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Learn not the way of the world; in vain they keep their celebrations
teaching for doctrine the commandments of men!
Fred R. Coulter—October 23, 2021
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services!
Here we are getting closer and closer to the end of the year on the Roman calendar and the next thing up begins with Halloween. We need to examine what's going on in the world, what is coming in the way of the holidays.
You look at it, and here's kind of the way it works. Remember President Trump. He does a lot of things that are right. He says that children in the womb are a gift of God. But he also says, 'Now we're going to say Merry Christmas everywhere!'
That shows part of the problem in the world, and the difficulties that we face. What I want to do is cover this first:
Book: From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God, Why Were You Born. If you already have one, read it again, because it's really very important.
Every Protestant and Catholic knows that all the holidays of this world are pagan. They know it! They also know that the Bible teaches the Sabbath Day is the only day of worship.
Let's see how we are to worship, then we will see that you can't be mixing anything into the instructions of God that come from men or the traditions of men in their religions.
This is the woman at the well and she came to Jesus and He said that 'if you would have come to Me I would have given you living water.'
John 4:19: "The woman said to Him, 'Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet….'"
Note this because people think that a place, a specific place, to worship God is necessary. That's not so, so she said:
"'…Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, but You say that the place where it is obligatory to worship is in Jerusalem'" (v 19).
At that time that was true. But you could still pray wherever you were. They had different synagogues and so forth that they could go to.
Verse 21: "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe Me… [this is the central thing we need to believe] …the hour is coming when you shall neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. You do not know what you worship….'" (vs 21-22).
How many people have worship that they don't know what they're doing?
"…We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. [here is the key to worshipping God] …But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers…" (v 22-23).
This is important because if you have true worshippers that tells you that you have false worshippers. Did Jesus not tell this woman that 'you should not worship the Father in Samaria or in this mountain'? Yes! They thought they were worshipping the Father, but they weren't. Why? We will see in a little bit!
"…shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth…" (v 23)—meaning you worship God from the innermost part of your being!
"…in Spirit…"—When you're baptized and have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of God in you, as well.
- you don't need rosaries
- you don't need crucifixes
- you don't need anything but:
- a broken heart
- a contrite spirit
- love God
And He will hear and answer your prayer!
He said this because He knew that after everything was done with His ministry on the earth, and He ascended back to heaven, that this would go into all the world. So, it doesn't matter where you are. It matters what your heart is! That's what's important!
"…in Truth…"—we could run a whole list of things about the Word of God being true:
- Your Law is true
- Your statutes are true
- Your commandments are true
- God is true
- we're sanctified by the Word of God
- Your Word is Truth
All of that right there in that two little word phrase! What does this mean? That you cannot take the religious teachings of men and attach them to your worship of God!
Let's talk about those who were supposed to have the understanding, and who were the leaders of everything in Jerusalem: the scribes, Pharisees and elders.
What happened was that after they came back from the Babylonian captivity, they were very dedicated to the Word of God as long as Ezra and the Great Synagogue were still operating.
What Ezra did, and the Great Synagogue did, was they took and copied all the Old Testament in block Hebrew. If you have a box for your Bible, look at the Hebrew, that is block Hebrew. They had to do this because there was a rebellion among the priests in Jerusalem. Some wanted to follow Sanballat who was the governor of Samaria. That Samaria connects down to the woman at the well.
The priests inner-married with women that they should not marry. So, Ezra and Nehemiah used all their effort and vigor to have them separate from their wives that they should not have had. Some of the priests refused to do it and Sanballat said, 'You come up here to Samaria and I will build you a temple like the one in Jerusalem.'
So, they took the first five books of Moses and kept it in the script. Ezra and Nehemiah and the Great Synagogue wanted to have the true words of God differentiated from what was going on in Samaria; so that's why they did it.
Then the Jews again found out that they weren't faithful. So, the religious leaders decided that what they needed to do is design extra laws that will put a fence around the Ten Commandments. If everyone is doing these they won't transgress the Ten Commandments.
That's not the way to do things! That's human reasoning! That's where we get Judaism! So, let's see what Jesus said about their traditions.
One of the things they had was you have to wash your hands clear up to the elbow every time you eat. Remember, Jesus came into Simon the Pharisee and sat down to eat without washing His hands. He did it deliberately! They had many, many things like that. That's why we've covered thing out of Code of Jewish Law!
Note our book: Judaism: Revelation of Moses or Religion of Men? by Philip Neal; some of the things that the Jews write in their law to make themselves righteous.
Can you make yourself righteous before God by human edicts? NO! Let's see what Jesus said:
Mark 7:5: "For this reason, the Pharisees and the scribes questioned Him, saying, 'Why don't Your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?' And He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written…'" (vs 5-6).
Notice how many times Jesus says, "…as it is written…" Why did He not say, 'As it was written'? Because the Law of God is constantly in force! That's why Jesus said, when tempted of the devil, 'It is written that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.' So, it's active!
"…'This people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from Me'" (v 6).
This also tells us the same thing that He quoted here, that wherever people are who are trying to worship God that applies.
Verse 7: "But in vain do they worship Me… [still quoting Isaiah] …teaching for doctrine the commandments of men."
Isn't that exactly what the holidays of this world actually are? Traditions of men!
Verse 8: For leaving the commandment of God…"
Think about that! When you have traditions that you follow in place of the Word of God, what do you do? You leave the Word of God!
"'…you hold fast the tradition of men, such as the washing of pots and cups; and you practice many other things like this.' Then He said to them, 'Full well do you reject the commandment of God, so that you may observe your own tradition. For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother"…. [Is that still in effect today? Yes, it is!] …and "The one who speaks evil of father or mother let him be put to death."…. [that means in a hateful, murderous castigating way] …But you say, "If a man shall say to his father or mother, 'Whatever benefit you might receive from me is corban'"… [giving money to the temple] …(that is, set aside as a gift to God), "he is not obligated to help his parents"'" (vs 8-11).
So, they're thieves and robbers to take money that should go to the parents and give it to the temple because the scribes and Pharisees say that if you do this you're relieved. All of this is not good, and it's not true.
Let's look at something else. What we know is that all pagan holidays out there, beginning with Halloween, are not of God. Those who try and follow them are following the teachings of men. Where does all of this come from?
John 8—Jesus is at the temple and here are the scribes and Pharisees, the priests and those who are coming to worship God.
John 8:41—Jesus says: "You are doing the works of your father.' Then they said to Him, 'We have not been born of fornication…. [they knew all about that] …We have one Father, and that is God.'"
See what people do! I imagine that every single one who is going to be keeping Christmas thinks they're worshipping God. What's one of the things they always do every year? They say, 'Let's put Jesus back in Christmas.' Well, He was never there!
Verse 42: "Therefore, Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I proceeded forth and came from God. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me…. [ then He asked a very interesting question]: …Why don't you understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear My words'" (vs 42-43).
What's stopping them from hearing the words? There they were at the temple where the Law was kept and where the priests/Levites were. Everything is supposed to be of God at the temple, but it wasn't!
Here's another thing you need to learn about Satan the devil: he likes to get at the top!
- Wasn't that the motivation of his rebellion, wanting to become like God?
- Where was Satan the last Passover of Jesus? Right there in the room when they were getting feet washed by Jesus!
Satan was there until Jesus gave him the sop! Notice what Jesus says when you do these things; here's what you are:
Verse 44: "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the Truth because there is no Truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own self; for he is a liar, and the father of it."
So, everything to do with all of these other manmade things are lies! Everything about Catholicism is a lie! After lie! After lie! Protestantism: they may do a little better, but do they keep the same days: Sunday, Christmas, Easter, New Years? Yes, they do!
Verse 45: "And because I speak the Truth, you do not believe Me."
Can the false worshippers, with their traditions and practices, re-labeling everything that they do as 'Christian' actually worship God by doing it? Even though they may have glorious songs… Every year don't you have to fight to get those things out of your head, because wherever you go they're clanging all over? Why is that? Because they want to keep all the people brainwashed! If you could think of one right now, it will probably pop in your head right away.
Let's look at what Jeremiah says about the Christmas tree. There's a song about that.
- Isn't that worshipping the Christmas tree?
- What do you think the Christmas tree represents?
When I was a kid they first came out with 'angel's hair.' We had a Christmas tree there and my mom strung it from the star on top. What does that star on top represent? Satan! I didn't know it. They turn out the lights in the living room and had the lights on the Christmas tree with all the different colors. They strung out this 'angel's hair' and it gave a glow to everything. I thought that was so pretty! So, even if it's pretty, does God have to accept it? NO!
Everybody out thee who has been practicing Christmas, listen up and maybe you will learn something from God. Remember, all of God's Word is in the present tense—is written!
Jeremiah 10:1: "Hear the word, which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel…. [the Gospel is going out to all the world, every nation, every place] …Thus says the LORD, 'Do not learn the way of the heathen…'" (vs 1-2).
That's anything pagan! Don't learn it! What was the sin of the children of Israel? They always when to the pagan gods and brought them and started worshipping God through the means of these pagan gods! That won't work!
Isa. 43 tells us exactly what happens when people take on all of the 'religious' traditions:
Isaiah 43:24: "You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices…"
Here's what happens and how God looks at it when all of those out there in the supposed Christian world begin celebrating all of their holidays, and whatever they have. They're all rooted in paganism. When you put the name of Christ on it, look at what God says they're actually doing.
"…but you have made Me serve with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities" (v 24).
These are the children of Israel, and the modern descendants of it down through time. That's what they have always done.
Now, here's a perfect description of the Christmas tree:
Jeremiah 10:2: "Thus says the LORD, 'Do not learn the way of the heathen, and do not be terrified at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are terrified at them. For the customs of the people are vain…'" (vs 2-3).
Today they make it convenient! They make a profit; they have Christmas tree farms. The most 'wonderful thing' is to go out and cut it down yourself.
- What are Christmas trees generally? Fir or spruce!
- What are they called? Evergreens!
When you cut it down, it doesn't drop its leaves right away. It stays looking pretty good for two or three weeks.
- What is that? A sign of falsesalvation! False eternal life!
You're not going to get eternal life through the Christmas tree. They're vain!
"…for one cuts a tree out of the forest with the axe, the work of the hands of the workman. They adorn it with silver and with gold…" (vs 3-4).
- What do they put on there? Silver tinsel and round beautiful bulbs.
- What do those picture?
"…they fasten it with nails and hammers, so that it will not move" (v 4).
Today they have ready made artificial trees. I went to the store about a week ago and they already had their tree up there. I said that they had their tree out here early. They said, 'Oh no, this is a holiday tree.'
Verse 5: "'They upright like the palm tree… [stand straight up] …but cannot speak. They must surely be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them; for they cannot do evil nor good, for it is not in them.'"
Verse 6: "Therefore, there is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and Your name is great in might. Who would not fear You, O King of nations?…. [instead of fearing a tree] …For fear belongs to You because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You…. [notice how inclusive this is of the whole world] …But they are altogether foolish and animal-like; the tree is a doctrine of vanities" (vs 6-8).
Think about the Christmas tree. Think about the star on the top. What's the favorite thing that they like to do? They like to get some of the stringers to go along—especially the silver ones that look like the leaves of the fir tree—and they wrap it around the tree going up to the top! At the top is Satan; that's his head! What they have strung up there is a serpent!
But they look at it and say that it's beautiful! But it's not from God! Then He talks about making an idol:
Verse 9: "Silver beaten into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the goldsmith. Violet and purple are their clothing; they are all the work of skillful ones."
Doesn't matter how beautiful it is, doesn't matter how great it is! They can make some beautiful things, but:
- Is God impressed with that?Think about it!
- What can you impress God with?
Isaiah 66:1—here we will see is a great project: "Thus says the LORD, 'The heaven is My Throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is the house that you build for Me?…."
Even though He had them build a temple, He only put His presence in there—called the Shekinah. He did not dwell in that temple.
"'…And where is the place of My rest? For all these things My hand has made, and these things came to be,' says the LORD…." (vs 1-2).
Think about that! Anything physical out there that men can do and make that looks awesome…. I don't care how beautiful it is, how much gold it has, everything that you make it out of, God created! He doesn't want that. He wants this:
"…'But to this one I will look, to him who is of a poor and contrite spirit and who trembles at My Word'" (v 2).
The New Testament and the Old Testament, and you can also add loves the Word of God! Loves God! Remember where we started: you shall worship the Lord your God—the Father—in Spirit and in Truth! That's what's important. If you don't do that, and you do the other, then it tells you what it looks like to God:
Verse 3: "He who kills an ox is as if he killed a man; he who sacrifices a lamb is as if he broke a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering is as if he offered swine's blood; he who burns incense is as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways…" Isn't this what they do in the world?
I know the Sabbath is the day of the Bible, but we worship on Sunday. Why don't come and see how lovely it is.
The truth is, as lovely as it may be, unless it's according to the Word of God, is God there? NO! You can sing all kinds of songs that will inspire you. I like the one they sing by Lee Greenwood: God Bless the USA! I get inspired when I hear that, but that's just a human reaction. That has no meaning to God.
"…and their soul delights in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and I will bring their fears upon them because when I called…" (vs 3-4).
This is what's happening in the nation today. When the call of God went out, how many paid attention? I've watched this now happen again, because I watched a little baseball. Tired of all the down and out news that goes on, just repeating the same thing.
Here is the stadium full and everybody is cheering, and when their team wins they're happy and jumping up and down. It's exactly like it was before Biden got into office. We had the good times rolling, everybody was enjoying it, but they didn't return to God! So the judgment came!
"…I also will choose their delusions…" and bring it upon them! That's what we're going through.
(break@35:25)
Let's look and see what God says about lies. Like they say, the good thing about the truth is you can remember it, but if you've told lies and you need to explain it, you might forget something and you get caught.
Psalm 31:6: "I have hated those who take heed to lying vanities, but I trust in the LORD." That's what we are to do!
Think about this. Every time they come to God with their religious holidays and say they're worshipping God, God doesn't pay any attention to it, because they're lies!
Psalm 120:1: "In my distress I cried to the LORD and He answered me."
Remember that whenever there are difficult and trying times. Cry out to God, He'll help you find a way out. He will do it!
Verse 2: "Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."
Think about that, all of you who were in WCG. It went down because the leaders started lying.
Sidebar: Sometime about 1964-5 Herbert Armstrong's right eye hemorrhaged and he couldn't see out of it. From that time forward, he had a difficult time studying. When his wife died in 1967 Stanley Rader virtually took over the emotional vacuum that Loma left when she died. Rader was almost in complete control of Herbert Armstrong in the trips overseas.
All of those things were concocted lies! Armstrong confess—I know from first person testimony—that God never opened a single door overseas. We literally, "kicked them in with cash." I take that as repentance, because he said that in the two year period before he died.
Verse 2: "Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you? Or what shall be done to you, O deceitful tongue?" (vs 2-3).
- What is the thing we need to do in overcoming?
- What do we replace with a deceitful mind?
- The Truth of God!
If 'the heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things,' what do you need in your mind to erase that? You need the Spirit of God! That's why there's repentance and baptism, and then you need to grow in grace and knowledge and have the Word of God, which is the 'the words I [Jesus] speak to you are Spirit and Life.'
What is that going to do in your mind? The laws and commandments of God will be written in our mind (Heb. 10). So, if you love God, love the Truth and all of these things, then this is how you can overcome it within.
Note our In-Depth Study: How to Overcome the Sin Within. That's the whole key to overcoming.
Let's see what God thinks first person testimony from God. What does God think about all the lies of Christmas, Easter and New Years? Remember, Satan always directs it to the children. He always has it in fun and games. Why does he do that? This is why the Catholics say, 'Let me have your children for the first two grades and they will always be a Catholic.'
The first thing they indoctrinate children into is death with Halloween. What happens after Halloween every year? They get all this candy and sweets and they get the flu! The kids come home—I know that I did—with a shopping bag full of candy, cookies and all that sort of thing and I thought I had really 'cleaned up.' I did! The candy was so good I ate and ate it, and I came down with the flu.
Let's see what God thinks of those days; Amos 5:21: "I hate… [How can you do something that God hates and expect Him to bless it?] …I despise your feast days, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies."
Is Sunday a lie? All of you out there who are Sunday-keepers, and you haven't repented of keeping Sunday, was God ever in that assembly? NO! Think about it!
Verse 22: "Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them. Nor will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals. Take the noise of your songs away from Me…" (vs 22-23).
God doesn't like the Christmas carols and all of that! Take them away!
"…for I will not hear the melody of your harps" (v 23).
Then God calls on them to repent! Make the right decision, make the right choice. Don't get stuck in doing these things that are lies, that people think they're doing God a favor, or that God is going to bless them in doing it.
Verse 24: "But let judgment roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Have you offered sacrifices and offerings to Me forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?" (vs 24-25).
Think about this: They didn't wait to get into the 'promised land' before they started this. It was in the wilderness! Now you know why God moved the Tent of the Meeting outside the camp.
Verse 26: "But now you have carried the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your gods… [think of the star on top of the Christmas tree] …which you made for yourselves…. [because you can't make them to God] …So, I will cause you to go into exile beyond Damascus,' says the LORD, Whose name is the God of hosts" (vs 26-27).
Did He do that to the children of Israel? Yes! They went beyond Damascus! Let's see where it all starts. When you see a special on Christmas, they will tell you that in England they didn't have it to one of the queens married a prince from Germany. He brought in 'Chrismon' and then they started celebrating it.
There was one time in the history of England that they got rid of Christmas and the pagan holidays. That was during the days of Cromwell. Later when the Puritans came over to America, they were against Christmas. So, you see how they started out with the Bible, the Word of God, and against all of these pagan holidays.
But look at us now. We're overwhelmed with it! Halloween—the big death day—is now more lucrative for business than even Christmas. That's amazing!
Ezekiel 8:1—this is very instructive: "And it was in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house… [where he was living in the captive camp] …and the elders of Judah were sitting before me. And the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there. And I looked, and behold! A likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of His loins and downward, like fire. And from His loins and upward as the look of brightness, like the color of amber" (vs 1-2). Powerful angel; maybe even a vision of God Himself!
Verse 3: "And He put out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heavens, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the opening of the inner gate facing north, where there was a seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.
What is the image of jealousy? Can be two things:
- image of Nimrod
If you look at all of those big facial things that they've discovered in the area where the Mayan people used to live in South Central America. The face of a black man, this is Nimrod!
- the idol of Ashtoroth, the goddess of heaven!
Those are the images of jealousy!
Verse 4: "And behold! The glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain. And He said to me, 'Son of man, lift up your eyes now to the way of the north.' So, I lifted up my eyes toward the way of the north, and behold, northward at the gate of the altar… [of God] …the image of jealousy was at the entrance.
Right there! Read the whole account of Manasseh (2-Chron. 33)—the worst king of Israel ever! But in the end he did repent! People can come out of it. But he was king for 55 years.
Verse 6: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, do you see what they do; even the great abominations, which the house of Israel is doing here, that I should go far off from My sanctuary?….'"
Think about this for a minute. When you have that kind of worship of God, He goes away. He's not there. Who fill the vacuum? Satan! The demons!
"'…But turn again, and you shall see greater abominations.' And He brought me to the opening of the court; and I looked, and behold, a hole in the wall. And He said to me, 'Son of man, dig in the wall now.' And I dug in the wall, and, behold, an opening. And he said to me. 'Go in and see the evil abominations that they do here.'" (vs 6-9).
Verse 10: "And I went in and saw. And behold, every kind of creeping thing, and hateful beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan…" (vs 10-11).
Shaphan was in charge of the treasury at the temple, at the high level.
- Where does Satan like to come? To the high level!
- Why? So all of us underlings down here will follow along like lemmings!
If they do it, we can do it!
Think about what happened when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. They said, 'The king is doing it!' What did God do to punish David? He had trouble, rebellion, a really difficult time until the very last years of his life! You don't go against God that way and think that you can set a plan and the plan works. Bathsheba got pregnant, so David sent her husband Uriah up the frontlines. Joab the general had that order given to him and he knew that secret of David.
So, David was going along thing everything was all right until Nathan the prophet came and showed David that he was the one. David repented! But because his sin was so great, the penalty stayed beginning in his own household when Abimelech took Tamara and had sexual relations with her that very day!
The lesson is, don't fool around with God and especially those who are the leaders. Here's what they were doing:
"…and Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing in front of them, these were before them, and each man with his censer in his hand. And the sweet smelling cloud of incense was rising" (v 11).
This is very much a Masonic meeting today; or Knights of Columbus. Those secret societies are in at the highest level of every government on earth: Masons, Knights of Columbus, and other associations below them. They are all the ones who today are for the one-world great reset.
They're the ones who are going to bring in—when he comes on the scene—the Beast Power. The top leaders. Where do they meet today? Davos, Switzerland! All of the rich people of the world! Leaders of the world, and the Chinese now control them.
Verse 12: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark…'"
They think they won't be discovered. It's a secret. That's the difference between God's way and Satan's way.
God's way is that you learn the Truth and you witnesses the Truth! You don't do it in secret! They have to do it in secret because their schemes and plans are evil. Look what they've done to America since Biden has been in. that's all part of the program. These men know it.
What are the connections the businesses have with China? China can get any big corporation in America to do what ever it wants! Very simple. They tell them:
If you want to have business in China where you can make lots of money because we have 1.5-billion people. Think of all the consumers we have. If you cooperate with us, we'll let you expand your business into China. If you don't we won't let you in.
That's why we are in the trouble we are. These corporations are doing what they are. They are accepting the lies and deception, just like these men here, ancient Masons, ancient Knights of Columbus, ancient Knights of the Round Table.
Today we have all of those societies going, and they're the leaders in it. As a matter of fact, I got a letter about a week ago:
Dear Fred, I'm sending you this letter because I can show you the secret on how to be successful.
Where did I put it? In the garbage! That was a successful hurdle! I thought amazing, here it is just like in the Bible, secret society and 'We'll show you how to make lots of money.'
"…For they are saying, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the earth'" (v 12).
Many of them believe in 'God,' but who is their god? Lucifer! Satan!
Verse 13: "He also said to me, 'You shall see greater abominations that they are committing.' And He brought me to the opening of the gate of the LORD'S house, toward the north. And behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz" (vs 13-14)—the false Christ!
Wait until Easter comes around, Friday all the women are weeping until midnight supposedly for Christ, but it's really for Tammuz! All of a sudden, at midnight they say, 'He's risen! He's risen! A fake messiah! They got it all wrong! The timing is all wrong! People look at that and say, 'What thing that is!'
Verse 15: "And He said to me, 'Have you seen this, O son of man? You shall see greater abominations than these.' And He brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and behold, at the opening of the Temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar…" (vs 15-16).
Right up to the Holy of Holies! Talk about abominations! Think about all the things that these churches are doing.
"…were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the Temple of the LORD…" (v 16).
Standing right in the temple, turn around and worship the sun! The worship of God was designed so that the worship of God would be toward the west, not toward the east!
"…and their faces toward the east; and they worshiped the sun toward the east" (v 16).
- What day do you suppose that they did this on?
- What is the day of the sun? Sunday!
So, all of you people out there who think you're good people with your Sunday worship, you're nothing but pagan sun-worshippers using the name of Jesus.
Verse 17: "And He said to me, 'Have you seen, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they do the hateful things, which they do here? For they have filled the land with violence and have turned to provoke Me to anger still more….'"
Is our land filled with violence today? Yes, indeed! More than ever before!
"…And lo, they put the branch to their nose" (v 17).
I don't know what you could call it, but it reminds me of cocaine and different drugs. I don't know exactly what that means, but that is from the trees from which they construct and so forth.
Verse 18: "Therefore, I will also deal with fury; My eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.'
That's an amazing thing! Think about what it is today!
Rev. 17—here is the beast and the woman. That goes all the way back to Nimrod and Semiramis, and that goes back all the way to Cain's line. Here's why the world doesn't know what they're doing. But those who want to know the Truth and turn to God, He'll hear their prayer, He'll work with them. If they keep seeking God, getting away from all of these things that are controlling the world and their lives and let God help them to control their own life, He will deal with them. He will call them! But they have to answer the call!
Many are called but few are chosen, because few repent! If they repent:
- God will work with them
- God will bring them to understanding
- God wants them to grow in grace and knowledge
But they've got to choose the way of God! Here's the world that they're living in:
Revelation 17:1: "And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and spoke with me, saying to me, 'Come here; I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits upon many waters.'"
Know this: whenever you go from God into the religions of this world, you are committing spiritual adultery or fornication!
Verse 15: "Then he said to me, 'The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.'" That's the whole world!
Remember what we learned back in Ezek. 8; you get to the top first.
Verse 2: "With whom the kings of the earth… [doesn't say the masses of the people] …have committed fornication, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.'"
When that happens that's a spiritual blindness. When you're drunk you can't make good decisions. It's impossible!
Verse 3: "Then he [angel] carried me [John] away in the spirit to a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, full of names of blasphemy."
All the governments in the world! Then it reduces it down to ten. The next time you watch what goes on at St. Peter's Basilica, or watch some of these ceremonies that are supposed to be for Christ, or some of these ceremonies for the other pagan gods, notice what they wear.
Verse 4: "And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and was adorned with gold and pearls and precious stones; and she had a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominations and the filthiness of her fornication."
Pouring it out! This is why they like to get them at an early age. Then they won't be able to know the difference. Do you know how far and bad it's gotten in a school district in Georgia just recently? They were teaching the children that the way to solve the global warming crisis is to eat the babies! Taught in school.
How far will the abominations go? There are parents up in arms about this, and trying to do something about it. Very well, they better be doing that. But think of the mindset of the teachers and the unions are locked in so no one can get rid of them. This is the kind of thing they're teaching the children. Cannibalism!
Verse 5: "And across her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT… [a secret, the world can't figure it out] …THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…." (vs 5-6). Notice that there are two kinds of martyrs:
- the saints
- those who are martyred for Christ, but they're not converted.
But they're holding to the name of Christ! They probably will be in the second resurrection! Saints will be in the first resurrection!
Take all of those in the past years that have been beheaded over in the Middle East, they fall into the category of martyrs of Jesus. Not the martyrs of saints. The saints are the ones who have the Spirit of God.
"…And after seeing her, I wondered with great amazement… [notice how similar this is to Ezek. 8; the same kind of layout] …Then the angel said to me, 'Why are you amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns'" (vs 6-7). Then he describes it and tells him what they are!
Verse 12: "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom… [today they have not yet received it; it's coming] …but shall receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. These all have one mind, and shall give up their power and authority to the beast" (vs 12-13).
Isn't that the coercion that's going on? Do what you're told! Give up your free will!
Verse 14: "These will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him…" This is who God is dealing with:
- "…are called…" All here have answered the call with baptism!
- "…and chosen…" God has chosen you!
I could read a lot of Scriptures about how God says that He forms people in the womb!
- "…and faithful" (v 14)—that's is the key!
Our whole battle in overcoming the world is to love God and remain faithful:
- to God
- to His Word
- to each other as brethren
- loving God
- loving each other
All of that is what's important for us to be doing in understanding today in these troubles and these times!
Keep all of these things in mind, set up a good blockade in your mind and ears for the music. I know that when I go into the store and all the music is going on… I know what I'll do, I'll get plugs and put them in my ears. Thank you, Kip, that was a good one! Get plugs, Fred, don't be stupid!
Brace yourself for the coming pagan holidays! Stay close to God!
Scriptural References:
- John 4:19-23
- Mark 7:5-11
- John 8:41-45
- Jeremiah 10:1-2
- Isaiah 43:24
- Jeremiah 10:2-8
- Isaiah 66:1-4
- Psalm 31:6
- Psalm 120:1-3
- Amos 5:21-27
- Ezekiel 8:1-18
- Revelation 17:1, 15. 2-7. 12-14
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Hebrews 10
- 2 Chronicles 33
Also referenced:
Book: Code of Jewish Law by Ganzfried & Goldin
Books at truthofGod.org:
- From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God: Why Were You Born? by Fred R. Coulter
- Judaism: Revelation of Moses or Religion of Men? by Philip Neal
In-Depth Study: How to Overcome the Sin Within
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 10/27/21
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