FALSE DOCTRINES, MYTHS AND LIES EXPOSED  For accuracy, the Bible translations recommended are the Authorized King James Version or the New King James Version. 

1. Myth That All Religions Lead To God     
2. Book of Mormon - myth that it is Holy Scripture equal to the Bible.     
3. Capitalism  - false teachings regarding capitalism and its relationship to genuine Christianity.
4. Who is Head of the Catholic Church ?  Is it the Pope or Jesus ?  Find out the truth. 
5. Celibacy  - false teachings regarding celibacy and the Priesthood.  
6. Myth that Christ Was Born on Christmas Day    
7. Christ Was Never Married ?  - He was married and will marry again.   
8. Christianity - exposing the myth that all professing Christianity is part of the true church.    
9. Easter - explaining the difference between Easter (and its pagan origins) and The Passover. 
10. Flaws in the Theory of Evolution

MYTH THAT ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD

There is a great myth that all religions lead to God, but each just takes a different route.

In reality this concept doesn't fit in with what the Bible teaches. Jesus Christ taught very clearly that He was the only way to salvation, and the only one through whom mankind can have access to God the Father.

Pease note also the following scriptures John 5:39-40, John 3:16-19 and John 1:1-14.

John 1:1  " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:14  "  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. "

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This is the Creator. This is the God of the Old Testament.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 " Moreover brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our Fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Jesus Christ claimed to exist before the time of Abraham, and even claimed to have conversed with Abraham. John 8:56-58 " Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham ? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

Before Abraham existed Christ was I AM. One of the names for the God of Israel in the days of Moses was I AM ! (John 18:5).

Exodus 3: 13-14 " And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers has send me unto you; and they shall ask me, What is His name ? what shall I say unto them ? And God said unto Moses, 1 AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. "

The God who appeared to Abraham and Moses, and who revealed Himself to Israel and who spoke the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai was none other than the Word - the one who came to this earth as the human being Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

The God of Israel claimed to be the one and only God, and said that the other gods were idols. Now this was before the coming of Christ. Christ came for many purposes, but one was to reveal God the Father to mankind. No man has ever seen God the Father, or heard His voice, except Christ (John 5:37) (Luke 10:22). When Christ came He revealed that there were two members of the Godhead. Prior to that Israel had only the concept of one God. Yet now we know there are two united in will and purpose, they are both part of the Godhead, but God the Father is greater than God the Son (John 14:28) (John 10:29-30) (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 note verse 27).

So the God of Israel claimed to be the one and only God. God at that time had not yet revealed to mankind that there were two members of the Godhead. However we read in Genesis 1: 26 that God said " Let us make man in our image..." So clearly there was more than one God involved in the Creation. This is the same God , who came to this earth as the human being Jesus Christ.

This God of the Old Testament absolutely forbad any worship of idols. People were commanded not to put any other God before the true God. The God of Israel is a jealous God, who will not share His affections with any idols (Exodus 20:2-6 note verse 5) (Deuteronomy 6:14-15)(Joshua 24:14-27). The God of Israel was none other than the Word - the God that humbled Himself and came to this earth in the form of a man - Jesus Christ. And do you realize that Jesus Christ does not change ?  

Hebrews 13:8 : Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. "

Since God never changes and Christ is part of the Godhead then we can be sure that Jesus Christ is just as opposed to idolatry as He has always been.

Psalms 96:5 " For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens."  (Isaiah 45:5-7, 18) (Isaiah 46:5-10).

Amos 3:1-2 " Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth......."   

God only revealed Himself to Israel. The Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus Christ. The annual Holy Days point to and are prophetic of Jesus Christ. The sacrifices point to Jesus Christ. 

Of course we are no longer under the Old Covenant, and salvation is available to the Gentiles as well. We are now under the New Covenant. But Christ has not done away with most of the laws (Matthew 5:17-19). Yes the God of the Old Covenant was none other than the Word the one born as the human being Jesus Christ.

All religions do not lead to God. That is what the Bible teaches. Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life.

Book of Mormon - myth that it is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. 

The foundation of the church was completed almost 2,000 years, by Christ and the Apostles. You can only build on that foundation.   So I probably have the Catholics angry with me already, so to be fair I might as well have the Mormons mad at me too.

The same logic I use regarding the false claim by the Catholic Church that their traditions have equal weight with that of the Bible, applies to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and their Book of Mormon.

In the Introduction the first paragraph of the Book of Mormon says this:

" The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel. "

In the sixth paragraph of the Introduction in the Book of Mormon we read:

" Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said:   " I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." 

One of the articles of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is as follows:

" We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly, we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. "

I would now like to give you the second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of the Introduction to the Book of Mormon. This explains the supposed origins of the book, and how according to their teachings, this book was delivered to Joseph Smith.

" The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.

" The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.

" After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

" In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved. "

Now let me summarize this a bit. Basically The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints claims the Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible is. They claim it was put together by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and that their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. Then they say that after Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid the plates in the hill Cumorah. Then they claim on September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language. As well they claim that the Lord Jesus Christ had a personal ministry among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. 

Now I would like to analyze these matters a bit.

None of us has any right or authority to add our own human traditions or visions to scripture, and then claim these visions and traditions of men have equal weight with the inspired word of God the Bible. The foundation and corner stone has been lain down already almost 2,000 years ago. That foundation is the Bible. The Bible is complete the way it is. The foundation has been laid already, and all we can legitimately do is build on that foundation. If you decide you don't like the foundation and want to build yourself another foundation, then you are not part of God's true house the true Church of God. 

Ephesians 2:19-22   "  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. "

So to suggest just because the traditions of your particular church group should deviate from the Bible - then this means your traditions are equal to or even supercede or trump the scriptures is simply folly. 

They claim that  (I shall quote these words from the Book of Mormon)  " The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. "

There isn't a shred of Biblical proof that Jesus had any such ministry. What Christ taught very clearly was that He was to return to heaven, but would return to earth to set up His Kingdom in the last days. We are living in the last days now. The Holy Spirit was sent down from heaven on the Day of Pentecost, and entered the 120 believers, who were assembled. This was the beginning of the Church of God. This was the day the true church was founded.  Christ then simply worked through the church He founded through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in God's true church. 

There is no proof whatsoever that Christ came down and chose additional disciples, or apostles besides the twelve listed in Acts 2:15-26. Yet the Book of Mormon claims Christ came back after His death and resurrection and chose twelve other disciples, besides the twelve mentioned in the Bible. This can be found in 3 Nephi 19:4-13 note verses 4. The Book of Mormon claims these twelve additional disciples were namely Nephi, Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathoniihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, Jonas,  Zedekiah and Isaiah ! 

There is no proof of these claims. None whatsoever. There is no evidence to substantiate these matters. So there is no reason to believe them to be accurate and true. 

Their claim that the resurrected Moroni (who they say was the son of Mormon) appeared to Joseph Smith, goes contrary to the simple teachings of the Bible regarding the resurrection. The Bible clearly teaches that so far only Christ has risen from the dead, never to die anymore. The resurrection of the saints won't happen until the last trump. 

John 3:13  " And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. "

John 8:21  " Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. "

John 7:33-34   "  Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. "

John 13:33  " Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come;............. "

The parable of the talents that Christ gave illustrates the fact that Christ was to return to heaven, and His servants were to remain here on earth, and after a long time the Master (Christ) is to return and reward His servants according to their efforts. 

Matthew 25:14,19  "  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. "

verse 19  " After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. "

Acts 2:29  " Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. "

Acts 2:34  "  For David is not ascended into the heavens.............. "

The Bible teaches that the resurrection of the saints has not happened yet. Only Christ (the first fruits) has been resurrected to die no more. 

1 Corinthians 15:22-23   " For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. "

There is no proof from scripture to indicate that the resurrection of the saints has happened yet. The resurrection of the saints happens when Jesus has returned to the earth. Jesus is the firtfruits to raise from the dead to die no more.

The saints are resurrected at the last trump. There are prophecies in Revelation regarding the blowing of seven trumpets by God's Angels. When the seventh, or last trumpet is blown then Christ returns and resurrects the saints. 

Revelation 11:15  "  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. "

1 Corinthians 15:51-52  " Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. "

1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17  "  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. "

There is no Biblical proof that the resurrection of the saints has happened yet. There is therefore no evidence to suggest a resurrected Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith. There is no proof, in the world we live in, that the resurrection of the saints has happened already. 

So they claim a resurrected Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, yet this teaching does not fit in with Bible doctrine regarding the resurrection. 

You can only build on the true foundation, if you want to be part of God's true Temple. That true foundation consists of the prophets and apostles, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. 

We do not need anymore prophets, to add anything to the Bible. The Bible is complete the way it is. The foundation has already been laid. If you want to build an entirely new building with another foundation, then you cannot be part of God's true house here on earth (the Church).

Capitalism - false teaching that God is a capitalist and supports the present capitalist system, and the present USA dominated capitalist world order.

This subject has been dealt with in some other sections of these web pages. Provided for you are some hyperlinks to pages that explain this matter. 

If you want to read the whole matter regarding the idolatry of the nations of Canada and the United States then go to Idolatry.  It is very, very clear that one of the major false gods of this general society we live in here in Alberta, Canada as of 2008, is money, and the material goods money will buy. Socialism is also a very powerful force in Canada, and in this writers judgment it is right up there with money and material goods - as one of the main false gods of Canadian society.

The way most of the people in these two nations of Canada and the USA  view themselves is a reflection of the idolatry of their general society. People become like the god they worship. In fact many people are pressured into exhibiting the character traits that this idolatrous, capitalist system demands.

The roots of capitalism go back to Calvinism. In places like Alberta we can see there is a curious marriage between the idolatrous worship of money and material goods, and Calvinism. Please click on Marriage between Idolatrous Worship of Money and Calvinism. 

There has been a tremendous misunderstanding of the parable of the talents. Get the real meaning of the Parable of the Talents. 

Capitalism is a tremendous economic engine. There are a lot of incentives built within the system. Yet it is just another ism, like Socialism, Communism and Fascism. 

If proper checks and balances are placed on the capitalist system then it can be a very useful tool, and can provide a good climate for economic freedom, which will then help men be more in control over their lives, and thus more free to worship God. The capitalist system can be a very useful aid, or catalyst to help generate more economic independence, and therefore freeing people up more so they can freely worship God.

However, the present capitalism we see here in Canada and the USA is slowly degenerating into a form of slavery for the many, and lavish riches and freedom for the wealthy few. Too many find themselves on a perpetual work, work, work, buy, buy, buy, and consume, consume, consume treadmill. It is an endless, weary struggle for more and more material things, and more and more consumption. 

The capitalist system has turned traditional Christian virtues into vices, and turned traditional vices into virtues. Let me explain. 

Greed is generally regarded by almost all Christian denominations to be bad, and even sinful. Yet the capitalism system encourages greed. The more you can accumulate for yourself, the more successful you are viewed as being. Bill Gates is the richest man in the world, but few regard such enormous lavish riches as wrong. Greed in the pursuit of wealth in the USA and Canada is regarded as a social virtue.

Selfishness is generally regarded in Christian circles to be wrong, and one of the works of the carnal mind we are supposed to overcome. Of course the correct form of self-love is fine - we are commanded in the Bible to love our neighbours as ourselves after all. So we are to love ourselves. 

However, in the capitalist system people are encouraged to selfishly push themselves ahead in the business, and social world. Invest in yourself, don't sell yourself short, get ahead - are just something's people are encouraged to do by the system. It is nothing much more than ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME and I, I, I, I, and me, myself and I.  The business world particular encourages and advances those who push ahead, who are aggressive, and who want to get ahead materially. Businesses are advertising for and seeking individuals, who want to make more, and more money. This unfettered capitalist system has turned the vice of selfishness into a social virtue.

Lust is also turned into a social virtue by the idolatrous worship of money. People are encouraged to shop, and shop and shop until they drop - especially around Christmas. In fact in the aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center in the terrorist attacks - citizens here in Alberta were encouraged to do their patriotic duty by shopping. There were fears that people would be so afraid that this would dampen consumer confidence, which in turn would lessen the demand for consumer products, which would then it was feared lead to an economic recession. So we were told to go out and do out patriotic duty by shopping. Lust and greed for more and more things and consumer products was therefore turned into a societal virtue.

What we are seeing here in Canada and the USA is an unholy marriage between idolatry (the setting of too many people's hearts on more and more money and materialism) and professing Christianity. It is a very, very serious spiritual disease. 

In fact the Laodicean era of God's true Church has been deeply affected by this idolatry and gotten caught up in it.

Revelation 3:14-22 is Christ's message to the Laodicean era. 

Revelation 3:14-17  "  (14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: " 

In verses 15 - 16 they are described as being spiritually lukewarm. Christ spits them out of His mouth, which symbolizes rejection ! Here is a church era, which is spiritually smug and apathetic. 

In verse 17 they are described as being spiritually wretched, spiritually miserable, spiritually poor, spiritually blind and spiritually naked ! This is an era that is in absolute horrible spiritual condition. Spiritually blind and naked - a very powerful condemnation indeed. 

Why are they in such awful spiritual shape ? Here is the key.  Revelation 3:17 " Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;......."   They are rich in something. Obviously they are not rich spiritually. So what are they rich in ?  It seems that what they are rich in has served to blind them spiritually. Now this era is obviously a contemporary of the Philadelphia era. They both survive up to the return of Christ.

The last days are very corrupt times. Countries like Canada and the United States are very rich materially. This materialism is also present in other lands as well, but it is especially strong here. Canadians and Americans are living in perhaps one of the most materialistic societies in all of human history ! We are witnesses to the triumph of capitalism. The me generation. 

There is an odd marriage between the idolatrous worship of the almighty dollar and professing Christianity.  A sort of throw back, or remnant of Calvinist, where it was believed that material prosperity was a sign of Godliness. A sure sign that God was with you and pleased with you. Poverty being a sign of God's disapproval. You see it everywhere. The poor are despised here in Canada and no doubt also in the U.S.A. Poverty is a sin against the god of money, and a sure sign of laziness and indolence to many, many people. The Laodiceans have gotten caught up in this idolatry.

Also there is very much knowledge of the scriptures these days, so a church group can easily become smug and conceited due to their rich knowledge of the scriptures. Knowledge of the scriptures and prophecies is fine, but it is useless if it doesn't include obeying God's laws. 

The Laodicea era is suffering from an extremely serious spiritual disease. It's the disease of conceit, smugness and apathy. Doesn't that describe American and Canadian society to a tee? Canada is one of the most smug, self-satisfied, conceited, hypocritical nations you will come across. Obviously the church is influenced by the general society it lives in. 

The church is supposed to resist the corrupting influence of the world. Real Christians are not  supposed to be part of the idolatry of the greater society they live in. 

Hopefully you can appreciate the serious spiritual consequences to real Christians getting caught up in the idolatry of the nations of Canada and the United States. These are very serious matters.

My advice is to follow Christ's advice in the scriptures.

Matthew 6:19-20  "  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; "

Matthew 6:24   "  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. "

Matthew 6:25-34  " Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. "

If the reader wants they can just contact the Catholic Church and request information regarding their doctrines. The material being quoted was received from the Catholic Centre at 150 Robson Street, Vancouver in the late 1980's. Catholic doctrine is very stable, so there are no worries that the literature received is now out of date. This information comes from the publication " THIS IS THE CATHOLIC FAITH " by Director: R.N. Mugford .

Before proceeding - just because there is disagreement with some doctrines of various Churches, like the Catholic, this does not mean the writer feels they are totally wrong on everything. So please do not assume this is some persecution of all those Churches that don't agree with my interpretation of the Bible. They do believe in Jesus Christ, which is great.

Now regarding the Catholic Church. In Session 9 page 3 under The Hierarchy : we read " Jesus established His Church upon the 12 apostles. They were the first bishops. Their head was Peter (See Matthew 16:13-19; John 21:15-19; Luke 22:32. As the bishops today are the successors of the apostles, so the Bishop of Rome , the Pope, is the successor of Peter. He is the Vicar (the special human representative) of Christ on earth. He is the head of the College of Bishops. This is called the primacy of the Pope. The Pope has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can exercise unhindered ".(Vatican Council 11, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, # 22).

Also from page 4 in Session 9 we read :

" (1) Ecumenical Councils:

"The solemn definitions of a general council of the Church's bishops, in union with the Pope, the Holy Father, are infallible. There have been 21 such councils from Nicaea 1(325 A.D.) to Vatican Council 11: 1962 to 1965 A.D.

"(2) Ex cathedra (from the chair) definitions of the Pope:

"(See Luke 22:32) This is the special teaching authority which the Pope has, not from the other Bishops or from the laity, but from Christ Himself, Even if the Pope has been unworthy, Christ has preserved the Church from false teachings through this man.

"Jesus, through His love for His Church, has left her an infallible voice of authority and love: Peter.

" After a long process of development of doctrine the 1st Vatican Council in 1870 defined:

" the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ' ex cathedra ', that is, when acting in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, by the divine assistance promised him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith and moral; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not from consent of the Church, irreformable.

" God is infallible. Christ is infallible, Because He is the Son of God. The Church is infallible, because she is the Body of Christ. The Pope is infallible, because He is the head of the Church on earth.

" We need such infallibility. Amid the disagreement of so many brilliant minds in controversial areas of faith and morals, no one would know for sure what to believe, But Jesus, who is truth, makes sure we have the truth. Thank you, Lord Jesus. "

So let us dissect this a bit. In summary Catholic doctrine teaches that the Pope is the Head of the Church on earth, that he can't make mistakes when he speaks ' ex cathedra ', that he is the successor of Peter, that the Pope in infallible and that the Pope has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can exercise unhindered ". (Vatican Council 11, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, # 22).

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church;

Christ also referred to Himself as the Door, or Gate for the sheep and the Shepherd of the sheep (the church) (John 10 1-18).

Here in Canada the traditional vision we have of a shepherd is someone who drives his sheep often with the help of sheep dogs. In Palestine and in that Middle East area there traditionally is a different way for shepherds to get their sheep to go where they want them. The shepherd is more intimately involved with their sheep. Herding them all day long. So the shepherd just need walk off in front of them and the sheep just follow along. There is no need to drive them, if the shepherd decides to move them to greener pastures.

Christ does not drive His servants. They follow willingly. They know Him and won't follow others. They know who is their leader.

Yes, but some may argue that we need a human head of the church, because Christ isn't around to guide us. Many people forget how alive Christ is. He is quite capable of teaching and leading the church through the Holy Spirit. Of course there are teachers that Christ raises up to help the church, but these are not masters, but servants (1 Corinthians 12th, 13th, and 14th chapters). The foundation of the true church has already been laid 1 Corinthians 3: 11 " For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The foundation of God's Church has been laid a long time ago. All you can do is build on that foundation. Ephesians 2:20 " And are build upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. " The prophets are of course people like Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Christ Himself was a prophet. The apostles were the twelve and also the apostle Paul. The foundation was complete ages ago. Christ is the corner stone. So we have the complete foundation and it is the Bible and the Church. Christ will judge us by how well we have followed the Bible, which is a collection of books (Revelation 20:12).

The Bible is complete the way it is. No one has any authority to add anything to it. No group has any authority to add their traditions to scripture and then claim these ideas of men have equal weight to, or even greater weight than the Bible. This is especially so for the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:18-1) (2 Peter 1:20-21). Yet the Catholic Church (and some other Churches too) claims that their traditions are equal to the Bible.

Of course we have translations. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. There are various English translations and there are mistakes no doubt. The most accurate translations I've come across so far are the Authorized King James and the New King James Version. Even in the Authorized King James there are a few translation errors, but basically it is very, very accurate.

Now let us look at the Catholic claim that the Pope is the successor of Peter and that Christ made Peter the head of the Church here on earth. Matthew 16:13-19 is used to supposedly prove that Peter was chosen as the head of the church.

It is very important when reading and studying the Bible that we not take a specific scripture out of context. You have to look at the whole picture. I've already shown you some scriptures that clearly state that Christ is the head of the church. Christ is referred to as the Rock quite often. Christ is simply referring to Himself when He says " and upon this rock I will build my church." Remember Christ is the chief corner stone of the church. He is the rock described in Mathew 7:24-27 that we are supposed to build our lives on. Christ called Simon Peter, Cephas, which by interpretation is a stone (John 1:42). Remember that the apostles are part of the foundation of the church. Just like the prophets were. So Peter is a stone in that foundation, but Jesus is the chief corner stone.

Peter was the leader of the 12 apostles, because he was that kind of person. There is usually one in every group, who is more bold and outspoken. However, he died and that leadership role ended with him. Peter was not the leader over Paul. In fact Paul had to publicly rebuke Peter for the way Peter was discriminating against the Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-21 note verses 11-15). Peter and the other eleven apostles were sent to preach the gospel to the lost sheep of the House of Israel of which the Jews were a part, while Paul was sent by Christ to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:6-9). Paul actually had very little contact with Peter.

As for Peter having the keys to the Kingdom of God and powers to bind and unbind - this again can easily be taken out of context. The other disciples were also given the same powers by Christ (Matthew 18:18) (John 20:19-23). This was authority from Christ for them to do certain things in the name of Jesus Christ. Like the laying on of hands for example. Peter and John were given power from Christ to lay hands on baptized converts and pray that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). Paul did this too. Simon the Sorcerer offered Peter money to purchase the power to lay hands on converts so that they could receive the Holy Spirit through him, but was rebuked (Acts 8: 18-24). God did tremendous miracles through Peter, but He also did great miracles through the other apostles like Phillip and John and also through Stephen (Stephen was not an apostle though).

Peter's connection with Rome was the fact that he was put to death there.

What appeared to happen later on in history was that there grew up a large prominent church in Rome. In fact it was supposedly the most prominent in Christendom. No doubt, just like today there were power struggles. You know how one city figures it is superior to the others. The Roman congregations just wanted to be the boss over the other churches in other places. Rome was used to having its way and calling the shots. The Roman Empire was ruled from Rome. In fact the Roman Catholic Church modeled her organization on that of the Roman Empire. So since Peter was martyred in Rome this gave the bishops of Rome some sort of excuse to hatch up the theory of apostolic succession.

The lengths some people will go to in order to try and lord it over others. Just plain old power struggles. Just plain old efforts to control and dominate others. No doubt there was money involved. There is little new under the sun.

Matthew 23: 9-11 Living Bible " And don't address anyone here on earth as Father, for only God in heaven should be addressed like that. And don't be called Master, for only one is your master, even Christ. The more lowly your service to others, the greater you are. To be the greatest, be a servant."

Only God should be addressed as our Holy Father. Christ is the head of the true church, not the Pope.

Celibacy -  false teaching regarding celibacy of the ministry and priests.

The basic doctrine regarding the Catholic Church is that it is something a person enters into voluntarily, if they want to be a priest or nun. 

Marriage is not regarded as evil in the eyes of the Catholic Church, and no Catholic is forbidden to marry. However, Catholic priests in the West may not be married, but no one is forced to become a priest. Marriage is therefore not forbidden to them as human beings, but only as priests. A Catholic man is free to choose the celibate priesthood, the married life, or the single life, which also is celibate. Celibacy according to Catholic rules is forced on no one.

However, there are vows of celibacy that are required of them to enter the priesthood, or order. 

Apparently in early centuries priests and bishops could marry, practices in the West and East were the same, but celibacy was soon preferred, and  became mandatory. By the early Middle Ages the celibacy rule in the Latin or Western Rite was firmly set. This was a disciplinary rule, not doctrine. The imposing of the rule did not imply a change of doctrine.

The unnatural imposition of celibacy for the priesthood, and for nuns in the Catholic Church, has probably been a contributing factor to the sexual harassment of nuns by priests, and to problems of sexual abuse by some of the catholic priests.

This is an ongoing problem, but much of it has been covered up.

There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that those in the ministry be celibate. In fact Peter was married, as were a good number of the other apostles. Apostle Paul was not married, but nowhere does Paul even suggest that it was a church rule for the clergy to be celibate.

Essentially this rule doesn't make any sense. It has resulting in many nuns being sexually abused by Priests. This apparently seems to be an especially serious problem for catholic nuns in Africa. It has also resulted in a percentage of homosexual priests abusing young boys, as in the case in Newfoundland a ways back. Celibacy for the priesthood is a contributing factor towards homosexuality, by especially priests.

These matters are an ongoing concern. Allowing for the clergy to marry, would not solve all of the problems regarding sexual abuse in this area, but it would certainly reduce the prevalence of the problem. 

The catholic church, and any other church or religion that doesn't permit marriage by the clergy, of priesthood, is simply inviting abuse. The policy simply doesn't make any sense, and is against nature. For sure some may chose voluntary celibacy to devote themselves more to God and Christ, but it should always be voluntary. There should be no forcing this on anyone, or no compelling the clergy to be celibate. It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Christ was Born on Christmas Day - December 25th, a huge misconception.

There are enormous misconceptions regarding Christmas. Many believe Christ was born on Christmas Day - December 25th. Yet there is no proof of this. The exact day of Christ's birth is unknown.

Christ's birth is not one of the seven annual Holy Days mentioned in the Bible. Go to God's Holy Days for the proof. Christ said that His followers should keep the Passover ceremony yearly to remember Him, and His sacrifice for our sins. He did not say we should remember His human birth, but instead to remember His death.

Luke 22:15-20 " And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. "

Pagan celebrations during the winter season were common, way before Christmas was celebrated on December 25th. Actually, Christmas was a movable feast and was celebrated many different times during the year. Not until Pope Julius I in the 4th century AD choose December 25th because it coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice or "Return of the Sun". The purpose was to replace the pagan celebration with the " Christian " one.

Eleven days were dropped from the year in 1752, when we switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. The date, December 25th was effectively moved backwards by 11 days. Some Christian Church Sects, called the "Calendarists", still celebrate Christmas on January 7th (previously December 25th of the Julian calendar).

Ancient Swedish people celebrated "midvinterblot" at winter solstice. It simply means "mid-winter-blood", and featured both animal and human sacrifice. This tradition took place at certain cult places, and basically most every old Swedish church is built on such a place. The pagan tradition was finally abandoned around 1200 AD, due to the missionaries persistence (there were sacrifices too, by the Vikings, in the beginning.) Midvinterblot paid tribute to the local gods, appealing to them to let go of the winter's grip. The winters in Scandinavia are dark and grim, and these were the days before central heating. Thursday is named after the war god Thor. Friday after Freja (fertility) The Swedish name for Christmas is Jul (Yule), and the Jul gnome has a more important role than Christmas father or the Christ child.

The origins of Christmas are pagan. It has nothing to do with the birth of Christ, since none of us knows the exact day of Christ's birth. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest Christmas is now one of God's annual Holy Days.

Christ was probably born sometime in the fall, although some suggest it was in the spring. Anyways there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest He was born in the middle of winter. When Jesus was born shepherds were camping out at night, since their sheep were still out on the pasture.

Luke 2:7-8 " And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. "

Bethlehem is just a few miles south of Jerusalem. The winters can be cold in Jerusalem, and it sometimes snows. Shepherds would not be out in the fields at night with their sheep during the winter season.

The Christmas myth that the three wise men brought gifts to the Christ child while He was still a new born babe in the manger does not fit in with the account in the Bible. The three wise men did bring the baby Jesus gifts, but this was quite awhile after He had already been born. Joseph and Mary were living in a house in Bethlehem with the baby Jesus when they arrived.

Matthew 2:9-11 " When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. "

They gave gifts to Jesus. They did not exchange gifts among themselves.

King Herod was furious with the three wise men, because he had asked them to report back to him about the location of the child. He said he wanted to also worship Him, but his real intention was to kill the baby Jesus.

Matthew 2:16 " Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. "

Herod had questioned the wise men about when they had first seen the star, and so he had a general idea of the timing of the birth of the Christ child. So Herod had all the baby boys two years and younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding area killed. So very obviously Jesus was no longer just a newborn. Jesus may have already been close to two years old, or maybe one year old at the time. Anyways Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt after the visit of the three wise men, so they were safe and secure in Egypt when the little boys in Bethlehem were murdered by Herod.

Also if Christmas was one of God's annual Holy Days then it would not fall on the same day (December 25th) of the Gregorian calendar each year. The timing of God's annual Holy Days are based on God's sacred calendar.

Hebrew months are 29 or 30 days each. Their years consisting of 12 lunar months or 354 ¼ days. So about every 3 years (7 times in 19 years) the 13th month Veador (also called second Adar), is added between Adar and Abib. It is known as an '' intercalary month ".

The correct time for New Year is the 1st of Abib (Exodus 12:1-2 , 13:3-4). Here is the list of months and the months they correspond to in the Gregorian Calendar.

1.             Abib ......................30 .........................March-April

2.             Ivar ...................... 29 ........................ April-May
3.            Sivan ......................30 ........................ May-June
4.            Tammuz ...................29 ........................June-July
5.            Ab ..........................30 ....................... July-August
6.          Elul ........................ 29 ........................ August-Sept
7.            Tishri ......................30 ......................... Sept-Oct
8.            Bul ......................29 or 30 .......................Oct-Nov
9.            Kislev ..................29 or 30 .......................Nov-Dec
10.           Tebeth ......................29 ......................... Dec-Jan
11.          Shebat ...................... 30 .........................Jan-Feb
12.           Adar .........................29 or 30 ................. Feb-March

God's official calendar is a lunar one, following a 19 year time cycle. The Passover for example is always on the 14th day of the first month, which is Abib. 

The Gregorian calendar, which is the one we here in Canada officially follow, is not the same as the Hebrew calendar. In the Gregorian calendar there are 365 ¼ days in each year with every fourth year a leap year where one day is added to February. Therefore in the Gregorian calendar the Passover always falls in the spring here in Canada, but it isn't on the same day each year. For example Passover was on April 7th in 2001, but was on March 27th in 2002, April 16 in 2003, and April 5th in 2004 and so on.

If Christmas was one of God's annual Holy Days mentioned in the Bible then it would not fall on the same day each year in the present Gregorian calendar, which is officially followed here in Canada.

This is a false assumption. He was married, and will be married again in the future.

The God of the Old Testament, the one who spoke to Moses, the one who appeared to the various prophets, and the one who thundered the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai to the children of Israel in the wilderness, was none other than the Word - the one who was born as the human being Jesus Christ.

No human being (other than Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh) has ever seen God the Father, nor seen His shape.

John 5:37 " And the Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. "

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 " Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. "

John 1:1-4 " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. "

John 1:14 " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. "

John 1:18 " No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him. "

The Word, who humbled Himself and came to live among us as the human being Jesus Christ - was the God who entered into a covenant with the children of Israel. This was a marriage contract.

Jeremiah 3:14 " Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: "

The Word - the one who later on was born as the human Jesus Christ eventually ended up divorcing His wife Israel, because they were unfaithful to Him - they worshipped idols, which was adultery against God.

Jeremiah 3:1 " They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. "

Jeremiah 3:20 " Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. "

The 16th chapter of Ezekiel explains how God married Israel, but they were unfaithful to Him. They committed spiritual adultery against God (the Word) with their various false gods and idols.

Ezekiel 16:8 " Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. "

The book of Hosea is God's divorce document against Israel. God rejected them, and divorced them. He cancelled the covenant He had made with them, because they did not keep their part of the agreement. They were supposed to worship only the Lord, and have only the Lord as their national God.

Jesus Christ will marry once again. He will marry the Church after the resurrection. There will be a huge wedding ceremony and banquet. The Church will be married to Christ forever.

Revelation 19:7-9 " Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. "

Matthew 25:1-13 " Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. "

Can any of us comprehend the depth of love The Word had towards His wife Israel and the great love Christ has shown towards His future wife the Church. He even died for the Church. It is a love story. How foolish to put something, or someone else ahead of God in our lives. How tragic to spurn the love of our Creator.

Revelation 22:17 " And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. "

If you have questions or comments please feel free to write, phone, or send an email.

This web site built, designed, and owned by Ray Wegner.

Christianity - a false assumption exists that all professing Christianity is part of the true Church, when in reality there is a tremendous amount of false Christianity.

Now let me preface this article by stating clearly that we as human beings are not in any position to judge who is, or who isn't part of God's true Church, or who is or isn't a true Christian. This is because the true church is made up of those who have the Holy Spirit in them, and we cannot see God's Holy Spirit. These are things that God knows, since God sees what is in people's hearts. Let God the Father and God the Son judge these matters.

Romans 8:9 " But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. "

The Bible definitely teaches that just because someone, or some organization claims to be Christian and followers of Christ - this does not necessarily mean that they are the real thing.

Matthew 24: 4-5 " And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. "

* This doesn't mean these people will say they are actually Jesus Christ Himself, but that they will come in the name of Jesus, and preach about the person of Jesus - yet all the while deceiving people.

2 John 1: 7 " For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. "

Matthew 7: 21-23 " Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. "

Revelation 17: 1-6 " (1) And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (2) With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (3) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (4) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (5) And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. "

Described here is a great false church, who has given birth to daughter churches, who are also harlots.

The word " woman " is sometimes used to describe, or symbolize God's true Church.

Revelation 19: 7-9 " Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. "

Mystery Babylon and her Harlot daughters are churches, but they are prostitutes, and so are not true and faithful to Christ.

The Bible teaches that most of mankind is not yet called to salvation. Many have simply been deceived by the false Christianity. Their time to be called for salvation has not yet come.

Only A Few Now Being Called To Salvation - The Rest Are Blinded

The Bible does not teach that this is the only day for salvation for most of mankind. There is this myth that God and Christ are in a contest over the souls of men, and if people don't believe in Jesus now - then they will be lost for all eternity, or have to suffer forever in hell. 

God's seven annual Holy Days show us God's schedule and plan here on earth. The Bible teaches very plainly that God at this time is only calling a few to salvation. He is only working with the small first fruits. 

God's schedule here on earth is shown to us by His seven annual Holy Days:

1. Passover - fulfilled already when Christ died on the cross about 2,000 years ago.
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread - fulfilled when Christ died and was resurrected  about 2,000 years ago.
3. Day of Pentecost - most of this Holy Day has been fulfilled. Christ is the first fruits to rise from the dead. The Church of God was founded on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was sent to earth and entered the 120 believers (Acts 2:1-4). Christ has built His church through the ages and there are seven different eras of the true church listed in the prophecies regarding the church in Revelation chapter 2 and 3  - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodecea. We are living in the last days in 2004. The first four eras of the church are long gone. We may still have a remnant or final phase of the Sardis era. We definitely are in the period where the two last contemporary eras of the true church are now on the scene - Philadelphia and Laodecea. These last two eras of God's true church exist right up to the return of Jesus Christ. Therefore it is quite plain that we here in 2004 are still in the Pentecostal period of God's schedule here on earth, where he is only working with building up the Church, and calling the small first fruits to salvation (Rev.14:3-4) 
4. Feast of Trumpets - not fulfilled yet. It points to Christ's return and the resurrection of the saints, and this is still in the future - an educated guess is that Christ will return sometime between 2040 and 2070. So this is still a little ways off - but not that far off. 
5. Day of Atonement - still in the future. This points to Christ locking up Satan, after Christ returns, and sets up his world ruling government. Then the world will be at-one-ment with God. 
6. Feast of Tabernacles - still in the future. This points to the Millennium - the thousand year rule by Christ here on earth. 
7. Last Great Day - not fulfilled yet. This points to the Great White throne Judgment period where all of mankind who never had their first chance for salvation - will be resurrected as fleshly human beings and given their first opportunity for salvation.  This is the later greater harvest. Most of mankind has not yet been called to salvation. So most of mankind is not yet called, lost, or judged (and this includes most of professing Christianity). They will be resurrected, and then called, and judged as to how they have responded. And this judgment period may be around 100 years in length, but there is nothing specific in scripture as to how long it will last. Those who remain unrepentant to the end, and remain rebellious will be thrown in the Lake of Fire, which happens at the end of the judgment period, and they will be burnt up (Revelation 20:14-15) (Malachi 4:1,3). God will then create a new heaven and new earth(Rev.21:1,5). 

The Day of Pentecost points to where we are in God's schedule here today in 2004. 

Only a few comparatively are being called to salvation now. God works through His true church to call individuals to salvation. Most of mankind is spiritually blinded and do not yet have their minds open to understand the truth. 

No man can come to Christ unless God draws them through His spirit. 

John 6:44  "  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. "

John 6:64   " And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. "

This is God opening up the person's mind spiritually, and inviting them to salvation. 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  " For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  That no flesh should glory in his presence. "

God doesn't invite many of the so-called great people into the church right now. Instead most who are called are despised, and those who are not powerful in this world. They are among the outcasts, the weak, the humble and so on. Few of them have very high positions in the world. 

God predestined those He would call to salvation. They are not predestined to be lost or saved - but the timing of their calling has been predestined, or predetermined. God has a schedule, and He has a plan for each person. Whether each person lives up to that plan is up to that individual to decide. Whether the person responds favourable to the call for salvation - is up to the person. We all have free moral agency. God will not force anyone into his Kingdom. Those called have choices to make. 

We are not predestined to be lost or saved. Only the timing of our call to salvation has been predetermined. God knew us even before we were born. God is the Creator, and He knows of us long before we exist. We are creations of God. He plans it all out, but He doesn't control every little detail. And He has given us all free moral agency. 

So naturally God already knows before the person is even born - when they are to be called. This is because God is running the show, and we are the work of His hands. 

Romans 8:28-30  " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. "

Ephesians 1:5  "  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, "

Ephesians 1:11  " In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: "

These scriptures show us that God foreknew us before we were born, and had already planned to call those certain ones to salvation during the Pentecostal period of  His plan. This is the small first fruits. We are not predetermined to be lost or saved - only the timing for our calling has been predetermined by God. 

The Bible teaches that most people invited, or called to salvation in the Pentecostal period (where God is just working with the church) will not respond positively. Why ? Because other persons and things take over first place in their lives, and they don't put God first. 

Luke 15:15-24  "  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 

" Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. 

" The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  

" So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 

" And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. "

The one inviting people to the supper is God the Father. He does this through His spirit. The supper is the wedding supper in God's Kingdom where the church will marry Christ. Most called have other things on their minds, and don't take the calling seriously. So God turns to the poor, the crippled, the weak and despised of the world - who often are humble enough to come to God. 

Yes people are so very busy these days. They have jobs, and families. They buy houses and open businesses. In this process, so many are like the seeds choked by thorns. They get caught up in the cares of this life. They are too busy for God and Christ. They are too busy to keep the Sabbath. Too preoccupied with other things to pray. Too busy to study their Bibles. Too busy to produce any fruits for God. Too busy to love their Creator, who gives them every breath of air. Too busy to thank God for the gift of life. 

Where are our priorities ? We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out with us when we die (1 Timothy 6:6-12). The treasures of this world are only temporary - they can be stolen, they rust and rot away (Matthew 6:19-20). Instead seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Then we won't spend our lives chasing the wind. 

Matthew 22:1-10  "  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  

" Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:  

" And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. "

God the Father invites, or calls individuals to salvation. Most of those called do not respond positively. Like most of mankind - they have other persons and things that take first place in their lives. Persons are invited to become engaged to Jesus , and eventually marry Christ.  There will be a huge wedding supper after Christ has returned and resurrected the church. This will be a wedding ceremony (Revelation 19:7-9).   

The parable of the sower explains this a little. 

Matthew 13:3-8  " And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. "

Matthew 13:10-17  "  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  

" And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

" But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. " 

Christ spoke to the general public in parables - not to make the meaning clearer, but to hide the truth, because most people are not called to salvation. Privately He explained the parables to His disciples, because they were being called to salvation, and had their minds opened to understand the truth, because God's spirit was working with them. 

Most of the people's ears were dull of hearing, and they had their eyes closed to the truth, and the message did not sink into their stoney hearts (and the situation has not changed today).  Why ? Because it wasn't God's time for them to be called to salvation. Their first and only opportunity will come in the judgment period - when they will be resurrected and then finally have their minds opened to the truth. 

So let us get Christ's explanation about the sower and the seeds sown. 

Matthew 13:18-23  " Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 

" When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 

" But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  

" He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

"  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. "

The Bible teaches that we are predestined to be called at a certain time for salvation. Those of us being called in this present Godless age are having our minds opened to the truth now. Our first and only opportunity for salvation is happening now. Only a comparatively very few of the world's population throughout the ages, up to now, has been called to salvation. The vast overwhelming majority is simply not yet called, and their eyes are blinded, and their ears are dull of hearing and they just don't understand. God the Father is not yet drawing them through His spirit. 

And of those few comparatively that are being called in this age (before the return of Christ) most of them won't respond positively, but will have other things on their minds and plate, and won't have time for God.

Even God does not know exactly how specific people will respond to His invitation. If He did then this would mean we are not free moral agents, and that our fate is predetermined. No - our eternal fate is not predetermined by God. What God has predetermined, or predestinated is the timing of our being called to salvation. Some of us are being called now in this age - from the beginnings of the church on the Day of Pentecost up to the return of Christ. Most of mankind will be called later - in the judgment period. 

Interestingly the Bible teaches that during the thousand years, or Millennium - all people will be called to salvation. 

So God doesn't predetermine who will be lost and who will be saved. That is up to us. If we want to be in God's Kingdom badly enough then we will be there. Why ? Because God wants us there, and He and Christ are here to give us all the help we need. No one is stronger than God, and He wants us in His Kingdom, so if we want to be there badly enough then we will be there.  Because if we really want to be there then we will do what is needed to be there.  However, even God cannot or will not make or force people to want to love Him first and be with Him forever in His Kingdom. 

We are not mere automatons. We have God given free moral agency. God has created us as independent individuals with free will. We are free to enter into the Christian struggle. Or we are free to just go our merry way, and ignore God. Of course we must go to God through Jesus Christ if we want salvation - there is no other way to do it. The question is this - Do we love God and put Him first, or do we love something or someone more than Him and Christ ??

The Bible teaches that a great false religious system exists here on earth, that is symbolically called in  Revelation 17:5 "  MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. "

This is a woman, and in prophecy a woman is often symbolic of the church, or a church. However, this woman is not faithful to Christ, but is a prostitute (Revelation 17:1-6, note verse 1). She goes to bed with the governments of the earth. 

This is a great church. And she has given birth to daughter churches, who are also prostitutes. This is a great church - not a little flock as God's true church is often described. 

Revelation 17:2  " With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. "

This great system has deceived and confused the inhabitants of the earth through her false religious doctrines. She and the idolatrous system she leads and represents will eventually be destroyed (Revelation chapter 18). 

Matthew 24:4-5  " And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. " 

God has allowed this deception to happen. The many are to be deceived - not the few. It is His will, because most of mankind is not yet called to salvation, and are deceived. They are deceived by false churches, and by false religions. They are deceived by idolatry. This is all according to God's will. 

God has indeed allowed Satan that old serpent to deceive the nations, and almost all of mankind. How ? Through idolatry ! However, this deception will not be allowed to go on forever. 

Revelation 12:9  " And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. "

Revelation 20:1-3  " And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. "

Revelation 20:7-10  "  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. "

Right now most of the world is deceived. Only a comparatively few are having their minds opened to the truth. This deception by Satan is primarily achieved through idolatry. God has allowed Satan to do this. Idolatry (personal, or national idolatry) estranges and alienates individuals and nations from God. It cuts you off from God. 

Idolatry is also one of Satan's main tools through which he try's to get true Christians to lose out on salvation. He try's to seduce or tempt real Christians to focus on other things or person's besides God. 

Therefore most people are not lost. They are just deceived. 

However, as was pointed out to you - this deception will not be allowed to go forever. God will someday remove the veil that is covering almost all of mankind - the veil that has served to blind them. 

Isaiah 25:7  "  And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. "

2 Corinthians 3:13-16  " And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. "

Most of the Jews still follow Judaism, and the Torah. Most of them are still blinded. Their time for salvation has not yet come, and they believe they can receive life through keeping the law. Someday Christ will return and remove that veil, or blindness.

Isaiah 11:9  " They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. " 

This will happen after Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom. 

Right now almost all the world is estranged and alienated from God and Christ through idolatry. Their own personal, societal and national idolatry - has served to cut them off from God. For God the Father and God the Son will not play second fiddle to anyone, or anything. You must have God and Christ first in your life. 

Ezekiel 14:5  " That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. "

Idolatry estranges, alienates and cuts you off from God. This world's civilizations are basically all built and based on idolatry - there is not a single civilization here on earth at this time that has its society built and based on the true God - and has the true God as their national God. 

When Christ returns He will set Himself to abolish all idols. Then the world will truly be at one with God. Right now God has allowed Satan to blind and deceive the world through idolatry. 

Revelation 9:20  " And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: "

Mystery Babylon herself is deeply involved in idolatry. 

Revelation 17:5  (from the Living Bible)  " A mysterious caption was written on her forehead: " BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF IDOL WORSHIP AROUND THE EARTH."

Jesus Christ will do away with the idols when He returns. 

Isaiah 2:18  "  And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

Then all men will be called to salvation in the Millennium. 

Easter  -  myth that it has replaced the Passover. What do rabbits and eggs got to do with Christ dieing for our sins ? 

The word Easter is found only once in the Authorized King James Version of the Bible (in Acts 12:4). This is only one of the few mistakes in that very accurate translation (there are only a few others).

Acts 12:1-4  " Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)  And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. "

The New King James Version corrects that mistake. 

Acts 12:4  (from New King James Version)  " So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. "

To clarify the matter regarding Easter let us look into Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia for more information on Easter.

Easter   " ........ The origins if its name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. "

I myself (Ray Wegner) believe the origins of Easter go much further back, back to the pagan goddess Ishtar. 

In the ancient world over much of the near East a goddess prevailed (of course this was and still is a false god or goddess that never existed in reality); she represented the power of fertility in nature. This goddess had various names like the Mother, Great Mother, or Mother of  Gods (more accurately Mother of false gods); she went by various names like Inanna or Ishtar, Anat or Atargatis, Rhea or Dietynna, Baubo, Ma, Allat, or Cybele.  I believe the word ' Easter ' is derived from its roots - Ishtar. 

This is why we have Easter bunnies, and eggs during Easter. Rabbits are symbols of fertility (anyone who has ever raised rabbits knows full well how quickly bunnies can multiply). Eggs are also symbols of fertility.

Ishtar was and still is a fertility deity, and was the most widely worshiped goddess in ancient Babylonian and Assyrian religion. She was worshiped under various names and forms. Most important as a mother goddess and goddess of love, Ishtar was the source of all the generative powers in nature and mankind. She was also apparently a goddess of war and capable of severe cruelty. Her cult spread through W. Asia, and she became identified with various other earth goddesses. One of the most famous of the Babylonian legends related the trials of her descent into the underworld in search of her lover Tammuz and her triumphant return to earth. In Sumerian religion, where her cult probably originated, she was called Inanna or Innina.

The Phoenicians knew this false goddess as Astarte, sister and consort of Baal, a false god worshipped in much of the Middle East and Mediterranean. Some of the ancient Hebrews also worshipped Baal, and Baal worship was one of the things the God of Israel (who is the only true God and who was later born as the human being Jesus Christ) was so angry about. 

This Astarte worship spread to Europe and the name for this false deity became Ostera, the Anglo-Saxon false goddess of spring, and the rising sun. The old English word for Easter, "Eastre" refers to Ostara. This no doubt is the origins of Easter sunrise celebrations - this is not Christ these people are worshipping, but instead the false god Ishtar, or Astarte or Ostera, that is associated with the rising sun !!

What happened next is that the false religious leaders, who claimed to be Christian, but who were really just false Christians - sent out missionaries to convert the tribes of northern Europe to their particular false brand of false Christianity. This was sometime around the second century A.D. These missionaries realized that the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (which the Passover points to and commemorates) roughly coincided with the Teutonic springtime celebrations (that originated with the idolatrous worship of this false goddess). So some strange marriage between paganism and false Christianity was hatched, in order to accommodate the pagans and absorb them into false Christianity.

Eggs and rabbits are two of Easter's most common symbols, and these have ancient associations with spring and the goddess of fertility. They have absolutely nothing whatever to do with Jesus Christ and Him dying on the cross for our sins. In fact Christ had to die for people's sin of worshipping false god's and goddesses.

The Queen of Heaven

Jeremiah 7:17-18  " Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?  The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. "

Jeremiah 44:15-19  "  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

"  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

"  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

" But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

" And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? "

Jeremiah 44:20-27  " Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.  

" Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.  

" Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.  

" Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

" Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life. "

Who was this Queen of Heaven ?  None other than Ishtar - Diana the Queen of Heaven. This false goddess of fertility that was worshipped so much throughout that part of the world (and who went under various names). This idolatry is still with us today, but it has insidiously weaseled itself into mainstream professing Christianity through various vain, senseless customs, like Easter rabbits, Easter eggs, Easter sunrise celebrations and association with the Day of the Sun (Sunday).

Paul's Conflict With Worshippers of Goddess Diana Queen of Heaven at Ephesus

This account can be read in your Bible in Acts chapter 19. Paul's preaching was so effective in Ephesus that many believed in Jesus, and brought together their books on various curious arts concerning their past idolatry and burnt the books in a huge bonfire. The estimated value of the books burnt was apparently around $10,000 (probably much more in our present dollars). 

However Demetrius the silversmith, who had a business making silver shrines of and for Diana called together a meeting of the workmen, and others involved in related businesses concerning the goddess Diana. They felt their business and livelihood were being put in jeopardy by Paul, since Paul taught that   " there be no gods, which are made with hands. "  

Acts 19:26-28  "  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. "

This is very interesting. The real motive for persecuting Paul by Demetrius the silversmith, and his business partners appeared to be economic. They didn't want to lose their lucrative business of making expensive images and idols and other paraphernalia for the whole religious worship of this idol. However, they stirred up an uproar claiming their real concern was to protect the worship of the goddess Diana of the Ephesians. 

Do you realize there are also very powerful economic interests in existence today in our nation of Canada (and all around the world), who make a lot of money on idolatry. Look at all the economic activity generated at Easter. All the chocolate bunnies and other goods sold. All the various paraphernalia associated with the holiday, that businesses cash in on. Christmas is even bigger, yet there isn't a shred of evidence that Christ was born on Christmas day. Thus the false gods are promoted by the religious and business establishment, because they benefit so much from the continuing of a false system, that is a farce, fraud and sham. 

Acts 19:34  " But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.  And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.  For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. "

This idolatrous worship of this goddess of fertility from which Easter has its pagan origins, could very easily take a very, very sinister twist here in these corrupt last days. 

I will now descend into a little speculation, but I sense something rotten so feel compelled to speak up. Call this intuition, or maybe you can call it paranoia - I simply believe I smell something foul in the religious and political wind. Let me explain to you my hunch where this whole idolatrous mess may be headed. This is by no means certain - just my gut feeling.

The Catholics call Mary - The Queen of Heaven, and the Mother of God. Yet there isn't a shred of evidence that Mary is today alive and in heaven. She along with David is dead and buried. The resurrection of the saints has not happened yet. It will happen at the last trump, when Christ returns and resurrects the saints. Look for some kind of connection to Mary and other various influences.

We have a very powerful feminist movement that began in the USA, and which is spreading like a plague all around the world. The feminists don't like the idea of a male God figure, and all that talk about God the Father. They don't like the emphasis on God being a masculine figure, and all that patriarchal stuff in the Bible. They want their feminist ideology to be reflected in the religious instruction. So look for the beginnings of the feminization of God, Jesus Christ and the Bible (this seems to have started already), by those who are fervently pushing their feminist doctrine and ideology.

Look for the environmental movement to start getting seriously involved in this ancient goddess worship. You know how people reverently refer to Mother Nature. You know the attempts to put a spiritual twist to nature and the environmental movement. I can see some sinister attempt to connect this goddess of fertility with the modern political environmental movement.

There is also some connection with the Wiccans, since they are deeply involved with this goddess of fertility. 

Look for more emphasis on Mary, and the idolatrous worship of Mary (we are only supposed to worship God and Mary is not a God). Look for further feminization of the Bible, and perhaps even new updated translations that attempt to inject the feminist ideology more and more into mainstream professing Christianity. Then look for some sinister efforts by the forces of evil (Satan and his fallen angel cohorts) to get this whole business deeply tangled in with the old ancient idolatry of worshipping the Queen of Heaven, or Ishtar , or the various other names this goddess goes by. 

There are some disturbing references being made regarding the late Princess Diana - referring her to the Queen of Heaven. Many call her the Queen of Hearts. I expect to see something weird come out of the Princess Diana cult. Many still see plenty of opportunities to feast on her dead bones. When will these greedy, unscrupulous people stop feasting on her bones and blood ? 

In conclusion let me refer you to the Bible and Christ's words regarding the Passover and His sacrifice for our sins. These are the words He spoke to His disciples and to us, while he observed the annual Holy Day - the Passover.

Luke 22:15 " And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: "  

Luke 22:16-20  "  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: This do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."   

If you want to honour and remember Christ and His sacrifice for your sins then please do it in the proper way - keep the Passover ceremony yearly on the annual Holy Day of Passover. 

Anyone interested in keeping the Passover in its proper context should contact me for further information. 

Telephone   (403) 274-5253               E-mail    ray.wegner@raydw.com

Mail:   Ray  Wegner, P.O. Box 475   Stn. Main   Calgary, Alberta  T2P-2J1

First of all here is a simple description of what this theory states.

First of all a lot of scientists say that probably the universe came into existence when a giant ball or primeval atom exploded. This is the big bang theory and so this original ball blew up and so the universe came into existence. The sun, it is speculated, came into existence when an enormous cloud or disk of dust and gas condensed or came together. The earth they say probably came into existence the same way but a little later than the sun. Theory says the earth is around 4,500,000,000 years old (4.5 billion years). Recent speculation is that it may be much older perhaps up to 10 billion years or so.

Now how did life start ? Well the theory states that the earth in its early years probably had a lot of gases and liquids on its surface. There probably wasn't an atmosphere like the one today. The sun shone down on earth but there was no atmosphere like today. So certain rays such as ultra-violet could get right through to the surface. So the scientists speculate that there was storms on earth with much lightening, and this combined with all the liquids and gases and the solid earth along with the sun's heat and rays, formed a sort of soup. This it is said probably led to the formation of very simple molecules such as sugars and amino acids.

In some way these very simple structures came into existence and over eons of time, millions of millions of years, these tiny structures combined together to form bigger and more complicated molecules. Eventually they came alive or life began. These little bits of life called molecules then came to be able to reproduce themselves. At first there must of been one kind of molecule, but over the course of time they diversified, and so there were many different kinds of molecules (A molecule is the smallest part or an element or compound). Gradually over multimillions and millions of years these molecules changed and combined together in different forms until today we have an amazing diversity in living organisms. The varieties of these early "living" molecules which competed most successfully for the resources available and reproduced most rapidly apparently must have pushed out and overcome other less competitive molecules. So the process just continued on and on. One set of molecules gradually became organized together and became more and more complex.

Self-reproducing molecules are called by science nucleic acids and the most vital of these is DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. These acids organize matter around them to form cells. The cell is a functional unit containing the machinery for maintenance, growth and reproduction. So organisms consist of cells or organized groups of cells. So if the cells are higher organized and with many doing specialized jobs you end up with a highly evolved creature like man. So man is a complex organism.

So there is your theory of evolution. I could go into more detail but my brain may not be able to handle the strain. So to be on the safe side we shall leave it at that. It is very difficult to write on this subject.

You look into these books explaining about evolution and the words are not too common. They give you all the Geological Periods and it is almost impossible relating to them. Here are some of the names for geological periods; Quaternary, Tertiary, Cretaceous and Permean. Then the names given to dinosaurs are simply beyond my ability to even pronounce some of them. Iquanodon, Rhamphorhynchus and Brontosaur are just a few and it is almost impossible to relate to such creatures. Probably many people are simply overwhelmed by all the graphs that the evolutionists make and the strange kind of names for ages and creatures. A person hears about all these old bones - er fossils that they dig up and they say it belongs to such and such a dinosaur, that lived in whatever age they say, and so many millions of years ago, maybe 10,000 million or 50,000 million - who knows.

Now you begin to think that surely these guys have it all figured out. They are the products of our best universities and golly they are well educated, so they must know something. So surely we must just shut our mouths and listen to these people, because they have to be on the right track.

But how can we be sure what they say happened ? No one was there and the fossils have been dug up, but how can we prove whether their interpretation of them is accurate ? Can we see evolution at work right before our eyes ? Can it be proved to be true by personal firsthand observation and reasoning in the living world ?

Perhaps the educators will say that ordinary folks like us are not educated enough to understand these things on our own. We need the help of experts. Yeah right ! This is the same thing your Priest, Minister, Lawyer, Economist or Politician will tell you. Just believe and trust them, because they have the right answers !! Well I will believe it when I see the proof, and if it can't be proved firsthand to my own satisfaction, then I will throw it out. If it can be proved then I shall accept it.

1. One huge enormous flaw in the theory of evolution is that they can't explain where the big ball came from. The big bang theory says there was this huge ball, or primeval atom, which suddenly blew up thus creating the universe. But where did it come from ? The evolutionists have no answer! Where did matter come from ? The evolutionists have no answer ! The big ball and matter was just there, sort of like magic. Some scientists will even try to convince you that our vast universe, which is so enormous that we can't see the end of it - just came from nothing. Yeah sure ! And Santa Claus flies in the sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and the Tooth Fairy exists !

Scientists have not been able to find out how big the universe is, or how many stars there are. The limits of the universe are unknown by mankind. Perhaps there are no limits, but this is mere speculation. There are known to be millions of galaxies of various sizes and shapes. Galaxies contain millions, even billions of stars of many types. There may be billions of galaxies, because mankind has not been able to see the end of the universe. It is not even possible for a mortal human being to comprehend the size and mass of the universe. So where did the matter that makes up the universe come from ? The evolutionists have no answer, except to suggest that it might have just come from nothing !!! What kind of idiots do they think we are ?

It is unreasonable and unscientific to suggest that the vast universe just popped into existence from the void, like magic, and randomly, without any intelligent guiding force behind it. I thought scientists didn't believe in mythology and magic. I thought they used reason and logic. Does it seem logical to you that our earth, sun and moon (not to mention the whole seemingly limitless universe with its multiple millions of galaxies, with each galaxy containing millions and perhaps billions of stars) could have just come into existence from nothing ? That is what the true believer evolutionists are trying to tell you. Talk about blind faith.

Andromeda Galaxy, it is estimated Andromeda contains over 300 billion stars. The other images that look like stars, are actually Galaxies, with their own complement of billions of stars. Image downloaded from the internet.

Apparently they speculate there are some sort of particles, or is it non-particles, or some things that are just able to bring matter into existence from nothing. What a joke !

So where did matter come from ? Where did the big ball that supposed