New Spirituality; Old Lie
Part 5: Truth or Lie?
To rest secure in these perilous times presupposes firm grounding in God’s truth as opposed to any counterfeit of it. In order to discern accurately between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. For a Christian, this is accomplished through lifelong, Holy Spirit-directed study of God’s Word.
With the plumb line in hand, Christians must seek God’s will and remain in it as best they can. Morally, they must set and keep godly standards. Mentally, they must work at being fully informed and engaged, but never lose sight of Jesus. The Bible warns even Christians that, if not wary, they too are subject to deception.
A recent Gallup survey showed a surge in American spirituality, but many embrace a smorgasbord kind of religion made to suit the individual. Unfortunately, some 88% of America’s teens are un-churched and consequently unable to differentiate between Bible truth and New Thought lies.
• The Hook: Inner Knowing
Modern counterparts of the ancient mysteries share these in common: secrecy, degrees of initiation and targeted self-actualization. Above all, neo-Gnostics value knowledge. To achieve so-called inner knowing, one must resist unconsciousness and be awakened to the possibility of being no longer terrestrial, but celestial—i.e., no longer a Christian, but a Christ.
A practice forbidden by scripture, auto-suggestion or “enchantment” (hypnosis) is commonly employed by New Age practitioners. Hypnosis is an artificially induced state of relaxation in which suggestibility is heightened and past-life regression allows subjects to travel back to their “past lives.”
An adept is qualified to be master over less accomplished esoterics pursuing the same goal; his is a higher state of consciousness. For mystics, transcending the mundane to attain heightened consciousness is a coveted state; however, knowledge that elevates humanity to “he who is God over all” counterfeits God’s more excellent plan that believers partake of the divine nature on His terms.
• The Core Concept: Pantheism
Patron saint of New Thought, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French Jesuit paleontologist and philosopher who effectively blended Christianity with pantheism. His trendy, neo-Gnostic error embraces a sophisticated mix of blended heresies springing from Hinduism, Buddhism, Greek philosophy and ancient mystery religions of the Mediterranean.
The holistic movement involves evolution into greater wholes (body, mind, spirit), its goal being the balance of forces in the universe (pantheism). The New Age mystic wrongly perceives God to be no more or less than the sum total of all that exists. At the base of all is pantheism, proclaiming all life to be God, or part of God.
In anthropology, animism is the concept of spirits residing in all natural phenomena and objects. Rooted in pantheism, animism is linked to ancestor and Nature (Gaia) worship. A glorified garden plot in Northern Scotland, the Findhorn Community claims interdependent alliance among nature, Devas (etheric archetypes for creation) and Man.
• The Goal: Self-god
Self-esteem has become the unremitting mantra of mystics and secularists alike. Whereas secular humanists express their religious emotions in “a heightened sense of personal life,” cosmic humanists journey inward in search of “the higher self.” Becoming a “transformed partaker of the Divine Nature” communicates something altogether different to a New Age mystic than to a Bible-believing follower of Jesus Christ.
With intuitive insight into the nature of the divine, archetypal images (ideal forms) are highly evolved humans who have mastered esoteric philosophy by becoming one with god; hence, one with the universe. Known as the hierarchy, wise men (also called Ascended Masters of Wisdom and the Elder Brothers) claim to have evolved through successive cycles of reincarnation in reaching a state of divinity.
The Bible commands us to love others as we love ourselves. Nevertheless, counterfeit self-love, even to the point of pantheistic self-deification, is outright blasphemy. In the face of God Almighty, the Eugenic (meaning “well born”) Manifesto declares “We are interested in competing with Jesus Christ and Buddha for the destiny of man… It is now time for you to meet God. Here is god: that god is you” (James L. Hart. Eugenic Manifesto, Prometheus Press, 1997, pp. 1 and 32).
• The Process: Mystical Darwinism
The Greek root of “esoteric” means “private or confidential.” Such knowledge is not intended for, or understood by, the general public. Although sacred secrets are revealed at the highest, inner level exclusively, the process of mystical evolution holds promise for humanity to awaken to it. Presumably multiple reincarnations (called transmigration) with upward mobility provide the modern mystic opportunities needed to ascend.
Centering techniques—i.e., Transcendental Meditation—are means by which higher states of consciousness are attained. A climactic “peak experience” (Omega Point) is accomplished through a variety of centering techniques.
Global transformation (known by some as Planetary Luciferic Initiation) is the mass quantum leap to so-called enlightenment, promising to usher in a new age of group-consciousness, that of Aquarius. This misguided New Age notion is promoted to the public through eco-occultists as David Spangler; authors as Paul Hawken (The Magic of Findhorn); and New Age mystics as Amory Lovins, fellow of the druid-like Lindisfarne Association.
• The Trap: Convincing Counterfeits
The coming new age, the Ecozoic Age, is one which will transcend God, says misguided Gaia spokesperson Father Thomas Berry. True, Christians anticipate a golden era of unprecedented opportunity, peace and worldwide collaboration when Christ rules and reigns in the Millennium. To the undiscerning, the right use of energy among intuitive friends united by earth stewardship, sustainability, collectivism and illumination sounds like the real deal; but it isn’t.
Summary
Forewarned and forearmed with Bible truth, godly men and women embrace authentic wisdom from above. Their hope is not directed toward self-god released from within. Even when culture inundates them with syncretistic spirituality, Bible-honoring believers “buy the truth and sell it not.” In assessing the worth of any belief system, one principle prevails: Let God be true and every opposing man (or spirit) a liar.² This, they live by.
1. Proverbs 23:23.
2. Romans 3:4.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Convincing Counterfeits
New Spirituality; Old Lie
Part 4: Convincing Counterfeits
Prosperity and complacency have gradually diluted the church with a gutless form of counterfeit godliness that trivializes sin in the name of tolerance. Concurrently, more and more false prophets claim to have attained “Christhood”; and technological breakthroughs fabricate powerful signs and lying wonders that threaten to seduce the gullible with what the Bible calls “strong delusion.”
Although knowledge will be multiplied in these last days, the Bible likewise prophesies a famine for God’s Word. These last thirty years, we’ve generated more data than in the previous five thousand years combined, yet knowledge of biblical truth has waned proportionally to the point of being rationalized altogether out of existence.
Devoid of any spiritual compass, religious Universalists contend that all religions (or none) provide an equal basis for enlightenment. Accordingly, Brian McGuire of The Wall Street Journal endorses theosophy as “a religion for anyone—those who already have a religion and those who neither have nor want one.”²
It stands to reason why this perplexing blend of Eastern philosophy and Western thought—best described as neo-pantheistic syncretism—enjoys universal endorsement. What’s not to like? Rather than contemplate the omnipotence of God, theosophists investigate instead “the powers latent in humanity.” According to Ascended Master Ramtha, “You become by worshipping you.”
A Superior Species for the Esoteric Now
Those “having arrived” comprise a superior species (called homonoeticus). Presumably their quantum leap to “cosmic consciousness” has fitted them for higher levels of existence in the so-called “esoteric now.” In contrast, the “perfect” (mature) man of the Book of Ephesians achieves “the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ”—not by “paradigm shift,” awakened consciousness, or by attaining Christhood—but rather by embracing and following Jesus as Savior and Lord.³
This superior species acts as “Custodians of the Plan” by watching over and even guiding all of humanity’s spiritual progress. The desired outcome is for the old “Piscean Age” with its obsolete traditionalism to give way to an anticipated “Age of Aquarius,” marked by promises of peace, harmony and brotherhood.
• Self-proclaimed Maitreyas
Since the 19th century, non-Buddhist spiritual movements have adopted the name and selected characteristics of Maitreya for teachers in their respective traditions. Since onset of the 1930s, Ascended Master teachings have honored Maitreya as "World Teacher." In 1956, he was elevated to the stature of "Cosmic Christ."
Artist, author, self proclaimed esotericist, Scotland-born Benjamin Crème owns Share International magazine, which equates Maitreya with prophesied figures of multiple religious traditions. To Crème, Maitreya is the "Avatar for the Aquarian Age."
His message: Within everyone sits a god. That god is one’s true Self. To practice honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit and detachment is to come to Self-Realization.
The Emerging Church
Notably, the broad, transformational movement of the postmodern Emerging Church emphasizes interfaith dialogue and is open to new revelation, enlightenment and experiences in the here and now.
Also called the Emergent stream, the Emergent Church refers to an official organization, the Emergent Village, which is associated with Brian D. McLaren. In 2005, Time magazine recognized him as one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America." For this reason alone, McLaren warrants a closer look.
• Compromised Theological Grid
That McLaren allegedly denies hell and Christ’s substitutionary atonement at the cross undermines basic tenets of the Christian faith. Once on board with McLaren, Pastor Mark Driscoll eventually broke away from the Emergent Church. Driscoll could not abide McLaren’s referring to God as “a chick,” his questioning god’s sovereignty and dismissing the central role of Scripture, all of which align with New Thought mysticism.6
• Contemplative Prayer
While rote methods, as those employed in mystical “contemplative prayer,” have gained foothold in many Christian circles, these nevertheless miss the mark. For example, some EC members engage in contemplative forms of prayer. To achieve a so-called “cloud of unknowing,” where God’s presence is thought to be waiting, those who ponder aright are instructed to “shut down” and “turn off” while whispering some supposedly sacred word.
Truth be told: Being still before God in its truest sense is taking time to relax, ponder God’s goodness, reflect upon His Word and acknowledge Him at work. In doing so, there is no need for altering one’s consciousness because, by its very nature, waiting on God is decidedly cognitive.
• Holistic Ancient-Future Church
For EC members, holistic involvement takes diverse forms of social activism in performing acts of kindness—i.e., "missional living." This key social drive in the West sometimes cloaks old lies in the garment of new spirituality.
The Emerging Church relates to what they identify as the 21st century culture of mysticism; consequently, postmodern spirituality becomes but a new form of ancient mysticism. To reflect the local community's tastes, the church embraces eclectic expressions of spirituality. For these reasons, the Emerging Church is sometimes called the "Ancient-Future" church.
• Eco-theology Connection
The church’s passion for justice is expressed in critiquing systemic and coercive power structures while, at the same time, working for environmental causes. While it’s biblical for good stewards to tend, keep and subdue the earth for life’s necessities, the error of eco-theology, as promoted by the Green movement in America’s churches, isn’t. Falling prey to a guilt-driven global movement that demands action even in the face of scientific uncertainty is certain to sidetrack those within the Emerging Church who advocate the deconstruction of modern Christian dogma.
Summary
In assessing the worth of any belief system, one principle prevails—let God be true and every opposing man (or spirit) a liar. The line is easily crossed when discernment is lacking. To embroil oneself in deceitful spirituality is to forfeit love of truth.
In order to distinguish between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. For Christian believers, this is accomplished through lifelong, Holy Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept.
Knowing the Bible and yielding to the Holy Spirit protect Christians from distracting doctrines and deceit.
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:11.
2. http://www.austheos.org.au/tsia-article-is-theosophy-a-religion.html.
3. Ephesians 4:13.
4. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra39.htm.
5. http://www.inplainsite.org/html/maitreya.html.
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_church.
7. Romans 3:4.
8. Isaiah 28:10.
Part 4: Convincing Counterfeits
Prosperity and complacency have gradually diluted the church with a gutless form of counterfeit godliness that trivializes sin in the name of tolerance. Concurrently, more and more false prophets claim to have attained “Christhood”; and technological breakthroughs fabricate powerful signs and lying wonders that threaten to seduce the gullible with what the Bible calls “strong delusion.”
Although knowledge will be multiplied in these last days, the Bible likewise prophesies a famine for God’s Word. These last thirty years, we’ve generated more data than in the previous five thousand years combined, yet knowledge of biblical truth has waned proportionally to the point of being rationalized altogether out of existence.
Devoid of any spiritual compass, religious Universalists contend that all religions (or none) provide an equal basis for enlightenment. Accordingly, Brian McGuire of The Wall Street Journal endorses theosophy as “a religion for anyone—those who already have a religion and those who neither have nor want one.”²
It stands to reason why this perplexing blend of Eastern philosophy and Western thought—best described as neo-pantheistic syncretism—enjoys universal endorsement. What’s not to like? Rather than contemplate the omnipotence of God, theosophists investigate instead “the powers latent in humanity.” According to Ascended Master Ramtha, “You become by worshipping you.”
A Superior Species for the Esoteric Now
Those “having arrived” comprise a superior species (called homonoeticus). Presumably their quantum leap to “cosmic consciousness” has fitted them for higher levels of existence in the so-called “esoteric now.” In contrast, the “perfect” (mature) man of the Book of Ephesians achieves “the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ”—not by “paradigm shift,” awakened consciousness, or by attaining Christhood—but rather by embracing and following Jesus as Savior and Lord.³
This superior species acts as “Custodians of the Plan” by watching over and even guiding all of humanity’s spiritual progress. The desired outcome is for the old “Piscean Age” with its obsolete traditionalism to give way to an anticipated “Age of Aquarius,” marked by promises of peace, harmony and brotherhood.
• Self-proclaimed Maitreyas
Since the 19th century, non-Buddhist spiritual movements have adopted the name and selected characteristics of Maitreya for teachers in their respective traditions. Since onset of the 1930s, Ascended Master teachings have honored Maitreya as "World Teacher." In 1956, he was elevated to the stature of "Cosmic Christ."
Artist, author, self proclaimed esotericist, Scotland-born Benjamin Crème owns Share International magazine, which equates Maitreya with prophesied figures of multiple religious traditions. To Crème, Maitreya is the "Avatar for the Aquarian Age."
His message: Within everyone sits a god. That god is one’s true Self. To practice honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit and detachment is to come to Self-Realization.
The Emerging Church
Notably, the broad, transformational movement of the postmodern Emerging Church emphasizes interfaith dialogue and is open to new revelation, enlightenment and experiences in the here and now.
Also called the Emergent stream, the Emergent Church refers to an official organization, the Emergent Village, which is associated with Brian D. McLaren. In 2005, Time magazine recognized him as one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America." For this reason alone, McLaren warrants a closer look.
• Compromised Theological Grid
That McLaren allegedly denies hell and Christ’s substitutionary atonement at the cross undermines basic tenets of the Christian faith. Once on board with McLaren, Pastor Mark Driscoll eventually broke away from the Emergent Church. Driscoll could not abide McLaren’s referring to God as “a chick,” his questioning god’s sovereignty and dismissing the central role of Scripture, all of which align with New Thought mysticism.6
• Contemplative Prayer
While rote methods, as those employed in mystical “contemplative prayer,” have gained foothold in many Christian circles, these nevertheless miss the mark. For example, some EC members engage in contemplative forms of prayer. To achieve a so-called “cloud of unknowing,” where God’s presence is thought to be waiting, those who ponder aright are instructed to “shut down” and “turn off” while whispering some supposedly sacred word.
Truth be told: Being still before God in its truest sense is taking time to relax, ponder God’s goodness, reflect upon His Word and acknowledge Him at work. In doing so, there is no need for altering one’s consciousness because, by its very nature, waiting on God is decidedly cognitive.
• Holistic Ancient-Future Church
For EC members, holistic involvement takes diverse forms of social activism in performing acts of kindness—i.e., "missional living." This key social drive in the West sometimes cloaks old lies in the garment of new spirituality.
The Emerging Church relates to what they identify as the 21st century culture of mysticism; consequently, postmodern spirituality becomes but a new form of ancient mysticism. To reflect the local community's tastes, the church embraces eclectic expressions of spirituality. For these reasons, the Emerging Church is sometimes called the "Ancient-Future" church.
• Eco-theology Connection
The church’s passion for justice is expressed in critiquing systemic and coercive power structures while, at the same time, working for environmental causes. While it’s biblical for good stewards to tend, keep and subdue the earth for life’s necessities, the error of eco-theology, as promoted by the Green movement in America’s churches, isn’t. Falling prey to a guilt-driven global movement that demands action even in the face of scientific uncertainty is certain to sidetrack those within the Emerging Church who advocate the deconstruction of modern Christian dogma.
Summary
In assessing the worth of any belief system, one principle prevails—let God be true and every opposing man (or spirit) a liar. The line is easily crossed when discernment is lacking. To embroil oneself in deceitful spirituality is to forfeit love of truth.
In order to distinguish between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. For Christian believers, this is accomplished through lifelong, Holy Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept.
Knowing the Bible and yielding to the Holy Spirit protect Christians from distracting doctrines and deceit.
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:11.
2. http://www.austheos.org.au/tsia-article-is-theosophy-a-religion.html.
3. Ephesians 4:13.
4. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra39.htm.
5. http://www.inplainsite.org/html/maitreya.html.
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_church.
7. Romans 3:4.
8. Isaiah 28:10.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Cult of Oprah
New Spirituality; Old Lie
Part 3: The Cult of Oprah
Rightly named one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century by Time magazine, Oprah Winfrey likewise received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1998). Oprah purports to serve “a higher good.” She boasts having “a contract with the universe” and, in its execution, is numbered as a foremost spiritual authority among swamis, yogis and Tibetan masters.
Arguably the most influential woman in the world, Oprah Winfrey gushes over the unimaginably creative, never-before-seen visuals and profound spiritual lessons to be derived from Avatar. Everyone, she insists, must see it. Lessons to which Oprah alludes are soundly embedded in the doctrinal grids of her endorsees. Her theology incorporates a worldview that sociologist Philip Rieff calls “the therapeutic society.” It is obsessed with self, thus raising self-preoccupation to the level of religious duty.
The fact remains: Whom Oprah endorses, the world embraces.
Marianne Williamson: Course on Miracles
For example, the press dubs Oprah’s spiritual mentor, longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson “a modern-day shaman” and “Hollywood’s answer to god.” Through Williamson’s transformational teachings on self-realization, her disciples awaken to memory of their Divine Inheritance.
Self-described “ex-cabaret-singing Jew from Texas,” Williamson is an energetically engaged (and no doubt engaging) woman whose “feel good” message is compelling, maybe, but strikingly devoid of Bible truth. In the 1980s Williamson lectured on A Course in Miracles.
Williamson views the course as "a self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy" that expounds upon New Thought, similar to Unity teachings. Unity's fundamental belief is that the true "church" is but a "state of consciousness,” and god is simply the sum total of our thoughts about him. In fact, god is mind; and his Law of Mind is oneness. Hence, our “holy minds” are perfect; “as we were, so are we now and will forever be” (Lesson 167). That is to say, everything—everyone—is god.
Williamson’s recent book, The Healing of America, synthesizes A Course in Miracles with Unity principles. Hers is a whole-system approach to transforming American culture. In this endeavor, she founded and works through the American Renaissance Alliance, conjoining spirituality with political activism.
Caroline Myss, Ph. D.: Energy Medicine
New York Times best-selling author Caroline Myss, Ph. D. (pronounced /mace/), takes cues from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung known for his theory of the collective conscience. So compelling is Myss’ message in fields of energy medicine and human consciousness, intuition and potential that, for one entire year (2003), Winfrey gave the doctor her own half-hour television program on the Oxygen Network.²
Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth
There exists today a worldwide Tolle-propelled “Cult of Oprah.” The Gospel according to Tolle indicts Christianity and its claim to ultimate truth. Biblical dogma, he claims, serves ego and results in an “illusory sense of superiority” that “corrupts to the point of insanity.”
Never mind that this self-proclaimed “spiritual leader” boasts pantheistic self-deification! In Tolle’s misguided view, Christ is every man and woman. True, he references “universal law,” but Tolle ascribes the Ten Commandments as necessary only for those cut off from their own “I AM”-ness. Note that it was not Tolle, but rather co-Masonic Hierarch and famed occultist Alice Bailey who conceptualized and coined the term for this—namely, “Christhood.”
Living in Tolle’s “now” ostensibly enables transformation of consciousness from illusive thought (“wanting,” “thwarted wanting” and “indifference”) to self-god awareness. Having triumphed over matter by self-mastery, the fully “conscious” trade their tradition-bound “phantom selves” for their purported “I AM”-ness.³
Deepak Chopra: A Third Jesus
In 1999, Time magazine named Deepak Chopra one of the top 100 icons and heroes of the 20th century. Oprah-endorsed author of A Third Jesus, Chopra explores Christ-consciousness beyond any denominational dogma, national or ethnic identity.
Over time, humans have evolved from hunters to farmers to industrialists to the techno-savvy. The alleged final step in his evolutionary process is Christhood; and Chopra contends that each of us is here to discover this, “our true Self.” “We're not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences,” he adds. “We're spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences.” For the sake of the planet, it behooves us to realize our potential as “pure divinity right here on earth.”
“Exuberant Religiosity”: Church of Oprah and Obama Worship
As rightly observed by Peter L. Berger in The Chronicle of Higher Education, our purportedly rational age is distinguished, ironically so, by “exuberant religiosity.” Case in point: the divisive tone of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's “exuberant,” while highly incendiary messages. Although Oprah Winfrey and President Barak Obama share in common previous membership at Trinity United Church, both stopped attending. Clearly, Rev. Wright was a major reason.
Of necessity, theirs is an inclusive message crafted to resonate with fan bases in mainstream America and throughout the global community. Notwithstanding the “Church of Oprah” and “Obama Worshippers” exercise their own version of “exuberant religiosity.”
Check it out on You Tube; and you will see young African-American men locking their fists in front of them as they bark, “Yes, we can!” Shouting with military precision, each extols Obama for the many blessings of his Health Care Plan. It’s expressly “because of Obama” that each young soldier can claim by faith the certainty of realizing his life’s dream.
Having donned army fatigues, Obama’s youth of the Junior Fraternity Regiment march in cadence while bellowing the mantra “Alpha-Omega,” “Alpha-Omega.” But, wait. In the Bible, it’s the Lord Jesus who alone qualifies as the Beginning and the End. Sorry, folks. It’s not Obama.
It’s not even Oprah.
1. http://www.marianne.com/.
2. http://www.myss.com/.
3. http://www.eckharttolle.com/home/.
4. http://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%A2+Deepak+Chopra:+A+Third+Jesus&hl=en&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS217US218&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=Sf-jS5quKYW2sgPH_dki&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum =4&ved=0CCIQqwQwAw.
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9K7FNAYbk.
Part 3: The Cult of Oprah
Rightly named one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century by Time magazine, Oprah Winfrey likewise received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1998). Oprah purports to serve “a higher good.” She boasts having “a contract with the universe” and, in its execution, is numbered as a foremost spiritual authority among swamis, yogis and Tibetan masters.
Arguably the most influential woman in the world, Oprah Winfrey gushes over the unimaginably creative, never-before-seen visuals and profound spiritual lessons to be derived from Avatar. Everyone, she insists, must see it. Lessons to which Oprah alludes are soundly embedded in the doctrinal grids of her endorsees. Her theology incorporates a worldview that sociologist Philip Rieff calls “the therapeutic society.” It is obsessed with self, thus raising self-preoccupation to the level of religious duty.
The fact remains: Whom Oprah endorses, the world embraces.
Marianne Williamson: Course on Miracles
For example, the press dubs Oprah’s spiritual mentor, longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson “a modern-day shaman” and “Hollywood’s answer to god.” Through Williamson’s transformational teachings on self-realization, her disciples awaken to memory of their Divine Inheritance.
Self-described “ex-cabaret-singing Jew from Texas,” Williamson is an energetically engaged (and no doubt engaging) woman whose “feel good” message is compelling, maybe, but strikingly devoid of Bible truth. In the 1980s Williamson lectured on A Course in Miracles.
Williamson views the course as "a self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy" that expounds upon New Thought, similar to Unity teachings. Unity's fundamental belief is that the true "church" is but a "state of consciousness,” and god is simply the sum total of our thoughts about him. In fact, god is mind; and his Law of Mind is oneness. Hence, our “holy minds” are perfect; “as we were, so are we now and will forever be” (Lesson 167). That is to say, everything—everyone—is god.
Williamson’s recent book, The Healing of America, synthesizes A Course in Miracles with Unity principles. Hers is a whole-system approach to transforming American culture. In this endeavor, she founded and works through the American Renaissance Alliance, conjoining spirituality with political activism.
Caroline Myss, Ph. D.: Energy Medicine
New York Times best-selling author Caroline Myss, Ph. D. (pronounced /mace/), takes cues from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung known for his theory of the collective conscience. So compelling is Myss’ message in fields of energy medicine and human consciousness, intuition and potential that, for one entire year (2003), Winfrey gave the doctor her own half-hour television program on the Oxygen Network.²
Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth
There exists today a worldwide Tolle-propelled “Cult of Oprah.” The Gospel according to Tolle indicts Christianity and its claim to ultimate truth. Biblical dogma, he claims, serves ego and results in an “illusory sense of superiority” that “corrupts to the point of insanity.”
Never mind that this self-proclaimed “spiritual leader” boasts pantheistic self-deification! In Tolle’s misguided view, Christ is every man and woman. True, he references “universal law,” but Tolle ascribes the Ten Commandments as necessary only for those cut off from their own “I AM”-ness. Note that it was not Tolle, but rather co-Masonic Hierarch and famed occultist Alice Bailey who conceptualized and coined the term for this—namely, “Christhood.”
Living in Tolle’s “now” ostensibly enables transformation of consciousness from illusive thought (“wanting,” “thwarted wanting” and “indifference”) to self-god awareness. Having triumphed over matter by self-mastery, the fully “conscious” trade their tradition-bound “phantom selves” for their purported “I AM”-ness.³
Deepak Chopra: A Third Jesus
In 1999, Time magazine named Deepak Chopra one of the top 100 icons and heroes of the 20th century. Oprah-endorsed author of A Third Jesus, Chopra explores Christ-consciousness beyond any denominational dogma, national or ethnic identity.
Over time, humans have evolved from hunters to farmers to industrialists to the techno-savvy. The alleged final step in his evolutionary process is Christhood; and Chopra contends that each of us is here to discover this, “our true Self.” “We're not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences,” he adds. “We're spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences.” For the sake of the planet, it behooves us to realize our potential as “pure divinity right here on earth.”
“Exuberant Religiosity”: Church of Oprah and Obama Worship
As rightly observed by Peter L. Berger in The Chronicle of Higher Education, our purportedly rational age is distinguished, ironically so, by “exuberant religiosity.” Case in point: the divisive tone of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's “exuberant,” while highly incendiary messages. Although Oprah Winfrey and President Barak Obama share in common previous membership at Trinity United Church, both stopped attending. Clearly, Rev. Wright was a major reason.
Of necessity, theirs is an inclusive message crafted to resonate with fan bases in mainstream America and throughout the global community. Notwithstanding the “Church of Oprah” and “Obama Worshippers” exercise their own version of “exuberant religiosity.”
Check it out on You Tube; and you will see young African-American men locking their fists in front of them as they bark, “Yes, we can!” Shouting with military precision, each extols Obama for the many blessings of his Health Care Plan. It’s expressly “because of Obama” that each young soldier can claim by faith the certainty of realizing his life’s dream.
Having donned army fatigues, Obama’s youth of the Junior Fraternity Regiment march in cadence while bellowing the mantra “Alpha-Omega,” “Alpha-Omega.” But, wait. In the Bible, it’s the Lord Jesus who alone qualifies as the Beginning and the End. Sorry, folks. It’s not Obama.
It’s not even Oprah.
1. http://www.marianne.com/.
2. http://www.myss.com/.
3. http://www.eckharttolle.com/home/.
4. http://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%A2+Deepak+Chopra:+A+Third+Jesus&hl=en&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS217US218&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=Sf-jS5quKYW2sgPH_dki&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum =4&ved=0CCIQqwQwAw.
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9K7FNAYbk.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Seducing Spirits
New Spirituality; Old Lie
Part 2: Seducing Spirits
Given the genius of modern cinematography and unmatched access to cutting-edge technology, deceptive spirituality packs a wallop never before possible. This was demonstrated by the 20th Century Fox production, Avatar, which out-grossed even Hollywood’s blockbuster of all time, the Titanic.
Briefly, Avatar (roughly meaning incarnation) is a futuristic, body-snatching saga in which enlightened humanoids, animals and vegetation experience spiritual “bonding” or “connecting.” Mystically-minded enthusiasts with utopian fantasies promote what clearly is science fiction to the presumably more reputable rank of “science.”
Seduction of the “Sciences”
In general, science is systematized knowledge. Because many perceive knowledge to be sexy, cults of esoteric knowledge are hugely popular today—e.g., neo-Gnosticism, knowledge of transcendence arrived at intuitively. Literally, agnosticism is to be without said gnōsis (knowledge).
• The Noetic Sciences
The word “noetic” has no precise English equivalent; however, it refers to "inner knowing," a kind of intuitive consciousness. To the illumined Freemason, for example, rediscovering “the Lost Word” is to possess knowledge of the divine self, or Christ-state. Moreover, it is to wield “the key of the phenomena of nature,” the concept for which is classic witchcraft. Those persuaded that exclusive, esoteric knowledge, exceptional talents and aptitude guarantee their right to rule over less illumined counterparts serve as custodians of a divine cosmic plan.
• Science of the Whole: Philosophy
Psychology Professor Jean Twenge has coined the term “iGeneration”—“i” as in iPod, yes, but also “I” as in “me, me, ME.” Speaking of which, in “the science of the whole,” better known as philosophy, solipsism maintains that “the self” is the only thing known to exist; everything else merely reflects one’s own consciousness.
Neo-pantheists discover this “self” through renewed relationship with the planet. No doubt Avatar is the latest, greatest poster child for Cosmic Humanism. Upon passing, a character played by Sigourney Weaver joins the “Divine Her” (goddess Mother-Earth) and, in the process, convincingly testifies that Gaia truly is “real.”
Prominent educator, globalist and occultist Dr. Robert Muller apparently agrees. He defines that self as “the earth having become conscious of herself.” This being the case, modern man is charged with moral responsibility to embrace a heightened ecological consciousness enforced by draconian laws designed to preserve biodiversity.
• Panetics
In April of 1986, Professor Rudolph Krejci first coined the term “Panetics” which offers a new, broadly endorsed approach to research, policy making, analysis and management. Its fundamental principles were first advanced by Ralph G. H. Siu.
Yet another synthesis of East-meets-West, Panetics is an evolving, panethical search for ways to reduce human suffering and victimization through governments, institutions, social groups and the professions. Meaning "to suffer" in the ancient language of Buddha, the dukkha is a quantitative unit used by Siu to measure suffering.
In Avatar, a paraplegic war veteran, Marine Corporal Jack Sully, gets a fresh start as an avatar in a distant world. He finds Pandora inhabited by the Na'vi whose alien inhabitants and arcane culture beguile him. In the face of military action spurred by corporate greed, Sully “gets religion”; once this blue-hued avatar goes Green, Sully’s empowered to save Pandora from suffering and victimization much the same way that eco-warriors of Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and their ilk commit to putting Earth First! (parent organization from which ELF evolved).
The Seduction of “Possibilities”
Best known as father of progressive education, John Dewey was a Marxist Fabian-Socialist whose obsession with inquiry learning toppled the overpowering Protestant character of the early public schools. After Dewey’s death, an esteemed social engineer and futurist, also a transformational Marxist, Dr. Benjamin Bloom introduced mastery learning. Bloom’s famed taxonomy of educational objectives are at the heart of today’s educational restructuring efforts.²
Whereas the former, an avowed atheist, epitomized secular humanism, the latter leaned more toward humanism’s cosmic counterpart. To Bloom, the purpose of education is “to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of students.” Simply put, good teachers are ones who destroy fixed beliefs. Indeed, Bloom regarded moral relativism as the highest possible cognitive goal.
In but a few decades, America’s public education system has morphed from no spirituality (Dewey) to new spirituality. Enter, Dr. Robert Carkhuff. What is now dubbed “dysfunctional” traditional math gives way to “constructivist learning,” requiring students—not to solve a problem with the correct answer—but rather to use their “team voices” to “think about mathematics” and how it makes them feel. In The Possibilities Mind (HRD Press 2000), Carkhuff identifies “god” as “the possibilities mind” that co-processes with us to illuminate his mysteries.
Dr. Carkhuff poses a similarly troublesome new science of possibilities. His utopian brave new world of infinite possibilities is achieved by the Links Project that demeans facts and fixed beliefs as “cumbersome anchors” that “block the dialectic process,” otherwise known as “group think.” Carkhuff’s school of the future is a place where children and adults together “follow their bliss”—reminiscent, perhaps, of Paradise Pandora? ³
The Seduction of Spiritual Experience
Seeking ever deeper revelation, mystics are drawn to tangible, supernatural experiences that become ends in and of themselves and thereby take the place of God.
• Yoga
Tens of thousands of copies have been circulated of a video tutorial created by Marsha Wenig of Michigan City, Indiana. Techniques within her Yoga Kids video and adult certification program (to teach yoga to children) have captivated young moms everywhere. Many rush to their local bookstores to snatch up Yoga Baby and I Can’t Believe It’s Yoga for Kids.
The term “yoga” means “union with Brahma,” allegedly the divine spirit of the universe. Virtually all standard yoga texts link psychic powers and other occult abilities with yoga practice. In giving way to one’s true divine nature, the goal for hardcore mystics is occult enlightenment accomplished by controlling vital energy in the act of breathing. Meditative practices associated with yoga feature mental passivity and mantra meditation, both of which attract spiritually-minded Christians who tend to be long on experience, but short on doctrine.
• The Indigo (Chrystal) Child Phenomenon
Today, many children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Labels as these imply imperfection. It’s no wonder that parents readily fork over big bucks when told, to the contrary, that the bluish hue of their child’s aura signals mental superiority, coupled with psychic ability. Not some defect.
Indigos are said to be highly evolved, uniquely gifted youngsters whose mission is to teach their elders and, thus, ensure planetary transformation into a golden era of peace and brotherhood. Ascending to “Christhood” through multiple, upward mobility reincarnations is no more clearly evident than in the phenomenon of the Indigo (or Crystal) Child. Because they’re so “advanced” and alert to “better ways” of doing things, Indigo Kids aren’t inclined to obey, wait in line, or participate in ritually-oriented systems.
Summary
Today’s new spirituality is downright seductive. Forget the apostle Paul’s lament, “wretched man that I am!” Instead, neo-pantheists claim the bluish hue of mental superiority and “inner knowing.” In exercising “the possibilities mind” of God Himself, highly evolved adepts self-qualify as custodians over humanity’s spiritual progress. They free captives of “cumbersome anchors” imposed by biblical mandate and Western civilization. In so doing, however, these fall into an insidious trap of “strong delusion.”
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Siu.
2. http://www.eecs.usma.edu/cs383/bloom/default.htm; http://www.valdosta.edu/~whuitt/psy702/cogsys/bloom.html; www.eecs.usma.edu/usma/academic/eecs/instruct/howard/slidesho/sigcse2/index.htm; www.uct.ac.za/projects/ cbe/mcqman/mcqappc.html.
3. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra2.htm.
4. ttp://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS217US218&q=Yoga+Baby&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=nLGjS_mpJoqsswO7iIW9BA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved= 0CCMQrQQwAg.
5. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra34.htm.
Part 2: Seducing Spirits
Given the genius of modern cinematography and unmatched access to cutting-edge technology, deceptive spirituality packs a wallop never before possible. This was demonstrated by the 20th Century Fox production, Avatar, which out-grossed even Hollywood’s blockbuster of all time, the Titanic.
Briefly, Avatar (roughly meaning incarnation) is a futuristic, body-snatching saga in which enlightened humanoids, animals and vegetation experience spiritual “bonding” or “connecting.” Mystically-minded enthusiasts with utopian fantasies promote what clearly is science fiction to the presumably more reputable rank of “science.”
Seduction of the “Sciences”
In general, science is systematized knowledge. Because many perceive knowledge to be sexy, cults of esoteric knowledge are hugely popular today—e.g., neo-Gnosticism, knowledge of transcendence arrived at intuitively. Literally, agnosticism is to be without said gnōsis (knowledge).
• The Noetic Sciences
The word “noetic” has no precise English equivalent; however, it refers to "inner knowing," a kind of intuitive consciousness. To the illumined Freemason, for example, rediscovering “the Lost Word” is to possess knowledge of the divine self, or Christ-state. Moreover, it is to wield “the key of the phenomena of nature,” the concept for which is classic witchcraft. Those persuaded that exclusive, esoteric knowledge, exceptional talents and aptitude guarantee their right to rule over less illumined counterparts serve as custodians of a divine cosmic plan.
• Science of the Whole: Philosophy
Psychology Professor Jean Twenge has coined the term “iGeneration”—“i” as in iPod, yes, but also “I” as in “me, me, ME.” Speaking of which, in “the science of the whole,” better known as philosophy, solipsism maintains that “the self” is the only thing known to exist; everything else merely reflects one’s own consciousness.
Neo-pantheists discover this “self” through renewed relationship with the planet. No doubt Avatar is the latest, greatest poster child for Cosmic Humanism. Upon passing, a character played by Sigourney Weaver joins the “Divine Her” (goddess Mother-Earth) and, in the process, convincingly testifies that Gaia truly is “real.”
Prominent educator, globalist and occultist Dr. Robert Muller apparently agrees. He defines that self as “the earth having become conscious of herself.” This being the case, modern man is charged with moral responsibility to embrace a heightened ecological consciousness enforced by draconian laws designed to preserve biodiversity.
• Panetics
In April of 1986, Professor Rudolph Krejci first coined the term “Panetics” which offers a new, broadly endorsed approach to research, policy making, analysis and management. Its fundamental principles were first advanced by Ralph G. H. Siu.
Yet another synthesis of East-meets-West, Panetics is an evolving, panethical search for ways to reduce human suffering and victimization through governments, institutions, social groups and the professions. Meaning "to suffer" in the ancient language of Buddha, the dukkha is a quantitative unit used by Siu to measure suffering.
In Avatar, a paraplegic war veteran, Marine Corporal Jack Sully, gets a fresh start as an avatar in a distant world. He finds Pandora inhabited by the Na'vi whose alien inhabitants and arcane culture beguile him. In the face of military action spurred by corporate greed, Sully “gets religion”; once this blue-hued avatar goes Green, Sully’s empowered to save Pandora from suffering and victimization much the same way that eco-warriors of Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and their ilk commit to putting Earth First! (parent organization from which ELF evolved).
The Seduction of “Possibilities”
Best known as father of progressive education, John Dewey was a Marxist Fabian-Socialist whose obsession with inquiry learning toppled the overpowering Protestant character of the early public schools. After Dewey’s death, an esteemed social engineer and futurist, also a transformational Marxist, Dr. Benjamin Bloom introduced mastery learning. Bloom’s famed taxonomy of educational objectives are at the heart of today’s educational restructuring efforts.²
Whereas the former, an avowed atheist, epitomized secular humanism, the latter leaned more toward humanism’s cosmic counterpart. To Bloom, the purpose of education is “to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of students.” Simply put, good teachers are ones who destroy fixed beliefs. Indeed, Bloom regarded moral relativism as the highest possible cognitive goal.
In but a few decades, America’s public education system has morphed from no spirituality (Dewey) to new spirituality. Enter, Dr. Robert Carkhuff. What is now dubbed “dysfunctional” traditional math gives way to “constructivist learning,” requiring students—not to solve a problem with the correct answer—but rather to use their “team voices” to “think about mathematics” and how it makes them feel. In The Possibilities Mind (HRD Press 2000), Carkhuff identifies “god” as “the possibilities mind” that co-processes with us to illuminate his mysteries.
Dr. Carkhuff poses a similarly troublesome new science of possibilities. His utopian brave new world of infinite possibilities is achieved by the Links Project that demeans facts and fixed beliefs as “cumbersome anchors” that “block the dialectic process,” otherwise known as “group think.” Carkhuff’s school of the future is a place where children and adults together “follow their bliss”—reminiscent, perhaps, of Paradise Pandora? ³
The Seduction of Spiritual Experience
Seeking ever deeper revelation, mystics are drawn to tangible, supernatural experiences that become ends in and of themselves and thereby take the place of God.
• Yoga
Tens of thousands of copies have been circulated of a video tutorial created by Marsha Wenig of Michigan City, Indiana. Techniques within her Yoga Kids video and adult certification program (to teach yoga to children) have captivated young moms everywhere. Many rush to their local bookstores to snatch up Yoga Baby and I Can’t Believe It’s Yoga for Kids.
The term “yoga” means “union with Brahma,” allegedly the divine spirit of the universe. Virtually all standard yoga texts link psychic powers and other occult abilities with yoga practice. In giving way to one’s true divine nature, the goal for hardcore mystics is occult enlightenment accomplished by controlling vital energy in the act of breathing. Meditative practices associated with yoga feature mental passivity and mantra meditation, both of which attract spiritually-minded Christians who tend to be long on experience, but short on doctrine.
• The Indigo (Chrystal) Child Phenomenon
Today, many children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Labels as these imply imperfection. It’s no wonder that parents readily fork over big bucks when told, to the contrary, that the bluish hue of their child’s aura signals mental superiority, coupled with psychic ability. Not some defect.
Indigos are said to be highly evolved, uniquely gifted youngsters whose mission is to teach their elders and, thus, ensure planetary transformation into a golden era of peace and brotherhood. Ascending to “Christhood” through multiple, upward mobility reincarnations is no more clearly evident than in the phenomenon of the Indigo (or Crystal) Child. Because they’re so “advanced” and alert to “better ways” of doing things, Indigo Kids aren’t inclined to obey, wait in line, or participate in ritually-oriented systems.
Summary
Today’s new spirituality is downright seductive. Forget the apostle Paul’s lament, “wretched man that I am!” Instead, neo-pantheists claim the bluish hue of mental superiority and “inner knowing.” In exercising “the possibilities mind” of God Himself, highly evolved adepts self-qualify as custodians over humanity’s spiritual progress. They free captives of “cumbersome anchors” imposed by biblical mandate and Western civilization. In so doing, however, these fall into an insidious trap of “strong delusion.”
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Siu.
2. http://www.eecs.usma.edu/cs383/bloom/default.htm; http://www.valdosta.edu/~whuitt/psy702/cogsys/bloom.html; www.eecs.usma.edu/usma/academic/eecs/instruct/howard/slidesho/sigcse2/index.htm; www.uct.ac.za/projects/ cbe/mcqman/mcqappc.html.
3. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra2.htm.
4. ttp://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS217US218&q=Yoga+Baby&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=nLGjS_mpJoqsswO7iIW9BA&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved= 0CCMQrQQwAg.
5. http://www.newswithviews.com/Rae/debra34.htm.
Monday, April 19, 2010
New Spirituality; Old Lie
New Spirituality; Old Lie
Part 1: Self-God
The enticement to be like god is a timeless seduction. Perhaps the most recognizable self-proclaimed deity this century is the affable 14th Dalai Lama. Master of the most revered Tibetan monks, he is at home with his own divinity, for which he credits a strong will and karmic force. Looking to him and other ostensibly highly-evolved ascended masters, growing numbers of mystics view themselves as embryo gods-in-the-making.
This new spirituality is no more than rehash of a very old lie. Described in the Bible as a beautiful, anointed cherub, Lucifer exalted himself above all others. He purposed to usurp humans as crown of God’s creation; even more, he wanted to become as god. With that very ambition, Lucifer seduced Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit of knowledge, reserved for God alone.
Earth’s first lady, Eve, learned the hard way that “playing God” rendered no service to her relationship with God, her family and humanity at large. As a result of self-god delusion, Lucifer fell as lightning from heaven; and both Adam and Eve were ousted from paradise.
The Ultimate Blasphemy
For hundreds of years, each new generation has poured over poetic verses (quatrains) contained within Nostradamus’ ten books called Centuries. Since the age of the Renaissance, writings of this mid-16th century French sage-prophet have awed mystics. His end-time prophesies once again are all the rage.
In the esoteric world, the Law of Threes is well known. Nostradamus likewise anticipated three antichrists—all charismatic, messianic kings of terror; each more evil than his predecessor. Although not necessarily delusional, prophets of “the curious arts,” as Nostradamus, drew from sources other than the God of the Bible. Examples abound.²
Nearly two-hundred-year-old "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies" anticipate coming of a Pale One when their calendar ends in 2012. Apparently, the first-degree Masonic Tracing Board contains this very prophecy.³ A notable initiate of the secret, fraternal society Knights of Pythias (pronounced /pith/), Nelson Rockefeller looked to “a powerful free-world, supra-national political being” (The Future of Federalism, 1962). Even Muslims anticipate an “imposter” not unlike “the prince that shall come” prophesied by the statesman Daniel.
Be sure, biblical penmen anticipated ever-escalating, end-time deceivers culminating in a latter-day visionary destined to become the greatest dictator the world has known. Over time, this one known as antichrist will demand the loyalty, and eventually the worship, of world citizens. Upon entering the Holy of Holies to declare his godhood, he epitomizes the ultimate blasphemy of “self-god”—this, by standing instead of and, thus, against the Messiah. Antichrist will be Lucifer incarnate (an avatar, if you will)—his bait the promise of becoming god.
“The New Spirit” of Men
As a matter of interest, the Mayan calendar is divided into seven ages of man. In the fifth age, men will realize their spiritual destiny. In the sixth, they discover the god within; and in the seventh age, they allegedly become telepathic.
Indigenous insights and, when warranted, psychedelic drug use assist contemporary mystics in their ascent to supposedly higher levels of existence—this, by tapping cosmic energy and thereby metamorphosing from demi-god to full blown godhood. Theirs is “the new spirit of men” that’s not so new after all.
Numerous ancient cultures finger December 21, 2012 as a marker for the world’s end on one hand, and for a coming new dawn of global enlightenment on the other. As the targeted date nears, increasing numbers of planetary light bearers claim to have achieved full flowering of human potential. They herald what promises to be a mass planetary quantum leap to the higher self, thus signaling a new age of “the perfected man” (Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods, 1921).
The Feminine Side of God
In the wake of women’s liberation, girl power is said to rock. Empowerment jargon—e.g., “I am WOMAN; hear me roar”—mirrors mantras of would-be adepts whose spirits are awakened. Jungian psychologist Marion Woodman credits the International Women of Wisdom Foundation for manifesting what she calls “the feminine side of god.” WOW welcomes “any woman who desires to connect with other women” and thereby “be inspired by the spirit that links us” and “our ancestors before us.”6
A Process Booster: OptiMysticism
While notable teachers of low-rung terrestrial humanity include Christ (thrown in with the likes of Moses and Buddha), disciples of contemporary OptiMysticism claim to share an even higher calling. In an OptiMystic’s view, illumined humanity occupies an “ascending place” within the universe. Human destiny is achieved by conscious ascension through centrifugal fields of energy called “aziums.”
New revelation of Universal Azium Ascension purportedly awakens celestial humanity to capital “L”-Life in the greater universe. In other words, those highly evolved become god by applying OptiMystic meditative techniques. In this way, they accelerate conscious evolution from lower rungs of instinct and intellect through the third rung of emotion—i.e., love—and on to higher stages of spirit-consciousness. The peak at which one evolves into Super-Humanity is popularly known as the Omega Point.
Truth Unveiled: Partaking of the Divine Nature
While the Bible advances no cosmic plan for global enlightenment, collaboration and empowerment apart from the Lord, Jesus Christ, what it does offer exceeds human imagination and desire. Ultimately, by His doing, the believer partakes of the divine nature—but only in measure and in strictest accordance with God’s plan.
Allow me to explain. As recorded in John, Chapter 17, Jesus prayed to the Father that His followers would all be made “as one” together with the Father and Him (God incarnate). To realize this destiny, the Christian disengages, not from terrestrial illusion, but rather from sin, defined biblically as “transgression of law.” In contrast, New Thought gurus as Marianne Williamson claim that sin doesn’t even exist. “You’ve committed no sins,” she adds—“just mistakes.” If this were true, which it isn’t, Christ’s admonition to “sin no more” was spurious and His sacrifice in vain.
Christ’s redemptive work bridged the sin gap and thereby provided access to the divine nature. The Greek word for “partaker” speaks to “joint participation.” Christians share a common portion of the Father in much the same way that human offspring possess the nature of their biological parents. In no way do they commandeer His godhood.9
What Aquarians reference as “the inner force” is what the Bible calls “seducing spirits.”10 The bottom line is this: Without biblically-grounded revelation of God’s will for us, coupled with due vigilance, even Christians are susceptible to the counterfeit version of “partaking of the divine nature.”
1. Genesis 3; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-20; Luke 10:18; 1 Timothy 3:6.
2. http://www.history.com/shows/nostradamus-effect.
3. http://www.newswithviews.com/Horn/thomas128.htm.
4. 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12.
5. http://www.womenofwisdom.org/.
6. http://www.consciousness.com/missionstatement.html.
7. John 12:31, 14:30; Ephesians 2:2.
8. John 8:11.
9. 2 Peter 1:4.
10. 1 Timothy 4:1.
Part 1: Self-God
The enticement to be like god is a timeless seduction. Perhaps the most recognizable self-proclaimed deity this century is the affable 14th Dalai Lama. Master of the most revered Tibetan monks, he is at home with his own divinity, for which he credits a strong will and karmic force. Looking to him and other ostensibly highly-evolved ascended masters, growing numbers of mystics view themselves as embryo gods-in-the-making.
This new spirituality is no more than rehash of a very old lie. Described in the Bible as a beautiful, anointed cherub, Lucifer exalted himself above all others. He purposed to usurp humans as crown of God’s creation; even more, he wanted to become as god. With that very ambition, Lucifer seduced Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit of knowledge, reserved for God alone.
Earth’s first lady, Eve, learned the hard way that “playing God” rendered no service to her relationship with God, her family and humanity at large. As a result of self-god delusion, Lucifer fell as lightning from heaven; and both Adam and Eve were ousted from paradise.
The Ultimate Blasphemy
For hundreds of years, each new generation has poured over poetic verses (quatrains) contained within Nostradamus’ ten books called Centuries. Since the age of the Renaissance, writings of this mid-16th century French sage-prophet have awed mystics. His end-time prophesies once again are all the rage.
In the esoteric world, the Law of Threes is well known. Nostradamus likewise anticipated three antichrists—all charismatic, messianic kings of terror; each more evil than his predecessor. Although not necessarily delusional, prophets of “the curious arts,” as Nostradamus, drew from sources other than the God of the Bible. Examples abound.²
Nearly two-hundred-year-old "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies" anticipate coming of a Pale One when their calendar ends in 2012. Apparently, the first-degree Masonic Tracing Board contains this very prophecy.³ A notable initiate of the secret, fraternal society Knights of Pythias (pronounced /pith/), Nelson Rockefeller looked to “a powerful free-world, supra-national political being” (The Future of Federalism, 1962). Even Muslims anticipate an “imposter” not unlike “the prince that shall come” prophesied by the statesman Daniel.
Be sure, biblical penmen anticipated ever-escalating, end-time deceivers culminating in a latter-day visionary destined to become the greatest dictator the world has known. Over time, this one known as antichrist will demand the loyalty, and eventually the worship, of world citizens. Upon entering the Holy of Holies to declare his godhood, he epitomizes the ultimate blasphemy of “self-god”—this, by standing instead of and, thus, against the Messiah. Antichrist will be Lucifer incarnate (an avatar, if you will)—his bait the promise of becoming god.
“The New Spirit” of Men
As a matter of interest, the Mayan calendar is divided into seven ages of man. In the fifth age, men will realize their spiritual destiny. In the sixth, they discover the god within; and in the seventh age, they allegedly become telepathic.
Indigenous insights and, when warranted, psychedelic drug use assist contemporary mystics in their ascent to supposedly higher levels of existence—this, by tapping cosmic energy and thereby metamorphosing from demi-god to full blown godhood. Theirs is “the new spirit of men” that’s not so new after all.
Numerous ancient cultures finger December 21, 2012 as a marker for the world’s end on one hand, and for a coming new dawn of global enlightenment on the other. As the targeted date nears, increasing numbers of planetary light bearers claim to have achieved full flowering of human potential. They herald what promises to be a mass planetary quantum leap to the higher self, thus signaling a new age of “the perfected man” (Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods, 1921).
The Feminine Side of God
In the wake of women’s liberation, girl power is said to rock. Empowerment jargon—e.g., “I am WOMAN; hear me roar”—mirrors mantras of would-be adepts whose spirits are awakened. Jungian psychologist Marion Woodman credits the International Women of Wisdom Foundation for manifesting what she calls “the feminine side of god.” WOW welcomes “any woman who desires to connect with other women” and thereby “be inspired by the spirit that links us” and “our ancestors before us.”6
A Process Booster: OptiMysticism
While notable teachers of low-rung terrestrial humanity include Christ (thrown in with the likes of Moses and Buddha), disciples of contemporary OptiMysticism claim to share an even higher calling. In an OptiMystic’s view, illumined humanity occupies an “ascending place” within the universe. Human destiny is achieved by conscious ascension through centrifugal fields of energy called “aziums.”
New revelation of Universal Azium Ascension purportedly awakens celestial humanity to capital “L”-Life in the greater universe. In other words, those highly evolved become god by applying OptiMystic meditative techniques. In this way, they accelerate conscious evolution from lower rungs of instinct and intellect through the third rung of emotion—i.e., love—and on to higher stages of spirit-consciousness. The peak at which one evolves into Super-Humanity is popularly known as the Omega Point.
Truth Unveiled: Partaking of the Divine Nature
While the Bible advances no cosmic plan for global enlightenment, collaboration and empowerment apart from the Lord, Jesus Christ, what it does offer exceeds human imagination and desire. Ultimately, by His doing, the believer partakes of the divine nature—but only in measure and in strictest accordance with God’s plan.
Allow me to explain. As recorded in John, Chapter 17, Jesus prayed to the Father that His followers would all be made “as one” together with the Father and Him (God incarnate). To realize this destiny, the Christian disengages, not from terrestrial illusion, but rather from sin, defined biblically as “transgression of law.” In contrast, New Thought gurus as Marianne Williamson claim that sin doesn’t even exist. “You’ve committed no sins,” she adds—“just mistakes.” If this were true, which it isn’t, Christ’s admonition to “sin no more” was spurious and His sacrifice in vain.
Christ’s redemptive work bridged the sin gap and thereby provided access to the divine nature. The Greek word for “partaker” speaks to “joint participation.” Christians share a common portion of the Father in much the same way that human offspring possess the nature of their biological parents. In no way do they commandeer His godhood.9
What Aquarians reference as “the inner force” is what the Bible calls “seducing spirits.”10 The bottom line is this: Without biblically-grounded revelation of God’s will for us, coupled with due vigilance, even Christians are susceptible to the counterfeit version of “partaking of the divine nature.”
1. Genesis 3; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-20; Luke 10:18; 1 Timothy 3:6.
2. http://www.history.com/shows/nostradamus-effect.
3. http://www.newswithviews.com/Horn/thomas128.htm.
4. 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12.
5. http://www.womenofwisdom.org/.
6. http://www.consciousness.com/missionstatement.html.
7. John 12:31, 14:30; Ephesians 2:2.
8. John 8:11.
9. 2 Peter 1:4.
10. 1 Timothy 4:1.
Friday, April 2, 2010
How Then to Live?
History’s “Nostradamus Effect”
Part 4: How Then to Live?
The Bible is clear that no man or woman is privy to knowledge of the day and hour of Christ’s return; nevertheless, visionary clues point to the season of His coming. Prophetically, Israel re-established as a nation signals the proximate approach of Great Tribulation. With increasing intensity, nature will groan as if in the throes of birth pangs. Earthquakes, famine, and pestilence will shake civilization with unprecedented fury; and lawlessness will abound.
To rest secure in our helter-skelter world presupposes firm grounding in God’s truth as opposed to any counterfeit of it. In order to discern accurately between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. As previously explained, this is accomplished through lifelong, Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept.
Evil Unleashed
To force submission, opportunists craft doomsday rhetoric to magnify and intensify the dark side of our human condition. Any believable crisis can and will be exploited—be it environmental catastrophe; rising crime or terrorism; nuclear, biological, or cyberspace attacks; aliens (some from outer space!); new diseases; an imploding social system and moral decay.
Energized by inflammatory language, and ever-flaunted by the if-it-bleeds-it-leads media, apocalypse NOW—whatever that represents to the target audience—threatens to choke, burn, infect, ambush, sicken, addict, destroy, offend, scar, maim, weaken, kill, hurt and/or wreak lives. Fact is countless threats are credible, even inevitable. Only the foolhardy dismiss as inconsequential global terrorism, genocide, and even moral decay. Nonetheless, it requires discernment to sort, pinpoint, weigh and prioritize them while, at the same time, maintaining equilibrium in the face of “sky-is-falling” global hysteria.
Proactive Preparations
Be sure our hope is not in some spiritual guru, a political party, a candidate of preference, partisan activism, or even emergency preparedness.
Our home is located in an earthquake-prone area. With this in view, many—ourselves included—plan and prepare for needs of family, friends, and neighbors should an emergency ensue. In anticipation of crisis, we’ve undertaken reasonable preparations to provide for needed finances, food, drink, first aid, and waste management. Even in the event of a short-lived winter storm, we are better for it.
While many doomsayers look to Machiavellian measures for answers, proactive believers approach practical, preparatory tasks with unruffled trust—not in their own provisions—but in the God they serve. Although rash alarmism has no place among secure Christians, many overly anxious ones practice the cult motivation of fear mongering. By heralding gloom and doom, these attract and draw together the fearful.
In contrast, while maintaining firm trust in the creator and sustainer of life, believers are called to apply God-given common sense to faith-propelled, proactive preparedness. A Christian’s hope is in Jesus Christ and none other.
Spiritually, Christians must seek God’s will and remain in it as best they can. Morally, they must set and keep godly standards. Politically, they can vote and, as God leads, assume leadership positions on key battlefronts for which they are equipped and called to enter. Mentally, they must work at being fully informed and engaged, but never lose sight of Jesus.
These choices are before Christians: scoff at end-time threats, join the herd, beat down the inevitable, or use it for good and thereby restrain its full expression.
Scoff at It
Many scoff at the sky-is-falling rhetoric of end-of-time prophecies. In similar times as ours, a committed preacher of righteousness named Noah warned corrupt contemporaries of an impending flood so that they might repent. Sadly, scoffers refused to listen and, as a result, were excluded from safety on the ark. Correspondingly, contemporary Christians mustn’t scoff at what God fingers as very real contemporary threats.
Join It
True, Christians anticipate a golden era of unprecedented opportunity, peace, and worldwide collaboration when Christ rules and reigns in the Millennium. To the undiscerning, the right use of energy among intuitive friends united by earth stewardship, sustainability, collectivism, and illumination sounds like the real deal; but it isn’t. The Bible warns even Christians that, if not wary, they too are subject to strong delusion.
Globalism’s promises of unlimited well-being, transcendence to one’s “higher self,” and universal brotherhood are compellingly seductive; however, in the end, a one-world religious system enforced by the false prophet of the Book of Revelation obliges all to worship Antichrist or face certain death for noncompliance. From biblical perspective, to join this order guarantees spiritual death.
Beat It
Some might not like to hear this, but attempting to fight against fulfillment of clear Bible prophecies is as useless as pounding mole hills with a baseball bat. As I understand biblical eschatology, one-world government is a given. Rome will revive; and world financiers, acting as “kings without kingdoms,” will rule with Antichrist for a predetermined and bounded time span.
It is by God’s permission that Satan empowers malevolent men and seducers to advance their errant agendas; nonetheless, in God’s time, and with the brightness of Christ’s coming, the enemy’s schemes will be revealed and utterly paralyzed. Even as dark clouds gather and loom overhead, Christians are all the more empowered to overcome evil and to fulfill their destinies simply by retaining spiritual purity.
Christians’ Two-Fold Charge: Use It for Good and Restrain It
While living in this world, Christian believers are not party to it. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul allowed using the whole world order (cosmos) for godly purposes as long as they not overly use it, or rely on it wholly. With eternal citizenship elsewhere, believers are as pilgrims; they remain riveted to their Lord more so than to a world system destined in time to pass away.
Perhaps unexpectedly, 21st-century global trends have much to offer Christian Kingdom-builders. For example, open borders promise ease of entry for Bibles and ministers of the gospel. Technological innovation and limitless information invite broad access to biblical knowledge on big or small screens, in radio, and by means of the Internet. The universally spoken English language facilitates networking while cashless transactions enable global ministries to do God’s bidding.
What some would use for wrongdoing, Christians can and must use for good. God’s call to resist and restrain the “mystery of iniquity” falls to the universal body of Christ whose charge is to restrain iniquitous use of the system. This is not accomplished by American Christians acting alone, by any specific political administration, or under orders of some standing army security counsel.
For such a time as this, some among us are raised to leadership and action, as was Queen Esther, who risked her own life to champion her people before King Ahasuerus. Though not all lead in the church, in business, or in politics, all Christians defend righteous judgments in the civic arena.
Conclusion
It is not appropriate for Christians to herald planetary doom, thereby attracting and drawing together the fearful. Nor should they yawn in the face of impending calamity by escaping into a comfortable world of complacency, fantasy, or addiction. Instead, Christians must be wise as serpents, gentle as doves. To win over doubters requires wisdom, not stealth; prevailing prayer, not brute force; anointing, not cleverness.
Perhaps more now than ever before, it’s time to shake sleep, study to show ourselves approved, maintain spiritual sobriety, and exercise vigilance. Being well-read and up-to-date on vital issues is a great start; but more exactly, believers must heed biblical mandate by praying diligently, exercising faith, and practicing charity.
Even if one were to achieve all of the above and willingly face martyrdom, it’s never enough if God’s love evades the equation. Just imagine the magnetic draw of a surrendered life led in Christ-blessed abundance, one that is tempered by balance and lived victoriously and joyfully to the glory of God and in service to others.
This, my friend, is the restraining power of the church: experiencing the Christ life, humbly but powerfully; circumspectly but with a single eye for the Savior; no longer I, but Christ.
The Bible assures us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. By divine enablement, yes, we can. By God’s grace, yes, we will.
Part 4: How Then to Live?
The Bible is clear that no man or woman is privy to knowledge of the day and hour of Christ’s return; nevertheless, visionary clues point to the season of His coming. Prophetically, Israel re-established as a nation signals the proximate approach of Great Tribulation. With increasing intensity, nature will groan as if in the throes of birth pangs. Earthquakes, famine, and pestilence will shake civilization with unprecedented fury; and lawlessness will abound.
To rest secure in our helter-skelter world presupposes firm grounding in God’s truth as opposed to any counterfeit of it. In order to discern accurately between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. As previously explained, this is accomplished through lifelong, Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept.
Evil Unleashed
To force submission, opportunists craft doomsday rhetoric to magnify and intensify the dark side of our human condition. Any believable crisis can and will be exploited—be it environmental catastrophe; rising crime or terrorism; nuclear, biological, or cyberspace attacks; aliens (some from outer space!); new diseases; an imploding social system and moral decay.
Energized by inflammatory language, and ever-flaunted by the if-it-bleeds-it-leads media, apocalypse NOW—whatever that represents to the target audience—threatens to choke, burn, infect, ambush, sicken, addict, destroy, offend, scar, maim, weaken, kill, hurt and/or wreak lives. Fact is countless threats are credible, even inevitable. Only the foolhardy dismiss as inconsequential global terrorism, genocide, and even moral decay. Nonetheless, it requires discernment to sort, pinpoint, weigh and prioritize them while, at the same time, maintaining equilibrium in the face of “sky-is-falling” global hysteria.
Proactive Preparations
Be sure our hope is not in some spiritual guru, a political party, a candidate of preference, partisan activism, or even emergency preparedness.
Our home is located in an earthquake-prone area. With this in view, many—ourselves included—plan and prepare for needs of family, friends, and neighbors should an emergency ensue. In anticipation of crisis, we’ve undertaken reasonable preparations to provide for needed finances, food, drink, first aid, and waste management. Even in the event of a short-lived winter storm, we are better for it.
While many doomsayers look to Machiavellian measures for answers, proactive believers approach practical, preparatory tasks with unruffled trust—not in their own provisions—but in the God they serve. Although rash alarmism has no place among secure Christians, many overly anxious ones practice the cult motivation of fear mongering. By heralding gloom and doom, these attract and draw together the fearful.
In contrast, while maintaining firm trust in the creator and sustainer of life, believers are called to apply God-given common sense to faith-propelled, proactive preparedness. A Christian’s hope is in Jesus Christ and none other.
Spiritually, Christians must seek God’s will and remain in it as best they can. Morally, they must set and keep godly standards. Politically, they can vote and, as God leads, assume leadership positions on key battlefronts for which they are equipped and called to enter. Mentally, they must work at being fully informed and engaged, but never lose sight of Jesus.
These choices are before Christians: scoff at end-time threats, join the herd, beat down the inevitable, or use it for good and thereby restrain its full expression.
Scoff at It
Many scoff at the sky-is-falling rhetoric of end-of-time prophecies. In similar times as ours, a committed preacher of righteousness named Noah warned corrupt contemporaries of an impending flood so that they might repent. Sadly, scoffers refused to listen and, as a result, were excluded from safety on the ark. Correspondingly, contemporary Christians mustn’t scoff at what God fingers as very real contemporary threats.
Join It
True, Christians anticipate a golden era of unprecedented opportunity, peace, and worldwide collaboration when Christ rules and reigns in the Millennium. To the undiscerning, the right use of energy among intuitive friends united by earth stewardship, sustainability, collectivism, and illumination sounds like the real deal; but it isn’t. The Bible warns even Christians that, if not wary, they too are subject to strong delusion.
Globalism’s promises of unlimited well-being, transcendence to one’s “higher self,” and universal brotherhood are compellingly seductive; however, in the end, a one-world religious system enforced by the false prophet of the Book of Revelation obliges all to worship Antichrist or face certain death for noncompliance. From biblical perspective, to join this order guarantees spiritual death.
Beat It
Some might not like to hear this, but attempting to fight against fulfillment of clear Bible prophecies is as useless as pounding mole hills with a baseball bat. As I understand biblical eschatology, one-world government is a given. Rome will revive; and world financiers, acting as “kings without kingdoms,” will rule with Antichrist for a predetermined and bounded time span.
It is by God’s permission that Satan empowers malevolent men and seducers to advance their errant agendas; nonetheless, in God’s time, and with the brightness of Christ’s coming, the enemy’s schemes will be revealed and utterly paralyzed. Even as dark clouds gather and loom overhead, Christians are all the more empowered to overcome evil and to fulfill their destinies simply by retaining spiritual purity.
Christians’ Two-Fold Charge: Use It for Good and Restrain It
While living in this world, Christian believers are not party to it. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul allowed using the whole world order (cosmos) for godly purposes as long as they not overly use it, or rely on it wholly. With eternal citizenship elsewhere, believers are as pilgrims; they remain riveted to their Lord more so than to a world system destined in time to pass away.
Perhaps unexpectedly, 21st-century global trends have much to offer Christian Kingdom-builders. For example, open borders promise ease of entry for Bibles and ministers of the gospel. Technological innovation and limitless information invite broad access to biblical knowledge on big or small screens, in radio, and by means of the Internet. The universally spoken English language facilitates networking while cashless transactions enable global ministries to do God’s bidding.
What some would use for wrongdoing, Christians can and must use for good. God’s call to resist and restrain the “mystery of iniquity” falls to the universal body of Christ whose charge is to restrain iniquitous use of the system. This is not accomplished by American Christians acting alone, by any specific political administration, or under orders of some standing army security counsel.
For such a time as this, some among us are raised to leadership and action, as was Queen Esther, who risked her own life to champion her people before King Ahasuerus. Though not all lead in the church, in business, or in politics, all Christians defend righteous judgments in the civic arena.
Conclusion
It is not appropriate for Christians to herald planetary doom, thereby attracting and drawing together the fearful. Nor should they yawn in the face of impending calamity by escaping into a comfortable world of complacency, fantasy, or addiction. Instead, Christians must be wise as serpents, gentle as doves. To win over doubters requires wisdom, not stealth; prevailing prayer, not brute force; anointing, not cleverness.
Perhaps more now than ever before, it’s time to shake sleep, study to show ourselves approved, maintain spiritual sobriety, and exercise vigilance. Being well-read and up-to-date on vital issues is a great start; but more exactly, believers must heed biblical mandate by praying diligently, exercising faith, and practicing charity.
Even if one were to achieve all of the above and willingly face martyrdom, it’s never enough if God’s love evades the equation. Just imagine the magnetic draw of a surrendered life led in Christ-blessed abundance, one that is tempered by balance and lived victoriously and joyfully to the glory of God and in service to others.
This, my friend, is the restraining power of the church: experiencing the Christ life, humbly but powerfully; circumspectly but with a single eye for the Savior; no longer I, but Christ.
The Bible assures us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. By divine enablement, yes, we can. By God’s grace, yes, we will.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Showdown of Prophecies
History’s “Nostradamus Effect”
Part 3: Showdown of Prophecies
Although he served as a government official, the statesman Daniel likewise exercised the gift of a prophet. Apocalyptic in nature, the Old Testament book of Daniel outlines the inevitable course of world history. So accurate were Daniel’s prophecies about Antiochus Epiphanes, a pre-figure of Antichrist-to-come, that Christian antagonist Porphyry wrongly insisted that Daniel’s description must have been written after the fact.
The same argument cannot be applied today. Daniel could not have known about the UN concept of sustainable development, yet he accurately foresaw end-time environmental and political efforts of eco-socialists. Daniel predicted with uncanny accuracy that Antichrist will “divide the land for gain”; that is, he will opportunistically redistribute global wealth. The Bible further predicts a central, end-time authority to control citizens’ power to buy and sell in a cashless, global economy.
No doubt Antichrist aptly fits the description of the powerful “free-world supra-national political being” to which Nelson Rockefeller referred in the Future of Federalism (1962). Similarly, Nostradamus anticipated three antichrists—each more evil than his predecessor. All three were charismatic, messianic kings of terror, representative of the Devil on earth. In the esoteric world, the Law of Threes is well known. Although not necessarily delusional, prophets of “the curious arts” drew from sources other than the God of the Bible.
Speaking of which, both John’s and Paul’s references to the Antichrist show that his tradition was well known to their contemporaries (1 John 4:3 “ye have heard”; 2 Thessalonians 2:6 “ye know”). Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes, Nero, Lenin, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein were among the predecessors or types of the Beast of Revelation. According to John, “many antichrists” were and are now present, thus marking the end-of-days.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)
Actions of Napoleon, as a military and political leader—and later the Emperor of France—shaped European politics in the early 19th century. A global cultural icon, Napoleon was a dangerous tyrant, ever poised to invade. Today’s military academies continue to study his campaigns.
In Century 1: Quatrain 60, Nostradamus fingered Napoleon as the first antichrist. With accuracy, he portrayed Napoleon as an emperor from Southern Europe whose actions cost the empire dearly. In like fashion, Antichrist of the Bible is characterized as a fierce warrior-Prince that Shall Come.
Adolph Hitler (1889–1945)
Once the totalitarian leader of Germany, and eventually its head of state, Adolf Hitler is known for his charismatic oratory, propaganda, and the Third Reich, a single-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideals of national socialism.
As Antichrist of the Bible, Hitler ultimately wanted to establish a New World Order boasting absolute Nazi German hegemony. To this end, Nazi forces committed unspeakable atrocities. Best known as a ruthless, self-serving mass murderer, Hitler certainly prefigures the ultimate latter-day visionary, prophesied to become the greatest dictator known to the world.
The Ultimate Son of Perdition
Having begun with the ascension of Christ, the end (or latter) times, last (or latter) days will see formation of a destined-to-be doomed global system of government and economics under an iron thumb, politically and ecclesiastically.
Along with his false prophet, Antichrist will surpass the evil promulgated by all forerunners combined. Modeled after the European Economic Community, and headed by the mother of all dictators, this New World Order will redistribute wealth and implement a cashless system for state-managed buying and selling. Reviving the ancient mysteries, this Man of Sin will usher in a deceptively enlightened age marked by global interdependence and universal harmony.
2012
Over seven hundred years ago, a collection of books (the Zohar) were written in medieval Aramaic. In its "Vaera" section, Orthodox Jewish priests prophesied "The coming of the Messiah" (Mashiach) in late 2012.
Other ancient societies believed that in 2012 “the gods”—e.g., the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl—would return to earth, judge its inhabitants, and usher in a new, pagan golden age. Some five hundred years ago, the Maya purportedly prophesied about the Colonial date 1776, which in turn would lead to apocalypse in 2012.
Starting at the Mayan Fifth Great Cycle, the Hindu Kali Yuga calendar likewise predicts global earth changes around the year 2012. The Cherokee and Maya alike prophesy astronomical phenomena related to Jupiter, Venus, Orion, and Pleiades, allegedly causing "powers" of the star systems to "awaken."
According to author Thomas Horn, the "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies" are contained within a series of apocalyptic prophecies made by tribe members from 1811–1812. Nearly two-hundred-year-old prophecies anticipate the Pale One’s coming in 2012, when the Cherokee calendar ends. It is said that the first-degree Masonic Tracing Board contains this very prophecy. Curiously, Muslims also look for an “imposter,” not unlike Antichrist of the Bible.
5770 (Hebrew: ה'תש"ע)
On the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew year of Ayin 5770 (the New Year) is a likely milestone marking the close of this age and transition to the next. Its frequent use throughout the Torah code signals its spiritual significance. Starting the evening before 19 September 2009 and ending 8 September 2010, this year has 355 days; however, it is believed that 5770 sets the stage for the next ten years.
Ayin is Hebrew for an eye. Hence, God wants His people to increase their vision and see God’s glory more deeply and clearly. It’s also the word for “spring” or “well,” source of living waters, springing even from the desert of human want.
Day of the Shofar Blast
Another name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means “day of the shofar blast.” Most often made from a ram’s horn, the shofar (שופר) is a Jewish instrument distinguished by its trumpet-like sound. In the Book of Joshua, shofarot (plural of shofar) aided capture of the city of Jericho. Traditionally, the shofar’s blown on Rosh HaShanah to wake up and then turn the soul’s attention to repentance (teshuvah).
Both solemn and festive, this Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets) marks onset of a season for introspection, repentance, and new resolutions. Ten Days of Repentance end with Yom Kippur, literally the Day of Atonement. The first prophetically unfulfilled feast, the Feast of Trumpets is a holiday of firsts—e.g., the anniversary of creation and the first of High Holy Days.
Many Messianic Christian ministers likewise believe that 5770 will trigger a series of what the Bible outlines as last-day events. Yet again, believers are reminded to maintain vigilance.
Prophecy Showdown
Ancient societies, Nostradamus, Native Americans, Hollywood, mystics, Muslims and Masons all contribute to the end-of-days prophetic landscape; however, compelling images and para-biblical messages so thoroughly infuse truth with fiction that even well-grounded students of eschatology are at a loss for answers.
In order to discern accurately between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. For Christian believers, this is accomplished through lifelong, Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept. Knowing the Bible and yielding to the Holy Spirit alert Christians to distracting doctrines and deceit.
Elijah faced circumstances similar to our own. A powerhouse of faith, he boldly reproved the idolatrous King Ahab and, on Mount Carmel, gathered hundreds of false prophets for a showdown of sorts between the Canaanite god (Baal) and Yahweh Himself. The latter prevailed. The same yesterday, today, and forever, God will do no less for lovers of truth in these last days. Believers count on it.
More to come in Part 4.
Part 3: Showdown of Prophecies
Although he served as a government official, the statesman Daniel likewise exercised the gift of a prophet. Apocalyptic in nature, the Old Testament book of Daniel outlines the inevitable course of world history. So accurate were Daniel’s prophecies about Antiochus Epiphanes, a pre-figure of Antichrist-to-come, that Christian antagonist Porphyry wrongly insisted that Daniel’s description must have been written after the fact.
The same argument cannot be applied today. Daniel could not have known about the UN concept of sustainable development, yet he accurately foresaw end-time environmental and political efforts of eco-socialists. Daniel predicted with uncanny accuracy that Antichrist will “divide the land for gain”; that is, he will opportunistically redistribute global wealth. The Bible further predicts a central, end-time authority to control citizens’ power to buy and sell in a cashless, global economy.
No doubt Antichrist aptly fits the description of the powerful “free-world supra-national political being” to which Nelson Rockefeller referred in the Future of Federalism (1962). Similarly, Nostradamus anticipated three antichrists—each more evil than his predecessor. All three were charismatic, messianic kings of terror, representative of the Devil on earth. In the esoteric world, the Law of Threes is well known. Although not necessarily delusional, prophets of “the curious arts” drew from sources other than the God of the Bible.
Speaking of which, both John’s and Paul’s references to the Antichrist show that his tradition was well known to their contemporaries (1 John 4:3 “ye have heard”; 2 Thessalonians 2:6 “ye know”). Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes, Nero, Lenin, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein were among the predecessors or types of the Beast of Revelation. According to John, “many antichrists” were and are now present, thus marking the end-of-days.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821)
Actions of Napoleon, as a military and political leader—and later the Emperor of France—shaped European politics in the early 19th century. A global cultural icon, Napoleon was a dangerous tyrant, ever poised to invade. Today’s military academies continue to study his campaigns.
In Century 1: Quatrain 60, Nostradamus fingered Napoleon as the first antichrist. With accuracy, he portrayed Napoleon as an emperor from Southern Europe whose actions cost the empire dearly. In like fashion, Antichrist of the Bible is characterized as a fierce warrior-Prince that Shall Come.
Adolph Hitler (1889–1945)
Once the totalitarian leader of Germany, and eventually its head of state, Adolf Hitler is known for his charismatic oratory, propaganda, and the Third Reich, a single-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideals of national socialism.
As Antichrist of the Bible, Hitler ultimately wanted to establish a New World Order boasting absolute Nazi German hegemony. To this end, Nazi forces committed unspeakable atrocities. Best known as a ruthless, self-serving mass murderer, Hitler certainly prefigures the ultimate latter-day visionary, prophesied to become the greatest dictator known to the world.
The Ultimate Son of Perdition
Having begun with the ascension of Christ, the end (or latter) times, last (or latter) days will see formation of a destined-to-be doomed global system of government and economics under an iron thumb, politically and ecclesiastically.
Along with his false prophet, Antichrist will surpass the evil promulgated by all forerunners combined. Modeled after the European Economic Community, and headed by the mother of all dictators, this New World Order will redistribute wealth and implement a cashless system for state-managed buying and selling. Reviving the ancient mysteries, this Man of Sin will usher in a deceptively enlightened age marked by global interdependence and universal harmony.
2012
Over seven hundred years ago, a collection of books (the Zohar) were written in medieval Aramaic. In its "Vaera" section, Orthodox Jewish priests prophesied "The coming of the Messiah" (Mashiach) in late 2012.
Other ancient societies believed that in 2012 “the gods”—e.g., the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl—would return to earth, judge its inhabitants, and usher in a new, pagan golden age. Some five hundred years ago, the Maya purportedly prophesied about the Colonial date 1776, which in turn would lead to apocalypse in 2012.
Starting at the Mayan Fifth Great Cycle, the Hindu Kali Yuga calendar likewise predicts global earth changes around the year 2012. The Cherokee and Maya alike prophesy astronomical phenomena related to Jupiter, Venus, Orion, and Pleiades, allegedly causing "powers" of the star systems to "awaken."
According to author Thomas Horn, the "Cherokee Rattlesnake Prophecies" are contained within a series of apocalyptic prophecies made by tribe members from 1811–1812. Nearly two-hundred-year-old prophecies anticipate the Pale One’s coming in 2012, when the Cherokee calendar ends. It is said that the first-degree Masonic Tracing Board contains this very prophecy. Curiously, Muslims also look for an “imposter,” not unlike Antichrist of the Bible.
5770 (Hebrew: ה'תש"ע)
On the Jewish calendar, the Hebrew year of Ayin 5770 (the New Year) is a likely milestone marking the close of this age and transition to the next. Its frequent use throughout the Torah code signals its spiritual significance. Starting the evening before 19 September 2009 and ending 8 September 2010, this year has 355 days; however, it is believed that 5770 sets the stage for the next ten years.
Ayin is Hebrew for an eye. Hence, God wants His people to increase their vision and see God’s glory more deeply and clearly. It’s also the word for “spring” or “well,” source of living waters, springing even from the desert of human want.
Day of the Shofar Blast
Another name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Teruah, which in Hebrew means “day of the shofar blast.” Most often made from a ram’s horn, the shofar (שופר) is a Jewish instrument distinguished by its trumpet-like sound. In the Book of Joshua, shofarot (plural of shofar) aided capture of the city of Jericho. Traditionally, the shofar’s blown on Rosh HaShanah to wake up and then turn the soul’s attention to repentance (teshuvah).
Both solemn and festive, this Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets) marks onset of a season for introspection, repentance, and new resolutions. Ten Days of Repentance end with Yom Kippur, literally the Day of Atonement. The first prophetically unfulfilled feast, the Feast of Trumpets is a holiday of firsts—e.g., the anniversary of creation and the first of High Holy Days.
Many Messianic Christian ministers likewise believe that 5770 will trigger a series of what the Bible outlines as last-day events. Yet again, believers are reminded to maintain vigilance.
Prophecy Showdown
Ancient societies, Nostradamus, Native Americans, Hollywood, mystics, Muslims and Masons all contribute to the end-of-days prophetic landscape; however, compelling images and para-biblical messages so thoroughly infuse truth with fiction that even well-grounded students of eschatology are at a loss for answers.
In order to discern accurately between truth and a credible counterfeit, one first must know “the real thing” inside-out, top-to-bottom. For Christian believers, this is accomplished through lifelong, Spirit-directed study of God’s Word line upon line, precept upon precept. Knowing the Bible and yielding to the Holy Spirit alert Christians to distracting doctrines and deceit.
Elijah faced circumstances similar to our own. A powerhouse of faith, he boldly reproved the idolatrous King Ahab and, on Mount Carmel, gathered hundreds of false prophets for a showdown of sorts between the Canaanite god (Baal) and Yahweh Himself. The latter prevailed. The same yesterday, today, and forever, God will do no less for lovers of truth in these last days. Believers count on it.
More to come in Part 4.
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