lekh l'kha

True. I actually have a copy of "The Witness of the Stars" by E.W Bullinger. I couldn't study it in detail though. But he provides enough evidence. It's fascinating - especially the way he shows how the four sides of the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness equally divide the Zodiac at its four cardinal points, with the tribe of Levi situated at the centre (the Scales, or Libra, as it is known today); and the four great signs (standards) of the Israelite camps (and the four quarters of the Zodiac), are the same four which form the Cherubim (the Eagle, the Scorpion's enemy, being substituted for the Scorpion). He also goes into detail about the structure of Psalm 19, and shows how it refers to "the testimony of the heavens". lekh

God's creation is beautiful - looking at the stars gives a good idea of His vast knowledge and power. (as long as we go back to the Bible each time for the guidance!! ) lekh

SEVEN HEADS, CROOKED SERPENTS, ANCIENT SYMBOLS. WHO SAYS IT'S OF NECESSITY ASTROLOGY AND PAGAN? Here's a 14TH-century B.C Canaanite text discovered by archaeologists at a place called Ra's Shamrah, ascribing the feat described below to the Canaanite god Ba'al:

Beka, if you had ordered an omelet in a restaurant and the waiter brings it to you and says, "the chef said I should tell ya that the first egg he cracked open and poured into the mixture was rotten and stinking, but you don't have to worry because I added another four good eggs, so it'll be alright." Would you eat that omelet? "But we are all as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa 64:6) Those words "filthy rags" in the original Hebrew refer to menstrual cloths!! If that's how God sees our righteousness (because it's stained with our sin), how do think God would react when you want to add your "righteousness" to the very, very high price that god paid for your salvation? God paid a very, very high price for our salvation, and for us to think we should or even to think that we can add any of our own righteousness to it, is a gross insult to God, don't you think? Protestants don't hate Roman Catholics. Most of us know too many Roman Catholics (and a lot of them are very nice people). What we hate is a lie that puts itself up as the truth in the name of Jesus: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Joh 8:32). What the Roman Catholic doctrine that you yourself have described in your posts does, is it brings people into bondage and calls this bondage "liberty". No Protestant ever said that anyone can go on sinning after he has been saved, as though the sacrifice of Jesus is a license to sin. That's perhaps Roman Catholic anti-Protestant propaganda, but it's certainly not true: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom 6:1-4) Most of us Protestants don't even dislike Roman Catholics. But we know that the word Vicar is derived from then word "vicarious" which means "instead of" or "a substitute for". Jesus died vicariously in our place, and the only One He said He would send into the world in His stead, is God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit is the Vicar of Christ (the only vicar of Christ), and He is the only One who deserves the title "Holy Father". The titles of the Pope are extremely blasphemous, and so are his claims to all authority over "religious" or spiritual matters, doctrine etc. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Joh 8:32). "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 shew you things to come." (Joh 16:13) "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." (Mat 23:9) Over the centuries, the institution we know as the Roman Catholic Church has built one false doctrine upon another, and added one false precept to another. It is a spiritually adulterous institution. Not that she's the only harlot - because the woman standing on the corner under the lamp-post bearing a t-shirt with the words "harlot" isn't the only one these days - there are quite a few others strolling up and down the sidewalks wearing the same t-shirt, and some of them you will often find selling their wears on the bookshelves of certain Christian bookstores. No Protestant hates or even dislikes Roman Catholics. I know quite a few Roman Catholics and I like them very much, because the ones I know are all very nice people. I just hate the lie that puts itself up as the truth in the name of Christ like a wolf in sheep's clothing - no matter which quarter it comes from - whether it be the harlot woman at the corner, or the others strolling up and down the sidewalks and sitting on the bookshelves in Christian bookstores. But I don't hate those who are deceived by any of the harlots just because I can see through the deceptions of the doctrines they are taught. It grieves my spirit that there have been so many lies spread in the name of Christ since the apostles died (actually, the lies started even before the apostles died, and the apostles fought against them). The Roman church itself fought against heresy, while all the time introducing its own heresy and lies, for the sake of power and political and/or financial gain. The thing about most of the Protestants who come to forums like Worthy is, they give their allegiance to Christ alone and not to ANY church. So if I attack anything their "Bishop" teaches, they won't get mad at me, because I'm not attacking Jesus - I'm attacking the false doctrines of someone's pastor/minister/bishop, whatever. If you're a Christian, it wouldn't upset you if someone attacks the doctrines of "the Church", because "the Church" is not Jesus - "the Church" is made up of fallible human beings with fallible minds. If you're a Christian, you will only become upset if someone attacks Jesus or the Bible, because you would have given your allegiance to Christ alone, and not to any man. But then you would be a Protestant, since you won't be giving your allegiance to "the Church" - only to Jesus. lekh lekha ("get thee out")

Not only will the pre-tribulationists take issue with me about this, but so will the post-tribulation/pre-"bowls of wrath" people take issue with me on this: I think (not believe) that the great tribulation refers to the tribulation of the saints at the hand of the antichrist and his armies, which culminates in the gathering of the antichrist armies against Jerusalem. "... And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (Rev 13:7) The previous two verses say, "... And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (Rev 13:5-6) Daniel says the same thing: "... I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." (Dan 7:21-22) "... And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Dan 7:25-27) DANIEL 12: 7: "And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was on the waters of the river, when he held up his right and his left hand to Heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half. And when they have made an end of scattering the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." (Dan 12:7) There are only three places where great tribulation (Greek: megas thlipsis) is spoken about in the New Testament

Absolutely. Do you think the alleged 'Palestinians' have read it? If not, they should. They may read it, but their Imams and religious leaders tell them they don't have to believe it because it's a lie. They don't realize that they're calling God a liar. I've seen some Muslims get such a fright when they heard what is written in Zechariah 12-14 and Ezekiel 35, that I could almost see them tremble in their spirits - but it did not make them question Islam or believe the gospel. Sadly, the Muslims I've spoken to about the gospel will rather hang onto what they've been taught about Jesus being merely a prophet (of Islam), Mohammad being "the final prophet of Allah" and the Koran being "the final revelation of Allah" etc. Praise God for those who have accepted salvation!!! (there are many in the Middle East, I believe). But even more will rather be filled with religious hatred than accept the only salvation of their souls which is a gift from God.

The Palestinian National Charter (the official policy document of the "Palestinian" Arabs): Article 1: Palestine is the homeland of the Arab Palestinian people; it is an indivisible part of the Arab homeland, and the Palestinian people are an integral part of the Arab nation. Article 19: The partition of Palestine in 1947 and the establishment of the state of Israel are entirely illegal, regardless of the passage of time, because they were contrary to the will of the Palestinian people and to their natural right in their homeland, and inconsistent with the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the right to self-determination. Article 20: The Balfour Declaration, the Mandate for Palestine, and everything that has been based upon them, are deemed null and void. Claims of historical or religious ties of Jews with Palestine are incompatible with the facts of history and the true conception of what constitutes statehood. Judaism, being a religion, is not an independent nationality. Nor do Jews constitute a single nation with an identity of its own; they are citizens of the states to which they belong. Article 21: The Arab Palestinian people, expressing themselves by the armed Palestinian revolution, reject all solutions which are substitutes for the total liberation of Palestine and reject all proposals aiming at the liquidation of the Palestinian problem, or its internationalization. THEY HAVE NEVER AMENDED THEIR CONSTITUTION - THEY WANT ALL ISRAEL, NOT JUST THE WEST BANK AND THE GAZA STRIP. When Muslims talk about "Palestine" to the Western journalists, they pretend they mean the West Bank (which is actually Judea) and the Gaza Strip. But when they talk among one another about "the liberation of Palestine" from "Zionist occupation", they mean Israel + the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. THEY WILL NOT STOP OR GIVE UP UNTIL THEY ARE TOTALLY DEFEATED AND ANNIHILATED, because THEY WILL NOT STOP OR GIVE UP UNTIL THEY DEFEAT AND ANNIHILATE THEIR ENEMIES. Article 6: The Jews who had normally resided in Palestine until the beginning of the Zionist invasion will be considered Palestinians. They're talking about the Jewish immigration to Palestine which began in the late 1800's!!!! Article 7: That there is a Palestinian community and that it has material, spiritual, and historical connection with Palestine are indisputable facts. It is a national duty to bring up individual Palestinians in an Arab revolutionary manner. All means of information and education must be adopted in order to acquaint the Palestinian with his country in the most profound manner, both spiritual and material, that is possible. He must be prepared for the armed struggle and ready to sacrifice his wealth and his life in order to win back his homeland and bring about its liberation. Article 8: The phase in their history, through which the Palestinian people are now living, is that of national (watani) struggle for the liberation of Palestine. Thus the conflicts among the Palestinian national forces are secondary, and should be ended for the sake of the basic conflict that exists between the forces of Zionism and of imperialism on the one hand, and the Palestinian Arab people on the other. On this basis the Palestinian masses, regardless of whether they are residing in the national homeland or in diaspora (mahajir) constitute - both their organizations and the individuals - one national front working for the retrieval of Palestine and its liberation through armed struggle. Article 9: Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine. This it is the overall strategy, not merely a tactical phase. The Palestinian Arab people assert their absolute determination and firm resolution to continue their armed struggle and to work for an armed popular revolution for the liberation of their country and their return to it . They also assert their right to normal life in Palestine and to exercise their right to self-determination and sovereignty over it. IT GOES ON AND ON THROUGHOUT THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL CHARTER. They are mad dogs who have indoctrinate two generations to hate the Jews whose homeland the Palestinians are occupying (Yes-it's the other way around in the eyes of God). All we have to do is to read Zechariah chapters 12-14 and we will all know how this is going to end. Lekh

I've placed the reasons why I don't believe in a pre-trib or mid-trib rapture HERE Lekh

First He said, "It is finished!" Then He will say, "It is done!" MARANATHA, Lord Jesus!

I had my location-country in my profile at one stage. Then I said something about Islam which I realized afterward might put my health at risk with the many Muslims in my city , so I decided I better stay anonymous. But my fellow-countrymen here at Worthy know which country I'm from, and they could always pm me to find out where I live if they wanted to . I wouldn't just trust a "newbie" at Worthy immediately, though - but eventually one gets to know which "newbies" are truly Christians and which aren't. I think it's just safer to stay anonymous because we don't always know who's reading Worthy Forums - and if ya ask me, these Forums get "watched" by all sorts of "interest groups". Lekh

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: " (Psa 8:4-6) That word angels is actually a translation of the Hebrew word elohiym - the Hebrew word used mostly for God, but also sometimes for gods. This has made me wonder at times if man wasn't supposed to rule even over the angels, even though the angels are more powerful than man: "Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" (1Co 6:3) Also because Satan said, "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:" (Isa 14:13). Everyone always assumes "the stars of God" are referring to angels, yet the human sons of God are frequently referred to as "the stars" in the Bible, and Joseph dreamed about the sun, the moon and the other eleven stars bowing before him, and the woman of Revelation 12 has a garland of twelve stars on her head. Those are just thoughts, though, not a doctrine in my mind - but it does seem that man was originally given authority (under God) over ALL of God's works, and Satan usurped man's position, bringing death into the universe. Lekh

Hey Nebula. Yeah, that is interesting. Thank you for sharing that Lekh

We should remember that Adam and Eve didn't have a sinful nature before they ate of the fruit. They were completely Innocent not knowing even what a sin was. Why would have had no reason to suspect anything was up? The whole of all they knew about sin was nothing. Only a sinful person would suspect another person of running a con on them. True - they couldn't have known. But in her response to Satan's "Hath God indeed said...", Eve did two things: (a) added a little to the Word of God ("... neither shall you touch it..."); and (b) took away a little from the Word of God ("... lest you die." - God had said, "you shall surely die"). I think that Eve is the forerunner of God's people: "And the dragon was enraged over the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev 12:17) "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen 3:15) Just like Eve added a little to, and took away a little from the Word of God which came to Adam, so a great portion of "the rest of the woman's seed" has added a little to, and taken away a little from the Word of God which came to Abraham: Satan said to Eve, "Ye shall not surely die, for GOD KNOWS..." In other words, "What God actually meant was, and what God actually had in mind was...." And so Satan beguiled Eve by offering "a more enlightened" interpretation of the Word of God which had come to Adam (than what the plain and literal meaning said); and Eve (and later also Adam) swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Satan was a good con-salesman: he showed mankind a so-called "profit" which could be derived from the "product", which not only had no value, but would also prove to be fatally damaging; and he did this by telling Eve about the so-called "benefits" - her (spiritual) eyes would be opened, and she would become like God (in whose image and likeness she had been created). No doubt, Eve must have believed this "more enlightened" interpretation of the Word of God, and passed it onto her fellow, and he believed it. And although the consequences might not affect their eternal life in Christ, in the same way, a large portion of "the rest of the woman's seed" today believe that the apostles were ignorant to ask Jesus if He was going to "restore the Kingdom to Israel at this time" (Acts 1: 6-7), offering a "more enlightened" interpretation of the Word of God which came to Abraham in Genesis 17: 7-8, ("a spiritual Kingdom only") - thus in effect stating that what God "actually had in mind" regarding His Word to Abraham, was something different than what the plain and literal meaning of God's Word to Abraham suggests. Thus Satan has sought to nullify God's Word which came to Abraham through beguiling a large portion of "the rest of the woman's seed" into believing "a more enlightened" interpretation of the Word of God; and those who believe this "enlightened" interpretation pass it on to their fellows. This has caused a great deal of harm to Jewish people throughout the age, and continues to cause harm to Jews and to Israel today. I think that at the end of the day, the extent to which Satan succeeds in beguiling any human being to believe a lie and a false interpretation of the Word of God, is directly proportional to the extent to which that human being (or those human beings) love the Word of God (2Thes.2: 10-12), believe the Word of God, and consistently and continually ask (Jam.1: 5-8) and rely upon God to keep them from falling into believing a false interpretation of the Word of God: "For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." (Rom 4:3) Whether or not mankind can be beguiled by Satan, has always had everything to do with man's love for, and appreciation for the Word of God. Lekh

Maybe because she never knew exactly what God had said and it made it easier for Satan to beguile her? If we read Genesis, we read about God's Word regarding the tree of knowledge of good and evil coming to Adam BEFORE we read about Eve's creation. Did Eve learn the Word of God from her husband AFTER the Word of God had come to Adam? Maybe that's why Satan went to Eve, and not to Adam - like Adam knew EXACTLY what God had said, and if Satan had said to ADAM "Hath God indeed said...", Adam might have chased him away in the name of God and with a sense of righteous indignation at Satan's twisting of the Word of God. I don't know - just think maybe. Lekh

Actually if ONELIGHT or any of the Mods here know anything, I'd like to hear from them too. Blessings, lekh

Thanks Essy - let me know if you do find the previous query lekh Is this it? (especially post #2) Yep. That's it. Thanks for supplying that link, sheya joie BE CAREFUL. I don't know what to make of it yet. I've asked Shiloh357 for his opnion.

Waiting in anticipation.... Lekh Did you read the article I linked to? It links me to a post by Blindseeker in your other thread

I'm very interested in what you say here, Andy I'm waiting in anticipation for you to elaborate on this: Waiting in anticipation.... Lekh

The author took the 66 books of the Bible and placed them into a wheel with 22 spokes, linking each spoke to one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. He claims that amazing mysteries are brought out through this "Bible Wheel" of his. At first glance I swallowed it, but now I'm no longer so sure... which is why I was hoping more folks here would know about it and advise me on it. lekh

Thanks Essy - let me know if you do find the previous query lekh

Hello everyone. I don't know if this question has been asked here before. Have you heard of this book and what do you think about it? (edited since first posting in order to shorten the post) Lekh

Great story, hazard. I have another question: Does Israel exist? Because preterists say it doesn't.

Yes, but a "beast" in the Bible (Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17) symbolizes a kingdom or empire (and of course, the kingdom/empire always had one king - the "crowns" on the "head" of the beast). The beast of Revelation chapter 13:1-10 is described with the same animal symbols as the first 3 beasts in Daniel chapter 7. This points to the same territories. As far as "all nations" goes", Revelation 16: 12-16 says, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Rev 16:12-16) Since the beast refers to a political territorial entity, I've often wondered if "the false prophet", rather than referring to a single individual, refers to the Islamic empire descrived in Rev.13: 1-10. Mohammad is a false prophet. But that last bit is just speculation. I do believe that the beast's "king" (ruler) will be the person we refer to as the antichrist. But I could be wrong on the false prophet part, not sure about that at all. The point is that the beast, false prophet and dragon will gather "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" together for the battle of Armageddon. And Joel chapter 3 and Zechariah chapters 12-14 tell us that the battle will be fought not at Mount Megiddo (har-megiddo or armageddon), but in Jerusalem. Joel chapter 3 says that the armies of the nations will be destroyed by God in the valley of Jehoshaphat (which means, "Yahweh shall judge"). That valley is today known as the Kidron valley. It is situated between the Mount of Olives (where Jesus ascended into heaven and where Zechariah says He will set His feet when He returns in judgment) and the Temple Mount (where the Muslims say Mohammad ascended into heaven). The Son of God ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. So the devil's son also had to ascend into heaven - from the Temple Mount. We know that it's a lie and that Mohammad did not ascend into heaven at all: "And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven." (Joh 3:13). But the Muslims built a mosque on the spot on the Temple Mount from whence they claimed the false prophet ascended into heaven - the spot where the Old Testament temple stood. The Jews who do not believe in Jesus believe that the restoration of Israel will not be complete until the temple is rebuilt, and they're waiting for a messiah to bring about the political treaty that will allow them to rebuild the temple and reinstate animal sacrifices for sins - which will be a gross insult to God. But the Muslims will not allow what they regard as "the third holiest site in Islam" to be torn down to make way for a Jewish temple, and they view the Dome of the Rock mosque as a symbol of the "superiority" of Islam over Judaism and Christianity. But now certain Muslim leaders and Jewish leaders are already negotiating a way to build a temple and a "Christian" (probably shared by the Catholics and the Greek Orthodox) cathedral on the Temple Mount. Their vision is that the Dome of the Rock + a Jewish "temple" + a "Christian" cathedral will bring peace to the world by bringing Jews, Muslims and Christians together on the Temple Mount, "since we all worship the same God - the God of Abraham". They're already calling this abomination "the house of God" and "a house of prayer for all nations". Such a false peace based upon such an inter-faith abomination (which will be a gross insult to God) cannot last. Not even the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholics can exist side-by-side in the church built around the place where the tomb of Jesus is claimed to have been - how are the Jews, Christians and Jews going to "worship God side-by-side in peace and harmony" without a fight breaking out sooner or later? The valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel chapter 3) is the Kidron valley which is situated between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. If you read Joel chapter 3 and Zechariah chapter 4, you'll see what's going to happen there. DISCLAIMER: "IN MY OPINION" Lekh