| Author | Message | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2000 |
Madelia, I don't recall the exact reference about Luther's strong denunciation of Jewish Sabbath observance. I have read it several times in different books (titles I am unable to remember just now). However, any comphrehensive biography on Martin Luther will give you the exact quote. The context of Luther' s comments about Sabbatarianism had to do with some small Sabbath-keeping groups that arose in Germany in his day. You may want to check online sources for the Luther quote as well. Try the Google search engine for: Martin Luther/Jewish Sabbath Views, etc. This may produce a quick reference plus quote. Please post it here when you find it. Luther was opposed to most things Jewish. Late in his life, he became quite anti-Semitic because he had such a strong passion for the true Gospel, and the Jews collectively refused it still. He simply couldn't understand how one could deny the reality of Christ--especially with the Reformation making salvational inroads through grace alone, Scripture alone, and faith alone. It was indeed very hard for him to understand people who refused to embrace Jesus Christ. He had little toleration for people that hated Jesus. He even advocated destroying Jewish homes and their businesses if they did not submit to Christ. The Lutheran Witness magazine (LCMS) recently had an interesting article on Luther's anti-Semitic views. Despite these character flaws, God used Martin Luther in a mighty way to restore the simple Gospel. Also, political correctness was not yet invented in Luther's day. Sixteenth-century people were much more blunt in their choice of words. In other words, God needed a man like Luther to lead the Reformation. A quiet, soft-spoken, timid, unemotional man could not have accomplished the task of separating from Rome. Luther was forceful in his convictions. He was God's man for the hour. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 594 Registered: 7-2000 |
Dennis, Thought you'd be interested to hear this: My husband was recently told that Luther would "turn over in his grave" if he knew our family (once in the SDA ministry) were now "following the Papacy"!! (by disregarding the 4th Commandment of Sabbathkeeping and, in so doing, worshipping the beast). Isn't that sad?! There is the belief in Adventism that Luther, because he opposed the Pope, would definitely be a Seventh-day Adventist today! grace always, cindy | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 111 Registered: 4-2000 |
In Luther's Small Catechism (copyright 1986; Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO), pp. 66 and 67, is found the following biblically-accurate statement: "36. DOES GOD REQUIRE US TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH AND OTHER HOLY DAYS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT? The Sabbath was a sign pointing to Jesus, who is our rest. Since Jesus has come as our Savior and Lord, God no longer requires us to observe the Sabbath day and other holy days of the Old Testament." SDA apologists NEVER use this quote (smile). Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 220 Registered: 3-2004 |
I learn so much on this web site, not only about what I was involved in with the SDA church and its doctrine, but other things that are Biblically accurate, like the quote above about Martin Luther. I can see why SDA apologists DO NOT USE THAT QUOTE. Can you imagine what it would do to their doctine, their way of believing, and their relationship with Christ. I want to make fun of them, but I cannot. It is a sad situation because they do not know who is leading them. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 675 Registered: 11-2002 |
Martin Luthers works can be read on the Internet. | ||
| Cindy Registered user Username: Cindy Post Number: 601 Registered: 7-2000 |
Thanks, Dennis. I copied the quote above to use in "discussions." Luther has always been an inspiration to me of boldness in following Christ alone. Looking to and following Jesus, not a man or a group, is our safest course in life. (As evidenced by even Luthers' rash anti-semetic views at times). But, still, I think Luther was used by God in a large way to promote the truth of the gospel. In 1995 we had the privilage of visiting Worms in Germany where Martin Luther gave his defense. It was very interesting, the old church and all! We have a multi-volume book set containing all the sermons of Martin Luther from 1520 on till his death (translated from Latin and/or German into English!). These books are some of the few I saved when we had to extrememly down-size our book collection 4 years ago when moving to a much smaller home. Did any of you see the "Luther" movie out last fall in theatres? I thought it was quite good; not sure if it has come out in DVD yet. Ironically, I've always felt that Luthers' words against the Papacy's request for him to recant fit us former Adventists very well! "Unless I am convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason, I can not recant. For my conscienct is held captive by the word of God--and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me." Martin Luther grace always, cindy | ||
| Denisegilmore Registered user Username: Denisegilmore Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2000 |
Just happened to pop in to say hello everyone. Dennis, you brought up prophecy and currently I'm reading this site that I find to be very useful. Tell me what you think...infact, anyone who is interested in prophecy (and you should be because we are told to "Watch and Pray") please take a look and not a quick run through one page, but check this ministry out and research Scripture. I'd love to hear feedback on this. Here it is: http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1920.cfm That's not the home page but at the bottom of the page you can link to the home page. It just happened to be on the page I'm reading today. Okay, I'm off to read some more. Peace and hopefully I'll remember what thread I posted under...yipes!  My memory is fading as my brain is shrinking (dx Atrophy). P.S. Dennis and Sylvia, Congratulations on your third Grandbaby. I don't blame you for spoiling Ava...I would! Wonderful news and what a blessing for all of you! Denise | ||
| Madelia Registered user Username: Madelia Post Number: 57 Registered: 2-2003 |
Dennis and all, Thanks for the help with with Martin Luther sources. I really appreciate it. And congratulations to Dennis and Sylvia on the new grandchild! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 387 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dennis and Sylvia, congratulations on the new granddaughter! And thanks also for the Luther quote! Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2000 |
BOOK RECOMMENDATION Although I do not currently have this book in my library, Dr. Martin Brecht known as the "Luther Biographer," wrote the book titled, "Martin Luther: His Road to Reformation." Brecht's biography of Luther is highly acclaimed by many reliable sources. I plan to order it soon. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 113 Registered: 4-2000 |
Denise, I downloaded Part I and II (28 pages) so my wife Sylvia could critique the overall analysis of Tim LaHaye's Left Behind novels. She reports that the first 24 to 25 pages are excellent and seemingly accurate. However, the last few pages have thoughts that may be somewhat disagreed with. Here are some excellent thoughts to ponder from the article: "Skilled propagandists have long known that fiction and work of comedy are most effective in selling controversial ideas to a public that would reject the message in another medium, such as essay. As people get caught up in a story line of a well-written novel, they begin to identify with the characters of the plot; they feel the fear and the joy of the characters. In other words, they empathize with the characters. Readers also unwittingly inculate into their subconscious minds much of the value system portrayed in the story line. The degree to which a person will accept the value system portrayed in the plot depends upon the strength and integrity of their own convictions which they had before they read the novel. Convictions are given strength by the anchor upon which they are based. If the anchor of a person's convictions is strong and unmovable then that person will not likely accept the value system portrayed in the novel; however, if the anchor is not strongly based, that person may experience a values shift as they read the novel." Thanks for sharing, Denise. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Denisegilmore Registered user Username: Denisegilmore Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2000 |
Okay Dennis, That was a critique on their write up about the Left Behind Series. I happen to agree with their critique. If it weren't for my strong convictions that I'm already grounded in, I too, would have fallen for the Left Behind Series, as many have. Still, I'd like to hear your opinion of the Cutting Edge material and their views. Their view is yes, we get caught up just as the Bible tells us so. However, first we do go through the 'birth pangs,'(Matthew 24) which means we will see alot of suffering, and do alot of suffering. They also believe we will see the anti-christ, as do I, before we are caught up. This is only part of what they teach. What are your views on their overall flavor of showing us the daily news and also showing Scripture that covers that news with their added thoughts (as we all have when we watch the news)and also news stories? Also, they have articles on Freemasonry, Mormonism, Harry Potter Novels, From a Pastors Heart, Catholicism and so on. All on the left side of the Home page. It's very thorough. For me, this Cutting Edge Ministry is the closest thing to Biblical Truth that I've ever encountered. I have essentially given up on the idea of talking to 'most' other Christians about our daily news, especially of the goings on in the Middle East that I've always kept my eye on since before being a proclaimed Christian, knowing to watch what happens there as well as this side of the world and it's new theology of 'let all the religions join hands' theory that is so extolled. I thoroughly enjoy Christian fellowship on most all other matters but this one area of the Middle East is not one most Christians pay much attention to. At least not here where I live. Perhaps they do elsewhere so please, if any is offended by my remarks, realize that I'm speaking of my neck of the woods ONLY. Although some Christians, such as a next door neighbor of mine do watch the Middle East so I don't want to be accused of slamming Christians because that's not true at all and I happen to be one. But what is true is that most Christians AROUND HERE pay very little attention to the Middle East and some even pay very little attention this new teaching that Tim LaHaye puts out. My meaning being, they, the Christians THAT I KNOW AROUND HERE (sheesh, got to be so careful so nobody gets riled up) who believe this Left Behind stuff hook line and sinker, don't read enough Scripture in my opinion. Scripture tells us, yes us, not just the Jews, that we will suffer birth pangs. Jesus tells us that right there in Matthew 24 and since Jesus was God in the Flesh, then He knew we, the 21st Century Church, would be reading His words. Especially on the signs of HIS COMING. OUR HOPE. There is so much more they teach on and use Scripture to back it that they have beaten every other ministry I've ever encountered 100 percent. Have you read any other portion? On the front page there is a left column. One link says "what must I do to be saved" or something to that effect. Just under that is a link titled "Current Newsletter." Click on the Current Newsletter. You can recieve this free every week covering all the news of the week. It's quite indepth but they give you facts and links from archived Newsletters and news stories. You can just skip all their ads (usually around 5 of them) just before the Newsletter begins. Then it says something like, "This weeks Hot News." Also on the left column you can access all of the titles except the "Headline News" of which it is a cost of $25 per year. Otherwise, you do get alot of news and articles for free, most everything is free. Here is the Home page link: http://cuttingedge.org/ Here is this weeks but the links don't show up blue here but they do on the Cutting Edge. They also have archives galore of all kinds of articles that anyone can read. Here is this weeks: http://www.cuttingedge.org/newsletters/index.html ""---------- This Weeks Hot News ----------"" I. … Prime Minister Sharon continues to shock the nation of Israel by his "bold" policy U-Turns. As we stated in NEWS1817, NEWS1819, and NEWS1911, Sharon has been known to abruptly reverse his positions on a number of subjects vital to Israel's survival. Jewish voters threw Ehud Barak out of office because he was too soft on Palestinian terror. Old War General Sharon was the man to get tough on terror and defeat it. Instead, Sharon continued Barak's Rabin policies and is now giving the Palestinians exactly what was originally planned. As we noted in NEWS1911, this continuation of policy potentially fatal to the nation through many changes of ministers fulfills President Thomas Jefferson's definition of a conspiracy. Old war hero and "Hardliner" Sharon is betraying his core constituency by suddenly reversing his position on critical issues like the establishment of a Palestinian State, withdrawing from Gaza and portions of the West Bank, allowing arch enemy Egypt into the Gaza strip, and possibly allowing Israel to be stripped of her nuclear weapons! Let us review these stories one by one. The first shocking news story is that Sharon seems suddenly open to Israel giving up her nuclear arsenal!! NEWS BRIEF: "El Baradei: Sharon Ready to Discuss Ridding Mideast of Nuclear Weapons", Associated Press Breaking News, July 8, 2004 "JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is ready to discuss a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East as part of future peace talks, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog agency said Thursday. Mohamed ElBaradei, on a three-day trip to Israel, said Sharon made the commitment during a meeting Thursday in Jerusalem ... Israel is believed to be the only country in the Middle East to have nuclear missiles ready to launch." On the surface, this story seems to be lunacy! Israel and the United States have always looked upon nuclear weapons as being the weapon of last resort, to ensure that the Israeli state would not be annihilated should her conventional forces be overwhelmed. The Arabs have also looked upon nuclear weapons as a doomsday weapon protecting Israel. Should Israel really agree to give up her nuclear weapons, Arab nations all over the world would be suddenly encouraged that they now had the opportunity to actually destroy the hated Jewish state. This news story goes on to make two very important points: 1) "ElBaradei said that Sharon had linked arms-control talks to progress in the 'Road Map', an internationally backed peace plan that has been stalled since its inception a year ago. " On the surface, this approach seems reasonable, for if Israel were really guaranteed peace AND security with her Arab neighbors, she would not need such fearsome weapons to ensure her survival. However, Arab hatred toward Israel is so white-hot it is likely that such a peace treaty could ever actually be implemented. Egypt is the only Arab nation to sign a peace accord with Israel, which she did under the leadership of Anwar Sadat; however, today, an American Congressman is warning that, even as Egypt talks peace and reconciliation, she is preparing to wage war against Israel. The Arabs have always maintained that her battle with Israel would not end until she was completely destroyed and her people were "drinking the sea" water of the Mediterranean. Sharon made his willingness to get rid of Israel's nuclear arsenal even more clear as he spoke to the United Nations' IAEA top official. NEWS BRIEF: "Sharon tells UN he wants a Middle East free of nuclear arms", by Chris McGreal in Jerusalem, The Guardian (London), Friday July 9, 2004 "Israel and the UN's nuclear watchdog reached a public understanding yesterday with Ariel Sharon committing himself to the vision of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons ... Mohammed ElBaradei, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief, described the development as a 'glimmer of hope' for the region ... The prime minister affirmed to me that Israeli policy continues to be that, in the context of peace in the Middle East, Israel will be looking favourably to the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East ...' " Sharon has "committed" Israel to this policy? Let us go back now to the next point in the original article: 2) "Such talks are likely far down the road." We have to take this statement with a large grain of salt. Remember the politician with whom we are dealing here. Sharon has reversed his long-held position on the creation of a Palestinian State, on a retreat from Gaza and the West Bank, and on the importance of the settlements. On all these issues, Sharon has chartered a course far different from the one he set forth rhetorically. Concerning timetables, Sharon has also proven to be untrustworthy. When he announced his unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, he originally set the timetable as the end of 2005 for the retreat to be completed. Now, his office is talking about completing this withdrawal in 6 months. I would not be too surprised to wake up one morning to the news that Sharon has suddenly issued an order for the IDF to immediately and forcibly pull the settlers out of Gaza so that the Army could then effect a quick retreat. Prime Minister Ehud Barak pulled this type of Army withdrawal stunt in Lebanon in 2000, so Sharon has the historical precedent to order the same action here. We shall issue a major analysis of this most serious subject next week. In the meantime, prayerfully contemplate the horrific possibility that Israel may actually give up the one weapon that seemingly guarantees her national survival. The second shocking policy U-Turn story is that Sharon suddenly has begun serious talks with Shimon Peres about establishing a Unity Government. The only way in which Israel can implement his strategy to fully separate the Jewish population from the Palestinian is if he unites with the Labor Party. After suffering several defeats from within his Conservative Likud Party, Sharon is now reaching out to his "arch enemy", Shimon Peres to form a government which would command such solid bipartisan support for withdrawal that the effort cannot be derailed by the political process. Listen to the story: NEWS BRIEF: "PM Sharon Plans Unity Talks With Peres", Israel National News (Arutz-7), July 9, 2004 "Prime Minister Sharon 'surprised' all with his announcement last night that he had invited Opposition Leader Shimon Peres for talks on the establishment of a national unity government. Everyone knew it was coming, but it still took them by surprise: Prime Minister Sharon announced last night that he had invited Opposition Leader Shimon Peres for talks on the establishment of a national unity government ... Sharon said that if the current make-up of the government does not enable him to 'proceed in the diplomatic sphere' - i.e., the disengagement/retreat plan - he will form a new coalition." For a couple of years, Sharon has been hinting that he just might join with the Liberal Labor Party in a National Coalition Government. By retaining significant support from his Likud ministers, Sharon can count on equally significant support from Labor. By adding together the two "significant supports", Sharon will have a firmer government than he had before, when he was dependent upon his government cobbled together with splinter parties. If the two major parties can join together, Sharon and Peres might just have the tough government needed to finally implement the Oslo Accords, a treasonous plan created in 1992-1993 [For background information, read NEWS1911, "Proofs of A Conspiracy: Oslo Accords Were Originally Designed in 1993 To Give Large Chunks of Land To The Palestinians -- Exactly Where 'Hardliner' Sharon Is Leading Now!"] We seem to be watching the unfolding of a predetermined plan to bring Labor into the government, thus propelling the disengagement policy forward. Jewish and Palestinian populations may be separated more quickly than you might imagine. II. As expected, the International Criminal Court ruled that the Security Fence is illegal, "must" be torn down, and the Palestinian people "compensated" for their losses. The court made no mention of the 20 years of unrelenting terrorist attacks which seemingly forced the Israeli government to erect the protective fence. NEWS BRIEF: "Hague: Anti-Terror Fence is Illegal", Israel National News (Arutz-7), July 9, 2004 "The International Court has ruled: Israel's anti-terrorism partition fence is a violation of international law, it must be torn down, and Israel must compensate Arab residents for the damage done. Israel does not plan to abide by the ruling. In a nearly unanimous decision, with only the U.S. judge dissenting, the Court determined that Israel's anti-terrorism partition fence is a violation of international law ... The Court thus rejected several Israeli claims. Israel had maintained that the Court has no authority to rule on an internal Israeli matter, and that the fence was built for reasons of vital security." No serious observer in the world should have been taken by surprise at this ruling. The international community has taken a consistent anti-Israel stance since 1948, when Israel was officially reborn as a nation. In fact, were it not for consistent United States' vetoes throughout the last five decades, the United Nations itself might have posed a significant political and military threat to Israel. Given the consistent anti-Semitism of the UN these past 50 years, this ICJ ruling was no surprise. Israel attempted to reason with the ICJ, pointing out the proven effectiveness of the Security Fence in stopping terrorism. "Israeli security data released last month indicate that in northern Samaria areas where the fence has been completed, the rate of terrorist penetrations has been cut down to zero. IDF Central Command sources said that the barrier played a crucial role in the 75% decline in suicide attacks and attempts during the first half of this year..." When the motivation is racial hatred, reason will not prevail. All Muslims and their compatriots in the international community are setting themselves up for great judgment at the hands of Almighty God at these End Times. Listen: "I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there will I deal with and execute judgment upon them for [their treatment of My people and of My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and [because] they have divided My land." [Joel 3:2; Parallel Bible CDROM -- KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary] Notice two somber warnings in this End of the Age verse: 1) God is going to execute His judgment upon the peoples round about Israel solely on the basis of the way in which they have treated Israel; 2) God is going to wreak End Times judgment upon all who would divide His land -- Israel. Thus, Muslims will be judged for the hatred they have repeatedly shown against Israel, both in the many wars they have waged and in the suicide attacks of these past 20 years; but, leaders like Sharon and President Bush will be brought into judgment for the way in which they have pushed through the plan to divide the land of Israel through unilateral retreat. Please take some time to read our analysis of this situation in NEWS1936, "QUARTET OF WESTERN NATIONS NOW COMPLETING THE FINAL DISMEMBERMENT OF ISRAEL". III. In a development clearly reminiscent of President Nixon's Watergate disaster, it was announced that key documents were missing in two of President Bush's unfolding scandals. The political timing of these two disclosures is suspicious, coming at just the right time in the Presidential election to cause President Bush great embarrassment. Are we seeing two more elements in the campaign to discredit the President? (Read of this campaign to discredit the President in NEWS1929, "CAMPAIGN TO DISCREDIT PRESIDENT BUSH SEEMS MOVING INTO HIGHER GEAR".) Let us now examine these two scandals in which key documents are suddenly missing: 1) NEWS BRIEF: "Bush Military Service Files Were Destroyed", Wired News, July 9, 2004 "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Pentagon says military records related to President Bush's service in the National Guard more than 30 years ago were inadvertently destroyed, The New York Times reported on Friday. Payroll records of 'numerous service members', including Bush, were ruined in 1996 and 1997 during a project to salvage deteriorating microfilm by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the newspaper said, citing the Pentagon. Bush's whereabouts during his service in the National Guard during the Vietnam War have become an election-year issue, with some Democrats accusing him of shirking his duty." The political pressure against Bush on this issue became so great that the White House recently released edited documents from the National Guard in an attempt to stop the controversy. At a time when Senator Kerry is emphasizing his "valiant" Vietnam War record, along with his citations, President Bush was suddenly looking very weak. This release failed to calm the furor. Now, key military service files are missing. 2) NEWS BRIEF: "Prison inquiry to heat up: Committee hearings reconvene at height of election season", By John Hendren / Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2004 "A military investigation over missing documents is delaying hearings on the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison ... Just a few weeks ago, Congress was pushing hard to get to the bottom of the prison abuse scandal in Iraq ... The prospect of bombshells and damaging investigative reports coming out during the height of the political campaign or around the conventions is a concern for both the Bush administration and the Republicans who control both houses of Congress. But complicating it all is the contentious case of documents allegedly missing from an investigative report by Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba on abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad." If the Bush Administration is deliberately attempting to keep a lid on this torture and sexual abuse scandal in the Afghan and Iraqi military prisons, this tactic could backfire during this election period. The rest of this article speaks of the 'determination' of Republican Senator Warner to get to the bottom of this scandal, no matter what contrary pressure the White House is placing upon Congress and no matter that the election is coming up quickly. We shall just have to wait to see how much determination Senator Warner has to pursue this matter. I remember well the many scandals that erupted during the Lyndon Johnson Administration; even though the accusations of fraud seemed likely to reach the Johnson White House, firm Democrat control of Congress kept the scandal from ever getting a full, public hearing. We must now take an inventory of the many scandals beginning to plague the President as he is getting ready to run for re-election: 1) Highly placed public figures, such as Retired Marine General Zinni, are publicly stating that Bush led the country to war against Iraq based upon a "con" (NEWS1929) 2) Council On Foreign Relations (CFR) leader, Selig S. Harrison, publicly stated that the only reason the United States has not been able to reach a negotiated disarmament deal with North Korea is because of a failure of leadership on the part of President Bush (Ibid.) 3) The Fahrenheit 9/11 movie severely castigates President Bush for his role in ordering the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq; Moore easily follows the "oil money trail", making a plausible case that Bush ordered the invasions only because he and his family were greedy for Middle Eastern oil. 4) The 9/11 Commission adamantly insists that there was no credible proof that Saddam and Osama bin Laden were ever working together. This was the secondary reason that Bush/Cheney used to justify our Iraqi invasion. As we noted earlier, this 9/11 Commission was carefully chosen because they were trusted insiders; therefore, when they severely criticize President Bush and Vice President Cheney, they are doing so because that is the script they are following. 5) The 9/11 Commission also is consistently saying that Iraq possessed no WMD; this was the major reason Bush/Cheney gave for invading Iraq. 6) Now, we learn that key documents are missing in both President Bush's National Guard service and in the Iraqi torture and sexual degradation scandal. 7) President Bush hired a lawyer a few weeks ago to represent him in the CIA probe to discover who in the White House leaked the name of the deep undercover agent operating within the Executive Branch. If President Bush is indicted, he could be discredited enough in the eyes of enough Americans to cost him the election. 8) A group of 26 former senior diplomats and military officials called Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, have explicitly condemned Bush's foreign policy and are calling for his defeat at the polls this November. (NEWS1929) We seem to see a a deliberate campaign to discredit President Bush. If we are correct, we should expect that he would be nominated before the full force of these cumulative scandals. In other words, we should expect that the full force of these scandals would not reach crescendo until after he is nominated for reelection. IV. The Senate Intelligence Committee gave President Bush a huge break this week when they issued a report stating that the reason Bush and Cheney believed that Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) was because the CIA had blundered badly. Just as Cutting Edge has been long predicting, "Intelligence Failure" was the watchword on the day this report was issued. NEWS BRIEF: "Iraq errors were CIA's fault, says Senate", by Julian Borger in Washington, The Guardian, Friday July 9, 2004 "A Senate report due to be published today will blame the CIA for the Bush administration's unfounded claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and will not address White House responsibility for the debacle. The report by the Senate intelligence committee will admonish the outgoing director, George Tenet, and CIA analysts who, one Republican senator claimed yesterday, had made 'wholesale mistakes' in their collection and processing of intelligence." We have been predicting for months that President Bush and his entire leadership team were going to get off the hook, because all investigative bodies were planned to issue reports blaming "Intelligence Failure" for the following key issues: the 9/11 attacks, the Iraqi WMD issue, and the realization that Saddam and Osama bin Laden were NOT cooperating as the White House had claimed. However, you realize when you continue reading this Guardian article that Election Year Politics is at work in this Senate Intelligence Committee report. "But the administration's critics yesterday described the report as incomplete. Carl Levin, a Democratic senator on the intelligence committee, said it was 'only half the picture' because of the insistence by Republicans on the panel that examination of the White House's role be dealt with in a separate report, to be published after the election." [Ibid.] Now, we are beginning to see the full picture, are we not? Republicans insisted that a report on White House complicity in all this pre-Iraq falsehood be delayed until after the election! When the party of the President controls both Houses of Congress, this kind of partisanship reigns supreme. To see this matter in all its truthfulness, we would like to remind you of the reality we reported one year ago, in NEWS1890 and NEWS1890b -- "Bush/Blair Justification of Iraq Invasion Now Proven To Be Based On Lies, Distortions, and Exaggerations". Let us quickly recap our findings. 1. George Tenet insisted that the CIA had told everyone in leadership prior to the invasion that the intelligence the Agency had provided showed that Iraq was not cooperating with Osama bin Laden and that she had no WMD. Listen to Tenet's exact words: "The CIA said Saddam Hussein posed 'no imminent threat' in the months before last yearís invasion." During the many months leading up to the March 20, 2003, invasion of Iraq, Cutting Edge had listed many articles in our Daily News Updates which told the public in no uncertain terms that Iraq did not possess WMD, nor had she cooperated with Al Qaeda. You can go back in our Archives to see these articles for yourself. United Nations inspectors were especially adamant in saying these things. We list a number of these news articles during the build-up to invasion at the end of NEWS1890. Cutting Edge readers knew prior to the invasion that Iraq probably had no WMD, and that she probably had not cooperated with Al Qaeda. 2. When the CIA refused to sign off on bogus "intelligence" reports, Bush and Rumsfeld simply created their own "intelligence service", the Office of Special Plans (OSP). Listen as we reveal this truth: NEWS BRIEF: "There was no failure of intelligence: US spies were ignored, or worse, if they failed to make the case for war", The Guardian (London), February 5, 2004, carried in Daily News Updates 2/8/2004. "The truth is that much of the intelligence community did not fail, but presented correct assessments and warnings, that were overridden and suppressed. On virtually every single important claim made by the Bush administration in its case for war, there was serious dissension. Discordant views - not from individual analysts but from several intelligence agencies as a whole - were kept from the public as momentum was built for a congressional vote on the war resolution ...Precisely because of the qualms the administration encountered, it created a rogue intelligence operation, the Office of Special Plans (OSP), located within the Pentagon and under the control of neo-conservatives. The OSP roamed outside the ordinary inter-agency process, stamping its approval on stories from Iraqi exiles that the other agencies dismissed as lacking credibility, and feeding them to the president. At the same time, constant pressure was applied to the intelligence agencies to force their compliance. In one case, a senior intelligence officer who refused to buckle under was removed." Other news outlets also reported on the "Office of Special Plans" (OSP): * New Yorker-- "Donald Rumsfeld has his own special sources. Are they reliable?", by Seymour Hersch, http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030512fa_fact * The Free Dictionary -- "Office of Special Plans", http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Office%20of%20Special%20Plans "The Office of Special Plans is a Pentagon unit created by Donald Rumsfeld for dealing with intelligence on Iraq. In July of 2003 it was renamed to Northern Gulf Affairs Office ... former CIA officer Larry Johnson describes the OSP was "dangerous for US national security and a threat to world peace. [The OSP] lied and manipulated intelligence to further its agenda of removing Saddam. It's a group of ideologues with pre-determined notions of truth and reality. They take bits of intelligence to support their agenda and ignore anything contrary. They should be eliminated." * Sunday Herald, London -- "Revealed: the secret cabal which spun for Blair", http://www.sundayherald.com/34491 "BRITAIN ran a covert 'dirty tricks' operation designed specifically to produce misleading intelligence that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction to give the UK a justifiable excuse to wage war on Iraq ... Operation Rockingham ... Sources in both the British and US intelligence community are now equating the JIC with the Office of Special Plans (OSP) in the US Pentagon. The OSP was set up by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to gather intelligence which would prove the case for war. In a staggering attack on the OSP, former CIA officer Larry Johnson told the Sunday Herald the OSP was 'dangerous for US national security and a threat to world peace', adding that it 'lied and manipulated intelligence to further its agenda of removing Saddam'." This surprising story reveals that the American OSP had an equivalent "dirty tricks" office in Blair's Administration codenamed, "Operation Rockingham". This British agency also deliberately produced false "intelligence" stories designed to scare the public into accepting the planned invasion of Iraq. When the OSP was deliberately created for the express purpose of disseminating the type of scary "intelligence" reports that would justify the Afghanistan and Iraqi invasions, you have to realize that this action proves deliberate intent to deceive. However, these stories from many news agencies are now totally lost, inundated in the sea of current words about "Intelligence Failure". Illuminist Politicians Love Being Investigated Before we leave this subject, we would like to remind you that politicians who are Illuminati insiders do not mind being investigated; in fact, they love it because they know the outcome is predetermined and that their position will be greatly strengthened by the fraudulent "investigation". Author David Bresnahan wrote a book during the Clinton years entitled, ""Cover Up: The Art and Science of Political Deception"; one of his chapter titles was, "Clinton Likes To Be Investigated". Listen to the core understandings which Bresnahan reveals about Clinton and all other Illuminati political leaders. What he says about Clinton applies equally to President Bush today. "Clinton loves investigations. He has used them to his advantage since the days when he was in Arkansas. Many people mistakenly believe that because the House and Senate have a majority of Republicans, that Clinton is outnumbered. Those majorities have far less impact on Clinton's power than most people realize. Clinton has total control over every department of government because he controls the appointments of all the department heads and those under them." [p. 69] With this kind of control over investigative departments, you can ensure that complaints go nowhere, even though you may find it expedient to make it look like vigorous investigations were ocurring. In key areas, investigators who want the investigation to go nowhere can conveniently overlook clues or leads, or carry out the investigation sloppily enough that their conclusions could be successfully challenged by expert, high-powered legal teams. Bresnahan continues: "Investigations may be headed by politicians, but behind the scenes are many bureaucrats who do all the legwork for the investigations. Those bureaucrats control many aspects of the investigations and can effectively control what evidence is presented, what witnesses are heard and not heard, and what information is leaked to the press. Clinton controls those bureaucrats, and he controls a large number of the politicians. Those he does not control, he attacks." [Ibid., p. 12-121] For the rest of this chapter, Bresnahan recounts how Clinton could not pull this kind of chicanery off were it not for the silent support he receives from politicians on both sides of the aisle. His conclusion is revealing: "Republicans are in bed with the Democrats". Remember this reality every time you hear of some "Independent Investigation" ordered by President Bush; they are controlled, the outcome is predetermined, and the politician under investigation is likely to be "exonerated". V. Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge this week issued a very strong warning that Al Qaeda planned to stage a terrorist attack against the United States either this Summer or during the Fall election campaign. Even though we realize that this country has suffered through many blatantly false terror alerts since 9/11 (NEWS1888), one day such terrorist attacks will occur, for that is the plan. Let us listen to Tom Ridge first. NEWS BRIEF: "Ridge Warns of Election Terror Plot", By Katherine Pfleger Shrader, MyWay News, July 9, 2004 "WASHINGTON (AP) - A steady stream of intelligence, including nuggets from militant-linked Web sites, indicates al-Qaida wants to attack the United States to disrupt the upcoming elections, federal officials said Thursday. Besides elaborate security plans for the political conventions this summer in Boston and New York, the officials are considering how to secure polling places come November. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the Bush administration based a decision to bolster security on credible reports about al-Qaida's plans, coupled with the pre-election terror attack in Spain earlier this year and recent arrests in England, Jordan and Italy." Much of the rest of this article discusses how security measures during the national conventions have been dramatically beefed up. We have heard this rhetoric many times before, so the temptation is simply to dismiss "out-of-hand" this warning as bogus, paying no attention to it. However, as we said, one day the warning will come true, for that is the plan. The key question is how the Illuminati script is going to play out. If the Bilderberger Group wants President Kerry elected, then no terror attack will occur before the election; if they want Bush to remain President, we might see one or more terror attacks during the campaign. General Tommy Franks is boldly quoted in NewsMax in November 21, 2003, predicting that our current Constitutional Republic would not survive the next major terrorist attack. Listen: "Gen. Tommy Franks says that if the United States is hit with a weapon of mass destruction that inflicts large casualties, the Constitution will likely be discarded in favor of a military form of government ... the former commander of the militaryís Central Command warned that if terrorists succeeded in using a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) against the U.S. or one of our allies, it would likely have catastrophic consequences for our cherished republican form of government." We shall just have to wait to see how this particular part of the plan works out. With the campaign to discredit President Bush underway, it seems that the script may call for President Bush to be defeated, replaced by a 44th President of the United States, John Kerry. We heard of other official reports of terror attacks this Summer and/or Fall. NEWS BRIEF: "Bin Laden Is Said to Be Organizing for a U.S. Attack", The New York Times, July 9, 2004 "WASHINGTON, July 8 - Osama bin Laden and his chief lieutenants, operating from hideouts suspected to be along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, are directing a Qaeda effort to launch an attack in the United States sometime this year, senior Bush administration officials said ... Counterterrorism officials have said for weeks that they are increasingly worried by a continuing stream of intelligence suggesting that Al Qaeda wanted to carry out a significant terror attack on United States soil this year ... Another senior administration official said on Thursday that the intelligence reports - apparently drawn partly from interviews with captured Qaeda members and partly from other intelligence - referred to efforts 'to inflict catastrophic effects' before the election." This matter is so serious it caused Homeland Security Secretary Ridge to cancel a trip to Israel. NEWS BRIEF: "Tom Ridge cancels Israel visit, warns of terror attack in U.S.", By Haaretz Service and Reuters, Haaretz News, July 9, 2004 "U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has canceled a planned visit to Israel next week, Israel Radio reported Friday. Ridge has warned that Al-Qaida may attempt an election time attack in the United States, and officials in Washington said that he prefers not to leave the country at such a sensitive time..." Truly, we are seeing daily fulfillment of a key prophecy in our Daily News from these repeated stories of impending terrorism and doom. "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; All this is but the beginning, the early pains, of the birth pangs, of the intolerable anguish." [Matthew 24:6-8; Parallel Bible CDROM -- KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary Can you feel the "intolerable anguish" as this script grinds so slowly down to its planned goal of staging Antichrist? I certainly feel it, which is why I spend so much time in God's Word and reading so much of the old material from preachers like C.H. Spurgeon and A.W. Tozer. If I did not fill my heart, mind, and soul with Precious Promises of the Bible, my heart would truly break. VI. Senator Kerry picked John Edwards (D-NC) to be his Vice Presidential running mate, just as rumors coming from the Bilderberger meeting indicated. Let us review the basic news story first. NEWS BRIEF: "Kerry Picks Edwards as Running Mate", by Liza Porteus, Fox News, July 06, 2004 "PITTSBURGH, Pa. ó Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (search) on Tuesday announced his choice of John Edwards (search) ó his Senate colleague and primary campaign rival ó to be his vice presidential running mate ... Kerry said the former presidential hopeful displayed the "guts and determination and political skill in his own race for president of the United States" and that his life has "prepared him for leadership." It's the first time since 1960 that two senators have been on a ticket for the White House. Therefore, before the Democrat National Convention even began, Kerry picked his Vice Presidential candidate and announced the selection to the world. I remember the time when I followed national conventions -- during the period before I realized that elections are contrived and controlled. In each convention, suspense would begin to build toward the end as to who the newly-nominated Presidential Candidate might pick for his running mate. There will be no such suspense in Boston this month! Now, let us review the news story as to how the Bilderbergers picked John Edwards to be the V.P. Candidate. NEWS BRIEF: "Bilderberger Group Selected Edwards To Be Kerry's V.P.", WorldNetDaily, July 8, 2004 "Sen. John Edwards' standout "performance" at the super-secret Bilderberg meeting in Italy last month may have been a key reason for his selection as John Kerry's vice presidential running mate, according to the New York Times. The 50th anniversary conference of the elite group ñ which many believe conspires semi-annually to foster global government ñ met June 3 through June 6 in Stresa, Italy, at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees." "Among the attendees from the U.S. ... were Senators John Edwards, D-N.C. and Jon Corzine, D-N.J., Henry Kissinger, Richard Perle, Melinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates), David Rockefeller, Timothy F. Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Donald Graham, chairman and CEO of the Washington Post Company, and even Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition." Many of the rumors being sent to Cutting Edge following the Bilderberger meeting stated that the Bilderbergers had picked Edwards to be the Democrat Presidential candidate. This rumor never made sense, for the Illuminati has clearly been guiding Kerry for over a year now, setting up an election contest between two Skull & Bones Adepts. It simply made no sense for Edwards to get the nod for President; but, it made sense that the Bilderbergers had tapped him as Vice President. VII. Americans who believe that there is a big difference between Kerry and Bush will probably be shocked to learn that there is no essential difference between them on the issue of Iraq. NEWS BRIEF: "Kerry would keep US troops in Iraq far longer than Bush: The Democrat looks like the one with the long-term imperial agenda", By Jonathan Steele, The Guardian (London), July 9, 2004 "Would John Kerry, far from quickly bringing US troops home, keep them in Iraq even longer than George Bush? My answer, regrettably, is yes - which means that the Democratic convention in Boston later this month will be a sad affair for the people of Iraq ... what would Bush do if he won a second term? The conventional view is that he is one of the most ideologically, even religiously driven, presidents of modern times. He would pursue his pre-emptive war on terror in Iraq and beyond. But there is another possibility. Iraq has been a millstone for the past year and a half, and he might well choose to declare victory and withdraw ..." "Kerry, by contrast, looks increasingly like the candidate with the long-term imperial agenda ... In speech after speech, Kerry has laid the ground work for expanding and prolonging the US presence in Iraq ... 'It would be unthinkable for us to retreat in disarray and leave behind a society deep in strife and dominated by radicals ... The coalition should organise an expanded international security forces, preferably with NATO, but clearly under US command. {Speech, April 30)." Thus, if Kerry is elected President, he will likely pursue an exit strategy based upon "expanded international security forces", preferably NATO. However, NATO was originally created under the umbrella of the United Nations (NEWS1269, NEWS1290). Whether Kerry is elected President, or Bush reelected, the globalist plan will continue unabated. If fact, the globalist agenda has been pursued unaltered through every change of Presidents since World War I, thus proving that the American political process is engaged in a conspiracy to produce the global world over which Antichrist can assume authority, just as Revelation 17:12-17 foretells. President Thomas Jefferson was absolutely correct when he identified the term, "conspiracy" for all time: "... a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematical plan of reducing us to slavery." ["The Unseen Hand", by A. Ralph Epperson, p. 196; quoted in NEWS1911] If you really delve into the political agenda of both Kerry and Bush, you will discover "not one dime's bit of difference" between them. Conservatives refused to pay attention to this matter during the debates of the 2000 election -- between Bush and Gore. Bush admitted that he was "very close" to Gore on most of the issues! No matter whom we see ascending to the Presidential Office, the globalist policies of the Illuminati will continue. VIII. Violence continued to plague Iraq this week, with Coalition Forces soldiers dying nearly every day, and with the Interim Government declaring a tough state of Martial Law. A. Seasoned observers were wondering whether brutality had returned to rule from Baghdad. NEWS BRIEF: "'An alarm bell is sounding ': The interim government's new security measures worried some observers", Daily Star Editorial, Lebanon, July 8, 2004 "Iraq's interim government is only in its second week of independent life and already an alarm bell is sounding. On Wednesday [it] announced a package of new security measures allowing the prime minister, Ayad Allawi, to [impose] martial law in particularly troublesome regions of the country. While the security priority is clearly understandable ... the insurgents ... cannot be defeated by military means alone ... Where the might of the US armed forces failed, what hope can there be for Iraq's security apparatus - unless the country is again ruled by brutality centered in Baghdad?" When Saddam ruled the country with his iron fist, the reality is that he could not have succeeded unless substantial numbers of men in the armed forces, in the police forces, and in the security forces were willing to be as brutal as Saddam in carrying out his brutal policies. Without these brutal men, Saddam could not have been the brutal dictator that he was. This reality makes one tremble when you remember last week's story about the Coalition bringing back 12,000 former Saddam officials to rule the country. As this editorial from the Daily Star in Lebanon rhetorically poses the question: Is the country "again ruled by brutality centered in Baghdad?" During the time when Nick Berg was beheaded, stories were posted which revealed that the brutality and sadism of American interrogators was nothing compared to the brutality and sadism of the local Iraqi police. Wait a minute. Coalition Forces put these local police in position of authority in the first place; our forces are complicit in their foul deeds. Indeed, has brutality returned to the country, "centered in Baghdad?" Our forces have evidently given up trying to win the hearts and minds of the average citizen in Iraq. No brutal government can long survive when its armed forces are confronted by an insurgency more powerful than the government. This situation is exactly what this Interim Government is facing. Listen to one recent news story: NEWS BRIEF: "Iraqi police wary of patrols: They feel they're targets if they walk with U.S. soldiers", By Edmund Sanders / Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2004 "BAQUBAH, Iraq ó The squad of U.S. soldiers waited impatiently to embark on a joint foot patrol with Iraqi police last week through the streets of this hostile city. Military commanders hoped the sight of Americans and Iraqis walking side by side would symbolize the start of the transfer of control over security back to Iraqis. The Iraqis didnít see it that way. Loath to be seen marching through their hometown with heavily armed Americans, none of them showed up." We have seen reports recently that Coalition-trained Iraqi soldiers and policemen have thrown weapons down and run whenever fighting began. Just as in South Vietnam, the central government is no match for the insurgent army it is facing. If Coalition Forces ever leave, Iraq will fall immediately. Then, the questioning will really begin: Why did we invade? What did we accomplish? What do we say to the soldiers who lost their limbs and what do we say to the families who lost a loved one? As Retired Marine General Zinni said in February, 2004: "'I think the American people were conned into this [war]'." B. Saddam's upcoming trial will represent a new legal model for the International Criminal Law. We had wondered how Saddam's capture and trial would further the goal of an international government and court system. That question has now been partially answered. NEWS BRIEF: "Saddam's trial creates a new legal model", International Herald Tribune, by Tom Parker, New York Times, July 8, 2004 "Saddam's appearance before an Iraqi judge last week was the culmination of a remarkable collaboration between the American-led coalition and Iraqi jurists. It also marked an important new stage in the evolution of international justice. For probably the first time in history, a country will put its former leaders on trial under international criminal law in a locally constituted court." I bet you did not know that, when our officials were working hard to create the new Iraqi Interim Government, they were meticulously creating a legal system which conformed to the guidelines set by International Criminal Law! Further, this sentence tells us that the ultimate plan for all nations of the world is to create a legal system which conforms to the guidelines set by International Criminal Law, but which will exercise its authority locally. This type of system makes a great deal of common sense when you have set out to systematically create a global system of government and law. Each country will have to create a legal system which conforms to global criminal guidelines, but which exercises authority within the country. Is this the plan for each country in which a "Regime Change" is carried out? C. The United States matter-of-factly announced last week that it had secretly removed 1.7 metric tons of enriched uranium which had been under the control of a research lab. Our officials announced that they acted to prevent insurgent forces from gaining control over this material so they could make a radioactive "dirty bomb". United Nations officials threw cold water on any possibility this could happen. NEWS BRIEF: "Iraqi 'dirty bomb' risk dismissed", BBC News, 7 July 2004 "The UN's atomic watchdog says it is confident there is not enough radioactive material missing in Iraq to make a nuclear 'dirty bomb'. Vilmos Cserveny, a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency, said: 'We don't have concerns about any missing uranium' in Iraq. Earlier, the US revealed that it had secretly removed more than 1.7 metric tons of radioactive material from Iraq. Some nuclear material remains in Iraq under IAEA control, Mr Cserveny said. 'The remaining sources are not suitable for malevolent purposes', he told BBC News Online." The way this story unfolding during the week left the impression that America was trying to spin this removal of research and development enriched uranium as a bold move designed to protect against the remote possibility that such material might be used to manufacture nuclear "dirty bombs" -- a bomb which explodes just enough to spray deadly radioactive contamination into the air, where prevailing winds will carry it over large distances. The United Nations said it was not concerned by this remote possibility. What this article did not say is that the insurgents probably has no one with sufficient expertise to create a "dirty bomb". However, remember that the "dirty bomb" headline has been one of the most commonly repeated terrorist headlines since 9/11 (Read study of repeating headlines in NEWS1888). D. The Iraqi War assumed a terrible personal note last week, when the 18-year-old son of Christian author, Vaughn Shatzer, was nearly killed. Cutting Edge carries some of Shatzer's product, three of which have been best-sellers in the month since we added them to our Bookstore. You can view the products from Brother Shatzer by clicking on the Bookstore button on the Home Page and then typing in "Shatzer" in the search engine box. Kenton Shatzer is the middle son of one of our new authors, Vaughn Shatzer. Vaughn and Peggy had mailed Kenton's personal prayer list to us as he was stationed in Ramadi, Iraq where his platoon was engaged in urban warfare. There had been two Marines in his platoon who had committed suicide and three that had been killed in action. On July 1st, Kenton was badly burned in an accident. He was stabilized in theater and then flown to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio TX, arriving at 4 a.m. on July 5th. The U.S. Government paid for Vaughn and Peggy to fly to San Antonio on Thursday morning to spend a week with Kenton. Because Kenton's two brothers, Micah and Peter were also desperate to see their brother, the family took a step of faith and purchased tickets at a cost of $1200. Miraculously, that very day two people stopped by the Shatzer home in Hagerstown, MD and provided the cash for the tickets for Micah and Peter. This family has seen many miracles. We urge you to read about the Shatzer family's journey through Vaughn's cancer treatment four years ago. "By God's GraceÖa Cancer Survivor's Testimony" is an uplifting and intimate journal of Vaughn's treatment and spiritual growth. Vaughn has asked if we would publish Kenton's address at Brooke Army Medical Center. Kenton's 19th birthday is July 19th and the family has asked for prayers, as well as cards, for this young Christian man. At this time, we know that Kenton is off the ventilator and all tubes are out of his throat -- Praise God! Please pray that Kenton will have a full recovery from his burns. Also, please pray for the Shatzer family, as there will be many obstacles which will arise in the near future. Here are the addresses for Kenton and the Shatzer family. Please send encouragement cards, as the Lord leads you. c/o Kenton Shatzer, ICU-4 Brooke Army Medical Center 3851 Roger Brooke Drive San Antonio, TX 78234 Vaughn Shatzer Work of Prophecy Ministries PO Box 1113 Hagerstown, MD 21741 Our hearts are broken for this family, and for all families who have lost loved ones to this war, a conflict in which, as Marine General Zinni, says: "'I think the American people were conned into this [war]'." This war was planned to further the goal of uniting the world so the final rulers of the End of the Age can pass their global authority to "The Beast" (Antichrist) for "one hour" (Revelation 17:12-13). Truly, the End of the Age is upon an unsuspecting world. ---------- Articles Posted ---------- * "QUARTET OF WESTERN NATIONS NOW COMPLETING THE FINAL DISMEMBERMENT OF ISRAEL": As we reported in NEWS1928, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon continues the shameless goal of the original Oslo Accords: Supplying their implacable, fierce Palestinian foes the land, the training and the opportunity to destroy Israel. The Western Quartet continues to push Sharon in the appeasement direction dictated by treasonous Oslo (NEWS1911). What light does God's Word cast upon this awful situation? -- http://cuttingedge.org/news/n1936.cfm * "PROOFS OF A CONSPIRACY: OSLO ACCORDS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED IN 1993 TO GIVE LARGE CHUNKS OF ISRAEL BACK TO THE PALESTINIANS -- EXACTLY WHERE "HARDLINER" SHARON IS HEADING NOW": President Thomas Jefferson Defined "Conspiracy" For All Time "... a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematical plan of reducing us to slavery." ["The Unseen Hand", by A. Ralph Epperson, p. 196] * "STANDARD BIBLE PROPHECY TEACHING IS BLINDING MANY PEOPLE TO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROPHETIC EVENTS NOW ABOUT TO OCCUR": "How can pastors, teachers, and parishioner be so blind as to current world events and the current leaders of the day"? This question has been asked by many Cutting Edge subscribers. This interview with a leading Bible Prophecy teacher answers this critical question, revealing that today's prophecy teaching has created a Blind Spot for most people. -- http://cuttingedge.org/news/n1935.cfm ---------Conclusion----------------"The things which are not seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18 In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with Him on His throne, even as He has overcome and has sat down with the Father on His throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short--eternity, how long! Death, how brief--immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol's clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there. "When the world my heart is rending With its heaviest storm of care, My glad thoughts to heaven ascending, Find a refuge from despair. Faith's bright vision shall sustain me Till life's pilgrimage is past; Fears may vex and troubles pain me, I shall reach my home at last." [C.H. Spurgeon, "Morning and Evening Devotions", Contained Within A.W. Tozer CDROM Library; Emphasis added] http://cuttingedge.org/detail.cfm?ID=599 ======================================================= May Jesus Richly Bless You, David Bay, Director --------------------------- http://www.cuttingedge.org/newsletters/index.html --------------------------------------------------Denise, who is NOT putting down Christians but simply stating her opinion of the people SHE KNOWS around here. So I don't want to hear how I stepped on anyone's toes because I've made this fact (that I'm speaking about people I personally know and live around) known more than once now. It's very clear. | ||
| Denisegilmore Registered user Username: Denisegilmore Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2000 |
On my signoff, it sounds very defensive and that's horrible! Never meant it to sound so..so...that way. Just had a problem at the end on how to make sure that nobody is offended by my remarks about Christians and I suppose the way I did it is a bit abrupt. Sorry folks, didn't mean it to sound like that but I do want you all to know that I'm not talking about you nor your loved ones but just about the Christians I live around and love very much. It was very lonely not having a Christian brother or sister to talk to about the Middle East the the Left Behind series and a host of other topics but God has a way of making sure we are not alone and our Good Lord put a very discerning Christian man next door to me. So we discuss these things but I do wish we could discuss them more often. He is 80 and a fine gentleman. I'm a blessed woman. Hoping to ammend my last sign off and make things not so abrupt as I did. Again, I'm sorry about that. Blessings and Peace to all, Denise | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 383 Registered: 7-2003 |
Denise, i get an online newsbrief from Israel every day (except Shabbat). I used to read it top to bottom and was fascinated about the correlations until I started to realize I was quasi-trying to figure out "when". I am very interested in the happenings in the middle east as well, and B always ridicules "non-SDA Christians" interest in the middle east as a waste of time saying repeatedly that God doesn't care about Israel any more and never will. I used to point out that EGW said Israel would never be built up again, to which he responded that she said it would never be a major world power (sounds like re-write to me...). I said I don' t know how that is any better since they're on the news every night...what qualifies one as a world power? Of course, he minimizes the stuff over there and says there are African countries with the same problems, but we ignore them.... always trying to move away from the interest in Israel world-wide. He just can't stand it that there is a point EGW is blatantly wrong about. But she still speaks for God.... The interest in Israel I've seen around here really depends upon your interest level in prophecy in general. Frankly, beyond knowing Christ is going to return some day, that is as much indepth knowledge of end time things as some people care about. Their attitude is that if they're living for Christ today, they'll be ready if today is the day. I have been to other churches where the pastor has written text books on Daniel and Revelation and their church seems more interested in prophecy, probably because the pastor is. That pastor is where I heard about the Israeli newsbrief because he talks about it periodically. I enjoy the speculation, but get a little concerned we might recreate the frenzy of the 1840s where people come out trying to set dates, identify the anti-Christ...in my life time, I remember speculation it was Henry Kessinger and others through the years. Some think it has to be a jew, others say it doesn't. Some say he has to be from Israel, others say not. In the late 70s, I remember a teacher who had done some research and said there were 4 people on the earth at that time who claimed they were the Christ, that he knew about. He wasn't a big-time prophecy buff, just introducing a bunch of high school kids to some of the stuff out there. He had pulled headlines as well that matched scripture and it was pretty fascinating. They had gone to a tour in Israel and all of the busses had license plates with 666 on them. That was interesting stuff. More recently, I used to copy some of the articles from the Israeli newsletter and save them because I thought they paralleled things in scripture, but people have thought this was the era since Christ ascended. So, I think we're in good company. It is interesting to speculate though. It's hard not to think the fig tree has budded. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 384 Registered: 7-2003 |
BTW, regarding Luther, I bought a 6 or 7-volume set of his sermons from Christianbook.com for about $30, if I recall correctly, about 6 months ago. They're in red hardback, library style books, very good quality. Don't know if they're still available if someone were interested in checking them out. They are obviously translated from German to English. | ||
| Denisegilmore Registered user Username: Denisegilmore Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2000 |
Hello Melissa, I'm happy to see someone else interested in prophecy! Here is a write up on why many Christians do or don't study prophecy that I thought to share with you and others. This site is also a good apologetic site with tons of information. If you, after reading this article I'll post (with the link), scroll down to where it says "Bible Prophecy" then click on "New Age Influence at the United Nations. #3 in a series," you will see why it's so important to keep up on what's going on in this world. Prophecy warns us of all of this so we need to pay heed for sure. As the system of the anti-christ is surely at work and many are being deceived by this system. My belief is that there is this system which is corrupt as we all know and then by and by the anti-christ will surely appear. I also believe we are in the beginning of the birth pains that Jesus speaks about in Matthew. That's not the tribulation but the birth pangs just before the birth of the tribulation. Hopefully that's when our Lord gets us out of here! Yipes, hate to be around during HIS WRATH. And happy to know that He promises we WILL NOT SUFFER THE HOUR OF HIS WRATH. But prior to His Wrath, currently, many are being deceived and this is why we are to study prophecy and watch and pray as directed by Jesus Christ Himself. Watch the world events so we are not caught in the evil ones snare. We are warned over and over to not be deceived. And not to worry, they don't believe in setting dates either. Nor do they believe we ought to spend ALL of our time studying prophecy as there is alot of work to be done for our Lord Jesus. The fields are ripe for harvest! And yes, hard not to think of the fig tree as having budded. Mr. B. has a real problem and we need to pray for him. Whadya say? Want to join me in praying for him? I'm going to and hopefully you will join me. Let me know what you think of both of these sites. The one already posted by me and this one, if you don't mind. Blessings to you and your household! Denise Here's the first of their articles: "Many people take an intense interest in studying end-times prophecy. Your local bookstore, be it Christian or secular, will have many titles on end-times prophecy. The trend extends to fiction as well, with the "Left Behind" series of books, the "Christ Clone Trilogy" books, and others flying off the shelves. More websites than ever are dedicated to the study of end times, and Christian movies have moved in on the action as well. Why are people so interested? Should they be? You'll find people making passionate arguments for and against. I believe the answer, as it usually does, lies in scripture. The usual argument I hear against the study of end-time prophecy is that no one will know when the Lord will return for the saints, and we shouldnít try to predict when that will occur. I canít say I disagree with that. As we shall see, thatís a Biblically sounds viewpoint. However I would counter that familiarizing yourself with end-times prophecy, and keeping an eye on current world events from that perspective, is not the same as trying to predict the return of Christ. In fact, analyzing the signs of the times is a directive from Jesus Himself. The other argument I hear against the study of end-time prophecy is this: for two thousand year, people have been anticipating the return of Christ in their generation, and they were all wrong. Once again, I cannot disagree with that statement ñ itís absolutely true. In fact, the Bible predicts that very thing (hey, another prophecy fulfilled). 2 Peter 3:3-6 says, ì3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.î However, that is not a reason to not keep watch. I do think it prudent ñ not to mention, Biblical ñ to not obsess on signs and wonders to bolster your faith. To base oneís faith on signs and wonders makes them an easy mark for the attacks of the evil one. In the last days (yes, this is another end-times prophecy), many false prophets will go out into the world performing various signs and wonders ìÖto deceive even the electî(Matthew 24:24). That others before us were wrong about the nearness of the Lordís return should not deter us from searching the scriptures, now that many of the end-time prophecies have been fulfilled (Israel reestablished as a nation, hatred of Israel by other nations, steps taken by the United Nations to create a one-world government, etc.). As I stated before, to be watchful of the signs of the last days is scriptural. Jesus himself told us to keep watch. Consider the following passage, Matthew 24:36-51: 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.î [Emphasis mine] As you can see, Jesus expressly stated that we will not know the day when He will return. It is my belief then, that we should not try to predict it. It is equally clear from this passage though, that we are expected to be watchful for His glorious return. How do we do that if we do not study the prophecies of scripture and look for their fulfillment? Let us examine some more passages from The Word. ì 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect himÖ54He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?î Luke 12:40, 54-56 [Emphasis mine] ì3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.î Revelation 3:3 ì 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.î 1 Thessalonians 5:2-9 I would like to single out a few key points from the passages above: 1) we will not know when Christ will return, 2) we must keep watch, 3) we must learn how to discern the signs of the time, and 4) we must guard against being deceived by the signs and wonders of the evil one. Obviously I am not saying that everyone should stock up on books or videos on end-time prophecy. I do contend that in order to discern the signs of the times and keep watch for the return of the Lord, we must study scripture and the prophecies therein, and we must be observant of the events around us, as they may be a fulfillment of prophecy ñ a ìsignî of the time. As a student of Bible prophecy, I believe that the return of Christ to claim His bride is imminent. I believe I will see it occur during my lifetime. I say this in light of the rapid fulfillment of end-time prophecy. I may be wrong (and often am). If the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, should choose to ìtarry another dayî, then so be it. His will ñ not mine, be done. I heard someone refer to the rapture of the saints as a ìscare tacticî used by Christianity to keep people in line. What this person failed to grasp is that Christians need not fear the rapture. Indeed, we eagerly await the day when we finally come face to face with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and feel his warm and loving embrace. Until that day comes, let us not be like the servant caught off-guard. Let us be watchful as we go about the work of the Lord. There are many souls out there who need to be brought into the fold. May the Lord bless you as you cast your eyes toward heaven, keep your feet on the ground, and contend for the faith!" That site is here: http://www.contenderministries.org/articles/likeathief.php Peace to you always. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2004 |
Denise, Speaking for myself...I have a hard time with end time prophecy because it was used to scare me into submission. I remember my parents talking with their friends that JFK was a sign. Remember when the ATM was first introduced...that was a sign of end times (I'm showing my age!). It is difficult to get past that. The more I grow and appreciated God's gift of grace and the older I get and am more and more disgusted with "the world's" condition, the more meaningful Christ's second coming is to me. The greatest gift is no longer being afraid of "being ready". I could be killed driving my son to VBS tonight...it is no longer frightening! Anyway...just wanted to say that there is a reason behind my "disinterest" in prophecy. How about for anyone else? God bless you through your study of prophecy and current world events. It is so uplifting for me to see how He touches us all in different areas! All part of being in the body of Christ! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 693 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yeah, and the bar code scanners at the markets were said to be a forrunner of the dreaded beast, too. My schitzopherenic friend has a tee-shirt that says, "You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me". Remember the disaster that was supposed to happen New Years Even 2000? It's always another thing to scare the wits out of someone. I don't mean to offend anyne on here with my attitude about prophecy. But, Ithink I am aware enough of what's going on that if something dramatic happens I'll notice. That aspect of Bible interpertation though has not been soething of much interest to me. Have youever read and studied the prophicies of Nastrodamus? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 236 Registered: 3-2004 |
Dd, the end time prophecies of the SDA church used to scare me also. I did not realize until right now, I am not afraid any more. For a long time now, and it was over a period of time I have been of the opinion, and still am, that if I maintain my relationship with God on a daily basis and grow spiritually, when the end times come I will be okay, because I have that relationship with Jesus. I thought this way even before I decided not to rejoin the SDA church. God shows me a little every day how He was pulling me away from it. Praise the Lord. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Hallanvaara Registered user Username: Hallanvaara Post Number: 53 Registered: 1-2004 |
Denise, I¥ve been reading those cuttingedge pages in finnish (I read and study a lot because I¥m curious for all kind of things) and there has been some interesting issues. But I¥m convicted that no one can predict what kind of events is coming. That cuttingedge may be right in some predictions and talking about the micro chip controlling people is one thing. The fire coming down from sky (mentioned in Revelation) is made by a big satellite. Israel is having some part in end times events, too, I believe. As Diana and Dd said I was so afraid of, too, the end time prophecies and was agonised because I felt I never could be perfect enough to stand it. Jesus took that fright away. What ever happens to me my Lord will stand by my side. And when I have to give up my life He will be there and I can be with Him forever. But I¥m still going to be curious and read all kind of prophecies. That¥s what Jesus said we should do. Don¥t sleep, be alert because the big delusion is coming and even the selected ones can be deceived. Stay close to Jesus and read Bible. We are safe with Him. Tuija |
