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Ultimate Deception: United Nations & Antichrist - By Geri Ungurean - https://www.raptureready.com/2018/10/18/ultimate-deception-united-nations-antichrist-geri-ungurean/
"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God"(2 Thessalonians 2: 1-4). THE GRAND DECEPTION Through the years, I have researched the United Nations and the history of their association with the Occult. I have written about Alice Bailey who was the head of the Lucis Trust, originally called "The Lucifer Trust." The United Nations and the Lucis Trust are interwoven to the point of asking "Where does one end and the other begin?" Only the very discerning will come to the point of asking that question. This article should be printed out and kept by born-again believers. Why? You should print out this article for those who will be on the earth during the Tribulation period. I believe we will not be here. We will have been Raptured by our Lord Jesus Christ. This article should be placed with other information as to what has happened to the earth. I call this information my "Left behind" survival documents, which will spell out to those who remain when we are gone - just exactly what happened in the Rapture and the Scriptures which hopefully will open the eyes of some of our loved ones. Although these people, referred to as Tribulation saints, will experience hell on earth as they run and attempt to hide from Antichrist, their joy will be that they will know that they will be in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ when they die. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10). (The cry of the Tribulation saints around the Throne of God.) Satan is a Liar Satan is also the author of confusion. I want to show the reader why I believe that most of the people on this earth, after we (the body of Christ) are Raptured, will follow and worship Antichrist. The terminology used by New Agers on the coming of "The Great Teacher" jumped out at me when I was researching yesterday. Before I tell you about this terminology, I want the reader to understand that each religion speaks of "The Christ." But do not be deceived. This is NOT our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a counterfeit "Christ" who is listed as a "Teacher or Ascended Master." This is part of the Grand Deception. New Age Terminology and thought compared to God's Holy Word "Reappearance" of World Teacher The word "Reappearance" acknowledges that there was an initial appearance, and we know that was the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. His return is clearly NOT what these people are describing. Our Jesus from Scripture was never called "World Teacher" nor are these people looking for Jesus Christ the Son of God. "Water of Life: I am poured forth for thirsty men" Not very subtle, is it? "Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10) And "Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14). "The Soul is freed or resurrected from the matter in which it is encased" "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:42-45). The reader should notice that New Agers never speak of the sinfulness of man. "United Religions Initiative" "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). This Scripture definitively states that there is only One way to our Father in heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. The uniting of religions or "ecumenism" is a lie from the pit of hell. "The New Age is a concept that proclaims a new opportunity" "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin" (Romans 6:5-8). Opportunity? The New Age teachers never speak of the problem of sin but teach their followers that they will be little gods. "Cooperates and collaborates with the worldwide community that is actively preparing the way for the reappearance of the World Teacher-the Christed (Anointed) One, the true Aquarian." "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). ***No Scriptures about "the Christed One" or "True Aquarian." "I believe that the World Teacher has already returned to the world and that he is awaiting an invitation from humanity to step forward, thus not infringing on our right to spiritual discernment and recognition." "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand" (Matthew 24:23-25). "The World Teacher is that Great Being Whom the Christian calls the Christ; He is known also in the Orient as the Bodhisattva, and as the Lord Maitreya, and is the One looked for by the devout Mohammedan, under the name of the Imam Madhi. He it is Who has presided over the destinies of life since about 600 BC and He it is Who has come out among men before, and Who is again looked for. He is the great Lord of Love and of Compassion, just as his predecessor, the Buddha, was the Lord of Wisdom. "Through Him flows the energy of the second aspect, reaching Him direct from the heart centre of the Planetary Logos via the heart of Sanat Kumara. He works by means of a meditation centred within the heart. He is the World Teacher, the Master of the Masters, and the Instructor of the Angels, and to Him is committed the guidance of the spiritual destinies of men, and the development of the realisation within each human being that he is a child of God and a son of the Most High." "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). There is no Scripture which states that each human being is a child of God. But Scripture does tell us that God wants to be reconciled to sinful men and women. He says this in John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." When most people think of the United Nations, they think of an organization which is called upon to mediate when countries are at odds with one another. People also believe that the U.N. intervenes in that which is considered inhumane treatment of the masses by governing authorities. But the reality is that this organization has its roots and foundation in Occultism. The intent of this article is to educate those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, and want to understand the Strong Delusion which is coming. The U.N. will be the main vehicle by which deception and delusion comes to the earth. The Beginning Alice Ann Bailey, a leading disciple of the Russian theosophist Madame Helena Blavatsky, formed the Lucifer Trust in 1920. In 1922, the name was changed to Lucis Trust. I can only imagine that this was done after realizing that the name of Lucifer would certainly alarm many who read and love the Word of God. But make no mistake, the inner workings and thrust of this group remained the same. Madame Helena Blavatsky is known as the "mother" of the New Age movement and modern occultism. In her "Secret Doctrine" she taught that Lucifer was higher and older than the God of the Bible, and that Lucifer had to be sacrificed and sent to earth because of the coming dogma of the Church. She taught that Satan was truly "good" and that he was known by many names, but mainly as God of Wisdom - the cosmic reflection of God. She also called him "Son of the morning," and in many writings called him Son of God. After years of contact with her so-called spirit masters (we know they are demons), Blavatsky published "Isis Unveiled" in 1877, a hugely successful writing, followed by "Secret Doctrine" in 1888. She also established an Occult magazine in London called "Lucifer." By this time, Blavatsky had acquired a huge following. While Christianity teaches that Lucifer is the essence of evil, the New Age teachers embrace him as enlightened, and one to be worshiped. As he is adored, our God is detested. In occultism and New Age philosophy, Lucifer is regarded as an agent of intellectual and spiritual freedom. We who are born-again from above know that Lucifer was cast from heaven by our God after Lucifer had determined to be like the most high God: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:12-15). Alice Ann Bailey received her knowledge from "Ascended Masters'" departed spirits. As Christians, we know that these spirits are merely demons, doing the bidding of their master - the devil. We know that Lucifer's name was changed to Satan after being cast from heaven. The Luciferians continue to refer to him as Lucifer. What does this have to do with the UN? The Lucis Trust has been for years the philosophical and religious consulting firm to all members of the U.N. It is interwoven into the fabric of the United Nations, and done so in such a deceptive way. The average person knows little to nothing of the Lucis Trust. "We have meditations at the United Nations a couple of times a week. The meditation leader is Sri Chin, and this is what he said about this situation: '...The United Nations is the chosen instrument of God; to be a chosen instrument means to be a divine messenger carrying the banner of God's inner vision and outer manifestation. One day, the world will treasure and cherish the soul of the United Nations as its very own with pride, for this soul is all-loving, all-nourishing, and all-fulfilling.'" - Donald Keys, president of Planetary Citizens and author of Earth At Omega "The United Nations is steadily becoming the center of a syncretic new world religion, a weird and diabolical convergence of New Age mysticism, pantheism, aboriginal animism, atheism, communism, socialism, Luciferian occultism, apostate Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The devotees and apostles of this new faith include the kind of strange admixture of crystal worshipers, astrologers, radical feminists, environmentalists, Kabbalists, human potentialists, Eastern mystics, pop psychologists, and "liberal" clergymen one would normally tend to associate with the off-beat, sandals-and-beads counterculture of the 1960s. "But today's worshipers in this rapidly expanding movement are as likely to be scientists, diplomats, corporate presidents, heads of state, international bankers, and leaders of mainstream Christian churches." Source As frightening and bizarre as this all may seem to us, it makes perfect sense that Satan would establish an institution such as the U.N. to unleash his diabolical deception and delusion upon the lost world. It is said "Knowledge is power." For believers, having this knowledge of the U.N., and what is REALLY happening there, will help us to discern the times and perhaps even to open the eyes of some of the unbelieving, unsuspecting world. From Aquaac.org (Aquarian Age Community) Preparation for the Reappearance of the World Spiritual Teacher "An Invitation to all Esoteric Students "It is through our united purpose and cooperation that we can dissipate the pressing agony and anguish now existing on our planet. "From direct experience of the shifting energies, it is possible to recognize that we are progressively moving toward the long-awaited Aquarian Age-the Age in which we expect and look for the reappearance of the World Spiritual Teacher. This Great Being has been referred to by such names as the Christ, the Bodhisattva, the Lord Maitreya, and the Imam Mahdi. Many today realize that His interest and concern is not restricted to the field and department of religion, but is concerned with the whole of Life. He is known to be the great Lord of Love and Compassion, the Master of the Masters, the Instructor of the Angels and the "One for Whom all the nations wait." And, this Great Being is also known under such additional titles as the True Aquarian, the Pilgrim, the Healer and the Thinker. ****They are speaking of their master Lucifer. "Much work must the disciples of the world and humanity accomplish before that reappearance can become a reality. Chief among the qualities and attributes needed, is a greater degree of harmony and cooperation. With this thought in mind, representatives from various esoteric traditions have been invited to participate in a roundtable discussion in New York City on April 19th. In order to attempt true communication, we plan to be a small group of about 10 - 12 participants. "All who wish to subjectively participate in this initiative are most welcome. You are also heartily invited-if you think it is appropriate and you are so inspired-to organize a similar meeting in your own local area. "Below is the agenda that is being used in the New York City meeting as well as background notes that are offered as a modest preparatory aid in preparation for the meeting. All who are interested are encouraged to reflect and meditate on the agenda questions and to do individual research so that each of us can uniquely contribute to this endeavour. "If you would like to hold a similar meeting in your area, feel free to use these materials or adapt and modify them to suit your needs. If you would like to share your thoughts/responses to this initiative, please send them to [email protected]. We will be pleased to consider them for the responses section below. Do feel free to share this invitation and information with others whom you think might be interested. "As spiritual seekers, we know that it is the demand of the world disciples that will bring in that which the world needs. Let us then together do our "whole duty" in the work of preparation for our long- awaited and beloved World Teacher, thus doing our part to insure the restoration of the Plan of Love and Light on Earth. "In the lighted love of Aquarius, "Aquarian Age Community" source From aquaac.org (Aquarian Age Community) Excerpts from Alice Bailey "The Work of the World Teacher-The True Aquarian "The World Teacher is that Great Being Whom the Christian calls the Christ; He is known also in the Orient as the Bodhisattva, and as the Lord Maitreya, and is the One looked for by the devout Mohammedan, under the name of the Imam Madhi. He it is Who has presided over the destinies of life since about 600 BC and He it is Who has come out among men before, and Who is again looked for. He is the great Lord of Love and of Compassion, just as his predecessor, the Buddha, was the Lord of Wisdom. "Through Him flows the energy of the second aspect, reaching Him direct from the heart centre of the Planetary Logos via the heart of Sanat Kumara. He works by means of a meditation centred within the heart. He is the World Teacher, the Master of the Masters, and the Instructor of the Angels, and to Him is committed the guidance of the spiritual destinies of men, and the development of the realisation within each human being that he is a child of God and a son of the Most High. "Just as the Manu is occupied with the providing of the type and forms through which consciousness can evolve and gather experience, thus making existence in its deepest sense possible, so the World Teacher directs that indwelling consciousness in its life or spirit aspect, seeking to energise it within the form so that, in due course of time, that form can be discarded and the liberated spirit return whence it came. "Ever since He left the earth, as related with approximate accuracy in the Bible story (though with much error in detail) has He stayed with the sons of men; never has He really gone, but only in appearance, and in a physical body. He can be found by those who know the way, dwelling in the Himalayas, and working in close co-operation with His two great Brothers, the Manu and the Mahachohan. Daily He pours out His blessing on the world, and daily He stands under the great pine in His garden at the sunset hour with hands uplifted in blessing over all those who truly and earnestly seek to aspire. "To Him all seekers are known, and, though they may remain unaware of Him, the light which He pours forth stimulates their desire, fosters the spark of struggling life and spurs on the aspirant until the momentous day dawns when they stand face to face with the One Who by being "lifted up" (occultly understood) is drawing all men unto Himself as the Initiator of the sacred mysteries." Excerpted from Initiation, Human and Solar, Alice A. Bailey, pp. 43-44 source From lucistrust.org Reflections on the Aquarian Age "The conquests of science, the conquests of nations, and the conquests of territory are all indicative of the Piscean method, with its idealism, its militancy, and its separativeness in all fields-religious, political and economic. But the age of synthesis, of inclusiveness and of understanding is upon us, and the new education of the Aquarian Age must begin very gently to penetrate the human aura." ~Alice Bailey "The New Age is a concept that proclaims a new opportunity, a new level of growth attained, a new power released and at work in human affairs, a new manifestation of that evolutionary tide of events which, taken at the flood, does indeed lead on to greater things, in this case to a new heaven, a new earth and a new humanity." ~David Spangler ".... the coming into manifestation of the Aquarian Age. This fact should provide the grounds for a profound and convinced optimism; nothing can stop the effect-growing, stabilising and final-of the new, incoming influences. These will inevitably condition the future, determine the type of culture and civilisation, indicate the form of government and produce an effect upon humanity, as has the Piscean or Christian Age, or the earlier period governed by Aries, the Ram or Goat. Upon these steadily emerging influences the Hierarchy counts with assurance, and the disciples of the world must likewise learn to depend upon them. The consciousness of universal relationship, of subjective integration and of a proven and experienced unity will be the climaxing gift of the period ahead of us." ~Alice Bailey "Civilizations emerge slowly and die slowly. The death of our present localisation is inevitable. It is not a tragic result of the present world crisis we are now living through. Our world crisis will hasten its passing which is all to the good. The old civilization must give way to the new. It always has been so. The old form dies because of the tremendous power of the new life coming in. The new Aquarian age has this power. Nothing can stop it. We will be wise therefore to turn our attention to the new age potencies. Those who are consciously so doing are potentially the most useful men and women in humanity today." ~Foster Bailey "This is a transition period between the passing out of the Piscean Age, with its emphasis upon authority and belief, and the coming in of the Aquarian Age, with its emphasis upon individual understanding and direct knowledge. The activity of these forces, characteristic of the two signs, produces in the atoms of the human body a corresponding activity. We are on the verge of new knowledges and the atoms of the body are being tuned up for reception. Those atoms which are predominantly Piscean are beginning to slow down their activity and to be "occultly withdrawn," as it is called, or abstracted, whilst those which are responsive to the New Age tendencies are, in their turn, being stimulated and their vibratory activity increased." ~Alice Bailey From aquaac.org Humanity Know Thyself About the Aquarian Age Community Recognizing the interrelated oneness of humanity, and indeed of all life, the Aquarian Age Community is a pledged point of synthesis, resonating to the Aquarian keynote, "Water of Life Am I Poured Forth for Thirsty Men." Responding to the Aquarian energies of universality, synthesis and loving understanding, it recognizes the spiritual destiny of Humanity and the divine potential at the heart of every individual. In keeping with the resonance of the new age, the Aquarian Age Community is first and foremost a subjective community, seeking alignment and identification with all Spiritual Beings who inspire the evolution of life on planet Earth. All who strive to better understand the new spiritual energies pouring into our planet and integrate them into daily living are a recognized part of the community. As a not-for-profit educational community, it supports the restoration of the Spiritual Mysteries and the transformation of human consciousness. The Ageless Wisdom tells us that we live in a time of unprecedented opportunity. The dawning of the greater and lesser cycles of Aquarius have been awaited by the Hierarchy of Light and Love-the Masters of the Wisdom, the Teachers of humanity-for untold millennia. It is a time when millions within our human family will have the opportunity to make a leap in consciousness, realize their spiritual potential and actively cooperate in the restoration of the Plan of Love and Light on our planet. That Plan includes the externalization of the Soul-the inner divine principle at the heart of all life, the product of the union between spirit and matter. When the Soul is freed or resurrected from the matter in which it is encased, then will we know without a doubt that all life is in fact interdependent, interconnected and whole. Then, will we truly understand and live by the spiritual values of liberty, fraternity and equality. In support of that externalization process, the Aquarian Age Community.
The Aquarian Age Community is dedicated in loving service to humanity, the planet and the "Great Thinker." It is inspired by the teachings of Master Koot Hoomi, Master Morya, and Master Djwhal Khul as these are set forth in the books of Helena Blavatsky, Alice Bailey and the Agni Yoga Society. These teachings seek to inspire and prepare human consciousness for the great opportunities and possibilities of the 21st century. source From bibliotecapleyades.net Lucis Trust: The Spiritual Foundation of the U.N. The Lucis Trust is the Publishing House which prints and disseminates United Nations material. It is a devastating indictment of the New Age and Pagan nature of the UN. Lucis Trust was established in 1922 as Lucifer Trust by Alice Bailey as the publishing company to disseminate the books of Bailey and Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society. The title page of Alice Bailey's book, 'Initiation, Human and Solar' was originally printed in 1922, and clearly shows the publishing house as 'Lucifer Publishing CoIn 1923.' Bailey changed the name to Lucis Trust, because Lucifer Trust revealed the true nature of the New Age Movement too clearly. (Constance Cumbey, The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 49). A quick trip to any New Age bookstore will reveal that many of the hard-core New Age books are published by Lucis Trust. At one time, the Lucis Trust office in New York was located at 666 United Nations Plaza and is a member of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations under a slick program called "World Goodwill." In an Alice Bailey book called "Education for a New Age," she suggests that in the new age "World Citizenship should be the goal of the enlightened, with a world federation and a world brain." In other words - a One World Government New World Order. Lucis Trust is sponsored by among others Robert McNamara, former minister of Defense in the USA, president of the World Bank, member of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Thomas Watson (IBM, former ambassador in Moscow). Lucis Trust sponsors among others the following organizations:
The United Nations has long been one of the foremost world harbingers for the "New Spirituality" and the gathering "New World Order" based on ancient occult and freemasonic principles. Seven years after the birth of the UN, a book was published by the theosophist and founder of the Lucis Trust, Alice Bailey, claiming that, "Evidence of the growth of the human intellect along the needed receptive lines [for the preparation of the New Age] can be seen in the "planning" of various nations and in the efforts of the United Nations to formulate a world plan... From the very start of this unfoldment, three occult factors have governed the development of all these plans" [Alice B. Bailey, Discipleship in the New Age (Lucis Press, 1955), Vol. II, p.35.] Although she did not spell out clearly the identity of these 'three occult factors,' she did reveal to her students that, "Within the United Nations is the germ and seed of a great international and meditating, reflective group - a group of thinking and informed men and women in whose hands lies the destiny of humanity. This is largely under the control of many fourth ray disciples, if you could but realize it, and their point of meditative focus is the intuitional or Buddhic plane - the plane upon which all hierarchical activity is today to be found" [Ibid. p.220.] To this end, the Lucis Trust, under the leadership of Foster and Alice Bailey, started a group called 'World Goodwill' - an official non-governmental organization within the United Nations. The stated aim of this group is, "to cooperate in the world of preparation for the reappearance of the Christ" [One Earth, the magazine of the Findhorn Foundation, October/November 1986, Vol. 6, Issue 6, p.24.] But the esoteric work inside the UN does not stop with such recognized occult groupings. Much of the impetus for this process was initiated through the officership of two Secretary-Generals of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld (held office: 1953-1961) and U Thant (held office: 1961-1971) who succeeded him, and one Assistant Secretary-general, Dr. Robert Muller. In a book written to celebrate the philosophy of Teilhard de Chardin (and edited by Robert Muller), it is revealed, "Dag Hammarskjöld, the rational Nordic economist, had ended up as a mystic. He too held at the end of his life that spirituality was the ultimate key to our earthly fate in time and space." [Robert Muller (ed.), The Desire to be Human: A Global Reconnaissance of Human Perspectives in an Age of Transformation (Miranana, 1983), p.304.] Sri Chinmoy, the New Age guru, meditation leader at the UN, wrote: "The United Nations is the chosen instrument of God; to be a chosen instrument means to be a divine messenger carrying the banner of God's inner vision and outer manifestation." William Jasper, author of "A New World Religion" describes the religion of the UN: "...a weird and diabolical convergence of New Age mysticism, pantheism, aboriginal animism atheism, communism, socialism, Luciferian occultism, apostate Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism." At http://www.lucistrust.org you can find out much more about them and how they're involved with the work of the United Nations by following their link "World Goodwill" at the top of their home page. The Aquarian Age Community This Website is sponsored by the United Nations, and the whole NWO philosophy is there. The page which explains the work of the Aquarian Age Community, as they call themselves, has this proud quote at the header of their page: Such a grandeur is ahead! Such a great step awaits a fiery affirmation. Our teaching and the affirmation of the Higher Principles will reveal so much that is great to humanity! A great period is drawing near: Thus we do create together. Fiery World Vol. III, par. 149 AI (Artificial Intelligence) Two articles I wrote in the past year on AI and how this technology may play a part in the power of Antichrist: Artificial Intelligence and Antichrist: Will There Be a Connection? MIMICKING CHRISTIANITY: How AI is Setting the Stage for Antichrist Brethren, I know that there is a lot of information in this article. As I said in the beginning, I am focused on those who are left on the earth during the time the Bible calls the Tribulation. 3 1/2 years into the seven-year Tribulation period will be the Great Tribulation or the Time of Jacob's Trouble. God will deal with His people Israel during that period of time for their redemption. I believe that the convergence of events happening in the world right now shows us that we are very close to the Rapture of the body of Christ. I believe that the removal of the church will be the trigger which begins the Tribulation. Share the Gospel with friends and loved ones while there is still time. Please print out this article and keep it with other "Left behind" materials for those who are not Raptured. Write a personal "Left- behind" letter to your family and friends which explains your disappearance and expresses to the reader how critically important it is for them to repent and trust the Lord Jesus for their salvation. Ask the Lord to help you to write your letter. We must make those left behind understand that the man who is promising "peace and security" is indwelled by Satan himself. This is one of the most important things you will ever do. How Can I Be Saved? Shalom b'Yeshua MARANATHA! [email protected] Why Palestinians Do Not Have a Parliament - by Khaled Abu Toameh - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13136/palestinian-parliament Parliaments, among the strongest manifestations of a democracy, represent the electorate, enact laws and oversee the government through hearings and inquiries. Apparently, this does not apply to the Palestinians, who, as a result of the power struggle between Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah faction in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, have, for the past 11 years, been without a functioning parliament. The Palestinian Authority's unicameral legislature is the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Both the PA and PLC were established after the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993. The first Palestinian legislative election took place in January 1996. The second, and last, election took place in January 2006; it resulted in a victory for Hamas. In 2007, Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip and toppled the Palestinian Authority regime that was there. Since then, the Palestinian parliament has not been functioning properly, although Hamas legislators sometimes meet separately in the Gaza Strip. In the absence of a functioning parliament, Abbas has been passing laws by "presidential decree." Several Palestinians have questioned their legality and accused the Palestinian leader of violating Palestinian Basic Law. Abbas has effectively replaced the PLC as the sole lawmaker for the Palestinians. This situation has turned him into an autocratic and totalitarian president who makes decisions without being held accountable by anyone, including members of the Palestinian parliament. Worse, Abbas has also been using his powers to punish those members of parliament who dare to criticize him or voice opposition to his policies. In 2016, for instance, Abbas stripped five "rebellious" legislators of their parliamentary immunity: Mohammed Dahlan, Shami al-Shami, Najaf Abu Bakr, Nasser Juma'ah and Jamal Tirawi. "Abbas's decision is in violation of the Palestinian Basic law, which calls for the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial authorities," commented Abu Bakr. "We respect the judicial system and the law. We reject any attempt to exploit the law to tamper with the judiciary." Abbas, for his part, does not like the PLC because he knows that many of its Fatah and Hamas members are critical of him and his policies. As Abbas does not tolerate criticism particularly well, he doubtless feels more comfortable delivering speeches at international forums such as the United Nations, the European Parliament and his own Fatah and PLO institutions than at the Palestinian parliament. The others are places where no one takes him to task for his tyranny. The PLO and Fatah institutions Abbas frequently addresses are dominated by his loyalists, many of whom are also on his payroll. Who needs a parliament when one has the PLO Executive Committee, the PLO Central Council and the Fatah Central Committee, whose members can be counted on blindly to back Abbas and his decisions? The three Palestinian bodies have, in fact, replaced the PLC as the key decision-making institutions of the Palestinians. However, the only decisions these bodies take are ones that fully support Abbas in everything he says and does. In the absence of a parliament, the Palestinians have no address to express their grievances. They cannot write to or phone their elected legislators to complain about anything. All they can do is resort to social media, especially Facebook, to air their views. Even then, the Palestinians are not safe from the long arm of the Palestinian security forces. In the past few years, scores of Palestinians have been harassed, arrested and interrogated by Abbas's security forces for posting critical comments on Facebook. On October 14, Abbas loyalists took yet another step that will further undermine the Palestinians' chances of ever becoming a free and democratic society that would include a functioning and vibrant parliament with an open debate. The Fatah Revolutionary Council, another significant body dominated by Abbas loyalists, recommended that the Palestinian president dissolve the PLC and prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This recommendation, by unelected Fatah officials against elected members of the Palestinian parliament, was seen both as undemocratic on legal and parliamentary grounds, and as undermining the Palestinians' confidence in Abbas and the Palestinian leadership. Critics of Abbas and legal experts have condemned the Fatah recommendation to dissolve the Palestinian parliament. They argue that the move is not aimed at bringing reform and democracy, but to allow Abbas and Fatah to get rid of the PLC. Hasan Khraisheh, a deputy speaker of the PLC, said that neither Abbas nor Fatah was authorized to dissolve the parliament. "The PLC was elected by the Palestinian people, and it can't be dissolved by the Fatah Revolutionary Council, which was not elected by the people," he argued. "Dissolving the parliament means dissolving the Palestinian Authority, which also means dissolving President Abbas himself." The latest move to dissolve the PLC is yet another attempt by Abbas to silence his critics and prevent an open debate among Palestinians about his policies. In the absence of a parliament, for example there is no debate about Abbas's policy towards his rivals in Hamas or his relations with the US and Israel. His aides claim that the decision to dissolve the PLC is aimed at preparing for long overdue presidential and parliamentary elections. However, the continued power struggle between Abbas and Hamas makes it impossible to hold free and fair elections. The rival parties do not trust each other, so it is hard to see how, under the current circumstances, when they are at each other's throats, they would ever agree to hold such elections. For the past 11 years, because of the infighting between Hamas and Fatah and because of Abbas's continued attempt to bypass and undermine the Palestinian legislators, the Palestinian parliament has been dying . Now, the Fatah recommendation to dissolve it completely has driven the final nail into the parliament's coffin. By sidelining the PLC, Abbas and his loyalists have destroyed any dream the Palestinians ever had of having a functioning parliament. By a stroke of fate, the Fatah move to dissolve the PLC came hours before the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, opened its winter session in Jerusalem. All that is left, therefore, for the Palestinians to do is envy Israel, which has a vibrant parliament where lawmakers, including Arab MPs, are free to criticize and denounce Israeli government leaders and policies without fear of intimidation and retribution. For now, it seems the Palestinians will have to live with a dictatorship and autocratic leaders who are doing their utmost to deprive their people of democracy, transparency and accountability. I Am The LORD; That Is My Name! - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley - https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/tough-questions-answered/i-am-the-lord-that-is-my-name/ "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." (Isaiah 42:8-9) Since gracethrufaith.com is a worldwide ministry, reaching into places with diverse religious traditions, I get emails from time to time asking how to respond to those who want to know why Christians believe the God of the Bible is the one and only God. The answer to that and a number of other questions can be found in a portion of the Book of Isaiah that is packed with more information about God than just about any other place in the Bible. It begins in chapter 41 and runs through chapter 53. Among lots of other things, it lists God's clearest and most powerful claims to exclusive deity and tells us how we can authenticate His claims beyond any reasonable doubt. The Lord began by saying His strongest claim to deity lies in His ability to proclaim the End from the Beginning. We call this predictive prophecy. It's essentially history written in advance. Let's read His challenges to the false gods of the nations to demonstrate their ability in this area. "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King. "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. (Isaiah 41:21-23) Here's a two question test for the other "gods". Tell us what has happened since the beginning, and then tell us what will happen in the end. From this challenge and God's declaration in Isaiah 42:8-9 above we can see the answer to our question already. You can prove that God is who He claims to be by comparing the Bible with history and learning how time after time God disclosed to His people things that would happen, things that only someone who knows the end from the beginning could know. But He's just getting started. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf ( a reference to the powerless gods of the nations). All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true." "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:8-13) The gods of the nations have not demonstrated any foreknowledge of the histories of their people, nor have they revealed anything about the future. In the so-called Holy Books of other religions, there's no reliable record of either. But the people of Israel are God's witnesses that He has done this over and over again for them, and with unblemished accuracy. Next the Lord gave these gods another chance to provide evidence to support their claims of deity. Perhaps they do have knowledge of the past and the future but chose not to reveal it to their worshipers. "This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come." (Isaiah 44:6-7) As He issued this challenge, God reassured His people "Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:8) This must be very important to the Lord, because for the third time He declared His deity in terms that are unmistakably clear. The only ones who can't understand this are those who choose to remain ignorant. For this is what the LORD says- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right. "Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be, present it- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:18-22) The phrase "I am the Lord and there is no other" appears four times in chapter 45 alone. (Isaiah 45:5, 45:6, 45:18, 45:22) Four is often considered to be the number of Earth because by the end of the fourth day of Creation the Earth was finished. (Days five and six are devoted to populating it.) There is no God on Earth but the Lord our God. "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:8-10) Having put the false gods of the nations on trial for our benefit, it now becomes clear that He's turned His attention to His people. "I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.' You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them?" (Isaiah 48:3-6a) Here the Lord left no doubt that the main reason He disclosed things in advance is He knew how stubborn and resistant to belief we are. By revealing them in advance, He made it impossible for us to say someone else made these things happen. There are lots of other things the Lord had Isaiah say in chapters 41-53, such as His repetitive claims to have been Earth's sole Creator, His purpose in choosing Israel, and the mission of the Messiah. But His one overarching message to us is this. If you want proof that God is who He claims to be, study Old Testament prophecy and compare it to history. You'll come away with an unshakeable foundation for your faith. No other deity can survive this test. Don't ask me or someone else to do this for you. It's like the manna in the wilderness, that everyone had to gather for themselves. There are plenty of ways to go about it. For example, there are over 100 historically proven prophecies in the first 35 verses of Daniel 11 alone. But perhaps the easiest approach is to take a handful of the things you know about the life of Jesus and see if you can find an Old Testament prophecy to match them. For example, according to Matt. 2:1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Was there a prophecy to that effect? Yes. It's found in Micah 5:2, written 750 years before the fact. Luke 1:31-34 says He was born of a virgin. Was that foretold? Yes, it's in Isaiah 7:14, also written over 700 years in advance. Mark 15:22-24 say Jesus was crucified. Is there an Old Testament prophecy for that? Yes. Psalm 22 actually begins with words the Lord spoke from the cross, verse 16 speaks of them piercing His hands and feet, and verse 18 says the soldiers cast lots for His clothing. It was written about 1,000 years before the event. How about His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, which the priests then used to buy a burial ground for the poor from a man who made his living as a potter. This is recorded in Matt. 26:14-15 and Matt. 27:3-7. Was it prophesied as well? Yes again. You'll find it in Zechariah 11:12-14 written about 450 BC. There are 300 more of these so keep going until you're convinced. As you do this, remember that the Old Testament was completed over 400 years before the Lord was born, and its authenticity can be verified beyond question. In less time than you spent in High School studying for a final exam you no longer remember, you can prove beyond any doubt that God is who He claims to be and there's none like Him. You will also come away convinced that the things He has said about the future are just as certain as those He said about the past. One of the signs of the times in which we live is you can't believe anything you hear about what's going on in the world. It's comforting to know that there is still one place you can go to find the truth. Daily Jot: Cheating the vote - Bill Wilson - www.harvest.org Power and politics are very seductive evils for many people in society. We can see what evil people are willing to do for them as exemplified by the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation process. People were willing to harass those who disagreed with them at their homes and in restaurants, even on the streets. Moreover, it cannot be forgotten that they tried to ruin a man's reputation by painting a picture of a serial sexual assaulter. How far will they go to grasp power? The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), a nonprofit law firm dedicated toelection integrity and fights against lawlessness in American elections, has produced evidence that the Texas Democratic Party is working to rig the state's election. The PILF Thursday alerted local, state and federal law enforcement that the Democratic Party in Texas sent campaign mailers to non-citizens urging them to register to vote with the voting forms already marked that the recipients were citizens and legally eligible to vote. PILF stated: "Texas Democrat Party mailers circulated around the Rio Grande Valley region of south Texas landed in the hands of lawfully present noncitizens in late September and early October. The envelopes contained voter registration applications where the answers to questions "Are you a United States Citizen?" and "Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day?" were pre-printed "Yes" for each." PILF presented an affidavit signed by David C. Kifuri, Jr., a former Public Information Officer for the 229thJudicial District Attorney. Kifuri, under penalty of perjury, stated that the voter registration mailer indicated that it was paid for by the Texas Democratic Party and the return address was listed as State Democratic Executive Committee. The mailer urged the non-citizen immigrants to update their voter registration immediately and before October 9. The applications contained in the mailer were pre-filled "Yes" on the questions of: "Are you a United States Citizen?" and "Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day?" Problem is that it is likely not a crime unless the non-citizen actually registers to vote. Then the non citizen has committed the crime and the Democratic Party is off the hook. Very cunning, no? If the Texas Democratic Party is so bold to mail out pre-filled voter registrations to non-citizens, it stands to reason that the other state Democratic Parties are doing much the same. This is just one way socialists and communists rise to power in other countries-by cheating the vote. In places like Chicago, they have been doing it for years. Whenever someone wants to purge and update the voter rolls, the Democratic Party screams that it is an attempt to repress the minority vote. If they are willing to smear a Supreme Court nominee before his wife and children, they will also cheat the vote to gain power. That's why it's important to be a Romans 12:21 people, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." It's good to preserve your freedom of religious expression with your vote. And by voting, you thwart those evil ones who cheat the vote. Daily Devotion: It Starts with the Heart - By Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. -James 4:4 Some people may have a lot financially, yet they're not all that attached to it. They understand it came from the Lord and that it could be taken back from the Lord, so their hold is light. Then there are people who hang on to everything. They're all about their stuff. Abraham and Lot had acquired great wealth, but they reacted differently to their prosperity. Abraham had possessions, but possessions had Lot. There's nothing wrong with prospering, by the way. If someone works hard, saves, invests their money, and tithes, if they honor the Lord and live a life of integrity, then it's likely they will do well financially. It should not come as a shock to us that God would bless someone as they honor biblical principles. But this disparity between Abraham and Lot was not a result of the land they owned, the famine, their wealth, or even their herdsmen, because the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. Lot's heart was in this world, as evidenced by where he ended up living. Lot wanted to have all the world had to offer, but he still wanted friendship with God. Abraham, on the other hand, was content with what he had. Lot wanted a lot more. Lot wanted stuff, but Abraham wanted God. Lot wanted to be the world's friend, but Abraham wanted to be God's friend. The Bible warns, "You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God" (James 4:4 NLT). You must make a decision: Do you want to be God's friend? Or, do you want to be the world's friend? You can't be both. 
FROM THE HEART
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