The Chistmas Tree Debate

The Christmas Tree Debate by Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 1991 

The first question that should be asked in regard to this subject is the following: Is there a command anywhere in the Holy Scriptures that a human should cut a tree out of the forest, set it up in one's home at the time of the Winter Solstice, deck it with trinkets and various decorations, and then place a star on its topmost part to show an association of the tree with the signs of the heavens? There is, of course, no such command nor suggestion that such a thing should be done. In spite of this, there are millions of Christian believers who do this very thing at the time of the Winter Solstice. It is well recognized by all educated people today that the practice is purely and simply a retention of pagan doctrines in the Christian home and church and the custom has nothing to do with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Indeed, because of the command of the apostle Paul in the New Testament that Christians ought to "flee idolatry" (I Corinthians 10:14) and the statement of the apostle John to "keep yourselves from idols" (I John 5:21), the authorities in Post-Reformation England condemned the celebration of Christmas altogether as being a pagan institution (without the slightest warrant in the Bible) and made laws forbidding it to be celebrated. Anyone found cooking a Christmas ham had their dinner taken away and they themselves were arrested. Similar laws were put into effect in the American colonies. In Massachusetts, the following law was passed in 1659 and was enforced on the people for 22 years before it was finally repealed. "Whosoever shall be found observing Christmas, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, every such person shall pay as a fine five shillings to the county." The reason that the pilgrims were forbidding the celebration of Christmas (and the festivities that went with it) was because they were wise enough to realize that the Bible did not condone such customs of the early heathen that had nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. In fact, they had many scriptures that made it quite clear that God was not pleased with such idolatrous celebrations. One such command was found in Jeremiah 10:2,3. "Hear you the word which the Lord speaks unto you, 0 house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Learn not the way of the heathen [non-Israelite nations], and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain." The pagan customs of the Gentile peoples were held in contempt by the people of God who lived in the biblical periods. This has not been the case, however, in modern times. It is usually reckoned by modern Christian authorities that the many customs of our early pagan forefathers can be innocent forms of frivolity and celebration and that God in no way condemns such practices. The vast majority of church leaders of the various denominations not only condone the Christmas and Easter celebrations that they know come directly from pagan religious ceremonies, but they actively encourage the use of them in the churches themselves and in the homes of the people. Among such customs is the setting up of Christmas trees. This custom is nothing more than a retention of pagan "tree worship" (which anthropologists and historians have for centuries informed the general public), but the setting up of Christmas trees continues unabated in multitudes of Christian churches around the world. With some kind of twisted reasoning, the church authorities tell the laity that all these pagan customs are innocent enough as long as they "put Christ back into Christmas" with their worshipful adoration of the nativity of the Christ-child. But a problem arises How can the church leaders "put Christ back into Christmas" when he was never in Christmas in the first place? December 25th for the birth of Christ was not even suggested as being the time of Jesus' birth (and certainly not celebrated by early Christians) until A.D.388. The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics states: "The writings of Chrysostom enable us to fix with considerable exactness the date at which the observance of the Feast of the Nativity on December 25 was introduced at Antioch, he states that its observance was not yet quite ten years old" (vol.3, p.603). It is true, however, from the evidence we have available that the Magi (the Wise Men) gave their gifts to Christ on December 25, 2 B.C. This was not the birthday of Christ. Revelation 12 shows, and I abundantly prove this in my new book "The Star that Astonished the World," that Christ was born on the Jewish Holyday of Rosh ha-Shanah (the Day of Trumpets) which answers to our September 11, 3 B.C. Christ Jesus was at least 15 months old when the Magi presented their gifts to him on December 25. So, if people wish to follow the pagan manner of giving Christ gifts at the time of the Winter Solstice, they could wait until December 25th (like the Magi) and give their gifts to Christ at that time. Or, since December 25th in 2 B.C. was the third day of the Jewish festival called "the Dedication" (or Hanukkah, mentioned by the apostle John in John 10:22), then people could wait until this day to give gifts to Christ. This year (1991) the third day of Hanukkah is Wednesday, December 4th. At least by people giving gifts to Christ on the festival of Hanukkah there is no tinge of idolatry or pagan practices associated with that period. But waiting specifically to December 25th to give gifts to Christ (as did the Magi) is merely continuing the general customs of the heathen. All historians know this. And as far as I am concerned I have no argument with those who still want to observe the time with the heathen. Thank God, none of you is on earth to please me. Anyone can do what he or she pleases. As for me, observing Christmas customs is analogous to childishness in the faith. It shows a lack of understanding regarding what pleases or displeases God and Christ Jesus. To my wife Ramona and me, Christmas is simply a workday like any other day of the week. So, let us not belabor the issue. The pagan origin of Christmas and its Winter Solstice celebrations are so well known that no further proof of the matter should have to be made by me. All of you reading this article realize this to be the truth. The majority of Christians know that one is simply perpetuating heathen customs when one cuts a tree, takes it into the home or church where it is erected at a significant site, decorates it with metal trinkets or stream it with metal or cloth ribbons and attach the images of animals or Santa Claus. People then surround it on December 25th (the time of the Winter Solstice) to adore the new born "Sun" (sorry, I should have spelled it "Son" to give the pagan custom a Christian twist for all Christian devotees). Since the pagan origin of these things is so well understood by all intelligent people, then how can there be a discussion in Christian circles that would provoke "The Christmas Tree Debate" which is the title of this article? The debate is not over whether the Christmas tree is pagan because every mature Christian knows that. What has become a matter of discussion, however, mainly among Christian theologians, is whether the Christmas tree (or something similar to it) has been singled out by Jeremiah. The section of Scripture that evokes this debate is Jeremiah 10:1-5 and 8,9. Let us see what Jeremiah states with the King James Version being the basis of the translation. "Hear you the word which the Lord speaks unto you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain. For one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it [the tree] with silver and with gold. They fasten it [the tree] with nails and with hammers that it move not. They [such trees] are upright as the palm tree, but speak not. The tree [KJV: stock] is a doctrine of vanities. Silver is spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder. Blue and purple is their clothing. They [the trees] are all the work of cunning men." The King James Version gives a reasonable translation of the Hebrew words as spoken by Jeremiah. You will notice that I have identified the pronouns in brackets, and what I have stated follows the Hebrew wording and context precisely without ambiguity. These trees are decked with gold, silver, as well as with rich weavings of blue and purple fabrics. Jeremiah compared the use of these decked-out trees to the practice of idolatry and such trees were being used in false worship. If one leaves alone the simple context with all the subjects kept in view, one is left with the impression that Jeremiah is condemning the idolatrous act of "tree worship." And it makes perfectly good sense that this is what the prophet is condemning. There are some translators, however, who substitute other meanings to a few of the words above and they arrive at the conclusion that Jeremiah is speaking about getting some timber (cut wood) from the forest, carving it into the shape of an idol (be it human, or a part of the human anatomy) and then plating it over with silver and gold (as one might mold or gild metal onto wood). In brief, they claim that the subject of Jeremiah is not a tree (or trees) or "tree worship" but a carved idol made out of wood that has been gilded with gold and silver. In effect, the translators who adopt such a translation have got rid of the "tree worship" theme that the simple use of the Hebrew seems to advance and have substituted it with a theme simply condemning the making of particular types of idols. But what does Jeremiah mean? This is where the debate among scholars begins. Is he basically referring to plain and simple "tree worship" that was then prevalent all over the Middle East? Or was he actually selecting out idols that had been manufactured out of wood (usually carved from blocks of wood) and then gilded with a veneer of gold or silver? There are examples of such gilding in the Bible. It is found in the creation of the Ark of the Covenant located in the Holy Place (Exodus 25:10-16), and Isaiah shows that some images were also fashioned in the gilded fashion. "The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains" (Isaiah 40:19). Many idols were not gilded, however. The next verse in Isaiah says it is the poor and impoverished pagan who cannot afford gold or silver and is subjected to creating an idol out of wood alone. "He that is so impoverished that he has no oblation chooses a tree that will not rot; he sees him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved." Though the majority of ancient idols were made of solid clay, stone, bone, metal or wood, most were not gilded over with gold or silver. They were on the other hand commonly decorated or painted with such substances and it is thought that this is what Jeremiah may have been talking about. So, just what does the section of Jeremiah really mean? This is the question that modern scholars have been concerned with in interpreting the passage of Jeremiah quoted above. Let us see what the evidence holds in this regard. When Jeremiah said "one cuts a tree out of the forest," the word for "tree" is a Hebrew word that ordinarily means a living tree that grows in the ground. The "trees" in the Garden of Eden, including that of the knowledge of good and evil as well as the tree of life, were indicated as being ordinary "trees" by the use of this word. True, it can sometimes means a block of wood, but when Jeremiah said to cut a tree "from the forest," a forest is made up of numerous trees usually over a vast region of land. A forest is made up of many trees, not many "blocks of wood" or "pieces of timber." The immediate context of Jeremiah shows he is really talking about a tree that one can cut down and that it [the tree] can be decked or adorned with gold or silver and/or blue or purple cloths. There is a further way to show that the context of Jeremiah is speaking of a literal tree. He states that the "tree" which is decked with ornaments and is nailed in place is like a "palm tree" that is upright [secured with hammered metal] so that it remains rigid and erect. This is what Jeremiah wrote if one uses the simple meaning of the Hebrew words as a guide. A "palm tree" is certainly being discussed by Jeremiah because the only other time the word is used in the Bible, it clearly refers to a living palm tree (Judges 4:5). This is a reliable clue. But some interpreters do not want Jeremiah referring to a "palm tree" in this section of scripture. They want it to be a pillar, a type of scarecrow that one would put in a garden or a cucumber patch (like an idol referred to in the apocryphal work Baruch 5:70). As Keil and Delitzsch show in their commentary on this verse, the scholars who thought up this interpretation understood the "palm tree" to be the pagan god Priapus (in the form of a phallic symbol -a pillar shaped like the male organ as a sexual object) which was placed in a cucumber patch as a scarecrow. I imagine such a phallic display would frighten off the crows. Keil and Delitzsch, however, utterly dismiss this interpretation. They say it has little in common with the context of Jeremiah. And this is true. There is not a tissue of evidence from the context that this is what Jeremiah meant by his "palm tree." Granted, phallic symbols were found in wide profusion in the ancient pagan world in devotion to Priapus or other fertility deities (our modern steeples and spires on churches are a remnant of such phallic shapes associated with the pagan heathen temples and their holy places). And, according to the scholars who first suggested "the pillar in a cucumber patch" interpretation for Jeremiah, they imagine that this was a type of "sex object" that Jeremiah was speaking about. But modern translators who adopt the suggestion are not honest because the majority do not want to offend the sensitivities of the biblical readers and they normally leave out the part that the male sexual organ is the object of Jeremiah's discussion. They should have had no worry. Jeremiah is really talking about pagan "tree worship" that the Israelites of his time had taken up. The palm tree (which is an evergreen like most Christmas trees today) was being decorated with gold and silver spiral ribbons like those that come forth from the working of a lathe and also with blue and purple cloth ribbons. Such trees were known as asherahs. They are mentioned several times in the Old Testament and often are translated by the English word "grove." But the word asherah has been shown to refer to a single tree that can be living, cut out of the forest, or depicted in various abstract forms. Indeed, the most ancient form of all pagan religion is simple "tree worship." Long before most nations of the world took up depicting their gods and goddesses in human or animal form, it is known that well-nigh the whole of the world's population (civilized or savage) were thoroughly engrossed in various forms of "tree worship." The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics has a large article that shows the universal proclivity of all ancient peoples (including the Hebrews) to indulge in the worship of living trees and those they had cut out of the forest for religious reasons (vol.12, pp.448-457). Such "tree worship" was well known in the time of Jeremiah and later. The oak was universally held in esteem. In mountainous areas cedars and firs were worshiped. In more desert regions the palm was the tree most worshiped. As the The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics states: "Tree worship pure and simple, where the tree is in all respects treated as a god, is attested for Arabia in the case of the sacred date-palm in Nejran. It was adorned at an annual feast with fine clothes and women's ornaments" (vol.12, p.449). The encyclopaedia goes on to say that the biblical mention of the women of Judah draping the asherah with their garments near the Temple at Jerusalem is another example of tree worship (II Kings 23:7). This kind of heathen activity is precisely what Jeremiah is referring to in chapter 10. He was telling the Israelites not to learn the way of the heathen by cutting a tree out of the forest and decorating it with spiral ribbons of gold and silver like those coming from the workings of a lathe, and adorned with blue and purple fabric ribbons. Such customs were normally associated with the seasonal feasts of the pagans (especially those of the Solstices or Equinoxes). The modern Christmas tree is a prime example in our day of what the heathen were doing in the time of Jeremiah. One wonders what Jeremiah, if he were alive today, would say about all the Christmas trees that now decorate our Christian homes and Christian churches? Would he sound a similar alarm like he did among the ancient Jewish population in Jerusalem? He probably would. And knowing how the apostles of Christ said to flee idolatry, the apostles would probably be equally against perpetuating these heathen customs. But as for the preachers and religious leaders today, they condone the whole thing and delight in the pagan festivities.

New Song ~ Yah Surrounds and Completes me

Deuteronomy 7-6-9

6“For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. יהוה your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

7“יהוה did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more numerous than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples,

8but because of יהוה loving you, and because of Him guarding the oath which He swore to your fathers, יהוה has brought you out with a strong hand, and ransomed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim.

9And you shall know that יהוה your Elohim, He is Elohim, the trustworthy Ěl guarding covenant and loving-commitment for a thousand generations with those who love Him, and those who guard His commands,”

The Son of Perditon (Part 1 and 2)

 The Son of Perdition – Part 1 and 2 by Dr Michael Lake (kingdomintelligencebriefing.com/)

In my new book, The Shinar Directive, I connect the Son of Perdition with the historic figure of Nimrod within the Word of God.   Nimrod’s directive to both draw all men away from God and possibly launch a war on Heaven itself drew an immediate and personal response from the Almighty.  Nimrod’s directive did not die with the confusing of the languages; it was only postponed.  Since the time of Nimrod, the Mystery Religions have been laboring under the cloak of secrecy to see his directive fulfilled.   The Luciferian Elite are committed to creating the proper conditions on planet Earth for the return of their beloved despotic king, the Son of Perdition.

To gain a better understanding of this Luciferian king, I decided to examine Chapter 2 of Second Thessalonians for myself to see if there were clues unnoticed by researchers that preceded this generation.  As we draw closer to the revealing of the Son of Perdition, the sorcerer’s cloak of mystery grows thinner.  It is my desire to take the present day truths that are being revealed by the Holy Spirit in our generation to pierce even deeper through the Babylonian haze that surrounds this Man of Sin.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (KJV)

Paul is writing to the Church in Thessalonica.  A teaching, whether delivered by the power of some spirit through a false teacher or by letter, was stressing the imminent return of Christ in their day (thus, Paul’s statement that the day of Christ was at hand.)  In retrospect some nineteen hundred and sixty-four years later, we can see Paul’s point.  A lot of history has happened between A.D. 51 and today.   A strategic event, similar to the first rise of the Son of Perdition, must take place.

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;

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (KJV)

Have you ever stopped to think about the life of Noah and his family after the flood?  Everyone on the planet knew about the only true God and His judgment on a corrupt world that had been contaminated by the Watchers and through the teachings of their children, the Nephilim.(Giants ie children of the Watchers/ fallen angels)  (The Nephilim, according to Enoch, became demons after God’s judgment.  This fact puts a whole new light on Paul’s statement regarding the “doctrine of demons.”  Hebraically, doctrines are not about creeds; they are about the philosophy or ways that one lives his life.)  As mankind moved away from the flood, the family line of Ham went to work, and there was a progressive falling away from God.  This slow trickle became a tsunami under Nimrod.  At the first revealing of the Son of Perdition, there was a great falling away from the knowledge and ways of God. Since the Almighty tells us the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10), we will see a similar falling away.

Therefore, we see the prophetic pattern that is revealed after the flood.  The whole earth must be filled with the knowledge of God, His ways, and the truth of His Gospel.  Then a waning begins.  It will be slow at first but will gain great momentum as the unveiling of the Son of Perdition draws ever closer.

Today, this falling away is indeed gaining great momentum.  In my youth, I imagined as this happened that there would be no church buildings left in use.  Everyone would have left the church, become secular, and worked to empower the Son of Perdition.  Although the church buildings of many of the faithful are slowly emptying out, I see many mega churches filled to capacity through another gospel.   These churches claim to be Christian, but they have dismissed sin and have made everything permissible under the guise of grace.   As we examine the very nature of the Son of Perdition, we will realize the spirit behind his power has already been working behind the scenes to create the theologies needed that have brought about the apostasies of today.

The Man of Sin

I hear many today talk about the Man of Sin but, at the same time, dance around the very definition of what empowers him. The Greek word used for sin is hamartia.  This interesting word means, “to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin.” [i]   When you realize that the Mystery of Iniquity is what empowers the Son of Perdition or the Man of Sin, you begin to get a clearer picture.  Iniquity in the Greek is anomia, which means not only “to be without law” but “contempt and violation of law.”[ii]   The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible clearly expresses what law the Son of Perdition is against:  “Iniquity,” Greek, “lawlessness”; defiant rejection of God’s law.[iii]  Therefore, we are not talking about the Antichrist having contempt for civil law.  In fact, both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation reveal that he will control civil law.

The Son of Perdition will defiantly reject the Law of God.  This fact is usually avoided by many Evangelicals today (although not historically so).  I have witnessed attitudes in Christians that resemble the character of the Son of Perdition, when the Law of God is mentioned.  How can this be?

Here is our theological conundrum:  if Christ did away with the Law, how can the Son of Perdition defiantly reject and oppose it?  Would that not make Christ and the Antichrist in agreement?   To quote the apostle Paul, God forbid!

I believe part of our theological conundrum was created by misunderstanding some of the comments of the apostle Paul, as well as not bringing those select comments into the greater whole of his writings and by taking the concept of Judaizing far beyond the biblical boundaries revealed in Scripture.   Could this confusion and conundrum be a part of the working of the Mystery of Iniquity in the midst of our Twenty-First Century theology?

Biblical Judaizing

I am not looking for what men today define as Judaizing, because we are prone to theological drift and adding cultural bias.  Currently, if you asked someone what Judaizing is, they would most likely respond, “Doing anything that is Jewish!”  If that is the case, we are all in trouble.  Believing that Jesus was Almighty God come in the flesh, that He died for our sins, and then He rose victorious over death, hell, and the grave was originally completely Jewish.  I think we need a better answer.  I want to know how it is defined in the Word of God.  When dealing with Judaizing, everyone looks to the Book of Galatians.  So let’s start there.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:6-8 (KJV)

Paul is setting the boundaries of Judaizing here.  Some began preaching another gospel.  The true gospel message is salvation through the completed work of Christ.  The gospel, in essence, is about how to be saved from our sins and then enter into the Kingdom of God.

Now, do we have a definition of what this other gospel was that some were preaching?  Yes, we do.  This other gospel that had the apostle Paul so upset is found in Acts 15.

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Acts 15:1 (KJV)

These men were preaching the gospel of salvation through circumcision to the Gentiles; only after they became physically Jewish could they receive this Jewish Messiah.  This is Judaizing biblically.  This false gospel was created and promoted by a specific sect of Pharisees;  history tells us they were from the School of Shammai.  This school was historically at odds with the apostle Paul’s alma mater, the School of Hillel.  Back to our main point here:  to add anything else to this definition is to take it beyond the confines of biblical text.

The Torah has its place in Christian ministry.   I know that this is a daring statement, and I possibly open myself up to ridicule by making it.  However, I need to point back to the nature of both the Son of Perdition and the Mystery of Iniquity.   If our reaction to the Torah demonstrates a “defiant rejection of God’s law,” then we must ask ourselves if we are being moved by the wrong spirit.  This is simply an honest question that we must ask ourselves.

First, let us examine our definition of the word Torah or Law.   As my friend and biblical scholar, Dr. Karl Coke, points out:  part of the problem of translating the Scripture into other languages is that cultural idioms and attitudes are not translated along with the words.   To the Greeks and Romans, law was an oppressive thing.  This attitude was interwoven in their language, Greek and Latin respectively.   God instilled just the opposite attitude in His people.  Perhaps the difference in attitude is because they were dealing with the divine law of God instead of the flawed laws of men.  However, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day compounded the problem by adding rules and regulations that caused God’s Law to become grievous.  This is why the way Jesus taught was so refreshing and authoritative; Jesus was properly interpreting Moses.

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Mark 7:13 (KJV)

Jesus walked the Law of God perfectly.  This is the reason He was the spotless Lamb of God.  He also became the prototype for His followers to live the Law properly.  To say that we seek to be like Jesus, yet distain the Law of God, is a complete biblical contradiction.

Law (or Torah) in Hebrew means, “law, direction, instruction” as well as “instruction in the Messianic age.” [iv]  Yet, it means so much more within its Hebraic context.  The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament provides additional insight into the meaning of the word Torah.

The word târâ means basically “teaching” whether it is the wise man instructing his son or God instructing Israel. The wise give insight into all aspects of life so that the young may know how to conduct themselves and to live a long blessed life (Proverbs 3:1f.). So too God, motivated by love, reveals to man basic insight into how to live with each other and how to approach God. Through the law God shows his interest in all aspects of man’s life which is to be lived under his direction and care. Law of God stands parallel to word of the Lord to signify that law is the revelation of God’s will (e.g. Isaiah 1:10). In this capacity it becomes the nation’s wisdom and understanding so that others will marvel at the quality of Israel’s distinctive life style (Deut. 4:6). Thus there is a very similar understanding of the role of teaching with its results in the wisdom school, in the priestly instruction, and the role of the law with its results for all the people of the covenant.[v] (emphasis added)

With this in mind, the statement of “Brother, you are bringing me under the Law” seems to have a whole new meaning.  With this understanding, the statement would sound like this, “Brother, you are bringing me under the loving instruction of God.”  It seems obvious to me that something has been lost in the translation.  It is possible that we have misunderstood this Hebraic colloquialism.  We will examine this in a later article.

The preaching of the Law was always a part of preaching the Gospel.   The Torah of God reveals to us what sin is.  In fact, the apostle John clarifies for us that “sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4b)  To preach salvation from sin, one must also preach what sin is.   When we remove Torah from the Gospel, we remove the definition of sin and water down the Gospel as a result.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 (KJV)

The Greek word that Paul uses for schoolmaster is paidagogos.  Here is the Enhanced Strongs’ definition:  a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood. [vi]  The purpose of the Torah was to point out sin, our inability to meet the standards of Almighty God (all fall short of the glory of God – Rom. 3:23), and then our need for the completed work of Messiah.   Paul said it another way in Romans 10:4.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:4 (KJV)

The Greek words used for end is telos.  This word has many uses within the Greek language.  It can mean to “end or terminate,” but it can also mean “aim, purpose or goal.” [vii]  The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) shows us just how dynamic this word can be within the Greek language.

1. télos first means “achievement,” “fulfilment,” “execution,” “success,” then “power,” “official power,” and “office.”

2. Another meaning is “completion,” “perfection,” “final step,” “supreme stage,” “crown,” “goal,” “maturity,” “result,” “conclusion,” “end,” “cessation.” Adverbially the meaning is “finally,” “fully,” “totally,” “unceasingly.”

3. télos can also mean “obligation.”

4. Cultically it denotes an “offering” to the gods or a “celebration” of the “mysteries” or the “fulfilment” of sacrifices.

5. Finally a télos may be a “detachment” or “group.” (emphasis added)

With this in mind, Romans 10:4 could also read, “For Christ is the achievement or success of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believeth,” just as easily as it was translated as “end” resulting in termination.

Now we must ask ourselves:  if the latter is the proper interpretation, does Paul contradict Jesus?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV)

The Greek word here for destroy is kataluo, which means to “destroy, dissolve, disunite, bring to naught, and overthrow.” [ix]  By the way, fulfll in the Greek is pleroo, which means “to make full, cause to abound, to flourish,” and finally, “to fulfil, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment.” [x]  Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to see the Law of God set aside; rather He came so that we might properly understand it and execute it.

With Jesus’ words in mind, I believe that Paul meant that the Law showed its fullest achievement and goal in Christ.  This would also bring clarity to his other statements when compared to Romans 10:4.  Let’s look at a few of them.

First, Paul reveals something about the uncircumcised Gentiles that had received Jesus.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 2:14-16 (KJV) (emphasis added)

Notice that Paul states “the work of the law written on their hearts.”  This is actually part of a prophetic promise of the New Covenant. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV) (emphasis added)

Paul continues in his argument that it is not necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised to come into the faith of Messiah.  Notice what he says about the Law at the end of these verses. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. 

Romans 3:29-31 (KJV)(emphasis added)

This would have been a great place for Paul to build the theological argument that the Law was done away with.  Instead, he uses the fact that these uncircumcised Gentiles are living the Law from their hearts by faith and, therefore, establishing the Law!

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:12 (KJV)

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  Romans 7:14 (KJV)

This obviously discounts that Paul was looking for ways to tell the Early Church that the Law had been done away with through Christ.  If we are not careful, we will make the same error that Marcion did in the Second Century.  Marcion took edited versions of Paul’s writings to the Church in Antioch and presented a gospel that did away with the need for Gentiles to live according to the Law.  Marcion was not embraced by the Early Church.  In fact, he was cast out of the Church.  Polycarp, a direct disciple of the apostle John, called Marcion the “first born son of Satan.” [xi]  The problems from the doctrines of Marcion continued.  Around the Second Century, Tertullian wrote several treatises against Marcion.  Unfortunately, later on Augustine embraced aspects of what Marcion taught and embedded them into Catholic theology, which also bled over into some Protestant theologies.

The Torah of God cannot provide salvation.  Although the Law could not save, it promised that One would come that would provide salvation.  In fact, Moses was a prototype of Christ in the Old Testament.  Moses was used by God to bring judgment on Pharaoh and then deliver Israel from the power of Mystery Babylon (the foundation of Egypt) and allow them to become God’s called out ones around Mount Sinai.   Only a redeemed people, set free from the power of Babylon/Egypt, can be given the Torah or Law.  God’s loving instruction is for those that have been made citizens of His Kingdom.

I have heard many Protestant ministers try to separate the Church from the assembly gathered around Mount Sinai in the Old Testament.  The reasoning behind this logic is that the Church is called the ekklesia in the New Testament, and Israel is called the qahal in the Old.  The only real difference in these two words is that they are derived from two separate languages.  In the Septuagint, the Old Testament translated into Greek prior to New Testament times, uses the Greek word ekklesia as the proper corresponding word for qahal.  Both words mean exactly the same thing:  the called out assembly.

In the same way that the Torah was given to Israel to teach them how to walk with God after being delivered from Egypt, it serves the exact same purpose for Gentiles that have been set free by the completed work of Christ.  In fact, the apostle James uses similar language applied to the purpose of the Torah in the Old Testament to believers in the New.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 19:7-8 (KJV) (emphasis added)

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:21 (KJV) (emphasis added)

It should be noted that only the Old Testament existed when James penned this admonishment.  The same holds true when the apostle Paul gave these instructions to a young minister named Timothy.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)

If the Old Testament and the finished work of Christ were sufficient in Paul’s day to mature believers and equip them for any task assigned to them in the Kingdom, why is it not sufficient today?  To be honest, with over thirty years of ministry under my belt, I have come to the conclusion that the modern Church is filled with ill-equipped believers because our theologies have disenfranchised them from two-thirds of the Word of God.  The Old Testament is not just stories we tell children; it is the instruction of God on how to walk in the Kingdom!

So in summation, the Torah not only finds its fullest expression in Messiah, its purpose was to serve as a schoolmaster that would prepare our hearts for the Greater Teacher, Jesus.  Once we are in Him, then we discover how He implemented the truths of the Torah to properly walk in Kingdom power, purpose, and authority.

Why am I laboring the point about the necessity of the Torah so intensely?  When we do away with the Law, we have not only erased God’s definition of sin but also our tremendous need for Christ and His atoning work on the Cross.   We also place ourselves in a grave theological position:  if we do away with the Torah as the definition of what sin is, where do we draw our definition from?  Over the years, I have made a habit of asking ministers the following question during training sessions:  “Exactly what is sin?”  Because these fine men and women had never been taught the importance of Torah, they could not give me a definitive answer.  The truth is, once we have separated ourselves from the portion of divinely inspired Scripture that defines sin, we are left with only one other source:  the world.

Today, Mystery Babylon is providing us with the definition of sin within our culture.  The Church, divorced from the Torah, is left following after Babylon in search of cultural relevance. Now our airwaves are filled with stories that pull on the strings of our emotions with the overarching theme of “I was born that way.”  These words are being uttered not only by those embracing alternative sexual lifestyles, but they are also quickly being embraced by pedophiles, those drawn to incestuous relationships, the sociopath, and a growing list each day.  Without the moorings of the Torah, civilization is stampeding toward divine judgment.

The reality is that the Torah teaches us:  “Yes, you were born that way because you were born with the sin nature.”  Then the Torah goes on to teach us:  (1) what sin is so that we can identify it, (2) just how ugly sin is and its effects on our lives, (3) how sin has separated us from God, and (4) our need for a redeemer to deliver us from the power of sin.  Without the Torah, we have lost the full meaning of both sin and the power of the Cross!

Now you can begin to understand why we have so many people that are claiming to “be saved” but bare no real fruit of salvation.  I believe it is because they never heard the whole gospel; therefore, they received another gospel and another Christ.  They received a “no sin” gospel and accepted a self-help guru that simply made them feel psychologically better.  Placating our emotions and spiritual transformation are two completely different things.  This new gospel, with Jesus as their personal coach, is an expression of the Mystery of Iniquity in our day.

Examining the Son of Perdition – Part 2

Since the publishing of The Shinar Directive, I have been immersed into what seems to be a new world of podcasts and writings on speculative eschatology.   It would be difficult to calculate the many hours I have spent reading and listening to this younger generation of believers tackle the tough issues: from the overwhelming developments in technology to negotiating geopolitical changes in our world that seem to possess the fluidity of the most challenging rapids. This new generation of end-time researchers has heeded the admonition of the apostle Paul:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Greek word that Paul uses for prove is dokimazo (dok-im-ad’-zo). This word means “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals.” [i]

I am encouraged by the diligent research of many in this new generation. However, before I continue, let me stress that I am referring to true believers and not those of the Emergent Church or other movements that question the integrity of the Word of God or the basic orthodoxy of the faith. What this new breed of Bereans is questioning is various interpretations or positions of speculative eschatology that were formulated in past generations that were not able to benefit from the knowledge of current technological breakthroughs or even recent discoveries of the agendas or belief systems of esoteric societies that dominated the cultures in the times in which the Word of God was being penned.

Let me share several reasons why I believe this out-of-the-box thinking and results are a good thing: Moving Beyond Sound Bites. Over the past two decades, I have become quite concerned at the propensity of the modern believer to offer theological sound bites to virtually every theological discussion. Let me give you an illustration of what I am talking about and its dangers within the Body of Christ.

This event happened back in the mid 90’s. I had traveled out of state to conduct a seminar at a large Evangelical church. I had arrived the day before to unwind before a full day of lecturing. The pastor was kind enough to invite me to participate that evening in group bible study at his church.   The room was set up with the chairs in a semi-circle that would allow for group participation.   During the conversation, one young man asked a rather deep and insightful question that deserved an appropriate answer. Perhaps it was a little deeper than the study leader wanted to go. In retrospect, I believe it was beyond what the facilitator was prepared to answer. What was given to the group as an answer was a quick and easy theological sound bite. Everyone in the group shook their heads in agreement, as if something profound had been said. The only reason I said anything was that the sound bite did not serve as an answer. In fact, it did not even come close. My questioning this nugget of prepackaged truth seemed to frustrate the leader. Upon further questioning, I discovered that no one in the study (to include the leader) could provide a proper definition of what that sound bite meant.   Over the years, I have seen this play out again and again. Today’s believers are far too quick to offer impressive sound bites when they are challenged in the least regarding what they believe. When you question the validity of the phrase or ask for a proper definition, they either get angry or look like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck! No wonder we are losing in the cultural battle that is being waged for the minds and souls of men today.

These shallow, pat answers are exactly the opposite of the instruction given to us in the New Testament.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

1 Peter 3:15

We need to be ready to give an answer not only for the hope of our salvation, but the hope that is generated in our hearts from the proper understanding of both what we believe and why.   The Word tells us that “deep calls to deep” (Psalms 42:7). Instead of answering the needs of humanity with the extreme depth of God’s waterfalls of truth, we are only offering them mud puddles from the nurseries of the Kingdom.

Truth Loves Examination. Isn’t that what the apostle Paul was saying in 1 Thessalonians or even 2 Timothy 2:15?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

The word that Paul uses for study in not one of leisure or to give a half-hearted effort. Paul uses the Greek word spoudazo (spoo-dad’-zo). This word denotes “to hasten, to exert one’s self, endeavor, give diligence.” [ii]   For far too many today, diligence is not a word to describe their efforts to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”

I believe the Holy Spirit encourages questions and the desire to really dive into the Word of God and discover the power of His truth for ourselves. On the other hand, error absolutely hates the light of thorough examination. Error will scream:

How dare you question!

Who do you think you are?

Just accept what I say!

We have forgotten in our Western culture that the basis for understanding truth, within the Hebraic backdrop in which the Word was written, is learning to ask the right questions.   When a father would sit with his family every year at the Passover, it was the job of the children to ask, “What does this mean?” I have seen Jesus in the Gospels answer a question with a question. The reason for this was to get them to ask the right question! Until you ask the right question, you are never ready for the answer (truth). I have personally witnessed the Holy Spirit lead me on a particular spiritual journey just to get me to ask the question that set me up for the truth He was wanting to reveal. In the process of proving all things, this endeavor leads us to ask the right questions that provide the fertile ground for God to reveal His truth.

Our Hubris in Speculative Eschatology. There are many things in the field of eschatology that are concrete: Jesus is coming back (our blessed hope), the Son of Perdition will eventually come onto the world scene, etc. However, within the framework of eschatology are many subjects that are indeed merely speculative. Regarding these speculative matters, we are truly looking through a dark glass (1 Corinthians 13:12). Throughout Church history, there have been examples of speculative eschatological predictions or positions that were quite popular in their day that were later proven incorrect.   Even in modern times, our propensity for missing the mark is no different. There have been leading prophecy teachers that have had to trash entire warehouses of books because a conclusion or statement they had made proved incorrect. (Of course, their predictions or conclusions were properly edited in the “new and expanded” edition of their works.)

Please hear my heart. I am not making allegations against anyone teaching bible prophecy.   I know full well that there are some conclusions that I made in my book that may prove to be off the mark somewhat. I was writing in the light of my research as an attempt to piece together an intelligence briefing of possible scenarios. The danger that all of us have is allowing our unique slant on speculative eschatology to become our brand in the Kingdom. The temptation to do so is a powerful one, both for the writer and the reader. We are only human, and our understanding is quite limited.

We must always remain cognizant of the fact that truth thrives in the light of day. Honest examination that allows for new information or ideas that were not previously available is very important in the quest for understanding the unfolding of end-time prophecy.

With this understanding of our quest fresh in our minds now, I want to continue in my examination of the Son of Perdition, the force that empowers him, and the agent or force that is restraining him.

Keeping 2 Thessalonians in Context as we examine 2 Thessalonians, we must strive to keep all of our conclusions within the context of the scripture. Extracting sound bites and extrapolating findings that are not in harmony with the whole is a temptation that many of us have fallen for over the years (to include yours truly).   Therefore, I want to lay a little ground work to ensure we remain within the stream of truth as established by the apostle Paul.

The greater content of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is a force that empowers this figure called the Son of Perdition.   In fact, the apostle is attempting to reveal to them a mystery. This mystery has been hidden in the mists of time that extend back to the plains of Shinar or perhaps even to the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil itself. So the two main subjects in this mini-discourse by Paul include:

The Son of Perdition

The Mystery of Iniquity

Everything else within the framework of verses 1-12 are expressions of either the Son of Perdition, the Mystery of Iniquity, or their efforts in concert with one another.

The Iniquity Force.

As I explained in The Shinar Directive, I believe that when Lucifer uttered his five “I wills” of Isaiah 14, he was attempting to create a false grace that would empower his ascension into godhood (five is the biblical number for grace). Instead of the power to ascend, he transmuted the anointing within him into a perverted force – iniquity.   Biblically, this Iniquity Force is against everything in the Kingdom of God: from God’s Law to God’s rule. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were infused with this satanic force, were separated from the life and nature of God, took on this sinful nature, and everything that they had been given authority over had now succumbed to this foreign force. (Now we are going beyond the information in the Shinar Directive to its logical conclusion.) At that moment, Lucifer became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), and he also became a type of unwanted father to humanity that shared his tainted spiritual DNA (John 8:44).

The mystery (or that which is hidden) is how from that moment on, everything in this planet drew its being from this injected alien power. Only those that followed God’s instruction, beginning with how to offer the proper sacrifice to curtail its influence, could be separated from its overpowering influence. Consider Cain and Abel at this point. By Cain rejecting God’s prescribed sacrifice, not only did he remain under the influence of the Iniquity Force, but it was knocking at the door of his life to expand its control of him. The end result was that this expanded control caused Cain to kill the one who had been obedient and defused its influence. Believer, this is the very essence of the coming Christian vs. Christian war that was detailed in the best-selling book, Blood on the Altar. The Iniquity Force in ascension in the hearts of men is a sign of the approaching revealing of the Son of Perdition!

Through my studies, I have come to believe that this Iniquity Force was known by another name to the ancient mystics that established the Mystery Religions – Gaia.

According to Wikipedia, the mythology of Gaia is: In Greek mythology, Gaia, (gay-ə or gah-yə;[note 1] from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Γῆ Gē, Ge, “land” or “earth”;) also spelled Gaea, was the personification of the Earth and one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great mother of all: the primal Greek Mother Goddess; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe; the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.[iii]

Now let’s stop and examine the concept of Gaia for a moment. This spiritual perverted force was birthed in the heart of Lucifer when he fell. It was imparted to the other heavenly beings that Cris Putnam and Dr. Thomas Horn rightly classify as “Immortals” in On the Path of the Immortals. This new definition is far more functional than the term angels, since many of them (as Putnam notes) are not messengers.[iv]  From the Watchers of Genesis 6 to the members of the Divine Council that fell in Psalms 82, they were all infused with this force. In fact, this female Gaia force enabled the Watchers and the wombs of human women to give birth to the Nephilim of old. In this paradigm, Lucifer became the father and Planet Earth became the host for the Gaia Force, thus the ancients calling it Mother Earth.

This understanding brings the old religions into a great level of clarity, especially since it appears that the current Pope and the Catholic Church have begun to publicly declare Gaia worship. Here is an example in an announcement from the Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2013:

Apr 3 & Apr 5: Missa Gaia Earth Mass. Holy Name Catholic Church, 71 Gough Avenue, Toronto. 7:30 p.m. The school’s 140-voice choir, musicians and dancers will perform this joyous rhythmic, contemporary work inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. It is a musical/spiritual celebration of God’s creation that includes the human voice alongside that of the wolf, whale and loon. An instrumental ensemble featuring present students and alumnae provide an eclectic canvas of traditional, gospel, new age and world music. [v]

The Mystery of Iniquity or Iniquity Force is in ascension in our world today. Although the deceived masses do not understand, they are led into worshipping iniquity itself! It has corrupted our pulpits, poisoned our pews, turned politicians into puppets for the Luciferian Elite, and caused the streets of our world to flow in the blood of the innocent! The great falling away has certainly begun.

Who or What is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7?

Over the years I have heard many theories on what is restraining the revealing of the Son of Perdition. If we take our theological sound bite generator and extract the last half of verse 7 from its proper setting, then wild and powerful speculations can run amok. Here are some of the proposed restrainers I have heard over the years:

The Holy Spirit

The Proper Preaching of the Gospel (as Paul did)

The Archangel Michael

Just to Name a Few.

However, when you place the restrainer back into the contextual setting of Scripture, none of these are even hinted at as part of the discourse by the apostle Paul. Although these possibilities seem plausible, they do not fit within the framework presented in the text.

When I look at the original Greek text, in my own limited way. I do not want to be tedious here, but I do want to give this portion of Scripture the proper attention it deserves.

2thes2:7

The next word we are going to examine is letteth, which actually means to restrain.

Letteth: Strongs #G2722 katecho {kat-ekh’-o}. Meaning: 1) to hold back, detain, retain 1a) from going away 1b) to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of) 1b1) that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance 1b2) to check a ship’s headway i.e. to hold or head the ship 1c) to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of 2) to get possession of, take 2b) to possess. [vi]

So, there is a force that is restraining and is also keeping the Son of Perdition secure and firm in place until the time is right.   The phrase, he is taken out of, comes from another single Greek word. Strongs #G1096 ginomai {ghin’-om-ahee}

Meaning: 1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being 2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen 2a) of events 3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage 3a) of men appearing in public 4) to be made, finished 4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought 5) to become, be made.[vii]

Again, we have a force that is holding the Son of Perdition in place until the conditions are right for him to become, be brought into public . . . as if by a performed miracle. This is actually describing a womb. The function of a womb is to nourish and hold the baby safely hidden away until the conditions are right and the child is ready to emerge into the world.

Just as a women’s body goes through all sorts of changes during a pregnancy, so the Mystery of Iniquity will cause all kinds of changes in Gaia (or Mother Earth).   These changes include many of the world events we are witnessing today. The strength of the manifestation of the Iniquity Force must increase to prepare for the occult birthing of the Son of Perdition on the stage of human history. In fact, the last thing that a womb does is to release and allow the child to be revealed!

I believe this is one of the reasons the subject of verse 7 is the Mystery of Iniquity. It is already working in the Earth, and it is holding back the Son of Perdition until everything is in place for his appearing. The Earth itself has become a satanic incubator that will one day produce the Son of Perdition.

These concepts flow very well with the missing Masonic symbols revealed in the previous writings of Dr. Thomas Horn, in regard to the ever-pregnant womb of Isis and the male counterpart of Osiris in Washington DC in the form of the Washington Monument and the Dome of the Capital. It’s the same concept, except now with the understanding that the phallic symbol of the Washington Monument represents Lucifer and the Dome represents Mother Earth or Gaia. The power that flows from the phallic to the womb is the Iniquity Force. (No wonder corruption has always seemed to flow from Washington DC, as well as the city that sits on seven hills.)

On a side topic, this may also explain why phallic monuments are always erected around centers of power for the Elite. These Luciferian artifacts serve as a type of spiritual antenna to radiate the Iniquity Force into their earthly strongholds.

This new interpretation of verse 7 does a powerful job of helping us to understand the connection to all the secrets of the enemy that God is revealing in our day through dedicated researchers in the Kingdom of God. As we discover significant intelligence from the enemy’s camp and can connect the esoteric dots, it enables us to properly pray against those activities and positions us to withstand its advances. I believe this understanding has strategic significance in end-time spiritual warfare.

Reality Check with My Peers

Although I do not believe we are going to find the understanding of the esoteric concepts I just revealed in any bible commentary, I do want to check to see if others laboring before me have seen the connection of the “restrainer” with the Kingdom of Darkness rather than the Holy Spirit or some manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

First regarding the Mystery of Iniquity, we find in the Pillar New Testament Commentary the following:

Paul now explains how this power that “seizes” operates: For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work. Previously the author noted that the Thessalonians knew of the existence of a power that was “seized” or “possessed” (v. 6). Now he moves on to observe that this power, here described as the secret power of lawlessness, is not simply a future threat but a present reality. The verb at work (energeitai) is the same one that is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and implies some kind of supernatural activity, whether it be divine (Matt. 14:2; Mark 6:14; 1 Cor. 12:6, 11; Gal. 2:8; 3:5; Eph. 1:11, 20; 3:20; Phil. 2:13; Col. 1:29) or evil (Eph. 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:9). Paul does not suggest that this secret power is divine but only that it is supernatural, and, according to the context, malignant and satanic (v. 9). For this reason, the apostle calls this power the secret power of lawlessness. This secret power aligns itself with “the man of lawlessness” (v. 3) and represents his power in the world before the time of his revelation (cf. 1 John 2:18, which speaks of the antichrists who prefigure the antichrist).[viii]

This same commentary now continues with the challenge of identifying the restrainer. Before the revelation of “the lawless one” (v. 8) one more event must take place: but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. Here the power that “seizes” (to katechon of v. 6) is presented as a person, “the one who seizes” or “the one who is possessed” (ho katechōn—masculine), the reference being to the one demonically possessed or the one who possesses, that being Satan himself (v. 9). This figure does not “hold it back” but rather prefigures and anticipates the revelation of “the lawless one.” The apostle underlines the limited nature of the work of the “one who seizes” by stating that he will be taken out of the way. The NIV implies that some other power will take him out of the way (passive voice). There is no indication within the immediate context that tells them or us the identity of the agent that undertakes his removal. What person or power are the apostles talking about? Since no agent is indicated, it may be just as possible that we should understand the expression as active and not passive. The same expression is found in Plutarch in his life of Timoleon (5.4), who “made up his mind to live by himself, apart from the world (ek mesou genomenos).” If the sense in the present verse is active, “the one who seizes” retires from the scene of his own will in order to permit the revelation of the more terrifying figure of “the lawless one.” The text in no way indicates where “the one who seizes” retires to but only emphasizes that he will give way to “the lawless one.” Whatever the sense, this observation would signal to the Thessalonians that the end was not immediately on them (v. 2) because “the one who seizes” was still active, as they themselves could witness. That which prefigured the coming of “the lawless one” was still present. Whether we understand the final clause of v. 7 as active or passive, the verse in no way indicates that the Holy Spirit or the church will in some way be taken out of the world. This is hardly an adequate foundation for the commonly held teaching that the rapture of the church will happen sometime before the antichrist is revealed![ix] (Emphasis Added)

Within the context of our discussion, would not a satanic Gaia womb first possess the Son of Perdition, nurture him to maturation, and then give way to his birth at his time of revealing? This may have been the plan of the enemy from Genesis 3 forward. Could this also mean that Nimrod was a premature birth of the Son of Perdition (from the perspective of the Kingdom of Darkness) and, thus, explains his failure to succeed at the original Tower of Babel? Now this Iniquity Force is more cautious and will ensure this time around that its satanic seed is fully matured and the world stage is perfectly set before his revealing.

What Does the Future Hold?

I believe we can expect two things in the days ahead:

Darkness or the Iniquity Force will seek every opportunity to increase its influence on planet Earth.

The Holy Spirit will work to awaken the Remnant (those saints that the Iniquity Force has put to sleep), will nurture them, and will empower them for end-time ministry.

My friends, this is not a time to cower in fear; rather, it is a time to shake off spiritual slumber and press into God with a fervor that can very well define this generation.

1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1-2

Heaven is waiting for those that will disconnect from the Iniquity Force, through the proper application of the blood of Jesus, and press into a higher manifestation of the Kingdom of God, until a new level of God’s glory is released in their lives. May each one of us find the grace of God to press through!

What Everyone Should Know about redemption

New Song..Holy, Awesome!

Yahweh Av gave me a gift of a new song 3 days after He led me to Psalm 96
I will type out the first 4 verses, but I would encourage you to read the entire chapter...

Psalm 96:1-4 
Sing unto Yahweh a new song..Sing to Yahweh all the earth! Sing to Yahweh,
Barak (bless) His Name..Proclaim His deliverance day by day. Declare His
esteem (excellency and greatness) among the nations, His wonders among all
peoples. For GREAT is Yahweh and greatly to be praised. He is to be revered
above all mighty ones!

While spending time in prayer I heard El say, pick up your guitar and sing to Me. After singing Him a song, another spontaneous song began to rise up and was completed in under 30 mins..I was able to record it this past Sunday...The recording experience was such a joy to put together. There have only been less than a handful of songs I have recorded all the way through without having to go back and re-due the song because of a chord or word error. What made recording this song above all the rest are the vocal and overdubbing vocal tracks that was recorded all the way through without any errors. It took an hour and a half for the whole recording..
Thank You, Yahweh!

I will post the words and the player to the song below 

Holy, Awesome

You are holy, You are holy, You are holy, El Gebor, El Shaddai
You are holy, You are holy, You are holy, Adonai, Most High
You are awesome, You are awesome, You are awesome, Ayhay, Elohi
You are awesome, You are awesome, You are awesome, Son of Yah, Yeshua

Prince of shalom, Mighty Yah, Everlasting Av, Beginning and End, Alef, Tov
Righteousness and Truth, Hashem over all, Balm of Gilead, Giver of Life, Lover of my soul

Holy, El Gebor, El Shaddai..Holy, Adonai, Most High
Awesome, Ayhay, Elohi.. Awesome, Son of Yah, Yeshua

Yah so loved the world, Emmanuel, Yeshua crucified, for my sins He died, Eternal Life..Yeshua's shed blood, redemption, repentance, forgiveness, salvation

Holy, El Gebor, El Shaddai..Holy, Adonai, Most High
Awesome, Ayhay, Elohi..Awesome, Son of Yah, Yeshua

Holy, El Shaddai...Awesome, Yeshua...Holy, Yeshua...Awesome, El Shaddai

El Shaddai....Yeshua....El Shaddai....Yeshua