Idol Worship

This article is in response to people asking if the worship of images, particularly the image of INA or Peñafrancia in Naga City and other places with similarity is considered as idolatry. Well, based from God's commandment to Moses it is a violation certainly and punishable by YHWH. I hope this short explanation will give you a good grasp of why it is forbidden in the Bible. Should a professing Christian or follower of the Jewish Messiah should allow in his or her devotion to God and obedience graven images to be used to woship Him and adore?

What is an Idol?
IDOLS literally are images made by human hands, carved, graven, molten or formed. Whatever fashion have man made it if we will make the OLD TESTAMENT our reference we will come to a conclusion that IDOLATRY in the Bible is not allowed and  forbidden and punishable by GOD. Idolatry is the act of worshiping images either man, beast or some kind of a being in a form of a statue, graven or molten image. However we can also include stars or other celestial bodies even alien being not found on this planet? In the Book of Exodus it is a clear commandment given to Moses as the children of Israel made a pact or covenant with God.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." - Exodus 20:3-6 KJV

Historical Outlines.

"All idolatrous cults are condemned by the Biblical insistence on worship of Yhwh only. The Decalogue begins with the command to reverence the one true God and to recognize no other deities. On this theme the Pentateuch dilates from every point of view, and the efforts of the Prophets were chiefly directed against idolatry and against the immorality connected with it. To recognize the true God meant also to act according to His will, and consequently to live a moral life. The thunderings of the Prophets against idolatry show, however, that the cults of other deities were deeply rooted in the heart of the Israelitish people, and they do not appear to have been thoroughly suppressed until after the return from the Babylonian exile. There is, therefore, no doubt that Jewish monotheism was preceded by a period of idolatry; the only problem is that which concerns the nature of the cults (comp. the articles Adrammelech; Anammelech; Asherah; Ass-Worship; Astarte Worship Among the Hebrews; Atargatis; Ba'al and Ba'al-Worship; Baal-peor; Baal-zebub; Baal-zephon; Bamah; Calf, Golden; Calf-Worship; Chemosh; Dagon; High Place; Moloch; Star-Worship; Stone and Stone-Worship; Tammuz; Teraphim; and Witchcraft).


Origin, Extent, Name.
I. Biblical Data: The narratives in Genesis presuppose monotheism as the original religion. After its decline Abraham was called to spread the true knowledge of God (Gen. xii.; Josh. xxiv.), but the prophetical books still reflect the struggle against idols and idolatry. Even Jeremiah, who lived to see the end of the Jewish state, complains: "According to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah" (ii. 28). The various terms, sometimes expressive of scorn and disdain, which were applied to idols and idolatry are indicative of the wide diffusion of polytheistic cults and of the horror with which they filled the Biblical writers. Thus idols are stigmatized "non-God" (Deut. xxxii. 17, 21; Jer. ii. 11), "things of naught" (Lev. xix. 4 et passim), "vanity" (, Deut. xxxii. 21 et passim; frequently in Jer.), "iniquity" (, I Sam. xv. 23 et passim), "wind and confusion" (Isa. xli. 29), "the dead" (Ps. cvi. 28), "carcasses" (Lev. xxvi. 30; Jer. xvi. 18), "a lie" (Isa. xliv. 20 et passim), and similar epithets. They are made of gold, silver, wood, and stone, and are graven images, unshapen clods, and, being the work of men's hands, unable to speak, see, hear, smell, eat, grasp, or feel, and powerless either to injure or to benefit (Scholz, Götzendienst und Zauberwesen," pp. 45 et seq.).Idols were either designated in Hebrew by a term of general significance, or were named according to their material or the manner in which they were made. They were placed upon pedestals, and fastened with chains of silver or nails of iron lest they should fall over or be carried off (Isa. xl. 19, xli. 7; Jer. x. 14; Wisdom xiii. 15), and they were also clothed and colored (Jer. x. 9; Ezek. xvi. 18; Wisdom xv. 4). At first the gods and their images were conceived of as identical; but in later times a distinction was drawn between the god and the image. Nevertheless it was customary to take away the gods of the vanquished (Isa. x. 10 et seq., xxxvi. 19, xlvi. 1; Jer. xlviii. 7, xlix. 3; Hosea x. 5; Dan. xi. 8), and a similar custom is frequently mentioned in the cuneiform texts.

Forms of Idol-Worship.
Temples, altars, and statues were erected to the gods, and figures of oxen and of other animals are also mentioned (Ezek. viii. 10 et seq.). In Israel the worship of high places was a favorite form of polytheistic cult, as is shown by the Book of Kings, where the reign of each monarch is judged chiefly from the standpoint of his participation in the worship of idols, so that the words "but the high places were not removed" form a stereotyped phrase. Prayer was offered to the gods (Ex. xx. 5, xxiii. 24, et passim), the hands were stretched out to them (Ps. xliv. 21 [A. V. 20]), they were invoked by name (I Kings xviii. et seq., xxiv.), their names were praised (Josh. xxiii. 7), knees were bent before them (I Kings xix. 18), incense was burned in their honor (I Kings xi. 8 et passim), they were invoked in the taking of oaths, and sacrifices were immolated to them (Jer. vii. 18; Ex. xxxiv. 15), the victims including even human beings, such as the offerings made to Moloch. The custom of worshiping stars and idols by throwing kisses to them is mentioned in Job xxxi. 13. The exchange of clothes, by which men put on women's clothes and women donned men's garments, was an idolatrous custom, and was consequently forbidden (Deut. xxii. 5). Human hair also served as a sacrifice, and the prohibition against shaving the head or having writing burned into one's body (Lev. xix. 18, 27; xxi. 5; comp. Jer. ix. 26, xxv. 23, xlix. 32) was recognized by the Talmud (Mak. iii. 6) and by Maimonides ("Moreh," iii. 37; "Yad," 'Ab. Zarah xii. 5) as connected with idol-worship. There were, moreover, many other forms of worship, and numerous commandments of the Pentateuch, even though they omit the term "abomination" as a synonym of idolatry, refer to polytheistic worship; foridolatry was deeply rooted in the national character, as is shown by the many proper names compounded with names of idols, so that it became necessary to make every effort for its eradication.

Survivals in Talmudic Times.
II. Post-Biblical Period: It is generally supposed that idolatry was completely crushed in Israel after the return from the Exile. This assertion is somewhat exaggerated, however, as is evident from the continual warnings against idols and idolatry both in the Apocrypha (Kautzsch, "Apokryphen," Index, s.v. "Götzen") and in Jewish tradition. The Talmud has a special treatise on idolatry (see 'Abodah Zarah), and also discusses the subject elsewhere in many passages, so that its data concerning this matter would fill a volume. The gods of the Greco-Roman epoch, especially those of the Oriental world, appear in its pages in variegated profusion. "If one wished to write all the names of idols, all the skins [parchment scrolls] would be insufficient" (Sifre, Deut. 43). The monotheism of the masses, it is true, wasnot endangered, for when it was threatened by the Syrians and Romans, the Jews revolted, refusing to permit Roman troops to enter their territory with flags; they even detected idols in the portraits of the Cæsars stamped on coins, and this was not unjustifiable, in view of the divine worship paid the emperors (see Zealots). Despite this fear of idols and images, the danger of inroads among the Jews by idolatrous customs and usages, which permeated the whole ancient world around them, was so great that the scholars could not invent too many "fences." They accordingly aimed at making intimate association with the heathen impossible, and thereby succeeded in protecting the Jewish people from the evil which threatened them.The ancient world regarded the Jews as atheists because of their refusal to worship visible gods. "Whosoever denies idols is called a Jew" (Meg. 13a, b). To statements such as this the Jew responded: "Whosoever recognizes idols has denied the entire Torah; and whosoever denies idols has recognized the entire Torah" (Sifre, Deut. 54 and parallel passages). "As soon as one departs from the words of the Torah, it is as though he attached himself to the worship of idols" (Sifre, Num. 43).

Attitude of Jews Toward Idolatry.
Although the Jews were forbidden in general to mock at anything holy, it was a merit to deride idols (Meg. 25b), and Akiba decreed that the names of the gods be changed into derogatory names (Sifre, Deut. 61, end, et passim). Thus, Baal-zebub (II Kings i. 2, 6) is called Beel-zebul ( = "dominus stercoris") in Matt. xii. 24, 27, and elsewhere, and the word with which the Talmud designates sacrifice to idols (; Yer. Ber. 13b) literally means "to manure." The Hellenistic Jews also observed this custom, so that they applied the term εἰδωλόϑυτος to what the Gentiles called ἱερίϑυτος (Deissmann, "Die Hellenisierung des Semitischen Monotheismus," p. 5, Leipsic, 1903). It was forbidden to look upon images (Tosef., Shab. xvii. 1 [ed. Zuckermandel, p. 136] and parallels), and even thinking of idolatrous worship was prohibited (Ber. 12b); if one saw a place where an idol had once stood, he was commanded to utter a special prayer (Ber. 61a). Sacrifice to an idol or anything which in any way might be associated with idolatry was forbidden. It was even insufficient to reduce an idol to powder and scatter it to the winds, since it would fall to earth and become a fertilizer; but the image must be sunk in the Dead Sea, whence it could never emerge ('Ab. Zarah iii. 3); nor might the wood of the "asherah" be used for purposes of healing (Pes. 25a; see Magic). Among the three cardinal sins for which the penalty was death, idolatry stood first (Pes. 25a and parallels). "Dust of idolatry" is a technical expression for the prohibition of anything related to idol-worship ("'abodah zarah").

To prevent any possible inducement to idolatry, all association of Jews with Gentiles was rendered difficult. For three days before a Gentile feast-day no Jew might have any commercial dealings with the idolaters ('Ab. Zarah i. 1), and it was forbidden to attend the fairs connected with such festivals, or even to go on a road which led to the image of a deity, or to arrange a meeting in the vicinity of such a statue. No cattle might be housed in the stalls ('Ab. Zarah ii. 1). The Jews were driven to this intolerance partly through the wickedness and immorality of the Gentiles.

Survivals of Idol-Worship.
III. Post-Talmudic Period: In the century between the return from the Exile and the termination of the Babylonian Talmud, the Jews were thoroughly weaned from all belief in idols, although superstition itself can never be wholly eradicated. Through mysticism and magic many polytheistic ideas and customs again found their way among the people, and the Talmud confirms the fact that idolatrous worship is seductive (Sanh. 102b). The fight for a pure belief in one God and worship of Him was waged by the religious philosophers, while the authorities on rabbinical law strove for purity of worship. Philosophy and law were united by Maimonides, who in his philosophical "Moreh Nebukim" and in his legal "Yad ha-Ḥazaḳah" devoted separate sections to idolatry and thoroughly exposed its teachings. The Shulḥan 'Aruk, Yoreh De'ah, also has a separate section on idolatry.

Bibliography:
See, in general, works on the history of Israel and on Biblical theology. Special works of this nature are: Baudissin, Studien zur Semitischen Religionsgeschichte, i.-ii., Leipsic, 1876-78;
Dillmann, Alttestamentliche Theologie, ib. 1895;
Hastings, Dict. Bible, ii. 445-448;
Cheyne and Black, Encyc. Bibl. ii. 2146-2158;
Hamburger, R. B. T. i. 460-465;
Herzog-Hauck, Real-Encyc. vi. 750-757 (gives extensive bibliography and special treatment of idolatry in the N. T.;
ib. iii. 217-221, on idolatry in the O. T);
Scholz, Götzendienst und Zauberwesen bei den Alten Hebräern, Regensburg, 1877;
Smend, Alttestamentliche Religionsgeschichte, 2d ed., Freiburg-im-Breisgau, 1899;
Stade, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, Berlin, 1887;
F. Weber, Jüdische Theologie, 2d ed., Leipsic, 1897, Index, s.v. Götzendienst;
Wellhausen, I. J. G. 4th ed., Berlin, 1901;
Winer, B. R. 3d ed., i. 433-436;
Bousset, Religion des Judenthums im Neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, Berlin, 1903.

 Taken from http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com Worship, Idol By: By: Kaufmann Kohler, Ludwig Blau

Would you believe that Jesuit Pope Francis is a Luciferan Freemason?

"In case you didn't know, the Jesuits have infiltrated all governments & Leaders like Obama are only puppets that carry out Jesuit orders. The Jesuits control the Illuminati, Zionists, globalist Elites, Council on Foreign Relations, Bilderberg group, Freemasons, Council of 300 and the evil Council of Trent. The Knights Templar, Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Malta. The CIA, FBI, NSA, ASIO, MI5, MI6, NCIS, FSB, DGSE, Mossad and every intelligence agency in the world are masonic and controlled by the Jesuits.

On 13.3.13, as the date is written at the Vatican, at 7:06 pm (local Roman time), which adds up to another 13, the Roman Catholic Church picked a new Pope.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit Pope. The first Jesuit Pope would naturally be the first fully "Black" (i.e. Jesuit) "Pope" (the title/ not race). It is a circular logical statement that is just common sense, and there is nothing conspiratorial about it.

During an interview on Fox News shortly after the Pope was revealed, a Catholic priest/bishop made the statement that even though the Pope had taken the name Francis, he would also be known as Peter.
Very interesting...

1) ALL popes that are elected are considered the "NEXT Peter".
2) Bergoglio is Italian even though he is from Argentina, so in essence, he IS a Roman.

The name he chose Francis is not a reference to France but to Rome. Saint Francis of Assisi's original name before he changed it was Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone. Pietro is Italian for Peter.
Francis I was a ROMAN emperor, who reigned from 1745–1765. He was also a FREEMASON.

“Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it.” – Woodrow Wilson

So who is this subtle, complete organized power that Wilson is talking about? The answer to that my friends is the Jesuits." (Source: Facebook.com)

Here's an article from a Catholic:

Hand Signals of Freemasonry Explained
"Freemasonry is a Satanic religion in disguise.  The Popes knew the real nature of freemasonry.  Aside from the numerous testimonies from former masons, one of the more accurate sources was the seizure by Pope Gregory XVI of documents from the masonic lodge known as “Alta Vendita”. The documents were later on published in a book, and disseminated through various lectures.

The “Alta Vendita” documents chillingly summarizes a plan to infiltrate and destroy the Catholic Church from within:

Our ultimate end is that of…the final destruction of Catholicism, and even of the Christian idea … The Pope, whoever he is, will never come to the secret societies; it is up to the secret societies to take the first step toward the Church, with the aim of conquering both of them. The task that we are going to undertake is not the work of a day, or of a month, or of a year; it may last several years, perhaps a century… What we must ask for, what we should look for and wait for, as the Jews wait for the Messiah, is a Pope according to our needs … You will contrive for yourselves, at little cost, a reputation as good Catholics and pure patriots. This reputation will put access to our doctrines into the midst of the young clergy, as well as deeply into the monasteries. In a few years, by the force of things, this young clergy will have overrun all the functions; they will form the sovereign’s council, they will be called to choose a Pontiff who should reign …

Hand Signals Used by Freemasons
Freemasons use various hand signals to show their allegiance to satan, and to signal to their fellow freemasons their membership in the occult organization. These hand signals are usually flashed in public by various world leaders and celebrities, while the unsuspecting masses remain ignorant.  Like various Illuminati symbols, only Illuminati/freemasonry insiders are aware of the true meanings hidden behind the signs and hand gestures.

The “devil’s horn” signal signifies that satan rules.  Remember that satan is called the “Horned God”, and the hand signal is formed so as to resemble horns.

It is a universal hand signal used by politicians, celebrities as well as heavy metal bands, affirming their allegiance to satanic powers and a visual shorthand for “Hail, Satan.” The devil’s hand has been observed and photographed around the world, used by George Bush, Bill Clinton, Silvio Berlusconi, Elizabeth Taylor, Prince William, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Ozzie, Avril Lavigne, Stephen Dorff, Dave Navarro and many others.

This hand symbol is known by several names: Devil’s Triad, Il Cornuto, Cornuto, the Horn, Horned Devil, Twin-horned Salute, Horned Hand, Devil Salute, and Devil Horn Salute. The Devil’s triad is a recognition sign among Satanists and witches.

Isn’t this the Deaf Hand Signal for “I Love You”?

The “devil’s horn” hand sign often is confused with the deaf hand signal of the phrase, “I love you.” While at first this appears an odd resemblance, we must remember that the person who invented the hand sign system for the deaf, Helen Keller, was herself an occultist. Did Keller purposely design the deaf’s “I love you” sign to be such a remarkable imitation of the classic sign of Satan? Was Keller saying, basically, “I love you, Devil?”

elf-proclaimed German vampire Manuela Ruda was seen flashing the masonic “devil’s horn” signal inside the court – that is, while court hearings against her were happening.  She was eventually convicted for murder.  This couldn’t have been Manuela Ruda flashing an “I love you” sign inside the court, given the circumstances, right?

Contemporary Leaders and Celebrities Using the Devil’s Horn Signal
Below are just a few of the more popular contemporary leaders who have publicly used the devil’s horn hand signal:

"The symbolic significance of this gesture might explain the reason why it is so widely used by famous Masons. The hidden hand lets the other initiates know that the individual depicted is part of this secret Brotherhood and that his actions were inspired by the Masonic philosophy and beliefs. Furthermore, the hand that executes the actions is hidden behind cloth, which can symbolically refer to covert nature of the Mason’s actions. Some of the more notorious leaders in history with their portraits showing the “hidden hand” signal include Joseph Stalin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Karl Marx." - Extracted from Hand Signals of Freemasonry Explained  https://veritas-vincit-international.org/2015/01/18/hand-signals-of-freemasonry-explained/

Pope Francis is a Jesuit Freemason and an occultist.

"44) From 15 to 19 January 2015, Pope Francis was in the Philippines. In those days, a photo appeared in the Internet of a poster – or of a supposed page of a Philippine journal (Philippine Daily Inquirer) – with a welcome to the pontiff (“Welcome to Pope Francis, the Pope of Mercy and Compassion”), a welcome given on the part of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.[38] Someone said that this piece of news is false[39] (“fake news”), but it does not seem very convincing in the light of the following points.

45) In fact, in the official journal of the Philippine Grand Lodge, The Cabletow (vol. 92, n. 1, May-June 2015), Grand Master Thomas Rentoy III candidly states that, after having observed the liberal views of Pope Francis (“after the elevation of Pope Francis to the Holy See and noting the pontificate’s liberal views”) up to the end of 2014, his predecessor Grand Master Alan Purisima, in a letter to Pope Francis, then asked that the Holy See declare that the Freemasonry of the Philippines is compatible with the Catholic Church and that its members are not any longer subject to excommunication. Moreover, the Philippine Masonry recently requested from the Filipino Bishops a chaplain so as to celebrate Mass every Sunday at the Grand Lodge.[40] We do not yet know the Pope’s response to this request from the Philippine Freemasonry. We do know, however, the answer of the Philippine Bishops (CBCP). We shall see it in the next section.

46) In the issue 4 (November-December 2015) of the magazine The Cabletow, the Mason Jesse D. Alto announced that the Grand Master in charge, Thomas Rentoy, had managed to obtain permission from the Philippine Catholic Church that a Catholic priest may celebrate Mass every Sunday at the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. Alto also wrote that, with this permitted event, centuries of erroneous beliefs, finally, were to be eradicated which had taught that the teachings of Freemasonry were contrary to those of the Catholic Church. Even more so, Alto further “perfumed with incense” Pope Francis himself by enthusiastically citing some passages from the pope’s Christmas homily. The Mason Alto thereby apparently wants to convince us that both Masons and Catholics together teach that man is a spiritual being.[41]" - Extracted from Why do the Freemasons Love Pope Francis? Part II (https://onepeterfive.com/freemasons-love-pope-francis-part-ii/)

Pope Lucifer Francis believes, Jesus is the son of Satan.

The LAST Trumpet

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. - 2 Peter 3:8-10

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,

and He will live with them.

They will be His people,

and God Himself will be with them as their God.b

4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,c

and there will be no more death

or mourning or crying or pain,

for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21

"In a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:52

Chosen in Christ: God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption

The Gospel: 2016 National Conference

Message 7 Chosen in Christ: God’s Eternal Plan of Redemption:

Few subjects provoke debate like the doctrine of election. As a result, many struggle to see the value of it for Christian living. Yet from a biblical perspective, the doctrine of election is intended to comfort God’s people as well as magnify God’s grace. In this session, Dr. Ian Hamilton shows why God’s eternal plan to redeem His people for His glory is the basis for the work of Christ as our mediator, the foundation for the historical unfolding of the covenant of grace, and the ground for our hope in the gospel. Continue reading... Please click HERE.

Forever KING

The Forever King: Seeing Jesus in 2 Samuel

"Speaking of forever, we’ve all heard the famous line “A diamond is forever.” But is it true? Evidently, for the last twenty-five years a team of scientists have been trying to find out. At a site in central Japan, scientists have been monitoring a huge underground water-filled tank, waiting patiently for signs that all matter eventually decays into sub-atomic dust. Evidently, most theorists believe it will show that protons—the building blocks of every atom—do not last forever but decay into other particles. That would mean nothing made from atoms—not even diamonds—lasts forever.1

The Bible, however, talks about some things that do last forever.

“The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever” (Psalm 136). Forever the Lord will love his own.

“His righteousness endures forever” (Ps. 111:3). Forever God will be doing what is right.

“The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever” (Ps. 117:2). Forever God will do what he has promised to do and be who has promised to be.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa. 40:8). Forever God’s Word will have the power to accomplish what it intends. Forever it will prove true.

The apostle John wrote: “The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Evidently God intends to share his “foreverness” with those who find their life under his loving rule now. Does this kind of forever sound good to you? Let’s face it; most of us have had experiences that felt like forever that we don’t particularly want to experience again. So before we buy into this forever being offered to us, we want to know what we can expect.

Over three thousand years ago, God put a king on the throne in his city to rule over his people as his representative. The king who sat on this throne was never supposed to be a king like other kings in this world who rule independently and often tyrannically. Unlike any other kingdom and any other throne, this kingdom and this throne were established to last forever. But what does that mean and why does it matter? Here in 2 Samuel, as we look at the king God put on the earthly throne over his people—the throne that was to be an earthy extension of his heavenly throne—we get a glimpse of the forever God intends to give to us. David was the king who was according to God’s own heart, the kind of king God wanted to rule over his people. As we listen in on the promises God made to his king, we’ll discover that these promises shape the forever that God is inviting us into.

The King’s City

David was a teenager when the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel. Twenty-five years later David was still not ruling on the throne. Instead he had spent those years leading armies into battle and ducking from Saul’s spears and living out in the wilderness and even in foreign countries. Second Samuel picks up the history of Israel immediately after Saul’s death. In chapter 2 we read that David was finally made king of Judah in the south while Ish-bosheth the son of Saul was made king of Israel in the north, a hint of the division in the kingdom that will come later. Second Samuel 3:1 tells us, “There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.” All of the people who had followed Ish-bosheth had to decide if they would accept the king that God had chosen and anointed and submit to his rule for their lives (which is really the same decision we have to make). When we come to 2 Samuel 5, we read:

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. (vv. 5:1–3)

So then David became king over all twelve tribes. But to effectively rule over all the tribes of Israel, David needed a capital city that would be centrally located amongst the tribes, a city that could become a fortress to withstand attack. And there was such a city. In fact, it had a royal history. A thousand years before the time of David, there was a city called Salem, in which a good king named Melchizedek ruled, who was also a priest of Yahweh (Gen. 14:18). Eventually Salem was taken over by the Jebusites who built a wall around the city and called it Jebus (1 Chron. 11:4). In David’s day, it was a fortress city set on a hill on the border between Judah and Benjamin, just the right location for ruling over all Israel. But there was a problem. Although it had been three hundred years since the Israelites crossed over the Jordan and began possessing the land God had promised to give to them, they still had not taken permanent possession of this great city. But this is now God’s king leading God’s people, and Jerusalem is about to become God’s place, a city that already had been and was going to become even more central to the purposes of God, not only for Israel but for the world, and not just in David’s day but forever.

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. (2 Sam. 5:6–7)

The stronghold on Mount Zion, one of several mountains in Jerusalem, became the center of David’s kingdom. David established his palace and his center of government there. God established his great king in his great city.

And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. (2 Sam. 5:10–12)

David was the king, but he clearly didn’t rule like other kings of his day. Rather than ruling as a proud head of state exercising absolute control, David ruled humbly as vice-regent to Israel’s true King, God himself. He used his throne as a pulpit from which to preach God’s rule and reign. “The Lord reigns,” David wrote. “He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting” (Ps. 93:1–2)." - PLS. Click HERE and continue reading. 

Extracted from The Forever King: Seeing Jesus in 2 Samuel - http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/the-forever-king-seeing-jesus-in-2-samuel.html

Taken from The Son of David: Seeing Jesus in the Historical Books, by Nancy Guthrie. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Il 60187, www.crossway.org.

What kind of king and what kind of kingdom are we asking for when we pray this prayer Jesus taught us to pray? A study of the Old Testament Historical Books—Joshua through Esther—enables us to see the kingdom of God not only as it once was, but also as it is now, and as it will be one day. Over ten weeks of guided study, relevant teaching, and group discussion, seasoned Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie traces the history of the people of God from the time they entered the Promised Land through a series of failed kings, exile, and finally their return to await the true King.

The Gospel-Shaped Heart: Treasuring the Glories of Christ (John Piper)

HK500 Opening Video - China Partnership 

The Gospel-Shaped Heart: Treasuring the Glories of Christ (John Piper) -  - China Partnership 

Reflections on the Reformation 500 and the Gospel Conference
By Jackson Wu, May 26, 2017

We caught up with our friend Jackson Wu at the Reformation 500 conference in Hong Kong and asked him to share his reflections on the conference.

Over three thousand Chinese leaders and mission workers from around the world met this week in Hong Kong for the Reformation 500 and the Gospel conference. I’ll offer an overview and commentary on the meeting.

image taken from - http://www.chinapartnership.org/blog/2017/3/the-hong-kong-conference-a-once-in-a-lifetime-experience

From the Main Stage

Three plenary speakers gave three talks, one-per-day.

John Piper

Chinese believers were introduced to vintage Piper. His opening message helpfully reminded people of the central (but oft overlooked) promise of the New Covenant—new hearts. Salvation is more than forgiveness; it causes God’s people to delight in Christ above all things.

His final two talks were especially significant for the Chinese context. He challenged pastors not to accept the word of teachers and so-called experts, but rather to compare everything with what is found in the biblical text. This will require rigorous thinking—not mere information that’s been memorized.

Finally, Piper explained from John 11 and elsewhere why God most delights in his own glory and why this is tremendously loving to his people. Whether participants realize it or not, he was emphasizing the importance of God’s “face” (lian).

Paul Tripp

Having observed that Christians normally relate the gospel either to the past (what we’re saved from) or to the future (i.e. eternal life), Tripp led participants to consider how the gospel addresses the here and now. In typical Paul Tripp fashion, his candid messages challenged pastors to do serious self-reflection.

Pulling no punches, he warned Chinese pastors of “identity amnesia”, whereby believers forget who they are in Christ. Many church leaders become proud, forgetting they are God’s children and Christ’s servants.

What’s more, Tripp reminded listeners that God uses people who are meek, who suffer, and don’t live in comfort. We have a choice—seek the praise of people or of God. What’s the deeper desire of our hearts?

 

Richard Pratt

Pratt offered a change of pace from other speakers. Inserting humor and broken Chinese, he offered a broader perspective of the gospel. Focusing on God’s kingdom, he drew from Genesis 1:26–28, Isaiah 52:3–10, and Matthew 5.  The corrective from an individualistic gospel message is welcome.

From my interaction with others, Pratt’s second talk caused some confusion. Although saying the church is the true “Israel” of God, he seemed to present China as the next-in-line (after America and Europe) to bear Israel’s call as a light to the nations. Consequently, it’s difficult to discern the precise nature of the kingdom, as Pratt presents it. While avoiding overt political comments, the vagueness of his remarks likely spurred various questions that are tangential to his main points.

This critique aside, I applaud Pratt’s consistent emphasis on God’s kingdom as central to the gospel. In his concluding talk, he proclaimed “Heaven is not the goal of the kingdom of God.  What is the goal? The earth!” In other words, God wants his will done on earth as in heaven. Biblically speaking, “heaven” refers to God’s throne room, not some far off otherworldly location. Thus, the gospel announces God in Christ will establish his throne in this world. This entails the resurrection of our bodies, a truth that Christians too frequently overlook.

Chinese Speakers

Although the three plenary speakers reside in America, the meeting was organized and led by Chinese church leaders. This observation alone was one of the greatest joys of attending the conference. Many Chinese talks were interspersed between the plenary speakers. These Chinese pastors addressed topics related to the Reformation, such as the five solas (e.g., grace alone, Scripture alone, etc.). Not all of these sessions were translated into English. The talks were more thematic rather than expositions concerning the Reformation itself.

A Few Final Comments

Conferences are always more than the speakers and scheduled activities. So, I’ll offer a few tidbits and lingering critiques.

What about the Reformation?

The conference did not focus on the Reformation as directly as one might expect. The messages were edifying and stem from Reformation thinking. However, I’d prefer the conference speak more directly to the Reformation’s ongoing relevance to the Chinese church. How might historical issues surrounding the Reformation relate to contemporary China?

“Reformed”?

As many in China know, numerous Christians lack the training to understand various nuances concerning church history, denominations, theological debates, etc. A de facto denomination system emerges. It is shaped by guanxi(relationships, networks) more than historical and perhaps theological conviction. Consequently, Chinese believers tend to be less nuanced in their theological views and instead rigidly see theological ideas as “package sets.” Just as one commonly hears someone say, “We Chinese all believe . . .”, in the same way, many believers will say, “All Reformed people. . . ” or “All charismatics . . .”, etc.

I mention this dynamic because I’ve heard the question asked, “Is this conference and its extended ministry pushing Reformed theology?” For multiple reasons, this is a natural question deserving attention.

First of all, the answer depends on what one means by “reformed.” If “reformed” means “Protestant”, then yes. More often, people have in mind either Calvinist soteriology or Presbyterian theology. Though some use the term, “pushing” is not a fair term. The conference speakers did not give sermons about TULIP. The leadership generally affirms a Calvinistic view of salvation; however, they don’t wave this banner above the gospel. The involvement of multiple Baptist leaders is evidence the conference is not a “Presbyterian” movement.

I make these comments for a simple reason. Some people in China feel the need to “pick sides,” being wary of other theological camps. This attitude makes it difficult to facilitate church unity in China. One fruit of this conference is precisely that it brings together a spectrum of Chinese Christians and workers. Therefore, meetings like this one are a welcomed blessing.

Lost in Translation?

Very little of the conference was “contextualized” in a substantial or uniquely Chinese manner. This is not surprising since many (most?) of the speakers and organizers have ministries outside the Mainland. The messages, whether from Westerners or Chinese, resembled what one would hear at a conference sponsored by Desiring God Ministries or Together for the Gospel.

Is this a criticism? Not necessarily. The talks were biblically substantial, filled with gospel truth. Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder how the conference might have been different. Should such meetings be substantially indistinguishable from conferences held in America?

A few speakers said the church should “always be reforming.” If so, what does it mean for the Chinese church to reform itself where it has surrendered too much to tradition? Even if we affirm Reformation theology, at what point might we need to reconsider whether certain emphases and strands of Protestant teaching reflect historically Western questions? The Reformation was a particular response to specific historical problems. At a broad level, the church yielded too much authority to tradition.

Is it not possible we might repeat this mistake as the Christian movement continues spreading throughout Asia from the West? If so, we need a contextualized application of the Reformation for the Chinese church.

Overall, we have much reason to rejoice. Thousands of Chinese believers were united in spirit as we studied the truth. The conference successfully brought people together for the purpose of worshiping the one King of all nations. 

SOURCE: Chinasource.org

“Reformation 500 and the Gospel” Conference Held in Kong Kong

By Ruth Wang on June 22, 2017 11:06 AM. - ChinaChristianDaily.com

A conference named "Reformation 500 and the Gospel" was held in the Asia World Expo of Hong Kong from May 23 to 26, 2017. 

Aimed at celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the conference invited three renowned American evangelical pastors; John Piper, Paul Tripp and Richard Pratt. They preached three sermons in a "Gospel Series."

John Piper, who is the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as a Bible scholar, professor, and well-known best-selling author, preached sermons on "Power of the Gospel."

Paul Tripp has pastored for 15 years at Tenth Presbyterian Church and is a professor of Redeemer Seminary based in Dallas, Texas and the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas. He gave sermons named "Renewal Gospel."

As a response to the need of global Christian leadership training, Richard Pratt is co-founder of Third Millennium Ministries, an organization committed to provide accessible and free education resources in learners' native languages for anyone who wants to study the Bible. He delivered sermons entitled "Kingdom of Gospel" at the conference.

Apart from the three speakers, talks on a "Reformation Series" were held in the topics of "the five solas" (Scripture alone, faith alone, Christ alone, grace alone, glory to God alone) and "Gospel & Mission."

Meanwhile, three panels were held. The first one was attended by the three speakers on "Reformation and Gospel" and the rest were by Chinese pastors on "Gospel & Today's Church" and "Reformation & Pastoral Ministry."

Translated by Karen Luo

Justification by Faith Alone: Sola Fide Debated and Defended - R. C. Sproul, PhD

R. C. Sproul speaks on the doctrine of justification by faith alone and how it was debated among Roman Catholic and Protestant Christians. This video comes from Sproul's Luther and the Reformation.

playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

see also: Justification by Faith Alone

In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul examines justification — the way in which we are declared righteous by God — as he explains the biblical teaching regarding justification. Demonstrating that Christ’s righteousness is reckoned to us by faith alone, Dr. Sproul joins with Martin Luther in calling the church to proclaim boldly that this doctrine is integral to the gospel of God. - MORE PLS CLICK HERE.

Can a Christian Lose Salvation?

In the first public, moderated debate between Alpha and Omega Ministries and Catholic Answers in over twenty years (excluding radio encounters), Catholic Answers Staff Apologist Trent Horn debates the Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, James White, on the question of whether a true Christian can lose their salvation. Going directly to the heart of the gospel itself, this debate will raise many issues relating to the issues surrounding God's sovereignty, grace, and man's sinfulness. This debate occurred at the G3 Conference on January 18, 2017.

The Word Became Flesh (By Ligon Duncan 2009)

Ligon Duncan: The Word Became Flesh

If we are to be saved, we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But which Jesus? There are many false Christs, including the Christ of the Mormons, the Christ of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and others. Ligon Duncan explains that Christian leaders in the Church must proclaim the biblical Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

This message is from our 2009 Leadership Conference, Pillars of the Christian Faith: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...

Purchase this conference as a digital download: http://www.ligonier.org/store/pillars...

Illuminati - Council on Foreign Relations 1967

"The question of how and why the United Nations is the crux of the great conspiracy to destroy the sovereignty of the United States and the enslavement of the American people within a U.N. one-world dictatorship is a complete and unknown mystery to the vast majority of the American people. The reason for this unawareness of the frightening danger to our country and to the entire free world is simple. The masterminds behind this great conspiracy have absolute control of all of our mass-communications media, especially television, the radio, the press, and Hollywood. We all know that our State Department, the Pentagon, and the White House have brazenly proclaimed that they have the right and the power to manage the news, to tell us not the truth but what they want us to believe. They have seized that power on orders from their masters of the great conspiracy and the objective is to brainwash the people into accepting the phony peace bait to transform the United States into an enslaved unit of the United Nations' one-world government. 
"First of all, bear in mind that the so-called U.N. police-action in Korea, fought by the United States in which 150,000 of our sons were murdered and maimed, was part of the plot; just as the undeclared by Congress war in Vietnam in which our sons are dying is part of the plot; just as the plot against Rhodesia and South Africa in which our sons will be dying is part of the U.N. plot. However, the vitally important thing for all Americans, all you mothers of the boys who died in Korea and are now dying in Vietnam, to know is that our so-called leaders in Washington, who we elected to safeguard our nation and our Constitution, are the betrayers and that behind them are a comparatively small group of men whose sole-objective is to enslave the whole world of humanity in their satanic-plot of one-world government. 

"Now in order to give you a very clear picture of this satanic-plot, I will go back to its beginning, clear back in the middle of the 18th century and name the men who put that plot into action and then bring you down to the present—today's status of that plot. Now as a matter of further intelligence, a term used by the FBI, let me clarify the meaning of the expression "he is a liberal." The enemy, meaning the one-world conspirators, have seized upon that word "liberal" as a cover-up for their activities. It sounds so innocent and so humanitarian to be liberal. Well, make sure that the person who calls himself a liberal or is described as a liberal is not, in truth, a "red." 
"Now then, this satanic-plot was launched back in the 1760's when it first came into existence under the name "Illuminati." This Illuminati was organized by one Adam Weishaupt, born a Jew, who was converted to Catholicism and became a Catholic priest, and then, at the behest of the then newly-organized House of Rothschild, defected and organized the Illuminati. Naturally, the Rothschilds financed that operation, and every war since then, beginning with the French Revolution, has been promoted by the Illuminati operating under various names and guises. I say under various names and guises because after the Illuminati was exposed and became notorious, Weishaupt and his co-conspirators began to operate under various other names. In the United States, immediately after World War I, they set up what they called the "Council on Foreign Relations," commonly referred to as the CFR, and this CFR is actually the Illuminati in the United States and its hierarchy. The masterminds in control of the original Illuminati conspirators, were foreigners, but to conceal that fact, most of them changed their original family names to American sounding names. For example, the true name of the Dillons, Clarence and Douglas Dillon (one Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department), is Laposky. I'll come back to all this later.  - CONTINUE READING PLS CLICK HERE..

Mormonism: The Temple of Doom w/ Ex Mormon High Priest William Schnoebelen & David Carrico

Schnoebelen was told by his Coven Master that, if he ever got into trouble, he was to join the Mormon Church because it was 'created by Witches for Witches'! But, in the past 50 years, the Mormon (LDS) Church has managed to grow from a small fringe cult to a major world religion of considerable respectability. Mormons like Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck have achieved amazing followings and many Americans have come to believe that Mormons are just another Christian denomination with fine, conservative, family-based values.

Beneath the sweet surface of LDS Public Relations, there lurks one of the most dark and twisted religions to emerge in American history. You will discover that, just as Mormonism is not Christian, the Mormon Family is not the same as the Christian Family. This DVD exposes the un-Biblical nature of Mormon theology and why it remains a cult. Bill also takes you through the highly secret Temple rites which only a few faithful Mormons ever get to experience. He demonstrates how the rituals of the temple - and even the temple architecture - are deeply rooted in Freemasonry, witchcraft and occultism. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Bill exposes the LDS Church's political ambitions and their strange theology about the US Constitution. You will learn about their beliefs concerning the future of America and how they hope to rule over all of us in a religious dictatorship. You will also discover the astounding secret of the Washington DC Temple. This vital message will help you to see why the mainstreaming of Glenn Beck and Mitt Romney is so disturbing and why the close association between Christian leaders and Beck is of great concern. ADDED -- 2012 Election Alert! Bill speaks of the strong probability of Mitt Romney running for President in 2012, and how his victory could well mean the coming dictatorship and, given the historical hatred Mormons have for genuine Christians, how a Romney Presidency could actually produce the beginning of martyrdom! - https://www.nowyouseetv.org/supernatural/mormonism-the-temple-of-doom/

A Living Hope

YouTube Video: A Living Hope - Ligonier Ministries 
Many people place their hope in things that cannot meet their needs such as sports, politics, education, work, or even family and friends. This session will focus on 1 Peter 1:1-8 to explain what it means to be “born again” and why only the gospel of Jesus Christ provides true, lasting hope for Christians.

This message is from our 2017 Regional Conference, Stand Firm: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30acyfm60fX-AplioozuvZ9CQAR2w59F

Purchase a digital download or DVD of this conference: http://www.ligonier.org/store/stand-f...

Islamophobia and Muhammed

In this video, Robert Spencer explains the term "Islamophobia."
For more from Robert Spencer, visit his website: https://www.jihadwatch.org

"Along with detailing new groundbreaking research on the uninspired origins of Koran stories and the corruption of early Koran manuscripts, this film also covers: offensive warfare, Muhammad's immorality and ruthlessness, errors of the Koran, Muhammad and the Bible, absurd Islamic teachings, and Muhammad's demon possession. Featuring interviews with experts on Islam such as David Wood, Jay Smith and Anthony Rogers. " -  [DDT] User ID: 66909475, Germany, 10/19/2015 07:09 PM - http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message2985774/pg1?disclaimer=1



Contents:
Introduction Muhammad's Immorality Muhammad's Demon Possession Errors of the Koran Islam's Absurd Teachings Islam and Offensive Warfare Muhammad and the Bible Sources of Koran Stories Textual Unreliability of the Koran Salvation and Conclusion