A Matter of Life and Death (part 3)

The first post of this series explored the dynamic of our shared human struggle, and what it means for us to be living in this fallen creation. According to Genesis, an often overlooked enemy of humanity called the Nephilim rose up in the days between the fall of man and the flood of Noah, and also after that. Part two explored the reemergence of these ancient beings, who were gods in the legends of old, as well as gods in their own minds. Daniel speaks clearly of these creatures trying to blend with humanity in the reign of the final worldly empire. Light was shed on the rituals and practices of the modern "Illuminati" or secret societies of the ruling class. The focus of this segment is the nature of the enmity which God promised would exist between the "seed of the serpent" and the "seed of the woman". We find that enmity of course in Noah's day, by the corruption of all of humanity. The abundant evil of men's hearts is seen by God, and the violence of this wickedness grows to a tremendous crescendo. However, It wasn't the Nephilim who killed almost every living person at the time, it was God. So if the Nephilim were and are at enmity with humanity, and God is our rock, our protection and deliverance, you have to wonder what was happening in Noah's day, and how God's actions could have delivered humanity. Because in understanding that, you can understand what is happening in our lifetimes. The answer, as I see it, is simple: There has always been more at stake than just our mortal lives.

We will follow the seed of the woman from Noah to Abraham and beyond into Christ in future posts, but first I think we need to define the type of war that's being waged against us, and our only hope for true survival. Plenty of people go on this strange journey between birth and death without officially recognizing the existence of a personal spirit. They could be demonstrably wicked, or they could live by the guidance of their conscience, trying to be "good", and stumbling inevitably on that path of basic decency from time to time. Plenty of others live their lives with utmost certainty of the presence of that spirit and some of them also live right, while others live wrong. But I tell you, we are now living in "the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render unto every man according to his deeds" (Romans 2:5-6) I testify by my personal experiences that we all do, in fact, have spirits, and our spirits are constantly swayed and influenced by various forces. Historically it seems that we are more prone to side with darkness rather than with light. And unfortunately, those born blind don't know the light they can't see. But though we are all born blind, God has given us a way to see, and to come to the light.

In a way, we are like amphibians, both spirit and flesh. The flesh of man is dead without it's spirit, however, the human body can live for some time with a darkened spirit that is unaware of it's own reality. Make no mistake, death is in the darkness, and life is in the light. The Nephilim, on the other hand, were fathered by angels to human mothers. Which means that while they too are amphibious, they have greater access to the spirit realm than we do. And though they are bound by chains of darkness, it would be safe to call the spirit realm the "home court" of the Nephilim. They are doomed, but free to roam about and wage war against us. They are the aggressors, the instigators, the tyrants. However, being secretive in nature, our true enemies do not simply attack us the way we expect them to (which is with direct violence threatening our lives). They are not enemies that merely want to kill us. They are enemies that want to kill, steal and destroy our spirits. They know the consequences of that sort of death, because they are bound by it themselves, and as Aesop said best; misery loves company. Also, the greatest way the devil could hurt his creator is for him to sedduce as many spirits into darkness as he can, by drawing worship from God to self, and by causing us to fester in hatred and kill one another. We are mostly oblivious to the ultimate war that wages all around us, and we are being kept that way by entertainment, the comforting lies of this modern religious establishment, and the indulgence of our base vices.

But Paul told us in speaking of the Armor of God, that "We wage war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places". If you know about the annual Moloch rituals being conducted by the American ruling class at the Bohemian Grove, you can see exactly what Paul is talking about. It's obvious by their behavior, that these men take spiritual matters seriously. It's time that we took it seriously as well. But American pastors are not revealing the real enemy of the world to their congregations. Either because they are a part of the deception, or they are still in darkness themselves. The war our so-called Christian nation does support is being fought by the greedy representing themselves as "good", and the poor people of middle-eastern cultures as "evil". Time has revealed the truth of this claim. Our nation has yet to suffer another attack like 9-11 on American soil, though that time will come at the hands of our own masters, but because of that "security", and by our shopping we think that we are surviving the forces of evil. The truth is that millions of misguided Americans are being led to true death like lambs to the slaughter.

Which is why the Bible warns so strongly against worldliness. For instance, Paul instructed us, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds". The failure of a person or culture to repent from selfish, sinful and destructive practices is the only real death sentence possible in this shared human experience. Christ demonstrated victory over death for all the world by his resurrection, by his forgiveness of the thief on the cross next to him, and by his message, best condensed in John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"

This famous promise, however, raises to question the Christian Zionist stance that anyone who does not publicly confess that Christ is Lord is damned, and that all who do say so are saved. At face value, that stance seems to be reinforced by John 3:16. Problem solved, right? Belief admitted, enemy defeated, case closed. It seems simple enough. However, by searching scriptures (even by simply reading ahead in John chapter 3), you will find a slightly different take on this life-and-death spiritual struggle shared by the entire world. I hope it doesn't come as a shock for me to say that salvation is not as simple as a public proclamation. The blood of Christ is not just a "get out of hell free card". And the salvation that Christ gives us is not something that we will experience only after we die.

How selfish of us to wish to live our lives by our own inclinations, reserving only what we cannot control (the death of our mortal bodies) to be held in the hands of Christ! God offers us something much greater than "the afterlife", and he requires of us much more than our habitual lip service. We have the chance to taste of real life here on earth. And that chance was given to all who would taste of it, even if they've never heard the name of Jesus Christ, or come to hear the truth of his message. 1 John 2:2 says

"Christ is the appropriation of our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world"

The apostle Paul also defines this good news in Romans chapter 2-3, which comes as a scorn to proud religious elitists. I suggest taking a moment to read the entire passage before continuing. However, key verses of this passage are as follows: verses 13-16

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

and 28-29

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

I think it's clear why this passage poses a threat to the worldly religious establishment. The "alter calls" given at todays fundamentalist churches are a ritual not unlike the circumcision of ancient Jews. And while the experience of either means everything if it is followed by a transformed life that seeks truth, light, and love; likewise, it means nothing at all if it is followed by an unrepentant life. Going through the motions means nothing if the motions produce no inner change. The change is all that matters. For in that change, to all who experience it, is the spirit of God. Going back to 1 John 2, this time in verses 9-11, we find another confirmation of that principle.

"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

In Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus said this:

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

And that is the dilemma faced by the modern American church. Untold millions of dollars are raised every year across the country by faithful tithes of active congregations. The church has become big business. And yet, the hateful, condemning attitude produced by the church's approval of Bush's "crusade against evildoers" is like bad fruit on the tree of our national religious image, festering and rotten. The Christians of our nation have been led astray, into a world our nation has formed by the force of her violence and her hypocrisy. In our hearts, we all know better. But guided by the darkness of hatred which has grown in our spirits, we hide under the devil's shroud from the true light of Christ. As long as we accuse, persecute, condemn and offer our consent to the killing other human beings (while hiding behind "Support Our Troops", and "God Bless America" decals), we have a death sentence on our own heads. But as soon as we forgive, love, and uplift one another, we step out of the darkness, and into the light of Christ. "Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked, every person will reap what they sew."

The threat of death surrounds us. Indeed, it is closing ranks. But it is not a death that terrorists could ever deliver. And it's not a death that Israeli or American soldiers can protect you from. Jesus spoke clearly, "Do not fear the one who can kill your body, but fear Him who can cast your body and soul into hell". If your pastor assures you that this "war on terror" is blessed by God, he is lying to you. God instructed us to love our enemies. This tactic being used by right-wing churches today was systematically exposed thousands of years ago by the prophets, apostles and Christ himself. Most notably in the entire book of Jude (around 1950 years ago). It's like a play-by-play of modern day. The frequency of these warnings should itself, stand as a warning. Because it demonstrates that this deep truth would not sink in too easily. And indeed, the unbelievable ignorance demonstrated by most "Bible reading" Christians regarding the true nature of God and antichrist is undeniable. John speaks of antichrists and false prophets in his epistles and warns the church that they would come out from the church.

Jesus often said, "He that has ears, let them hear!" Which should translate as "Wake up! Pay attention!"

Read for yourself what he had to say about the matter:
Matt 7:15-23

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

This "War On Terror" has been a lie from it's inception. 9-11, even if it was instigated by terrorists with box-cutters, was an opportunity for us to exercise forgiveness, to love our enemies, and to share the spirit of Christ with the world. That path would have led to peace. That approach is the only one that would have brought God's blessing on America. It's a lie for us to say or think that God is on our side in this war. Christ was absolutely clear about that. Love is our only hope for survival. Fear, hatred and preemptive strikes only serve to fulfill the ambition of the devil. As long as we support the war on terror, we are losing the war for our very souls. Let us put on the full armor of God, and step into the battle.