False Prophets Archives -

Unless you live in a cave, you are most likely aware of the atrocities being played out against Christians around the world, but most horrendously in Iraq at the moment.

The Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS, has taken control of the city of Mosul, with Baghdad next on its list.

This past week, the Sunni Muslim group forced Christians out of Mosul, where they have lived for the past 2,000+ years. This is the ancient city of Nineveh. They had no choice but to either convert to Islam, pay a large tax or be killed. Those that were allowed to leave were robbed at the border, anything of value taken from them.

Now, they are doing something that is reminiscent of Nazi Germany, marking the houses and doors of Christians.

The symbol is an Arabic N,

ن

and it is the symbol the Islamic State is using to pinpoint and identify who is a Christian. It is a derogatory name, Nasara or Nazarene, as they are calling them.

They will not stop in Mosul, or in Iraq, but they will move across the Middle East and around the world, quickly, and with terror. Even Al Qaeda keeps their distance from this group of Muslims; they are so fierce and determined to do whatever it takes to accomplish their world domination goal.

They have blown up the tomb of Jonah, desecrated cathedrals and are now worshiping Allah in them instead.

Women are not excused from the violence. They are being forced into marriages with the militants, sold into slavery, raped, beaten, and forced to be completely covered, if they are brave enough to venture out into public. They have been warned to have their faces veiled or risk severe punishment. The announcements have been given over loud speakers in the city and enforced, with horrendous consequences.

“Anyone who is not committed to this duty and is motivated by glamour will be subject to accountability and severe punishment to protect society from harm and to maintain the necessities of religion and protect it from debauchery…” Islamic State.

It doesn’t matter to these extremists if you are Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Nazarene, etc., it matters if you are Christian. Do you believe in the God of the Bible and are you willing to say the same when your life is threatened?

Shari’a law has been in place for several weeks now in Mosul.

This past couple of weeks, there has been a rallying cry of Christians coming together, and against, the torture and murder of innocent Christians in Iraq. Thousands are joining together on Twitter, spreading now to Instagram, with the hashtag

#WeAreN

standing for We are Christians, demanding an end to the violence and asking for help from leaders around the world.

They are using what the Islamic State intends for persecution with the meaning of the N, and showing their support through social media, in solidarity, to help bring awareness and end the persecution of Christians.

Peaceful demonstrations, walks and rallies have been held on four continents, in fifteen countries and over forty cities so far, showing support for the Assyrian Christians in peril. Many have placards, posters and t-shirts with the #WeAreN symbol of support.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is also pushing back. The Jewish people have been under fire, targeted, embattled and persecuted for centuries. Many say they are killing innocent civilians, when in reality they are doing what any other country would do; defend, protect and preserve.

The Palestinians have tunneled their way under the earth to bombard Israel and will stop at nothing to get what they want. They would not be happy if they regained complete control of Gaza, it would not stop there.

They want Israel annihilated, completely.

Netanyahu has a formidable task ahead. He has little support from the world community and is daily condemned for his attacks on Gaza. What should you do when you are being attacked?

These are just a few of the examples of heartache, turmoil and injustice in the world right this moment.

It is easy sometimes, as life goes on in our corner of the globe, to think that things like this do not affect us. Friends, this DOES affect all of us! This is persecution, and yes, the Bible did say persecution would come, but we must bind together and not sit idly by as our brothers and sisters are slaughtered across the pond.

Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, South Africa…the list goes on. And on.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12, 13.

What can we do?

We can pray.

We must pray!

Pray for your persecuted Christian brothers and sisters.

Pray for their children, for rest and peace from the terror that fills their bedtime dreams.

Pray for the mothers and fathers who are struggling to find food for their families.

Pray for those that are being tortured, for deliverance and God to intervene on their behalf.

Pray for leaders to rise up and to condemn the massacres. It has to start somewhere.

That doesn’t mean things will miraculously get better, all wars will cease and peace and harmony will reign in the world. No, if we read and have knowledge of our Bible, we are aware that these are all end-time events. Many of these things must come to pass! But we can pray for wisdom and look for ways to make a difference, to touch heaven.

We still enjoy freedom in many countries in the world. We are able to gather in houses of worship, to pray, to choose.

May we not take our freedoms lightly, but use them as an opportunity to come together in UNITY.

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While we obviously pray for deliverance and these atrocities to end, the reality is that they may not because of the time we live in. We pray for grace, boldness, strength…and courage in the face of adversity.

If the roles are reversed, and some day they come for US, we would hope that our brothers and sisters around the world would bombard heaven on our behalf.

Back before WWII, people never dreamed Hitler would be able to accomplish what he did. The innocent slaughter of MILLIONS of Jews, Christians and others that they decided were not worthy to live, was unthinkable and yet, if some of those souls were with us today I wonder if they would be warning us to wake up.

Are YOU N?

Pray.

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“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17,18.

Sadly, people have twisted, misused and misunderstood the Word of God for centuries. This past week was no different.

“When you feel the anointing and God moves on you to take up serpents, even if one of ‘em lays fangs into you, you shall not be harmed…” Andrew Hamblin, co-star of Snake Salvation.

Jamie Coots, the star of reality TV’s “Snake Salvation” series, died on February 15 at his home after being bitten by a rattlesnake during a church service. He refused medical treatment because he had been bitten before and eventually recovered.

This time he was not so fortunate.

This particular group calls themselves “Pentecostal”, but Pentecostals are one of the fastest growing religious groups in the world (and encompass many different beliefs within this “name tag”) and they are NOT snake-handlers. Snake Salvation church is a very unusual and very isolated group of people that practice something that is illegal in most states! How they continue to operate is mind-boggling and then to idolize the practice on cable television is even more baffling.

In 1995 a 28 year old woman at the same church died from a rattlesnake bite. They tried to prosecute the church, but the judge eventually put forth this statement: “If the court thought that a trial would act to deter future snake handling in church, my decision would be different. But you and I both know that this practice is not going to stop until either rattlesnakes or snake handlers become extinct.” Judge James Bowling, Jr.

How tragic that the Word of God can be taken so out of context and people so easily “follow the leader”, many times to their deaths.

Remember Jim Jones? Some may be too young to go back to 36 years ago, when 912 “followers” of preacher Jim Jones lost their lives after he instructed them to drink grape Kool-Aid laden with poison. His followers were betrayed and misled by a man that was convinced he was Jesus.

It is shocking and sad that so many can be so easily deceived by one man.

Rasputin was such a man…and such a deceiver. You may have never heard of him but he was quite famous around the turn of the 20^th century.

Grigori Rasputin was born in either in 1869 or 1872, depending on which site you trust, in Russia during the era of czars and nobles who ruled, and owned, most of the land and its wealth. Mr. Average Russian was very poor.

At the end of the Russian Revolution in 1905, Nicholas II was in power. Nicholas had a bad habit of listening to his wife, Alexandra, instead of important dignitaries. Alexandra was not trusted by the Russian people because she was born in Germany, Russia’s World War I enemy.

Enter Rasputin, who some in Russia called “the Mad Monk”, although he was not a monk at all. He was simply a peasant, but he easily convinced people that he was a “holy man”. Nicholas and Alexandra fell for his influence when he supposedly “healed” their only son, Alexis, of hemophilia.

It was believed that Rasputin ran the country through Tsarina Alexandra…and the Russians were not happy. Nicholas was too weak to stand up to his wife since she strongly believed Rasputin had much to do with her son’s recovery. If he opposed her it would appear he did not love his son.

Rasputin never even spoke in public! But Alexandra was certain he was a true “Man of God”, even though it was quite commonly known he led an immoral lifestyle.

But popularity doesn’t mean that Truth is involved.

Many were convinced that Rasputin was a “holy man” when he definitely wasn’t what he appeared to be. He was eventually murdered in order to try to gain back control of the country.

Truly the death of Jamie Coots is a tragedy that should never have happened. God is surely grieved when people misinterpret the scripture! The one verse in the Bible that Coots and his followers “hang their hat on” never meant for people to go out and literally pick up snakes. The verse is simply referring to the POWER of Almighty God to protect His people.

Jesus did not “handle snakes”, nor did His disciples, and His Word never instructs US to do so.

Can God protect someone who is bitten by a rattlesnake and they recover? Of course He can! He is God! He did such a thing for Paul when he gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire and a venomous snake grabbed hold of him. “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.” Acts 28:3.

But Paul didn’t follow that incident by boxing up a nest of snakes and taking them back to the church and tempting fate and death by letting them crawl all over him.

We should never tempt God! The children of Israel tried this time and time again when they were wandering in the wilderness. “They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.” Psalm 78:18.

Our emphasis and focus is not on tempting God! The Snake Salvation church, and the people involved, may be sincere in their efforts but are missing the point and the purpose of The Church.

Every word should be measured against the Word of God. If it cannot be backed up by scripture it is false doctrine. The Book of Acts is full of examples of what The Church is to look like, emulate and demonstrate.

Playing with death is not encouraged anywhere in the 66 books of the Bible, the inspired Word of God.

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The true Church should be involved in Going, Preaching, making Disciples, and then sending those new disciples out to do the same.

The true Church should be all about SOULS and reaching as many as possible with The Gospel: The Good News that Jesus Christ came, lived, loved and gave His life for every single one of us. He then rose from the dead so that we might do the same and live eternally with Him.

God help us all to be aware of those that fall into false doctrine and and cause others to do the same.

Until He returns, we are to be about our Father’s business in loving, serving and sharing Truth.

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Category Archives: False Prophets

#WeAreN – Pushing back the darkness

The Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS, has taken control of the city of Mosul, with Baghdad next on its list.

Now, they are doing something that is reminiscent of Nazi Germany, marking the houses and doors of Christians.