio Gramsci in the early 20th century.

The European Left Party

Here I want to introduce the European Left Party (EL), an all-European political party and association of socialist, communist and green parties of 17-member formations and seven observers. It was officially founded in Rome on May 8, 2004, by 300 delegates of 15 European political formations, Communist, Socialist and Red-Green. The first congress of this new and truly continental political formation was held in Athens in October 2005. the second in Prague in November 2007. Its first president was its founder, Fausto Bertinotti, who resigned in 2006 when he was elected president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, succeeded by the German Lothar Bisky, secretary of Die Linke.

Member parties are: Austrian Communist Party, Wallon Communist Party of Belgium, Social Democratic Party of the Czech Republic, Left Party of Estonia, French Communist Party, Left Party of Germany (Die Linkspartei), Synaspismos (Coalition) of Greece, Communist Refoundation of Italy, The Left (Déi Lénk) of Luxemburg, Left Block of Portugal, Socialist Alliance Party of Romania, Communist Refoundation Party of San Marino, United Left (Izquierda Unida), Spanish Communist Party and United Left and Alternative, all of Spain, Swiss Labour Party, Hungarian Labour Party, Freedom and Solidarity Party of Turkey.

Here, two pertinent observations that I will discuss in forthcoming articles: the European Communist parties are a testimony that neither the Left nor Communism in Europe is dead. Nor, in my opinion, is Social Democracy per se a bad word any more than is Eurocommunism. The latter was anyway much more than a negation of Stalinism. Eurocomunism was also a break with the political-social-economic stagnation in the USSR during the upheavals in the reign of Leonid Brezhnev, 1964-1982, when the role of Communism there was minimal. Despite geopolitical reasons and the Cold War pressures the USA exerted against the Soviet Union and Communism in general, the Soviet invasion of Socialist brother state of Czechoslovakia was for many European Communists the last straw. At the time of rupture with Moscow, Western Communists said, “The age of innocence was over.”

The European Left today is thus a step toward a “refoundation” of European Communism and the primacy of a secular Europe over its religious roots. It is a reaffirmation of the thought of the theoretician and founder of the Italian Communist Party, Antonio Gramsci, for whom revolutionary violence is not the only way to change things. Political activity, he wrote, is the path to challenge the hegemony of the capitalist class.

Gaither Stewart is a senior contributing editor at Cyrano's Journal Online. Originally from Asheville, NC. he has lived his adult life in Germany and Italy, alternated with residences in The Netherlands, France, Mexico, Argentina and Russia. After a career in journalism as a correspondent for the Rotterdam newspaper, Algemeen Dagblad, he began writing fiction. His collections of short stories, "Icy Current Compulsive Course, To Be A Stranger" and "Once In Berlin" are published by Wind River Press. His new novel, "Asheville," is published by www.Wastelandrunes.com He lives with his wife, Milena, in Rome, Italy. E-mail: gaither.stewart@yahoo.it

Copyright © 1998-2007 Online Journal

Source: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3197.shtml

CHINA ESCALATES BIBLE CRACKDOWN

FAITH UNDER FIRE
China escalates Bible crackdown
Bookstore owner re-arrested after being cleared of original counts

Posted: April 19, 2008
12:10 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily


Shi Weihan and his family (China Aid Association photo)

The Chinese owner of a bookstore near the 2008 Olympics complex in Beijing has been re-arrested and detained, only about a dozen weeks after he was cleared of allegations of illegally publishing Bibles and Christian literature due to "insufficient evidence," according to a new report from Compass Direct.

As WND reported earlier, Shi Weihan was released in January after being taken into custody shortly after Thanksgiving 2007 during police raids on his home and office.

China Aid Association then reported the fact he was released, along with several others, although the government offered no explanation for his case.

An American friend, businessman Ray Sharpe, had told WND at the time of the earlier arrest that Shi is a businessman who also works as a travel agent, and had gotten governmental permission to publish some Christian book titles.

Compass Direct now is reporting that the 37-year-old father of two was re-arrested on March 19 and is being held without any communication with his family, according to reports from his wife, Zhang Jing.

Compass said she had gotten no word on her husband's condition and is prohibited from bringing him food or clothing. Since he has diabetes, she is "very concerned" about his health, Compass reported.

Compass cited an Asia Times Online report that said Shi and his Holy Spirit Trading Co. were accused, again, of printing Bibles and Christian literature without government permission.



"Believers across China report a shortage of Bibles and other Christian resources. The China Christian Council (CCC) claims that Amity Press, the only legal publisher of Bibles in China, is producing enough Bibles to meet the demand. The Council, however, puts the total number of Protestant believers in China at only 16 million – including only the members of government-approved churches – whereas a survey carried out by the East China Normal University in 2005 and 2006, published in February 2007, stated that China had 40 million Protestants," the Compass report said.

Some estimates on the total number of Christians in China rise as high as 130 million. The fact is, Compass said, "In some areas, house church members still take turns reading the only available copy of Scripture."

The report said Shi's arrest "appears to be part of a crackdown on religious groups that the government fears could raise dissident voices during" the coming Olympics.

WND reported earlier on a "blacklist" of people and groups of people China has been targeting specifically because of the coming publicity that will accompany the Olympic Games in August. Those targeted include religious leaders.

WND also documented a report that China would ban Bibles from its Olympic village for athletes. Chinese officials denounced that report, but have maintained on the Olympics website a demand that visitors to the Games bring no more than a single Bible with them.

The case involving Shi has gotten considerable attention at least partly because he is the father of a U.S. citizen.

Sharpe told WND questions were directed to both the Chinese government and the U.S. embassy because the man's daughter, Grace Shi, 7, is a U.S. citizen, and was forced last fall into hiding with her Chinese mother and 11-year-old sister.

Sharpe, who said he was able to confirm information about the family because he lived for a number of years in China, told WND Shi is a life-long resident of Beijing, but was arrested then "in his Christian literature bookstore in a high-class business tower near the Olympics Village."

He said Shi's younger brother and Shi's wife, Jing Zhang, also were taken into custody but were released after questioning.

The daughter, Grace, is an American citizen because she was born during the family's visit to the U.S. in 2000. She and her older sister, "Lily," were distraught because they witnessed the raid on their home, Sharpe said.

WND previously has reported on China's apparent crackdown on Christians and Christianity in advance of the 2008 Games, including the expulsion of more than 100 foreign Christians in China in just a 90-day period, the biggest assault on the presence of Christianity in China since 1954.

Source: http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61983

THE MEANING OF FAITH


Hebrews 11


1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.




Monday, April 21, 2008

THE IMPENDING CONFLICT

Any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warred against liberty of conscience.
E. G. White, (1889).


The Impending Conflict

A great crisis awaits the people of God. A crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is just before us. Events which for more than forty years we have upon the authority of the prophetic word declared to be impending are now taking place before our eyes. Already the question of an amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience has been urged upon the legislators of the nation. The question of enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national interest and importance. We well know what the result of this movement will be. But are we ready for the issue? Have we faithfully discharged the duty which God has committed to us of giving the people warning of the danger before them? {5T 711.3}

There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests. Any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the papacy, which for so many ages has
712
steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday observance owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to "the mystery of iniquity;" and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism.
{5T 711.4}

The National Reform movement, exercising the power of religious legislation, will, when fully developed, manifest the same intolerance and oppression that have prevailed in past ages. Human councils then assumed the prerogatives of Deity, crushing under their despotic power liberty of conscience; and imprisonment, exile, and death followed for those who opposed their dictates. If popery or its principles shall again be legislated into power, the fires of persecution will be rekindled against those who will not sacrifice conscience and the truth in deference to popular errors. This evil is on the point of realization. {5T 712.1}

When God has given us light showing the dangers before us, how can we stand clear in His sight if we neglect to put forth every effort in our power to bring it before the people? Can we be content to leave them to meet this momentous issue unwarned? {5T 712.2}

There is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment, loss of property, and even of life itself, to defend the law of God, which is made void by the laws of men. In this situation worldly policy will urge an outward compliance with the laws of the land, for the sake of peace and harmony. And there are some who will even urge such a course from the Scripture: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. . . . The powers that be are ordained of God."
713
{5T 712.3}

But what has been the course of God's servants in ages past? When the disciples preached Christ and Him crucified, after His resurrection, the authorities commanded them not to speak any more nor to teach in the name of Jesus. "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." They continued to preach the good news of salvation through Christ, and the power of God witnessed to the message. The sick were healed, and thousands were added to the church. "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." {5T 713.1}

But the God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took this matter into His own hands; for men were warring against His work. He showed them plainly that there is a ruler above man, whose authority must be respected. The Lord sent His angel by night to open the prison doors, and he brought forth these men whom God had commissioned to do His work. The rulers said, Speak not "at all nor teach in the name of Jesus;" but the heavenly messenger sent by God said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." {5T 713.2}

Those who seek to compel men to observe an institution of the papacy, and trample upon God's authority, are doing a work similar to that of the Jewish leaders in the days of the apostles. When the laws of earthly rulers are brought into opposition to the laws of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, then those who are God's loyal subjects will be true to Him. {5T 713.3}

We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil,
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comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter His people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers. It may appear that Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and error; the people over whom God has spread His shield, and the country which has been an asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth, may be placed in jeopardy. But God would have us recall His dealings with His people in the past to save them from their enemies. He has always chosen extremities, when there seemed no possible chance for deliverance from Satan's workings, for the manifestation of His power. Man's necessity is God's opportunity. It may be that a respite may yet be granted for God's people to awake and let their light shine. If the presence of ten righteous persons would have saved the wicked cities of the plain, is it not possible that God will yet, in answer to the prayers of His people, hold in check the workings of those who are making void His law? Shall we not humble our hearts greatly before God, flee to the mercy seat, and plead with Him to reveal His mighty power?
{5T 713.4}

If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God cannot pour upon them His Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with Him. They are not awake to the situation and do not realize the threatened danger. They should feel now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted action. {5T 714.1}

The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His people should be far
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in advance of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people--the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel's message really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time.
{5T 714.2}

The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers. {5T 715.1}

If the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the message sent them by God, and fall into line for action, the churches will suffer great loss. When the watchman, seeing the sword coming, gives the trumpet a certain sound, the people along the line will echo the warning, and all will have opportunity to make ready for the conflict. But too often the leader has stood hesitating, seeming to say: "Let us not be in too great haste. There may be a mistake. We must be careful not to raise a false alarm." The very hesitancy and uncertainty on his part is crying: "'Peace and safety.' Do not get excited. Be not alarmed. There is a great deal more made of this religious amendment question than is demanded. This agitation will all die down." Thus he virtually denies the
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message sent from God, and the warning which was designed to stir the churches fails to do its work. The trumpet of the watchman gives no certain sound, and the people do not prepare for the battle. Let the watchman beware lest, through his hesitancy and delay, souls shall be left to perish, and their blood shall be required at his hand.
{5T 715.2}

We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and, now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden underfoot? {5T 716.1}

While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed. {5T 716.2}

God calls upon us to awake, for the end is near. Every passing hour is one of activity in the heavenly courts to make ready a people upon the earth to act a part in the great scenes that are soon to open upon us. These passing moments, that seem of so little value to us, are weighty with eternal interests. They are molding the destiny of souls for everlasting life or eternal death. The words we utter today in the ears of the people, the works we are doing, the spirit of the message we are bearing, will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. {5T 716.3}

My brethren, do you realize that your own salvation, as
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well as the destiny of other souls, depends upon the preparation you now make for the trial before us? Have you that intensity of zeal, that piety and devotion, which will enable you to stand when opposition shall be brought against you? If God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when you will be brought before councils, and every position of truth which you hold will be severely criticized. The time that so many are now allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the charge that God has given us of preparing for the approaching crisis.
{5T 716.4}

The law of God should be loved and honored by His true people now more than ever before. There is the most imperative necessity of urging the injunction of Christ upon the minds and hearts of all believers, men and women, youth and children: "Search the Scriptures." Study your Bible as you have never studied it before. Unless you arise to a higher, holier state in your religious life, you will not be ready for the appearing of our Lord. As great light has been given, God expects corresponding zeal, faithfulness, and devotion on the part of His people. There must be more spirituality, a deeper consecration to God, and a zeal in His work that has never yet been reached. Much time should be spent in prayer, that our garments of character may be washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. {5T 717.1}

Especially should we, with unwavering faith, seek God for grace and power to be given to His people now. We do not believe that the time has fully come when He would have our liberties restricted. The prophet saw "four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." Another angel, ascending from the east, cried to them, saying: "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." This points out the work we have now to do. A vast responsibility is devolving upon men and
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women of prayer throughout the land to petition that God will sweep back the cloud of evil and give a few more years of grace in which to work for the Master. Let us cry to God that the angels may hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world and shall proclaim the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.


{5T 717.2}

Testimonies to the Churches, Volume 5, (1889). E. G. White, pp.711-718.

Bolds an Highlights added for emphasis....................... Arsenio