The Art of Prophesying, by William Perkins

Book Review: The Art of Prophesying, by William Perkins

William Perkins. The Art of Prophesying; With, The Calling of the Ministry, Rev. ed., Puritan Paperbacks (Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1996).

William Perkins (1558-1602) was the first English theologian to gain an international reputation after the Reformation. His works were translated and published throughout Europe. By the end of the sixteenth century in England, his writings began to displace those of John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and Heinrich Bullinger. Because of this, Perkins became known for his powerful preaching, such that he’s remembered for it long after his death.

He served as the preacher at Great St. Andrew’s Church in Cambridge for almost twenty years, from 1584 until his death in 1602. His prominent preaching ministry combined with his vast literary output earned Perkins the honorary title, “the father of Puritanism.” Puritanism as a movement was devoted to placing competent preachers in every pulpit of the Church of England. Competency included right interpretation, plain style, and an ability to apply the text. It was from this foundation that Puritan preaching derived its power.

SUMMARY

While Perkins was certainly not the only proponent of Puritan preaching, he was the first to articulate it in a full-scale treatise on hermeneutics and homiletics. He did this in his classic work, The Art of Prophesying, first published in 1592. By “prophesying,” Perkins meant preaching the Word and public prayer. He used this designation because he saw the pastor—as one who stands between God and the people as he exercised these duties—in the great succession of biblical prophets and apostles. Preaching is the focus of his book, and in 75 small, readable pages, he lays out his method of exposition.

Perkins summarizes preaching this way:

Reading the text clearly from the canonical Scriptures.

Explaining the meaning of the text, once it has been read, in the light of the Scriptures themselves.

Gathering a few profitable points of doctrine from the natural sense of the passage.

If the preacher is suitably gifted, applying the doctrines thus explained to the life and practice of the congregation in straightforward, plain speech. (79)

So, Perkins’ preaching method is threefold: interpretation, analysis, and application. He proclaims, “The Word of God alone is to be preached, in its perfection and inner consistency. Scripture is the exclusive subject of preaching, the only field in which the preacher is to labor” (9). For Perkins, proper interpretation begins with grammar, rhetoric, and logical analysis. He encourages seeking the help of contemporary and ancient orthodox writers, as well as saturating the whole process in prayer. All of this has one goal: to bring out the one full and natural sense of the text.

The means, or key considerations, are the rule of faith—that is, the basics of Christian orthodoxy—the context of the passage, and its comparison with other passages. Analysis or “resolution” means unfolding the passage into its various doctrines. Whether explicit or implicit, these doctrines must be drawn from the genuine meaning of the text. Perhaps the most enduring significance of Perkins’s labor is his emphasis on application—or, as he puts it, “the skill by which the doctrine which has been properly drawn from Scripture is handled in ways which are appropriate to the circumstances of the place and time and to the people in the congregation” (54).

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

There are many reasons why pastors today should read The Art of Prophesying. Some I have already mentioned, such as Perkins’ emphasis on Scripture, his rigorous, yet simple, method of its interpretation, and his legacy of faithfulness. Here are few more that I have found uniquely helpful in Perkins’ work.

First, there is great wisdom in Perkins’ practical advice to preachers. He exhorts us to only correct the errors that our congregations are actually threatened by, so as not to create trouble that had not existed. He also urges that the correction of secondary issues be in a friendly manner. A final example of Perkins’ practical guidance is from his insistence on a plain style. He warns about quenching the Spirit through the use of specialized vocabulary, elevated oratory, or Greek references. All these points of instruction are particularly appropriate for those of us in seminary!

Second, Perkins provides an approach for specific and pointed application, which is one of the most difficult aspects of sermon preparation. He breaks the preacher’s audience down into seven categories or spiritual conditions of hearers: ignorant and un-teachable unbelievers, ignorant but teachable unbelievers, knowledgeable but un-humbled unbelievers, humbled unbelievers, believers, backsliders in faith or lifestyle, and mixed congregations of believers and unbelievers. He also draws four varieties of application from 2 Timothy 3:16; teaching and reproof involve informing the mind and recovering it from error, whereas instruction and correction include helping hearers to practically live out their faith in the spheres of family, state, and church so as to move from ungodliness to godliness. Coupled together, these taxonomies create a usable framework for practical application.

Third, Perkins reminds us of the men we must be in order to be effective preachers. I must be a man of prayer, both in preparation for preaching and in the pulpit itself. Further, I must possess holiness of heart and a blameless life. Perkins understands this godliness of the minister to flow from more than biblical understanding, but also “an inward sense and experience of the Word in his heart” (73).

In the context of today’s confusion over preaching, The Art of Prophesying is a welcome reminder of a time-tested approach to evangelical preaching. It was the primary preaching manual in the English-speaking world on both sides of the Atlantic for generations—and for good reason. The perennial issues it addresses makes it surprisingly suited for our own context. The reader almost forgets the work is more than 400 years old. Perkins understood the value of preaching as two-fold: proclaiming and applying the truth. This gathers the elect and drives away the wolves; put differently, it is the means by which God builds his church. Whether one agrees with his particulars or not, this ought to be our vision for preaching even today. Perkins’ offering will at the very least challenge pastors to be relentlessly biblical and to do the hard work of robust application. May Perkins’ closing words express the essence of every preaching ministry today:

“The heart of the matter is this:

Preach one Christ,

by Christ,

to the praise of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria.”

SOURCE: http://9marks.org/review/book-review-the-art-of-prophesying-by-william-perkins/


I. THE ART OF PROPHECY

"There are two parts to prophecy: preaching the Word and public prayer. For the prophet (that is, the minister of the Word) has only two duties. One is preaching the Word, and the other is praying to God in the name of the people: 'Having ... prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith' (Rom. 12:6); 'Restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live' (Gen. 20:7). Notice that in Scripture the word 'prophecy' is used of prayer as well as of preaching: 'The sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals' (1 Chron. 25:1); 'The prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon ... And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice . . .' (1 Kings 18:26, 29). Thus every prophet's [ask is to speak partly as the voice of God (in preaching), and partly as the voice of the people (in praying): 'If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth' (Jer. 15:19); 'And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!"' (Neh. 8:6).

Preaching the Word is prophesying in the name and on behalf of Christ. Through preaching those who hear are called into the state of grace, and preserved in it. God has 'given us the ministry of reconciliation ... Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God' (2 Cor. 5:18, 20); 'God from the beginning chose you for salvation, through sanctification by the Spirit, and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel' (2 Thess. 2:13, 14); 'The gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes' (Rom. 1:16); 'Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint' (Prov. 29:18); 'How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?' (Rom. 10:14)." - Extracted from THE ART OF PROPHESYING by WILLIAM PERKINS (1558-1602) first published in Latin 1592 and in English 1606. You can read the whole e-book HERE.

LIFE AND PROSPERITY, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION

In Deuteronomy 30, Moses gives the Bible's first glimpse of the two final destinations of the human race: one leads to life and prosperity, the other to death and destruction. In this session from the 2015 Gospel Coalition National Conference, author and pastor Tim Keller works from Deuteronomy 30 to show our only hope to achieve life and prosperity lies in the gospel. 



In this 47-minute session from the 2015 Gospel Coalition National Conference, Tim Keller works from Deuteronomy 30 to show that our only hope to achieve life and prosperity lies in the gospel. Tim is pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. He is co-founder and vice president of The Gospel Coalition and author of numerous books, including The Reason for God  and Center Church. - Right Now Media.

2015 TGC NATIONAL CONFERENCE -http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/life-and-prosperity-death-and-destruction

China’s Reforming Churches Mission, Polity, and Ministry in the Next Christendom.

"Even the most conservative analyst must acknowledge China is changing. This nation of 1.35 billion people—20 percent of the earth's population, boasting the world's second-largest economy and largest language group (Mandarin Chinese)—is experiencing not just change, but rapid and radical change. And as we survey the scene, the change of greatest importance is the astounding growth of the Christian faith in China." - Jason Helopoulos is the assistant pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, and is the author of A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home (Christian Focus, 2013).

Unapologetically Presbyterian
Baugus and the other authors in this volume are unapologetically Presbyterian in their polity. This jure divino Presbyterianism may discourage some readers from entertaining this work, but my heart was strangely warmed to find so many forthright, conscience-convicted, ecclesiological friends in one place. Still, a non-Presbyterian with any interest in China, missions, or the future of the Christian church will find the contents of this book exceedingly helpful and informative.

China's Reforming Churches is divided into four sections. The first contains three chapters and examines the history of Presbyterianism in China. The initial chapter details some of the early missions work in China by Western countries. It includes a helpful overview of particularly influential missionaries prior to the Communist Revolution and the work of various denominations in the country. A fascinating aspect of this account is the transformation from Old School Presbyterianism to theological liberalism among the Western missionaries in China. One positive of the Communist Revolution was the expulsion of these liberal missionaries from China, combined with the fact that only evangelical missionaries tended to return after the unrest. God was apparently preparing the ground for the fruit we see today. The second chapter details the history and influence of North China Theological Seminary. The third records the history of Korean Presbyterian missions in China, providing insightful analysis of the Korean Presbyterian church and how the lessons it has learned over the years may aid the Chinese Reformed Church.

The second section looks at Presbyterianism in China today, relying heavily on the voices and experiences of current Chinese pastors. Chapter four (“Perceived Challenges to Christians in China”) is especially enlightening as it nullifies some common Western assertions about the Chinese church and highlights the actual pressures she faces. It concludes with some sobering warnings and gentle encouragements for the Western church's relationship with the Chinese church. The fifth chapter is a thorough argument for Presbyterianism and its need in the Chinese church. Luke P. Y. Lu makes a strong case that Presbyterian missions organizations in China should act in accordance with their Presbyterian identity as they pursue this mission. Chapter six is an interesting dialogue between a few Chinese pastors and Baugus. At times this chapter is hard to follow, but is well worth the meandering read. These pastors are significant figures in Chinese Christianity, and their reflections and humility should encourage the reader about the future of the church in China.

The third section of China's Reforming Churches consists of four chapters exploring the challenges and opportunities for Presbyterianism in the country. Chapter seven is a tour de force; it reads as a kind of “State of the Union” address, establishing the basic outline of the current cultural context and how this affects Christianity and missions in the country. Chapter eight explores the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) churches, which are government sanctioned, and the house churches, which are not. In chapter nine, David VanDrunen explores the foundation of two kingdoms theology and how it could assist the Chinese church going forward. The final chapter of this section was written by Guy Waters and looks at the case for Presbyterianism from Acts 15.

The fourth and final portion of the book takes active steps in examining how the Chinese church might be influenced to embrace Reformed theology even further. Chapter 11 is a challenging read about the opportunity currently before the Western church to translate quality Reformed literature into Mandarin and to publish these books legally in China. The author is not naively placing this challenge before the Western church; he notes the difficulties, but the possibilities he relays are reason enough to find motivation. Chapter 12 is a summary of the challenges and advantages of theological education in China. Baugus wrote this chapter, and his pastoral sensitivity and professional optimism is evident. The final chapter by Paul Wang explores the need to indigenize and contextualize the Reformed faith in China. It is a pleasant and necessary ending to the book.

Extracted From:  http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/chinas-reforming-churches-mission-polity-and-ministry-in-the-next-christend

Joel Beeke: A Puritan Theology

This message is from our 2013 National Conference, No Compromise

In this session, based upon his book A Puritan Theology, Dr. Joel Beeke discusses the puritans' teaching on most major Reformed doctrines, particularly those doctrines in which the Puritans made significant contributions.

Lion City is 50 years Old. - Lima Pulu Singapura, Srivijaya

"One of the extraordinary economic success stories of the late 20th Century, Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence in 2015. The BBC's Sharanjit Leyl who was born and brought up in Singapore delves into her family's history to explore how the country transformed itself into one of the wealthiest per capita economies in the world." -  Singapore at 50 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3csxmc0

The architecture of Majapahit Empire

"The Majapahit Empire, based on the island of Java in what is now Indonesia, was a wealthy trading state that controlled one of the key choke-points along the Indian Ocean trade routes, the Straits of Malacca. It lasted from 1293 to 1527. At its height, the Majapahit Empire ruled most of maritime Southeast Asia, from Sumatra in the west to New Guinea in the east, and also including areas that now make up Singapore, Brunei, East Timor, the southern Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Thailand." - http://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/history/the-majapahit-empire/

The Srivijaya at their greatest extent in Blue.

श्रीविजय साम्राज्य
The Srivijaya Empire

Flag Coat of Arms
Capital and Largest City	Thenmobang (Padang)
Language   official	Sanskrit
others	Khmer dialect as well as minority indigenous languages
Religion	Thenmobism
Demonym	Srivijayan
Government	Monarchy
legislature	Maharajah (High King)
Area	4,856,434 km2
Established	677 (76 BC)

Singapura, Srivijaya " The Kingdom of Singapura (Malay: Kerajaan Singapura) was a small Malay kingdom centered in the modern-day island nation of Singapore. Conventional historical view marks circa 1299 as the founding year of the kingdom by Sang Nila Utama, a renegade Srivijayan prince who claimed to be of Malay-Indo-Persian origin. In the 14th century, the settlement developed concurrently with the Pax Mongolica era and rose from a small Srivijayan trading outpost into a centre of international trade with strong ties with Yuan Dynasty. 

Its wealth and success however, alarmed two regional powers at that time, Ayuthaya from the north and Majapahit from the south. As a result, the kingdom's fortified capital was attacked by at least two major foreign invasions before it was finally sacked by Majapahit in 1398.  The last king, Iskandar Shah fled to the west coast of Malay Peninsula to establish Melaka Sultanate in 1400. " ( Kingdom of Singapura From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

” In 1299 there was a Prince named Sang Nila Utama. He was the emperor of the Srivijayan Empire, which included Malaysia, Singapore and all of Sumatra. One day, he decided that his empire needed a new capital and set sail with a number of ships to visit the islands off the coast of Sumatra. After several days at sea, he stopped his fleet at an island for a hunting trip.  While chasing a deer, he reached the top of a hill from where he had a good view across the sea. A white beach caught his attention. His chief minister told him that this was the island of Temasek (meaning “Sea Town” in Old Javanese).

”On their way across the sea to visit this island, they were caught in a violent storm, and the ship began to take in water. To prevent it from sinking, the prince ordered his men to throw all the heavy things overboard. Lastly he threw in his heavy golden crown as a gift to his grandfather, the Lord of the Sea. The sailing party survived and landed at the mouth of the present-day Singapore River. Inland, while hunting, he suddenly saw a strange animal with an orange body, black head and a white breast. It moved fast and quickly disappeared into the jungle. His chief minister told him that it probably was a lion. As the lion was considered a sign of good fortune, he took this as a good omen and decided to stay and build a new city in Temasek. He renamed the city “Singapura” – derived from the Malay words “Singa” for Lion and “Pura” for city.”   - Singapore - The Lion City, Discover how Singapore got its nickname.

”Temasek ('Sea Town' in the Malay language), a second century outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, is the earliest known settlement on Singapore. The island was part of the Sri Vijaya Empire until it was invaded by the south Indian Emperor Rajendra Chola I, of the Chola Empire, in the 11th century. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burned down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries. Nominally, it belonged to the Johor Sultanate during this period, while the maritime region and trade was under Dutch control.

British colonisation

In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived and signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor, on behalf of the British East India Company, to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824, the entire island became a British possession under a further treaty with the Sultan, as well as the Temenggong.In 1826, Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements, under the jurisdiction of British India, becoming the regional capital in 1836.[18] Prior to Raffles' arrival, there were approximately 1,000 people living on the island, mostly indigenous Malays along with a handful of Chinese. By 1860, the population exceeded 80,000 and more than half were Chinese. Many immigrants came to work at rubber plantations and, after the 1870s, the island became a global centre for rubber exports. After World War I, the British built the large Singapore Naval Base. Lieutenant General Sir William George Shedden Dobbie was appointed General Officer Commanding of the Malaya Command on 8 November 1935, holding the post until 1939; in May 1938, he warned how Singapore could be conquered by the Japanese via an attack from northern Malaya, but his warnings were not heeded, resulting in the fall of Singapore nearly four years later in early 1942 during World War II.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Bethel Presbyterian Church, Singapore  - http://www.bethelpres.org.sg

”God had raised him and Singapore up for his purposes. Now it is up to the Christians in this great nation to decide how they will proceed. May they not waste this remarkable opportunity and all the many blessings – material and spiritual – that they now enjoy.

We must all pause to reflect on this great leader, politician and statesman. He did so very much for Singapore, Asia and the world. But we must also pray for the church in Singapore. This is indeed a crucial period. Singapore is at a crossroads. May it become indeed the Antioch of Asia.” - http://billmuehlenberg.com/2015/03/23/lee-kuan-yew-singapore-and-christianity/

Illuminati political power: The government is Freemasonry

Here is another article that will give light to many about Freemasonry, Jesuitism (Jusuit Priesthood) and Luciferian Illuminati. The ancient spirit of the opposer who masquerades as an angel of light is the Deceiver of the world. He is the true founder of all false religion and the power behind all evil. God's agent to punish the children of disobedience and bring affliction to all creatures.

"For the Eternal will extend mercy to Jacob, this family of God’s people. God will choose Israel all over again, and He will settle them in comfort and rest back on their land. Others who are unrelated will want to join them and stick close to the house of Jacob, God’s promise people,  who will take them in. These others will work for and among Israel. Whoever used to hold Israel captive—controlling the people’s every moment and every move—will in turn be controlled by Israel; and whoever used to oppress Israel will instead be subject to Israel." - Isaiah 14:1,2 The Voice (VOICE)



Illuminati political power: The government is Freemasonry

Freemasonry has many names, one of the names will be familiar to you. I’m talking about the Illuminati. Founded by a man named Adam Weishaupt in South of Germany in 1776. He formulated his plans in relation to the House of Rothschild in England, Germany, France, and Italy.

The Rothschild banking dynasty, behind the government’s of Europe, hired Adam Weishaupt to formulate a strategy for the world at that time to accomplish certain goals for those in power. That plan came to be known as the Illuminati plan. Please note that you can find most of this material in any library, any encyclopedia under the word Illuminati, which obviously comes from the word illumine, to be enlightened, to be in the light.

In the book “Fire in the Minds” by James Billington, on page 87, states that the story of secret societies can never be fully restructured. It has been badly neglected, even avoided one suspects, because the evidence that is available repeatedly leads us into territory equally uncongenial to modern historians in the East and the West.

In what follows, I shall attempt to show that the modern revolutionary tradition, as it came to be internationalized under Napoleon, during the Restoration, grew out of occult Freemasonry. The early organizational revolutionary ideas originated more from Pythagorean mysticism than from practical experience. Moreover, the real innovators were not so much the political activists, as much as literary intellectuals on whom German romantic thought in general, and the Bavarian Illuminati, in particular, exerted great influence. Here, Billington was specifically talking about the organization of the Bavarian Illuminati. You can’t discuss the Illuminati without understanding the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church, because Adam Weishaupt himself, the founder of the Illuminati, was, in fact, a Jesuit priest. He was not just an ordinary Jesuit priest, however. In Bavaria he continued to support revolutionary radical thinking against the church, giving to the world what has come to be known, as the revolutionary tradition.

Project democracy by the founder of the Illuminati

May 1, 1776, was when Adam Weishaupt founded this order. This date is important, of course, in the Soviet Union and other communist countries, because May 1st, May Day, is considered to be the momentous date to all communist revolutionaries, when Adam Weishaupt founded the Illuminati.The bait that was laid by Adam Weishaupt for control of a vast number of people worldwide, which has now become a very old and tired project. The project was called Democracy, a people’s democracy. Adam Weishaupt, like many others before him, understood that Democracy has never reason, worked, is not working now, and never will work. Basically, because of the reason, while people could be and are the central power of any government, the people do not hold the power of any government in the final analysis. And, that while on the surface Democracy seems to be the best of all possible worlds, Democracy is a very perverted form of government, because the people can be misled.

Democracy comes from the word demos, meaning mob – a mob in the street is a demos. Demos-ocracy; ocracy meaning rule. Demos-ocracy, or democracy, means mob rule. You might say that true democracy is like thirty-five whites hanging one black. That’s democracy. The rule of the mob. Now, when we put it into more Americanized political terms, it’s the rule of the people. And, while that may sound good in print, the founders of democracy in our modern-day form realized that the people could be manipulated into accepting whatever they would want the people to accept.

Sort of manipulation:

Education

Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt served as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education, during the first term of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and staff employee of the U.S. Department of State (South Africa, Belgium, South Korea). Iserbyt cited about the book Schooling for a Global Age Project BEST is having less to do with fostering learning and mainly to do with psychological manipulation of students, possibly against the teaching of the child’s parents, for example, in arts classes.

Television, Media & Press

News reporter asked a by-passer about the 2nd plane hitting the WTC “There is no second plane, but a bomb” says the by-passer. However, the reported sticked to his story [watch]. Another example the Ebola Crisis: Actors were hired by CNN [watch].

Internet & radio

A good example of disinformation to scare people is Alex Jones, a man with Jewish connections to make Infowars a money machine and success.Explained: Arguably the most evil manipulative technique is what psychologists call the “fear-then-relief technique.” The technique preys on a person’s emotions. Here, the manipulator causes someone a great deal of stress or anxiety and then abruptly relieves that stress. After this sudden mood swing, the person is disarmed, less likely to make mindful or rational decisions, and more likely to respond positively to various requests.

At one time or another we’ve all questioned as to whether all that we see and are experiencing in our world has some sort of rational plan behind it, because we understand now that both the Republican and Democratic Parties in America are basically run by the same people. The same money finances both sides.

We now know through the work of many historians who have spent their lives working on research, that both sides of world conflicts have always been financed by the same people. And, as I’ve said many times before, this seems to be the method to the “madness” going on in the world. We know, of course, that we cannot depend on the truthfulness our leaders. Our leaders worldwide are “misleaders.” There is a science they are following. They have their own agenda – and it does not include you.

This agenda also does not include many of our politicians, who have sometimes felt helpless and spoke out as a result. In 1922, New York City Mayor John F. Hylan said, “The real menace of our republic is this invisible government which, like a giant octopus, sprawls its slimy length over city, state and nation. Like the octopus of real life, it operates under cover of a self-created screen…. At the head of this octopus are the Rockefeller Standard Oil interests and a small group of powerful banking houses generally referred to as international bankers.

The little coterie of powerful international bankers virtually run the United States government for their own selfish purposes. They practically control both political parties.” What I have said, however, is that they do control both parties, among many other things in the world. Conflicts require money and cooperation. World conflicts require world banks and international monetary funds. Professional groups all have fraternal orders.

Doctors, attorneys, etc., have their own specific fraternal orders. In the banking world, it is the same way. They have the same fraternal order in banking and politics. However, we are not supposed to know anything about that, because that’s not any of our business. That fraternal order in politics and banking has been known for many years by those on the inside. It has been referred to by different names, at different times, in different countries. The best overall name that we can confer on this fraternal order, which is running America, politics, and monetary system, is Freemasonry.

America, was in fact founded by Freemasons. Freemasonry, in one form or another, has played a role in almost every government that was founded in this world. It is powerful in operation today throughout the world. However, we do want to establish first that what we are not talking about is Blue Masonry, or the Masonic Lodges in your hometown.

We are not talking about the Freemasons that live across the street from you. We’re talking about a worldwide fraternal organization that is powerful enough, old enough, and wise enough to operate behind all governments in the world, behind fraternal institutions, and behind international monetary systems in the world. And, yes, they are, in fact, connected.For instance, the idea that America was founded by so many Freemasons and Rosicrucians, among others, will be consistently revealed throughout this book.

The Freemasonic royal arch

We ask ourselves, “Why do they fold the American flag in a triangle?” What does the pyramid or the triangle have to do with the American system of government on the dollar bill? We must now recall that our Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is referred to as the Keystone State. The reason why Pennsylvania is the Keystone State, is because the Freemasons that founded his country were members of the Scottish Rite.

You might also want to ask yourself about the biological warfare going on in the world today. AIDS coming from out of nowhere, coming into the homosexual community. Just what are homosexuals doing today, that they didn’t do six thousands years ago? Why is it that all of a sudden, in the 1980’s, we had AIDS? Is there any connection between AIDS and Legionnaire’s Disease? And, the biological experimentation going on with the CIA, the NSA: Think of the Ebola. And all the other government agencies that you don’t know anything about. Is it possible that there could be some sort of biological experiments going on, some of them going awry, some of them purposely going awry, simply to see how far they can go, Is there any kind of rhyme or reason for things that are happening today?

Did you forget? It seems that Americans can’t remember more than one year. Syphilis Vaccine gruesome experiments by the Government. In October 2010, the Obama administration formally apologized to Guatemala for conducting these experiments.

Keep in mind, too, that what the government pays for – it gets. If you are paid to do something for the government, they will extract from you exactly what they have paid for.

The American government is the most powerful government the world has ever known. They had the ability to get a hold on Adolph Hitler a few decades ago. He had a standing army. Plus the greatest navy, air force, military, and secret underworld organizations operating throughout the world. But, this government got a hold on Adolph Hitler, because it chose to, and it wanted to. And, if you do not pay your income taxes they will find you if you go to the Amazon jungle. And, they will make an example of you. They will find you and they will deal with you, and you know it. But, for some reason they are unable to get a handle on the drugs, and the crime in the streets, for some reason.

There is a reason, There is a method to the “madness.” It’s the agenda and it doesn’t include you. The New World Order.



Illuminati political power: The government is Freemasonry

The Illuminati political power. The connection between the Illuminati, American Politicians and the Freemasons or Freemasonry. Learn also what the connections are between Adam Weishaupt, Napoleon and Rothschild.
SOURCE: LIONS GROUND

Evidence for the Historical Jesus by Professor Gary R. Habermas

History, Philosophy, and Christian Apologetics:

Specializing in Resurrection-of-Jesus Research

     "Billions profess to believe in the historical existence, death, and supernatural resurrection of Jesus. This man from Nazareth, a working-class Jew, made an exclusive claim to personal deity. The size of his popular religion and this one audacious claim refuse to be ignored, yet neither one amounts to evidence.

     Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. Christian believers as well as unbelievers may find within the contents of this site a strong argument for the philosophical possibility of miracles and the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, as well as the theological and practical implications of this event." by Dr. Habermas - http://www.garyhabermas.com/

Introduction
The subject of the Historical Jesus is perhaps the most popular religious topic in settings such as university and seminary classrooms, written volumes, and doctoral dissertations. Unlike many of these more formal situations, the question-and-answer format utilized throughout this text allows plenty of space to develop additional angles. Hence, the backtracking, necessary repetition, as well as viewing the subject matter from a variety of perspectives allow the conversation to deepen significantly before moving ahead. In the process, it is our hope that new ideas will be expressed and developed. The overall purpose is to provide a historical context for the original gospel proclamation as provided by Jesus’ disciples at a very early date after the crucifixion itself. If we have come close to providing such a basis, then we will have reached our central goal.

This volume is a transcribed and expanded version of six television programs that appeared originally on “The John Ankerberg Show.” The original material was used by permission, for which we begin by thanking Dr. John Ankerberg, Alan Weathers, and their associates. This explains the similar introduction which appears at the beginning of each chapter. (Continue reading by downloading the whole ebook HERE, in pdf format.)

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4th of JULY is a Satanic Unholy Day in Honor of the god of this world.

The United States of America with its founding fathers believed to be men of God picked the date of 4th of July as their Independence Day? Independence against whom? The so-called Illuminati and High degree Freemason Luciferians stablished a new haven in the New World, a new Atlantis not to worship freely but to continue the ancient demonic plan to rule the world together with the priests  of Baal (Literally the Roman Catholic Priests) and the Church of Rome as the official religion of  the coming One World Government. 

The Occult and The 4th of July - Satanic Holiday - Satanism Hidden in Plain Sight July 4th & its Occult Tradition(s) July 4th is the day of the year planet Earth is furthest from the sun. When celebrating tonight, realize the Masonic Founding Fathers picked July 4th to celebrate 'Independence Day' - not to be free from Royal Monarch rule, but as a hidden celebration of Sun Worship.
In virtually all pagan societies, the Sun-god was worshiped as the time of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). In the old Julian Calendar, June 24 was celebrated as the summer solstice, and the counterpart to the December 25th winter solstice. Since the worship of the Sun-gods in various civilizations is a much written about subject, I’ll only mention here what I deem is important in this research regarding America.
In Babylon it was Tammuz, and in Greece it was Adonis that was “resurrected” during these Midsummer Day festivals to “rule and reign”. The most familiar dates that have been devoted to this Satanic celebration of the death and resurrection of the Sun-god, a pagan messiah, the Babylonian Savior of the World, is the old summer solstice, Midsummer’s Eve, June 23rd. The date, 1776, can be decoded to reveal the number of the New World Order (1110) and the number of the Beast (666). The Birth of America on July 4, 1776. The New World was to be the New World Order...
An event took place during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585) that changed the scope of the Julian calendar. During the sixteenth century, the calendar was ten days “slow”, as the Romans’ during the reign of Julius Caesar was ten days behind the sun. Under Pope Gregory’s orders, an extremely accurate calendar was constructed and the Julian calender replaced. Ten days were “skipped” in October of 1582 to realign the calendar correctly with the sun. Today, virtually the entire world abides by this calendar called the Gregorian, or Western calendar. Many non-Catholic countries did not consent for years, and England did not adopt the modern Gregorian calendar until 1752 – one hundred and seventy years later. With the old Julian calendar eleven days behind the new Gregorian calendar, it was necessary to drop the eleven days. So, in England, in 1752, September 2nd was followed the next day by September 14th.
Many people found it hard to accept that eleven days had just disappeared, so they continued to refer to holidays by the old Julian calendar by the word “old” before the holiday. The “new” date of July 4th was actually the “old” June 23rd. As a result, instead of celebrating Midsummer’s Eve on June 23, many celebrated Old Midsummer’s Eve on July 4th. Satan’s special holiday of “resurrection” and the lighting of fires to the Sun-god was transferred from the 23rd of June, to the 4th of July!

The “birthday” of the U.S., the 4th of July, 1776, is “Old Midsummer Eve, the day when the world – since ancient Egypt and Babylon – has given worship to Bel by lighting fires! Research reveals that in addition to bonfires, FIREWORKS also became a new form of celebration in Europe of Old Midsummer’s Eve (July 4th).
Mankind continued its celebration of June 24th as Satan’s holiday well beyond ancient Babylon. The Celtic Druids, who sacrificed both humans and animals in fires to Bel, lit fires on the 24th of June, Midsummer Day. In the centuries following the Druids, the lighting of huge bonfires and torches on the 23rd of June, Midsummer’s Eve, extended all throughout pagan Europe. The “Midsummer’s Eve” bonfires to Bel on June 23rd crossed the ocean and became the Fourth Of July fireworks celebrations to BEL, the “god” behind the birth of Last-Day Babylon which would usher in a New Order of the Ages with “liberty and justice for all.”
One of the symbols of the celebration of the 4th of July was the Phoenix, the fire bird that is sacred to the sun and rises from the ashes. The original Great Seal of the United States depicted a Phoenix instead of an eagle, which was emblematic of America being the “resurrection” of Babylon. The Phoenix was later changed to an eagle, the symbol of both old Babylon and old Rome. The next time you celebrate the 4th of July by viewing a local or national display of FIREWORKS, think of the roots of the celebration, and the real spirit which “birthed” this day into being.

The Fire of the LORD of Israel.

There never was, nor is, nor ever will be the least particle of holiness in the world, but what flowing from Jesus Christ, is communicated by the Spirit, according to the truth and promise of the gospel. (The Holy Spirit: His Gifts and Power, 248.) -  John Owen

A New Obedience: The Coming of the Spirit

THE WHORE OF BABYLON and the CHURCH OF TARES.

UPDATED DIRECTOR's CUT - Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive, Church Growth & New World Order


"See how the best business practices of management guru Peter Drucker have been borrowed by Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and Bob Buford to build influential megachurches. Updated material includes a biblical examination of the office of “celebrity pastor,” the unbiblical practice of “vision casting,” how the Purpose Driven and Seeker Driven movements treat detractors, the Purpose Driven Continent of Africa, the use of non-profit pulpits to sell books and more on “Chrislam.” This information is especially vital to those who follow Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Bob Buford, Andy Stanley, Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, Ed Young Jr., Mark Batterson, James MacDonald and others within the movement."

"BUILDING THE ONE WORLD RELIGION-“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

There is a hardcore, full-court press happening right now to unify all Christian denominations under the banner of the Roman Catholic Church, and the charge is being led by none other than apostate pastor  and Chrislam founder Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. Warren has a purpose driven plan to break down and destroy the Christian church, and unite the pieces with Rome.





In the above video, Rick Warren is seen slyly referring to Pope Francis as “our pope”, and then going on to brag about what a great job he is doing. He wants you to blithely assume that of course Pope Francis is the “spiritual head” over all of Christianity and not simply over the Roman Catholic corporation. He slips it in like that’s what everyone already thinks and believes. This is nothing more than mental conditioning. A bible believing Christian under no circumstances ever would acknowledge that any pope in the Roman system had any sort of rule over them of any kind.



In the second video, Warren lays out his reasons for why all Christian denominations should be united under Rome while failing miserably in his lame attempt to explain away Mary worship and worshipping of dead saints. He very incorrectly asserts that we “all worship the same Jesus” which, if the bible is true, we clearly do not. Warren holds great sway over the millions of his Laodicean Christian followers who simply accept what he speaks as the truth, and will never once check it against scripture. The Roman Catholic “jesus” is received by eating a magic wafer and drinking wine. The actual Jesus of the bible is received by grace through faith and nothing else. One has nothing at all in common with the other.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4" - http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=28695

SILVERADO in the ANCIENT Egyptian Kingdom (The Truth about Silver)

"The earliest Egyptians didn't have a word in their language for silver, only gold and electrum - an alloy of gold and silver found naturally. When silver was first introduced it was considered more valuable than gold, most likely because it was rarer. This may be verified because silver jewelry at the time was thinner and weighed less than comparable to gold jewelry. And silver items during the Old Kingdom of Egyptian rule were listed above gold items in household inventories.

In the middle Egyptian Kingdom gold was valued at about double that of silver. One of the first measurements of value was the silver shat. It was a flat round silver disk of a specific weight. It was not used as coinage per se but as a measurement of value. A cow was valued at 8 shats while a modest house was valued at 10 shats. One could exchange the house for the cow and demand an additional 2 shats of beer, bread, or other goods.

The Egyptians used silver by itself, in conjunction with gold, and as an overlay of copper. Solid silver coffins did appear but in most cases silver was used as a trimming or overlay.

Silver, as well as gold, jewelry in ancient Egypt was worn for decorative purposes and served a religious purpose. An amulet was thought to have spiritual powers that were bestowed on the person wearing it. An amulet is the representative symbol of a power fashioned into a concrete form, such as jewelry. For example: The beetle or scarab represented rebirth and was often worn by the deceased when they were entombed to help them in their journey to the afterlife." - Why was silver more valuable than gold in ancient Egypt?  http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_was_silver_more_valuable_than_gold_in_ancient_Egypt

"Gold was considered to be the skin of the ancient Egyptian gods, but their bones were thought to be of silver.
At the onset of recorded history, silver may have been unknown to the ancient Egyptians. They could obtain gold and even electrum, which was a natural alloy of silver and gold from the mountains of the Eastern Desert and Nubia, but the Egyptian language at first lacks a word for silver. They described it only as the "white metal", and when they did run across it, they seem to have regarded it as a variety of gold.
When silver was finally introduced into Egypt, it probably was more valuable than gold. It continued to be rare, and on lists of valuables, items of silver were listed above those of gold during the Old Kingdom. Jewelry made of silver was almost always thinner than gold pieces, as indicated by the bracelets of the 4th Dynasty queen Hetephere I, in marked contrast to the extravagance of her gold jewelry. A silver treasure excavated at the site of Tod comprised vessels probably made in Crete, or perhaps somewhere in Asia but under Cretan influence. This cache dates to the reign of Amenemhat II who ruled during the 12th Dynasty, and is roughly contemporaneous with the finds of fine silver jewelry at el-Lahun and Dahshur.

However, by the Middle Kingdom, silver may probably have been considered less valuable than gold. By this time, there was perhaps a much better supply of the metal. According the the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, which was written in the Second Intermediate Period but perhaps composed originally during the 12th Dynasty, silver had acquired a value approximately half that of gold. By the 18th dynasty silver and copper had been established as a mostly abstract means of exchange, with silver continuing to be worth about half its weight in gold. It was imported into Egypt from western Asia and the Mediterranean. In fact, by the New Kingdom onwards, there was a readily available supply of silver. Nevertheless, studies of metal prices between the 12th and 19th Dynasties seem to indicate that its price remained relatively constant at about half the value of gold. Copper was valued at about one-hundredth the value of silver.

Interestingly, demand seems to have not always played a major role in the price of silver. For example, there was little silver found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, perhaps because there was an abundance of the material, though perhaps it may have had something to do with personal, religious or artistic preferences at that specific point in time. The rulers of the 21st and 22nd Dynasty, who were buried at Tanis used considerably more silver in their burials. Sheshonq II had a solid silver coffin with gilded details in the form of the hawk-god, Sokar.

Left: Silver casket of Sheshonq II of the 22nd Dynasty Right: Silver Coffin of Psusennes I from the 21st Dynasty
Silver, generally treated much like gold and electrum, could also be stained black using sulphur. This niello was occasionally applied as decoration. Beaten into sheets, silver was used to plate copper and other materials, especially mirror surfaces.
Interestingly, silver also acted as a valuation for exchange. Perhaps as early as the Middle Kingdom, the values of commodities such as bread, beer, clothing and just about every other item available for trade had their values expressed in comparable units based on the weight of precious metals. The shat (seniu, Sna or shena) was originally a flat silver disk. It came to denote about 7.5 or 7.6g of silver. A deben, or kit, was a weight of 90 to 91g. It should be noted that the shat was always used as a unit of value and not as a weight for other purposes, while the deben was used in such a manner. This does not imply that coinage was in use, but these weights were used to express abstract values in contracts, trade and bookkeeping. At the end of the 18th dynasty a goat, for example, cost one half of a shat of silver, a cow was eight shat and a typical house cost ten shat of silver. A male slave could bring seven deben of silver, while a female slave might bring four deben. However, items could and frequently were also be expressed in the form of copper, and sometimes gold.

It should be noted that these weights appear to have changed over time. A late Middle Kingdom account (Papyrus Boulaq 18) refers to small and large deben. It would seem that prior to the New Kingdom, a deben may have weighed less. Also, towards the end of the New Kingdom, it would appear that the value of most items were expressed in either gold or copper, rather than silver." - http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/silver.htm

References:

Title	Author	Date	Publisher	Reference Number
Ancient Egypt (Anatomy of a Civilization)	Kemp, Barry J.	1989	Routledge	ISBN 0-415-06346-9
Ancient Egypt The Great Discoveries (A Year-by-Year Chronicle)	Reeves, Nicholas	2000	Thmes & Hudson, Ltd	ISBN 0-500-05105-4
Atlas of Ancient Egypt	Baines, John; Malek, Jaromir	1980	Les Livres De France	None Stated
Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, The	Wilkinson, Richard H.	2003	Thames & Hudson, LTD	ISBN 0-500-05120-8
Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, The	Shaw, Ian; Nicholson, Paul	1995	Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers	ISBN 0-8109-3225-3
Egyptian Treasures from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo	Tiradritti, Francesco, Editor	1999	Harry N. Abrams, Inc.	ISBN 0-8109-3276-8
History of Ancient Egypt, A	Grimal, Nicolas	1988	Blackwell	None Stated
Life of the Ancient Egyptians	Strouhal, Eugen	1992	University of Oklahoma Press	ISBN 0-8061-2475-x
Tutankhamun (His Tomb and Its Treasures)	Edwards, I. E. S.	1977	Metropolitan Museum of Art; Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.	ISBN 0-394-41170-6