This week we are going to continue with the subject of prophets and their calling, preparation and training. This is a very important aspect of the function of a prophet and it is a very hard thing to go through. A person does not decide to become a prophet, there are no clubs or schools one can join or attend, no monthly dues. God calls someone Himself and to Himself and the training can vary from person to person, from what situation God may use him in, what the social situations are that he is sending him into and so on. There are no courses or curriculums, but once called, the training can take years. They must be led into the “wilderness” where they will be purged and cleansed, until, after all their human strength is gone, they are made strong as metal and is ready to be used in their Makers service.  They must hold people to the Word of the Lord. They will have little honor in this life and at times, won’t be able to explain why they do what they do. Things in their life will go wrong so that the Lord can break them of their own self-confidence and ability. Humiliation and the crushing of pride will reveal their individual smallness and inability before God. A test is a success only if it fails sometimes so that they learn that they cannot succeed on their own ability alone. Whatever shows them the inner rottenness of their core takes away any confidence in the flesh. Their training undercuts all their hidden and false motivations. Name any area of natural success like  communication, intelligence, marriage, friendships, employment and so on. If the Lord hasn’t already smashed them, He will. When humiliation is complete, He moves on. In other words, life will be the teacher.

      How do we recognize a budding prophet? First of all, the Lord can call someone at any age. Jeremiah and John the Baptist were called before they were born while Abraham and Moses were called later in life. Many times, their lives will have tragic events that would break some people, but the Lord sustains them and teaches them. Sometimes these events can be very humiliating and other people around them will not understand why they happened. The budding prophet will have dreams and visions from the Lord and will share these with people. Some will think it’s their imaginations and brush them aside as a nuisance, but those with spiritual discernment will immediately recognize these as signs of a developing prophet. They must learn how to hear God in dreams and visions, mind-flashes, colors and open and dark speech, circumstances, the still small voice and all the other ways the Lord speaks. They will also be burden-bearers and have a keen sense of justice. Some will be teachers and have distinctive gifts that will enable them to do the work of a prophet. These should also be looked for. They must know the word of God in letter and in spirit. Their training will take years and they must renounce whatever has formed them, cutting the apron strings and any carnal hold on them. They also must learn not only what to say, but how to say it.

      Next week we will continue and talk about the function of a prophet, how do they operate and what they actually do.  After seeing these basic facets, then we will go into the Old and New Testament prophets and look at how they functioned and some of the differences.  Then we will briefly look into how prophets will function in the last days and Biblical prophecy.

Q. There are many today who claim to be prophets. Could you explain what a prophet is and how can you tell the real ones from the false?

A. This is a very important question, especially in the last days when the Scriptures warn us that there will be many false prophets. I’m going to give a detailed answer and describe who and what a biblical prophet is. This will take several weeks but I want you and other readers to have it for yourself so you can keep a copy handy to go over from time to time. This week we will start with the definition and purpose of a prophet. Next we will look at their function and what do they do and how they serve the believer and a congregation. After that we will discuss their calling, preparation, training and the distinguishing marks of one being called into this function. Then we will talk about the Old and New Testament prophets and their similarities and differences, the tests of a true prophet from the false. And lastly, how do the prophets fit today and how they relate to biblical prophecy and the coming of the Messiah. All of these areas will overlap somewhat

The word “prophet” in Hebrew is “navi” and it means a spokesman. The word does not describe who he is but what he does. He is to hear a word from the Lord and to speak exactly what the Lord tells him and to whoever God sends him to. The Word can come in the many different ways God speaks to man and this has been discussed in previous articles. There were Old Testament prophets and there are New Testament prophets. The main function of a prophet is to be an interpreter of the word. Deut 13.1-5 says that what he says and teaches should be in line with the Scriptures or what God has clearly said. Isa 8.20 says that the people should check out what people say according the Law and the Testimony, which is another way of saying the prophets. Yeshua came not to destroy the Law, or misinterpret it, but to fulfill it, which literally means to interpret it correctly. The Bereans in the Book of Acts checked out everything the Apostle Paul taught by the Scriptures and they were considered more noble than the rest. So, the function of a prophet is to interpret the Word of the Lord and then to speak and teach it to whoever God sends them to. Now, there is a difference between and watchman and a shepherd.  When one had a flock of sheep, some served as watchmen and others shepherds. The watchmen usually were perched high above the shepherd fields, alone, and they looked for danger. If they saw danger coming, they warned the shepherds. The shepherds then protected their sheep. The watchmen did not deal with the sheep directly because the sheep did not know their voice. The sheep follow their shepherd. In the spiritual realm it’s the same way. The prophets are often warned by the Lord or advised by Him concerning something and they were often times sent to the kings, leaders or shepherds for the word to be disseminated among the people because the sheep know the shepherds voice and trust him (Amos 3.6-8). Yeshua did this also but many times appealed to the people directly because He said many times that they were “sheep without shepherds.”  So a prophet is called by God, it is not  something you inherited like the function of a priest or a king. It is not something you can desire to be, it is entirely up to the Lord who His prophets are. A prophet in many ways is an “enabler” because he ,too, has fallen.  They are servants of the Lord, first of all, and they are to speak and interpret  the Word that they hear. So, his main purpose is more “forth-telling” than “foretelling” although the Lord may have him give a word concerning future events. They see the vision and listen and speak for God (Exo 7.1). They admonish, reprove, warn, direct and intercede to prevent or soften events. They teach through direct interpretation or parables. The prophet Samuel had a school for the Prophets. They are counselors and are ahead in the vision. They will be hidden ,for the most part, and they may stand a little apart from others. They are like an iceberg where they are seen in part but there is more to them than meets the eye, and they have depth. Next week we will pick up with the function of a prophet.

Q.There are several places in the Bible where the word "forever" is used but the verse is clear that it wasn't forever. Why is that and can you clarify what "forever" means?

A. The word "forever" is the Hebrew "olam" and it seems to mean indefinitely with reference to the nature of the thing being described. If the nature is God, then olam is truly eternal. If the nature of man is being referenced then it means as long as he lives. If the nature of what is being talked about is relationships, then it is as long as the conditions upon which the relationship is based still hold true. When those conditions change, the relationship ends. So, forever has several meanings depending on what is being referenced. For example God's nature is "forever" because that is who He is. God may call someone to do something "forever" but of course when he dies, that is over. Also, like a marriage, the intent is to stay together "forever", meaning a lifetime, unless the conditions in the relationship change (Deut 24.1-4). Another example will be the ages found in the Scriptures like the "olam hazeh" which means "this world" or "this present age." Olam is used but it won't be like this forever. Another age is called the "olam haba" or the "world to come." Again, forever is used but it won't be the world to come forever because it will change after 1000 years. So, olam does not means "philosophic eternity" but it is relative to some base. Olam does not always, in every case, mean "continuously in force" throughout infinite time no matter what happens to the world nor does it mean "irreversible" or something that cannot end if He wants it to, if conditions change (1 Sam 2.30).

Q. In Revelation 13.3 it says that the Beast will suffer a mortal head wound. Does this mean that the Antichrist will be assassinated and come back to life?

A. No, this has symbolic meaning so let me explain. The Book of Revelation is full of symbolic language and the symbols used can be found throughout Scripture. In Revelation 13.1, John sees a beast arising out of the sea. The sea is symbolic of the unconverted “sea” of humanity (Isa 57.20). In Jewish writings of the 1^st century this creature was known as Leviathan and he is also symbolic of the false messiah. Look up Leviathan in the Jewish Encyclopedia or Google it and there will be much information on it. This creature has seven heads. In Revelation 17. 9 these 7 heads are 7 mountains, and mountains in Scripture were symbolic of world kingdoms (Dan 2.25, Matt 16.18, Gen 49.24, Matt 21,44, Isa 2.2)). These kingdoms are Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and then Revived Rome. In Revelation 17.10 it says “five have fallen” by the time Revelation was written and that would be the first five just mentioned, one is and that’s Rome and the other has yet to come, Revived Rome. It says that when it comes it must remain a short while, which is the 7 years of the Tribulation. Now, in Revelation it says “he” but the kingdom is always personified by the king. The king was the kingdom. Now, back to Revelation 13.3. It says that “one” of the seven heads (plural) was slain. That means that Rome “fell” but this wound was healed. That simply means that Rome will be “revived” temporarily for 7 years. In other words, certain nations have arisen and have held dominion over Israel and all of God’s people. The wounded head was Rome and being “healed” is referring to the fact that Rome will be “revived” in the last days and the geographical area that will make up this last kingdom will be the same area that was part of the old Roman Empire. It will be primarily 10 nations, just like the Roman Empire was made up of 10 divisions as it fell apart. The 10 toes of the image in Daniel 2 reflect not only the Roman Empire as it fell apart, but are also symbolic of the 10 divisions of Revived Rome. So, this “beast” is symbolic in Revelation 13. It had seven heads that ruled over Israel, and 10 horns that are the same as the 10 toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s image. The “head” that was slain is Rome, and it being “healed’ refers the fact that 10 nations or areas that were a part of the old Roman Empire will make be aligned together in what is referred to as “revived Rome” with the false messiah as the head. It is not the literal “head” of the false messiah that is slain but one of the 7 “heads” (mountains, kingdoms=Revelation17.9) that once ruled over Israel, and that would be Rome.

This week we will conclude this short series on spiritual warfare with what to do after a victory. Wars have been lost because a victory was not handled correctly, and this can happen in spiritual warfare as well. The “poison fruit” of victory can stunt our progress. Japan won a battle at Pearl Harbor but it also had much to do with why they were defeated in WW II. Israel had some very early victories against Rome in the Jewish revolt of 70 AD but those same victories contributed to their ultimate defeat. When victory is in sight, don’t stop and “smell the roses” or enjoy the spoils before it’s time. You must keep on till the battle is over. Pharaoh Necho stopped too soon at Megiddo because his men started pillaging and this gave the enemy time to escape and it took an extra year to finally defeat them. The Union army at Gettysburg had the perfect opportunity to rout the confederate army after Pickett’s charge, but didn’t and the war dragged on. In defeating the enemy, render him useless or incapable of fighting back. David won a victory and captured many chariot horses (1Chr 18). So, he kept what he needed and hamstrung the horses so that they could not be used against him again. How do we do this? Don’t get involved with the same people again that have caused us much damage, don’t answer their calls and go into business with them and avoid the situations that led to the “battle” with them to begin with. In the spoils, don’t take more than can be handled. Keep only the useful things. When fighting a battle and God gives unexpected victories and rewards, don’t refuse them, but accept them gratefully. Israel got control of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in the 6-day war of 1967, but gave the Temple Mount back to the enemy and that decision has caused and will cause much damage.

When God intervenes, you don’t have to worry about carrying out vengeance. When Assyria attacked Israel in Isa 36 and 37, God intervenes and defeats Sennacarib. Humiliated at the sudden demise of 185,000 men, Sennacarib goes back home and is eventually murdered. Israel didn’t have to do a thing. It’s the same way spiritually. When God delivers us from someone, we don’t have to carry out personal vengeance against them, if it needs to be done the Lord will do it. Remember Sennacarib! Another important thing to remember is “don’t keep fighting the battle.” When it’s over, it’s over. Rehashing the battle leads to bitterness, anger and resentment, but, don’t ever think the battle is over in a victory either, expect it to get “hotter.” Why? Because you just improved your weapons and the enemy will counter. Also, God will allow the enemy to hit you because of pride. In 2 Cor 12.1-10 it says that Paul was given many great revelations but the Lord allowed him to be buffeted by his enemies to keep him from exalting himself. Some think the “thorn in the flesh” was some physical ailment but it wasn’t. Paul had a job to do for the Lord and he needed to be physically able to do it. But, a “thorn in the flesh” is a Hebrew idiom meaning an adversary, to falsely accuse, abuse or slander you. In Judges 2.3 it says because Israel had made covenants with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, they (the inhabitants) were now going to be “thorns in your sides, (or flesh).” In Num 33.55 it says that if Israel doesn’t drive out these inhabitants they will be “pricks in your eyes and thorns in your flesh.” In Ezekiel 2.6 the Lord tells Ezekiel not to fear the people or their words though they be as “thorns and thistles” to you . So, Paul’s thorn in the flesh was the accusations of the people against him who slandered and falsely accused him of things, stirring up crowds against him. This was to prevent pride in Paul, as he says himself (2 Cor 12.7). If we get “hit” and lose, we need to assess the reasons why and adjust, building our walls and defenses stronger than before. After a victory, rebuild your walls and develop your weapons (Isa 61.4, 58.12). We must also stay balanced through study of the Scriptures, receiving wisdom, being refined and prayer. As you can see, there are many aspects of spiritual warfare. We looked at definitions and basic warfare truths. We then looked at the Captain and who He is. Then, we discussed wise preparations and what psychological warfare was. Next we looked at what to do when on the attack and what to do when attacked. And lastly, we have just looked at what to do after a victory. What we have gone over the past few weeks is just an introduction to spiritual warfare. To develop all this out would take over a year but hopefully you have received enough to help you in this all important area of biblical spiritual warfare.

Spiritual warfare study continued......

This week we are going to continue our study of spiritual warfare and briefly discuss what to do when under attack. The enemy will try to penetrate you and there several ways this can be done. We already discussed what our “walls” are and the enemy will try and come over your wall. This is when he thinks he has you defeated and you will be overwhelmed by an attack. Secondly, he will also try and come through your walls by a constant pounding, being harassed and it doesn’t let up. Third, he may try and come under your walls. This is when the enemy tries to undermine you by imperceptible methods, trying to “tunnel” his way into your defenses by “digging” into your life trying to find a weakness he can exploit. If that doesn’t work he will try to get through your gates. Your gates are your senses and he will try to use your perceptions to control you. Last, deception is always a good tactic, a spiritual “Trojan horse” if you will. They will try to be your friend and get close to you. Then, in time, their real agenda will be unleashed and you won’t know what hit you. Accusations, falsehoods, friends turning on you will reveal the sad truth that you have let the enemy inside your walls, too close to you, and unless you get control real fast much damage will be done.

When under attack, the goal of the enemy is to keep from doing a work for the Lord. Just do it and don’t be distracted. Speed up and don’t slow down. An excellent example of this is the Book of Nehemiah. He is building the walls of Jerusalem and was under attack constantly, but he kept on working, even with one hand on a weapon and the other with a tool. This is where we study harder, pray and take action even when under attack. Keep up a steady pace, stay on schedule and keep on standing. Do the things that the enemy is trying to keep you from doing. But, don’t be stiff and formal, use “formulas or act like the next guy. Israel was disobedient in 2 Sam 4.1-22 and thought that if they carried the Ark into battle, God would give them the victory. It was like “magic” and sometimes people have a desire to do the same thing. They wave a bible, or wear crosses or stars of David thinking it protects them. In other words, don’t replace the Scriptures with anything else. When attacked, pray because that is your source of strength and have an attitude that you won’t back down. Do something like knowing your attacker, his strategy, strength and plans. Also what weapons he will use. Know your foundation and why the battle is being fought. Don’t be a “crusader.” Study, learn, pray and move when God tells you. Your devices of protection should not be a hindrance to you, streamline your “armor. During the Crusades, the Crusaders had so much armor on that the heat of the Middle east was bad enough but the Moslems would set fires, raising the temperature even higher and the Crusaders suffered heat exhaustion and heat strokes and literally fell off their horses. Don’t ignore the minor things when battling major attacks (Ladders at the back gate while there are battering rams at the front gate). During a battle, find a place to rest. You can’t fight, fight, fight without any rest. Cool it for awhile. Don’t talk about the battle all the time because it drains you and you can’t hear from the Lord. Spiritual battles don’t need to be centered in reason and don’t be surprised when those closest to you join in the battle against you. On the other hand, the enemy can’t sustain a battle against you forever either. Hang tough and keep going. Use whatever means you can to hold on. Wait and be confident. Also, be flexible and know when to “pull” back. During a battle you must protect your water source, which is the Word of God. If you are well protected, don’t let the enemy “draw” you out from behind your walls. An example of this is where one is really learning the Scriptures and is on fire, Then, they move away because of a job offer or they leave the congregation because they are “led of the Lord” when they really haven’t heard. They will soon be “cut off” from the “good city” from others and from their studies. How do you know when God speaks? First, does it line up with the scriptures. Second, if it is accompanied by a sign that you ask for. Here’s how NOT to put out a fleece. “I want to do…….. and if you want me to do it then give me….”
and name the sign. Here’s how to do it. God speaks to you and you are not sure. You want to confirm it, and it is then that you send out your sign. “If you are speaking to me about this, then……(name the sign). Many fleece their own thoughts. If the Lord is in it, He is not ashamed to confirm it.

The enemy will try to “thin you out” by having too many irons in the fire. He will try and draw you away from your “home base” which is where you are learning and are fed. You are then in his territory. What do you do when you haven’t heard from the Lord? You wait, study, grow and learn. How does God speak? You can hear His voice directly. Messengers, prophets, teachers, donkeys, unbelievers can be used to speak to you. Circumstances or the Scriptures are common also. There is His still, small voice or dreams, visions, mind flashes which are called “open speech.” Then there are puns and parables which are called “dark speech.” God is not limited on how he can speak and we must know that he does and believe that he will speak to us.

Next week we will go over what to do after a victory.

In spiritual warfare there will be times when we need to be on the offensive.

In spiritual warfare there will be times when we need to be on the offensive. Many people think that believers should be passive, turning the other cheek, and we should at times, but there are other times when we are to be aggressive and moving forward and “the gates of hell will not stand” indicates we are on the offensive. The key thing is to know the difference and to hear from the Lord on what to do. So, when and how to attack will be discussed in this article. Pulling down strongholds is a dangerous job and you must always count the cost before you engage. Many believers quote this verse about warfare but few realize what it is, so let’s look at that for a moment. As always, these concepts in warfare can all be applied to our spiritual warfare and how we fight our battles on an everyday basis. To pull down an enemy’s strong hold means we are going to have to get close to his defenses, up close to their “walls” and try to loosen the stones or dig under their walls to destroy their foundation so the wall will come down. This is dangerous and casualties will be high. The people who do this are called “sappers” and there are several things that are needed if you are going to do this. To be a sapper, you must be properly trained for this particular job and have the appropriate tools. Many get into “battles” and don’t know what they are talking about and get hurt. Then, you need a covering from other people and are fighting with you. This involves shields, barriers and protection from the enemy above who are trying to keep you away from their walls. They are going to throw everything they can at you. Secondly, you are going to have to know what you are doing and do it fast. Third, you are going to have to “look up” constantly and be aware of what’s coming at you. Lastly, you must know your limits and capabilities and also to know when to retreat (back-off). This type of battle is when you have to get close and personal with an opponent. You are going to have to attack his foundation and defenses and try to get him to “come out” from behind his walls. This can get very uncomfortable for both and there can be some rough moments. They will throw everything against you, and you will get hurt, no question about it, so this type of attack should be entered into with caution. When David wanted to kill Uriah the Hittite he gave orders for Joab to place him close to the walls of the city. Joab did, and Uriah got killed. Now, if it’s dangerous to attack the outer defenses, it will be even more dangerous to attack the “citadel.” This is where the enemy inside the wall falls back to for a last line of defense. The superior forces are usually concentrated there. This means we may get through someone’s outer defenses but they will fall back to old habits, arguments, logic that has worked for them for years and you will have to deal with their best reasoning.

What if you are in the open field and not close to the walls of your enemy. Well, we must attack the lesser enemy first before you take on the stronger (Joab and Abshai did this against the Ammonites and Syrians). We must take the cautious road, not the fastest and we must cutoff the outside “reinforcements” and then go for the main target. Pharoah Shishak cut off Sukkot, a major defense in Israel, before he attacked Jerusalem. Even when attacking we must always have a defensive position in case of a counter-attack. Julius Caesar attacked a city called Alesia in Gaul and set a siege mound around the city. He then built a second wall outside of that in case he was attacked from the outside, and he was. As a result, he defeated an enemy that was positioned defensively and offensively against him at the same time. In our spiritual warfare we should be fighting to defend the Lord and His Word, not fighting for God to defend you. David fought Goliath for the sake of God’s honor. We tend to get into our own battles then ask God to bail us out. When choosing when to engage, ask yourself is this for the honor of God or are you just defending yourself against personal attacks. If it’s the latter, just let it go in most cases. When your strategy is gaining minimum results with maximum effort, a change in strategy is needed. In a battle, you could lose or have major problems by being distracted or giving up too soon. We must be consistent in our walk. If the enemy has the high ground, don’t attack him. To move the enemy off the high ground you must give him something he knows he can take. Joshua did this at AI by drawing the enemy outside of the city, then a second group attacked the weakened defenses inside the city.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when attacking. Next week, we will deal with what to do when under attack.

This week we are continuing our study on spiritual warfare

This week we are continuing our study on spiritual warfare with a look into psychological warfare and how it applies. The essence of psychological warfare is to confuse the meaning of words and infiltrate the mind with conflicting concepts. This week, we will talk about some of the distinguishing marks of a psychological battle, things you can use and things that will be used against you. Before any battle begins the enemy will begin working on you, so there are things you can do also. Of course, we are not talking about literal battles but everyday confrontations and issues that come up where people are trying to control you, influence you and change you into something that is not what God has for you. We must, at times, speak loudly when you aren’t carrying a big stick. We sometimes must show our strength even more than it really is. A biblical example of this is Gideon and his 300 when he made the enemy think there were more soldiers than there were. Israel actually did this in the 1973 Yom Kippur war when they sent 300 radio operators into the field to make it sound like there were many more troops than there really were. We must be strong and show the enemy we are strong even when we aren’t. You must realize when you are under a psychological attack and one of the advantages of using a psychological attack is time is on your side and you can make the enemy work all the time., but this can and will be used against you as well. But, we should not carry “arks” into battle to assure victory. These can be things like good luck charms, crosses, statues, a Star of David, emblems, magic formulas and talismans, Bibles or whatever you think will assure victory. Israel went to battle at Aphek carrying the Ark and it didn’t save them because they were in rebellion against God to begin with (1 Sam 4) and the Philistines captured it. We must stay psychologically strong in God, not things. King Hezekiah listened to Isaiah and not to the Assyrian representatives of Sennacarib in Isaiah chapters 36 and 37. They were trying to get into the heads of the people. In the Civil war, there was a battle called Chickamauga and a confederate soldier said one of the reasons they lost the battle was “you Yanks got into out innards.”

We must be prepared to go out on a limb and get hurt in psychological warfare. Psychological warfare will always try to keep you at odds from within (groups fighting one another or to keep you busy, running, not resting) to weaken you. Rome did this against the Jews behind the walls of Jerusalem during the 1^st Jewish revolt. They will watch to see if you are disintegrating from within and then they will try to keep you in confusion. Spiritual battles don’t have to be centered in logic and the enemy you may have at times will be illogical in what they do and say. The Arabs, Palestinians, Iranians and certain political groups today are a perfect example of this. There are two key elements in successful battles. First, God told them to go and secondly He told them what to do. Doubt can be a killer in a psychological battle so don’t let the enemy discourage you or those around you. Don’t “hate” your enemy, you don’t need it to defeat them. Don’t talk to the enemy either, trying to strike back against their accusations. The Assyrians told King Hezekiah that they would be “drinking their own urine” if they didn’t surrender and Hezekiah didn’t say a word about the water tunnel he had dug bringing water into the city. The tunnel still exists today but how many Assyrians do you know? In battles like this, come before the Lord in humility because He directs the battle, not the believer. There is no such thing as “name it and claim it” because it is the Lord who does it, not us. Your enemy will accentuate the problems you may have and will try to speak to others around you to get them to influence you, especially if they think they don’t know what to do either. These mind games can include false promises, but that always ends in slavery and you will be worse off than before.

Hopefully, this brief look into psychological warfare will help you recognize it, using it to your advantage and not letting others exploit you. In the next phase of spiritual warfare we will talk about attacking and what to do and mistakes to avoid.

This week we are going to continue with wise preparations in regards to spiritual warfare

This week we are going to continue with wise preparations in regards to spiritual warfare. There are some things we can do to prepare for the battles we will have to engage in and these are some of the things you can do. Fasting, seeking direction, prayer, worship are some preparations you can do but warfare requires physical action as well. For example, when unexplained sickness hits, seek the most qualified Doctor and follow his directions. When the IRS calls, get the best accountant. If you have a house and a car, get good insurance. To obtain these things is not a lack of faith, they are shields for our protection. Many godly soldiers in the Bible had faith in God but they also had a shield so don’t let people tell you that to have insurance is a lack of faith on your part. We have to learn who or what our enemy is. Pray and plan your method of defense or counter-attack. Purify yourself spiritually before the Lord and build up your supplies, fortify your defenses and guard your gates. Do all you can do to win a battle. After you have done all you can do, then look to the Lord to be your deliverer.

 Now, you build your walls with what you understand and know about the Lord and His Word. That is your armor (protection) as described in Ephesians 6. The shield of faith is confidence in Him, it deflects untruth. The more you know about the Lord the more confident you will be. When you know what you believe you can stand. My walls cannot be your walls, you must build your own emunah (faith), da’at (knowledge), binah (understanding), chachmah (wisdom). Isaiah 33.6 says that “wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability (walls) of your times and the strength of salvation, the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” Others can help you but you must fight your own battles. What kind of “fort/city” do you want? I want a broad wall, with crenels, bastions, a glacis, moat, towers with top-notch weapons and strong gates! But, I can’t build these overnight by attending a few meetings, listening to tapes and reading a book. You must immerse yourself into the Lord and His word and learn, but gaining wisdom at the same time, with much thought in the process. I know many who learn but have no “chachmah” (wisdom) and they fall for any rumor and false teaching that comes down the road because they lack wisdom and discernment. So, we must prepare our walls but call on God also (2 Chr 14.5-11, Prov 16.1). But there is a trap to all this. If you look for only the “tavnit” or pattern you won’t get a good foundation that will allow you to build your walls. Read all the scriptures all the way through over and over again. Then you will know what’s right and wrong when a book or a message comes along. Let the Scriptures mold your mind, not the book or the message. You will find that when you center yourself in the Scriptures many of the programs, books, messages you wanted to read or hear won’t matter anymore.

When should your defenses go up? Following great victories or revelations. And another thing, don’t waste your time on stupid arguments with people who don’t know what they are talking about. They say they are “serving the Lord” when they are only serving themselves. In the next phase of spiritual warfare we are going to talk about psychological warfare. The essence of psychological warfare is to confuse the meaning of words and infiltrate the mind with conflicting concepts. So, before a battle even begins the enemy will be working on you so don’t miss this very important subject of psychological warfare and how it relates to our spiritual battles.

This week we are going to continue.....

This week we are going to continue with the subject of spiritual warfare and be dealing with the subject of wise preparations. Battles are won or lost before any fighting begins. The Lord is not going to entrust His truth to the weak and timid. There are several spiritual preparations we need to make. First, we must pray and study the Word of God. These two need to be balanced. In Gen 49.8-12 we have the blessing given to Judah by his father Jacob. In Judah’s blessing all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are present except the letter “zayin.” This letter means “weapon” and this tells us that spiritual wars are fought with the Word of God, not carnal weapons (2 Cor. 10.4). Another thing we can do is fast. In Ezra 8.21-32, Ezra fasted until God showed him what to do. Giving to others is a crucial preparation. There is also the area of praise and worship. Jacob made sacrifices before entering Egypt, the priests carried the Ark and praised God before Jericho and other battles. We must also separate from the world. The war is coming and you must learn the Scriptures. You won’t have time for hayrides and socials because you must be getting ready for a battle. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, but remember this must be balanced also. Remember, you are either going into a battle, going through a battle or coming out of a battle. Preparations can only be made before it comes. Once it starts and you are coming out of one, it’s too late. There are some defensive things you can do. Don’t fight alone, make sure you have people around you. There’s a joke that says that we should have at least 6 friends because then your family doesn’t have to hire pall bearers at your funeral. Anyway, we should always have back-up protection. And speaking of protection, we must know our protection and it must not “weigh us down.” The crusaders wore so much armor that in one battle The Moslems started the brush on fire, raising the temperature. This caused the Crusaders to get hotter and this cause heat sickness and heat stroke. Eventually they just fell off their horses and were killed. Not having the right armor can limit your mobility, defense and firepower. You must know the potential of you adversary, so there must be time to assess. Until you get good equipment (weapons, intelligence, etc) you can’t fight the battle with confidence. And once you have superior weapons, you must know how to use them. Don’t get caught in a place where you can’t maneuver spiritually. Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973 did not make the right preparations and got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. This nearly cost them the war. So, don’t get caught in a “Yom Kippur” war. 

  When you are at peace, keep your fortifications strong. King Solomon built a huge chariot force with towns during a time of peace. It was that strength that contributed to the peace. Today, politicians want to cut the defense budget and not develop weapons and this is a serious mistake that this country will pay for. Nearsighted, ignorant people contribute greatly to war by putting their country in harm’s way by weakening the country’s defense. The same applies spiritually. We must prepare our fortifications before they are needed like King Hezekiah did. We must also know what we are talking about. The more you “build” the less you will “contend” because you won’t have time nor be interested in having battles. When building a good stronghold you will need good footing (your walk) and foundation (the Word). To move from the “stone age” to the “iron age” it’s going to take maturity and training. You must have “basic” training and this is found in Heb 6.1-2. Next week we will continue discussing what kind of preparations we can make before a battle even begins.

This week we will continue with spiritual warfare

This week we will continue with spiritual warfare and look into the most important aspect of the whole thing, and that is The Commander. We must have a balanced, biblical view of the Lord in our warfare in order to be victorious. We should never get into a battle or a confrontation unless the Lord leads. Until then, we wait and seek Him and most of all prepare (learn). This area of preparation (learning) is very neglected. Most of the people I know, especially spiritually, do not do this. I’ve known some people over 10 years and they haven’t learned anything, they still see things the same way and don’t really prepare. As a result, they get into the same battles over and over again with no resolution or victory. If God called you into a battle, then put the burden on Him, but God must direct you. He will show you how to attack, whether it’s the direct method (they can see you coming) or not. The avenue of attack is very important along with the timing and method of warfare. When you have done all that you can, then “stand firm” and don’t break ranks. We must never attack unless we have a clear word from the Lord. David waited until the mulberry tree moved. Why? The sound of the wind in the trees covered the sound of his troops moving. When there are problems, take them to the Lord, but don’t tell God what to do because He is your Commander, not the other way around. Also, we should not talk to Satan while praying, that is talking to the enemy. Talk strategy and tactics with the Lord. Hezekiah did not talk to the enemy in Isa 36.21 but went to the Lord. The only way for a lasting victory is intervention by God, your strength alone won’t do it. If God is in control, then we must ask “why am I being attacked?” It could be to challenge us, to teach us warfare (Judges 3.1-3). Also, ask “why are the attacks so hard?”. This will always be to strengthen us for the future. People who undergo tremendous battles are usually being prepared for something bigger. Another question to ask is “why do we feel defeated?” But remember, no matter the losses along the way, the Lord is always the winner.

When given a directive from God, complete the job. Don’t get to a stopping place and just quit, as so many tend to do. Your enemy will be diligent in his objectives, so should we. An Amalekite killed King Saul after he failed to wipe them out as instructed. And later, as chronicled in the Book of Esther, a descendant of the Amalekite King Agag nearly carried out a plan to exterminate the Jewish people. So, we must finish the job. There are stories in history where the victorious army stopped to loot the victims, allowing the enemy to get away. As a result, they had to continue fighting longer because the enemy had time to recover. Another thing to keep in mind, rank does not necessarily mean talent. The Lord and the disciples were not a part of the high class society of Israel, and yet look at the talent and gifting of God they had. On the other hand, just because someone has a high “rank” doesn’t mean he has talent. There’s nothing worse than inferior talent in places of leadership. And remember, God will not hit you at a level you are not prepared for unless you have not proceeded to the level you should be. If you are a “child” who is at a first grade level but you should be at a fourth grade level He will allow you to be “hit” with fourth grade “material” because you failed to learn the things you should have. Next week we will continue with the next part of spiritual warfare which will be how to make wise preparations. This will be a very important aspect of warfare because preparing wisely can be a deterrent to someone who wants to start something with you. He must stop and count the cost, and if it’s too high, then he won’t fight and there will be peace. False teachers will not be a snare to you. So, don’t miss next week and how to make wise preparations.

This week we continue Spiritual Warfare

This week we are continuing with the subject of Spiritual Warfare and we are going to look at a collection warfare truths. * We must deal with and come to grips with the fact that we going to be attacked, so there are things we can do beforehand. War is the attempt of one side to impose its will on the other side. So these thoughts will help you when thinking about spiritual warfare and what you need to do. They are written to encourage you and help you prepare for the battles that will come into your life. There is no way to completely develop every one of these concepts, but you can study these out for yourself and ask the Lord to give you the insight needed.

· Strategy is the art of war and tactics is how you wage a battle. The strategy of the enemy spiritually is to take the true meaning of the Scriptures away so that you don’t know God. The tactic is to get the Jews to look at what was done to them in the past and not see the hand of God in it, nor to see the Messiah in the Torah. To the Gentiles, it is to confuse who the Messiah is and not study the Old Testament at all. The third goal is to keep both groups apart.

· Just because we may lose a battle doesn’t mean we lost the war.

· To be forewarned is to be forearmed-the enemy will attack with no exceptions.

· Spiritual Warfare is a process of difficulty. The first enemies are simple as is the weaponry. Succeeding battles will get more difficult and the weapons more sophisticated.

· Never interrupt your opponent when they are making a mistake.

· “Battering ram” theory: as weapons against you develop, so should your defenses.

· Roman attacks: require intervention from God. The “Roman” attacker comes at you with the attitude that you will be defeated, no matter what the cost. They like to intimidate and divide you, keep you off balance and infiltrate your life in as many ways as they can.

· Hittite attacks: they are people who like to “undermine” you, they try and “dig tunnels” under your walls. The best way to defeat a Hittite attacker is to cave in his walls by confrontation and exposing them for what they are trying to do.

· Philistine attacks: they try to draw you in close. They like confrontation because they think they have better weapons than you.

· Assyrian attacks: already discussed in the previous article.

· Vanity is one’s greatest weakness, so try to avoid it (2 Sam chapters 16 and 17- the story of Achitophel, Absalom, David and Hushai).

· Spiritual and physical battles often go hand in hand so be prepared, casualties will occur. Jer. 12.5 says “If you have run with the infantry and they have worn you out, how can you contend (keep up with) the cavalry.”

· As always, the best defense is a strong offense.

· No matter how strong your defenses are today, if you stay as you are (static) an adversary will come along who can knock down your fortress.

· Don’t get stuck in the stone age (with stone age weapons) and fight a nuclear age enemy.

· Don’t rely on past victories and tactics to win future battles. The enemy will have learned and developed superior tactics.

· Know your enemy and his weaponry and tactics. You must assess and evaluate all incoming data.

· Never underestimate your enemy (Casemate walls at Masada).

· The success of a battle is determined by the abilities of the enemy.

· The attitude of the commander and the spirit of the troops will change the outcome of a battle.

· Rank does not necessarily indicate talent. Inferior talent as a leader will result in severe losses.

· Managers do things right, but a leader does the right thing. There is a difference.

These are just a few warfare truths to keep in mind. In the next article we will talk about the Commander and how we should relate to Him before, during and after a battle.

Spiritual Warfare Continued.....

This week we are going to continue with the subject of Spiritual Warfare and this will continue over the next few weeks. I am going to discuss what it is rather than what it isn’t because once you see the concepts you will be able to distinguish the false for yourself. This week, we are going to start with some definitions and basic concepts and build upon them. Jer. 9.23-24 says that our goal as a believer is to know the Lord. Our goal is not to fight battles, but we are in a war and that will never stop. The Lord is a warrior (Ex 15.3) and our battle begins by making the decision to be a warrior as well and entering into warfare. In the book of Haggai, the Jewish people were so concerned about their own lives and houses that they forgot about rebuilding the Temple. In v 7 the Lord asks them to “consider your ways.” In like manner, we are to consider our ways. Are we wasting our time in life or are we building the house of God (Ezek 13.1-5)? We are to “repair the walls” like Nehemiah did and every truth we learn is like another brick in the wall. Song of Solomon 8.9 states “ if she is a wall” which means strong, then they can build, but if she is a “door” it means she is weak. Some may say, “I don’t see the application or understand all this.” But, this is not something you just sit down and understand quickly or all at once. It takes time to learn spiritual warfare, and it takes just as much time to do it wrong so we might as well get it right, don’t you think? If I told you you could double your knowledge of the Lord, how far would you go to attain it? Ecclesiastes 9.14-16 says you will deliver your city by wisdom, and a believer is seen as a city (Jer. 1.18). Matt. 13.45-46 says that a merchant went to great lengths to attain a certain pearl, and a pearl is likened to wisdom in the Scriptures (Job 28.18). To interpret Ezekiel 16.1-63, the Song of Songs, Daniel chapters 11-12 you need to know history and eschatology (Isa 41.22). So, to begin with, there is a concept called “moreshet karav” which means “heritage of war” (Judges 3.1-2, Isa 2.4, 2sam 22.35, Isa 58.14). It teaches Israeli history and is taught to Israeli children today. It recounts all the battles Israel has fought and how the enemy was defeated. They take the children to actual battlefields and they show them where Goliath fell, where Joshua made the sun stand still, where the Maccabees defeated the Greeks. They experience the feelings, the terrain and the history and that is called the moreshet karav, the heritage of war, and that is our heritage as a believer also.

So, with that said, let’s start with some basic definitions that you will need to know. I’m going to just list them with a brief explanation next to it so we can have a the same understanding of the things that will follow later in the teaching.

*War=is the attempt of one side to impose its will on another side.

*Strategy=is how you win the war.

*tactic=is how you win battles.

*Roman attack= attacker keeps coming with the attitude you will be destroyed through intimidation, psychological warfare, division, keeping us off balance and infiltration. This requires intervention from God.

*Hittite attack=like to undermine us, non-confrontational, “dig tunnels” to get inside our walls.

*Philistine attack=try to draw us into a confrontation, close combat. They like it.

*Assyrian attack=overwhelm us, costly, nasty, dirty, able to wage war on numerous fronts, high in casualties, can’t win, domino effect problems, organized, even our friends are under attack, cut off, spiritual walk can deteriorate, won’t win on our own strength, we are outnumbered, outmaneuvered and outgunned but don’t panic and run because you will get “killed” anyway so you might as well fight and not make it easy on the enemy and buying time knowing that the only thing that can save us is God’s intervention.

*Laws of warfare =read Deut 20.1-20, Num 4.3 ( the word for service in v 3 is the word for warfare in Hebrew), Eph 6/10-17.

*Gospel=is “basar” in Hebrew and it means good news from the battlefield (1Sam 31.9, 2Kings 7.9).

*Casualties =our minds, hearts, lives and souls..

*Fort/city=is an individual, family, congregation or nation (Eccl 9.14-16, Jer. 1.18, Mt 13.45-46).

*Mobility=how far and how fast can we move our infantry, cavalry and chariots and translates into how we move, our walk with God, how we study. Do we read a few chapters a day=may be too slow, 100 chapters a day=may be too fast.

*Firepower=weapons with a purpose to hit the enemy at various ranges through prayer, scripture, books, media and speech.

*Wall foundation=the Scriptures

*Walls=that which separates and keeps the enemy away, our protection (Isa 30.13-14).

*Security=is provided by our walls and personal defenses against enemy effectiveness by obtaining and utilizing knowledge, wisdom and understanding (Isa 33.6).

*Shield=is faith/confidence and there are 2 types of shields. A “magen” is a small shield and a “zinah” is a larger, full body shield. Too little confidence or too much confidence can hurt us. We needs the right shield (confidence) for the right battle. It also deflects the missiles/arrows (untruths) of the enemy.

*Towers= the units of study we master. Towers keep the enemy away from our walls. There are 2 types. A square tower represents basic truth and a round tower is symbolic of knowing something well and takes more time and expertise to build.

*Balconies= the application of what you know in defense.

*Glacis/moat=is our attitude, a “stiff-arm” if you will. It keeps the enemy from our walls, it is what you put out front to discourage people from attacking our walls because enemy will try and break down your walls (wear you down from every direction) in order to defeat you.

*Water source= water is symbolic of teaching (Hebrew= “mayim chaim” or living water). Wells are dug which means digging for wisdom, life, truth. Water is below the ground and buried, hidden and it can only be brought forth with hard work. A water source (teaching) is essential to a city. It must be protected in a siege/battle.

*Gates=the weak point in a wall (our life and our defenses). They need attention and relate to our senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste/say and touch).

*Sword=a sharp mind in the Word, sharp words (Ps 59.7). There several types. A double edged sword is used to pierce deep and long with one blow.

*Arrows, stones=words (Psa. 120.3-4).

*Helmet=covers our head against psychological warfare, guards the mind.

*Bows/slings=that which fires the arrows, information.

*Quiver=stores the information, like memory.

*Composite bow=blends many areas of study together.

*Spear/javelin=medium range weapon, anything that keeps the enemy at a distance, not too close.

*Axe=anything that pierces or cuts or hacks, like a “cutting remark.”

*Mace=inflicts a heavy blow, can beat you down (like a death, divorce, job loss, etc).

*Battering ram=repeated, frontal pounding “right in the gut” and has to be stopped.

*Conservatism=not changing with new tactics or weapons can lead to destruction (apathy, decadence, etc). The Philistines did not continue to develop the bow, and Egypt did, resulting in a Philistine defeat.

*Firebrands, coals=thoughts, words (Psa. 120.4) trouble or troublesome people (Isa 7.4).

*Auxiliary forces=those close to us who turn against us and fight with the enemy (family, friends, etc).

*Siege=long, drawn out trial or battle (Julius Caesar at Alessia).

*Posterns=schemes, undermining, “tunnels” coming against us from another while you are on the attack from the outside (they come out of the city against you).

*Allies=those close to us who fight with us (family, friends, or other believers, etc).

*Surprise=to move your force, to engage the enemy at a time and under conditions he does not expect or has prepared for. He cannot react with his own weapons and forces effectively.

Along with these definitions, there several other concepts to include here. There 3 types of battles. A duel is one on one, a small group battle is one group against another and armies are one large movement against another (elections, etc). The basis for strategy and tactics involves surprise, maintenance of aim, economy, concentration of force, coordination of arms and security.

In other words, spiritual warfare means engaging in battle (getting involved). Even if you don’t want to do it, it is a necessity for a believer to prepare for battles because they are coming. Many wait until they are under attack to begin learning something about it, but by then it may be too late. In the next segment, we will discuss warfare truths and give some overall, practical advice which will help in future battles. After that we will discuss God as the Commander, what He will do and not do. The next thing we will talk about will be what preparations can we make for future battles. Then we will look at psychological warfare and how to recognize it and what to do about it. Then we will look at what to do when attacking followed by what to do when under attack. Lastly, we will look at what to do after a victory.

Q. I have heard talk about spiritual warfare and that we should anoint our door posts and windows with oil and pray a prayer to keep the enemy out.

Q. I have heard talk about spiritual warfare and that we should anoint our door posts and windows with oil and pray a prayer to keep the enemy out. What are your thoughts on this?

A There is no Scripture that tells us to do this, but there is no Scripture prohibiting it either. The practice of using anointing oil is ancient and God commanded the Israelites to make a special kind of oil and to us it for various reasons.. The Tabernacle, the furniture, the priests, and kings were anointed with oil, but those were one -time events. The anointing was done to set something apart for a holy purpose, not to keep evil away from or out of something. The New Testament doesn’t say much about using anointing oil. In Mark 6.13 and James 5.14 the Greek word “aleipho” is used and it means “to rub, smear and to cover.” In James 5.14 it means that the rubbing oil was the medicinal means applied prior to prayer. Aleipho is the common word used for the first century practice of rubbing oil on the body or hair for any reason, including medicinal. The word “chrio” is used when it is for a “sacred” reason (Luke 4.18, Acts 4.27, Acts 10>38, 2 Cor 1.21, Hebrews 1.9). But, the word “chrio” is never used in connection with healing and anointing oil, or anointing an object like a door or a window to keep evil away from or out of something. So, anointing a house is one of those areas that a person must be led of God about. There is no special oil to use or words to say, no particular way to do it, but this question brings up the subject of what spiritual warfare really is. Warfare is when one entity tries to impose their will on another, and warfare is made up of three elements. They are firepower, security and mobility. In spiritual warfare it is the same. Our firepower is our weapons with a purpose, to hit the enemy at various ranges through prayer, the Scriptures, books media and speech. In the area of security, any offensive action must include the ability to maintain a viable defensive position . A warrior in the physical must believe in the training they have received, their leadership and support. They know they can use and trust in their weapons, they know the terrain and have knowledge of the enemy. All these can be applied spiritually also. It is knowing that we are safe and secure in His promises, that we are truly saved and sons/daughters of God and we are doing what the Lord has commanded us to do through His Word. Mobility involves speed, quickness and the ability to move from one battle to another, to be a mobile firing platform . Spiritually, it involves our walk with the Lord and being able to move from one subject to another with speed, quickness, truth and accuracy. In spiritual warfare, you must be able to move from prophecy, in-depth knowledge of the Temple (Ezek 43.10-11), history, geography, having a working knowledge of the biblical languages, spiritual warfare, the festivals, Hebrew idioms and phrases and many, many other biblical subjects with a seconds notice, and oftentimes within the same conversation. We must be a mobile “firing” platform, able to hit the desired target with pinpoint accuracy and because a moving target is hard to hit as well. And we must be obedient to our Commander in the field, as He is called “Adonai Za’va’ot” in the Scriptures which means “Lord of the Armies”. We have confidence (faith) in Him, His abilities and command of the battlefield. We know He has the ability and “expertise” to wage war, and win. When we obey Him, then He will be our shield and protector (Psalm 91). In addition, to be an effective warrior you have to be trained. When I was in the Marines, we became familiar with live rounds, weapons, close combat, cannons and bombs going off, jet planes overhead and battlefield situations. This was done to familiarize you with what battle is like and to get you to the point where you no longer pay any attention to all that “noise.” Spiritually, you have to develop your skills and know your weapons to be appropriately prepared for battle in these current times. What won a battle yesterday may not win the next one. And remember, the enemy’s attacks and weapons against you will become more sophisticated as well. The Lord will do the same thing. He will teach you spiritual warfare and use “live rounds” to do it. In Judges 3.1-3 it says ; “Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; so that generation of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, those who did not know war before.”” You see, God will teach you about spiritual warfare by putting you into spiritual warfare. All the oil in the world is not going to keep the enemy from attacking you if the Lord’s wants to train/condition you. In a battle, communication is one of the most important elements. So, find out why something is happening and what to do about it. You must be able to communicate with the Commander and that is called prayer. The Lord doesn’t fight battles the same way every time. Strategy is how to win a war, tactics is how to win battles and situations change so you must be able to use your firepower correctly, maintain a defensive position and be mobile in case of counterattack. But, even with all this, attitude also plays an important role in warfare. We must build our walls, fortify our gates and use our weapons according to the pattern the Lord has shown us in the Scriptures. Then, when an enemy is outside our walls he must stop and count the cost it will take to defeat you. He doesn’t want to start something he can’t finish. Battles can be won or lost before any fighting has even been done. In the Israeli tank corps, they have a motto that says “the real steel is in the tank” so attitude is very important. The Lord’s warrior must be trained, prepared and have put in the work necessary to become ready, but the battle belongs to the Lord and He will ultimately do what is right in His own eyes. If the Lord tells us to put oil on the door, then do it. But, we must make sure that this, or anything He may tell us to do, is expedient and doesn’t turn into a ritual because that (the ritual) may develop into something greater than obedience and the power of prayer and faith in the name of the Lord. The subject of spiritual warfare is a very important, but neglected, subject so over the next few weeks we will look into this in more detail. We will look into definitions, how to make wise preparations, psychological warfare, who the Commander is, what to do when attacking, what to do when under attack, what to do after a victory and overall warfare truths. It would take nearly a year to go over this subject in detail in person, so what will be written over the next few months will be the “nuts and bolts” of spiritual warfare but very important and necessary to help clarify what biblical, spiritual warfare really is. Remember, you are either going into a battle, in a battle or coming out of a battle and this will be the case for the rest of your life so hopefully these truths will be of great benefit to you. 

Mystery Babylon cont..Part 2

This week I want to conclude on the theme of idolatry, pagan practices and just how does that apply to a believer today. Much has been said about practices that are seemingly “pagan” but in reality do not hold up to a closer look. We cannot make conclusions based on similarity alone. If we did, then the Lord Himself would be pagan. For instance, the woman in Rev 17 has a cup in her hand, so does the Lord in Psalm 75. Pagan gods were pictured with wings, so does the Lord in Psalm 91. Pagans built high towers, the Lord is described as a high tower. Pagan gods were described as stars, so is the Lord in Rev 22. Pagans worshipped the sun and yet the Lord is called the “Sun of righteousness in Mal 4. Pagan deities sat on thrones and had crowns, so does the Lord and the list goes on and on. Being able to quote a pagan similarity does not necessarily give evidence that something is a forbidden practice. Some practices are so general that no conclusion can be drawn at all, like the use of bricks, plaster and water. Pagan deities ride chariots, but that doesn’t make chariots pagan. If general practices are pagan, then eating Italian food would be forbidden because the Romans were pagan. Some practices today are so limited in scope that they could hardly be considered a common custom. For instance, if someone came to America and said there are people there who don’t wear make-up, it would be wrong to go back to their respective country and say “all Christians don’t wear make-up.” Most arguments about pagan practices are centered around similarities but without no real connection to paganism. This is called “superstition” and that is, in many cases, all there is to many objections to some practices of believers. Pagans lit candles, does that mean if we light a candle in a religious ceremony it is pagan? I don’t think so. The number 13 is considered an unlucky number, but where did that come from? Many times we mix fact and fable and come out with superstition. I’ll give another example that may seem silly, but it shows the absurdity of some the comparisons. Babylon had gates and Nebuchadnezzar’s image was made of gold, and many people worshipped the image and many went through the gates to worship in pagan temples. So, based on similarity alone, the Golden Gate Bridge would be pagan and should be avoided. Sweeping statements about denominations is wrong and to throw out all they teach is also wrong just because one thinks they have “pagan” practices. Again, is there a real connection to what they do to a pagan deity, or are there just similarities in practice and no connection to a pagan deity. The Lord is always against the worship of pagan deities no matter where or how it’s done. The Jewish people went to the Temple itself and worshipped other gods, but that didn’t invalidate the Temple. It would be better to find areas of agreement and to build on common ground rather than isolate and condemn. The Lord is a God of compassion and mercy, of understanding and wisdom, not condemnation over some supposed pagan practice that has no connection to the worship of another god. Paul even quotes pagan philosophers in Acts 17.28 to find common ground with the Athenians. Accusing people of pagan practices is not the best way to counter errors in anyone. The best way is to study the Bible itself and let the Lord teach through His Word, energized by the Holy Spirit. If there is a similarity between a pagan practice and something done by a believer, where does that leave the believer? There are several things to consider. Maybe the believer did the practice first, and the pagan adapted it. Where is the intent of the heart? Does the practice glorify the Lord? Does reciting our prayers just tests of our memories, like the Lord’s Prayer, or are they spontaneous expressions of the heart? Any Biblical practice can be mundane, mechanical and rote and this needs to be guarded against also. The Lord had more to say about a cold, hard heart than He did about supposed pagan practices. It would acceptable to point out error, of course, but if ones logic includes the statement that it came out of paganism, this could invalidate their contention. Discussing pagan origins does keep us in mind about such things, but if this anti-pagan attitude is carried too far, then it will stifle real growth and cause some real hurt feelings unnecessarily, which in turn can lead to fruitlessness and anger. The Lord had to admonish the Apostles once for trying to stop someone who was ministering in His name because they weren’t of their particular group, or “denomination.” The Lord told them not to reject them, because if they were not against them then they were for Him. Our focus should be on the Lord and the Bible, not dogmas. Our boast should be in the Lord, our walk should focus on His word and our hearts to what is pleasing to Him, which includes the love of our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jacob made a sacred pillar at Bethel, and Joshua did at Gilgal, a forbidden practice. Moses made images. I can’t begin to tell you what was or was not allowed by God. But, I can tell you, that which is given over to the worship of another god is forbidden and that was the deciding factor. Similarity of and the usage of objects, signs and symbols does not seem to play an aggressive role, as some may say today. The peddling of forbidden pagan practices sells a lot of books and tapes but is it accurate? The basic things to keep in mind and ask is: “Is it centered on the One, True God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?”; “Does it Glorify Him? “; “Is my heart right before Him?”; “What kind of fruit does it bear?”. If you will remember these things and keep them in mind, I think you will do well… and let the Lord guide you from there.

Q. Mystery Babylon sits on seven mountains, is this talking about Rome?

A. No, Mystery Babylon is a religious system that has been around for a long time. The Catholic Church sits in Vatican Hill and it is not one of the seven hills of Rome. It did not belong to the ancient district of Rome or was it included within the walls of Rome. The seven hills of Rome are Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline and Viminal. Vatican Hill is not one of the seven. Also, these hills would hardly qualify as “mountains” and are not very high, not over as few hundred feet. The mountains referred to in the Book of Revelation are referring to kingdoms that held power over Israel. These mountains are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The final two are in the future and they are revived Rome and the final configuration of seven nations after three leave. This is referred to in the book of Daniel. This brings up another problem going on today. People cite pagan practices they see and automatically think something is evil, but is that really true? Practices are condemned as wrong because “pagans” did it and it’s not spelled out in the Bible. But, one should ask if it is fruitful and does it glorify the Lord? Is it in harmony with the Scriptures? If it isn’t, then it should be discarded. If you just go by pagan similarities, the Bible itself could be considered pagan. Here are some examples to think about: kneeling, upraised hands, barefooted, a holy mountain, a holy place, temples priests, temple pillars, sacred pillars,arks, cities of refuge, thrones, lions, healing, a rod, laws on stone, fire, feast of tabernacles, firstfruits, bread, wine, sacrifices and the list is endless. People tend to see these things in paganism and then speak out if they see this in a church or synagogue. Pagans also held similar beliefs as believers, does that mean that belief is pagan? For instance, some pagans opposed the making of idols? If you use the logic that if it’s done by pagans it’s wrong, then not making idols is pagan! Next week, we will continue with this in some other areas and then try to sort it all out and give ideas on how a believer should handle these things .

Q.Why do people condemn drinking wine and strong drink when it is allowed in the Bible?

A This is a good question and it is usually based on a misunderstanding of several verses which seemingly contradict one another but really don't. Just considering the negative verses without looking into what the Scriptures say as a whole, including the context, can lead to the wrong conclusion. What has happened in the last 100 years in this country has shaped what many believe about alcohol. There was a movement at one time that believed that alcohol should be eliminated from American society and proponents of this view enlisted and were even led by religious leaders. They proceeded to find many verses in the Bible that spoke of alcohol in a negative way, trying to convince voters that alcohol was evil and should be outlawed. This resulted in what was called Prohibition. Well, after a few years, this didn't work and Prohibition was voted down. But, these ministers taught younger ministers, who taught other ministers and there are those today who maintain the same mindset as the prohibitionists. They clearly teach that drinking wine or strong drink is sin, but by doing that they have a problem because Yeshua clearly drank wine and even made wine at a wedding, and it wasn't grape juice. The headwaiter tasted it and said it was the best wine. He knew the difference between grape juice and wine, and if Yeshua had made grape juice he would have really complained. These teachers fall into the category of forbidding things permitted to be eaten (1 Tim 4.1-5). The problem is while condemning drinking as sin, they have to get around the fact that Yeshua drank, so they say He drank grape juice, which isn't true. He was accused of "eating (gluttony) and drinking (drunkenness)" and they said he had a demon. People today try to do the same thing. Wine was used for medicinal purposes (Parable of the Good Samaritan) and Paul's advice to Timothy. In Deut 14.26 it says to sell your tithe and buy "strong drink". The word for "strong (chazak) drink (shekar)" means an intoxicant. Now, God would not have commanded something if it was sin. Water, as an example, has many negative connotations in the Bible, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't drink it or use it. You can say the same thing about fire, or just about anything. There is a difference between eating and gluttony just as there is between drinking and drunkenness, which is always destructive. Paul said not to get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. He didn't say to avoid wine altogether. Aside from love, mercy, kindness and justice, one should use moderation in all things. A person should know what their limitations, faults and weaknesses are and act accordingly in good conscience before the Lord. If a particular behavior does not violate righteous behavior, harm your health or violate civil law, then it is most likely acceptable.

Q. What is the Abomination of Desolation and what does it look like?

A. The Abomination of Desolation is an idol that will be placed in the Holy Place of the coming 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. In Hebrew it is called the “Shikutz Somem” and it means “the idol that causes horror.” It will be an image of the false messiah, and it will be standing next to another image, probably of Mary. It is my opinion that this idol will be a crucifix. Now, for those who don’t know, a crucifix is a cross with a man hanging on it, not the sign or symbol of a cross. Let me explain. The Scriptures are full of pictures and types of the false messiah and this image is described in several areas. In Isaiah chapters 40-46, an idol is being described there. In short, it is an image of a man, it’s nailed to a tree, it can be placed in a house, worn around the neck and carried on the shoulder. It is very descriptive of what the Bible calls an “asherim” (masculine plural in Hebrew) and these are forbidden. Portions of Isaiah 40-46 were used in a Jewish prayer called the Oleynu and during the 1500’s the Catholic church forbade the Jews from using those portions from Isaiah in that prayer because they saw it as an attack on the Crucifix. Documentation for this can be found in the Hertz Authorized Prayer Book, under the commentary for the Oleynu prayer. The Catholic Church saw this portion of Isaiah as describing a crucifix, so it isn’t my opinion alone. That has been around for nearly 500 years. This brings us up to the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud is reported to be the burial cloth of Yeshua but it really isn’t and it can be disproved scripturally in many different ways, but that is another article. I believe that God allowed this as a sign and a wonder (Deut 13.1-5) and a satanic counterfeit in order to deceive people (2 Thes 2.11) into accepting the false messiah eventually. It is a documented fact that Antiochus Epiphanes tried to get Israel to accept Greek gods, resulting in the Maccabean revolt around 160 years before Yeshua. Commentaries will tell you that Antiochus made images of himself as Zeus Kyrios and placed them everywhere. Some of these statues exist today. Well, a statue of Zeus was examined by a Dr Wanger of Duke University several years ago and it was dated to the 1st century. He was trying to say that the Shroud was used a model for the face on the statue, thus proving the Shroud was 1st century, thus giving further proof that the image was Yeshua. He said that the statue of Zeus had nearly 70 points of similarity and congruence with the Shroud, thus it was an exact image. The face on the Shroud is the face on the statue of Zeus. But there is another way of looking at this. The statue is the face of Antiochus Epiphanies, who the Bible uses as an example of the false messiah in the book of Daniel, and the Shroud, being the exact image of the statue, is the image of Antiochus, not Yeshua. And, the Shroud has been used for centuries to influence paintings of Yeshua in art and even movies to this day. By doing this, people have been led to believe that Yeshua looked like that. 2 Thes 2. 3-12 warns us about a great delusion that is coming about the false messiah in the last days, and this is part of it. It is this Shroud that influences the image on the crucifix, which I believe is the Abomination of Desolation. I think that this image will be placed in the coming Temple by the false prophet, who will be the reigning Pope during the Tribulation. The false messiah may very well resemble the face on the Shroud, thus “proving” he is “Jesus”. I believe that the Abomination of Desolation will be placed in the Temple alongside a statue of Mary. This has been done before by King Manasseh of Israel. In 2 Chr 33 he places a female “asherah” (feminine plural in Hebrew) in the Temple. We already know that the Abomination of Desolation is an “asherim” (masculine) but here he places a feminine statue. I believe that it is possible that when the Pope places a crucifix in the Temple, he will also put a statue of Mary next to it, the Queen of heaven. If one thinks about this, this happens right now. Wherever the Pope goes there are crucifixes and Mary statues everywhere, and nobody even notices. When the false messiah and false prophet stop the Temple services during the Tribulation, and they will, if they placed a crucifix and a statue of Mary next to each other in the Holy Place, most people will not be surprised, and that’s the point. Many people have already accepted these idols, but not everybody. When this is taught in our congregation, there are handouts and visuals to all this to document this, and there is so much more detail, but hopefully this gives you some idea about this very important prophetic concept and will stimulate you into finding out more about it through the Internet and other sources.

Q. What does the term “arm of the Lord” mean?

A In Hebrew the term is “zeroah adonai” and in the peshat (literal) level it means the “power of the Lord” but in the sowd (hidden)level it is a metaphor for the Messiah in creation, judgment and salvation. When the Lord did something “with a strong hand” (yad) or “outstretched arm” (zeroah) it intimates that He did it through the Messiah. The metaphor came from the fact that one carries out a task with his arm (zeroah) or his hand (yad). So, at Passover an unbroken shank bone of a lamb is used called the “zeroah adonai” and it takes the place of a lamb. It symbolizes the unbroken bones of Messiah, the Lamb of God, whose blood delivered us from bondage, ratified the New Covenant, where we become a new creation, pass from judgment and experience salvation, all by the power of God. 

Some very important events have happened in the world in the last few weeks so I would like to give a prophetic update. The United States has a reputation for duplicitous behavior and what is going on “above board” is not what is really going on “under the table” so to speak. It is good to look at events from a prophetic mindset to gain some insight into just how real events fit into that scenario. God uses countries to fulfill His will. No head of state really runs the country, the Lord does. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. So when looking at world events and political decisions, keep in mind that it always serves the purposes of Heaven. This is no exception. The United States has a fear of the Soviet Union. In the 40’s and 50’s it was very strong. America needed an ally in the Middle East and Israel was formed and supported to further the ideology of this country. We needed a democratic state in the Middle East. This helped in the Cold War. The aftermath of World War II gave an emotional response due to the holocaust and the desire for a Jewish homeland. Political factors dictated that we have a friendly ally in the region with a warm water port, and where our Navy had access. We also have economic reasons for supporting Israel also because it helps protect the oil resources. We have always “controlled” Israel to a point and this is no different. We need to have this area in peace because chaos brings instability. Now, we are forcing Israel into another corner, like we always do, for our own reasons. The Obama Administration is backing a plan to build a coalition with Arabs, the UN, Europe and Russia for Israel to surrender Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Israel will be left out of the planning, of course. There are many complicated issues as to why we would do this, but it comes down to control and a Palestinian State. This all fits into Bible prophecy, in that, Russia will gain a foothold leading to their eventual invasion during the Tribulation, the False Messiah will come out of Europe to back a security agreement, and the United States will be attacked by Russia and eliminated several days before the tribulation even begins. All these are by God’s doing because He is the hidden hand behind world politics. By forming a Palestinian state, Arabs will have a right to return. By accepting millions of so-called Palestinian exiles, Israel will cease to be a Jewish State, have enemies inside her border and will have no ability to defend herself from attack. The problem with this is the Arabs don’t want it because there already is an agreement going back to 2002 and the Arab League doesn’t feel that the one being proposed is better, but the Obama Administration doesn’t care, the Arabs and Palestinians are only pawns in the real game and Israel is the obstacle to “peace”. Israel understands what is going on and sent President Peres ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu to “ smooth out the waters” before the hawkish Netanyahu arrived. Israel has to be made a scapegoat to please the Arabs and militant Islam. The United States is trying to blame Israel for Iran’s nuclear program. By refusing a Palestinian state, other Arabs are supporting Iran against Israel. When people are moved by ideology, facts become irrelevant and this applies to the Arabs and the United States and the growing coalition. Regardless of what Netanyahu says, he can expect no sympathy. The fix is in. Israel should no longer consider the United States when making decisions about their own national security. Additionally, it would be very hard to attack Iran because Israeli planes would have to attack over Iraqi and Saudi Arabian airspace and that would not be allowed by the United States. So Israel has a problem. Either way, they lose. But, God is in control of the situation and this is what is called a “catalytic” event that will shape world events into the prophetic scenario as predicted by the Prophets. The demonic spirit behind Arafat just moves to other Palestinian leaders, and that goes for the spirit behind Saddam. Once he died, it moved to Iran. Which leads me to conclude that the real reason behind the current move towards peace among the participating nations is really an attempt by Satan to hinder prophecy from being fulfilled, in other words, he is trying to buy time. He knows what prophecy says about war in the Middle East and he is trying to keep that from happening, and God allows him to influence the leaders there for a time. But, while they are crying out for “peace and safety”, God will put hooks into their jaws and bring the nations to where He wants them regardless of their attempts to do otherwise and use this to usher in the Tribulation period. And the United States is being prepared for a fall due to our rejection of the Lord, our declining moral and religious values, abortion and for being a treacherous dealer, not only in foreign dealings, but also domestic. For instance, the federal government is taking control of private businesses and banks. The government knows that retirement systems, CD’s, 401-K’s and everything else is an untapped resource for the government to get their hands on. By taking control of the banks, they can tell the banks what to do. They will then tell the banks to release the money to the government, leave an I.O.U and use it to finance the debt, but have other reasons for it, leaving Americans with nothing. Control the money, you control the people. So, the things that are happening in the world are setting up prophecy. But, it also is a time when people will not rely on the world and will begin to seek the Lord. He uses the things of this world to bring around His ultimate purpose. This brings us to the recent visit to the Holy Land by the Pope. He wants the Vatican to control the Holy sites. This puts pressure on Israel to make concessions because if the Catholic Church can make these sites safe, then millions of Catholics and Christians will travel to Israel and tourism will help the Israeli economy. Tourism is an important part of the Israeli economy so they welcome the Pope and hope his influence will help in the long run. But, all this is doing is paving the way for the influence of the coming false prophet. 

Q. In Revelation 17.9 it talks about the seven heads are seven mountains. What is this referring to?

A. The seven heads and seven mountains mean the same thing. The seven heads are seven kings and the seven mountains are seven kingdoms. Kings were often referred to by their kingdoms and vice versa. In v 10 it says “five have fallen” referring to Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Medo-Persia and Greece, “one is” refers to Rome (the sixth), and the “other has not yet come” refers to a revived Rome( the seventh) in the last days and spoken about by Daniel the prophet. The “he’ in verse 10 is referring to the seventh kingdom. This kingdom will start out with ten kingdoms/kings but three will defect leaving seven. These are the ten toes of the statue Nebuchadnezzar saw in Daniel 2. But, in Rev 17.11 it talks about “the beast”, who is the false messiah, who is also “an eighth” and that means that this final configuration of seven kingdoms will have seven leaders, with the false messiah being the “eighth” or the one who rules over all seven. In Micah 5.5 there is a prophecy about these seven kings/kingdoms. It says that the Assyrian will invade Israel . Now, Assyria is a picture of the coming Russian invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 39-39). It then says “then we (Israel) will raise against him (Gog) seven shepherds (shepherds=kings) and eight leaders of men.” This refers to our passage in Revelation ,in that, there will be seven kingdoms/kings but one is “an eighth”, who is the false messiah ruling over these seven kingdoms/kings. So, Russia will invade Israel between Rosh ha Shana and Yom Kippur the third year of the Tribulation. Europe, led by seven nations with the false messiah (eighth leader of men –Rev 17.9, Micah 5.5)) will be called on to help due to the covenant they made for seven years back in Daniel 9.24-27, but they will be no help. God destroys the Russian army and the false messiah will be given credit for it by the world and lead his seven kingdoms/kings into Israel. Six months later he will declare himself to be God (2 Thes 2). So, this last kingdom is the eighth. But, in addition, the false messiah will also be” the eighth” which means that He will rule over the other seven kings, making him the “eighth” ruler.

Q. What do the 12 stones taken out of the Jordan mean in Joshua 4.5?

A. To get the overall picture, let’s go back to Joshua 3.14-17. Israel is going to cross the Jordan and enter the land. This is symbolic of taking the land spiritually. The Jordan river is a symbol of death. They enter the river at the place where the priests are crossing and they represent the Messiah entering death (Jordan) before us. Now, the waters rose up and rolled back north to a place called Adam, which means “man.” That means sin/physical and spiritual death has been rolled back all the way back to Adam, the first man. Adam is a city near Zarethan, which means “distress.” Now, the Jordan flows down to the Dead Sea, which is symbolic of the Lake of Fire. So, what is being communicated here. There is only one place to cross, one way to enter death safely and that is where Yeshua has crossed (John 14.6, Acts 16.31). Man (Adam, red earth) dwells near distress (Zarethan) and is always close to death (Jordan). One day we will all come to the Jordan and without faith in Messiah, there is no crossing place.

Now with that back-round we come to your question about why did they take 12 stones out of the Jordan. The stones were placed in a heap as a memoral to the later generations, marking the place where Israel crossed over. But, there is a spiritual meaning to this as well. The Jordan symbolizes death, both physical and spiritual. The stones symbolize believers (1Pet 2.5) and raising them out of the Jordan symbolizes our being raised out of death. Now, Gilgal was where they crossed and where these stones were set up. Gilgal eventually was seen as a place of rest to Israel based on Joshua 10.43. It was where the kingdom would be renewed in the time of Saul and David (1 Sam 11.14). Galilee is an allusion to the same concept because of the “gal” in the name but also it was located in the north, which is where God’s throne is located in the Universe (Isaiah 14.13; Psalm 48.2). Gilgal also played a role in the lives of Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2.1, 4.38). So Gilgal became a concept associated with Heaven and the eternal kingdom. As a side note, these stones were possibly referred to in Matt 3.9 where John was preaching along the Jordan. It would make sense for John, who came in the spirit of Elijah, to start preaching and preparing the people for the coming Kingdom of God (Matt 3.2) there because it had become the place to “renew the kingdom.”

The Jews that died in the holocaust , did they or are they going to Heaven?

Q. I had a guest this weekend that I asked this question to and he gave me an answer that really made my heart spin. The question was, "The Jews that died in the holocaust , did they or are they going to Heaven?" His response was "No, they are all in hell because they were not saved in the glory of Jesus." Well this gentleman was a Jew till he was brought to Christ and is now a Baptist minister in the ministry of converting Jews to Jesus. I ask you the same question. What of the many who died in the Holocaust, will they ever see the love of the Father?

A. Let me first begin by saying this is a complicated question that cannot be so easily answered. He has a severe misunderstanding of the Lord and His ways and seems rather judgmental. But, let's take a few things first. You say this gentleman was a Jew, but that is incorrect. He still is a Jew. Israel as a nation (corporately) rejected the Messiah because they did not recognize Him. By the first century they accepted rabbinical interpretations about the Messiah over what the Scriptures had said. So, Yeshua comes along and He didn't look like or act like what they, the Rabbis had said He would look and act like. John 5.39-47 says that if they reject Moses (Scriptures), they will reject Him because he spoke of the Messiah. Now, the answer to any question is always in the question. So, I ask this, what of the many Gentiles that died in the Holocaust, did they or are they going to Heaven? Gentiles who die in unbelief have the same fate as Jews because you must be born from above (John 3) to enter into salvation, to the Jew first (especially, because they were the first to know, and to whom much is given, much is required), then the Gentile. I can tell you right now, if your friend is trying to win Jews to Jesus with his judgmental attitude he won't be very successful. He might convert a few to a denomination or a movement, but is that what the Lord means by "born again?" I think not. There is more to this than his generalized answer. So, let's get to the heart of the matter. 


Israel had a responsibility, a covenantal calling, to follow the Lord and be a witness and a light of understanding to the Gentiles. When they obeyed, they were blessed, when they didn't God got their attention. That calling has not been revoked and will be fulfilled in the Tribulation period. That's why the 2 witnesses will be Jewish, that's why the 144,000 will be Jewish. The Holocaust and all the other problems Israel has encountered over the centuries is a warning to repent, but not just for Israel. Your friend needs to remember things happen to the Jew first (especially, see above) then the Gentiles as the Apostle Paul points out, because they were the first to know the truth and had the Scriptures (Rom 3.1-2). Let's go to Luke 13.1-5 and I'm going to illustrate something. Here, Yeshua gives a warning to repent and will quickly dispel their notion of calamity, a notion your friend and many others seem to share. Yeshua brings up a historical tragedy about some Galileans who were killed while offering sacrifices in the Temple by Pilate, and asks if those Galileans were greater sinners because they were killed than other Galileans who weren't. Yeshua says "No" and then says it was a warning that if they did not repent they would likewise perish. Well, they did not repent and 40 years later millions were killed when Rome came and destroyed the Temple. Then He gives another example of where a tower fell and killed 18 people and asks the same thing, were they greater sinners because they died? He again says "No" and warns them to repent or they would likewise perish. Well, they did not listen and 40 years later not only one tower fell, but many towers fell in the city when Rome destroyed it. The bottom line is, tragedies happen and rather than be judgmental towards the victims we should be examining ourselves and take it as a warning that we need to be right with the Lord and repent of our sins or something worse will happen. Like in the first century, not just a few people died but millions died because they did not recognize what the Lord was doing and saying in these events. What your friend doesn't realize is that more Gentiles died in the Holocaust and World War II than Jews.

The word "holocaust" comes from the Greek "holos" which means "burned" and "kaustos" which means "an offering to a god". The Hebrew words for "burn't offering" is "Korban Olah" and in Greek translations of the Bible Holocaust is used for korban olah. In a way, those that died were wholly consumed by the fire of God's judgment and according to God's purposes as warning to us ,on whom the end of the age has come. 

In conclusion, many, not all, Jews perished in unbelief in the holocaust, and they were forever lost, NOT because they were Jews but because they did not believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But many Jews perished in the United States at the same time and were lost for the same reason. It's not where or how you perish that determines whether you are lost or not, but it is the condition of your soul with the Lord that determines that. God chooses how your death may happen, but it is not necessarily an indication of our spiritual condition. It's like when you get married. It's not how you get to the wedding that determines whether you are married or not, it's your heart and who's waiting for you when you get there that determines it.The same can be said for many Gentiles who died. Your friend said "they (the Jews) are all in hell" which I take issue with also, he didn't know every person who did there was an unbeliever. He should read some books about many Jewish believers who got caught up in it, as well as Gentiles. Like in the first century, Yeshua warned Jerusalem that the city of Jerusalem would be surrounded by Rome and when they saw that, they were to flee the city. Some did, but many didn't and got caught inside the walls.Well, in the 1930's many saw Germany "surrounding" them and fled to the United States and survived, but millions didn't or couldn't and also got caught within the walls. The Holocaust is awarning for the whole world to repent and come to the God of Israel through his Messiah because a greater holocaust is coming, and the false messiah will make Hitler look like a choir boy. This holocaust will not be centered in Europe, but be worldwide. So I leave your friend with the same admonition. Do you suppose that those that died in the Holocaust were greater sinners than others because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish. I hope this helps. Ask your friend to contact me if he wants to talk about this further.

Q. I looked at Col 2.14 and it seems really confusing. Could you comment on it?

  A. Col 2.14 needs to be understood in it's context. Paul is talking about the sins of a believer...that the cross cancelled out our sins, past present and future. Now, "having cancelled out the certificate of debt (sin demands death- Gen 2.17) consisting of decress against us" is referring to the Torah, the condemnation aspect of it. The Torah has a dual nature to it. The first aspect of it is that we are guilty and deserve death and are under condemnation. Once we become a believer, that aspect no longer has power over us but the second aspect comes into play, in that it becomes a way to live, and that's why the first century believers were referred to as "The Way." It is instructional and educational, it reveals the Messiah, prophecy and so much more (Rom 8.1, Gal 3.24-25). Col 2.14 goes on to say "which was "hostile to us" meaning that the Torah is holy, righteous and good but we are corrupt and the Torah goes against our old nature, making God's commandments "hostile." And He has "taken it out of the way" refers to the condemnation/curse part of the Torah NOT the obedience, way to live aspect. The condemnation, the "it", has been taken out of the way by Yeshua's death. In Col 2.15 it says that God made a public display of this. To understand this better, we need to go to Rom 3.25 where Paul says the same thing but with more detail. It says that through the Cross, God made Yeshua a "hilasterion" in Greek. It is where we get the word "hilarious" from. The Hebrew equivelant is "kipporet" which is translated "mercy seat" in English. It refers to the cover of the Ark of the Covenant where the High Priest would sprinkle the blood on Yom Kippur. In other words, the Father looks at us through the kipporet./ hilasterion / mercy seat (Yeshua) and His grace hilariously bursts forth towards us and He is happy to do it because of what Yeshua did, and He see's no condemnation in us because we are 'in Christ." Rom 3.25 goes on to say that He "demonstrated His righteousness because of the forebearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed." The plan of salvation was decided upon before sin ever existed. All of this was decided on and planned for before the world was. A saviour was provided before the first sin was committed and so was the method to recover, which is by His grace, mercy and love, and not by works. What Yeshua was going to do and what the Father was going to do was all decided. Sin demanded death, but having confidence that Yeshua would finish his work, God "passed over" the death penalty for the sins previously committed up to that point. Satan, which means "accusor", had been accusing God of lying and having no integrity because the righteous were not "dying" but were preserved in Sheol in Abraham's Bosom awaiting the Cross. Yeshua's blood and resurrection is the "proof" that God was righteous all along in letting death "pass over" Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and any other person who had faith before the Cross. As a result, Yeshua's death "disarmed the rulers and authorities" which means that the putting away of His flesh by death was a death blow to Satan. Satan's accusations against God and any believer has been silenced for all time. The Lord see's Yeshua as the kipporet before Him, which He looks at/through on our behalf. So, if Yeshua is not condemned, neither are we. So, Colossians 2.14-15 is describing what happened in their salvation process and to help them understand just what happened at the Cross. Colossians 2.16-17 says that as as a result, therefore, let no man outside of the faith judge them in regard to observing the food laws, a biblical festival (Lev 23), new moon or a Sabbath because these are a "shadow" (or picture) of what is to come and will help them understand their salvation more and God's plan for the future in regards to prophecy (1 Thes 5.1-11).