214) America’s Notorious Spiritual Heritage

The spiritual heritage of the United States of America is notorious. Most of the most important American government leaders, institutions, monuments, buildings, and landmarks both openly acknowledge and incorporate religious words, symbols, and imagery into official venues. Such acknowledgments are even more frequent at the state and local level than at the Federal level, where thousands of such acknowledgments exist.

The Puritans in England’s colonial New England communities covenanted their citizens to realize the spirit as well as the letter of the law in their daily activities. There was an emphasis on self-control as a part of self-rule, the primacy of commitments based in consent, giving meaning to ideas such as justice and liberty.

But the early 17th century, the Renaissance movement had paved the way to the Age of Enlightenment questioning traditional authority and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change. The American and French Revolutions were directly inspired by Enlightenment ideals.

The Declaration of Independence (1776) follows the covenant form and, when linked to the frame of government supplied by either the Articles of Confederation (1781) or the U.S. Constitution (1787), established a national compact.

But! The Founding Fathers did not enter into a covenant with the God of the Bible. They founded a Republic modeled on Roman, Greek and Egyptian heritage spectacular demonstrated in the Greek and Roman influences on Washington, D.C. Architecture and absorption of conquered gods and practices.

Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Monroe and many other of the Founding Fathers were Deists – a philosophical belief in human reason as a reliable means of solving social and political problems. Deists believe in a supreme being who created the universe to operate solely by natural laws—and after creation, is absent from the world. This belief in reason over dogma helped guide the founders toward a system of government that respected faiths like Christianity, while purposely isolating both from encroaching on one another so as not to dilute the overall purpose and objectives of either…

215) America’s Imperial Religion

The Apo-theo-sis of Washington – literally, the deification (or god-making) of George Washington. The fresco depicts Washington as Zeus on a throne in heaven surrounded by various gods and goddesses from classical mythology. Painted on the ceiling of the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War by Vatican artist Constantino Brumidi.

The similarities between pagan idols and monuments to our national leaders cannot be coincidental. Do you really think Satan is just sitting out history on the sidelines? Wouldn’t we expect him to be wherever the greatest power is concentrated?

washington-zeus-700x437

lincoln2band2bzeusBoth statues of Washington and Lincoln were deliberately modeled after Zeus, with Washington’s entitled “Enthroned Washington” and Lincoln’s placed in a monument expressly modeled after one of Zeus’ temples and defined as a temple on the plaque above Lincoln’s head. The timing and association of these images of Zeus is no accident of history.

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write…I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is...where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelation 2:12-14)

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216) The Revived Roman Republic

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.”

Enlightenment ideals that had informed France’s Republic strongly influenced the drafting of the Constitution, but the key influence came from classical antiquity, from the establishment of the Twelve Tables circa 450 B.C.E. to the fall of the Republic under Caesar by 46 B.C.E.

In their book A Classy Constitution: Classical Influences on the United States Constitution from Ancient Greek and Roman History, and Political Constitution from Ancient Greek and Roman History and Political Thought by Shamir Brice and John Carroll,published by Yale University Press, a distinguished historian and a political economist unravel the “uncanny parallels” between ancient Rome and the modern West. 

All of the founding fathers were well educated people and the classical education was almost fully based on the Roman and Greek studies.  Their heroes were the Roman republicans and defenders of liberty. All of the Founders’ Roman heroes lived at a time when the Roman republic was being threatened by power-hungry demagogues, bloodthirsty dictators and shadowy conspirators. The Founders’ principal Roman heroes were Roman statesmen: Cato the Younger, Brutus, Cassius and Cicero — all of whom sacrificed their lives in unsuccessful endeavors to save the republic․

The Founders’ and Framers’ noms de plume were Roman…They were consciously identified with Roman models of republican virtue. 

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217) Name It And Claim It Denies God’s Sovereignty

Dr. David Jeremiah, megachurch pastor, bestselling author and popular Bible teacher, speaks for the Religious Right when he states that believes the End Times, in the sense of Bible prophecy, started for us in 1948, because many of the prophecies in the New Testament especially, could not be fulfilled until Israel was at home in her nation.

Let’s review the biblical prophecy about when and how the Israel of God comes home to her nation.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that 

  • the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left…and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth…

Lest anyone think the reference to “the LORD” can be interpreted to mean working through human agency the prophecy includes a specifically miraculous event requiring a Prophet like Moses. 

  • And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river…and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left…like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

None of that has happened. Instead, there has been a political movement which is unquestionably, how shall I put this? Anti Christ.

How can followers of the Christ see this scenario as evidence of God’s work??

God does not manipulate humanity into accomplishing his will! That’s what Satan does!

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SECTION XL: The Schizophrenic Church

A severe breakdown in God’s spiritual kingdom has occurred from Christianity’s impossible attempt to straddle the schizm – the split – between

  1. God’ call to reality-based personal holiness
  2. and politics’ call to compromising social acceptance.

In medical terms this is called Schizophrenia.

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Wow! That’s harsh! But is it diagnostically accurate? Let’s conduct a psychiatric assessment.

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218) Great Awakenings Actually Spirits Of Slumber

“God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears tht they should not hear;) unto this day.” (Romans 11:8)

Dissing the Great Awakening revivals is certainly trodding on Christian Fundamentalists’ holy ground. But how many American preachers recognize that they inflame war exactly like fundamentalist jihadist Imams?

To understand what is taking place today, we need to understand the nature of the recurring political-religious cycles called “Great Awakenings.”

Each lasted about 100 years and consist of three phases, each about a generation long.

  1. Technological advances outpace the existing ethical capacity to cope.
  2. Religious revival brings changes in church beliefs and practice.
  3. Political reform is effected by a coalition of church and state through shared commitment to improve society.
  4. With essential mass support through churches’ endorsement, the state expands though war.

Exactly like jihadist Imams.

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219) Departures From The Faith

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (I Timothy 4:1)

New religious movement (NRM), the generally accepted term for what is sometimes called a “cult.” 

NRMs offer innovative religious responses to the conditions of the modern world, despite the fact that most NRMs represent themselves as rooted in ancient traditions. NRMs are also usually regarded as “countercultural” alternatives to the mainstream religions of Western society, especially Christianity in its normative forms…The new movement is usually founded by a charismatic and sometimes highly authoritarian leader who is thought to have extraordinary insights. Many NRMs…often make great demands on the loyalty and commitment of their followers and sometimes establish themselves as substitutes for the family and other conventional social groupings.

Apocalyptic belief that the end of the world is imminent has formed the backdrop for the development of many of the NRMs in the West.

Unless specified otherwise, the following is a partial list of new religious movements that began in the United States, which unquestionably has become the heartland for the explosion of new religious movements.

Western New York was still an American frontier prior to increased transportation via the Erie Canal, and established clergy were scarce. Nonconformist sects founded by laypeople won many converts during the revivals of the Second Awakening to such an extent that Charles Finney (1792–1875) called this area a “burnt district”.

There had been, a few years previously, a wild excitement passing through that region, which they called a revival of religion, but which turned out to be spurious… It resulted in a reaction so extensive and profound, as to leave the impression on many minds that religion was a mere delusion.

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220) A Devilish Heresy

“There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies.” (I Peter 2:1)

Wouldn’t you think it would be easy to spot the false teachers in Christianity?

  1. Anyone who doesn’t conform to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in the whole Bible.
  2. Anyone who isn’t being persecuted by the ungodly.
  3. Any teacher whose prophesies don’t come true.

The problem is that followers don’t know enough Bible to realize that its policies and practices aren’t being followed.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ” (James 3:13-15)

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221) Dispensationalism Is A Cult

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits…Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven…And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:15-23)

As an adult I realized I had been raised by a cult leader who demonstrated every classic narcissistic personality disordered characteristic.

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222) A Way That Leads To Death

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 16:25)

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20)

The Word ‘Rapture’ Is Not in the Bible

What Paul discussed as a group event was not “rapture” but “resurrection.” This is absolutely clear if you stay in context in the entire passage of this teaching in I Corinthians 15.

“brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that

  1. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
  2. And that he was buried,
  3. and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
  4. [Proof!] – And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also…Therefore whether it were I or they,
  5. so we preach – the resurrection! –  and so ye believed.
  6. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

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