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Fred R. Coulter—July 14, 2012
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Now before we get started I want to announce we have this new booklet, God or No God, by Duncan Macleod. He's our elder in Brockville, Canada, which is eastern Canada a little east of Toronto. He's also the office manager. The beautiful cover is by Cindy; take a bow. As someone told me, the walking from ape to man, and so forth, is the holy grail of evolution.
There is always a question as to how old things are. I call your attention to two programs that are on ChurchatHome.com: How Old is the Earth? I want to cover just a couple of things in principle here so you can answer people who say, 'They found this to be this old and this to be this old.'
Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God... [Now there is no the in Hebrew. It is, 'In beginning God.' So, that's before everything. In beginning God—stop! You start with God.] ...created the heavens... [Stop! So He created the heavens first.] ...and the earth." Stop! That shows that the earth was created out of things that already existed from creating the heavens.
It comes down to how old is the earth? They have various ways of measuring things. They run from billions of years, hundreds of thousands of years, and so forth. The question was asked: What about pre-Adamic man, because there were bones found to be 12,000-years-old. The answer is: Adam was the first man!
When bones are found in the earth, which came first, the earth or the bones? The earth! What happens when you put bones in the ground? There is a mineral transfer from the soil or the earth into the bones and from the bones into the earth.
For example: How many have seen petrified wood? How old is that wood? If you measure the petrified wood, you may come up with millions of years because what you're doing you're measuring the age of the minerals that petrified the wood. So the answer is: You cannot have any firm assurance of any dating of things that are artifacts from the ground. We don't know!
So, Professor Leaky running around eastern Africa picking up bones on the ground, millions and millions and millions of years ago, what he's measuring is the age of the soil, though he's measuring the bones. You can't tell. They can only measure what the state of the artifact is.
It was said they found a temple 12,000 years old. But if you have a temple, what was that made of? It was made of stone! If there were bones there, they may register 12,000 years on whatever scale of measurement that they have, but you really don't know how old it is because you don't know how long it's been there. You don't know the degree of the transference of minerals.
Yes, you can measure this, you can measure that, you can measure the other thing, but since the earth was made first and it says in the book of Job that 'when the foundation of the earth was laid the sons of God sang for joy.' That was before the rebellion of Lucifer. How long were the angels on the earth before the rebellion took place? We don't know! Keep that as something in mind if they bring it up.
We also found this. When we first built our house in Hollister we had pine trees planted and they were five-years-old. Twenty years later we had to cut them down because they grew so big. I was curious where they were cut down, I said, 'I'm going to count the rings.' This is going to get rid of another myth. There were 34 rings in the cut pine tree that was known to be 25-years-old. What does this tell us? This tells us if you have a heavy rain, you get a ring. Then if you have a dry spell that sets up and then you have another heavy rain, duration of period, puts another ring around it. There are times when there can be two rings in a single year.
When they say, 'We drill into this tree and we know it's this old because there are this many rings' you see the problems you come up against with the limitations of the things that we have.
Muslim-friendly Bible
What is one of the most unthinkable things that could happen to the Bible? They've done an awful lot of things to get rid of the Bible, change the Word of God, to corrupt the Word of God, The United Bible Society (UBS) are the ones that have the translating committees for Bibles. Now they are confronted with a problem. I have a couple articles on it so you may want to go online and look them up. I received this email from Helmut Burger, who is our office manager in South Africa:
I met with an eminent professor of Semitic languages yesterday. He's a client of mine.
I don't know if he's in trouble or not, at least he's his client.
He told me about attending a Bible seminar on translation that was held in the U.S. about three weeks ago. The seminar took place under the auspices of the UBS.
They are the ones who approved the translation of the NIV, etc., etc., etc. They are the ones who got rid of some of the Greek text from the Received Text by going to the Alexandrinus and to the Vaticanus. That's why you will read in some Bibles that the last part of Mark isn't in the original. Here's another key on aging.
You get a piece of paper and you measure the age of the paper. You look at the writing on it and you say that this is the oldest—this is what they say of the Sinaiticus—known translation because the paper is so old. People say, 'Oh, yeah, that's got to be right.' Forgot to tell you that Tischendorf found it in the waste can because it was unreliable at the Mount Sinai Monastery. They were throwing it away.
In the 900s and 1100s A.D. there was the great copying. The great copying was copying from the all capital-letter writing, the uncials, to the minuscules, meaning the lower-case writing. So, they look at those and say those were done in the 900s and 1100s; therefore, they're older. That's not true. These were accurate copies made from the previous ones and the material in it is the correct material, the correct writing because this was done with the Scriptorium in the Byzantine area to bring all of the New Testament texts up to date in the miniscule Koine Greek.
It's not how old the paper is. It is how old is the message? If the message is copied from something older onto new paper, the message is the same identical on the older paper, but now it's on newer paper and the age of the written material that was copied has not changed. It was copied from older material to new material so there's no way you can say, 'That which was done in 900s and 1100s A.D. can't compare to what we found in the Sinaiticus, which is 400-plus A.D.
I bring that out from this point of view: United Bible Society has done more to destroy the faith of people in reading the Bible because there are carnal, unconverted men who are well educated, who know the languages, but are on a mission to destroy the Bible. So let me read their latest thing they are going to do.
The newest direction of thought as far as the Bible translation concerned is this: a Muslim-friendly Bible.
I've got two full articles on it. I'll tell you what they found that the Muslims don't like. When I brought this up to someone else, they said, 'Is the Koran going to produce a Christian-friendly Koran?' You know, 'we're not going to cut your heads off' when we see you?
I asked what is meant by this. He said that at the seminar it was proposed that there are many things that are offensive to Muslims.
Poor babies. Jesus said He came with a sword—right? I've got a sermon I have to bring—Would you have liked Jesus if you lived back there and saw Him in the flesh and heard Him talk? I wonder what the man thought when he left when Jesus said, 'Let the dead bury their dead,' and it was his father.
Then I asked him to give me an example of such an offensive thing. He told me the term 'Son of God' is offensive.
He says that the Muslims argue that God is not a created being and that if Christ is portrayed as the Son of God, this implies that God had sex with Mary and this is not acceptable to them.
What is the source of that kind of thinking? That there is a trinity three-in-one and one-in-three—correct? They can never come to the knowledge of the Truth to explain it to a Muslim in a way that he can understand it. We'll try and do that.
If Christ is portrayed as a Son of God, yes, had sex with Mary, I then asked him as far as the translation is concerned then, how do they propose to solve this problem. He then proceeded to tell me that they are looking at the alternative relationships that exist between a 'father' and someone who could be called 'a son' but who is not really the father's biological son.
First thing you do, you have to understand that there are two in the Godhead. I've got two articles here on it. I won't get into those. You have to explain to them the nature of God and the nature of man. I disagree with those who translate into Arabic to take the word Elohim and make it Allah. They should leave it Elohim, Jehovah, JHVH. They should translate the meaning of the word, not change the meaning of the person. There's a difference.
The comment was made that there was a certain noted evangelist, self-styled apostle, who when speaking to the Arabs referred to God as 'Allah.' Think of this for a minute. If you go to strangers and you're trying to preach Christ to them and you say, 'I come to you in the name of the God of your people.' What if that god is Buddha? What if that god is Allah? What have you done? You've changed the Gospel! Can't be!
Here's the first thing a Muslim needs to understand. There are two in the Godhead. John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him" (vs 1-3).
And yet, there are people who don't believe in God. And 95% plus of their arguments are because those who profess to represent Christ and God in the world have created a religion that rejects God, that rejects Jesus Christ. We'll talk this afternoon about what has happened with lawlessness.
Verse 14: "And the Word became flesh..." You can explain this to a Muslim who has enough understanding of what we know today as 'in vitro fertilization.'
The comment was made they don't believe in the New Testament. They believe in the Old Testament? No, they don't believe in the Old Testament! They accept the Old Testament with their Muslim interpretation that the blessing went to Ishmael and not to Isaac. The Koran is nothing but a bunch of lies and hate and venom and Satanism. That's what it is. Likewise, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, all of them come from Rev. 17, the mother of harlots. All of them!
If they're serious about becoming Christian, we can explain it to them by explaining there are two:
- one Who is called God the Father
- one Who is God the Son
We can also explain it to them this way: There is the Word Who is God and there is God Who is God. That agrees with the Old Testament, with two of Elohim.
"...became flesh..." (v 14). How could Jesus be the Son of God without having sex with Mary? So this is what they should do to start with if there are any Muslims who are really interested. But you also have to have this: God does not want us to change His Word because someone is offended. God does not want us to change the meaning of what He says in the Bible to placate the meaning of any other religious person being so-called Christian or not Christian.
Here's how you explain it, if you understand there are two and not three. Is anything too hard for the El Elyon[note: see sermon God Almighty—El Shaddai] and Elohim? Nothing! God cannot lie, will not lie. He tells us not to add to or take away from His Word so that takes away from changing the Bible.
I've got another book, I just finished reading. I'm going to give a sermon on it. It's called Christianity After Religion. Because you see, Christianity is coming down at about a 60-degree grade to destruction. That is Christianity in the world.
Here's how you explain it to them. How did Christ become a Son when He was called the Word and was God?
- God created man in His own image, in His own likeness, male and female (Gen 1:26).
- Man was made a little lower than Elohim (Psa. 8:3), a little lower than God.
Look a Muslim in the face and say, Did God create you after the ape kind? Well, no, you're a human being—right? Yes! You're made after the image of God. Why did God do that? For the purpose we find in Philip. 2. Here is what the Word did, the One Who became Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, although He existed in the form of God..." (vs 5-6). That means in the Greek truly God! What did He do? Jesus said He laid down His life. No one took it from him. 'And I received commandment to receive it back.' Here's what He did.
- Is anything impossible for God? No!
- Is anything too hard for God? No!
Christ is 'the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' These are the Words of God, the Truth of God, inspired by the Spirit of God. That becomes the important thing. They need to understand that there is not a trinity, but the Holy Spirit is the power of God. That answers the question: How did Mary become pregnant without sex?
Here's what the Word did, Who was God. Verse 7: "But emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men, and took the form of a servant; and being found in the manner of man... [everything that there is with human existence] ...He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (vs 7-8).
Once you do away with Christ as the Son of God, the Son of man, you have destroyed the entirety of the Gospel and you have nullified the knowledge of the plan of God contained in the Word of God. This is what they want to do!
Look at the Muslim world. Is there kindness, love, joy, giving, sharing, uplifting of their people? No! It is a carnage of blood, war, killing, revenge, hate, treating women less than dogs. Why should we take the glorious Word of God and lower it to the level of Satan-worship? Because that's what they would do! 'Oh, we believe Jesus was a man.' Oh, well, congratulations.
Verse 8: "And being found in the manner of man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Because 'the wages of sin is death' and the only way for all the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future, to ever be forgiven is for one of the Godhead to become human, to live a perfect life, and to be killed in the most excruciating way without sinning once! The only way! You take that away, you take away the sonship of God; you take away our receiving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit from the Father in 1-John 3 is called the seed, the sperma, from the Father.
Now let's come here to Luke 1 and we can explain how Mary became pregnant. There are many other things we can add to it, but this is the simplest explanation you can give to a Muslim. Here's what happened. Muslims believe in angels, so you shouldn't have much trouble with this one.
Luke 1:26. "And in the sixth month of her pregnancy... [that is Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist] ...the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the lineage of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. And after coming to her, the angel said, 'Hail, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.' But when she saw him, she was greatly perplexed at his message, and was considering what kind of salutation this might be. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found grace with God" (vs 26-30).
As we're learning, to be under grace means you are under direct relationship with God the Father through His Spirit.
"...you have found grace with God.... [King James calls it favor.] ...And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Jesus.'…. [then he tells us how it happens]: …He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of David, His forefather; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob into the ages, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. But Mary said to the angel, 'How shall this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit...'" (vs 30-35).
That's why it's important to understand the Holy Spirit is the power of God. Nowhere does the Bible say God the Holy Spirit. In every one of the openings of the epistles of Paul, Paul says, 'Grace from the God the Father and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Very similar to that. If the Holy Spirit were God, Paul would have not left him out. Wasn't included because the Holy Spirit is the power of God.
"…'The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you... [the power of God came upon her] ...and for this reason, the Holy One being begotten... [present tense passive in the Greek meaning as he was speaking the impregnation was taking place through the power of the Holy Spirit.] ...shall be called the Son of God'" (v 35).
You can't take a false doctrine of a trinity and have men who supposedly understand languages, but whose goals are to get rid of the offense of the Gospel to try and placate a murderous religion, is absolute insanity to the highest level. But that's what they propose to do. That takes away the sonship of God with us. We are the sons of God, the children of God.
That destroys everything concerning
- the true Gospel
- the true message
- the true Christ
- what God did
- what Christ did
by trying to create a Bible that is Muslim-friendly. How about a little repentance?
What did Jesus say? 'If anyone come to Me and hate not his father and mother and brother and sister and his children and lands and his own life, he cannot be My disciple.' That's why they need to preach repentance. That's why rather than changing the nature of God and the nature of Christ to placate those who hate Christ, to make them like Him, is insanity. God is not going to change for anyone.
But who would have ever thought that there would be men who would so disregard the Word of God and disregard the responsibility of translating the Bible in Truth and reject it totally to placate one of the most hateful religions on the face of the earth. And somehow win them over to Christ. You don't win anybody to Christ. God has to call them!
They need a message and an explanation that goes right to the heart of it. There needs to be repentance for those who want to come to Christ. You don't come to Christ by getting rid of the offense of Jesus or the Son of man, or calling God our Father. What you do is you destroy the whole meaning of the Gospel, the whole meaning of the Word of God, and if that is not a seduction to do that by Satan the devil, then we're stupid and naive above all people.
So I just leave you with this thought. Whoever thought it would come to this? Let me tell you the goals of what they intend to do. Here is the goal is Islam. (Muslim Group: 'Wipe Christianity From Face of Earth' www.prophecynewswatch.com/)
A Muslim group has released its plan to "wipe Christianity from the face of the earth," Islamize the West and establish an Islamic system of world government–placing those who resist "under a police state."
The 23-page booklet, "The Global Islamic Civilization: The Power of a Nation Revived," is the brainchild of the United Muslim Nations International, a group led by Sheik Farook al-Mohammedi. The document outlines a plan for Muslim world domination and the re-establishment of the Caliphate.
Al-Mohammedi leaves no doubt about his view of Christianity.
"Christianity should be destroyed and wiped from the face of the earth," al-Mohammedi said. "It is an evil demonic and Anti-Christ system, all Christians are in complete ignorance."
Is that an enemy speaking or not? Listen, brethren, we've got to quit playing religion. We've got to quit playing church. You've got to realize the stakes are high; the times are dangerous. The things that are going to happen are going to be mind-boggling. So he says:
"Islamic Power has returned upon the face of the earth and the Revived Global Caliphate has set eyes on the West to once and for all rid the world of Christianity and there is nothing you can do about it," al-Mohammedi said. He makes his objective clear.
"I have pledged and made a firm promise to the Caliphate of the United Muslim Nations International organization that I will do my utmost to Islamize all of the West within a short period of time," al-Mohammedi said.
That tells you what we're up against, brethren. The spineless liars and gutless intellectual fools on the translation committees are willing to tinker and change the Word of God to placate these murderers and blood-thirsty people. They'll laugh and spit in their faces as they cut off their heads.
This is why, brethren, living in the end- times we have to stay close to God. There are real enemies out there.
- we need God's protection
- we need God's blessing
- we need God's Spirit
- we need God's understanding
- we need the Truth of God within us to give us the strength in the days we are living in, in order to accomplish what God wants us to do
We don't know exactly what all of that's going to entail. We don't know exactly how much time there is left. But we do know that the threats are real.
Who would ever thought—how many have been in the church 50 years? 40 years? 30 years? Between 50-30 years back who would have ever thought that you would have heard words like this from an implacable enemy that is so hateful and destructive and willing to kill and willing to destroy? That we would face those things in our lives? Never thought of it!
I suppose I should give this sermon again and flush out some of the other things that you could bring to Muslims, but God can call the Muslims. Likewise, they have to repent. They have to accept Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, as their Lord and Savior. There is no other name given under heaven whereby we are obligated to be saved!' Must be saved—no other name!
Scriptural References:
- Genesis 1:1
- John 1:1-3, 14
- Philippians 2:5-8
- Luke 1:26-35
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 17
- Genesis 1:26
- Psalm 8:3
- 1-John 3
Also referenced:
- Booklet: God or No God by Duncan Macleod
- Book: Christianity After Religion by Diana Butler Bass
- Sermon Series: How Old is the Earth? (churchathome.com)
- Sermon: God Almighty—El Shaddai (Michael Heiss)
- Article: Muslim Group: 'Wipe Christianity From Face of Earth' (prophecynewswatch.com)
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 7-25-12
Formatted: bo—7/25/12
Copyright 2012—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
