The Book is Open, Revelation 1:1-3

Revelation 1:1 

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto His servants' things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (Revelation 1:1)

The book is not the book of “Revelations” It is not “the Revelation of Saint John the Divine.”  The word Revelation is singular and the first verse clearly declares, this book is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God the Father gave unto Him.”  Revelation is what God revealed to his son.   Revelation is the testimony of Jesus Christ; these facts clearly make it the most important books in the Bible.  The question that begs to be answered is this if Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, why is there so much confusion pertaining to the interpretation of the book? Revelation is undeniable, as we shall later see, was and is a message of Hope to the church then and the world today.

There are two important keys in the first verses of Revelation that will help us understand the book.  Overlooking or failure to understand the meaning of these keys will result in a polluted and distorted interpretation of the book. Those verses tell us that this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and it bare record of things that must "come to pass shortly".  The term "come to pass shortly" is debated with the same ferocity and tenacity employed by the Devil in the Garden.  The confusion arises when we try to make the phrase, "the last days" mean the same as "which must come to pass shortly."  There is a reason for the dissent; we will cover this in detail later.

The second key states the message that was given to John was "signified", the meaning or idea expressed by a sign, as distinct from the physical form in which it is expressed.  To understand the book we must understand the signification of the bible.  A beast in Revelation is not a wild animal running through the forest.  When the words "like as", "as of" or "like unto" appears in a statement it is an indication that a signification is implied.  Like a tree, does not mean a 'man' look like a tree. We will do a detailed study of the signification of the Bible in a later lesson.  For now let proceed on a verse-by-verse study of Revelation, it is not a book to be read in a "jumping here and their manner".  The events in Revelation are in chronically order.  Chapter 1-3 is a message to the church. 

"Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (Revelation 1:2)  

John merely states that he bare record of the Word of God.  John used a language of "signification" which is equivalent to the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.  These types of languages are supposed to withstand the test of time in maintaining their intended meaning.  Yet we must also remember that facing the Devil even a simple message can become polluted.

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (Revelation 1:3)

He that readeth, and they that hear. In ancient times, very few could read, and of those who could read, very few could have direct access to such a book as this. Comparatively few copies of such a work could be made, and of course, the multitude must depend for their knowledge of its contents upon hearing it read in public assemblies--And keep; keep in mind.  Here the phrase, "the time is at hand", seem to indicate a type of urgency.  The readers would be blessed if they hear and keep the words of the prophecy. 

The disciples, as well as the Jewish populace, expected Jesus to lead a revolt against the Roman Empire and establish his earthly Kingdom.   The Jewish leadership at one time had tried to force him to accept their kingship. Throughout the New Testament, the question was asked and Jesus refused to give them the answer they expected.  He commonly said things like, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”  After his death and resurrection, after witnessing the signs and wonders the disciples knew, the time was right.   When they, therefore, were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:6-7)    At this point, the answer to their question was spoken off as only known by the father. They were left with instructions to go to Jerusalem and tarry or wait.  Doubt ran rampant among the believers.

This was not the answer they expected.  He further stated, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)

Now let us illuminate several important points while outside of the book of Revelation.  At this juncture, Acts 1, the Gospel had not been preached to the Gentiles.  The Church had not been brought into existence nor had Paul begun his evangelistic work.   Therefore, it is logical to assume that Jesus was speaking to his disciples.  To further complicate the matter pertaining to his Kingdom, Jesus spoke in Luke 9:27, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."   Based upon a lack of understanding the Word of God, many detractors have stated that there must be some very old people on earth today.  Among the numerous ideologies, there are those who say Jesus misspoke as pertaining to the Kingdom.  What is often overlooked is this event took place in Revelation 4:2 signaling the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecies.   

When the Book of Revelation was written, there was the need for a revelation to bring about a conclusion of all matters and settle all of the many questions.  Because of the killing of the apostles and the persecution of the church, there was an urgent need for a message from God. (Rev.1:1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants' things, which must shortly "come to pass"; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.  The very first words in the book of Revelation clearly reveal to us that these twenty-two chapters contain “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” that this Revelation was given by God and it was given for showing unto God’s servants things that must "come to pass".  God’s angel appeared and spoke to John the Beloved, making the Revelation known to him.  

John, a disciple of Christ who was standing there when Jesus made the profound statement of some not seeing death till they saw the Kingdom of God, not only received the Revelation, he also was caught up into Heaven, he saw and interacted in the Kingdom of God.  He wrote and describes what he saw. Revelation is not a scary book that some proclaim, it is a book that reveals the finality of our hope.

It is not just a revelation or the unveiling of the person of Christ, although in the book of Revelation we see His high priestly, kingly glory; but the greater portion of it is given over to the unveiling of those events which will precede and accompany the return of the Lord Jesus to this earth.   The truth is clearly seen from the facts that the Revelation was given to Jesus Christ by God the Father to show unto His servants, “things which must shortly come to pass. I must reiterate, it is about the destination and not the trip. 

In this interesting and only prophetic book of the New Testament, the Lord Jesus is unveiled.  The future is made known in a series of visions, seen by John who was on the Isle of Patmos.  John saw spiritual things that will happen literally.  John saw in a vision the things that would take place from that moment in time until Jesus Christ return and establish his Kingdom.  Revelation is the answer to the disciple’s questions.

Verse 3 close with these words, “…for the time is at hand.”  Again, someone may be saying, the writer John must have been mistaken, or he must have misunderstood because it has been more than 2000 years since those words were dictated to John the Beloved.  To clarify the statement, John did not say we were living in the last days, he said the time was at hand referencing the beginning of the prophecy.  

Scoffers and doubters and even church leaders have done everything in their power to shape and shed doubt on the Book of Revelation.  Some say it refers to a time in the past.  When speaking of the Book of Revelation, words like pre-millennium, post-millennium, dated, or even I just do not understand it is used.   Those who scorn the concept that the bible is divinely inspired choose to see its significations as contradictory and confusing.  They perceive no value in them.  Because they scoff at the idea of God’s inspiration, they are blind to prophetic understanding.  They choose to be ignorant of what God reveals about the future (2^nd Peter 3:3-7).  

As we proceed in this verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation, there are questions that we need to ask God for the answer. It is not my intent to provide you with the answers, I merely hope to point you in the right direction.  The foremost problem with the Book of Revelation is, it predicts the future. It predicts the future of the church, it predicts the future of the Jews, it predicts the future of the nations and it predicts the future of the world, this is disturbing to many ethnic and denominational entities.

Next:

The message to the church.

A Dead Church

A Dead Church

I have posted a host of questions and advanced numerous scenarios in my attempt to understand this thing called the organized and proliferated church.  There is a problem with that which is and that which is not, the word church is used to describe both.  The problem is not with the intent of the scripture; the problem is in the use of the English words to interpret the scripture.   A simple analogy, if I defined shoes as footwear, then boots and sneaker would be shoes.   Because of the need to separate that that is and that which is not, it is necessary to use such designators as the visible and invisible church.  In some instances, I have referred to the church as the "organized church", because this was a thing that Jesus hated.

It has been the intent of the Devil to dominate the church from the day of conception, the same as it was his plan to dominate man from the day of creation.  For reasons we shall not delve into, he chose Eve to put his infamous plan of divide and conquer into action.  The church conception was that of a spiritual entity that existed within the heart, thus creating a strange paradox.   For the Devil to attack the church, it was necessary to recreate the church as a natural body.   If the Devil were to enter the secret chambers of the heart in search of the church, he would not be able to find it, therein is the paradox.  The Holy Spirit is the protector of the church, and both exist within the heart.  The Devil and the Holy Spirit do not enjoy a shared existence.   If we allow the devil to take up residence in our Heart, the Holy Spirit and the church is long gone before The Devil moves in, thus an interesting paradox.  The Devil cannot destroy the church.

Thus, Jesus, speaking of the spiritual church, proclaimed that the gates of Hell would not be able to stand against the church.  To circumvent this proclamation and to achieve it ends, the Devil realized the necessity of recreating the church or assembly as a natural, organized and most importantly a corruptible body.  It is the opposite of Christ church.   Christ's church is invisible; the devil's church is visible.

The road to the domination of a church or the church as an organized earthly body began with making false claims in the name of God.  Like the rock star of the sixties who proclaimed that, “God is dead”, church leaders began to preface their message with, “God spoke to me.”  In the face of such stunning proclamation, there was no questioning the validity of the message, as the church marched down the wide road of emotional bliss.

The organized church that exists as an earthly entity is attempting to overshadow the spiritual church that exists within our heart and serves a definite purpose within the home, community, and the world.    Many leaders of these finely organized churches have opted for money, fame and are operating as well-paid motivational speakers; they have become guilty of manipulating and perverting the word of God. The church never was about making money or lording over God's people. The church was a refuge from the storm. The church is supposed to help us be ready as we prepare for the coming of the bridegroom.  The question that we need to address is, do we believe in God, or are we just play-acting?

There is a failure or disconnect between the organized church and the emerging generation. The church, the Bible and even the God of Abraham no longer hold the sacred place that they once enjoyed. The fault is not the new translations that are emerging.  The different interpretation of the Word of God is causing confusion in the community of faith. It is easy to see why those who are, "of the world," as Jesus would say, find it hard to believe the message of the church today.  Many who attend church on a weekly schedule are finding the polluted messages hard to believe.

Why has the Church erased the true gospel that saves perfectly from sin, and in its place, created another gospel without any power at all?  The fail church has transformed the gospel, and God into a money machine. Making money to provide for one's well-being and salvation is two separate entities that exist on two extremely different planes, one is natural, and the other is spiritual.  When we mix the natural with the spiritual, we are committing spiritual fornication.

New doctrines and new leaders are emerging, and the visible churches are lifting them up the same as the Children of Israel lifted up the golden calf.  Casting aside, the ancient end-time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, men and women of piety with impressive titles before and after their name are now debating the relevance of God in modern society.  As the new day dawns, humanity embraces a new and politically correct deity

The message of salvation has changed into a message of deliverance.  God is delivering his people from all types of adversities.   The unscrupulous make promises of healing, deliverance, and financial blessings to draw people into a cult type relationship.   Often our eagerness to hear God speak causes us to step outside of the sheepfold allowing our ears to attune to the voice of the Devil.   Maybe the message should be, “God has already spoken.”

Now, it is not acceptable to talk about false claims made in God name because the God of our salvation is capable of performing all acts.  God is redistributing wealth, buying cars and providing all of the necessities of life.  The acceptance of this conclusion, allow us to depend on God for deliverance in every situation.  Daniel wrote; “If it (be) so, our God whom we serve (is able) to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king” (Daniel 3:17).   Paul wrote to all of the saints in Christ Jesus which was at Philippi.   “ For unto (you)(it) (is) given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake;”(Philippians 1:29).  Paul, whose life was a true example of suffering was writing and offer consolation to the church who was enduring persecution.  "Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2nd Timothy 2:3).  "Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2nd Timothy 3:12).

The Church in Pergamum depicts the Era of Church-State Union (A.D. 312–590).  It denotes a visible church that began to organize itself under guidelines set forth by the State.  State acceptance and control of the church was now becoming a reality

Who was Balaam?  What was his claim to fame in the Word of God?  Numbers 22-23 detail the story of a man of God, whose focus was on the money.  Peter spoke of the leaders, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” (2nd Peter 2:15).  "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core" (Jude 1:11).

Many leaders claimed to have the knowledge of Christ, but their motives are contrary to the teaching of Christ.  False claims became an indisputable road to power in an organized earthly church.  It was necessary because the church as a spiritual body offered no earthly enhancements of life.  Jesus often spoke of the suffering one must endure to follow him.  False claims or twisted the Word of God to deceive is a concept that has been in practice from the beginning of time.  In the garden, the Devil convinces the created that they could be like the creator by explaining what God meant.  Imagine a church whose message was to prepare its members to suffer, with all of the suffering going on in the world; people would run from the church.

In the early days of the church, the people came together, without any preconceived idea or notion of a blessing, their purpose was to search the scripture in the hope of obtaining everlasting life.  Whether they worked as a successful angler or had great wealth, they were aware that, "I am going to leave this place and leave this entire operation behind".  Jesus posed the question; “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his (own) soul?   Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).  Their joy and emotionally stimulate derived from remembering and reflecting on the promises that Jesus made.   "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "For (he) that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, (that shall) he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).  

In this final age when God is silent and after being rejected, Jesus returned to the right hand of his father.  The only thing that is standing between humanity and judgment in this final age and dispensation is the Holy Spirit within the heart of humankind, pleading and struggling to bring humanity into the way of truth.  If you were to read the Bible as the unfolding history of God’s interaction with his creation, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you into the way of truth, this would be the inspired conclusion.  If it is your desire to establish a conduit of control and manipulation, then you will overlook ages and dispensations and use the Word of God to create a cure-all for the common ills of humanity.  In doing so, we create a sellable product; we also create an impotent god whose derive power from those blinded by the glitter.  The same as we create “stars” whose value is of an irreverent nature, whose purpose is to entertain. Entertainment is a sellable product, and the visible church has now become dominated by entertainers.

Visualize a church without walls, a church without denominational restrictions.  Visualize a church whose sole purpose is the spiritual enlightenment and empowerment of its members.   The church that Jesus founded ruled over by a mere man; how profane when Jesus referred to himself as being a servant.  What the visible church has become was what the spiritual church was never intended to be.  If asked the question, what is the church?  The researched and studied answer should be, the church is a spiritual body, referred to as the bride of Christ.  Many noted theologians agree that the blood of Christ has purchased the church. Therefore, it is infallible.  This grand ideology as Jesus spoke of the gates of Hell not being able to stand against the church, but there is a “but” included here for Jesus himself condemned what the visible church had become and issued threats against the visible corruptible church

Is the church of today a conduit to salvation?  This question screams for an answer if the church wishes to regain its relevancy. 

Abusing the Role of Leadership, Part #2

Abusing the role of leadership Part #1 

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).

Enterprising preachers use this verse to establish a domain, power base, and denomination within the religious community.  The scripture does not support this ideology.  The interpretation of the Word of God based upon our perspective is often subject to error, especially when we use it to bend the will of the people for self-promotion. Understanding the Word of God teaches us that the perspective must always be that of the author.  When we surgically removed Bible verses from their supporting scripture and presented as a complete thought, the context and perspective greatly suffer.

What does the scripture mean when it says, "Obey them that have the rule over you?  First, those who desire to establish a power base and Lord over the church should not attempt to interpret this scripture.  Second, the reference here is to the religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. The church was to show them proper respect and submit to the authority in the church, by the precepts of the Savior.

The obligation to obey does not extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of one's conscience. The doctrine is that subordination is necessary to the welfare of the church and that there ought to be a disposition to yield all proper obedience to those who are over us in the Lord.

Also, submit yourselves, that is, to all, which they enjoin that is lawful and right. There are, about society,

(1.)  We must always obey those things that God positively commanded.

(2.) Many things which have been agreed on by the community or church as needful for its welfare--and these are to be submitted to unless they violate the rights of conscience; and,

(3.) Which there is no expressed Divine command and of no formal enactment by the church or community. They are matters of convenience; things that tend to the order and harmony of the church or community, and of the propriety of these, "rulers" in the church or community and elsewhere should be allowed to judge, and we should submit to them patiently. Hence, in the church, we are to submit to all the proper regulations for conducting public worship; for the promotion of religion; and for the administration of discipline.

For they watch for your souls. They have no selfish aim in this. They do not seek "to lord it over God's heritage." It is for your own good that they do this.  The church should submit to these arrangements, but, those selected to serve should not abuse this authority.   Their service should be in such a way as to promote the salvation of the people, and all the arrangements should be to that end. The measures adopted, therefore, and the obedience enjoined, should not be arbitrary, oppressive, or severe.  It should be such as will promote unity within the church and salvation. 

Pastors often seek to impose their will on the church under the guise of a new message from God.   The path that many appointed or elected leaders follow leads to division within the Church and community and cause the believability of God to suffer.  

In Paul's time, the elders retained the rulership of the churches.   Elders of the church did not necessarily denote members of the clergy.  During the early church years, the church was an intricate part of the community, not a building or assembly set aside by a particular denomination or preacher.  Therefore, church rulers were members of the community, and they ministered to the needs of the community through the church.   

The interpretation of the scripture to suppress the people of God and bring them into bondage is not according to the will of God (Galatians 2:4).  Often our resolve to question the wolves who come to us in sheep clothes with a credential is tempered by the indoctrinated belief that whatsoever or whosoever proclaim to be of God is of God.  1^st John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.   The scripture teaches us how to treat the messengers of God; it also teaches us how to test those wolves that come in sheep clothes.

New leaders are emerging overrunning the church and community.  The emergence of these leaders or the proliferation of the role of leadership has created a divided platform.   This platform needs to be reconciled for the organized church to regain its once held status.  Many communities and church leaders' objectives are to stir up a type of dissension or hatred necessary for establishing a different base. The aim is to enhance their self-proclaimed position. 

How can the organized church, a fragment body, a divided house reconcile itself through the fragmentation that it has suffered for more than one thousand years?  How will this be reconciled within the Kingdom of God?  Maybe there are other guidelines in place that determine who is saved and who is not. Is it possible that much of the doctrines will have no value in the Kingdom of God?  These are the issues that the organized church and its array of leaders must resolve to maintain the light that Jesus threatens to remove from the church.

The desire to stand out, the desire to be a superstar, the desire to be in charge is the driving force behind many new denominations and ministers entering into the vineyard of Christ.  To make such statements is opening myself up to criticism, but there is an urgent need for the telling of the truth.  Hiding behind scriptures out of context and making false claims on God has placed the church in a tenuous position.  To sustain itself in a blatant attempt to remain relevant, that which is a part of the world is acceptable to the church, not for edifying God, but for attracting more people to the church as a place of entertainment.  Modern day churches are seeking to merge worship, workshops, and entertainment, and there are those who are good at this, they are reaping the benefits of Christ church while Jesus is left standing at the door knocking.  How profane.

Abusing the Role of Leadership

If we are serious about the Church as the body of Christ, then there are questions to which we should demand answers.   Among them are why there are so many different churches and different leaders?  The reconciliation of these matters is necessary if the emerging generation is to maintain a belief in the church and the Kingdom of God.  Failure to address these issues is detrimental to the true concept of the church.

Our leaders are leading us on a path either toward the Kingdom or down a road of deception.  Jesus ministry focused on the coming of the Kingdom The focus of today's ministry is to lead us through a life of prosperity and blessings as the organized church competes with our institutes of higher learning and entertainment venues.   The failure of the organized church to address spiritual issues and police it leadership roster is aiding its digression into an irrelevant religious order.

The emerging of new leaders is common in the arena of human affairs, specifically, political, ethnic groups, religion, and communities.  Many of these new leaders serve no purpose other than attempting to manipulate the masses and to further their personal objective.  The creation of new titles and the resurrection of others appear to be a part of an overall scheme in the glorification of man.  Given the gift to speak or sing, and with the right initiative, a person can rise to a high level of power and glorification within the world, community, and organized church.  

What are the qualifications of a leader of a church?  Can we validate the calling?  In many of the denominational churches, it is possible to obtained credentials by simply saying, God has called you to the ministry."   These invalidated claims in many instances are nothing but a desire to be a person of interest and the desire for power.   There is a certain respectability obtain by claiming to be a minister. 

Those of us who are enduring a type of suffering harbor a level of gullibility; we look for that Moses-type to appear and lead us into the promised land.  We quickly succumb to the antics and rhetoric of the actors, the sports players the rock stars, the motivational speakers, the gospel singers, we place them on pedestals, we worship them and call them leaders.   The direction that they are leading us is irrelevant as long as these leaders possess the charisma of an enlightened soul.

"So hast (thou also), them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate" (Revelation 2:15).  Jesus spoke of his hatred for those that came into the church for establishing rulership over God's people.  Was it the temptation of money and power that caused the church organize and succumb to the rule of leadership?  Why is a level of salvation derived from collecting funds from a community and funneling it to groups outside of the community?  Why have the Saints of God emerged into an arena where the blessing of God is determined by the amount of money given?  Why are the programs always about raising money?  Even those programs touted as revivals; their success is determined by the sum of money collected.    Questions, questions, there are more questions than answers.

     

There is a type of sadness and suffering emulating from the household of faith.  Church members are suffering and dying, same as they did in the early days of the church.  The syrupy messages of sunshine and favor no longer hold sway as they once did.   The catchphrases such as, "come and get your blessing" or "get your healing" is losing their drawing power.  The realization of the manipulation has begun to set in, and the younger generation is turning their backs on this marketing ploy. 

The pomp and pageantry of idolatry injected into many of our worship settings allow men and women to adorn themselves in manners that separate themselves from the rest of the assembly.  Does this level of separation define their level of Godliness?  The organized church has become a place where fancy titles and "the God complex" is nurtured.

Let us revisit what Jesus had to say about clamoring for a title or position.   "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8). 

Jesus forbade his disciples to seek such titles of distinction. The reason he gave was that he was himself was their Master and Teacher. They were on a level; they were to be equal in authority; as brethren, and they should neither covet nor receive a title either which implied an elevation of one above another, or which appeared to infringe on the absolute right of the Savior to be their only Teacher and Master. The command here is an express command to his disciples not to receive such a title of distinction. They were not to covet it; they were not to seek it; they were not to do anything that implied a wish or willingness to have these titles appended to their names. Everything, which would tend to make a distinction between them, or destroy their equality, everything that would lead the world to suppose that there were ranks and grades among them as ministers, they were to avoid. 

The command is that they were not to receive the title. "Be not ye called Rabbi." The Savior did not forbid them giving the title to others when it was customary or not regarded as improper, (Acts 26:25 ;) but they were not to receive it. It was to be unknown to them. This title corresponds to the title "Doctor of Divinity," as applied to ministers of the gospel; and so far as I can see, the spirit of the Savior's command is violated by the reception of such a title, as it would have been by their being called Rabbi. It is a literary distinction. It does not appropriately pertain to the office. It makes a distinction between ministers.  An impressive title tends to engender pride and a sense of superiority in those who obtain it.    Lack of an impressive title creates envy and a sense of inferiority, and the whole spirit and tendency of it are contrary to the "simplicity that is in Christ".  The acceptance and use of these titles within the ministry involve a degree of pride.

The scribes and Pharisees explained the Law of Moses and enforced obedience to it. They were guilty of hypocrisy in religion. We can only judge according to outward appearance, but God searches the heart. They made phylacteries. These were scrolls of paper or parchment, wherein were written four paragraphs of the law, to be worn on their foreheads and left arms, (Exodus 13:2-10, 11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21).  They made the phylacteries broad so they would look upon as being more zealous for the law than others are.  God appointed the Jews to make fringes upon their garments, (Numbers 15:38), to remind them of their being a peculiar people; but the Pharisees made them larger than common as if they were thereby more religious than others.

Pride was the darling, reigning sin of the Pharisees, the sin that most easily beset them, and which our Lord Jesus takes all occasions to speak against it.  Jesus taught us that giving respect to them that are teachers are commendable; but for them, that teaches, to demand it, to be puffed up, is sinful.  How much is all this against the spirit of Christianity!   Put in chief places upset the consistent disciple of Christ, but to look around in the visible church, one would think this was what the spirit required.  It is plain that some measure of this anti-Christian spirit prevails in every religious society. 

The desire to be president, the desire to be a Bishop, a pastor or ruler is intoxicating.   Driven by desire alone men and women have ascribed to high positions.  Often lacking the ability to lead they set themselves up as leaders.   The capacity to be a leader is often lacking, but the validation is, "whom God calls, he qualifies."  The qualifying of many is long overdue.  After listening to some messengers, one can easily get the impression that God is slow, or he isn't listening anymore.

In many churches, pastor worship has overshadowed the actual worship of God.  The fear of the pastor has replaced the fear of God.  A proper reading of the Scripture will not support the thesis of some man ruling over Christ Church. 

A pastor assigned to a (community built) church, by a state Bishop, proclaimed that God had sent him there, and he had the mandate to act as he saw fit.  The death of the last founding deacon and a younger deacon took on a strange interpretation.   Visiting pastors began to buy into this bizarre interpretation.  God move these people out of the way so he could have full control of the church.  How this would resonate within the community was of little regard as he sought to entrench himself within all of the affairs of the church.  He threatened other members with the same fate if they did not support his level of incompetence.  How profane.  A classic textbook example of abusing the role of leadership.  

The desire to be a leader, even the proclamation of being a leader does not make one a leader.   The desire to be a shepherd, even armed with the proper credentials does not make one a pastor.  Using the scripture to validate, 'whom God calls he qualifies', is a moot point when the calling is in doubt or none existence.  Even for the Bishop, there are guidelines set forth.   "For a Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre" (Titus 1:7).   Casting aside these guidelines, more and more people began to enjoy the title of Bishops and claim they are prophets of God as they follow after filthy lucre. 

Jesus, as well as Paul, expressed their dread of false prophets, "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders (witchcraft), to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:22).  "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage:" (Galatians 2:4).  In the simplest terms, both Jesus and Paul are saying, beware of those who will come in using witchcraft and abusing the role of leadership.  Their objective is to make merchandise of you.


In the formative years, the church was concerned about serving Christ through their service to humanity.  The church members were concern about other church members within the community. The church of today is working the entertainment programs, collecting money, and honoring the pastor.  The amount of support a suffering soul receives from attending many services is equivalent to watching a football game.  

Revelation, The Church, and The Tribulation

Reflecting upon the messages emulating from the pinnacles of faith I have noticed a disturbing trend developing. What once was a plan of redemption, a plan of salvation that had strict rule and regulations has evolved into a feel-good message designed to entertain.   One pastor's weekly message is about how God loves us and how he is doing great things for us.  There are those who accept the indoctrinated view of God while other look out their window and see the signs of the tribulation all around us.  The strange weather patterns, the intensification of storms and earthquakes, the spirit of discontent that exists within our homes, school, churches, communities, and nation does not depict the image of a smiling God.

In my book, "The Evolution of a Failed Church", I seek to amplify the disconnect that exists and condemnations brought against the church after it had strayed away from the ordinance set forth by Christ.  Long before our leaders trashed the Bible and enacted laws giving humanity the courage to stand against God, Christianity and the Bible, the church as an organized and divided body had failed (Revelation 2-3).   There is only one question left to answer. "Did the gates of Hell prevail against the true church (Five wise virgins) or did Christ come back for his church before it became a confused and divided body (Five foolish virgins) (Revelation 4:)?   The answer to this and other question has serious implication for the billion-dollar entertainment enterprise that is masquerading as the organized church.

According to the testimony of the Apostle Paul (who wrote inspired of God), we will not enter nor go through any part of the Great Tribulation: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1^st Thessalonians 5:9). According to this Scripture, the Church is not appointed to wrath, the Church is not appointed to judgment. The Church will not face either the wrath of God or the judgment of God but will be caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds in the air. Then the judgment of Almighty God will fall upon this earth as described in Revelation six and follow. The stage is set in Revelation 4 and 5, and the judgments break out at the beginning of chapter six.

We all face a problem here.  It is not with the interpretation of the book of Revelation, it is with the application, implication, and timeline.  The prevailing consensus is we must go to church, a building dedicated to a church to obtain salvation.  Now if we believe as Paul believed that the church would not go through the tribulation, then we are comfortable with the idea that the tribulation is not upon us, thus the fulfillment of Revelation has not begun, yet many teach that we are living in the days spoken of in the book of Revelation.  If we see the signs that Jesus spoke of as the beginning of sorrow, the time of tribulation and the church is still here then contrary to what Paul said, the church is going through the tribulation.     

Paul speaking to the Jewish converts long before the church became an organized body.  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)  The new converts were encouraged to get together with other converts and uplift one another through prayer and their testimony as they waited for the return of Christ.  They were to do this as a spiritual body.  The Roman government (Constantine) and enterprising men (Nicolaitans) saw the power and glory of organizing these groups into one earthly body (denomination).   After a period of trials and tribulations this earthly body split.   The implications were the body of Christ had become a divided body, and according to Jesus, a divided house cannot stand.  It is easy to see the problem good men have created.      

It easy to discard Revelation 6:12-17 as these signs are nothing new.   And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, (meteorites striking the earth) even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains (storm shelters and fallout shelters).   And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

It is just as easy to be confused by the numerous and exciting messages being presented in the house of God.  What is strange about these messages is they all speak of what God is doing.   I am constantly bombarded with claims of what God is doing.  Why does God spend so much time fixing problems when all he has to do is speak the word?  Why is there an on slaughter of preachers promising financial favors from God especially on the social media?  We are encouraged to "Type Amen" and share the message as if we can prod God into action.  Let look at a few examples of what God was seen doing by the New Testament writers.

Acts 7:55-56  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

In this verse, the author writes that Stephen looking into Heaven he saw the Glory of God, it does not say he saw God. It further states that he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God.  Standing is a position of action.  Stephen a righteous man was killed because of his testimony.  What is interesting is he did not pray for his deliverance.  

Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Revelation 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

John is referencing seeing God through his glory sitting on the throne.  

There is a type of lunacy that has invaded the household of faith and Christians are upholding it.  There is sadness when I hear people who have given their whole life to the church, and in their golden years, they began to question their faith.  We can pretend that this condition does not exist, bury our heads in the sand, quote shaped scriptures to prove our point, but the truth is, many older church members are secretly questing their faith as they sit alone at home waiting to die, and the younger generation no longer maintain the faith of their parents.

A lady in her eighties told me, "I use to go to church and feel the spirit of God, now I go to church and don't feel nothing but I go to church and pay my tithes because we are supposed to."    I couldn't resist, I asked, "Why are we suppose to go to a church building?" Her response was, "It's in the Bible."  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)   The interpretation of this verse and other verses is shaped to force the believer that in order to save one's soul one must attend a particular organized divided assembly designated as the church.  Now couple that with Malachi 3:8 and we have the making of a beautiful business plan that many has capitalized on.  There is no meat in the organized church because the scriptures are twisted, the storehouse has been robbed, and the people are suffering.  

When attempting to analyze those verses, the first question we should ask is, when Paul wrote those now famous words, what was the church like?  Where did the early Christians meet?  The message of Malachi 3:8 was not a message to the congregation, it was a message to the priest. Malachi 2:1  And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.  The priest was asked questions, the priest asked questions and the answer was given

A prearrange indoctrination sessions have rendered the Word of God null and void.  We often go to church to get our blessings, we are conditioned to believe this, it is necessary to support the church bottom line.  What blessing do we receive from listening to a preacher scream and hollow about God delivering Jonah from the belly of the whale?  How often do we shake the preacher's hand and say, we enjoyed the message?  Did we really enjoy the message or was it the presentation of the message?  How long before we forget what the message was about.  Would we be more excited if a well-known mega-church pastor came to our assembly and read the 23rd Psalms?   

Learning to use code words or trigger words can excite a congregation, the same as the yelling touchdown at a football game.   In the church, this explosive reaction is attributed to the spirit of God.  In my early days, I witnessed the same type of reaction at a James Brown concert.  The audience erupted in a state of euphoria at the mere sight of a mortal man walking on stage.

The church, whether it is a tribulation force or pre-tribulation force has strayed away from its intended purpose (Revelation 2-3)  It was Jesus who established the church and the church should be for the benefit of Christ.  Enterprising young men and women have taken control of God's heritage and are seeking to establish their own hierarchy.  This is akin to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.  He like so many today has lost sight of who they were and where they had come from. His “fugue state,” was caused by him taking credit for the kingdom he had been given, he forgot that God is the King of Kings, and everything he had was from Him (Daniel 4:17, 28–30).

God dramatized the king’s state of mind by an introduced fugue state.   He was driven into the fields as a homeless man to live with wild animals and graze like a cow (vv. 32–33). Finally, after seven years Nebuchadnezzar looked up to the skies and his memory of who he was and who had given him his kingdom returned. With his senses restored, he declared, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven” (v. 37).

The noun fugue describes a psychiatric disorder that involves memory loss and travel. If you wake up in New Jersey and cannot remember how you got there, one possibility is that you were in a fugue state.  With the proliferation of titles and the word of God, many are inclined to forget who is the King of Kings.   If you think you have the power to run God's house any way you please then you are like Nebuchadnezzar you are experiencing a fugue state.  

Who do we think we are? Where did we come from? Since we are inclined to forget, who can we count on to help us remember, the pastor, the priest, the bishop, the King of Kings?   Father, we are so inclined to forget whom we are, where we have come from, and that we belong to you. Help us to remember that in Christ, we are your children, the sheep of his pasture, now and forever.

To be continued...

Times of the Gentiles or The End of Days

The refusal to accept the fact that God has long grown weary of the antics of humanity and retired to his throne, as depicted in Revelation 4:2 has led many down a path of darkness.   We are clamoring for the blessing that God promised Israel, whereas God long ago acting upon his frustration for his chosen people gave them a bill of divorcement.  "And I saw when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also." (Jeremiah 3:8)  There is no reference in the scripture that declares the blessings of God to be transferable.

Many are failing to see the dark clouds rising on the horizon because we are not prepared to accept the angry God concept.  Yet, throughout the scripture, God has displayed his anger.  Whenever I mention the angry God concept in a bible study or Sunday school an usually there is an attempt to silence me.  While sitting through church service there is a constant reminder of how much God loved me and even while I sleep God is working things out.   I tend to shudder when I am told this, nowhere in the scripture have I found God spending such a vast amount of time working things out, when God spoke, it was done.

Jolted awake in the early hours of the morning the newscaster informed me that the intensity of war has increased.  Much of the East coast is suffering from another snow storm in the middle of April, in the heartlands, fire are raging and even in my part of the world, we are still unable to plant our crops or garden.  Tornados are ripping the central states apart, and soon we will be facing the hurricanes.  Crime is on the rise as parents are killing their children and children are murdering their parents.  Yet the powder-puff messages emulating from the house of God only speaks of God's love.  We are well into the book of Revelation, the tribulation is upon us and what I see is the antics of an angry God. "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17)  

Avid students of the Word of God ascribe to the ideology that the church will not be present here on earth during the tribulation spoken of by Jesus.  In Luke 21 Jesus preached a sermon about the End of Days. The end of the world is easier to comprehend when we can compare it to the world around us. That is what Jesus did. He pointed to known things and said, amplify that, multiply that-exponentially, and then you will understand what is coming.  "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." (Luke 21:11)  Jesus was saying to the multitude, you see these things now but multiply that-exponentially.  Jesus describes a Global final holocaust-not merely of Jews and Christians-but of humans under the full authority of the pawn of Satan. 

Paul described an event that was scheduled to take place. The event is not hard to understand but it is the timing of the event that causes the problem.  This event represents the church's removal from the earth.  "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1^st  Thessalonians 4:16-17)   We could better understand these verses if we accepted the ideology that this was Christ coming back for his church and that this is the first step of a transformation process.  The Church once transformed and given crowns will return as the Holy Angels of Christ.   This is not the end of salvation, it could be better understood as the beginning of the tribulation.  It is a prelude to Christ returning to judge the nations.

"When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all of the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him he shall gather all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32)  As we have shown in many other studies, the nations do not represent churches as some propose. 

Revelation 7: 9-17 speaks of a great number coming out of the tribulation. "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14)

In searching for information on the "End of Days", I realized that this subject trivialized through mass predictions that have failed, to movies and videos that have no scripture value all for the purpose of publicity and financial gain.  Since Christ left this earth and promised to return, many have been cashing in on the publicity and profit gained by predicting the return of Christ.  The early Christians were left with the belief that the second coming was any day now.  This belief was partial fostered by the words of Jesus when he said, "...When he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.  But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:26-27)   Did Christ come back to claim his church before it became a divided entity?"  Are we well into the millennium of tribulation?

The common opinion that the Millennium is to be ushered in by the preaching of the Gospel and that after the Millennium there is to be a "General Resurrection" followed by a "General Judgment," and then the earth is to be destroyed by fire. This interpretation cast aside the different scriptural accounts and seeks to establish a general consensus as to how the judgment of the world will proceed.  This is what most have been taught but is this all scriptural.   

Our failure to understand these verses, amplified by our refusal to accept that Christ is speaking of several events can easily lead us down a path of darkness. In Luke 9:26 Jesus references the Holy Angels, the enforcement arm of his kingdom.  This must take place after he has come back to claim his church.  Also, to clarify, in Luke 9:27 he is referencing his beloved disciple John as one who would not die until he saw the kingdom of God, (Revelation 4)  Remember the timeline is in Revelation.  The disciples were concern about when would Christ establish his kingdom, this should also be our concern.  The statement made by Luke and ascribed to Christ seems to indicate that this event was within the lifespan of some who was standing there listening to him. 

The acceptance of the foregoing statement and the failure of some to see the arrival of the glory of God cause modern day cynics to exclaim that there must be some old people still walking around on earth.  To explain this verse and to maintain the status quo belief in today religion system, we must interpret this verse from an alien perspective.

From the 1^st century through the 19^th century, a few brave souls predicted when the end of the world would come. Beginning with the 20^th century and into the 21^st-century end of day's predictions saw a sharp increase as newly emerging prophets and apostle vied for the attention of the masses.    With advancement in the media,  predicting the end of days, become a profitable business, the same as with the church, the shaping, and twisting of the scripture become commonplace.

The timeline of the end of days is in the book of Revelation.  It is easy too followed, but it places the church in an untenable position.   We are trying to justify the existence of a divided church.   The progression of the church as depicted in Revelation 3:14-19 reflect that of a failed church.  Any interpretation of the end of days, to be acceptable to the mass, must not attack the foundation of a billion-dollar entertainment business whose existence based upon the collection of tithes and offerings and has lost sight on its special and spiritual function. Revelation 3:18.  Thirty thousand plus different denominations and belief structures attest to the fact that as an origination, the modern day church is a failed entity.  If Christ were to return to claim his church today, what church or denomination would he be coming for? 

When the "Times of the Gentiles" are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land "unconverted," and caused to "pass under the rod." Ezekiel 20:34-38. They will be cast into God's "Melting Pot" (Ezekiel 22:19-22), and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE." Jeremiah 30:4-7; Daniel 12:1. Christ calls it "The Great Tribulation," and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the "Return of the Lord." Matthew 24:21-31; Zechariah 14:1-11. The human agent the Lord will use will be the Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the "Vials of God's wrath" upon the earth. Revelation 15:1,5-8; 16:1-21.

The Culture of Hate

As a religious writer, I struggle to not become involved in politically generated frays, yet many of my constituents or peers and associates seem to relish the opportunity of open condemnation while buying into the concept of, "Thou shall not Judge".  The moral, spiritual and political consciousness of our world and society has shifted causing a new culture to emerge.  Social, political and ethnic groups that once viewed themselves as depressed entities and victims of hate provide the fuel this new culture.  They now seek to eradicate hate through creating new laws, shaming and direct confrontation, thus creating more hate in the process.

Love and hate are emotions of the heart that radiate like the sun, even when not seen its presence can be felt.  Many of us know the feeling of walking into a room filled with hate or the joy of walking into a room filled with love.  Hate is nurtured through exposure, and when agitated it spreads.  Hate is infectious like a virus that breaks down the Hearts immune system.  Once the immune system is compromised, all of the depravities of humanity rushes in to fill any available space rooting out all that is good in the process.  Hate infect young and old,  it cannot be destroyed nor contained by laws. The prodigies of hate include child suicide, murders.

The common denominator for murder is the sin that manifests itself as hate. Hate is an emotion that spring forth from the heart of man.  Wikipedia defines hate as deep and extreme emotional dislike, especially invoking feelings of anger or resentment. It can be directed against individuals, groups, entities, objects, behaviors, or ideas. Hatred is often associated with feelings of anger, disgust and a disposition towards humanity.  Nurturing hate will cause one to destroy themselves as well as others.  

Hate is a spiritual entity that infects the heart of humanity.  Like the wind, we cannot see it but we can feel it.  We cannot control the wind, we cut down trees to build houses to protect us, thereby exposing us to more severe winds.  The condemning of sin in the flesh or self-judging is the only control for hate. Paul speaking to the Roman Jews who place a great value upon the Law of God and man, eloquently stated to some dismay, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8:3) Sadly this solution is often overlooked as we clamor for more laws.   Laws do not prevent, they set a boundary and provide for the punishment of those who trespass.

The laws of this nation once were formulated around the Bible, a strong adherence to the Ten Commandments, but that has changed.  Laws are now formulated to appease the seared conscious of humanity.  Words such as judging, hate and even sin have become a burden and many are disagreeing with their meaning and what they believe.  Christianity has failed to reach a consensus and is becoming mired in a bog of confusion as it seeks to redefine itself as a religion of tolerance.  All of these acts have rendered the application of the Word of God impotent and irrelevant. 

If the message emulating from the church is not about God's love and what he is doing for us, then the message is cast aside as "that's just his or her opinion.  We have become as the scripture states, a people "whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3:19-20)  Consider this, if God was doing all of the things that we claim he is doing, then humanity is off the hook and the world is a beautiful place.

We have arrived at a juncture in our tenure here on earth where it is no longer fashionable to refer to Christ as the only begotten Son of God.  Politicians, popular talk show host, and enterprising speakers have advanced the ideology that we must share the position of our deity with other notable personalities.  Other detractors spend great moments seeking to define what color is a supernatural being.  This is necessary to advance the culture of hate.  Many churches, once the gatekeeper of our society has long been known for accepting money from the government, they have abandoned their post and in many instances, they have become caught up in the culture of hate.   

The question that I pose, after the first time I was chastised for using the word hate in bible study lesson, is it possible to eradicate hate?  As a Bible scholar, I must rely on the Bible for guidance.  There are instances of profound hatred throughout the Holy Scripture.  God spoke to the Prophet Malachi and said, "And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness." (Malachi 1:3)   Even Jesus in his disdain for what the church had become, declared, "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." (Revelation 2:6)   A profound act of hatred accrued when Lucifer rebelled against God.  This was hatred on a supernatural level.  There are numerous scriptural references to this epic battle, but Revelation 12:7-10  recounts the event.  Parallels are drawn to the passage in Isaiah 14:4-17 that mentions the "son of the morning" that had "fallen from heaven" and was "cast down to the earth".

A war started in heaven and now the people of the earth are included in the war. How could Satan think he could win against God? What strategy might he be using?  Satan has attacked God and His government. In getting Eve to sin, Satan specifically got Eve to distrust God.  To distrust sows the seeds of hatred.  She was led to believe that God was holding back what should have been hers.  This scenario is still being played out today.  Satan must have used the same kind of attack against the angels in heaven.

I cannot help but wonder how Satan could figure that he might win a war against God, the Creator of all things? God is all powerful while Satan and His evil angels are only created beings. So why did Satan attack God? They do not have the power of God and they tremble at the thought of God:  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19.  It appears that Satan is waging a legal war. He is playing on the fairness of God and in doing so, it is his hope he can trap God in a situation that he cannot back away from.  A reading of Daniel 6 will enlighten us on a parallel situation.  The King trapped by his minions into making a law did something that he did not want to do.

The next occurrence of hate, the common denominator of all sin was when Cain slew his brother Abel.  The murder was against the ordinance of God, therefore Cain was punished for his transgression.  Later when God set forth his Laws to the Children of Israel, he issued a declaration that said, "Thou shall not Kill", Exodus 20:13, KJV.  This did not prevent humanity from committing murder.  I listen intently as the pious prelate built his Exegesis of  The Word around the necessity of more laws to combat the spiraling murder rate, whereas God in his supreme wisdom knew that compounding laws upon laws would not solve the problem. 

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, attached to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.  It superseded state rights thereby creating a new level of hatred.  This act expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to apply to crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, and dropped the prerequisite that the victim must be engaging in a federally protected activity.  Prior to the enacting of these updates, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 sort to remain consistent with the teaching of the Bible. 

Blinded by the hype we failed to see the storm that was unleashed upon humanity.  Beginning in 1968 these laws unleashed a hailstorm of hatred.  On October 28, 2009, these laws expanded and enacted divided the world population in such a manner as it has never been.  The values of old were sacrificed upon the altar of political correctness, and what emerged from the smoke was a culture of hate.  Never in my lifetime have I seen such manifestation of hate.