TAKING
THE NAME,
THE MARK, OR THE NUMBER Guest
Writer
Christians
know the power of praying in the name of Jesus and seeing great victories wrought
through the authority vested in that precious name. All true believers can give
testimonies of the unsaved won to Christ and countless other victories that have
been achieved through prayer in Jesus' mighty name. Surely we are a privileged
people to have a Saviour who is seated at the right hand of God the Father "in
heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is
to come." Eph. 1:21. Knowing
the redemption that would be accomplished through His death and resurrection,
the Lord Jesus assured His disciples that prayer in His name would be effective.
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:13,14;
see also John 15:16 and 16:23,24. It
should not surprise us, therefore, that Satan's plan for the end-time deception
would include depriving people of calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the only name under heaven given among men whereby they may be saved. Acts 4:12.
Little wonder Paul said the unrighteous would receive a "strong delusion" and
Jesus warned that even the elect may be deceived. The prohibition against using
the name of Jesus has come to the Church, not overtly, but in a subtle form. Now
Christians are told that Jesus means Zeus and that the name of the LORD is too
sacred to be spoken. The
following article by Vicky Dillen is the first in a most important series on "Taking
the Name, the Mark & the Number" of the Beast. As we shall see, these
are not separate issues, but are closely related in Scripture. The three symbols
of allegiance to the Antichrist are also finding acceptance in the apostate church.
It is possible that many will take the mark of the beast because they have been
conditioned by New World Order disinformation to believe that it is the computer
chip implant. If they have not entered the cashless society when these emblems
come into vogue, few will suspect the true deception. This contingency will be
covered in Part 2 of the series. ----------
http://www.quantumlynx.com/SeekGod/names.htm
Taking The NAME,
The MARK & The NUMBER
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:17 Part
1: Taking the Name Acts
4:17-19
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them,
that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered
and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you
more than unto God, judge ye. The
Name of the Savior Columbine
High School and numerous other murders and resulting controversies have brought
to the forefront the reality of death. While many people debate that guns are
the cause for the loss of life, those who understand the times know that spiritual
barrenness is the real problem. While ires were raised at various memorial services
concerning the preaching of Jesus Christ, many found the very mention of the Name
of Jesus deplorable. New Agers, Jewish rabbis and not surprisingly, liberal Lutherans
and many other so-called 'Christian' groups have entered into the rising flow
of protest that a more universal sounding purveyance of "God" is needed on the
community or national and international level. Many
Christians could ask, should the precious name of Jesus Christ be deemed offensive
and therefore eliminated in the name of tolerance and acceptance by others with
the formation of a universal religion? If we consider the question of tolerance
in light of the Hebrew Roots controversy, we find proponents in these groups who
also wish to replace the name of Jesus Christ, and thus eliminate it. The Introduction
and also Part 9 of the series To Embrace Hebrew Roots briefly considered the Sacred
Name issue as it relates to Christians. If
we accept their proposals, would changing the name of our Savior and embracing
another name become the rejection of Jesus Christ and His salvation? What benefit
is there to changing His Name or is there a Biblical concept for eliminating the
name of our Savior? It is imperative that we understand the significance of the
Sacred Name issue, for Scripture tells us: John
14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. Acts
4:10: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Unbelievably,
some claiming to be Christians -- Evangelicals, Charismatics and Hebrew Roots
-- say the Scriptures are filled with errors that only now have come to light
because of the scholarship of various "enlightened leaders". The Hebrew Roots
organizations have used the uninspired Westcott and Hort Greek Text as a pretext
for casting doubt upon the inspiration of the Greek New Testament. They have then
proceeded upon this false premise to construct their Hebrew New Testament from
a purported "Hebrew/Aramaic original". A Comparison of Verses from the Authorized
King James version, which was based on the Received Greek Text, with the new corrupt
versions reveals that Westcott and Hort intended to remove or diminish the name
of Jesus Christ, the need for redemption through His Blood and many other basic
Christian doctrines. The
Greek Texts have been translated into other languages so that "...the Gospel is
published in all nations". It is absurd to think that God would be incapable of
inspiring the translation of His Word into other languages. For English-speaking
Christians the translation found in the Authorized King James Version is more
than satisfactory. In fact, to suggest that it holds errors which must be corrected
casts doubt upon all Scripture verses including: 2
Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Mark
13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations...
What Name?
If the name, 'Jesus
Christ,' is invalid, mistranslated or unacceptable for whatever reason, which
Name, is the name of our Lord and Savior? Is "the Name" of our Savior found in
this list -- which does not contain all of the numerous translations and transliterations
deemed acceptable by those in various Hebrew Roots, Messianic or Sacred Name groups---
"Jeshua, Yeshua, Yeshuah,
Yehshua, Yehshuah, YESHUA, YESHUAH, YEHSHUA, YEHSHUAH, Yeshouah, Y'shua, Y'shuah,
Jeshu, Yeshu, Yehoshua, Yehoshuah, YHVHShua, YHVHShuah, Yhvhshua, Yhwhshua, YHWHShua,
YHWHShuah, Yhvhshuah, Yhwhshuah, Yahvehshua, Yahwehshua, Yahvehshuah, Yahwehshuah,
Jahshua, Jahshuah, Jashua, Jashuah, Jahoshua, Jahoshuah, Jehoshua, Jehoshuah,
Yashua, Yashuah, Yahshua, Yahshuah, YAHSHUA, YAHSHUAH, YASHUA, YASHUAH, Yahushua,
Yahushuah, Yahoshua, Yahoshuah, Yaohushua, YAOHUSHUA, Yaohushuah, Iahoshua, Iahoshuah,
Iahushua, or Iahushuah?" An
example of the baseless and irresponsible statements regarding this issue is found
in the teachings of Peter Michas of Messengers of Messiah. He states that the
Name of our Savior and the translation of it is a personal preference--but the
enlightened like himself, would use the "proper" name, Yeshua.
"--I am not one of these
that feels that we cannot uses the name Jesus nor am I one who thinks we have
to use the name Yashua verses Yeshua, or any other spelling to speak to our Lord
or be saved!! Since in the world today everyone knows who this name applies to
I see no real difficulty using it. I just prefer to use His real name not one
created by the early church fathers from Greek-- I do not think that any of the
original Epistles had the Greek name of Iesous in them. I do not believe for one
second that any of them would have ever used that name, especially Shaul/Paul--
I also do not believe that the word Christ was ever used by any of them
either. Not one Jew would have used either word, never! Iesous is actually a derivative
of dios which was another way of writing the name of Zeus when speaking of him
as the head god of the Greek pantheon. This derivative was incorporated into the
Greek language from the travels of Alexander the Great. He apparently while in
India used this form of the name when speaking of Sheva the great god of the Hindus.
It became the word used to describe Zeus/Dios as the savior of mankind. Therefore
during the transcribing and copying of the texts over the years the names Iesous
Christos of the ancient Greco-Roman pagan saviors were summed up in the name given
to Yeshua HaMashiach." 1 In
contradiction to Peter Michas' protests that a Jew would never have said Iesous/
Jesus or Christ, Matthew 16:16 records the words of Peter: "Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God." Mr.
Michas' and other Hebrew Roots leaders further contend that Iesous/Jesus and Christos/Christ
are aligned with the Greek paganism of Zeus and Dios, which seems to presuppose
that Jewish people never spoke Greek. This assumption means discounting the fact
that the New Testament was written in Greek by Greek-speaking Jews and that many
Greek-speaking Jews were saved. Contrary
to what some Hebrew Roots and Messianic proponents say regarding Iesous being
a false name, Strong's Concordance cites the Greek Dictionary definitions of Jesus
and Christ: 2424
Iesous (ee-ay-sooce) of Heb. or. (3091); Jesus (ie Jehoshua the name of our Lord
and two (three) other Isr.:--Jesus 5547
Christos (kris-tos) from 5548; anointed ie, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus-Christ.
The Greek definition
of 'Christian' discards the idea promoted by such notables as Uri Marcus of Nehemiah
Trustees Covenant Fund, that the 'offensive' term Christian must also be removed.
In Uri Marcus' view, this is so as not to offend various Jewish people -- both
orthodox and so-called messianic -- who follow the Jewish beliefs about Jesus.
5546 Christianos
(khris-tee-an-os) from 5547; a Christian, ie, follower of Christ:--Christian
Belonging to
Jesus Christ defines the Christian. The term Christian came into use when Paul,
who was also called Saul, was in Antioch where Greek speaking Gentiles and Jews,
became believers. Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.
And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Matthew 12:21
And in His name shall the Gentiles trust. The
idea that no one would use the name Jesus or that Jews would never have spoken
or written in Greek challenges the history of that time. The Lion Encyclopedia
of the Bible states that between the period of the Old and New Testament, "Greek
thought and culture penetrated deep into Jewish society." "Coins were struck with
Hebrew on one side, Greek on the other."2 When Caesar occupied Jerusalem in 63
B.C. "...the Romans absorbed Greek ideas, language and culture."3
Matthew 4:15-16 reminds
us that Jesus started His ministry after John was cast into prison, from Galilee,
which was known to be populated not with Jews, but Gentiles, "...beyond Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles." Many places were in fact Greek centers. Matthew 4:23-25
mentions that Jesus also spoke to many in Syria and there were, "...mulititudes
of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea,
and from beyond Jordan." Also,
due to Alexander's influence, "...Greek became the international language. More
than 300 years later, when the New Testament came to be written, it was common
language Greek rather than the Aramaic which Jesus spoke. City-states were built
and organized on the Greek pattern, with a strong and lasting impact in Syria
and Palestine...Just a few miles from Galilee,...was an area known as ten towns,
the Decapolis: these were Greek city-states." 4 Jesus
spoke in words the people understood as indicated in the rest of the chapter.
It is to Him that all must turn to for salvation. Hebrew scholars admit that the
Hebrew language was all but lost to general use until this last century, which
saw a resurgence as part of building the Hebrew nation of Israel. Norman Berdichevsky
is a translator from Hebrew and Danish into English. He is also a regular contributor
to several journals in Britain, the United States and Israel on culture, history,
geography and linguistics. He states, "Although
Hebrew ceased to be the spoken language of the majority of Jews in their Judean
homeland between the second century BCE and the second century CE, it remained
the central language of Jewish religious commentary, and heavily influenced the
hybrid languages which arose in the Diaspora, such as Yiddish (Judeo-German),...
" 5. Since
God provided the languages in Genesis 11:7, He is more than able to provide the
means that all people would have His Word. The proof that Jewish people spoke
more than the Hebrew language even in Jerusalem at the time of Christ is found
in Acts 2 at the time of Pentecost: v.5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven. v.6...because
that every man heard them speak in his own language. The
list of places or people groups for the languages included in the subsequent verses:
Galilaeans, Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus,
Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers
of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians.. The
reason these people were hearing and understanding in their own languages is the
same reason that God has made it possible for His Word to be protected and translated
for all people. v12
...we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 21, verses 37 and 40
record Paul's fluency in both Greek and Hebrew. The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible
states: "Paul, a Jew born in Tarsus on the south coast of Turkey in the first
century AD was able to quote the Greek philosophers and poets." 6 Perhaps, the
most important verse showing the variety of languages being spoken of and read
by the people of the time is found in Luke 23:38 when Christ was crucified.
And a superscription
also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE
KING OF THE JEWS. When
a teacher states that something in God's Word is inaccurate, it is a very good
indication he is a false teacher. God's Word tells us: Psalm
119:151-152 Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning
thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever.
The
Father Exodus
6:2-3 And
God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham,
unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH
was I not known to them. The
assault against Christianity and the Scriptures is not limited to the Name of
Jesus Christ. Many wish to change the name of the Father for various reasons.
There are many sincere, wonderful Christians who have stopped using the English
translation of Jehovah and are now using Yahweh or some other variation found
in the Sacred Name Directory, as being "the" Name. Some of those advocating the
change, who reject as inaccurate the Name of God, also include the English translation
of Father and even Lord. Due to the various contradictions, one must carefully
weigh what Name to use. In
Luke 10:42, Jesus said when we pray, we are to say, "Our Father..."
Some of the many variations
which are being proposed for the Name of God are listed at http://www.revelations.org.za/HeresGod.htm
This "Bible Revelations" website advocates the use of "Yahveh" which they say
means, "Yah Hoveh"--"i.e. Yah is". This group suggests that just some of the following
transliterations of the Sacred Name in use by various Sacred Name groups are acceptable
and should be acknowledged: "YHVH
YHWH Yahweh Yaveh Yaweh Jehova Jehovah Jahova Jahovah Yahova Yahovah Jahowa Jahowah
Yahavah Jahavah Yahowe Yahoweh Jahaveh Jahaweh Yahaveh Yahaweh Jahuweh Yahuweh
Iahueh Jahuwah Yahuwah Yah Jah Yahu Jahu Yahvah Jahvah Jahve Jahveh Yahve Yahwe
..." There
is much bitter controversy over the correct translation and use of Yahweh, the
most common, versus the accepted Jehovah or Yehovah. Strong's Concordance states
that in the Hebrew Dictionary: 3068
Yehovah (yeh ho vaw)... [means] (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God-Jehovah the Lord. According
to a 1940 Websters Dictionary, the term Yahweh was a contemporary or modern literation
for Jehovah 7 which is used in Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 and Isaiah
26:4. JAH is found in Psalm 68:4 and said to be a shortened version of Jehovah.
One source stated
that Jehovah is the correct translation and the letter 'v' in Hebrew is pronounced
the same as the English 'v' . It does not translate to a 'w' sound, hence could
not be translated as Yahweh but is stated in Strong's as Yehovah. Some suggest
that the Yahweh pronunciation was from an influence by Germanic languages with
Jehovah being the English counterpart. This writer is hardpressed to find sources
advocating change from the English Jehovah, that are in consistent agreement as
to what the Father's Name is, a consistent time frame for its use, and the reasoning
behind it. Of
the various groups, The House of Yahweh (www.yahweh.com) asserts the Father's
Name to be falsely translated in Scripture. The House of Yahweh solution is the
promotion of their NEW Translation called "The Book of Yahweh" and various other
publications. They denounce all reference to anything but the name of Yahweh,
and in other statements insist that saying "the Lord" is praying to Baal or Satan.
"Many phrases
have been deliberately mistranslated in order to hide their true meaning, so that
Scripture would not bring to light the deceitful teaching of the established,
and popular, religious organizations. The
alteration of Yahweh's Scriptures, either by untranslating or mistranslating,
has caused the True Work, which His Prophets spoke of, to be hidden in most translations
of the Scriptures, and has been damaging to those who are searching the Scriptures
for the way to Eternal Life. However,
the most damaging error in all the Scriptures, was the error of removing Yahweh's
name from the very scriptures He inspired to be written, and writing in its place
the pagan titles of GODS, and SATAN HIMSELF! Because of this grave error, those
who are calling upon the name of gods and Satan, even though ignorantly, are actually
worshiping the gods and Satan --for they are not calling upon, and with, The NAME
of YAHWEH!" 8. Scripture
reminds us that God's Name was proclaimed as the Lord many times in the Old Testament.
Exodus 6:6 recounts God saying to Moses, "....wherefore say unto the children
of Israel, I am the Lord..." There are many more titles throughout Scripture ascribed
to Almighty God. Part
9 of the series, To Embrace Hebrew Roots, discussed the Tetragrammaton and it's
significance not only in Jewish beliefs but also Kabbalism and Freemasonry. Because
Hebrew had no vowels, God's Name was written as YHVH, and was called the Tetragrammaton
in Greek. The Kabbalists taught that this name was too sacred to be spoken, thereby
depriving the Jews of the name of the LORD. Many believe that the Tetragrammaton
is actually composed of 42 letters. Quoting from Part 9, "...The
Tetragrammaton or Schem Hamphorasch refers to what Kabbalists and many Orthodox
Jews call the Ineffable Name. The four-lettered name of God, in Hebrew is, "yod,
he, vau, he", or in English capitals YHVH, although some occult sources say it's
IHVH. Others also state that the YHVH is "yood, hey, vood, hey." According to
various writings, the true ancient pronunciation is now unknown since it has been
believed that the Name was too sacred to be written or pronounced by the profane.
In reading the sacred writings, the term 'Adonai' was substituted for that reason.
That teaching is also why Hebrew Roots and Messianic adherents write God as "G-d.
" In her
Theosophical Glossary, Madame Blavatsky provided the esoteric meaning of IHVH,
according to the Sephirot of the Kabbalah and part of the "Secret Doctrine. 9
The whole concept of the Name of God being unknown or unutterable, which is contrary
to Scripture, is promoted by Hebrew Roots and many Messianic proponents through
their use of the terms G-d and YHVH which many say as Yahweh. According to the
Dictionary of Canadian English the term "ineffable" means: Ineffable:..1.not
to be expressed in words; too great to be described in words. 2. that must not
be spoken. 10. It
becomes a contradiction of terms to write G-d and then state that the ineffable
name should be said as Yahweh. However, we find in the Theosophical Glossary the
esoteric or hidden reason for describing the name of God as "ineffable", namely
that Kabbalists consider it to be "no name" and God to be androgynous:
"Ineffable Name. With the
Jews, the substitute for the "mystery name" of their tribal deity Eh-yeh, "I am",
or Jehovah. The third commandment prohibiting the using of the latter name "in
vain", the Hebrews substituted for it that of Adonai or "the Lord". But the Protestant
Christians who, translating indifferently Jehovah and Elohim -- which is also
a substitute per se, besides being an inferior deity name -- by the words "Lord"
and "God", have become in this instance more Catholic than the Pope, and include
in the prohibition both the names...neither Jews nor Christians seem to remember,
or so much as suspect, the occult reason why the qualification of Jehovah or YHVH
had become reprehensible;...The truth is, that the name they bring forward as
"ineffable", is not in the least so. It is the "unpronounceable", or rather the
name not to be pronounced, if any thing; and this for symbological reasons. To
begin with, the "Ineffable Name" of the true Occultist, is no name at all, least
of all is it that of Jehovah. The latter implies, even in its Kabbalistical, esoteric
meaning, an androgynous nature, YHVH, or one of a male and female nature. It is
simply Adam and Eve, or man and woman blended in one, and as now written and pronounced,
is itself a substitute...." 11 A
disturbing account from an ex-psychic, who is now a faithful Christian, reveals
how very important are these issues. Recounting an incident in which this person
was asked to do a "reading" for friends, she states that although she expected
to say the name of Jehovah, what came forth was the name Yahweh. She shared her
experience that the chanting of the name, Yahweh, was totally out of her control.
"...the wife
had grown up a Jehovah's witness, which I knew. I remember I was trying to do
a reading for her while we were sitting on the floor. I was very upset and began
to cry and speak, Yahweh, over and over, not Jehovah. It upset everyone. I was
unable to stop for a few minutes. I had never done anything like that before,
nor after...I think that if it was to impress the wife with the name of her god,
it would have been Jehovah."12 It
makes no sense that demons would chant what many are referring to as being the
name of Almighty God. We must question what is taking place with these various
groups who do not belong to Jesus Christ and promote the use of the name Yahweh.
When God said
"....I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by
the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them," it
is clear that this was new information given to Moses which was to be remembered.
God did not say His Name was ineffable. We are to honor it. Psalm
29:2 Give
unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Changing
Names Some
promote the idea that names stay the same from one language to another, hence
the Hebrew form of Jesus would never have become Iesous, which in turn would never
have been translated Jesus. The Book of Acts records many instances of dual names
for people, eg. Acts 13:1, 6,8, 9 and many more. Norman Berdichevsky states that
many names did stay the same from Hebrew to English and other languages. However,
he also states that many names were and are translated according to the ability
to say the name in a way common to that particular language. "Many
of the most common personal (Christian) names used throughout the world are directly
derived from Hebrew, such as Jonathan (Yonatan), Joseph (Yosef), David, Isaac
(Yitzhak), Jacob or Jack (Ya’akov), Sarah, Esther, Eve, Rachel, Deborah,
Rebecca (Rivka) and Leah." 13. In
the "Petit Larousse Illustre 1979", a French mini Encyclopedia and Dictionary,
it states the name Jesus Christ is translated from Greek and in French becomes,
'Jesus-Christ'.14. In other words, it is widely accepted that the Christian faith
is based on the Person and Name of Jesus Christ and His followers are known as
Christians. While various languages may translate that Name in various ways, for
example, Greek -Iesous, it is indeed the Name of Jesus, by which all must be saved.
When asked
the question, "In the Polish version of the Bible, what is the name for 'Jesus?'",
a Polish Christian stated: "The Name for Jesus is "Jezus" [Yazoos - rough phonetic
reading]. The old Bible - Biblia Gdañska was translated from the Textus
Receptus - it is like KJV." The
Westminster Dictionary of the Bible provides insight that the translation of names
often allowed dual translation: "...in
the later period, when several languages were spoken in Palestine, a name was
often translated and the person was known by 2 names, as Cephas after the Aramaic;
Peter after the Greek; Thomas and Didymus, both names meaning twin; Messiah and
Christ, both meaning anointed. At this time also names were transformed, the Hebrew
Jehohanan became Greek Joannes, and Joseph became Joses. Surnames were lacking
among the Hebrews; persons were designated by adding to the personal name of their
city, as Jesus of Nazareth...." 15 The
significance of changing the name of the Father and eliminating or changing the
Name of Jesus Christ can better be understood in light of Revelation 13:15 which
in part states, "...that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that
as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Verses 16 and
17 state: "And
he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive
a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or
sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his
name. KJB Revelation
13:1 emphasizes the potential for blasphemy which attends the improper use of
the name of God. And
I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having
seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the
name of blasphemy. We
learned from research for the article, The Talmud and Jesus Christ, that in the
past there were many translations of the name of Jesus Christ which were intended
to mean something else, in some cases blaspheming the name of Jesus Christ. While
it has been suggested through various correspondences since then, that the Talmud
does not say these types of things against Christ or Christians, the documentation
is from historical sources. Those sources also say that the contents have changed
somewhat in today's translations and versions of the Talmud. "Many
people believe that the name for Jesus in Hebrew is Jeschua or Yeshua. However,
the complete, "name
in Hebrew would be Jeschua Hanotsri--Jesus the Nazarene. He is called Notsri from
the city of Nazareth... In the Talmud Christians are also called Notsrim. [Amongst
other things]. 'Since the word Jeschua means 'Savior,' the name Jesus rarely occurs
in the Jewish books. It is almost always abbreviated to Jeschu"3.
In the Talmud, the name
"Jeschu [Ieschu]" can apparently be translated [by the Kabbalist practice of Gematria]:
"as if it
were composed of the initial letters of the three words Immach SCHemo Vezikro--
(meaning)- -'May his name be blotted out.' 4. " Referring
again to the name of Christ, the apostle Peter reminds us in: 1
Peter 4:14: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of,
but on your part He is glorified. It
would be very naive and inadvisable for Christians, in this case English-speaking
Christians, to speak a 'new' name or word from another language they did not fully
understand. The Name of our Saviour and Lord is so exclusive that Paul reminds
us in Philippians 2:9-11: Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth,
and things under the earth; And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. SeekGod
Homepage
FOOTNOTES
* Peter Michas;
From:[Ha-Talmidim] Fwd: the name of Jesus; Thu,18 Jun 98 17:13:37
* The Lion
Encyclopedia of the Bible, Lion Publishing, 1986; p. 335
* Ibid.,p.336
* Ibid., p.334
* http://www.israel.org/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00nj0 ;The Mother of
Languages ; The Influence of Hebrew on other Languages; Norman Berdichevsky
* The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible, Lion Publishing, 1986; p. 335
* Websters
Giant Illustrated Dictionary; 1940
* House of Yahweh (www.yahweh.com);
The Book of Yahweh; * H.P. Blavatsky ; Theosophical Glossary: , Theosophical Publishing
Co, London, 1892.
* Dictionary of Canadian English; Gage; 1967
* H.P.
Blavatsky ; Theosophical Glossary: , Theosophical Publishing Co, London, 1892.
* Private correspondence
* http://www.israel.org/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00nj0
;The Mother of Languages ; The Influence of Hebrew on other Languages; Norman
Berdichevsky
* "Petit Larousse Illustre 1979", p. 207, p. 566; Librairie
Larousse, 1972
* p. 418; The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible by John
D. Davis;(Late Professor of Oriental and Old Testament Literature, Princeton Theological
Seminary); Revised and rewritten by Henry Snyder Gehman; (Professor of Old Testament
Literature and Chairman of the Dept. of Biblical Literature, Princeton Theological
Seminary and Lecturer in Semitic Languages, Princeton University); Westminster
Press, 1944; original was 1898
Quotes from Strong's Concordance refers
to: The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible; James Strong, Thomas
Nelson Publishers; 1990
Part
2: Taking the Mark Taking
the Name, the Mark & the Number Part
2: Taking the Mark As
for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that
trust in Him. For
who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
Psalm 18:30-31 Christians
must be careful to use the correct Name of our Saviour and the Father in light
of the fact that prophecy has been corrupted in modern translations. Notice the
difference in translations of the verse that prophetically speaks of the Name
with which God sealed the 144,000 in the book of Revelations. The King James Bible
states that only the Father's name is written in their foreheads, while the modern
versions state that two names will be used. It cannot be both ways.
Revelation 14:1
In the KJB " . .
. having his Father's name written in their foreheads."
In the NIV " . .
. who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads"
In the Gideons 1986 NT
". . . having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads"
New Revised Standard
". . . had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads"
It is also imperative to realize that there are three forms
of allegiance to the beast besides open worship -- the mark, or the name
or the number of his name. However, the modern versions again change
the pertinent verses to be two issues, those being the name or the
number of the beast's name.
Of the various related verses, we shall also compare
Revelation 13:15-17 in light of the Name.
Revelation 13:15 in part states,
". . . that the image of the beast should
both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast
to be killed." Verses 16 and 17 state:
In the KJB "
. . . And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast . . . And he causeth
all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save
he that had the mark, or the name
of the beast, or the number of his name."
In the NIV " . .
. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, . . . all,
both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on
his right hand, or on his forehead, So that no one could
buy or sell, unless he had the mark,
which is the
name of the beast, or the number of his name."
In the New Revised Standard "
. . . and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast
. . . all, both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave, to be marked on the right hand,
or the
forehead, so that no one can buy or sell, who does not have the mark,
that is,
the name of
the beast, or the number of its name."
Christians should carefully consider why
the newer versions changed the meaning and eliminated the clear difference between
the mark, the name and the number of his name. The
purpose of these changes can only be to prevent people from being warned of the
dangers and forms of adherence to the beast. Since the antichrist will appear
as the Christ, the name involved in these verses must not be mistaken as being
our Lord and Saviour's name, nor should we permit ourselves to be physically marked
in any way. Many now say that the
reference to not being able to buy or sell with the name, mark or number of the
beast means that we will become a cashless society. They interpret the mark to
be a "chip implant." Some also believe that the chip will be used to control behavior.
However, the Scriptures merely say that people won't be able to buy or sell without
the mark, number or name of the beast. In other words, after Rev. 13:15 showing
that those who don't worship the image of the beast are killed, verse 16 shows
that the beast will require an ID demonstrating that a person does indeed worship
that blasphemy. There is nothing
in those verses which states that people won't be taking the mark in one form
or another before it is forced upon all of humanity. There merely comes a point
where all will be required to exhibit one of the options to show allegiance to
the beast in order to buy and sell. In other words, some may have laid aside all
the gold, stocks and money in the world, but these will be worthless for trade
unless they are wearing one of the approved symbols. The
reason for emphasis on the cashless society could be that it sets up a diversion.
Either Christians will avoid the computer chip or some will take another mark
which they are told sets them apart unto God. Should the global economic collapse
be delayed, they may think they have time -- everything's okay as long as we have
cash. However, this may be a false assumption, adding to Scripture that which
it does not necessarily say. In
Strong's Concordance, the definition for "mark" in Revelation 13:16-17 applies
exclusively to all references of "the mark" in the book of Revelation. This definition
does not apply to the term "mark" as it is found in any other book of the Bible.
5480 - charagma, (khar'-ag-mah);
from the same as 5482; a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a
badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue):-graven image, mark.
5482 - charasso-(to sharpen
to a point, akin to 1125 through the idea of scratching)...
1125 - grapho( graf-o);
a prim. verb; to "grave", espec. to write; fig. to describe:-- describe, write(-ing,-ten)
[Eng. Dictionary
def.-- "grave"
--Archaic. engrave;
carve; sculpture. 2.impress deeply; fix firmly]
Something being scratched or etched, as a stamp, hardly
sounds like a computer chip implant. Many in so-called Discernment and Christian
leadership positions, some even fluent in Greek and Hebrew, are promoting the
"computer chip" as the mark of the beast, as well as promoting the corrupt versions.
The question each must consider is why the very serious issues of these definitions
and the different translations found in the various new versions are not being
addressed. The problems with the
chip theory -- aside from the above conflict of definitions -- are the following:
the cost; dependency on power--which any natural or manmade disaster can eliminate;
the fact that millions are so poor that the use of ATM machines and the like,
which many say will be the launching for use of the computer chip--is beyond their
scope. Perhaps most important, is the the fact that the beast, will want observable
evidence of his conquest and that these people belong to him. You cannot see a
computer chip under the skin. If there is chaos with disruption of power and regular
services, people will still need that "mark" to obtain groceries and do business.
However, consider that the worship
of the beast and taking of the mark is a freewill decision, just as our commitment
to Christ is a daily decision to pick up our cross and follow Him. Those who (will)
belong to the beast will have chosen that portion -- not because of mind control
-- but because of a heart and mind decision, as heartwrenching as that may be.
Revelation 14:9-12
And the third angel followed them, saying with
a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark
in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath
of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for
ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and
his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus. The
Sacred Name Directory Researching proponents
of changing the name of the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, brings one to The
Sacred Name Directory which involves some sixty plus websites. Having studied
the various websites and their beliefs, it is astonishing to see that each of
these sites lay claim to having the correct Names of the Father and the Son, although
the contradictions in opinion and variations of "the Only Name" are massive. The
Sacred Name Directory and groups involved in this network vary from Messianic
and Hebrew Roots advocates, Orthodox Jews to Seventh Day Adventists to Jehovah
Witnesses. Herbert and Garner Ted Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God led
the way in some arenas of thought in the Sacred Name and gave birth to the Sabbatarian
webring (which deals with the Sabbath issue) which many groups in the Directory
are also promoting. The Sacred Name Directory is
found at http://qumran.com/sacrednames/ under the Qumran Bet. "A Brief History of the [Sacred] Name
Movement in America by L. D. Snow" is presented which includes this chilling warning
regarding the the Name and the Mark of the beast. [caps in original]
" .
. . I say, THE ISSUE is and will be, HIS NAME AND MARK WRITTEN IN YOUR FOREHEAD
(Rev. 14:1; 22:4) or, the MARK, NAME AND NUMBER OF THE BEAST.
Which do you want? . . . but again I plead with YOU, --- PREPARE TO MEET THY
CREATOR, they ELOHIM (Mighty One), have His NAME [Yud-Hay-Vav/Waw/Cholom-Hay]
written in your forehead--NOW! Be on the safe side, the MESSIAH IS SOON COMING!"
In other words, Messengers of Messiah,
James Trimm, Yair Davidy and Lost Tribes, and many Hebrew Roots and Messianic
organizations are linked to groups which are promoting the idea that people need
to have "his Name and Mark" written in or on their foreheads as
an alternative to the mark, name, or number of the beast.
Is it possible they are referring to a physical marking? Are
they in fact promoting the Mark of the Beast? Tattoos
and Marks
Ye shall not make any cuttings in
your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus
19:28 Since
God's people are sealed by the Father through Christ and with the Holy Spirit,
(Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22-23)
what is this teaching really about? Obviously the different translations have
changed the meaning significantly. Is it possible the aforementioned "alternative
name and mark" is speaking of a physical application?
Remembering that the Greek dictionary
defined "the mark" to include "a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp" and " to "grave",
espec. to write", it is interesting to find the Dictionary definition of "tattoo"
is " . . . mark (the skin) with designs
or patterns by pricking it and putting in colors . . . . " According
to Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99, "Tattooing:
method of decorating the skin by inserting colored substances under the surface.
The skin is punctured with a sharp instrument, which now is usually an electric
needle. In many parts of the world tribal people use tattooing and scarification
to indicate social rank and affiliation . . . Scarification involves slashing
the skin and introducing irritants into the wounds, which, when healed, leave
pronounced scars . . . " Encarta
also relates tattooing to branding and states: Branding:
originally, searing of flesh with a hot iron to produce a scar with an easily
recognizable pattern for identification or other purposes. Branding was formerly
used on human beings . . . Branding today is often done with chemicals, tattooing,
paint, tagging, or ear-notching . . . Used at first primarily as proof of ownership
. . . . " Various
leaders in the Vineyard, Calvary Chapel and Pentecostal groups mentioned in this
report are teaching by word and example that Biblical disobedience should be upheld
by pastors and parents. Disobedience means "refusing to obey" or "to defy".
Rebellion means,
"an act of resistance against any authority; a revolt or fight against any restriction."
3 Being
rebellious is "defying authority; acting
like a rebel . . . hard to manage . . . mutinous, disobedient." 4
Scripture reminds us clearly that rebellion is a very serious
issue and there can be no excuse for allowing it to become a part of our Christian
walk, no matter our age. The issue of rebellion, which some leaders and young
people admit is at least part of the reason for taking these marks, is dealt
with in strong terms in Scripture. I
Samuel 15:23 "For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from
being king." Those in
leadership who promote or condone these
sins have seemingly forgotten or deliberately omitted
what Paul states in Galatians 5:19-21.
Among " .
. . the works of the flesh which are manifest," are
listed the very issues of , "Idolatry,
witchcraft, variance, wrath . . . " and much more. The
result of allowing those works to be
manifest in our lives: "
. . . of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Essential Disobedience?
Psalm 44:20-21
"If
we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange
god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart."
Only God
knows a person's heart, however, we know that what is in the heart always comes
out, be it rebellion or obedience. Rita Elkins continues
to report that the teens and youth leadership believe the body markings are an
essential part of their faith: "A
handful of Brevard teens -- considered radical even by their Christian peers --
say body marking is an essential part of their faith. But most of the local
Christian punks "are just, you know, being teen-agers," says Ashley Wecker.
"In other words, it's only coincidence
they're finding faith at the same time they're digging punk styles."
"I wanted a tattoo for a long time, for
solely non-Christian reasons," says Brandon Eaton, 17. "But God is my
life, so everything I do reflects that." The result?
A Star of David with "Jesus" tattooed on the outside of his calf.
" . . . Andy Richardson . . . once had his
nipples pierced, but decided soon after it wasn't for him. Now he has two Christian-themed
tattoos in private locations on his body. "They're
both for me and the Lord -- not for other people to see - - to remind me every
day when I wake up that he is my life," says Richardson, who works with
various church youth groups and overseas missions. "A tattoo is forever,
like the Lord's forever." 5
As indicated, for many tattooing is a form
of rebellion. We know that the Star of David is an occult symbol
and no Christian can embrace it as a part of Biblical teaching. However, the advocates
of tattooing or branding occult marks on young people rationalize their practice
by suggesting that being marked for God is a Biblical concept.
" . . . Supporters point to Bible verses hinting
at its acceptability. There are even indications God used physical markings
to set people apart for divine purposes."
"A compelling example is a popular T-shirt
that reads, "Body piercing saved my life," accompanied by drawings of Jesus' pierced
hands and feet." "...one youth's
personal Web page: http://www.angelfire.com/oh/dorkville. "...The word I like to use is tau-too. Tau
is a Hebrew letter that means cross or mark, so it is a cross mark for God." 6
Rationalization for
marking Christians will likely be based upon the misinterpretation of Scripture
passages such as Ezekiel 9 and denial of Leviticus 19:28, as is found on the website
of the aforementioned youth who promotes "tau-tooing." This lad also promotes
a book on Tau-tooing and the Bible, although any occultist will recognize that
TAU is the universal symbol of consecration for the Royal Arch Degree of Masonry.
"Tau (Heb.). That which
has now become the square Hebrew letter tau, but was ages before the invention of the Jewish
alphabet, the Egyptian handled cross, the crux ansata of the Latins, and identical
with the Egyptian ankh. This mark belonged exclusively, and still belongs, to
the Adepts of every country. As Kenneth R.F. Mackenzie shows, "It was a symbol
of salvation and consecration, and as such has ben adopted as a Masonic symbol
used by the ancient Mexicans -- as its presence on one of the palaces at Palenque
shows -- as well as by the Hindus, who placed the tau on the brows of their Chelas. [H.P. Blavatsky, Theosophical
Glossary]" God does not require us
to be physically marked to show that we are set apart for Him. Rather, He requires
obedience to His Word which states: Ye
shall not make any cuttings in your flesh . . . nor print any marks upon you:
I am the LORD. Lev. 19:28. Pentecostal, Vineyard, Calvary
Chapel and similar affiliations mentioned in these reports are also justifying
their disobedience by rationalizing that tattoos are an art form.
"The Christian Tattoo Association boasts almost
100 tattoo parlors as members . . . "We
don't want everybody in the world to think that tattooing is the work of the devil,
because it isn't," says Randy Mastre of Bismarck, N.D., a Pentecostal seminarian
and tattoo artist who founded the association. "It's a beautiful art form."
"Locally, Christian
punks can be found scattered in area churches. But they tend to congregate around
New Life Christian Center in Titusville, Calvary Chapel on Merritt Island and
at South Brevard's Tabernacle Church. Each of these has strong contemporary
music programs and youth ministries that refuse to be shocked by appearances.
" . . . Is
all this a bit extreme? Yes, but that works with teens, says Vineyard Christian
Fellowship youth pastor Curtis Deming. "I
find that teen-agers as a species tend to gravitate to extremes,
and that mainstream moderation in anything is boring to them," says Deming, who
sometimes has to reel kids in from other dangerous extremes. "But my answer wouldn't
be, `Don't go overboard with this God thing.' " 7
To suggest
that teen-agers are a separate "species" with different sin issues and different
needs for Biblical truth and obedience, is far from the truth of God's Word. Teens
especially need clear teaching of God's word and understanding which comes from
parents taking the time to talk seriously with them and to teach them Biblical
precepts.(Deuteronomy 6:7;
Proverbs 22:6) If
they do not learn obedience and respect for their parents and Biblical truth,
they will most likely have a difficult time remaining obedient to God, a trend
which is evidenced in these reports. Since many
do not know the Scriptures and are also embracing the rewritten versions that
so carefully change verses about many issues--it is conceivable that such people
will be snared into believing that they must receive a mark that is distinctive
for "Christians" to show themselves to be 'chosen'. From whence does the concept
come that people should be set apart for a divine purpose by a mark?
Armies of False Teachings
The restorationist or dominion theology, various Joel's Army
and similar elitist teachings of the Vineyard, Pentecostal and Calvary Chapel
groups support variations of Manifest Sons of God doctrine, which promote the
perfection of saints through the elevation and teachings of latter-day prophets
and apostles. It is believed by some that, under select leaders, those who achieve
a certain level of holiness will be able to defeat all enemies and will eventually
become immortal. Costa Mesa Calvary Chapel, of
which Vineyard churches are an affiliate, was founded by a small group under Chuck
Smith, and grew under the leadership of the late hippie and "evangelist", Lonnie
Frisbee." Pastor Chuck Smith upheld Frisbee as youth pastor from 1968 until
late 1971. Smith and Frisbee believed that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of
Joel's prophecy was a precursor to Christ's return.8. Frisbee contended that the Joel's prophecy placed youth "on
the vanguard of the spiritual revolution," which he
believed was being fulfilled by the Jesus People of the 60s and 70s.
"The Book of Joel had prophesied the great
outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which would take the form of much witnessing and
a highly intensified devotion on the part of believers in Christ. Joel's prophecy
placed youth in the vanguard of the spiritual revolution, which, Lonnie Frisbee
contends, is being fulfilled now by the Jesus People." 9.
According to the authors of 'The Jesus Movement',
most involved in the Jesus People aligned with the Joel's Prophecy teaching despite
what the apostle Peter said in Acts 2:16. When
Israel . . . regained its lost territory in the 1967 war God supposedly set in
motion the prophecy of Joel that young people would spearhead the great evangelistic
effort of the last days. The Jesus People see themselves as the fulfillment of
that prophecy. The Christian Foundation sees itself as Joel's Army. Most other
Jesus People see themselves in terms of that same prophecy. The prophecy, which
is one of the most important passages in the Jesus People canon, is found in Joel
2:28-32. In his sermon on the day
of Pentecost, Peter quoted that prophecy and prefaced it with the remark: "But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). But since the
Jesus People collapse all history between the Book of Acts and the present
moment [1972], they see themselves as
the continuing fulfillment of Joel's words. As the church in the Book of Acts
represented "the former rain" that brought the first fruits, the Jesus People
adhere to standard Pentacostalist view that they are "the latter rain" referred
to by the prophets and that they will bring in the last fruits of the great harvest
which will immediately precede the second coming . . . 10
Since the Jesus People are no longer youth
and Christ hasn't returned, it is unclear how their beliefs have been affected.
It would appear they merely have passed the 'sword' onto the young people swelling
their ranks, although some have taken the role of being the "elevated prophets
and apostles." Clifford Hill writes
of prophecies by the controversial Bob Jones. Jones had been part of the Kansas
City Prophets who were endorsed and promoted by John Wimber, co-founder of the
Vineyard. Bob Jones taught that God was preparing a "special breed" or an army
of "dread champions" composed of young people. Many support this theory, believing
that this elite group will be composed of youth up to the age of thirty.
Jones believed that the generation
of children born since 1973 would form the final generation of believers whom
God was preparing as the Bride of Christ to take control of the world and present
the kingdom to Christ on his return. He continued, "I do believe what he's beginning
to do is a restoration of his very nature down here. Your children will come behind
you and they'll start on your level of righteousness and holiness and they'll
take off from there. 11
John Wimber incorporated Bob
Jones' concept of 'the dread champions' into his Vineyard teachings.
12. Clifford
Hill writes that this was evidenced in the brochure for an October 1990 meeting
where John Wimber wrote: God
has given us a vision to see the body of Christ move from being an inactive audience
to a Spirit-filled army . . . God is about to unloose a powerful outpouring of
the Holy Spirit of an unprecedented magnitude . . . He is looking for individuals
who will be 'dread champions" for his cause.
13.
According to Hill, just months previous to
that vision, Paul Cain was in Anaheim with John Wimber and also taught about these
"dreadful champions". God's
strange act is going to bring a new order of things and bring a new breed in and
bring a transformation. . . . .Little children are going to lay their hands on
the sick and heal multitudes . . . We are going to be just like the Lord . . .
They're going to say, "Here comes that dreadful, fearful army of champions. Here
comes those with a word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, the working of miracles,
with a healing ministry, with the power to heal the sick and raise the dead, with
the power to know what's going on behind the Iron Curtain." You're really going
to be a fearsome group before this thing's all over . . .
. . . Cain used prophecy to confirm the Latter
rain teaching that world evangelisation would result from the supernatural power
which was going to be given to believers. This teaching was central to Wimber's
message. 14
We know that this teaching is in total conflict
with the apostasy foretold in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition... Restorationist and dominionist
proponents believe they will conquer the nations before Christ returns, as Joel's
army, whereby they will dispense judgment on the ungodly and those who reject
their leadership. John Wimber, Paul Cain and their followers taught that they
will control and 'police' the nations as indicated by Cain's statements.
It is also interesting to see
how Cain used prophecy to confirm the Latter Rain teaching that world evangelisation
would result from the supernatural power which was going to be given to believers.
This teaching was central to Wimber's message.
In the same speech Paul Cain prophesied
that the new breed would possess power to overcome the enemies of the gospel and
strike terror into them, "There's going to be an awesome, reverential fear and
respect for the church because the church is going to regain her power, lose her
restrictions, lose her weakness . . . you're going to be called upon by presidents
and kings of nations, heads of state . . . . God is going to have his army and
they are going to be a fearful bunch and they are going to go to every place on
the face of the earth..." 15
If these are indeed
the last days as many believe, we know that it is not Christians who will be in
power, according to many Scriptures such as: Revelation
17:17 "For God hath put
in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto
the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."
According to some, anyone who does not uphold these various
leadership or teachings will be viewed as an enemy of God. That will have to include
people who uphold obedience to the Word of God. The "dreaded champions" belief
might be an indication of the type of spirituality required to wage war against
God's people and yet believe one was actually working for God.
John 16:2
"They shall put you out of the synagogues:
yea, the time will cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth
God a service." Those who claim to
belong to Jesus Christ and then take a different name for the Saviour, who take
a mark, and promote Biblical disobedience are described in verses like:
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
"And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned
who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Tattoos for Everyone Those
who are Tattooing themselves with various and occult symbols and terminology
are paving the way to acceptance of a physical mark. We know, according to the
Scriptures, that the beast will require people to be physically marked. Tattooing
is being so mainstreamed that it has become a Court issue in the United States--even
a matter of "protected rights". The Boston Globe
article by Joe Sciacca, "I (heart) Mom, but I can't put it in writing" on
May 3, 1999, reported that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was suing
the State of Massachusetts so that tattoos are a protected right and available
in all states. Currently they are illegal in Massachusetts. 16. The ACLU lawsuit is based on some of the ideas expressed by
Sciacca: "What's really
in at the moment is tribal art or ``blackwork,'' intricate designs and patterns."
"Persons
across the cultural spectrum of America have tattoos," the civil liberties suit
says. "Estimates
of the numbers of Americans in certain age groups who have tattoos range as high
as 30 percent. "Persons
obtain tattoos to demonstrate their lifelong commitment to other persons, institutions,
religious beliefs and to political or personal beliefs," the suit maintains."
17
Biblical Obedience In
the aforementioned apostate groups, there is a clear disregard of the requirement
for pastoral leadership to teach the principle that young people must honor and
obey their parents. According to Scripture,
this requirement is not lifted when a child becomes
a teenager. Part 1 of this series mentioned Columbine High School and similar
horrors. Many are pointing fingers at
parents -- what they teach and how they discipline.
More than ever, the Biblical truths regarding the relationship of parents and
their children and teens need to be upheld--especially by clergy and those in
youth leadership. As cited in these reports, there has been a clear endorsement
by Christian leaders of young people disobeying their parents' commands.
Have these people who are upholding Biblical
disobedience forgotten or deliberately ignored such verses as Ephesians 6:1-4,
which are foundational to family relationships? Or Colossians 3:20 which says:
Children,
obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Certainly
a person in spiritual leadership needs to possess the many qualifications set
down in the Scriptures before being accepted in that role. One requirement of
an elder is that he "ruleth well his
own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." (I Tim. 3:4)
The next verse asks,
"For if a man know not how to rule his
own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" Being
a teen or young adult does not give one license to rebel against the wishes of
one's parents, and by extension against the Lord. Rebellion is to be expected
in the non-Christian world but we are not to be of that mindset. Jesus said in
John 15:14 Ye
are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Jesus
is also very clear that obedience to God's Word is the test of whether someone
loves Him. John 14: 23-24
Jesus answered and
said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine,
but the Father's which sent me. Footnotes
- Florida Today, 02/12/1999. FINAL/ALL;
Issue: PSA-2283; PEOPLE Section; Northern Lights
Special collection
- Ibid.
- Gage
Dictionary of Canadian English
- Ibid.
- Florida Today, 02/12/1999. FINAL/ALL;
Issue: PSA-2283; PEOPLE Section; Northern Lights
Special collection
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Enroth, Ronald M., Edward E. Ericson, Jr., and C. Breckenridge Peters.; The
Jesus People: Old Time Religion in the Age of Aquarius; p.12, p.178; Grand Rapids,
MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1972.
- Ibid., p.12
- Ibid., p. 184
- Hill,
Clifford and Peter Fenwick, David Forbes, David Noakes; Blessing the Church?;
Eagle; p.130
- Ibid., p.130
- Ibid., p.130-131
- Ibid., p.132
- Ibid.,
p.134
- Joe Sciacca, "I (heart) Mom, but
I can't put it in writing" ;Boston Globe, Monday, May 3, 1999, http://www.bostonherald.com/bostonherald/colm/sciacca05031999.htm
- Ibid.
Dictionary definitions
from: Gage Dictionary of Canadian English
Quotes from Encarta are from:
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia
99. ;1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation.
PART THREE: TAKING
THE NUMBER Proverbs
2:10-14 When
wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion
shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way
of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths
of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil and delight
in the frowardness of the wicked. The
Number of the Beast
Over the years there have been many "false"
identifications of the Antichrist or Beast, from Nero to Hitler. There has also
been wide speculation recently as to the number of the Beast and how it relates
to the mark. Is there a reason for this confusion? In Parts 1 and 2 of this series,
we have seen that the new Bible translations have altered the words and meanings
of verses pertaining to prophecy, with devastating results. As we consider the
application of the Name, Mark and Number of the Beast, we note that Revelation
13:17-18 have also been altered in the new versions. In
the KJB "And that no man might buy or
sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his
name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the
beast: for it is the number of a man; and his
number is Six hundred threescore and six."
In the NIV
" So that no one could buy or sell, unless he had the mark, which is the
name of the beast, or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom.
If anyone has insight,
let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number
is 666." In
the New Revised Standard "So
that no one can buy or sell, who does not have the mark, that is, the name
of the beast, or the number of
is name." This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number
of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred
sixty-six." We
know that God alone can supply the wisdom to comprehend the meaning of His Word
and these verses in particular. Referring to wisdom, Proverbs 2:4-6 promises:
"If thou seekest her as silver,
and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear
of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of
his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." The
term, "'count' the number of the beast", is of interest because,
according to Strong's Concordance, this particular definition applies only to
this verse of Scripture. 5585--
psephizo, (psay-fid-zo); from 5586: to use pebbles in
enumeration, i.e.(gen.) to compute:--count 5586--psephos
(psay-fos); from the same as 5584; a pebble (as worn
smooth by handling), i.e. (by impl. of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict
(of acquital) or ticket (of admission); a vote:--stone, voice.
5584 --pselaphao
(psay-laf-ah-o) . . . (comp. 5586); to manipulate, i.e. verify
by contact; to search for:--feel after, handle, touch.
By these definitions it would appear that we
are to search for and verify the meaning through counting or computing or adding
together the digits which relate to
"a man's number,"---
that number being "six
hundred threescore and six." Why then
does the King James Bible write the number as six hundred, threescore and six,
when other versions write the number as being 666? To determine this, we will
be computing and verifying the factors which must be considered.
Counting the Number
Strong's Greek Dictionary reveals the numerical
definition for "six" is used for all verses in the New Testament (eg., Mark 9:2
and John 2:20) except for two verses, Rev.14:20 and 13:18.
1803 . . . hex..--a prim. numeral; six--six.
The Harvest Judgement in Revelation
14:20 has the only verse definition related to it's particular "six hundred".
"And the winepress was trodden without
the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by
the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." 1812--
hexakosioi (hex-ak-os'-ee-oy) plur. ordinal from 1803 and 1540;
six hundred-six hundred [Note: ordinal number is a number that shows order or position in
a series. First, second, third,etc . . .] 1803
--hex--, a prim. numeral; six---six. 1540--hekaton
( hek-at-on) of uncertain affin; a hundred---hundred The
Greek definition that is provided for
"six hundred threescore and six"
in Revelation 13:18
is also unique. It does not pertain
to any "six" numbers in any other verses in the New Testament. The fact that the
definition for "six
hundred threescore and six" uses
the Greek Alphabet rather than the numerical "six" used in other verses helps
one to understand that these are not simply numbers, as the newer versions state
i.e. 666., although that is the actual associated numeral.
5516-- chi xi stigma (khee xee stig'-ma); the
22d, 14th and an obsol. letter (4742 as a cross) of the Greek
Alphabet (intermediate between the 5th and 6th) used as numbers; denoting respectively
600, 60 and 6, 666 as a numeral--six hundred threescore and 6. 4742--stigma
(stig-mah);from a prim . . . stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); a mark incised or
punched (for recognition of ownership) i.e. (fig.) scar of service:--mark [Dictionary
def. of "stick"
is, " . . . pierce with a pointed instrument . . . set into or adorn the surface
of . . . impose upon. . ." 1.] "Stigma"
is a Greek word that has been adopted into the English language, and which helps
provide a clearer understanding of these meanings. stigma--(stig-ma)
n. . . . 1. a mark of disgrace; a stain or reproach on one's reputation. 2. a
distinguishing mark or sign . . . 6. Archaic. a special mark burned on
a slave or criminal [<L<Gk.] 2.
These definitions give greater
credence to the application of the Mark via tattooing or branding. As we have
seen, the Dictionary definition of "tattoo" is to " . . . mark (the skin) with
designs or patterns by pricking it and putting in colors . . . " and we learned
in Part 2 that tattooing and branding are related. Historically, people have "use[d]
tattooing and scarification to indicate social rank and affiliation" and " . .
. primarily as proof of ownership." Marking
the skin with a "stick" or "prick," is the precise method of applying tattoos.
When we consider the combination of these word meanings, "a scratch or etching,
i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude)" which is thought "to indicate rank" but
is really a "sign of disgrace," the true end-time scenario begins to emerge. Perhaps
the over- emphasis on the "computer chip" will mislead the masses, who will believe
that by avoiding the same they are free to receive God's special mark, which is
really an occult symbol of blasphemy and disgrace. The
following excerpt from the May 1999 newsletter "Yavoh is Coming", whose editor
is Monte Judah, is a good example of such disinformation.
"Oh, by the way, did I mention that God intends
to do something really special with about 144,000 Sons of Israel during the Great
Tribulation. You will note that it is not 144,000 Jews that are to be called.
Jews are considered to be the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. The other nine
tribes are called the House of Israel. Therefore, the 144,000 are called 'Sons
of Israel,' not Jews. I heartedly recommend that all believers in these days find
out who you are and who you believe in. I am afraid there will be a whole bunch
of folks meeting Gabriel face-to-face, getting the seal in their foreheads and
being very confused. Many will say, 'But, I'm not a Jew.' And we will have to
explain that they are of Ephraim and that they have been joined together with
Jews to become one in the hand of the Lord. The day sequence of their sealing
will determine which tribe they are representing." [ http://www.lionlamb.net/ ] 3.
What greater
disgrace could there be than worshiping and taking the mark, name and number of
the Anti-christ -- the ultimate blasphemy, totally rejecting God for Satan? Through
Scripture we know that the anti-Christ will be steeped in the occult and blasphemy.
Daniel 11:36-39 informs us: ".
. . and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall
speak marvellous things against the God of gods, . . . Neither shall he regard
the God of his fathers . . .for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his
estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not
. . . " The
Six~Pointed Star Throughout
history, certain occult symbols and words have always been identified as signs
of disgrace. A recent example would be Hitler's coercion of the Jewish people
to wear the six-pointed star or hexagram, one of the most wicked occult symbols.
Talismans and Masters of the Name
included information about the occult
Star of David, which was confirmed through other sources, including
The
Six-Pointed Star: The Mark of the Beast. This
report sources an online promotion of the hexagram. The
Star of David "...all
evidence suggests that the early use of the hexagram was limited to 'practical
Kabbalah,'
that is, Jewish magic,
probably dating back to the 6th century C.E. Legends
connect this symbol with the "Seal of Solomon," the magical signet ring used by
King Solomon to control demons and spirits. Although the original ring was inscribed
with the Tetragrammaton, the sacred Four-Letter Name of God,
medieval amulets imitating this ring substituted the hexagram or pentagram..."
4.
"The Six~Pointed Star" report explained
that the 'star' or hexagram and the numeral 666 are involved in occult initiation
rituals. In her book, The Rays and Initiation, occultist Alice Bailey
discloses that variations of the numerical 666 are "experienced" and "expressed"
by the initiate on his path of ascendancy to the perfect state:
"In an ancient book on numbers the INITIATE
is defined as 'the one who has experienced and expressed 666 and found it naught;
who has dropped the 6 and become the 66, and thus found himself on the Way; later,
again, he drops the 6 and becomes the PERFECTED 6-FORM, the instrument and expression
of spirit." 5.
Note that Bailey states "the perfected 6-form"
meaning the hexagram or six-pointed star. In the mystery religions, the hexagram
is significant because the number 6 in astrology represents the god, Saturn. Remember
that in astrology, the planets are considered to be gods.
"Sri Aurobindo, a Hindu guru well-known in
the New Age affirms that SATURN IS REPRESENTED BY THE NUMBER 6. . . because the
planet Saturn is 6th of the nine planets in distance from the sun." (Marrs:
Mystery Mark, p. 68) 6.
Alexander Hislop's The
Two Babylons also explains the occult numerology of Saturn:
"Now, the name SATURN in Chaldee is pronounced
Satur; but, as every Chaldee scholar knows, consists only of four letters, thus-Stur
[ed. Star?]. This name contains exactly the Apocalyptic number." (Hislop,
p. 269) 7.
S = 060
T = 400
U = 006
R =
200
= 666 The
god, Saturn, and the number 6 are found on the has Talisman
of Saturn which
the six-pointed star on one side and the pentagram on the other.
"On the first face is engraved
. . . a pentagram or a star with five points. On the other side is engraved a
bull's head enclosed in a SIX-POINTED STAR, and surrounded by letters composing
the name REMPHA, THE PLANETARY GENIUS OF SATURN, according to the alphabet of
the Magi." (Christian, p. 304-5) 8.
Rempha, the planetary
genius of Saturn, is precisely the false god mentioned by Stephen in his sermon
to the Council of the Jews and earlier by the prophet, Amos:
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took
up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the STAR OF YOUR GOD REMPHAN, figures which ye
made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. (KJV)
Amos
5:26-27 But ye have born the tabernacle of your Moloch, and Chiun (Remphan)
your images, the STAR OF YOUR GOD, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore, will
I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the Lord . . . (KJV)
[Note:
Strong's Concordance 4481 identifies
Chiun as Rhemphan, "the name of an idol worshipped secretly by the Israelites
in the wilderness"]
Regrettably, the newer Bible versions have
not only corrupted important verses in Revelation relating to the Mark and the
Name, but also verses which identify by name the heathen god (Chiun, Rempha, Saturn)
that was worshipped by the disobedient Israelites, causing them to go into captivity.
Note the omission of the name of this god in the New American Standard and New
International Versions, however not the King James Bible:
Amos 5:26-27
KJV - But
ye have born the tabernacle of your MOLOCH and CHIUN
[Saturn], your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore,
will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus. . .
[CHIUN: See REMPHAN. Another
name for the god SATURN. Strong's Concordance p. 194: 3594 Chiun = "an image"
or "pillar" 1) probably a statue of the Assyrian-Babylonian god of the planet
Saturn and used to symbolise Israelite apostasy.] NASV
- You also
carried along SIKKUTH your King and Kiyyn, your images, the star of your gods
which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will make you go into exile beyond
Damascus. . . NIV
- You have
lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your
god which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond
Damascus. . . Of
utmost relevance to our study of the Name of the Beast in Part I, please note
on the Talismans of the Magi web
site that Jahweh
= Saturn. Providing
further justification for receiving the mark, modern versions also misidentify
Satan as the Morning Star, a title that is reserved for Jesus Christ in Revelation
22:16. Isaiah 14:12
KJV - How
art thou fallen from heaven, O LUCIFER, SON OFTHE MORNING NASV
- How you have fallen from heaven, O
STAR OF THE MORNING, SON OF THE DAWN NIV
- How you have fallen from heaven, O
MORNING STAR, SON OF THE DAWN The
set-up is completed through mistranslation of II Peter 1:19, which implies that
the previously misidentified Morning Star [Satan] will assume the ascendancy in
hearts of believers: II
Peter 1:19 KJV
. . . until the day dawns,
and the DAY STAR arises in your hearts NASV
. . . until the day dawns and the MORNING
STAR arises in your hearts NIV.
. . until the day dawns and the MORNING
STAR rises in your hearts.9
Readers
may be interested to know that August 7, 1999 is the date New Agers begin the
Matrix Project Worldwide, in preparation for the August 11 Solar Eclipse which
inaugurates the anticipated Dawn of the New Light. Matrix is a word in Crystal
Magick that refers to the base of a crystal cluster, the main "lump" part. [Glossary;
DenElder] The Matrix Project, which depicts a large crystalline six-pointed star
on its homepage, is calling for a critical
mass of people who will focus on the Star of David in preparation for a worldwide
transformation to occur in approximately nine months. Note the clever ruse of
claiming that this activity will protect us against the occult agenda of the "illuminati"
when, in very fact, the Matrix Project is promoting the same agenda.
"This is a Worldwide
notice requesting the assistance of every
Spiritual, Religious, Healing and Alternative World Healing Organizations to open
to all their respective members.
On the 11th of August,
1999 in Egypt, The organization called the "illuminati" will be invoking a ceremony
called: THE DARK MOTHER. The intention of this ceremony is to seal the doorway
to our collective consciousness as it begins to open. The reason they wish to
have this outcome, is that this organization represents the power brokers of our
planet, who would prefer to maintain their control of the knowledge, finances
and spiritual/political future of our societies. This control is through FEAR
and misinformation.
Medicine people and tribal people
around the world are asking for your help to focus our collective intention to
keep this doorway to change opened. The porthole to our changing consciousness
is about to open. This is the time that the WISDOM ELDERS have spoken of. We are
in the threshold of the forces of CREATION. WE have the ability to exercise a
CHOICE AT THIS TIME. We are focusing the symbol identified in this Web Site: http://sites.netscape.net/hornbyhealing/homepage
All people are asked
to start focusing this symbol from your location with the following intention::
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ENTIRE EARTH COMMUNITY - OR LOSE IT! It is
through the acceptance of our DIFFERENCES, spiritual, religious, political, ethnic,
geographic, and economic, that we will be able to overcome and change the chaos
that surrounds us.
Our focus will begin: AUG. 7th, 1999
until 14th Aug. 1999.
Please consider the content of this
message and the Website identified above to be EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, and please
ask every person and organization around the world to participate now!
Respectfully
Ta Chanka Luta ( His Road is Red )
The
Images of the Matrix Symbol
are various images of the Six-Pointed
Star formation of planets which is believed by New Agers to have been the Star
of Bethlehem and which will reappear on May 5, 2000 announcing the messiah for
the New Age. Clockwise from the top of the outer hexagon is the Sun, the planet
Saturn, the male symbol (symbolizing Mars), the Moon, Jupiter, and finally the
female symbol (Venus). "The
purpose of the Matrix Project
is to activate the symbol
world wide. This will be conducted over an extended period of time and will
require the assistance of hundreds if not thousands of people. The activation
of the symbol will trigger specific events here on the planet which will bring
our world into a moment of critical focus...
"The Sacred Symbol originates from
the same Source of all spiritual and religious practices worldwide. The Matrix
Project is based upon the Symbol also known by these names: the
Star of David,
the Morning
Star, the
Star of Bethlehem,
Sirius, the Symbol of the Divine,
the Symbol of the Magus, the
Tree of Life,
the Lakota Star, the
Merkaba,
the Flower of Life, the Heart
of Hearts, the Nexus between the Manifest and Unmanifest, the Symbol of Creation,
the 22 fold path (12 Signs of the Zodiac, the 7 Celestial Bodies, and the 3 Sacred
Motions.)
Occult Initiation
Daniel 8: 23-25
states that the Anti-christ will understand dark sentences, meaning the deep things
of Satan. (Rev.2:24), and will promote craft, meaning witchcraft. Freemasonry
is called The Craft by its members. All modern versions, however, change
the word "craft" to "deceit" thereby omitting a specific reference to the occult
activities of the Antichrist. "And
in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full,
a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall
stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power:
and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy
the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause
craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart,
and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of
princes; but he shall be broken without hand." The
giving of the Six-pointed Star in the Luciferic initiation will be a full restoration
of the worship of the Star and the rituals of the Egyptian mystery religions upon
which Freemasonry is based.
"The Masters of Wisdom . . . will restore upon
earth the ancient mysteries and institute again the order of INITIATION." (Bailey:
Esoteric Psychology II, pp. 656-57) "In
'The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom' (p. 84), (Benjamin)
Crème states: 'Through the MASONIC tradition and certain
esoteric groups will come the process of INITIATION. In this coming age millions
of people will take the first and second initiation through these transformed
and purified institutions." (Smith,
p. 66)10.
According to David Spangler, the Initiator
will be none other than Lucifer himself:
"Lucifer works within each of us to bring us
to wholeness, and as we move into a NEW AGE . . . each of us in some way is brought
to that point which I term the LUCIFERIC INITIATION, the particular doorway through
which the individual MUST pass if he is to come fully into the presence of his
light and his wholeness." "Lucifer
prepares man in all ways for the EXPERIENCE OF CHRISTHOOD . . . The light that
reveals to us the presence of the Christ. . . comes from Lucifer. He is the light
giver. HE IS APTLY NAMED THE MORNING STAR because it is his light
that heralds for man the dawn of a great consciousness . . . He stands . . . as
the GREAT INITIATOR, the one who hands the soul over to the Christ." (Burns:
Jay Gary, The Millennium Doctor,
p. 2,3, quoting David Spangler) 11
Jesus Christ
has promised to give the Morning Star to those overcomers who have not known the
depths of Satan (Rev. 2:24, 28).Satan, also worshipped as the sun-god Horus, will
seek to preempt our Lord's offer through the Luciferic initiation.
"In Revelation the Son of
God promises to give the MORNING STAR to him that overcometh. . . The Morning
Star was equally identified with HORUS. . . the Star of Dawn. . . Henceforth
the Morning Star was given to the followers of Horus, therefore we (Masons) use
it." (Churchward,
p. 206) (In
Masonic initiations) "The STAR always floating over the head of an INITIATE
betokens the power of the king, upon which he can draw at any moment, while the
STAR UPON HIS FOREHEAD is the symbol of his own acquired power." (Leadbeater,
p. 313) 12.
Initiates will receive Satan himself, believing
that they are becoming gods. "The
goal of the initiatory process is to admit mankind into realization of and identification
with. . . DEITY." (Bailey:
Rays & Initiation, pp. 79-80) "The
goal of 'cosmic evolution' and the 'destiny' of humanity (is) to realize its inherent
GODHOOD referred to by U.N.'s Robert Muller." (Hunt,
p. 55) 13.
Gen. 3:4-5 And the serpent
said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and YE SHALL BE AS GODS, knowing
good and evil. By understanding
the protocols of occult initiation, we can begin to understand why the Beast will
require that his mark, name or number be tattooed or branded in the forehead or
right hand. "In the mystery religions,
both the forehead and hands were tattooed during the initiation rites. (Reason
for Dagon's hands and head cut off) Concerning
Mithraism: "INITIATION was performed by two dignitaries, who possessed the title
of Father and Herald. After the ceremony (the initiate) would be considered the
brother. . . of the other initiates and the son of the Father. . . In order to
be recognized by the Father, he has to be TATOOED, in other words, BRANDED ON
BOTH HANDS. . . On portraits of emperors, these TATOO MARKS are clearly visible,
but ON THE FOREHEAD, IN PLACE OF THE HANDS." (Vermaseren,
p. 131) 14.
Since gnostics believe the body is evil, Alice
Bailey's reference to the removal of sixes from 666 (footnote #5) may refer be
a literal application of Matthew 5:30.
"If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should
be cast into hell." Archaeologist
Henri-Paul Eydoux writes in "Facts and Enigmas in Archaeology" that Mithraism,
the ancient equvalent of modern Freemasonry, might have replaced Christianity
[except for the vigilance of the early Church Fathers who established the canon
of Scripture and codified fundamental doctrines in the creeds].
"The Mithraic faith originated in the vicinity
of Iran and is closely related to Zoroastrianism. The Roman legions. . .ardently
spread it . . . there was a true affinity between the military spirit and that
of this religion, which preached exertion and demanded great courage and real
physical trials for initiation, which was reserved solely for men. It also advocated
an organized hierarchy and strict discipline. A salutary and perfectly moral religion,
Mithraism spread with extraordinary vigor . . . Renan's famous phrase has often
been quoted," If Christianity had been checked in its growth by a fatal disease,
the world would have become Mithraic." The initiates were grouped into fraternities,
with initiation rites which have been compared with those of the Freemasons."
15.
Ye Shall Be As Gods
Kabbalah, Freemasonry, Hinduism
and astrology (the New Age 'universal' religion) have key elements in common.
1. secret meaning and symbolism that are related 2. elimination of the name and
person of Jesus Christ in their rituals
3. belief that world peace can be accomplished through tolerance and acceptance
of all things, i.e. unity through diversity, except adherence to Biblical truth.
4.mutual affinity to the occult The
Kabbalists believe the "messiah" will be one who has accomplished total spiritual
evolution to perfection: ". . . In Kabbalah, an individual whose all chakras have
fully and permanently awakened would be called the Messiah." 16
Since the totality of the attributes
of God which initiates seek to attain are found in Ten Sephiroth, numbers are
an essential part of initiation rituals. F.
de P. Castells,
stated that the art of counting
and the numbers of Freemasonry have hidden significance, which he traces to the
Hebrew origins of the Kabbalah and it's Gematria permutations and numerology.
Basically he maintained that, "The Architect, the Geometrician, and every Mason,
whether operative or free and speculative,
are absolutely dependent on the Science of Numbers". "Having regard to these facts we are justified,
I think, in expecting that any numbers, quantities and measurements mentioned
in the Ritual must have a hidden significance. And, indeed, I am of opinion that
in the Ritual there is nothing arbitrary, superfluous or meaningless. . . At the
dawn of civilisation there seem to have been tribes counting "by threes" and tribes
counting "by fives." 17. "Arithmetic
is one of the "Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences" on which the Craft has been founded;
it has been a potent factor in the development of the human mind, and may help
us to understand some of the principles which underlie our Masonic Ritual. Going
back to primitive times, we find that
there are two principal methods of counting: (1) By threes, and
(2) by fives. The former leads us to the mysterious nine and to the other
sacred numbers of the ancient mysteries. . . " 18. Castells
concludes that the numbers 3-5-7 are believed to hold mystical powers which are
incorporated in the Masonic rituals: "Similarly.
. . the numbers 3-5-7 are invested with mystic
significance. It should be so if Freemasonry has come down to us from a Hebrew
source." 19
"The reasons for the adoption of the numbers
3-5-7 as elements of our symbolism,
explained: 3 and 5 were adopted because Nature itself suggested them as significant
of mystic power. The number 7 is par excellence the Masonic number; its
meaning is found by observing that it combines 3 and 4, thus 3+4=7. A review of
the ceremonies and of the matter contained in our Masonic Ritual will show our
ancient Brethren did not choose any of their symbolic numbers arbitrarily
or at random."20.
Referring to the rituals and significance
of the addition of numbers 3 & 4,
Castells suggests that their union signifies the concept of God being brought
into relation with humans. He then explains the origins and formulae of the "Mysterious
Nine." "The Greek imagination
pictured Nine Goddesses, the Muses, who were said to be the daughters of Zeus
and Mnemosune, that is, "God and the Memory", each of them presiding over one
of their "Nine Liberal Arts". And in the Ancient Scottish Rite we find a Ninth
Degree, in which the brethren are styled "Elected Knights of Nine".
"Here may I call your attention to a curious
property of "the Mysterious Nine, which is that, whenever we add together the
figures by which we express any of its multiples we always get another nine or
some lesser products resolvable to the same number. For example: 2x9 =18 ; add
1+8 and you get 9; 4x9 =36; add 3+6 =9 . . . " 21.
Since the sacred
number three, "leads us to the mysterious nine and to the other sacred numbers
of the ancient mysteries. . ." it is obvious that Masonic ritual and beliefs are
steeped in kabbalism and pagan lore. The Masonic
'mysterious nine' and other sacred formulae are also found in the
Kabbalah Gematria permutations
like the "Qabalah of the Nine Chambers" which specifically includes the numerals
600, 60, 6.22.
Masonic rituals are recognised as being derived
from doctrine of Luciferic initiation. In the "Arithmetic of Freemasonry,"
F. de P. Castells
presents the Kabbalist's interpretation
of the sacred number nine, the Tetragrammaton and the Ten Sephiroth. Kaballists
believe the Ten Sephiroth are
the attributes of God and that the Tree of Life and corresponding
Hindu chakras are the means of acquiring each of those attributes. "In the case
of the Sephiroth...we must have either the whole formula or none at all..." 23., meaning the
sacred number nine and the Tetragrammaton.
F. de P. Castells also claims that the number zero should be renamed, ". . . it
would be more appropriate to call
it all, seeing that it imports
infinity. . . . it is derived from the Hebrew oser, osarah, which means "ten,"
24. thereby aligning it to the "ten Sephiroth" or attributes of
God. Those adepts
or Baal Shems
who have achieved the level of perfection
are said to be able to receive the 42-letter Name of God. Some suggest the 42-Letters
consist of the Hebrew names of the Ten Sephiroth, with the Vav conjuctive
before the last one. Receiving the Name comes from the occult concept that whoever
holds the name of a "god" has control over it. "Those
that penetrated the Mystery of the 42-Letter Name, would also perceive six Yods
( the initial of the Divine Name sextupled)
in the pure sky, three to the right and three to the left, as well as three Vavs
which were said to be hovering in the heavenly arch, 9 letters altogether, or
3 times 3. . . 9 letters as a reference to the Priestly Benediction, which the
Kabbalists thought of as falling on the adepts who adhered to the 42-Letter Name."
25.
Castells relates the qualifications for recieving
the name, according to the Talmud: ".
. . in the Talmud, after the 12-Letter Name has been mentioned as a secret "communicated
to the most pious of priests," there is a reference to a Name of 42 letters "
which was only communicated to such as are pious, not easily provoked, not given
to drinking, and not self-opinionated. He who knows this Name and preserves it
inviolate is beloved above, cherished below, respected of every creature, and
is heir of both worlds--the world that now is and the world to come. . . Maimonides.
. . [remarked concerning the receipt of the Name] "Moral qualifications and great
preparations are required." He evidently knew the mysterious name and the conditions
under which it was communicated to Initiates."26. The
Masonic reception of the Name of God is found in "The Rite of Perfection" and
other degrees in the category of "Ineffable Degrees".
27 According to the former
Grand Master, "[Robert]
Fludd, a Rosicrucian connected to the Jewish Cabalist, Michel Maier", the "Ineffable
Degrees" are invested with all the mystic awe by which the Tetragrammaton is surrounded
within Jewish theology. Accordingly, Masons who achieve the level of these degrees,
"received the name of God as it was revealed to Enoch and were sworn to pronounce
it but once in their lives." 28. The
Masonic belief that the Ineffable Name is invested with magical powers is also
found in the Jewish Cabala. Ragon, after describing the Jewish ceremony wherein
the word Jehovah was pronounced by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies, goes
on to say the "Schem-hamm--phorash," another term for the Tetragrammaton, forms
the sacred word of a Scottish degree, and that this belief in its mystic properties,
"will be found at the head of the instructions for the third degree of the Knights
of the Black Eagle, called Rose-Croix, "thus:. . . the knights who had the good
fortune to pronounce it cabalistically would have at his disposal the powers that
inhabit the four elements and the celestial spirits, and would possess all the
virtues possible to man." 29.
According to the historian of The Rosicrucian
Enlightenment, Francis Yates, "the Rosicrucians play an important part in
the inauguration of the "Golden Age". "The
New World Order will be called Saturn's Golden Age." "Here
is the general reformation of the world announced in the Rosicrucian manifestos
described as a world reformation. . . It will bring the world back to the state
in which Adam found it, which was also SATURN'S GOLDEN AGE. . . This return to
the golden age of Adam and SATURN, is said to be assisted by 'the high society
of the Rosicrucians." (Yates,
p, 57) 30.
Is the Pope a Freemason?
Rev. Castells
reveals that the Masons believe, like the Kabbalists, Hindus and New Agers, that
they personify God when they attain to all levels of ritual. They also believe
that Satan will rise as god and that all will be cleansed in the "Great Jubilee
Year, including the place of eternal punishment called hell.
". . . at the creation of the Universe were
Wisdom, Strength, Beauty, which we (like the Kabbalists) have personified. One
day the Angel of Wickedness, called Samael, or the "Venomous Beast," will be restored
to his original angelic nature, and then the first part of his name SAM (which
means "venom') will be dropped and only the second part, the name EL, will be
retained. El (as every R.A. Mason knows) is the common name for all divine beings.
That grand consummation will be the "Great Jubilee Year" when the whole pleroma
of souls, cleansed and purified, will return to the bosom of the Infinite Source,
to be reunited with the Highest Soul, supplementing each other in "the Sanctum Sanctorum
of the Seven Halls," which was the Kabbalists way of expressing the idea
of a "G.L.above". At that time, they said, Hell will disappear and there will
be no more punishment, no more temptation, no more sin." 31.
[Castells writes:A Kabbalist
writer, Isaac bin Abraham bin Latif or Allatif. . . in order to explain "the right
way to the Sanctuary," that is the symbolic Sanctum Sanctorum, made use of mathematical
forms which he said illustrated the self-revelation of Deity in the world of Spirits.]
It is noteworthy that many
in "Christian" leadership also deny the existence of hell and heaven as physical
places. Anglican Bible reviser B.F. Westcott wrote in 1886
to the Archbishop of Canterbury, "No doubt the language of the rubric is unguarded,
but it saves us from the error of connecting the presence of Christ's glorified
humanity with place: heaven is a state and not a place." Just
last week, Pope John Paul II announced his views on this very issue, according
to the Detroit Free Press: "A
week after telling Roman Catholics that heaven was not a place up in the clouds,
Pope John Paul II said Wednesday that hell was not a physical place either.
"'More than a physical place, hell is the
state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source
of all life and joy,' the pontiff said. . . "He
described hell instead as 'the pain, frustration and emptiness of life without
God. . . . Eternal damnation is not God's work, but. . . our own doing.'
"But demons do exist, he said, calling
them spirits who have 'already given a definitive 'no' to God.' "The
pontiff end-of-millennium guidelines on hell came a week after he told pilgrims
heaven was not 'a physical place in the clouds but a living and personal relationship
of union with the Holy Trinity,' and that a foretaste could be had on earth."
32.
It is common knowledge among concerned Roman
Catholics that the Vatican has been infiltrated by Freemasonry and there is evidence
that the popes since John XXIII have themselves been Freemasons. A Catholic
publication, The
Pope of the Council, Part
19: John XXIII and Masonry, published
by Sodalitium, states: "The Freemason, Volpicelli, declared:.
. . [T]wo recent pontificates, that of Pope John and Pope Wojtyla [John Paul II],
have equally valued the two communities of the Church and Masonry . . ."
This document discloses the infiltration of the Knights of Malta by the Freemasons:
"John XXIII reversed the decision of his predecessor [Pius XII] and reopened the
path of Masonic infiltration in the Order. Only in the Order -- and also in the
Church?" 33 These
findings are confirmed by such Catholic authors as Dr. James W. Wardner in "The
Popes of the Second Vatican" and by Dr. William R. Kubitschek's series, "Catholics
Have No Pope!", published in Criminal Politics Magazine. That three part
series presented the "historical impact of Freemasonry, papal manipulation and
Vatican II on the present day 'Catholic' Church." In
characteristic Masonic fashion, Pope John Paul II has just denied the doctrine
of God's wrath and approaching judgment against those who reject Him.
Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken,
and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him,
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive
into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
20:10 "And the devil that deceived
them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever." 20:14-15
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire." The
denial of the existence of heaven and hell contradicts many Scriptures and eliminates
the consequences for sin, including worship of the Beast and taking the mark.
Those who take the mark or worship the Beast are warned in Revelation 14:9-11
that they shall receive the wrath of God, and
"will be tormented with fire and brimstone
. . . and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and
they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." In
the preceding verses it should be noted that those who worship the Beast and take
the mark will do because they are deceived. We can assume they
will receive the mark believing it is a "good" and religious thing to do since,
according to Revelation 13:12-14,
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