The large room was packed out as I spoke about the link-up of religion with politics in these last days prophetic lectures.
A man and his family suddenly arose and stormed out of the meeting. The audience soon heard him shouting from outside.
'Smith, when you come outside, I am going to knock your head off with a rock.'
At the conclusion of the meeting, we cautiously moved into our vehicle, and I told my family that it may be wiser the following evening if we all wore crash helmets.
On another occasion another dear man threatened me with crucifixion, should I return to that area.
By now, you, the reader, probably have an insatiable desire to travel with us, to meet such nice people.
Seriously now. Why does RELIGION evoke such an emotional response?
This chapter will answer the question without any emotion, so I invite you to read on.
Throughout much of this book, you will recall many references to the religious aspect in prophecy.
Where does it fit in with all this political and economic information? Where does it come from? Where do we find religion's origins? We shouldn't be afraid to find out the answer to this intriguing question, so I set myself to the task of answering it. In this chapter, we will deal with the end of all religion, Catholic, Protestant, Middle Eastern and Eastern, which will culminate in pure Satanism.
I have discovered that any person with a religious upbringing usually falls into one category or another.
(a) Satisfied and unable to think. (Ostrich - head in sand approach.)
(b) Satisfied and still able to think.
(c) Dissatisfied and not interested.
(d) Dissatisfied and looking for answers.
I address this chapter to groups (b) and (d).
A dear friend of mine, Max Rasmussen - now living in Apia, Western Samoa, put it this way.
If there is a motor accident and there are bodies lying all over the road, wishing to assist, you stop at the scene and rush around lifting eyelids. When you see that some are completely lifeless, you leave them and look for those who are only injured.
Jesus said the same thing actually.
'Let the dead bury their dead.' * Ref. 1.
We have discovered, hidden within the pages of the Holy Scriptures a history of the true and the false churches running side by side. Jesus referred to the two groups as the:
Wheat (True) Tares (False)
The hidden code for this history lesson is uncovered in the book of Revelation with the seven church ages and also in the parables of Jesus found in the book of Matthew Chapter 13.
If we put them side by side, a clear picture emerges.
In the year 1986, my wife May and I stood in the streets
of Jerusalem and I made a statement.
THE TRUE CHURCH STARTED HERE IN JERUSALEM.
'And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.' * Ref. 2.
Later on we read, after the gospel had been preached:
'Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day were added unto them about three thousand souls.' * Ref.3.
Now these people met in Jerusalem. This was the beginning of it all.
Note how and where they met.
Is your Christian fellowship anything like this today, or do you suspect things may have deteriorated?
(i) EPHESUS THE FIRST CHURCH AGE. Started about 30 AD. The first church in Jerusalem corresponds with Ephesus in the secret code. They were the first faithful Christians who worked hard for the Lord.
'I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil.......' * Ref.5
Notice the first church conducted beautiful spontaneous worship services.
'How is it brethren, when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation. Let all things be done unto edifying.' *Ref.6.
You can detect the informality of it all. Genuine love for the Lord Jesus Christ drew them together.
It is imperative to understand that once they came to know
Jesus in a very personal way, they met in several ways:
(a) The Temple - Obviously with all the dead religious form,
the spiritual ones amongst them would not gain much at
all, yet they continued there, much as some do in many
churches today, not to learn, but to keep up contacts.
(b) House to house - The real fellowship and worship was gained
in their informal house meetings, where they dealt with
reality.
(c) There was no priest present. In fact the very concept of a
man ruling over their spiritual life appalled them.
'But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate.' *Ref 7
The word Nicolaitans comes from two words in Greek:
nikao - to conquer and
laos - the laity - the ordinary person.
It was and still is, a religious demon that takes over men and women who love high pulpits and platforms and all the priestly garb, which separates the priesthood from the ordinary people.
The early church hated it.
God hates it.
I also hate it, being a public speaker myself.
Jesus told them clearly not to elevate a man to this false position of authority and certainly not to call him 'FATHER', or even RABBI. Jesus certainly hit at man's religiosity.
'But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ,
and all ye are BRETHREN.
And call no man your father, for one is your Father which is in
heaven.' *Ref.8. (Emphasis added.)
Humility was the key in the early church.
'But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.' *Ref.9.
(d) According to the Matthew 13 parable of Jesus, the early church
Christians fed spiritually on the pure seed of the Word of God,
which when planted in good soil (or a clean heart), not mixed
with weeds (church tradition etc) brought forth a good crop.
'Ye shall know them by their fruits.' *Ref.10.
It is different today isn't it?
What is your church leader like?
- Does he smoke?
- Does he drink and mix with the boys?
- Does he swear and tell the odd dirty joke?
The fruit will tell you the root.
This early church continued on and spread from Jerusalem carrying its pure seed message everywhere.
These Christians upset the society of the day so much that a series of persecutions rocked its foundations, and drove them underground.
The persecutions were conducted mainly from ROME where the Roman Empire of the day had its capital.
The early Christians would take dangerous sea voyages across the Mediterranean to distant shores such as Italy, carrying the good seed of the pure gospel.
Imagine yourself arriving in the HEATHEN CAPITAL of the
world, setting up a pure Christian home fellowship in secret, in
opposition to the highly established religious Roman style worship
which included
(a) High Priests and Emperor worship
(b) High dignitaries
(c) Statues to countless Roman gods
(d) Altars
(e) Candles
(f) Religious vestments and garments for the leaders
(g) Superstitious doctrines e.g. telling the future by throwing
the entrails of a goat and observing the angle of their landing.
(h) The worship in particular of the sun god.
(i) Magnificent buildings and religious temples.
(j) The High Priests acting like gods and the common people
in abject fear and trembling of displeasing the hierarchy.
Is all this ringing a bell in your heart? Even as you read this, you are beginning to sense; 'Hey, this is true. I can see the little groups of Christians, faces glowing with heavenly joy, in the midst of all this heathen confusion.'
The main secular Roman persecutors were:
(a) Nero - 64 AD - Probably executed Peter and Paul along
with many others.
(b) Domitian - 96 AD - Accused Christians of atheism as they
refused to participate in Emperor worship.
(c) Trajan - 98-117 AD - Called the church a secret society
and an illegal religion. Look at that. The believers did nought
but good for society, yet they suffered for it. Thus did their
master, the Lord Jesus Christ before them.
(d) Hadrian - 117-138 AD - Made martyrs out of quite a
number.
(e) Antonius Pius - quite liked the Christians, but had to uphold
the Roman law. Killed many induding Polycarp.
There were others which led on to:
(f) Diocletion - For ten years under his reign, Christians were
hunted in caves and dens, burned, tortured and thrown to
wild beasts. An effort was being made to stamp out true
Christianity. Even in Israel today, the Roman colosseums
may still be viewed. My wife and I felt the horror by standing
in the little cells that the early Christians huddled in, awaiting
their encounter with the lions.
Catacombs - Beneath the streets of Rome, these galleries 8-10 feet wide and 4-6 feet tall extend for hundreds of miles. These areas were used for services, burials and refuge during these terrible first 25 years of history since the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(ii) SMYRNA - THE SECOND CHURCH AGE. Started about 100 A.D.
This second era shows us prophetically that a time of religious persecution was on the agenda. The true seed would shortly have to contend with the false weeds.
'Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer, behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried....' *Ref 11
Shortly, the key word will be:
'Infiltration' - which leads to 'corruption'.
It is a strange phenomenon in life that things always degenerate and never improve, unless outside artificial pressure is applied.
You do not need to teach your children to do evil. You do not sit around the fire at night and say:
'Children, your mother and I will teach you swearing tonight, then on the other nights of the week, we will concentrate on such subjects as lying, stealing and murdering etc.'
No this is not necessary. You do however, have to teach good behaviour.
'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' *Ref.12
A box of apples with one bad apple in it, will ultimately turn all the apples bad. Never in all history has a box of good apples turned a bad apple good again.
- Even so, within Christian fellowships.
A beautiful group of pure-hearted believers is quite simple to infiltrate and ultimately corrupt, owing to man's sinful frailty.
The code in Jesus' second parable in Matthew 13 yields up its secret.
'The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed TARES among the WHEAT and went his way....' *Ref. 13. (Emphasis added.)
Taking the real seed of the life changing gospel to HEATHEN ROME was a precarious step. It had to be done, yet, within 100 years of the Master giving his life to save us on the cross of Calvary, Satan (ex Lucifer) waited in the Roman wings, laughing up his sleeve.
He said, 'Here they come, the poor suckers. By the time I am finished with this Christianity, the people will not know up from down. With my ages of knowledge, I know that the best method for destroying something is to approach it, not from 'without' but from 'within' '.
Satan continues on with his thoughts.
'I must follow the system of 'gradual infiltration' with apparently superior ideas in running church life.
I'll start with 'leadership'. The Christian's strength at this moment of time lies in the ability to listen to God's Holy Spirit and thus they are impregnable.'
Sidling into a fellowship meeting one day, a pagan Roman made the suggestion that a leader should be appointed, which would make things easier all round, by taking the responsibiity off the congregation, for the making of major decisions.
It sounded so right, a show of hands assisted the passing of the remit; - sometimes referred to as:
Roman Bishops. A series of Roman Bishops were set in office from 67 AD - 154 AD.
Key thought - Believers led by the Holy Spirit continued on quietly from house to house and embraced no weeds of tradition, just the pure seed of God's Word, led and illumined by God's Holy Spirit.
[Please read this section again.]
Please note that although there were a series of Roman Bishops for 500 years from Christ,
THERE WERE NO POPES until the year 440 AD.
'What's that'? you say.
THERE WERE NO POPES until the year 440 AD.
What about Peter being the first pope?
Two words cover this thought - 'Pure fiction.'
(a) There is no HISTORICAL evidence that he was even Bishop of Rome, never mind Pope of Rome.
(b) Not once in the Holy Scriptures did he ever claim any such position.
(c) The only thing that did apparently concern Peter on the leadership level, was that those coming after him would be involved in:
'Lording it over God's flock, rather than showing themselves examples.' *Ref.14.
Now it is at this point that the wise 'hang in there,' and the ostriches say 'Enough - lead me to the sandpit.'
The message in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16 and verse 18 is a thoroughly good verse if read in context.
Read your own Bible from verse 13. Jesus is asking 'Who do people say that I am?'
Peter answers, 'Some say this and some say that, but I say:
'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' *Ref.15
In verse 17, Jesus commends Peter for his answer and tells him that it was His Father's divine revelation that enabled him to get this correct.
Now, on to the 'crunch point.'
Verse 18. Jesus speaking to Peter recorded from the Greek language into our English Bibles.
By the way, our second daughter Rachel, is married to our son-in-law John, a lovely Greek born believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has authenticated what I am about to write here.
'And I say also unto thee, thou art Peter (petros-pebble) and upon this rock (petra-foundation stone, i.e. Peter's testimony that Jesus is Lord) will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' *Ref. 16. End quote. (Words in brackets added for clarity.)
The Greek language was not spoken by Jesus at this point. He spoke Aramaic, but the Greek translators never missed out on a minute point of difference in a shade of meaning. For this reason, their language is far more rich and full than English. The Greek translated into English should have made this 'vital, very important point' clear, but the translators failed us.
You question me at this point: 'Then the church was not built on Peter?'
Answer: 'Only partially. He was a foundation member along with the other apostles and prophets, but Jesus Christ the Lord is the key to the whole thing.
Proof, proof, I hear you cry. All right, here it is.
'Now then ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the whole household of God.' * Ref. 17.
This passage of course refers to twice-born believers in Christ, not your average religious go-to-church-regularly person.
'And are built upon the foundation of APOSTLES AND PROPHETS - JESUS CHRIST himself being the CHIEF CORNER STONE.' *Ref. 18. (Words in capitals emphasised.)
Was Peter part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was James part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was John part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Matthew part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Philip part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Bartholomew part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Thomas part of the foundation - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Simon the Canaanite part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Andrew part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was James part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Lebbeus part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, yet only a pebble.
Was Judas Iscariot part of the foundation? - Yes, as an apostle, but he lost his position to Matthias.
Was Isaiah part of the foundation? - Yes, as a prophet.
Was Jeremiah part of the foundation? - Yes, as a prophet.
Was Ezekiel part of the foundation? -Yes, as a prophet.
Was Daniel part of the foundation? - Yes, as a prophet.
Listen, I'm going to stop the list here.
Many of you have never been told all this before. It is not your fault.
Peter was a likeable enough fellow, but like you and me, full of faults. God in his mercy allowed him to be a 'part' of the foundation only, but
PLEASE, PLEASE, if you wish to elevate someone, make it the
CHIEF CORNER STONE - THE LORDJESUS CHRIST.
At this point, you throw up your hands in horror and say:
'It's not going to get worse is it?'
Remember the bad apple? - Read on.
(iii) PERGAMOS - THE THIRD CHURCH AGE. Started about 154 AD.
Satan's infiltration really got under way at this point. The warning is given in unmistakable language.
'I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou holdest fast to my name and hast not denied my faith....' *Ref 19.
At this point, God himself brings a clear word to the pure seed Christians, still meeting house to house, yet constantly under threat from the 'official' weed counterfeit run by none less than Satan - the master counterfeiter. The passage goes on to reveal God's anger.
'......I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who TAUGHT Balak to cast a STUMBLINGBLOCK before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication.' *Ref.20. (Emphasis added.)
The two characteristics of this counterfeit weed system therefore are to do with:
The secret code found in the parables comes to our assistance once again.
'....The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field.
Which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.' *Ref. 21.
In this chapter, no one church needs to be singled out for attention.
I was fascinated to learn some years ago, that the word religion itself comes from the basic root meaning:
TO BIND. In other words, turn religious and be bound up. Turn to God through Jesus Christ who is Lord and be set free.
'And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' *Ref.22.
Buddha died looking for the truth, but Jesus said He was the truth.
Have you ever wondered where all the EXTRAS come from? The founder of Christianity had no extras at all, in fact when he wished to wash the single robe that he possessed, it is apparent that he would have to find a secluded beach on which to perform this task. Modesty would require this to be the case.
Now remember, this weed system started small, but like Fabian
Socialism of today, gradualism led on to extra weeds being added
to assist in the binding process of human souls.
Extras List (Unknown to the Pure Seed Christians)
'Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.
Thou shalt not BOW DOWN thyself to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God....' *Ref.23. (Emphasis added.)
When any of the flock dared to question the presence of such statues to Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the saints, they were told by their leaders that these were 'aids to worship.'
In other words, their leaders were correct, and apparently God made a mistake with His specific command.
| Ref.1 - | Matthew 8:22b | |
| Ref.2 - | Acts 2:1 | |
| Ref.3 - | Acts 2:41 | |
| Ref.4 - | Acts 2:44-47 | |
| Ref.5 - | Revelation 2:2a | |
| Ref.6 - | 1 Corinthians 14:26 | |
| Ref.7 - | Revelation 2:6 | |
| Ref.8 - | Matthew 23:8-9 | |
| Ref.9 - | Matthew 23:11 | |
| Ref.10 - | Matthew 7:16a | |
| Ref.11 - | Revelation 2:10a | |
| Ref.12 - | Proverbs 22:6 | |
| Ref.13 - | Matthew 13:24 | |
| Ref.14 - | 1 Peter 5:3 | |
| Ref.15 - | Matthew 16:16 | |
| Ref.16 - | Matthew 16:18 | |
| Ref.17 - | Ephesians 2:19 | |
| Ref.18 - | Ephesians 2:20 | |
| Ref.19 - | Revelation 2:13a | |
| Ref.20 - | Revelation 2:14 | |
| Ref.21 - | Matthew 13:31-32 | |
| Ref.22 - | John 8:32 | |
| Ref.23 - | Exodus 20:4-5 |