Saturday, October 03, 2009

Romanizing America Through Illegal Immigration


Romanizing America Through Illegal Immigration
[Originally posted on April 6th, 2006 A.D.]

In recent weeks, the advocates of the "rights" of illegal Mexican immigrants, accompanied by and even led by Roman Catholic priests, have staged rallies, protests, and parades all across the United States of America.

On 25th March, 500,000 people took to the streets of Los Angeles, flying Mexican flags and chanting slogans such as "Viva Mexico!" Another 500,000 marched in Dallas on April 9, waving Mexican flags with "Our Lady of Guadalupe" emblazoned in the center.

On May 1, a favorite Communist holiday, illegals staged a nationwide work stoppage and boycott of businesses and schools. The alien lobby also once more staged marches and rallies nationwide. As reported by NBC News, some of those activities were launched from local Roman Catholic parish churches. This outburst of protest is a response to several immigration and border reform measures working their way through the U.S. Congress. According to current estimates, there are as many as twenty million illegal aliens in the United States of America.
Rome aiding and abetting
It is unfortunate that very few Americans have been concerned with the religious aspect of this issue. The Roman Catholic Church is aiding and abetting the criminal invasion of America from Mexico, working both legally and criminally to bring as many illegal Mexican immigrants into my country as possible. In this, Rome has one goal in mind - the pope and his henchmen are seeking to turn America, founded and still a Protestant country, into a Roman Catholic country.

To that end, the Justice for Immigrants campaign was founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Twenty other Catholic organizations have joined together with the bishops in a massive educational, media, and political campaign to block legislation to deal with the alien invasion of America. On its website, the Justice for Immigrants campaign lists the bishops' "criteria for the reform of the U.S. immigration system, including . . . abandonment of the border 'blockade' enforcement strategy." Plainly speaking, the goal is to eliminate America's security along our border with Mexico! The U.S. bishops together with their Mexican counterparts, of course with papal consent and encouragement, have determined to use Catholic treasure, influence, and manpower to erase America's border! This is not surprising to the discerning Christian. Sovereign nations have always been a hindrance to the pope's effective exercise of his office as "father of kings, governor of the world and Vicar of Christ."

The bishops and their comrades in crime are sparing no expense or effort to influence every strata and institution of American culture. Reading material which the Justice for Immigrants campaign has produced for distribution to school children is reminiscent of
the propaganda produced by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network for the same audience!

All dioceses backing the campaign
Mark D. Franken, executive director of Migration and Refugee Services for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently told the Washington Times that all of America's 197 Catholic dioceses "are in some way backing the campaign, with more than 70 being particularly active." As Mr Franken points out, Catholic advocacy on behalf of the illegal alien movement is highly organized, and the troops are getting their marching orders from the top. Consider this from the Catholic Zenit News Services: "Representatives of the Holy See and of the Catholic Church in Mexico are opposing a U.S. bill on immigrants, considering it a violation of human rights .... On Sunday, the California Catholic Conference of Bishops appealed for full migratory reform, which will include the legalization earned by illegal workers with their effort." So now, by taking a job and getting paid for it, criminals "earn" the right to have their criminality ignored. The lack of general outrage over such Romanist remarks cannot help but remind one of Revelation 18:23 - "by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."

On January 22, 2003, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in concert with the Catholic Bishops of Mexico, issued Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration. This lengthy, authoritative document contains statement after brazen statement endorsing and encouraging illegal immigration from Mexico. The bishops include a glossary of terms in which they differentiate between a legal immigrant; an immigrant; and a migrant, one who freely moves back and forth across national borders. The bishops make it clear throughout the document that their concern is for "undocumented" immigrants and migrants - the illegals.

'Necessary and beneficial'
While the majority of Americans find illegal immigration destructive and dangerous, the bishops find it otherwise: "We speak as two episcopal conferences but as one Church, united in the view that migration between our two nations is necessary and beneficial." Yes, the Romanists find "migration" necessary and beneficial to the cause of Rome; hence, the bishops call for an underground railroad to help illegals make it into America from Mexico:
"We call upon pastors and lay leaders to ensure support for migrant and immigrant families. We urge communities to offer migrant families hospitality . . . We commend church communities that have established migrant shelters . . . We call on the local church to help newcomers integrate . . .

"The reality of migration, especially when the journey entails clandestine border crossings, is often fraught with uncertainties and even dangers. As migrants leave their homes, pastoral counseling should be offered. . ."

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Papal encouragement
To buttress their lawless instructions, the bishops turn to antichrists of the past:
"Catholic teaching has a long and rich tradition in defending the right to migrate."
"As Pope John Paul II wrote in Ecclesia in America: '. . . They often bring with them a cultural and religious heritage which is rich in Christian elements. The Church . . . is committed to spare no effort in developing her own pastoral strategy among these immigrant people, in order to help them settle in their new land and to foster a welcoming attitude among the local population, in the belief that a mutual openness will bring enrichment to all.'"

"Pope Pius XII reaffirms the Church's commitment to caring for pilgrims, aliens, exiles, and migrants of every kind in his apostolic constitution Exsul Familia, affirming . . . 'the sovereignty of the State, although it must be respected, cannot be exaggerated . . .'"

Of course, the quote from John Paul takes us back to my claim that the leadership of the Catholic church is so very concerned about the "human rights" of illegals because those illegals add numbers to the pope's American flock and leaven my country with Romanism. The bishops are not shy on that point and give some straightforward instruction for equipping the illegals pouring into America from Mexico: "Prayer books and guides to social and religious services should be provided along the way and at the points of arrival. The migrants should be reminded of their role as evangelizers."

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick
The bishops' pastoral letter is far from being the only documentation which could be given to prove that the Roman Catholic Church is unlawfully using illegal Mexican immigrants to build her power base in America. For instance, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C. said this about illegals in El Paso Times: "They . . . come with the values that are so needed in the United States today . . . . This is a special moment in the history of the Catholic church and the history of migration."

Archbishop Jos? Gómez of San Antonio, speaking of the illegals, told Zenit press,
"(T)he values they bring . . . is [sic] making North American culture return to its Christian roots .... The values of the immigrants are very basic, reflecting a profound Catholicism."
Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Mexico's archbishop, has exulted: "In the north the emigrants, Mexicans and those who pass through Mexico, are bearing the faith to the north of our continent. Only five years ago the [Catholic] church was in the minority in the United States, it is now the majority" (EI Universo, July 28, 2002). The Cardinal was a bit premature in his Catholic majority claim; but the way things are going, one can understand his overstatement.

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Of course, the Catholic bishops are the generals in the offensive against America's sovereignty, security, and Protestant identity. The thousands upon thousands of diocesan and religious order priests are the frontline troops who are charged with turning rhetoric into reality. As might be expected, the priests tend to be even blunter than their bishops with regard to the Catholic church's "human rights" work on behalf of illegal Mexican immigrants. For instance, consider this from Priest Paul Manx, as quoted in the wellrespected Catholic paper, the Wanderer, May 6, 1987: "America is a dying nation. I tell the Mexicans when I am down in Mexico to keep on having children, and then to take back what we took from them: California, Texas, Arizona, and then to take the rest of the country as well."

As is plain from that quote, the Vatican's corrupt campaign to funnel illegal "evangelizers" into America did not start in 2003; but it is increasingly out in the open, more aggressive, and more anti American. For instance, the 2003 pastoral letter of the Mexican and American bishops openly decries the "xenophobic and racist attitudes" of those Americans who are demanding an end to the alien invasion from Mexico. They are also outraged that our border patrol would actually arrest individuals criminally crossing our borders: "Alarmingly, migrants often are treated as criminals." The bishops echo the shrill charges of the leftist Reconquista crowd when they speak of "reports of physical abuse of migrants by U.S. Border Patrol agents" and claim that "the U.S. record of handling undocumented unaccompanied minors from Mexico and other countries is shameful."
Guide corps
In 2003, the bishops also suggested a Catholic commission "study the possibility of a more comprehensive preparation and assignment of clergy, religious, and lay people who dedicate themselves to pastoral accompaniment of migrants." Put another way, the bishops are promoting the development of a well trained guide corps comprised of Roman Catholics whose mission would be to skillfully and efficiently bring Roman Catholic Illegals from Mexico across the border into America. As the bishops gloated in their letter, "This cross border collaboration has already reaped positive results." It certainty has. The Roman Catholic Church in America has been reinvigorated, and its prospects are bright if only the move toward immigration reform and the re-securing of America's borders can be staved off.

The pope and his people do not care one whit about the economic and social effects of their campaign to Romanize America. They do not care that we now have thousands of vicious MS 13 gang members, illegals born Central America, roaming the streets of American cities. The scarlet and purple cadres couldn't care less about the danger that unsecured borders pose for the citizens of America in this day of Islamic Jihad. The woman who has ridden the beast in the past wants to get back in the saddle again in the worst way. The predominately Protestant nature of America's culture and our traditional defense of our national sovereignty are obstacles which stand in the way of the world without borders which is in Rome's best interest. The bishops, of course in compliance

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with their boss's wishes, have seen the benefit of America's porous border and are determined to seize the moment:
"Now is the time for both the United States and Mexico to . . . work toward a globalization of solidarity."

And speaking of solidarity, we will end this brief reminder of the cold, calculating ambition of Rome with a closing encouragement to lawlessness by the Catholic bishops of America and Mexico: "We stand in solidarity with you, our migrant brothers and sisters, and we will continue to advocate on your behalf for just and fair migration policies. We commit ourselves to animate communities of Christ's disciples on both sides of the border to accompany you on your journey."
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Source:
http://www.jordanmaxwell.com/articles/questions/images/mexican-constitution/Romanizing%20America%20Through%20Illegal%20Immigration.pdf
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Bolds and Highlights added.
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Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err,..



Micah 3



1And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

2Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;

3Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

4Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

5Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

6Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

7Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

8But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

9Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

10They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

12Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

"Prophetic Atonement! Part 2" (Audio)


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Title: #1468 "Prophetic Atonement! Part 2"

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P.S.
As I listened to the error that David J. Smith preached as gospel truth, I can only wonder where this man got his eschatology from? It certainly wasn't the Bible. I fear for those listening to such error. It's appalling what passes for preaching now a days.
All these beliefs about British Israel (Brit Ish), the Lost Ten Tribes, and that all humanity will be saved when Jesus returns are not founded on the Holy Scriptures. Mr. Smith stated that the remnant British Israel of the USA, and the British Commonwealth will be kings and priest; They will rule with Christ when He returns. ??? They will settle the Earth, will evangelize the world, and then everyone will repent. ??? That's not what my Bible states. Instead, it states that once probation closes no one will repent, and without repentance no one can be saved.

"there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 8:12
Matthew 13:42
Matthew 13:50
Matthew 22:13
Matthew 24:51
Matthew 25:30
Luke 13:28



The sands of time are quickly dwindling; Let no one deceive you with pleasing fables.




20And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet
repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils,
and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither
can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 9:20-21

Arsenio.
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The Fourth Commandment


"REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY. SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR, AND DO ALL THY WORK: BUT THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD: IN IT THOU SHALT NOT DO ANY WORK, THOU, NOR THY SON, NOR THY DAUGHTER, THY MANSERVANT, NOR THY MAIDSERVANT, NOR THY CATTLE, NOR THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES: FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS, AND RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY: WHEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY, AND HALLOWED IT."
Exodus 20:8-11

The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator's work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep the seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah. Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man's allegiance to God as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force. God has given men six days wherein to labor, and He requires that their own work be done in the six working days. Acts of necessity and mercy are permitted on the Sabbath, the sick and suffering are at all times to be cared for; but unnecessary labor is to be strictly avoided. "Turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and . . . honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure." Isaiah 58:13. Nor does the prohibition end here. "Nor speaking thine own words," says the prophet. Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. And the commandment includes all within our gates. The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon His holy day.


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ANCIENT ISRAEL. "And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord. Bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over, lay up for you, to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto the Lord. Today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none." (Exodus 16:22-26). The three-fold miracle of the manna-a double quantity on the sixth day, and none upon the seventh, and its keeping fresh through the Sabbath, while upon other days it would become unfit for use-was designed to impress them with the sacredness of the Sabbath. The Lord is no less particular now in regard to his Sabbath, than when he gave the foregoing special directions to the children of Israel. He required them to bake that which they would bake, and seethe (that is, boil) that which they would seethe, on the sixth day, preparatory to the rest of the Sabbath. Those who neglect to prepare for the Sabbath on the sixth day, and who cook food upon the Sabbath, violate the fourth commandment, and are transgressors of God's law. All who are really anxious to observe the Sabbath according to the commandment, will not cook any food upon the Sabbath. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)


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"Nothing is said in the Bible about the change of the Lord's day from Saturday to Sunday. We know of the change only from the tradition of the Church--a fact handed down to us from earliest times by the living voice of the Churc. That is why we find so illogical the attitude of many non-Catholics, who say that they yet will believe nothing unless they can find it in the Bible and yet will continue to keep Sunday as the Lord's day on the say-so of the Catholic Church." The Faith Explained (3rd Edition), by Leo J. Trese, page 246. Nihil Obstat by Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., Univ. of Notre Dame. Imprimatur by Leo A. Pursley, D.D. Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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The Babylonian Connection

James Arrabito: The Babylonian Connection part 1 of 3


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James Arrabito the Babylonian Connection part 1 of 3

Jan 23, 2009 - 28:56
James Arrabito, Jim Joe Maniscalco Historic and Biblical Prophecy. Daniel 11 and the Pioneer views of William Miller's Prophetic Charts. 1844 and the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary and the...

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Second Major Storm Slams Philippines



Second Major Storm Slams Philippines


By ROHAN SULLIVAN,
AP
posted: 41 MINUTES AGO


MANILA, Philippines (Oct. 3) - Typhoon Parma slammed into the Philippines on Saturday, ripping off roofs, toppling power pylons and swelling rivers in the country's mountainous north. At least two people were killed, an official said.

The storm — the country's second in eight days — cut a path across the northeastern tip of the main island of Luzon and was headed in the direction of Taiwan, where evacuations of southern villages were under way.

The capital, Manila, escaped the worst of the storm. The city was still reeling from one on Sept. 26 that caused the worst flooding in four decades, killing at least 288 people and damaging the homes of 3 million more.

The provinces of Cagayan and Isabela were hardest hit Saturday by powerful winds and drenching rain, cutting some communications and roads to some towns.

"The damage is quite heavy," Cagayan police Chief Roberto Damian told ABC-CBN television. "We are clearing highways and roads to reach people calling for rescue."

In Isabela, one man drowned and another died from exposure to the cold and wet weather, said Lt. Col. Loreto Magundayao of an army division based in the province.

Tens of thousands of people were moved to safe ground across the Philippines ahead of the typhoon, though officials said the threat of another national disaster eased as Parma changed course overnight Friday and bypassed the capital, parts of which are still chest-deep in floodwaters.

Trees were uprooted and power poles toppled in the provincial capital of Tuguegarao, Cagayan local government official Bonifacio Cuarteros told The Associated Press by telephone. Buildings had their roofs torn off. Similar damage was reported in neighboring Isabela.

Parma hit the coast packing sustained winds of 108 mph (175 kph), though they weakened as the storm passed overland, the national weather bureau said.

Weather bureau chief Prisco Nilo warned that the heavy rain could trigger landslides and flooding, and strong winds could create tidal surges "similar to a tsunami" along the eastern coast.
After the storm changed course, officials began moving back tens of thousands of people who had been evacuated from coastal areas that might have been in the path of the storm.

Taiwan issued a storm warning and began moving people out of villages in the southern county of Kaohsiung, local official Lin Chun-chieh said. Flash floods from the last typhoon to hit the Kaohsiung area killed about 700 people in August.

The earlier storm to hit the Philippines, Ketsana, went on to hit other Southeast Asian countries, killing 99 in Vietnam, 14 in Cambodia and 16 in Laos.

It was part of more than a week of destruction in the Asia-Pacific region that has claimed more than 1,500 lives so far: an earthquake Wednesday in Indonesia; a tsunami Tuesday in the Samoan islands; and Typhoon Ketsana across Southeast Asia.

Another typhoon, Melor, was churning in the Philippine Sea, 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) to the east, threatening the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Most businesses there were shut Saturday morning, and residents of the island of Saipan who don't live in concrete homes moved to typhoon shelters, said Charles Reyes, Northern Marianas Gov. Benigno Fitial's press secretary.

Associated Press writers Oliver Teves in Manila and Debby Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.


Source: http://news.aol.com/article/typhoon-parma-slams-philippines/618721

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Hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you


Ezekiel 20


1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;

6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

27Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44And ye shall know that I am the LORD when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

45Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
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Friday, October 02, 2009

Olympic Games (2016)

Comite Rio 2016, via Associated Press

Updated Oct. 2, 2009

The 2016 Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, marking the first time that the Olympics will take place in South America. (Above, a computer generated photo illustration shows a view of the Flamengo Park for road cycling.)

The 104-member International Olympic Committee decided between the four candidate cities - Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo - on Oct. 2, 2009.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, gave an impassioned speech to the membership. He said that of the top 10 economic powers in the world, Brazil is the only one not to host an Olympics.

"For the others it would be just one more Games, for us it would be an unparalleled opportunity," he said. "It would send a message the Olympic Games belong to all people, all continents and all humanity.

President Obama lobbied hard for Chicago's bid, and its failure marked one of the president's biggest losses to date. One adviser said it had a similar feeling to Mr. Obama's defeat in the New Hampshire primary in January 2008.

Mr. Obama was the first American president to make an in-person appeal for a bid city and first lady Michelle Obama had also come to lobby I.O.C. members for votes.

Chicago's bid leaders had worked for nearly four years and spent close to $50 million to bring the Summer Olympics to the United States for the first time in 20 years. Chicago had been considered among Olympic insiders as a favorite to win the Games, along with Rio.

It was the second straight time an American city fared poorly in the I.O.C. voting. New York's bid was eliminated in the second round of voting for the 2012 Olympics. The United States has not hosted the Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The last time a United States city hosted any Olympics was the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002.


Source: http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/o/olympics_2016/index.html

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When is too much, not enough?






When the President and the First Lady go all out for a sports event at their favorite venue;
It's an exploitation of the office, and a waste of Jet fuel!

Arsenio.

Jan Marcussen's October 2009 Newsletter


Pastor Jan Marcussen - P O Box 68, Thompsonville, IL 62890
Phone 618-627-2357 - Fax - 618-627-2712
This is your 490th letter - My web-sites are Reg6.com, HenryPotter.org, & WBNS.US
October Y2K+9 The AT Radio Network is on the air at Atradio.net

“I wisdom dwell with prudence.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things... Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold... Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness... The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”


To read latest newsletter:

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Voting underway as Ireland decides Europe's fate


From The Times

October 2, 2009


Voting underway as Ireland decides Europe's fate
David Sharrock in Dublin


The Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his wife Mary cast their votes in Ireland’s Lisbon Treaty referendum this morning as polling stations across the country reported a quiet early turnout.

For the second time in 15 months, around three million Irish citizens are being asked to determine the fate of around 500 million people across the EU.

Polling stations in 43 constituencies across the country opened this morning and will close at ten o’clock this evening.

Mr Cowen has pleaded with the electorate overturn last year’s decision to reject the treaty.

"The outcome will determine the future direction of our country and I am urging people to go out and vote and to think clearly before making this vital decision," he said.

"I am appealing to every person in this country who believes that Ireland and Europe are better together to help achieve a Yes vote."

He has promised there will be no third referendum if the vote goes against the treaty, a result that would plunge the European Union back into an institutional crisis.

The pro-treaty campaign says it will streamline EU decision-making and allow for further expansion beyond its 27 members. They say it will not affect Ireland’s neutrality, its abortion laws or tax-setting powers and that Ireland will retain its commissioner.

The 'No-camp' counters by saying that nothing in the treaty has changed from when it was first rejected and that it remains a bad deal for Europe and Ireland.

Opinion polls have shown the pro-treaty camp gaining momentum over the summer months, with half of all voters set to back the charter as of last weekend.

Voters arriving at their local polling station are being given a white polling card asking if they approve or disapprove of ratifying the controversial charter.

An 'X' is to be placed inside the Yes or No box.

Residents on offshore islands in Counties Donegal, Galway and Clare have already cast their votes as polls there opened on Tuesday and Wednesday.

After polls close the ballot boxes will be sent to counting centres across the country and at 9am tomorrow the tally begins.

After each count is completed the local returning officer will inform the referendum returning officer in Dublin Castle.

A final national result is expected to be officially announced in Dublin Castle by Saturday mid-afternoon.


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Flood, Mudslides hit Messina, Dead and Injured



ANSAmed) - ROME - The death toll of the storm that has hit Messina and the north-eastern part of Sicily has risen to thirteen. According to the mayor of Messina, Giuseppe Buzzanca, around 20 people are still missing. Rivers of water and mud are complicating rescue operations, most of which have to be carried out from sea. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is in Matera, from where he has contacted the prefect of Messina, Franco Alecci, for news on the situation. The cabinet has declared a state of emergency to deal with the situation which head of Civil Protection, Guido Bertolaso, defined as ''very serious'' and ''critical''. Several houses have collapsed due to landslides in the areas that were hit hardest: Scaletta Zanclea, Santo Stefano Briga, and most of all Giampilieri, 20 km south of Messina, where several buildings were swept away by a landslide. Rescue teams are digging in the mud for survivors. The bodies of six victims have been found in Giampilieri and Scaletta. One of them was found in a car that had been swept away by a stream of water. A ship of the harbour office has move around 50 people, of whom several are injured, from the coast of Messina to the city. Around 15 injured have so far been admitted to the hospital of Messina. Two of them suffered burns when a gas cylinder exploded due to the landslide that has hit Scaletta. Some inhabitants of the areas that have been hit have been rescued by the helicopter team of Civil Protection. Many people have fled to the roofs of their houses to escape the torrent of water and mud. The army, fire brigades and Civil Protection are active in the area.(ANSAmed).



Babylon is Back!



October 01, 2009

Dear Friends, thank you for joining us. This month I am very pleased to bring you an important message on the educational system of ancient Babylon. The Bible is full of living counsel which helps us understand our times. For instance, if we are watching, we can see the principles of ancient Babylon, played out in modern Babylon.

But before we begin the message for today, I want to remind you that you need to renew your subscription if you have not done so already, so that the end-time CDs from Keep the Faith will continue to come to your home. Please fill in the yellow card today and send it back to us immediately. We don’t want to lose anyone that wants to continue to receive the messages packed with spiritual blessings and useful information for you in these last days. All of our subscriptions are free of charge with no obligation, though we greatly appreciate any support you can send. Also, please share these CDs with others and encourage them to sign up for their own subscription.

One further suggestion is that you should visit our website. If you hear anything in the sermons that you receive from us each month that you would like to verify or document from publically available sources, you will find links to all of our documentation included in the relevant sermon text online. It is easy then to go directly to the source. You will also find additional Prophetic Intelligence Briefings online that are not on our sermon CDs for lack of space.

Let us begin today by reading a passage from Jeremiah, chapter 5:15. God doesn’t do anything important to His church without revealing it through His prophets in ample time so that His people can repent and prepare. God was pleading with Israel to turn from their idolatry and backsliding and return to God. It was God’s last call. Here is what Jeremiah said under the Pen of Inspiration in chapter 5:15. “Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from afar, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.”

Jeremiah was writing for his own time and the time of Israel before their Babylonian captivity. But did you know that Jeremiah also wrote these things more for our time than his own. Listen to this interesting statement from God’s last day messenger in the Signs of the Times, January 13, 1898 “The prophets of God spoke less for their own time than for the ages to come, and especially for the generation that would live amid the last scenes of this earth’s history.” The apostle Peter wrote of the prophets in 1 Peter 1:12; “Not unto themselves but unto us they did minister…”

The message of Jeremiah is particularly relevant to those living in the very last days. Spiritual Babylon is rising. But most people don’t want to hear of it. Leaders and people continue to follow after their own gods; god’s of materialism, entertainment, popularity, fashion, etc. Israel’s gods in the time of Jeremiah have their parallel today. And God’s message is the same today. Repent and return He says. Through Ezekiel he said: “turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

Friends, the same message is for us. Spiritual Babylon will arise and oppress God’s church. How much easier it would be if God’s people were faithful to Him, if they followed His counsel in their schools, hospitals, publishing houses, churches and families.’

Under wicked kings, Israel and Judah rebelled against the plain counsel of the Lord and God sent them into captivity to Babylon. This has its parallel in the end times too, my friends. God is about to bring a great crisis upon the church. It will be a crisis that shakes everything and everyone to the foundations. Spiritual Babylon’s power will be mighty. She will oppress God’s people spiritually and physically. They will pass through the tribulation, but if they have prepared, they will be spared by God’s protection, “as a man spareth his own son.” Malachi 3:17.
We have this very interesting statement in the book Great Controversy, page 625. “Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive.” I think it is important to understand this word “shielded.” You actually have to be protected by God. It is not a matter of merely knowing the scriptures. It is not merely an intellectual knowledge the truth that will protect you. You must love Jesus who is the truth, with all your heart. Through His grace and power you must love and obey His law, which is the transcript of His character. Then you will be shielded by divine power in the coming confusion and chaos. Otherwise, you cannot survive spiritually.

In ancient Babylon, God had Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, children of nobility, princes of the royal family. They were actually relatives of the wicked kings Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. These men purposed in their hearts, we are told in Daniel 1:8 that they would allow nothing to defile their bodies or their souls. God worked miracles for them so they could honor Him. Similarly today, there are those who are determined in their hearts to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and choose to follow Him all the way in their daily lives. He will work miracles for and through them too.

The book of Daniel is a book written for those living in the last days and is of great spiritual importance to us. It contains principles as well as prophecies. The principles of education revealed in the book of Daniel are given to help us survive the last days and withstand the enormous pressure that will be applied on God’s people. If we ignore these principles we do so to our own destruction.

When Daniel and his friends, along with many other youth, were snatched from the shelter of their homes and taken to Babylon, they were put under the charge of Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs. Now, in this crisis, the results of their spiritual training at home were revealed. There can be no doubt that the lifestyle and personal habits of Daniel and this three friends, such as pure food, clean thoughts and physical exercise gave the Babylonians reason to put them on the list of “Children in whom is no blemish, but well-favored” (that is; physically sound and well built).

But their good looks and bodily health was not enough. Apparently, there was some preliminary testing that took place to see which of the young men had the ability to learn the language and so-called “wisdom” of Babylon and then offer wise counsel to the king. Whatever training Daniel and his three friends had in Jerusalem, it trained them enough to be given entrance into the schools in Babylon. Ashpenaz had to find out which of these young people were “skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science,” it says in chapter 1:4. In other words, these chosen ones must have skill in discerning what is valuable knowledge and an ability to acquire it. They were also to be cunning in applying the knowledge they learned, and understanding in how to classify and systematize it. Ashpenaz was impressed in the preliminary tests with their intellectual ability, and he ranked them with the best young people who would have “had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace.”

At this point let me say a word about wisdom. There is a distinction between human knowledge and wisdom, and that which is gained from an experience with God. You cannot have this deeper knowledge without a walk with God every day. You can only have this when you earnestly plead with God for it, and then cooperate with God in your lifestyle so that He can pour His holiness into your soul. He makes you wise unto salvation, and you become wiser than you could be otherwise in earthly and spiritual matters. You know, by the still small voice, when to speak and what to say, and also when to be silent. But your heart must be trained to hear and understand God’s voice, otherwise how can He prompt you to do the right thing when you are brought into an emergency?

Babylon was the educational center of the world at that time. They had prestigious schools. Every great town had its library of clay tablets connected to the temple that was open to the public which indicates, apparently, that the people were educated to read and write. King Nebuchadnezzar was highly educated and placed a high value on its attainment. We know this from Daniel chapter 1:4. In fact, in this one verse of scripture we learn Nebuchadnezzar’s views of education. Babylon was far in advance of the system that prevails today, even in the leading and most prestigious universities of the world.

The schools of Babylon in all their vaunted academics, however, developed pride, love of pleasure and arrogance. It tended to train the upper class to oppress the lower classes, and many eked out an existence little better than slaves. Worse yet, the Babylonian schools mixed paganism, sorcery and superstition with the educational curriculum, and this would train Daniel and his friends against the principle of holiness unto the Lord. It would corrupt them and educate them to think and act like the Chaldeans. This they could not afford to allow. They had to be protected from this and their minds had to be at their peak efficiency to discern the truth from the error. They had cultivated simplicity, courtesy, gentleness, and self-sacrifice. They were men of prayer and they pled with God to protect them from corruption. They knew how much the wisdom of God far exceeded the wisdom of Babylon, so they purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves with anything that would degrade their sensibility to God’s voice. They had to purpose in their hearts to obey God at every turn. They had to train themselves to hear His voice amid all the din and confusion of other voices around them.

The first test of their character, however, was after they had been tested in their general knowledge, wisdom and skill and had been chosen to be part of the Babylonian training. The king intended to bestow honor on the youth brought to Babylon and he wanted them to have the best physical and mental development that could be attained so that they would be the best they could be in the royal palace. Therefore, he appointed what he thought would be best for them, the very things which he ate and drank. But this would train them to be self-indulgent and develop a taste for rich and harmful foods.
Furthermore, Daniel and his friends knew that they could not eat this food or drink this wine, because in doing so, they would be acknowledging the gods of Babylon and send a wrong testimony of their faith to the Babylonians. But the greatest fear was that they would compromise their sensibilities and no longer be able to hear the voice of God. The other Hebrews thought differently. They saw that their lives would be in danger if they rejected the kindness and benevolence of the King. They feared to insult him. So instead they chose to insult Jehovah and ate the king’s food.

Friends, God asks us in these last days to give up all things which will in any way check the flow of the Holy Spirit through our minds. Those living in the last days must have a mature faith. This means that they must have a mature lifestyle. This is the reason for careful obedience to the laws of health and temperance. Indulgence of appetite was the way Satan successfully tempted our first parents in the Garden of Eden to sin, and it is the way in which he will entrap many otherwise good people in the last days. God will also test His people just as He tested Daniel and his companions. A voluntary self-control of appetite lies at the foundation of every reform. You must get control of your appetite by the grace of God, if you want to be eternally saved, not because what you eat will save you, but because the indulgence of appetite leads to sin.
It means very much to be true to God. It is an experience that few appreciate. But if you do learn how to have it, you will be an instrument in the hands of God to do a powerful and mighty work – particularly under the power of the latter rain.

Daniel approached the two officers of the court and courteously asked if they could eat only pulse and water. Pulse was vegetables and fruits. Their request for a 10 day trial was granted after some hesitation. Then the privilege of eating simple food was extended throughout their training. God blessed them and made them prosper in Babylon, even in Babylon’s worldly training environment.

Let us try to understand the thinking of the Babylonians and their goals for the nations that they conquered. It was the purpose of King Nebuchadnezzar to make one huge harmonious empire. This meant that he not only had to defeat the nations in battle and subject them to Babylonian control, but he also had to globalize the politics of all the nations he conquered. He wanted to get everyone thinking and acting in uniform ways. He was an ancient social engineer. He did three things. First, he established an imperial system of political order that included an intricate array of officials including “the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs.” They are all listed in Chapter 3:2, 3. Many of these officials were these young leaders that Babylon had trained for service to the king.

Secondly, King Nebuchadnezzar had to globalize the economy so that everything followed the new world order that he had established. That is one of the reasons why the treasurers were all called to the worship of the great image in Chapter 3. Notice that in this way the economy was directly connected to their religion.

Thirdly and ultimately, it was Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose to bring about a global or empire-wide religion, a “religious nationalism.” This religion, like so many other pagan religions, was rooted in the worship of the sun. The religions of other nations had to be ecumenically harmonized with Babylon’s religion. And once that was accomplished, everyone could worship at the same shrine, or in the same way. Many of these religions were not that far removed from Babylon’s religion. They worshipped the sun god. They had similar rites, rituals, feasts and festivals. They were relatively easy to integrate. But the Jews were a different story. Their religion was so different that it was a much more challenging task. Perhaps the greatest distinction was the Sabbath.
Let me point out that this is paralleled in modern Babylon. The conquest today is not with arms, missiles, tanks and bombers. It is with craft, manipulation, policy and politics on a global scale. The papacy is encouraging and assisting world political leaders in establishing a modern empire under the Babylonian principles of worship that are essentially the same as ancient Babylon, including political, economic and religious globalism. It involves the worship of the sun god, as represented in the symbols of Roman Catholicism and in the methods of worship used in her churches, and in particular, Sunday worship.

Modern social engineers such as world elites and globalists, like their ancient counterparts, want to establish a world government or another world empire that will once again assimilate all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples into one common principle of worship. They want one world government, one world economy, and one world religion. And the papacy is skillfully positioning herself to manage the new empire at least from behind the scenes. That is what scripture tells us there in Revelation 13 & 18. There is arising a new “religious nationalism.” And those who don’t go along with this new global agenda will be considered to be disloyal citizens. More importantly, those that don’t go along with the universal Sunday laws will find themselves in prison, in torture chambers and under other forms of persecution. For Rome is preparing, we are told, to revive her former persecutions in the secret recesses of her massive institutions. That’s from the book Great Controversy, page 581.

Perhaps the best example of this assimilation in relation to modern Babylon is the ecumenical movement. The idea behind the ecumenical movement is essentially a “religious nationalism.” Rome is attempting to draw all the churches together in ecumenical activities and dialog so that she can neuter their distinctive voice and remove any opposition to her teachings and practices. Many of them are not that far removed from Romanism. After all, they mostly all observe Sunday, the sign of Rome’s authority. She wants them all to be saying the same things and thinking the same way. Once they are all speaking and thinking in uniformity, there are then no distinctive teachings that create any division between the churches, they can then become instruments of the “religious nationalism” to promote and even help enforce the observance of religious rites that will by law be imposed upon the nations. A world empire with a world religion will then become possible. Gradually, step by step this is successfully being brought into place. Once everyone is on the same principle, the Holy See will have sway with the nations and succeed in requiring all to worship in the same way.

Another example of the idea of “religious nationalism” of modern Babylon is the statements of Pope Benedict in September of 2007 calling on the nation of Austria to cherish its Christian heritage. To the diplomatic corp. he said: “Much of what Austria is and possesses, it owes to the Christian faith… An Austria without a vibrant Christian faith would no longer be Austria.” During his homily at Mass while visiting the shrine at Mariazell he added the one element upon which Rome intends to unite all the nations, and which is the key ingredient of Babylon’s “religious nationalism,” Sunday observance. “Give the soul its Sunday, give Sunday its soul,” he said.

It should be pointed out that this idea of “religious nationalism” which has as its goal a conformity or uniformity of culture and religion is a global concept, not linked to any particular nation, except the Vatican or the Holy See. It is transnational. In other words, it bypasses national or geographical borders and is linked, not to one’s own country, but to the Holy See. Moreover, it educates the student to be a “servant of god,” or a “servant of the gods.” “Religious nationalism” turns ordinary people into defenders of the faith. As “servants of the gods” they do the bidding of the common religious authority. This was the goal of the educational plan of both ancient and modern Babylon.

Ancient Babylon accomplished this by importing international students to study in Babylon and then used them to promote and develop the Babylonian culture and education among their own people. They chose the nobility. After all, once educated in Babylonian ways and means, they would have more credibility with their own people, and perhaps would be more effective in neutralizing their own nationalism and replacing it with Babylonian nationalism. Moreover, some of them at least would be in a position to help the king work through any issues that might arise related to the integration of the Hebrews into Babylonian culture and religion. This is clear from the scripture itself. Daniel 1:3 & 4 tell us that they needed to have the ability “to stand in the king’s palace.”

To stand before the king in ancient Babylon would be a great privilege. Yet these students were to be servants of a religious nationalism that worked to absorb God’s people into Babylonian philosophy and culture. To Daniel and his three friends, this would be a literal impossibility; but to the other Hebrews, it was a “necessity.” These Hebrews were offered privilege and honor in exchange for loyalty. They would be educated in all areas of Babylonian life and culture, science and logic as well as the mysteries of the Babylonian religion. And they were expected to obey.
Note the following statement about those living at the time when the Sunday movement becomes bold against commandment keepers. It is from Great Controversy, page 607. Note what is offered to some.

“As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith.”

Did you hear that? History repeats itself. Like the Hebrew children, they will be “offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith.” In other words, some will be bribed. In exchange for their loyalty and support for the Sunday law movement, they will be offered positions of influence so that they can be used to sway others.

I’ll read on: “But their steadfast answer is: ‘Show us from the word of God our error…’” I like that! God will have a faithful people who will not conform to the ecumenical “religious nationalism” that wants to bring them all into conformity to the Holy See.

The intentions of this “religious nationalism” became more clear in ancient Babylon over the years, both on the Plain of Dura before the great image, and at the time of Darius, when Daniel was threatened with death by lions. God made it clear Who was in charge by protecting these men from execution. Now in modern Babylon the same principle is unfolding. There is a steady, and sometimes stealthy attempt to legally restore the ancient religion of Babylon involving Sunday worship. Again, there will be an attempt to educate God’s people in the ecumenical way. You can see it happening in many parts of God’s church today. Yet there will be those who will refuse to go along with it, though sadly many will accept this uniformity to avoid the disadvantages.

There is yet another idea in this principle of “religious nationalism.” Ancient Babylon, as an empire, was concerned about all the nations, tongues and peoples under its rule. Babylonian education, culture and religion was for the common good, for all people, and therefore needed to be brought to them, if not by persuasion, then by force.

Modern Babylon by comparison has the same idea. The “brotherhood of humanity” is in a struggle against the evil in the world. The best and only solution, according to the Papacy, is to homogenize or conform all people of all races and all nations to one system of understanding. This would prevent wars, conflicts and schisms and promote the common good united under one god, the Pope of Rome.

In this idea is contained the principle of wealth re-distribution for the benefit of the poor. The idea of the “common good” is that all members of society work together for the benefit of all. It is a socialistic concept that requires a centralized global authority to control the politics, economics and religion of the empire according to moral principles guided by the religious authority, just as in ancient Babylon. In this system, each individual helps all, and the collective society helps the individual. While there is some good in this principle, there is a dark side. In an evil world, the empire is controlled by a few elite men who are determined to conform everyone to certain principles that defy the law of God. This is where the problem was for Daniel and his three friends. And this is the problem for God’s people in the last days.

Today modern Babylon is again advocating a global authority to guide the economies and politics of the world according to moral principles, principles which the Holy See is positioning herself to define as the moral authority of the world. She works with the “merchants of the earth” such as the central bankers and the “kings of the earth,” or the rulers, to engage them in the process of restructuring the global economy. The Holy See works with the nations to promote a globalism that enhances her position as the spiritual mother of all.

Babylonian education required that individuality be trained away from independent expression in exchange for the common expression with all the rest of society. Hebrew education was exactly the opposite because it trained the individual to exercise his independence and individuality. Without this independence the Hebrew system would not flourish. God’s plan was to educate His people to think for themselves, reason from cause to effect, and develop a love and loyalty to God that prevented apostasy both on an individual basis and on a church-wide basis. The human tendency to conform was always at odds with the principle of a divinely guided individuality.

Modern Babylon attempts to do the same as ancient Babylon by training the individual to think like everyone else and conform to social “norms” that limit or even prevent certain types of individual expression. If you do not conform to these demands, you are ostracized, unrecognized and unacknowledged.

The training of Babylon was rather elaborate. It involved many disciplines, from sciences, math, languages, political science, history, law, military strategy, to public affairs and religion or theology. But it also involved training in observation, judgment, prudence and discernment. It also taught its students how to think in the Babylonian way. It was considered that three years would be sufficient time to acquire these skills if the candidates had sufficient aptitude. They also had to learn the difficult and complex Chaldean and Aramaic languages. This was foundational to all other studies. Their training likely involved mental exercises like solving puzzles or riddles, etc. During their specialized education, the trainees covered a lot of ground and applied themselves diligently and mastered it. Moreover, they learned to articulately transmit that knowledge to others.

Also, Babylonian astronomers had reached a very high degree of development. They could, for instance, predict both lunar and solar eclipses by computation. Their mathematical skills were also highly developed. They used formulas that were as advanced as the Greek mathematicians. Moreover, the Babylonians were good architects and builders, as witnessed by the famed hanging gardens and beautiful building designs discovered by archeologists. They were reasonably good physicians, having discovered by research and repeated demonstration, the cures for many diseases. These things were part of their educational system, for why would these things be developed without imparting them to the succeeding generations.

These are, no doubt, the branches of learning that Daniel and his friends and the other captives learned in the school of Nebuchadnezzar. And it was no doubt in these branches of learning in which Daniel and his friends exceeded the Babylonians. Magic, sorcery, astrology and their related superstitions were very inexact matters and involved guesswork and supposition. Worse, their connection to the false religion of Babylon made them all the more odious to the faithful Hebrews. But the impressive mind of Daniel, standing before the king, no doubt made Nebuchadnezzar admire him greatly, greatly enough to place him and his companions in his cabinet of advisors, and eventually to oversee the vast number of Chaldeans in the realm.
No doubt Babylon provided these young men with educational books and good teachers who used the best known methods of teaching. But three years may seem too short to qualify these men for service to the king when they were starting from the very beginning to learn the language, plus all the information and knowledge and wisdom to be 10 times greater in understanding than all the magicians and astrologers in the realm. Humanly speaking, this would be impossible. But it is quite a testimony to the power of God. No doubt He gave them special grace and a special portion of His Holy Spirit to guide them and help them learn quickly, taking the key ideas and issues and applying them diligently. He gave them fantastic memories, and huge capacity for acquiring, sorting, synthesizing and applying the knowledge they gained.
These men were consecrated. No doubt they could see the differences between the education of Babylon and the education they had found in God’s word while at home with their mothers. They could see clearly that there was a wide gap between the superstition of pagan teachings and philosophy and their own.

Likewise today, there is a wide gap between the kind of education that God has ordained for His church and their institutions of learning and the learning in the schools of the world. For Christian schools to teach evolution, for instance, would be inappropriate. Yet it actually happens. For children from protestant homes to attend a Jesuit college or university would be most inconsistent with the teachings of God’s word. It would be absolutely foolhardy to voluntarily place oneself in the hands of modern Babylon for training.

Among the first things that the prince of the eunuchs did was to give these young men new Babylonian names. This signified a change in character. The fact that it was one of the first things also signifies its importance to the Babylon system of training. Their names reflected the qualities or benefits of worshipping the gods of Babylon. Since religious integration into Babylon’s mysteries was the ultimate goal of the Babylonians in their dealings with other nations, particularly the Hebrews, it was vital that they have Babylonian names, and Babylonian names that reflect their gods. As they hear their names repeated in various places and settings, they would subtly become submerged into the religious thinking and feelings of the Babylonian system of religion. If these young men were going to stand as advisors to the king, and help the king to integrate the Hebrew population into the Babylonian religion, these men would need to have a full complement of credentials and skills that would make them most useful to the king. Their minds would have to be absorbed in the Babylonian way of thinking so that they could represent the king before their own people, and so that they could help the government navigate through any difficulties that resulted from the religious thinking and mentality of the Hebrew people.

The issue will be the same at the end of time. Though we do not place so much emphasis on the character in choosing the names of our children today, modern Babylon’s purpose is still to change the character into its own likeness. Those who are preserved and who arrive at the new Jerusalem will maintain their spiritual independence and autonomy from the modern Babylonian system. They will not be swallowed up in the false worship that the Vatican will impose on the whole world. They will continue to obey God’s command to keep the Sabbath of the Lord regardless of the consequences or punishments brought upon them.

Remember, Nebuchadnezzar’s idea was to merge the religions of the nations, including the Hebrew faith into the Babylon system of worship, by force if necessary. But the king had not reckoned that there would be those in his employ that would resist this to the death. He expected that all the young men would be grateful for the privileges and honors they would be given and would therefore be willing to support the king’s agenda.

Young people from other nations were also in Babylon. They were to do the same thing. But their religious background and their mentality was not so foreign to the Babylonian way. After all, they were already heathens, and just needed some adjustments. But the Hebrews were quite distinct, and they would need special attention. So the Bible records for us that the finest Hebrew youth were chosen to take up that task of being retrained, or reframed into good Babylonians. Today this is much like sending Christian teachers to worldly institutions of learning, or universities of the fallen churches of Babylon, where they unlearn whatever they knew or thought they knew of the message of God for the last days, and they become infiltrated with false educational ideas. They then come to teach in God’s schools and bring their false ideas into the classroom and teach them to their students, thus spreading them for many years to come. Eventually they can, through this process, change God’s church from one that is loyal to God to one that conforms to the ecumenical principles of Rome.

These false ideas that are brought back to God’s institutions of learning vary depending on the person, but could certainly include evolutionary theories, false ideas about salvation, such as the unfallen nature of Christ, or the idea that you cannot have victory over your sins through the grace of Christ, that there is no sanctuary in heaven, or the concept that all we need is love and unity. These false ideas strike at the very heart of the distinctive message God has ordained to be given in the last days.

Satan’s plan was to get these Hebrew young men to compromise so that they would be unable to stand firm to principle and be unable to maintain the distinctives of the Hebrew faith in heathen Babylon. The tragedy is that many of the Hebrews were quite willing to integrate into the Babylonian ecumenical spirit. They had been trained to use situational ethics as their reasoning. Situational ethics is that process where a person can justify whatever they want to do, no matter how it violates the counsel of God, on the basis that the circumstances require it and that God will understand, or overlook it and forgive you.

Today there are many that preach and teach these same principles. They excuse the people from obeying the writings of the apostles and prophets because they supposedly wrote in the “context of their own times,” and not for us in every detail, only in general principles. They teach that the fourth commandment, the Sabbath commandment does not need to be kept anymore. All this makes religion easy.

The education of Daniel and his three friends in Babylon was mixed with sorcery and superstition. While the Hebrew youth would study the exact sciences and other legitimate learning, they kept themselves aloof of the heathen elements. It would have no doubt been difficult to preserve their faith in that heathen land with enormous pressure on them to conform to the customs and manners of the Chaldeans. We are not told how they avoided the common conflicts, but we do know that they held fast to their Hebrew faith.

Today we have a similar problem. The education of modern Babylon has similar characteristics. Again, there is the mixture of exact sciences with superstition and speculation. For instance, modern science involves the evolutionary process which is as speculative as anything can be. The Catholic Church has its own version of evolution. It is called deistic evolution, which is not all that far removed from the evolutionary ideas of secular scientists. The teachings of Rome also involve superstitions and heathen practices, such as praying for the dead. While in a different form, they are essentially the same in principle.

The educational system of the Babylonians was built on a principle of spiritualism, particularly spiritualism that predicts the future. The Babylonians were involved in divining the future by comparing the livers of dead beasts with clay model livers, or by watching how arrows fall, or by the pattern of oil spreading as it is poured on water. These magicians, astrologers, and other diviners also interpreted dreams through incantation formulas and by asking advice of the spirits of the dead. They were very interested in the future, and sought guidance from the spirits so they could navigate the future successfully. Their educational system was deeply imbedded with these principles. While Daniel and his friends avoided this sort of non-sense, they were nevertheless surrounded by it, and learned very quickly of the interest that the Babylonians had in prognostications of the future.

This placed these men, and particularly Daniel, in a position to see the need of a true understanding of the God who reveals all necessary secrets through his prophets.
God,meanwhile, was setting Daniel in place to be His prophet in Babylon. He placed Daniel close to the principles of spiritualism, so that he could learn how the Chaldeans thought and how to talk to them and help them understand the true God. Moreover, Daniel was destined to rule over these Chaldeans, and would have a need to understand their mentality.

Human beings naturally want to know the future. Since they cannot see beyond the present, they need prophecy to enlighten and guide them. And because God created man with this desire or need, He also provided prophecy in the word of God so that he can understand what is coming. That is one of the reasons why prophecy is in every book of the Bible.

Satan also has his way of dealing with this innate desire to know the future. Many are led to the wrong places for a knowledge of the future. And they will pay good money for the information. There are abundant false prophets and abundant false interpretations of prophecy. If they would just diligently study their Bibles, God’s people would have a knowledge that surpasses the mixture of false ideas that abound in our day. If we purpose in our hearts to live the way Daniel lived, we would be able to discern the subtle mixture of truth and error in most systems of philosophy.

Modern Babylon, my friends, is much the same today. Spiritualism is one of the key principles developed in the last days. Modern spiritualism is presented in a very attractive form. Many people, for instance, believe that the spirits of their dead relatives are hovering over them, or that they can feel their presence in the room with them. Moreover, many more are simply placated by spiritual leaders, priests and pastors who tell them that everyone is going to be saved and that they don’t need to worry themselves about the future. Or they are told that so long as they are baptized in the church, they will be saved.

Notice that when they were tested by the king, he found these four men “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” This tells us that apparently Nebuchadnezzar’s expectation was that eventually, as these men got more experience in the Babylonian ways, they would be involved in the speculative and superstitious knowledge of Babylonian spiritualism and the divining of the future, and guide him through difficult passages in his leadership as king. But Daniel had something infinitely better. He could offer the king a knowledge of the future rooted in the infallible and unchangeable word of God. As God’s prophet, he could guide the king concerning the future with certainty, quite unlike those Chaldean diviners.

Perhaps we can learn from the story why Daniel and his friends survived. First, they had educated themselves to have a firm resolution to remain true to God. “Daniel purposed in his heart…” (Dan 1:8). This was more than a mere passive desire. They actively willed to do the right and shun the wrong. Victory was only possible by the right action of the will. Second, their dependence on God brought upon them the power of Jehovah. In Chapter 2:28 Daniel said to the king, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets…” These Hebrews knew that they had to work diligently and that human effort was necessary. Yet they knew that it would be worthless if they did not rely on God for power. Third, they refused to blunt their spiritual and moral powers by indulgence in appetite in even one single instance. This was vital to their success. Fourth, they maintained a consistent prayer life. Victory cannot come in life without constant prayer for wisdom to navigate the difficulties and temptations.

Little did Nebuchadnezzar realize who was standing before him during the final exam. Here was a representative of the God of heaven, the God he did not know, the God whose will he was unknowingly fulfilling. Daniel and his friends excelled in Babylon by being faithful to God. When modern Babylon reaches its peak of power, will God have people alive that will again stand for truth and righteousness? Will He have Daniels whom He can bless with important responsibilities?

The lesson of the educational system of Babylon is put on record because it is God’s object lesson for us today. The relation of the Jews to Babylon is the same that God’s faithful people, the true Israel have to the modern churches of our day. The sins of ancient Babylon will be repeated today because the educational system today is the same. It exalts the human through sports, through the honors system, through modern philosophy, evolutionary science, superstition, entertainment, and much, much more.

Friends, I pray that you will “purpose in your heart” not to be defiled by Chaldean teaching and Babylonian living. The call today is to come out of her my people, that ye partake not of her sins and receive not of her plagues.


Primary reference works.

1. Haskell, Stephen N. The Story of Daniel the Prophet, (South Lancaster, MA, 1908, Bible Training School), chapters 1 & 2.
2. Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (1991, Hendrickson Publishers) pages, 1427-1429.
3. Jones, Alonzo T., The Place of the Bible in Education, (Oakland, CA, Pacific Press Publishing Co.), pp. 9-16.
4. Rosenkranz, Johann Karl Friedrich, The Philosophy of Education, (New York, 1886, D. Appleton and Company), pp. 183-195.
5. Sayce, A. H. Babylonians and Assyrians, (New York, 1900, Charles Scribner’s Sons), pp. 47-62.
6. SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 4, (Washington DC, 1976, Review and Herald Publishing Association), pages 743-764.
7. Sutherland, E. A. Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns, and Educational Problem for Protestants, (Battle Creek, MI, 1900, Review and Herald Publishing Co.), pp, 92-100.

Secondary Sources

1. Clarke, Adam, The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments… with a Commentary and Critical Notes, Volume IV, Isaiah to Malachi, (New York, 1850, Lane & Scott), pages 564-567.
2. Cook, F. C., The Holy Bible According to the Authorized Version, with an Explanatory and Critical Commentary… (London, 1876, John Murray), pages 232-250.
3. Laurie, S. S., Historical Survey of Pre-Christian Education, (New York, 1970 AMS Press), pp. 57-61.
4. Rawlinson, George, The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World…, (New York, 1881, Dodd, Mead, and Co.), pp 12-14, 19-21.



Source: http://www.ktfministry.org/sermons/541/babylon-is-back



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