I have written many times that the English word 'church' cannot be found within the Word of GOD Almighty. Many people believe that when they read the scriptures and see the word 'church', they believe that is the word to be used for those calling themselves 'Christians.
I do not have the time, nor the discipline to attempt such a study. I have copied and pasted the words and works of men concerning this wrongly used word, that has been used by the enemy of GOD Almighty to keep the sheeple ignorant of the truths within the Word of GOD Almighty.
I have tried to copy and paste the entire article, but the site will not allow me to do so, instead I have posted the web site addresses.
Please be Bereans, do not allow yourselves to be manipulated by the fancy words, buildings, or bands used to keep the masses entertained and ignorant of Biblical truth.
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The Origins of the Word 'Church'
Updated on June 12, 2017
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'Church'
Billions of people around the world go in through the doors of the man-driven institution called 'church.' Since the term 'church' is found within their Bibles, it is accepted as a supposedly divinely inspired word given to man from God. Buildings are erected on every other street corner to represent the word. When people ask each other what church they go to, they can give a particular address and point to a sign where they herd in through her doors to worship God.
These people that go to church call themselves Christians who partake in a conjured service based on a spiritual man-driven agenda conforming to their many denominational templates. They look to salaried officiates to make something happen for them in their spiritual lives within the four walls they call 'church.'
Denominations
What many don�t realize is that in Scripture the body of Christ was not given a name, but identified in a metaphorical sense. It was never about erecting buildings with big signs on the front designating and segregating themselves into their many different denominations.
In contrast, the early ekklesia in the New Testament did not grow into thousands of different sects and denominations where each had their own separate visions and doctrines.
A deeper study into the word 'church' will reveal a counterfeit word that has been replaced by corrupted men to promote a religious man-made agenda instead of one that is to solely led by the Holy Spirit. Many will contend that 'church' is just a word, but when one looks closer at its origins, it reveals an entity that is completely foreign to the meaning of ekklesia.
There is quite a distinction between the two terms. It is vital, imperative and important to know this because it is the difference between seeking first the Kingdom of God or the religious kingdoms of men. It is the difference between walking on the narrow path that leads to life, or the wide road that leads to destruction.
The man-made term 'church' is about structures built with man�s hands with names they have given to themselves. Scripture does not attest to the body of Christ being associated with man-made temples, but the early ekklesiae were identified by the different localities (cities) they resided in. The ekklesia in a particular city were in unity being spiritually built by Christ. They were not separated in four-walled denominational structures run by hirelings called clergy.
The word 'church' is a tradition of man and the institutional church system has been built upon it. This term cannot be reconciled with 'ekklesia' because its origins come from a very different source. Although many attempt to do it, it just creates confusion and double-mindedness as many try define �church� out of both sides of their mouth.
How is ekklesia distinct from church?
The purpose of this article will take a deeper look into the origins of the term 'church.' By following the history of the word, it will make it glaringly obvious that it is a counterfeit.
A Tradition of Man
The body of Christ is not a congregation established under the authority of ecclesiastical men, nor is it a hierarchical governing system either.
The problem with the word 'church' is that it creates a misconception of what the body of Christ truly is. When the corrupt modern understanding is discarded and replaced with the intended divine meaning, the physical and spiritual manifestation are very different.
Unfortunately, many have not taken a deeper look for themselves and many don�t even want to know because it would require a complete re-evaluation of their belief system.
Those who attend buildings called 'church' have conformed to the traditions of man and are clueless to what the word actually means and where its origins are from. �Church� has been deemed the supposed English replacement for 'ekklesia,' but their meanings are completely different.
A Replacement
In Scripture, Christ and the apostles did not use the word 'church.' The fact is that King James ordered the counterfeit word to replace the genuine. He instructed his translators not translate it, but to completely replace it.
Unfortunately, many believe that �church� is a translation of �ekklesia,� but this is a great error and deception. The word 'church' neither originates form the Greek, or Hebrew. The word was already in existence when it was put into the English bible translations, but used as a pagan word.
Ekklesia means, the 'called out ones' who are a congregation, group or assembly. It has absolutely nothing to do with religious man-made denominational buildings, but followers of Christ who have been spiritually joined together by him. What you may find interesting is that word 'ekklesia' is actually in the English dictionary along with 'church.' It is very telling when comparing their definitions. Here are the two definitions to contrast from dictionary.com.
Church - Noun
- a BUILDING for public Christian worship.
- public worship of God or a religious service in such A BUILDING: to attend church regularly.
- (sometimes initial capital letter) the whole body of Christian believers; Christendom.
- (sometimes initial capital letter) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY; a CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION the Methodist Church.
- that part of the whole Christian body, or of PARTICULAR DENOMINATION, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.
- a body of Christians worshipping in A PARTICULAR BUILDING or constituting one congregation: She is a member of this church.
- ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATION, POWER, and affairs, as distinguished from the state: separation of church and state; the missionary went wherever the church sent him.
� Dictionary.com
Ecclesia - Noun
AN ASSEMBLY, especially the popular assembly of ancient Athens.
A CONGREGATION; church.
� Dictionary.com
It�s quite easy to establish a striking dissimilarity between the two terms based on an English dictionary's definition.
Why wouldn�t later prints of the Bible correct this error and use the actual word that is meant to be in there?
Modern Bible scholars have a deceptive way of getting around this by using the Greek definition for 'church' (kyriakon), meaning 'the lord�s house.' Left simply to this explanation, many look no further and nod their heads to their trusted institutional church Bible scholars.
If we keep digging deeper and press further, other problems arise. Put simply, 'kyriakon' is not used in the Bible, but 'ekklesia' is. Many just assume the derivation, or the Geek etymology of 'kyriakon' and 'kurious oikos,' meaning 'house of God' is the status quo. After all, that is what the salaried clergy tell them as they sit passively in the church pews in what they call, 'the house of God.'
Stonehenge
Avebury
Circles
Digging a bit deeper reveals that the word 'kyriakon' existed in all Celtic dialects as 'cirice' (kee-ree-ke) long before the word was introduced into the Greek. 'Kiriakos' was used in Old English form as 'cirice' then 'kerke' (churche) and then evolved to what we know today as 'church.'
'Cirice' means circles. These were the many places of pagan worship of the Celtic and German nations. The ancient stone megaliths that still stand today, such as Stonehenge and Avebury attest to the pagan worship practices of that time.The Oxford English Dictionary gives that many derivations of 'church' as:(a) cirice, cyrice, chiriche, churiche, chereche(b) circe, cyrce, chyrce, cirke, etc�
The Oxford English Dictionary gives that many derivations of 'church' as:
(a) cirice, cyrice, chiriche, churiche, chereche
(b) circe, cyrce, chyrce, cirke, etc�
The Trail of Evidence
The source of the origin of 'church' can be established as an ulterior derivation that does not come from the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The evidence trail reveals that 'church' comes from the Old English form of 'cirice' and the Middle English form 'circe.' From there, we can move even deeper down the rabbit hole to see where we end up.
'Circe' as a dialect is found in the Greek as 'kirke.' Etymologists agree that the Dutch word for 'church' is 'kerk,' and in German is 'kirche.' The Scottish form is 'kirk' and Old Saxon is 'kirika' having the same linguistic derivation, connection or relation to 'kirke,' or 'circe.'
If you have followed thus far, the next trail of evidence to follow is finding out what is behind the origin of the term 'kirke,' or 'circe.'
From here, this is where things get even more interesting.
What is deemed 'church' (kirke, or circe) today in English can be traced to the name of a Greek goddess Pharmakeia who was a witch, or a sorceress who lived on an island called Aiaia. The ancient form of 'Aiaia' is derived from the name 'Gaia' who was a pagan goddess of fertility. She was the daughter of Helios, the Sun god who had the power to transform men into wolves, lions and even swine. Although she changed men into animals, they still retained their human senses being trapped in the physical bodies of an animal.
This is where the word 'circus' comes from. It is attributed to honouring Gaia�s father, the Sun god, hence where the term 'Cirque de Soleil' in French comes from, or in English, 'Church of the Sun.'
Being entered, she placed them in chairs of State, and set before them meal and honey, and Smyrna wine, mixed with baneful drugs of powerful enchantment. When they had eaten of these, and drunk of her cup, she touched them with her charming rod, and straight they were transformed into swine, having bodies of swine, the bristles, and snout, and grunting noise of that animal; only they still retained the minds of men, which made them the more to lament their brutish transformation.�
� Adventures of Ulysses by Charles Lamb
Sorcery
The Greeks pictured their goddess as a woman with a golden cup in her hand.
Does this picture ring a bell?
If you are familiar with the book of Revelation, there is a striking resemblance of a woman with a golden cup filled with wine mixed with drugs. Upon drinking her wine, kings were seduced and controlled by transforming them into animals with man-like characteristics. This sounds a lot like John�s vision as written in the book of Revelation while he was on the island of Patmos.
�Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the KINGS of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the WINE of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become DRUNK.� And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a GOLDEN CUP full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: �Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth�s abominations.� � Revelation 17:1-6
For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were DECEIVED by your SORCERY. � Revelation 18:23
Could the manifestation of the word 'church' be the conjuring of sorceries?
If 'circe' is a description of the goddess Pharmacia, and John in the book of Revelation used the word 'sorcery' (5331 [e]) that is the same as 'pharmacies,' could there be a connection?
According to some Greek accounts when Pharmacia died, she was buried in the Pharmacussi island group that can be seen from the Isle of Patmos where John was imprisoned.
The words 'pharmacy' and 'pharmaceuticals' are both derived from 'pharmakaeia,' meaning medicine.
Are we seeing the spiritual manifestation of 'church' happening today where the institutional system entices people within her doors with feel good religious doctrines getting them to drink from her cup of drugs (the opiate of the masses) glossing people�s eyes over so they have visions and hallucinations falling under the spells and power of the Great Harlot?
'Kirke' is also known as a 'hawk,' or an 'unclean bird' by Old Testament standards is a bird of prey. There was a mythological witch who the Greeks called 'Kirke' (hawk lady) who became the Circe of Roman poets.
You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and THE UNCLEAN BIRD from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. � Leviticus 20:25
And he called out with a mighty voice, �Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every UNCLEAN BIRD, a haunt for every UNCLEAN AND DETESTABLE BEAST. � Revelation 18:2
The History of the Institutional Church
It is pretty obvious today that the institution called 'church' has fornicated with the ways of the world system and has been captivated by her sorceries. History attests to the blood that has been spilled by all those who have been slain because of her. Men like Constantine received visions from her to conquer with the sign of the cross. Many deemed as �witches� and �heretics� have been tortured and burned at the stake to appease those within the harlot church system.
Many people have naively believed in their church doctrines while many innocent people have been killed and slaughtered in her name. Rape, lynching, torture, murder and slavery has been defended and justified in her name. This did not bother the harlot daughters of the 'mother of all prostitutes' one bit.
All those who partake of 'church' and her harlot daughters conveniently ignore their institutional history and vehemently defend their man-made traditions.
'Church' is the religion of Mystery Babylon and Scripture states that we are to come out of her. The system of the Mother of Harlots has bred many harlot�s daughters. The fact is there are more than 38,000 of them. They have many names written above her doors, but they still share their mother�s maiden name.
If 'church' is a counterfeit word, then that would mean a complete evaluation of the foundation of the religious system that the word is built upon would be of vital importance.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my ekklesia [1577 (e)], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. - Matthew 16:18
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It only takes time, God will ALWAYS reveal and expose the devil... GNWS, has posted an article by Graham Hancock ... For It is written: Graham Hancock is a British writer and reporter. Hancock specializes in pseudoscientific theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths, and astronomical or astrological data from the past.
One of the main themes running through many of his books is a posited global connection with a "mother culture" from which he believes all ancient historical civilizations sprang. An example of pseudoarchaeology, his work has neither been peer reviewed nor published in academic journals.
WHAT IS PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC THEORIES? Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims; reliance on confirmation bias rather than rigorous attempts at refutation; lack of openness to evaluation by other experts; and absence of systematic practices when developing theories.
GRAHAM HANCOCK DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS BEING GOD... and IS NOT A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER!
Listen to Handcocks several interviews on youtube....he is off into his own world, but for the ignorant, they would never know the difference. DO NOT BE DECEIVE AS GOD HAS WARNED US... THE ANTI-CHRIST AGENTS ARE ALREADY WORKING.. this would also explain why GNWS doesn't believe in gathering together with other believers as the Body of Christ THE CHURCH,...
Listen to Graham Hancock and his foolishness....the devil quoted Scripture, but what he quoted was a twisted lie...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5rzOSfUJc
My prayers are for you GNWS... that God will bring you out and deliver you, in Jesus Christ powerful name.
Pseudoscience Theory Thinker (New Age-Universals Science of the mind).. He believes in reincarnation, etc. Gracenotworkssave, BE NOT DECEIVE: Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men�s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding the teachings of Christ the Messiah.
Graham Hancock - Monotheolistic religions are fundamentally all about control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss2P2dTPLa8
1:48:43
Graham Hancock - Gnosticism and Duality
1:50:39
2016 Graham Hancock : An Updated View of True Human History
I posted not 1 but 2 web sites from 2 different places, yet both have come to the same conclusion about the 'church', even though one may be an unbeliever.
How is it that an unbeliever is able to understand that the 'church' is not of GOD Almighty, yet the 'Christians' are blind to that.
Ella, my prayers for you are that the Holy Spirit would change your angry heart, give you understanding of the true Word of GOD Almighty about the body of believers, and that the truth will finally set you free.
GNWS, Bless your heart... had you taken the time to READ WITH COMPREHENSION this article "The Origin of the Word "church" By Andy Zoppelt, you would fully understand that the point of the article IS NOT TO DENOUNCE THE CHURCH, as YOU try to do, But the author is making the point that people who are Christians and the church leaders of "church" have and are MISUSING THE WORD "CHURCH", and are not understanding that the word "CHURCH" is meant to signify the BODY OF CHRIST, and NOT a building or denomination... in other words, many Christians and spiritual leaders who are suppose to be leading the people of God in the righteousness of Christ, only see the "church as being a building and fulfilling the administration of their denominations.... whether it be Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or whatever denomination is THIS IS NOT THE CHURCH WHICH CONSIST OF THE FOUR WALLS. The " CHURCH" is the Body of Christ, and as Christians, we're to be out in the community helping the poor and needy and taking care of the spiritual business of the Lord, bringing people to Christ with the Gospel OF JESUS, INSTEAD OF sitting around closed up in a building.
The MEANING of the word "church" is to mean the BODY OF CHRIST IN UNITY AS ONE FULFILLING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY ....THIS IS THE POINT OF THE AUTHOR IS TRYING TO MAKE... This is the intent of Jesus who established the "CHURCH"
As Andy Zoppelt points out in the beginning/start of his article: "Language is the fundamental method we use for conveying information and understanding. The changing of one word can literally change the world. Therefore, translators are given an extreme responsibility in making sure they get it right, especially key words. When Jesus said, �Upon this rock I will build my ekklesia
Our word �Church� is one of those words that has impacted the world and has subverted the purpose for which it was intended. Because the translators used the word �church,� meaning a building, instead of a more accurate word reflecting a functioning body, it has affected our whole approach to the meaning of body of Christ. We have been given a word from the translators that has nothing to do with the original Greek word.� (Mat 16:18)The word is pronounced ek-klay-see-ah. The translators purposely used a word identifying a building rather than the people. I discovered that I had a choice; either I believed what the translators had to say or go to the original language and read what the Jesus and the apostles had to say. I found no mentioning coming from Jesus that He called the translators to represent His authority.
ekklesia - The idea of the �church� being a building was not given by the apostles or the Holy Spirit. It certainly was not what Jesus had in mind when He said, �Upon this rock I will build my believer together (church?).� The early church did not have a clergy distinct from the rest of the body. Clergy with titles and authority was foreign to the early disciples also. It was the rise of this authoritarian clergy that needed a building to control the people both religiously and politically. The Catholic Church and the Church of England both used the word �church� and its meaning as a building to hold the people in subjection to their control. Without a building they would have lost their power over the people. Even today, without a building the clergy system would fall. This system of clergy/laity and the use of a building is what we have come to know as the �institutional� church system. This system was totally foreign to the vocabulary and the life of the disciples of Jesus, who built and depended on the move of the Holy Spirit through all.
To change the true meaning and function of the Greek word �ekklesia� to our English word �church� strengthened the clergy system and their power over the people. The statement, �power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely� has been the downfall and corruption of body ministry. The original intent was relational and not institutional. For in all the writings of the first and second century we do not find an �institutional� treatment of "ekklesia."the people being built together. Therefore the retaining of the word"church" in our translations of the bible became crucial for the survival of the institutional church system even to this day."
So sorry, YOU MISSED THE SPIRITUAL POINT OF THIS ARTICLE. WHICH BTW, this article IS THE SAME MESSAGE , WaitingForJesus posted in the sermon by Pastor Keith �We Are The Church�...that you tried to put down and being wrong.
**WHAT SHOULD GOD'S SAINTS EXPECT DURING THE 1260-DAY GREAT TRIBULATION WHICH MAY BE EXTREMELY CLOSE**??
According to Revelation 13:5,7,8: The Beast {666} will have authority over **EVERY** tribe, people, **NATION** and language in the world for 42 {30-day} months {1260 days} and everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will worship 666. 666 is called �THE BEAST� 36 {6x6} times in the book of Revelation.
Question: How will the Beast {666} and His False Prophet gain control of every nation of the world in the first week of the 1260-day Tribulation?? According to Daniel 7:24b a Roman King will subdue 3 kings. Rev 6:8; �There before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, {666} and Hades {The False prophet who will cause people to go to hell or hades with the mark of 666} was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
NOTE: China, India and Russia are 3 kingdoms that make up a fourth of the earth!
Rev 13:4-10: Men worshiped the dragon {Satan} because he had given authority to the Beast {666} and they also worshiped the beast and asked, �Who is like the Beast? Who can make war against him?� The Beast will exercise his authority for 42 {30-day} months {1260 days}, He will be given authority over **EVERY** tribe, people, language and **NATION**. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the Beast--all whose names have not been written in the **LAMB'S** Book of Life. Whoever has ears let him hear: "If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed." This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's saints! Revelation 14:12 adds: This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey His commands and remain faithful to Jesus!
Revelation 12:11: They triumphed over him {666}, by the blood of the **LAMB** and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!
Some of the many eternal rewards for the martyrs like Jesus is that they will be immediately be awake in heaven, receive their new heavenly bodies and are before the throne of God **BEFORE** the Last Day as per Revelation 7:9,14-17 and Revelation 15:1-4!!
NOTE: **666** is called the Beast 36 or **6X6** times in Revelation.
Immediately after miraculously conquering 3 kingdoms or one fourth of the earth 666 will appoint 10 kings who had never before ruled over the 10 most powerful kingdoms of the earth.
Rev 17:12-14: The 10 horns you saw {On 666} are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will give their authority as kings along with the Beast {666}. They have one purpose and will give their authority to the Beast {666}. They will make war against the Lamb but the Lamb will overcome them {On the Last Day} because He is King of kings and Lord of lords.� {See Rev 19:20,21}
The following 10 powerful nations have **OVER 50% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION** and **ABOUT 70% OF THE WORLD'S MILITARY POWER** and certainly have the military, political and �religious� power to control and rule all the nations of the world: #1. United States #2. Russia #3. China {1.3 Billion} #4. Great Britain #5. France #6. India {1.1 Billion} #7. Germany #8. Japan #9. Brazil #10. Egypt. Brazil borders every nation in South America except for Chile. Egypt is the university, intellectual and theological center of Islam. And then 666 will have �Authority over every tribe, people, language and nation� as per Rev 13:7b, from his headquarters in the evil city on 7 hills or Rome. The idea that 666 will choose a European Union of 10 nations with about 5 % of the world's population and about 10 % of the world's military power to control the world just because these nations are close to Rome is just an idea which is not supported by God's Word.
Revelation 13:14-17: �He {The False Prophet-Pope Francis??} will deceive the inhabitants of the earth. He will order them to set up an image in honor of the Beast {666} who was wounded by the sword {On June 9th AD 68} and yet lived {Nero Caesar?}. He will have power to give breath to the image of the first Beast {666}, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.�
�He also forced everyone... to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast {NERO CAESAR?} or the number of his name 666!�
Since these 2 world-wide laws: To worship the statue of 666 {Possibly on TV} or be killed; and not being able to buy or sell anything; there will be a huge falling away among most of the people who claim to be Christians but are not the called, the chosen and the faithful. Moses and Elijah will begin their 1260-day testimony {Rev 11:3} 3 1/2 days before the coming of 666 & the 1260-day Great Tribulation and 1263 1/2 days before the Last Day. {***THE FIRST END-TIME EVENT***} Moses and Elijah will warn us of the coming of 666 & his False Prophet.
In Matthew 24:3,9-13: The disciples asked Jesus, �What will be the sign of your Coming and the end of the age?? Jesus answered�.. {During the 1260-day Great Tribulation} �Then *YOU* will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and *YOU will be hated by all nations **BECAUSE OF ME**. At that time many will turn away from the Faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of *MOST will grow cold, but he {The Called, Chosen & Faithful} who stands firm to the **END** will be saved.� Rev 2:10: Jesus says, �Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of Life!�
God will miraculously take care of His Faithful and Courageous Tribulation Saints {Just as he took care of the Israelites for 40 years in the Wilderness} even though they won�t be able to buy or sell anything as per Rev 13:17a. {See Matthew 6:25-34 where storing up items are forbidden} There are a few Post-Tribbers such as Jim Bakker who are teachinng that we should store up at least a year's supply of food for the Great Tribulation which is a direct contradiction to God's Word in Matthew 6:31-34.
Matthew 6:31-34: Jesus says, �Do not worry, saying, �What shall we eat?� or �What shall we drink?� or �What shall we wear?� For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own!�
**JESUS SAYS DO NOT WORRY WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION**!!
Luke 21:12-15: Jesus says, "They will put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My name. And so you will bear testimony to Me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom, that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Mark 13:11 adds: Jesus says, "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the **HOLY SPIRIT**!"
**666 AND HIS FALSE PROPHET AND OTHER FALSE PROPHETS WILL PERFORM GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS THAT WILL ALMOST DECEIVE GOD'S ELECT**!!
Revelation 13:13,14: The False Prophet will perform great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs he will be given power to performon behalf of the Beast {666}, he deceived the inhabtants of the earth!
2 Thessalonians 2:9,10: The coming of the Lawless One {666} will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.
Matthew 24:24,25: Jesus says, "False messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time!"
**AND THEN THE PRE-TRIBBERS QUOTE THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES:
Romans 5:9: Since we have been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from **GOD'S WRATH** through Him!.
I Thessalonians 5:9: God did not appoint us to suffer **WRATH** but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!
However, God's Tribulation saints will not be hurt by **GOD'S WRATH** during the Great Tribulation! The horrific 7 Trumpet Plagues and 7 Bowl Plagues and eternal torment in Hell; are reserved only for the unbelievers and will not hurt God's saints in any way just as the 10 Old Testament Egyptian plagues miraculously did not hurt any of God's people; as shown by the following Scripture in Revelation:
Revelation 9:4-6: They were told to only harm those people who did not have the seal of God on their heads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for 5 months. During these days men will seek death, but will not find it they will long to die but death will elude them.
Revelation 9:18,20,21: A third of mankind will be killed by the plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that comes out of their mouths.... The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands, they did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold... Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts!
Revelation 16:2: The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image!
Revelation 16:6: They have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve!
Revelation 16:9: They were seared by the intense heat and cursed the name of God who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him!
Revelation 16:10: Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
Revelation 14:9,10: If anyone worships the Beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of **HIS WRATH** He will be tormented with burning sulfur...and the smoke of their torment rises for ever
and ever!
**AND THE MANY PLAGUES OF GOD'S 2 WITNESSES, MOSES AND ELIJAH, WILL ONLY HURT THEIR UNSAVED ENEMIES**!!
Revelation 11:3-6: Jesus says, "I will appoint My 2 witnesses and they will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth. If anyone tries to harm them fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want!!"
All of God's saints, 144,000 Jewish missionaries and Moses and Elijah will try to convert everyone who does not have the mark of the beast which is an unpardonable sin as per Revelation 14:9-11!
Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the **LAMB** but the **LAMB** will overcome them beecause He is **LORD** of lords and **KING** of kings and with Him will be His **CALLED** **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers! {Riding on heavenly white horses immediately after the Marriage Feast of the Lamb as per Revelation 19:7-21!}
**THE GREAT REBELLION, FALLING AWAY OR **APOSTASY** OF MANY IN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION**
In Matthew 24:3,9-13: The disciples asked Jesus, �What will be the sign of your Coming and the end of the age?? Jesus answered�.. {During the 1260-day Great Tribulation} �Then *YOU* will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and *YOU* will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time **MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH AND WILL BETRAY AND AND HATE EACH OTHER**, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of ***MOST*** will grow cold, but he {The Called, Chosen & Faithful} who stands firm to the **END** will be saved.�
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4,9-12: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us--whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--asserting that the Day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you for that day will not come **UNTIL THE **REBELLION** OCCURS** and the man of lawlessness {666} is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped!!... The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because the refuse to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth!
The Greek word translated �rebellion� or �falling away� in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 above is **APOSTASIA**, from which we get the English word **APOSTASY**. It refers to a general defection from the true God, the Bible, and the Christian faith.
I John 2:1-5: We have an Advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the **ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN**, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know we have com to know Him *IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDS**. Whoever says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a **LIAR**, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone **OBEYS HIS WORD**. God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him!!
John 14:21,23: Jesus says, "Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father... Anyone who loves Me will **OBEY MY TEACHING**, My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make our home with them!"
Revelation 13:5,7-10: The Beast will be given authority for 42 months.. He will be given power to make war against the **SAINTS** and to conquer them... All inhabitants of the earth will worship the Beast--all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the **LAMB**. {**CHURCH SAINTS**} He who has an ear let him hear: If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the **SAINTS**!
Revelation 12:11: They overcame him {666} by the blood of the **LAMB** and by the Word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death! {**MARTYRS** like **PAUL** and **PETER** and **JESUS**!}
**THE FOLLOWING WORDS OF GOD CAN NOT BE FOUND IN THE PRE-TRIBBERS BIBLE WHO BELIEVE THAT **GOD FORBID** THAT WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE 1260-DAY GREAT TRIBULATION**!!
God has put His people who did evil in **APOSTASY** in the Babylon Tribulation for **70 YEARS** and in the Wilderness Tribulation for **40 YEARS**!!
Before 1832 there were no churches that had the pre-trib fairy tale as part of their Statement of Faith!! According to the latest polls about 70 percent of Evangelicals are pre-trib, about 10 percent mid-trib and about 20 percent Post-Trib. However, only about 3 percent evangelical preachers teach the Post-trib point of view since they could lose their jobs if about 70 percent of the people in their church are pre-tribbers!! Many Southern Baptist Seminary professors teach that the pastors should accept all points of view to make everybody happy! But most Evangelical Seminaries like Dallas Theological Seminary teach that you must only teach the pre-trib fairy tale and include it your Statement of Faith!
**THE FOLLOWING WORDS OF GOD CAN NOT BE FOUND IN THE PRE-TRIB BIBLE**!!
Romans 8:35-37: �Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... For your sake **WE FACE DEATH ALL DAY LONG**; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!�
I Peter 2:20b,21: But if you **SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD** and endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow **IN HIS STEPS**!
John 13:34; Jesus says, "A new command I give: Love on another, **AS I HAVE LOVED YOU**, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples! John 15:12-13: Jesus says, "My command is this: Love one another **AS I HAVE LOVED YOU**. Greater love has no one as this: **TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE** for one's friends. You are My friends if you do what I command!!"{MARTYRS like Peter, Paul, Stephen and **JESUS**}
I Peter 4:12,13: �Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But **REJOICE THAT YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST**, so that *YOU* {**CHURCH SAINTS**} may be overjoyed when His glory is **REVEALED**!�
Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus says, �Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. **REJOICE** and be glad, because **GREAT IS YOUR REWARD** in heaven!!"
2 Timothy 3:12: In fact, **EVERYONE** who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus **WILL BE PERSECUTED**!
Romans 5:3: �But we **REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS** because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope!
Philippians 1:29: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to **SUFFER FOR HIM**!
Philippians 3:10: �I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of **SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS**!
Revelation 12:11: They triumphed over him {666} by the blood of the **LAMB** and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!!
**MANY CHURCHES DO NOT BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE ARE THE INSPIRED WORDS OF GOD**!!
I Timothy 2:11: A **WOMAN** should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a **WOMEN** **TO TEACH** or to assume authority **OVER A MAN**!
I Corinthians 15:34,35:**WOMEN** should renain silent in the churches, They are not allowed **TO SPEAK**, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about anything, they should ask their husbands at home; for it is **DISGRACEFUL** for a **WOMAN** **TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH**!! {Women now preach in thousands of liberal and many Charismatic Churches!!}
I Timothy 2:9,10: I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or peals or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. {Only about 10 percent of Evangelical Churches even dare to preach on the above commands of God in I Timothy 2:9,10}
2 Peter 3:15,16: Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our **DEAR BROTHER PAUL** also wrote you with the **WISDOM GOD GAVE TO HIM**. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand {To unbelievers} which **IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE PEOPLE DISTORT**, as they do other Scriptures, to their own **DESTRUCTION**!
2 Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHEED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charege: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
I Peter 1:23-25: For you have been **BORN AGAIN**, not of perishable seed but the imperishable, through the living and enduring **WORD OF GOD**. For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail, but the **WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER**!! And this is the Word that was preached to you!
Ephesians 5:18-20: Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, **HYMNS**, and **SONGS FROM THE SPIRIT**. **SING** and make **MUSIC** from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the past 40 years beautiful Bible hymns and music have been replaced by babbling phrases and Satanic rock and roll music in most Evangelical Churches!
The Prosperity Gospel in varying degrees has become more and more popular by preachers who make millions of dollars. And they all preach, "God forbid that we should suffer any type of Great Tribulation!"
I Timothy 6:9,10: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith!!
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED!!:
Ephesians 2:8,9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through **FAITH**�and this not from yourselves, it is the **GIFT OF GOD**�not by works. So that no one can boast.
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith {A **FREE GIFT OF GOD**} it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD** everyone for what ever good he does!.
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
Many Evangelical churches such as most Southern Baptist Churches wrongfully teach that every saint will receive the exact same eternal rewards!!
Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the **LAMB** but the **LAMB** will overcome them because He is **LORD** of lords and **KING** of kings, and with Him will be His **CALLED** **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers! {Riding on heavenly white horses just after the Marriage Feast of the **LAMB** as per Revelation 19:7-21!}