What about this Old Testament "Killer God?"

Probably the two biggest hindrances to the acceptance of Christianity are 1) the doctrine of Hellfire, and 2) the voluminous evidence in the Old Testament of a "Killer God," a God who seems to be saying, "If you love Me and do what I tell you, everything will be fine and I'll give you eternal life. But if you don't, I'll have to destroy you."

Most Christians have been taught that God is a combination of justice and mercy. His mercy is demonstrated by His Plan of Salvation, in which Jesus came to die for sinners, to pay our penalty for sins, and to save those who accept Him. His justice is demonstrated, we are told, by the punishment given at the Judgement to those who don't accept and follow Him, the punishment of burning forever or burning for at least some period of time.

But Jesus came to reveal the character and will of the Father. Jesus said, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." John 14:9 "I and My Father are one." John 10:30

John 1:1,14 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God. . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Jesus is the Word, therefore Jesus is God in human form!

When Jesus came to earth, He came to reveal the complete character of God, and this He accomplished, as He said just before His crucifixion, "I have finished the work you gave Me to do" (John 17:4). Heb 1:2,3 says, God "has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son...Who being the brightness of His (God's) glory, and the express image of His (God's) person..." "I and My Father are one." John 10:30 "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." John 14:9 "For God...gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor 4:6

So, it is clear that when Jesus was on earth, He revealed the exact and complete character of God. No part of God's character was left out in the life of Jesus!

But when Jesus was on earth, He NEVER killed anyone. He never even hurt anyone. He told His followers to love their enemies and He behaved in the same way. When He was on the Cross, He asked His Father to forgive His murderers "for they know not what they do."

Jesus was gentle, humble, kind and longsuffering. How do we reconcile Him with the thundering, wrathful, killing God of the Old Testament? Even Jesus' disciples were perplexed and confused. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus replied, "If you've seen Me - - - you've seen the Father." (John 14:9)

Some denominations call themselves "New Testament" Christians. They think the Old Testament was for the Jews only. Besides, they are uncomfortable with the God of the Old Testament because He appears incompatible with the kind and gentle Jesus of the New Testament.

Some denominations claim to accept the whole Bible as their guide, including the Old Testament, but they too have difficulty explaining the God of the Old Testament. Many prefer not to discuss that part of God's character as it is troubling to them and they can't explain it. Others say that the New Testament Jesus exemplifies God's character of mercy, while the Old Testament God demonstrates His character of justice.

But God says, "I NEVER change." (James 1:17 "...no variableness or turning") Jesus is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb 13:8)

So, what is the answer? How do we reconcile two such diametrically opposing characters (or so it seems) into one cohesive Loving God?

God has graciously given us a number of clues to answer this mystery, clues that we have read many times, but maybe have not completely understood. He does not explicitly explain each situation that may seem difficult to comprehend, but He has given us enough clues to allow us to understand the principles on which He acts.

Clue No. 1: Who hardened Pharaoh's heart?
God says, "I did it."
"And the Lord said to Moses,
'When you go back to Egypt, see
that you do all those wonders
before Pharaoh which I have
put in your hand. But I will harden
his heart so that he will not let
the people go." (Ex. 4:21)
God says, "Pharaoh did it."
"But when Pharaoh saw that there
was relief, he hardened his heart
and did not heed them, as the Lord
had said...But Pharaoh hardened
his heart at this time also; neither
would he let the people go."
(Ex. 8:15,32)

Clue No. 2: Who killed Saul?
God says, "I did it."
"So Saul died for his unfaithful-
'ness which he had committed
against the Lord, because he did
not keep the word of the Lord,
and also because he consulted a
medium for guidance, but he did
not inquire of the Lord; therefore,
He killed him, and turned the
kingdom over to David, the son
of Jesse." (1Chron. 10:13,14)
God says, "Saul did it."
"Saul said to his armorbearer,
'Draw your sword, and thrust me
through with it...But his armor-
bearer would not...Therefore,
Saul took a sword and fell on
it...So Saul died." (1 Chron. 10: 4,6)

Clue No. 3: Who killed the firstborn of Egypt?
God says, "I did it."
God said, "For I will pass through
the land of Egypt on that night
and will strike all the firstborn in
the land of Egypt, both man and
beast; against all the gods of Egypt
I will execute judgment: I am the
Lord.'" (Ex. 12:12)
God says, "the destroyer" did it.
"For the Lord will pass through
to strike the Egyptians; and
when He sees the blood on the
doorposts, the Lord will pass
over the door and not allow
the destroyer to come into
your houses to strike you."
(Ex. 12,23)

We see from these three illustrations, (and there are more), that God in one text says that HE did a certain thing, but in another text, He says SOMEONE ELSE did it.

In order to understand the simple answer to this seemingly complex problem, let's first look at some characteristics of God that are well illustrated in the Bible.

First: God says to us, "I'm NOT like you." "My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts (are higher) than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8,9) So we see that God is different from human beings in the way that He acts, even in the demonstration of what we term human emotions.


God's "Wrath"

The first problem we must address is that the translators have taken great license with the translation of various words in the Bible. "Wrath" and "anger" are no exceptions.

In the New Testament, two Greek words are both translated "wrath." They are orge(#3709 in Strong's Concordance) which means desire, or violent passion andthumos (#2372) which means passion, breathing hard, or fury.

The translations in the Old Testament are much more varied. Each number on the right in the list below is for a different Hebrew word. But they ALL are translated "wrath." The Hebrew language is very precise. Each word has a specifically different meaning. This shows that the translators arbitrarily chose to translate all of these different words as "wrath." But they do NOT all mean wrath

The Hebrew word aph (#639) means rapid breathing in passion.

Chemah (#2534) is defined as hot with passion

Ebrah (#5678) means outburst of passion

Qetseph (#7110) means, literally, a splinter or "chipped off". Freely translated it means to be displeased, to fret or possibly to burst out.

Kaac (#3707) - to be grieved or sorrowful, to be troubled.

All these words have specific meanings which denote a passionate displeasure or a sorrowful troubled spirit, yet they are ALL translated "wrath." This, of course, makes God appear violent, frightening and vengeful, apparently the way the translators chose to present God to the world, a "ferocious" God that agrees with their own theology. A more accurate translation is that God is passionately sorrowful or troubled.

God, Himself, Defines His "Wrath."

Human beings define wrath as "intense anger, rage fury, vengeance" according to Webster's New World Dictionary. But God defines His wrath in a totally different way.

Look at Romans 1:18: "For the wrath (Greek word orge) of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness." Then verses 24, 26 and 28 tell us how Goddemonstrates His wrath:

Verse 24: "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves."

Verse 26: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change (exchange) the natural use into (for) that which is against nature."

Verse 28: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (debased) mind, to do those things which are not convenient (fitting)."

So we see that God's wrath is just giving us up to our own sinful ways to reap what we have sown. He doesn't punish us. He doesn't harm us in any way. He just let's us go the way we have chosen. We then punish ourselves by our wrong decisions.

God has given us the 10 Commandments as a guide for our life. He says that if we obey them, our lives will be easier and happier. If we don't obey them, our lives will be harder and more sorrowful - - - NOT because He's going to punish us, but because the natural result of our actions and behavior will bring us sorrow and pain.

When our children were young, we warned them not to play in the street. We didn't say, "If you play in the street, I'll kill you." No, we said "I love you and I don't want to see you hurt. If you play in the street, you might be injured or killed."

It's the same with God. He says, "I love you and I want your life to be happy and healthy. If you don't obey the guidelines I have given you, I won't punish you, but you will punish yourselves by bringing on yourselves the results of your behavior. You will reap what you have sown."

So we can understand that God's wrath is totally different from man's wrath.

Now let's look at another aspect of God's character.

All through the Bible, we see that both God and Satan work through people. Jesus has told us to "Go into all the world, and make disciples out of all nations." Matt 28:19 We are to be Jesus' ambassadors, continuing the work He did when He was on earth. He wants to live in our hearts to make us like Him. But He will never force His way into our life. On the contrary, He "stands at the door and knocks" like a gentleman. If we let Him in, He will come in and fellowship with us, as a father does with his children.

Satan, the Adversary, on the other hand, is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44). He wants to control us completely and will use force to do it. He will use us for his plans, he may even "bless" us mightily with fame or fortune until he is finished with us, then his desire is to destroy us. He is the author of death, disease and destruction.

It is clear from many passages in the Bible that both God and Satan work through people. That is their modus operandi, their method of operation.

In addition, God says many times in the Bible, that He is the one Who is in control of EVERYTHING!

Eph 1:11 God "works ALL things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL."

Eph 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

The highest and most powerful of earth's leaders play the part that God assigns them, though they don't know it. It's recorded in the following texts.

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water: He directs it wherever He pleases."

Rev 17:17 Speaking of the last days, when there will be ten kings ruling the whole world, the Bible says, "For God has put in their hearts to fulfill HIS WILL and to be of one mind, and give their kingdom unto the beast..."

Romans 9:18 "It is NOT of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, BUT OF GOD THE MERCIFUL."

Phil 2:13 says, "It is GOD WHO is operating in you TO WILL as well as to work for the sake of His delight."

These, and many other texts, show clearly that GOD (and NOT man) IS IN CHARGE OF THIS WORLD and in charge of our lives.

God knows everything, that He knows the end from the beginning. It is referred to as God's "foreknowledge." In other words, God knows it is going to happen, but He didn't plan evil things to happen. The Bible says He PLANNED our good works, for us to walk in them. (Eph 2:10). So God only planned good things !
Now let's take another look at those three clues we mentioned at the beginning:
1) Who hardened Pharaoh's heart? 2) Who killed Saul? and, 3) Who killed the firstborn of Egypt?

With the information we have uncovered, we know that 1) God's wrath is just giving us over to our own ways, to do what we want to do, and to suffer the results, 2) God accomplishes His plan by working through people, and 3) God foreknows everything before He created the world But all evil things were not caused by him. They were either caused by the devil or by human wickedness.

So, WHO is doing it? Answer: Both are doing it.
We, as frail human beings, CAN make choices. But our choices are based on the understanding we have of the problem facing us, the present circumstances or conditions, PLUS what is in our subconscious.

Back to the three illustrations. Pharaoh hardened his own heart. He made the decision not to let Israel go, but it was based on information and circumstances that he had little or no control over. The circumstances were dropped in his lap and Pharaoh made the decision based on those circumstances.

King Saul had chosen to go his own way. He inquired of a sorcerer, a witch, about what would happen in battle. He KNEW that was wrong! He was the one who had made a national law against visiting sorcerers, yet he decided to visit one himself.

Saul or Pharaoh both knew that their actions were wrong. They willfully made the wrong decision based on what they knew. Their own willful actions brought about their eventual outcome.

Now we understand that when God says HE DID IT, we know that the action was actually performed by people based on their own decisions. God "gives us up" to our own sinful ways to do what we desire, and we end up reaping what we have sown.

That's the answer to the Old Testament, supposedly, vengeful God. He doesn't do it, even though he takes credit for it. WE DO IT TO OURSELVES!

So, we have established that when God says He did it, WE actually are doing it to ourselves.

We will find that when He says Satan, the destroyer did it, again WE actually are doing it to ourselves.

It also is reasonable to assume that when God says" an Angel" did it, WE are really doing it to ourselves.

Let's Look at the Story of Job

Job, Chapter 1 says" There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect (blameless) and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil."

Let's stop right here and agree that Job WASN'T perfect, as we know that "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) The ONLY Man that ever walked the earth without sin was Jesus. So Job was a good man, but certainly not sin-free.

Satan accuses Job of being good, and loving God ONLY because God protects him and provides good things for him. (Job 2:3-5) Satan asks for permission to attack Job and God gives permission, but forbids Satan to take Job's life.

PLEASE NOTE: Satan CANNOT do anything that God does not specifically allow!

We assume, and we are taught, that Satan comes down to Job and somehow just casts a curse on Job and that Job has no participation in it. We assume that Job develops these boils out of nowhere, that sickness just falls from the sky and has no relationship to what's going on in our mental or spiritual nature.

But disease is not physical. It's spiritual. That's where it begins.

Satan didn't just cast a curse on Job. He tempted Job to have fear. Job says "The thing which I greatly FEARED is come upon me, and that which I was AFRAID of is come unto me." Job 3:25

Why was Job fearful? God tells us to "FEAR NOT" for He is with us. The Bible instructs us several HUNDREDS of time to "FEAR NOT." Having fear is a sin. It means we don't trust God.Fear, stress and anxiety cause disease in our body.

So we see that when God allows Satan to attack us, the attack comes through temptation, which we can resist through God's strength in us as He has promised. WE DO IT TO OURSELVES. This is the way it happened in the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted Eve and Eve yielded!

Job did not have to yield to temptation -- but he did -- just as Eve did!




Who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

There were four cities of the plain that were destroyed: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim. See Deuteronomy 29:23-28 "The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath."

God says, "I did it."


Genesis 13:10

"...the Lord destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah.
God says, "They did it."
(God gave them up to their sinful ways)

Hosea 11:8

"How can I give you up Ephraim?
"How can I hand you over Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart churns within Me.
My sympathy is stirred."

God is saying that He doesn't want to give up Ephraim or hand over Israel as Hegave up Admah and handed over Zeboiim, the cities that were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah. God is telling us that THEY DID IT TO THEMSELVES!

How could these four cities have been responsible for their own destruction? Genesis 14:10 says, "Now the Valley of Siddim (where Sodom, Gomorrah and the other two cities were) was full of asphalt pits." Today "the shores around the Dead Sea are covered with lava, sulfur, and rock salt. Gases escape from the surface of the water." (World Book Encyclopedia, 1954, Vol 4, p. 1891).

All the elements necessary to destroy these cities by earthquake or fire were present; oil, gas, asphalt. "Brimstone" (sulfur) which rained down on these cities is a major export of this region today.

The Dead Sea, where these cities are thought to have been located, lies on a geological fault according to the Encyclopedia Americana, p. 351, "Outpourings of lava formed volcanic plateaus at places along the sides, as well as volcanoes in and near the valley."

So it's not difficult to suggest how the destruction of these four cities could have occurred naturally, or could have been a direct result of "corporate" greed and carelessness caused possibly by excessive mining or other technological efforts.

Who Brought the Flood?
God says He did it!

Genesis 6:17

"And, behold, I, even I, am bringing a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die."

God continued, saying that He would save Noah and his family, a group of only eight people, and some of each type of animal or fowl living on the earth.

We have seen in our previous examples that when God says He did it, it actually was done by the people, themselves.

So how could the people bring the flood on themselves?

Before the flood, people lived a very long time, the average life span was 800 or 900 years. Noah was 600 years old when the flood came (Gen 7:6). Methuselah was 969 years old when he died, and he died the year the flood came. In fact, his name, Methuselah, means "when he dies it will be sent." His name, for 969 years, prophesied of the coming flood.

With such extended life spans, and with vastly more intelligent minds that had not been subjected to 6000 years of genetic damage from sin, those who lived before the flood would obviously be much smarter than the best minds of today. In addition, each individual had many hundreds of years of life over which to acquire knowledge

Let's examine what man knows today about weather control.

"Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was born in Croatia. He emigrated to the United States in 1884, worked for a short time for Thomas Edison, and became a naturalized American citizen. A pioneer in high-tension electricity, he made discoveries and inventions of great value to the development of radio transmission and in the field of electricity.

He invented the alternating current (AC) system by which electricity can be transported through wires of thousands of miles, then sent into industrial plants to operate machinery, and into homes to provide light, heat and energy." (Newswatch Magazine, "Earth Hanging in the Balance" Dec. 1, 1998)

There are over 400 patents in the U.S. Patent Office registered to Nikola Tesla.

Tesla also wrote of a method whereby weather could be controlled so that deserts could become farmlands, and where cold could be modified and heat tempered.

"Shortly after the turn of the century, Tesla theorized that by using coordinated radio impulses, it should be possible to manipulate the part of the earth's magnetic field that resides at the edge of space up in the ionosphere by generating giant standing waves. These waves, said Tesla, could then be manipulated to change the course of giant wind patterns, like the jet stream, that shape our weather." (From "The Killer Electric", by Lowell Ponte, published in Gallery magazine, August 1978.)

"Around 1900, Tesla invented and patented a system of utilizing the earth's natural vibrations to transmit power through the earth without wires.

"Tesla's system involved the use of Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) electromagnetic cycles per second. Tesla proved that it is possible to create gigantic standing electromagnetic waves (sometimes thousands of miles long) which can be used to modify the weather and create man-made droughts, floods and storms. Tesla's giant standing electromagnetic waves can also create long-lasting high-pressure areas." (C.B. Baker: July 1982, in Youth Actions News, P.O. Box 312, Alexandria, Virginia 22313)

"At Tesla's death in 1943 some of his papers went to a museum in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). But apparently some found their way to Russia...If indeed the Russians have succeeded in uncovering some of Tesla's lost secrets, the disarmament committees may be in for some real earth-shaking proposals." (Bill Boshears, Cincinnati Enquirer, November 19, 1978)

The May 27, 1983 issue of Don Bell Reports (P.O. Box 2223, Palm Beach, FL 33480) contained detailed information as to how the Soviets are operating to manipulate the weather of the United States.

"Combining secrets gained from Tesla and technological materials and equipment obtained from the United States, The Soviets have constructed giant transmitting stations capable of producing frequencies of 40 megawatts, or 40 million watts. The highest radio transmission in the U.S. for commercial broadcasting is 50,000 watts. The Voice of America uses 100,000 watts in some of its broadcasts. But this is hardly comparable to the 40 million (40,000,000) watts used by these Soviet transmitters to project their scalar waves." (Newswatch Magazine, Dec 1, 1998)

In 1987-88 America suffered a series of record-setting weather related disasters. Why?

The July 8, 1987 Arizona Republic reported that on July 7, 1987: "For reasons unknown even to weather experts, the temperature at Greensburg, Kansas jumped 20 degrees in ten minutes. In a phenomenon most people will not witness in their lifetime, the city's temperature rose to 95 degrees by 7:40 am from 75 degrees at 7:30 am," said Bill Ellis, an observer for the National Weather Service. "I've never seen anything like it, and I don't know anybody that ever has." He described the change as a 'sudden wave of heat' like you're standing in a cool room, and you open the oven door...Greensburg's temperature dropped to 86 degrees by 8:00 am and to a more normal 77 degrees at 10:30 am."

Greensburg, Kansas appears to have been directly targeted by Soviet scalar weapons, operating in a special 'produce energy' mode. Such a scalar mode is described in Lt. Col. Thomas Bearden's article, "Tesla's Electro-Gravitation, Electromagnetics and Its Soviet Weaponization."

The weather started going crazy. A freak tornado in Moran Junction, Wyoming was described in the August 8, 1987 Washington Post newspaper.

"One of the worst tornado disasters in Canadian history" was how the Edmonton Journal described the July 31, 1987 tornado there that killed twenty-seven people, injured 250 and resulted in $150 million in property damage. According to the newspaper, "it killed more Albertans than ALL previous tornadoes combined."

On January 18, 1987 Los Alamos, New Mexico received 49 inches of snow from a three-day storm that broke all records.

The July 18, 1987 Washington Post stated that severe rains on July 17 in San Antonio, Texas "were caused by a block of thunderstorms that stalled for three hours as it moved along the Guadalupe River, leaving 11 inches of rain behind by dawn."

"During the summer of 1987, massive lightning-generated forest fires occurred. The September 2, 1987 Washington Times reported that in 2 days alone, "California had 4,954 lightning strikes that resulted in 717 fires," stated John Carter, information officer at the Joint U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry command post. In southern Oregon. Lightning detectors recorded "more than 1,700 lightning strikes within 24 hours," said Denver James of the Forest Service in Portland.

The freak weather all across America has continued to the present, killer heat waves, droughts, record-breaking snow storms, massive earthquakes and the lowest temperatures on record are now almost becoming common on the news.

Remember El Nino? Think about the name. It means "the boy child" in Spanish (Could it be that this is the Adversary's mocking counterfeit for the real Boy Child, Jesus, who had power over the wind and the waves?)

And look at the acronym of the group appointed by President Clinton to follow the course - and the carnage - of El Nino: The National Oceanic Association ---NOA, as in Noah, the man who survived the flood that destroyed the whole earth.

In 1977, the Trilateral Commission (an organization of the New World Order planning total Global Control) published official paper #13 entitled: "Collaboration with Communist Countries in Managing Global Problems." That official report recommended: "Trilateral/Communist cooperation in nine areas of global concern" including international energy cooperation, international control of oceans and space, Trilateral/Communist cooperation in the areas of weather modification and earthquake control..."

On September 6, 1987, the National Public Radio show, "All Things Considered," carried an interview with Dr. Bernard Eastlund, "a physicist and an expert on oilfield development, who is a consultant for the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO)... Dr Eastlund assigned the patent rights on his new invention to APTI, Inc., a Los Angeles subsidiary of Atlantic Richfield." according to the New York Times, August 15, 1987. Dr. Eastlund stated that his new invention could be used to change the weather by redirecting the very high wind patterns (jet stream).

These scalar waves can also be directed to specific areas and to specific depths to cause earthquakes by disrupting the tectonic plates.

Dr. Eastlund's invention has been incorporated into a mammoth U.S. government project titled "The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program" (HAARP). The December 15, 1991 Alaska Daily News carried a big article on HAARP: "Electrical energy floats high over Alaska, where it is visible as the aurora borealis, a shimmering white, green and crimson curtain. These brilliant northern lights are, in fact, the product of a huge natural generator that produces up to 10 million megawatts of power as particles from the solar wind crash into the earth's magnetic field...There are concentrated currents, called electrojets, that flow in the ionosphere, and may sometimes reach millions of amperes. When the electrojet touches earth, as it sometimes does during magnetic storms, it can knock out telephone cables and power grids."

The newspaper reported that researchers from the University of Alaska, UCLA, and Penn State all engaged in pre-HAARP work: "The scientists had achieved some promising results by beaming energy into the ionosphere to create extremely low frequency (ELF) waves that can travel long distances and to great depths. " (A perfect way to create an earthquake wherever one wishes!")

The June 21, 1977 New York Times reported that the U.S. shipped a 40 ton magnet (the largest in the world at that time) and a team of American scientists to the Soviet Union. That 40 ton device could generate a magnetic field 250,000 times greater than that of the earth. The purpose of that shipment was to build a more efficient Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic (MHD) power generator to help the Russians repeatedly override, blank out, and interfere with the earth's natural magnetic field.

Within a short time after the start of U.S. and Soviet through-the-earth transmissions, this planet's internal dynamo was affected. The December 13, 1984 Washington Post reported that the earth had experienced a sudden unexpected slowdown in rotation.

Scientists at the U.S. Naval Observatory and at the Jet Propulsion Lab found that the "earth, like an unbalanced washing machine," has developed "wobbles as it spins" (July 15, 1988 Wall Street Journal).

We are heading for disaster, just as it is prophesied in Revelation. But WE ARE GOING TO DO IT TO OURSELVES!

Just as those brilliant, ungodly, evil, genius minds brought the flood on themselves by, most probably, the same mechanism that is occurring today: weather modification with scalar waves that reached down to great depths and disrupted the massive areas of water within the earth and reached high into the atmosphere to disrupt the water canopy that surrounded the earth.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and volcano eruptions can now be brought about in any area in the world where the New World Order wishes to cause death, devastation and economic destruction.

And everyone will blame it on God - - - An "Act of God!"
(For more information on weather modification, see "Hanging in the Balance", December 1, 1998, Newswatch Magazine, 1420 West Ross, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. www.newswatchmagazine.org)

Who killed the Assyrian Army?

The Bible says "An Angel Did It!

"Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand and when the people arose early in the morning, behold, there they were, all dead corpses." (Isaiah 37:35)

How in the world could 185,000 Assyrian soldiers be responsible for their own death?

In the account of this episode given in 2 Kings 18, verse 17 says that the Assyrian army came to Jerusalem and camped by "the Upper pool, which is in the highway of the Fuller's field."

In addition, the Bible gives evidence that when the Assyrian army surrounded a particular city before attacking it, they provided water for their troops by digging wells. God, in addressing the Assyrians, quotes them as boasting about all their conquests: "With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars...I came to its remotest height...I dug wells and drank waters." (2 Kings 19:23,24)

The Fuller's field where the Assyrian army camped was a field for washing clothes. The Fuller was the cleaner. There was a tax on his work. In Pompeii there is a mention of a fullers' guild.

Soap was not used in Old Testament times. The substance used for cleaning purposes was LYE (Isa 1:25, Jer 2:22), a strongly alkaline chemical that can cause severe burns if taken internally. It may have been sodium carbonate, which occurs naturally and is referred to by ancient writers as appearing in Egypt and Armenia. However, it may also have referred to potassium carbonate, a strongly alkaline solution made from wood ashes or other vegetable matter. Water was necessary, so the fuller located his plant near a water supply, "the upper pool." "Because of its unwelcome odors, the fuller's plant was usually outside the city gates." (The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, by Abingdon)

So, how could 185,000 Assyrian soldiers ALL die in one night? Their journey to Jerusalem would have required them to have at least a limited water supply with them. But it is reasonable to assume that once they arrived at their camp at "Fuller's field" they would dig a well for a continued supply of water for the troops.

If the well water was contaminated with the LYE that was commonly used in the field, the first day the soldiers drank the well water, it might have killed them all.
This, of course, is only conjecture. But it IS a possibility with the information we are given, and the principles we have established regarding what God means when He says, "an Angel" did it.

Why Did God Give Israel Orders to Kill Everyone,
including Babies,

When Israel Went to War?

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, they came out without weapons. God delivered them from bondage by His methods, without them having to fight anyone. They crossed the Red Sea and escaped from Pharaoh's army without any combat of their own. We have no record that the Israelites left Egypt equipped for war. "The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes." (Deut 1:30)

When God finally brought Israel to the borders of the Promised Land, He proposed to drive their enemies out by sending hornets, not by warfare. (Ex 23:28)

But somewhere along the way, Israel obtained weapons. It is surmised that they may have gathered them when they floated up on the shore after the drowning of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea.

The question is this: If Israel chose to be a military nation in spite of God's wish to protect them in His own way, would He not then have rejected them?

The answer is found in an example in the later history of the nation. God never intended Israel to have a king, other than Himself. But He did not reject them when they demanded one. Why did they want a king? "That we may be like all the nations" (1 Sam. 8:19). God warned them of the results of their choice, but He did not reject them for it.

God's response to Israel was similar to His response regarding their practice of both polygamy and slavery, which were never God's ideal will. But He still did not completely reject Israel because of these practices.

When Israel practiced these heathen customs, they distanced themselves from God and could not enjoy His fullest blessing, but God continued to protect and guide Israel as much as they would allow Him.

Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the Israelites themselves could have chosen a military defense against God's ideal will, without His rejecting them for it.

Let's look at a modern illustration of this type of problem.
A certain man is against hunting for sport. All his friends hunt and they often invite him to go along. When he refuses again and again, they begin to ridicule him. The man has a son. He instructs his son in his own moral values about not killing God's creatures. But when his son reaches adulthood, he wants to go hunting with his friends.

His father tries to persuade him not to, but the son insists. So, the father, honoring his son's choice, does not abandon his son but instead decides to meet him where he is and at least teach him to handle a gun safely, and teach him to be a good shot so the animal will not die a lingering, painful death.
So the father takes the son to a shooting range to teach him marksmanship. The father is seen from afar by his old friends who immediately draw the wrong conclusions. They see him teaching his son to shoot so they assume that he is no longer against hunting. But his friends are wrong. The father is STILL completely against hunting for sport but he has decided to do as much as his son will allow him to do, in the face of his son's right to chose to hunt.

God is often misunderstood and maligned for going to battle with Israel and instructing them to kill everyone, including women and children. But "going to battle" was never God's plan. This was Israel's plan and because they still worshipped God and asked Him to be with them, He did not abandon them.

But this was NEVER God's plan!

"Jesus said unto him (Peter), 'Put up again thy sword into its place: for ALL they that take the sword shall perish with the sword!" Matt 26:52

Miriam's Leprosy

God had chosen Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses, at first, protested to God that he (Moses) couldn't do the job. Of course, this was dishonoring God, because God promised to give Moses everything he needed to accomplish the task God had given Him to do. But when Moses continued to protest, saying he couldn't speak well anymore, meaning he had been gone so long from Egypt that he wasn't fluent in the Egyptian language anymore, God said he would have Moses' brother, Aaron, help him, since Aaron was still residing in Egypt.

This, of course, resulted in more trouble for Moses than Aaron was worth. Note Aaron's behavior when Moses went up Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from God. At their request, Aaron helped the Israelites into idolatry by making them a Golden Calf to worship.

Later, both Miriam (Moses' sister) and Aaron criticized Moses' wife and complained that Moses wasn't sharing enough of the leadership with them. They said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken ONLY by Moses? Has not He spoken also by us?" Numbers 12:1-16.

"And the Lord heard it. . . and the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and He departed." Here again, is God's wrath. He gives us up to our own evil ways.
"And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow."

Miriam was a complainer, a murmurer, and the Bible is very clear about who attacks murmurers. 1 Cor. 10:7:10 says, "Do not become idolaters as were some of them. . . . Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell (Numbers 25:1-9); nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents (Numbers 2:6-9); nor murmur, as some of them also murmurered, and were destroyed by the destroyer."

We know that the "complainers" include the quail eaters (Ex. 16, Num 11), the Kadesh-Barnea rebels (Num 13,14; Deut 1:19-46); and Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Num 16,17).
So the Destroyer gave Miriam her leprosy. How did this happen? Satan didn't just come up to Miriam and curse her. We've already learned the method by which both God and Satan accomplish their goals - - they work through people.

Here is a reasonable explanation for 1) Miriam's leprosy, 2) Uzza's death after touching the Ark (1 Chronicles 13:9), 3) Ananias and his wife, Sapphira's, sudden death after lying and withholding money they had pledged to God. (Acts 5:1-11)

In Australia, the native Australians, called the Aborigines, have a ritual that is carried out against any male member of a tribe who breaks a tribal taboo. The witch doctor is called, who opens his bag of implements, brings out a chicken bone and places a Death curse on the offending member of the tribe by pointing the chicken bone at him. This is called "Pointing the Bone." The "cursed" man ALWAYS dies, either immediately, or within several days. He dies because - - - he BELIEVES he will die!

Lest you think this is far-fetched, I have seen many similar happenings in orthodox medicine. A doctor will tell a cancer patient, or some other seriously ill patient, how long he or she has to live. Often the patient will die right on time. Is it because the doctor is so brilliant and can predict exactly how long the patient will live? No, it is because the patient BELIEVES that the doctor is correct, that the doctor KNOWS - - and therefore the patient accepts the pronouncement and dies at the time predicted. The Doctor has "Pointed the Bone."
When patients REFUSE to accept the death sentence, it is amazing how LONG many will live PAST the predicted time. There are even those who REFUSE to die, and actually GET WELL!

The "Bone had been Pointed" at Miriam. She realized that she was fighting against God. Her immune system was thrown into a state of shock and she at once became ill with the most dreaded disease, leprosy. Uzza, when he touched the Ark, immediately realized that he had done what God had said should NEVER be done. Ananias and Sapphira suddenly understood that they had lied to God and everyone in their church family, and now their sin had been made public. Their humiliation was overwhelming.

Medical studies show that 50% of all heart attacks occur during, or immediately after, an episode of either intense anger or similar severe stress.

God says, "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would have none of me, so I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust; and they walked in their own counsels.
"Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries." Psalm 81:11-14

Elijah and the Fire consuming those who would arrest him
and the story of Korah, Dathan and Abiram

The specifics of these two stories have not been fully explained in the Bible, however we now have a very clear idea of how the Lord works. God is NOT a killer God. The Ten Commandments are a transcript of God's character, therefore He CANNOT break His own commandments. He CANNOT tell us to keep the commandments while He freely breaks them.

The king sent a captain with his fifty men to arrest Elijah after the king heard that Elijah had said that the king would die of his illness. The captain "went up to him (Elijah) and, behold he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke unto him, 'Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.' And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty. 'If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty.' And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty." 2 Kings 1:9-12

Many see this occurrence as an endorsement of the passage in Revelation 20:7-9 which speaks about the fate of the wicked, "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. . . . 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."

But to understand God's character, we must ALWAYS return to the life of Jesus, who came to reveal the EXACT and COMPLETE character of the Father.

In Luke 9:51-56, Jesus is journeying to Jerusalem with His disciples. He is passing through Samaria and the people "did not receive Him. . . . and when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?' But He turned, and REBUKED them, and said, 'Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is NOT come to destroy men's lives, but to SAVE them."

Clearly, Jesus was horrified at the wicked attitude of His disciples. He rebuked them severely. Since Jesus is the SAME yesterday, today and forever, it is IMPOSSIBLE that He would do at the end what He refused, in horror, to do in Samaria. There MUST be another explanation.

If God ultimately destroys by burning those who refuse to worship Him, then He is NO DIFFERENT from the Pagan King Nebuchadnezzar who commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to worship the golden statue that represented him or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace (representing “Hell”) detailed in Daniel, Chapter 3.

If the God of the “Christian” Church is indistinguishable in his behavior from the Pagan King Nebuchadnezzar, then the “Christian” Church is worshiping the WRONG god!

What About the Seven Last Plagues?
How Could We Possibly Bring Those on Ourselves?

Revelation 16:1-21

1st Plague: Foul and loathsome sores fell ONLY on those who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.
This disease could be caused by the very same food that those who REFUSE to take the Mark of the Beast are NOT allowed to buy and eat! That's why it will ONLY affect those who HAVE the Mark! The food supply today, especially flesh food, is SO diseased with Mad Cow Disease, Foot and Mouth Disease, E. Coli, Salmonella and other contaminants that it's not hard to understand how man could be responsible for this plague.

2nd Plague: The sea became the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

The difference between the blood of a dead man and the blood of a live man is - Oxygen. The seas are already terribly polluted and the fish and other sea creatures are dying by the millions because of lack of oxygen in the water..

3rd Plague: The rivers and fountains of waters became blood.
It may be that this is referring to the pollution in the rivers and streams that are even now causing the waters in certain areas to turn red.
4th Plague: The sun had the power to scorch men with fire.
Skin cancer is already becoming epidemic, NOT primarily because of the sun, but because of the rich Western diet, too much animal fat, sugar and processed food.

Baylor University performed an experiment which involved two groups of animals: one group was given the standard American diet, as noted above. The other group was given a highly nutritious diet. Then both groups of animals were exposed to ultraviolet light rays, simulating the sun. In the group eating the standard American diet, 25% developed skin cancer. In the group eating the highly nutritious diet, NOT ONE animal developed skin cancer.
So it's the rich American diet that is responsible for skin cancer. (Note: For thousands of years, our ancestors lived outdoors and worked outdoors. Skin cancer was virtually unheard of until the last 50 or 60 years.

5th Plague: The throne and the kingdom of the beast was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. This may be physical darkness and/or severe spiritual darkness. Nuclear bomb blasts or volcano eruptions from Scalar wave weather modification meddling, could both cause physical darkness.

6th Plague: The great river Euphrates dried up to make way for the kings of the east. Three unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, for they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (This plague requires a long spiritual explanation.)

7th Plague: Noises and thunders, and lightnings: and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: . . . .and every island fled away, and the mountains were not found And there fell upon men great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent." The great earthquake and massive storm could easily occur as a result of weather control - - - out of control!

IN CONCLUSION

The God of the Old Testament is not only identical to the Jesus of the New Testament, but they are, according to the Bible, One and the Same. "The Word (Jesus) WAS WITH God and the Word WAS God...and the Word became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us." John 1:1,14

God is NOT a killer God, neither in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament. He does NOT kill in order to stop the killing. He does NOT break His commandments in order to uphold them. The Ten Commandments are a transcript of God's character. The Ten Commandments are essentially Jesus in written form.

He is the "same yesterday, today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)

God is Love!

Seeking Unity among Christians

There are some essential things Christians must believe to be Christians.

If a so-called Christian does not believe these primary things, Paul says their faith is in vain, or worthless. Paul goes on in 1 Cor 15:1-8 to tell us what these are.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures"

Great problems occur when Christians do accept as believers others who deny the essentials. Problems also occur when Christians fail to accept in their church other believers due to disputable matters.

This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me."

A denomination is a group of churches united in some way. Even good denominations can have some bad tendencies though. They can cause pride and reinforce extra-biblical beliefs as scripture (1 Cor 4:6-7, Prov 30:5-6). It is an error to equate an organization with the one body of Christ (Eph 4:4).

Denominations can also divide, confuse, and perpetuate error. Some groups may call themselves denominations, but even ones that do not may be just as divisive.

Some Christians think that denominations are a good and useful means to work together for the Lord. Other Christians do not see a need for them. Regardless of what a believer thinks though, 1 Cor 10:17 and 12:12-31 show we are all members of one body, and we should work together.

Paul said in 1 Cor 1:10-12, "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? .Even a group that divided under the name of Christ was equally as bad as the other divisive Christians !!!!

We need to look at one another and decide that we will stand on the essential doctrines of the faith and that we will be united against the enemy.

Those of us who are united by the blood of Christ are not enemies with one another whether we be Catholic or Baptist or Protestant . It may be difficult for many of us to look lovingly into the eyes of those of a different denomination without thinking in our hearts that they are wrong about this doctrine or that doctrine. But, we need to be reminded that there is neither a Baptist nor a Catholic nor a Protestant on the throne of God !!

Lack of unity is a serious obstacle to the witness of evangelization. Division contradicts the truth of the Gospel, an essential element of which is the call to unity, so that non-believers who meet missionaries each preaching different versions of the Gospel will think it to be a source of division, despite its presentation as a way of love.

Rom 15:7 says, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

To summarize, we are to accept as fellow believers those God wants us to accept, and we are not to try to have unity apart from unity in the real Christ . The whole point is that we need to be united, not bickering. We need to move beyond the denominational barriers of what separates us into the common ground of what unites us: Jesus!

There is Too Much Evil and Suffering For God to Exist ?

Atheists often claim that the presence of evil is an argument against the existence of God. The Christian God is supposed to be both loving and all-powerful. Despite these characteristics, God seems to be unable or unwilling to prevent the vast amount of evil and suffering in the world. The atheist concludes that either God is not loving or not all-powerful or that God does not exist, because if He did exist, He could stop all the suffering. The atheistic arguments contain some subtle assumptions that, as I will show, do not apply to the God of the Bible and His created universe. Even the assumption that evil and suffering are bad for us must be questioned in light of what the Bible says. This page specifically defends the principle that moral evil must exist. Another page examines the reasons why natural evil must exist. Although many atheists claim the presence of moral evil precludes the existence of God, others admit that God would be completely justified in allowing moral evil.

The atheists' logical argument

What I have found is that atheists like to say that their arguments against God's existence specifically exclude the God of the Bible as a God who could exist. However, in reality, atheists produce generic arguments against a generic God whose characteristics and creation do not match those that are described in the Bible. Atheists may not accept what the Bible says, but they cannot say the God of the Bible cannot logically exist and then ignore what the Bible has to say about the characteristics of God. If the atheist states that the God of the Bible is logically impossible, he cannot pick and choose which arguments from the Bible to accept in order to "prove" his point. Let's formalize the atheist's arguments:

God is all-powerful, loving, and perfect.

A perfect, loving God would create a universe that was perfect (e.g., no evil and suffering).

The universe is not perfect but contains evil and suffering.

Therefore, God does not exist.

The Bible's Response

The Bible does state that God is "all powerful." In the Old Testament, one of God's titles is "El Shadday," which is translated "God Almighty." The Bible also states that God is loving. In fact, the Bible indicates that God is love. The Bible also indicates that God is perfect. So, we can agree that the first statement is a correct interpretation of what the Bible says about the characteristics of God.

The next statement indicates that a perfect, loving God must create a universe that is perfect. This is the statement that is false and invalidates the argument. Nowhere does the Bible state that the universe was created to be perfect. God Himself called it "good" and "very good," but never "perfect." In fact, God Himself stated that part of the original creation was "not good." The Bible states that the current universe is not perfect, but was designed to be temporary and will be replaced with a perfect universe that will be permanent. Science also tells us that the universe was designed to be temporary.

Why two creations instead of one?

Why would God create an imperfect, temporary universe only to replace it later with a perfect one? Why wouldn't God have created a perfect universe in the first place? This is a good question, but shows a lack of understanding of the biblical reason of why God created the universe. One can find the reason for the creation of the universe in the first few chapters of the Bible. God created humans in order to have a personal relationship with them, which He had with Adam and Eve before they sinned (Genesis 2). Jesus said that the first and foremost commandment was to "Love the Lord your God..." A personal relationship, characterized by the possibility of love, is only possible if created beings are given free will. If God had created the universe with no possibility of evil or sin, then the created beings would have had no free will, and, as such, would essentially be programmed computers. Such beings would be incapable of love, since love involves making a choice - which requires the ability to choose not to love.

For example, I can program my computer to say "I love you" when it starts up. Does this mean that the computer really loves me? Of course not! Likewise, God could have programmed humans to say that they loved Him, without the possibility of rejecting Him or performing evil deeds. However, these programmed beings would exhibit about as much true love as my computer - not a very satisfying relationship. Therefore, God created the universe for the express purpose of allowing free will spiritual beings the opportunity to have fellowship with Him (and likewise, reject Him).

What does God want?

God's purposes in creating the universe go beyond merely creating free will beings that love Him in this temporary universe. Jesus explained the ultimate goal of God in the parable of the banquet:

Jesus replied: "A certain man [representing God] was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. (Luke 14:16-23)

This parable tells that God wants not only a relationship with humans in this universe, but a relationship with billions of these creatures in His future, perfect creation. If God's purpose is to have relationships with free will beings in a future creation, then there must be a means by which these beings can make a choice to enter or not enter into this relationship. The means by which we make this choice is exactly the message of the Bible.

Therefore. the Bible says that God allows temporary, bounded evil in order to allow free will beings to have the ability to love and to make choices. I am going to propose something which seems to support the atheists' arguments regarding evil. I agree that there is a lot of evil in the world. In fact, there is too much evil in the world from what would be expected from chaos theory or the laws of physics. Evolution does not explain the vast amount of evil done by mankind. None of the other creatures on our planet have the capacity for evil that mankind have. No other mammals kill arbitrarily. They only kill to eat and survive - but not mankind. Just watch the nightly news or read your newspaper. Look at all the evil perpetuated in the last century alone - 6 million Jews killed by Hitler, 40 million Russians killed by Stalin, 2 million Cambodians killed by their own government in the 1970's. In fact, the Pol Pot regime specifically preached atheism and sought to exterminate all religious expression in Cambodia.

In addition to these atrocities, there have been hundreds of massacres committed in virtually every nation of the world. The Bible says that the presence of evil is due to the spiritual component of our nature - something that animals do not possess. God endowed His spiritual creatures (humans and angels) with free will to love God or to oppose Him. The most powerful created being (the angel Satan) rebelled and led one third of the angels into opposition against God. Those humans who oppose or ignore God follow Satan into rebellion - either consciously or unconsciously. Some people blame the evil on "society." However, society is composed of individuals who make individual choices. Most of the evil is committed by people who oppose the will of society. In contrast, there are many examples of societies in the animal kingdom, especially among the An order of mammals including man, apes, monkeys, etc., often characterized by large brains and flexible hands and feet.primates. None of these societies have the capacity for evil that we have. We are different from all other animals on our planet - a fact that has no scientific or evolutionary explanation.

Why pain is necessary

The atheist also makes the assumption that all pain, suffering, and death are bad or evil. In fact, physical pain is absolutely vital to our survival. If we felt no pain, we would do things to ourselves that could be very destructive. For example, if we didn't feel pain when we touched a hot object, we would not react until we saw our flesh smoking. This is obviously not a good thing to do. Pain tells us we need to react to a situation before serious damage occurs.

Evil as a means of spiritual growth

Many things that people consider to be bad are, in fact, useful in our spiritual growth. The Bible says that trials in our lives produce perseverance, which helps make us mature and complete. These trials also increase our faith - a "refining by fire." The Bible tells us that "all things to work together for good to those who love God."

Conclusion

God did not design this universe to be perfect, but as a temporary creation where free will beings make choices about where they want to spend eternity (in the new creation, which will be perfect).

The new creation will be perfect, but will not have absolute free will for its inhabitants. We must agree in this life to give up some of our free will in the next life. Those who are unwilling to give up their own free will choices will not be forced to do so in the next life. However, they will have to be separated from the new creation, since God is unwilling to compromise His character.

All people will suffer at least somewhat because of bad choices that others make. In addition, because of the temporary nature of the universe, some bad things will happen to us due to "bad luck" or chance. However, these things will teach us to be more sensitive to the needs of others, and will prepare us to show God's love to others when they suffer through similar things. God want us to learn from this life, not just have a party.

The Mercy of God as Found in the Old Testament

According to Richard Dawkins, Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is "jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."¹ Absent from any of Dawkins' description of God is His mercy. People tend to think of the God of the Old Testament as cruel and unforgiving, whereas the God of the New Testament is seen as the God of mercy, who sent Jesus to atone for the sins of the world. The Old Testament prophets were always warning the people about the wrath of God should they stray from the path of righteousness. However, what is usually ignored by atheists is God's mercy for those who did repent of doing evil. Yes, God judged many people groups, but not before warning them.

Let's Ponder on this parable in Luke 13:6, A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' " . The Owner of vineyard is God and We are the Trees ,My question to you My Friend If you are the one who own this vineyard , Are you going to leave this bad Tree for one more Year ??. This Parable shows that Our God is God of mercy as he's the one who own this vineyard and decided to leave the bad Tree for one more year although it gives no Fruit!!

Jonah and God's mercy?

For those of you who only remember the whale part of Jonah's story, here is a brief synopsis to get you a better background about Jonah. God called Jonah to travel to the city of Nineveh to warn them about their impending judgment, because of their wickedness.² Jonah had different ideas, and attempted to flee from God by paying for passage on a foreign ship.³ However, God was not amused and sent a violent storm.⁴ The sailors were terrified and eventually figured out that Jonah was the cause of their endangerment, which he eventually admitted to them.⁵ Jonah was thrown overboard and God directed a great fish (or whale - the Hebrew is not that specific) to swallow Jonah and take him to the shore.⁶ Once expelled from the whale, Jonah decided to do what God had originally requested and travelled to Nineveh to preach repentance from their evil.⁷

A number of Christians assume Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh because they were known for their cruelty, and he feared for his life. However, the account gives a different reason why Jonah did not want to go. Jonah actually wanted God to judge the city of Nineveh and kill all their inhabitants. He was disappointed that the king and the people repented of their evil and were spared from God's judgment.⁸ In fact, Jonah was so angry with God that he asked God to kill him.⁹ After that conversation, Jonah left the city and sat outside of it hoping that God would still destroy the city.¹⁰ God caused a plant to grow overnight to give Jonah shade during his watch, but then caused the death of the plant the next day. Jonah was furious about the plant.¹¹ God pointed out that Jonah's priorities were completely messed up, since he was more concerned about a plant that gave him shade than the fate of 120,000 souls in Nineveh:

Then the LORD said, "You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?" (Jonah 4:10-11)

So, it was clear to Jonah that God was merciful and He would reconsider His judgment of evil if the people repented.¹² Since Jonah wanted no part in God's mercy, he tried to avoid following God's instructions to warn the people.

Did God warn others?

Atheists would like you to believe that the God of the Old Testament just randomly killed people for no good reason and without warning. It turns out that atheists often don't present the entire stories about God's judgment. Noah preached to the people of the coming judgment during the 100 years he was building the ark. God's own people were often recipients of God's judgment, when they refused to heed His warnings.¹⁹ Here is a short list from the writings of the prophets:

Prophet	Warning to	Result
Isaiah	Judah	Judgment
Jeremiah	Judah	Judgment
Lamentations	Jerusalem	Judgment
Ezekiel	Jerusalem, Tyre, Egypt	Captivity in Babylon
Hosea	Israel	Judgment
Joel	Tyre, Sidon, Philistia	Judgment
Amos	Israel	Judgment
Obadiah	Edom	Judgment
Jonah	Nineveh	Repentance
Micah	Israel	Judgment
Nahum	Nineveh	Judgment
Habakkuk	Judah	Judgment
Zephaniah	Judah	Judgment
Zechariah	Tyre, and other cities	Judgment

It is a well known principle that God regularly warned people of impending judgment and He personally indicated that He would relent if they changed their ways.¹² So, the atheists' idea that God killed people without warning is false.

Does God kill the innocent?

Did God kill any innocent people along with the evil ones? In the two most famous examples of God's judgment discussed above, the text clearly says that all the people God killed were evil.²⁰ When God was about to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham asked God if He would destroy the cities if there were 50 righteous people in them.²¹ God said no. Then Abraham asked the same question if there were 45 righteous people. Every time he dropped the number and got the same answer. The fact is that God would not have destroyed those cities if there were any righteous people in them. The few righteous who were in those cities He warned ahead of time to get out.²² In another example, Abimelech, king of Gerar, took Abraham's wife because he lied saying that she was his sister.²³ However, God prevented Abimelech from sleeping with her and warned him in a dream. Abimelech heeded God's warning and was spared from death.²³ Eliphaz the Temanite, in his discussions with Job, acknowledged that God did not judge the innocent with the guilty, but that those who act sinfully will incur God's judgment.²⁴ So, God does not destroy the righteous along with the evil.

Conclusion

In numerous instances, atheists cite the Old Testament for examples of where God killed "innocent" people. However, the texts show that the innocent are not judged, but only the guilty. In addition, virtually always, the guilty individuals were warned ahead of time about their sin. Jonah is often known as the reluctant prophet, although the reason for his hesitation was not due to the cruelty of Nineveh, but because he feared its people might repent and God might spare them. Jonah wanted God to kill all the people of Nineveh, but feared His mercy. So, Christians are not the only people who often seem to want to see God judge people for their evil, rather than praying for their reconciliation with God. Jonah reveals that God was known for His mercy even in Old Testament times. Even though God is merciful, His mercy extends only to those who heed His words of warning. There is no toleration for evil in God's kingdom.

God executes His judgment as a last resort to bring sinners to repentance so that He may forgive them. When properly understood, even the punishment and correction that God administers is, in fact, an ACT OF LOVE AND GRACE.

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Many of the Old Testament passages brought up in this are limited to a specific period in Israel's history - one in which Israel was just starting to establish itself as a new nation. And we must remember God had a very specific plan for the nation Israel - it would be the nation that would give the world God's word (ref. Rom. 3:2), and even more importantly, it would be the nation out of which the Messiah would come (Matthew 2:4-6).

Because Israel was to provide the very elements from which all the people of the world would be saved, the survival and protection of the nation was paramount. Therefore, God gave the infant nation a special measure of protection when establishing it in the land of Canaan. This is entirely consistent with God's character.

As a parent myself, I have given my children different rules for the different times of their lives. When they are toddlers, I limit their exposure to things that may be dangerous for them. For example, my four year old isn't allowed to cross the street by himself. However, my twelve year old can play ball in the street. Is this being inconsistent? No, it's merely recognizing that certain protections are necessary and those rules will change when that maturity level of the individual increases.

Similarly, Israel, as an immature nation with a very new religious system needed to be sheltered from the idolatry of the Canaanite nations, who would have corrupted Israel's worship of the true God and garbled its message to the rest of the world. (1)

Different Aspects of God's Character are not Contradictory.

Beyond the protection God provides to Israel, another reason God would command such action is simply to apply His justice to a wicked nation. In Genesis 15:16, Abram first asks about possessing the land, God tells him that the time is not yet right "for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." In other words, God was going to give the nations of Canaan additional time to repent ant turn from their wicked ways. When they didn't, God chose to se Israel to bring His judgment upon them. Similarly, God used Assyria and Babylon to judge Israel later in its history.

Although the judgements of God may appear to some as out of character with His mercifulness and love, it is not true that these are contradictory attributes. Justice is necessary to show love to the victims of evil. If God did not judge those who perpetrate evil, we would not only consider Him unrighteous but uncaring as well. When reading some of these isolated instances in the scripture, we are not privy to the extent of their actions and why God feels they should be judged, so we tend to think of the judgment as unfair. But God is God; He is in the position to judge His creation and because of that He doesn't need to justify His actions to us with an explanation why a nation deserves judgment.

Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as not only loving and long-suffering, but also a righteous judge who will come to punish the unrepentant and the wicked. This is as true in the New Testament as in the Old. The Book of Revelation specifically speaks about God's judgment on the nations and His wholesale destruction of nations. Similarly, the Old Testament highlights instances where god reached out to sinning nations and gave them unusual grace. The Ninevites were extended a chance to repent in the book of Jonah, even though their deeds were wicked. So the character of God remains consistent throughout the Bible.

Salvation by Grace through Faith

There are probably few students of the scriptures who are not familiar with the controversy surrounding the definitions of faith that are sometimes gleaned from the writings of Paul and James. Some feel that James presents a doctrine of justification based upon works; a position that contradicts Paul's doctrine of justification based upon faith.

This article will defend the position that there is no such contradiction between the two author's viewpoints and present the common doctrine that is the product of these positions and defines the relationship between faith and works.

A. Faith and Works in the Old Testament

If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name--the LORD your God -- the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses" (Deuteronomy 28:58-59, NIV.).

This caveat is so complete, that "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible" (Leviticus 5:17, NIV.) Consequently, it is impossible without God's grace for any man to attain righteousness under the law. Our sin nature constantly gets in our way, and as a result all people, without exception, come short of true righteousness based upon the law alone. "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him" (Daniel 9:11, KJV.)

The law by itself cannot save, and works of the law have no redeeming value. God has "seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14) and God will "bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil," (Ecclesiastes 12:14, NIV) exposing the righteousness and works of man that will serve as no benefit to him (Isaiah 57:12.) "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away" (Isaiah 64:6, NIV.)

B. Faith and Works in the New Testament

The Apparent Controversy of Paul and James.

"that since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law. While it is true that obedience to the law will never earn salvation for anyone (Eph. 2:8-9), it is equally true that those who are saved are expected to live a life full of good works (see, for example, Matthew 7:16-20; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jas. 2:14-26). Since we have been freed from the dominion of sin through faith in Jesus, we have also been freed to practice the righteousness demanded by God (Rom. 6:12-22)."

Paul teaches that this "righteousness demanded by God" cannot be attained by works of the law. Since no person has ever been able to live a sinless life, breaking no part of the law, then all people are unrighteous and in need of God's grace (Rom. 3:23.). Unlike Paul's writings that run the entire scope of Christian doctrine, the book of James "addresses the outward expression of inward faith.

Paul: Faith is complete trust in, and obedience to, Jesus Christ. Works are outward acts of ritual and adherence to a code to attain merit.

James: Faith is belief in Jesus Christ, the resurrection, and salvation. Works are spontaneous acts of love that spring from the fruits of the Spirit.

When we consider these presuppositions, we find that there is no conflict in doctrine between James and Paul. A common denominator between them is found in John, Chapter 15. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:1-2, KJV.) Jesus is the source of works for those who have faith, and those works are presented in this chapter as "fruit." One would not expect an apple tree to bear figs, or an orange tree to bear potatoes. An apple tree bears apples because it is the nature of the tree to do so. Likewise, a Christian bears fruits of the spirit because it is the nature of the spirit within all Christians to do so. This is how James can say, "I will show thee my faith by my works" (2:19, KJV.) James is not referring to the keeping of Sabbath laws; he is referring to works that are fruits of the Spirit. Consequently, James can say that "faith without works is dead" (2:20, KJV.) For some believers, the understanding of this principle can be the difference of salvation. Belief in Jesus Christ is not sufficient for salvation:

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" (Matthew 7:22-23, KJV.)

Works of the law that are outward acts of ritual for the purpose of receiving merit are of no value for attaining salvation. However, those who trust in and obey Jesus Christ will produce works that are motivated by the Spirit that will serve to build up the Kingdom of God by through the evangelism of the lost, the edifying of the saints, and the Glorification of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God, the Father. If those works are not evident in the life of a professing Christian, their level of trust and obedience in Christ is suspect.

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Christianity is not a Religion

The World's View of "Religion"

Some of those who call themselves "Christians" have been unable to differentiate between Christianity and religion. As they participate in the counterfeit of "Christian religion," they mistakenly think it is Christianity, and are blinded in the belief that religion is an admirable pursuit.

On the other hand, there are many who are not Christians who view the activities of the "Christian religion," and who likewise fail to differentiate between religion and Christianity. They in turn reject Christianity, believing it to be equivalent to the "Christian religion" they have observed.

Many abominable activities have taken place under the guise of "Christian religion." Man-made religion always seeks power and will revert to militaristic warfare to achieve that power. The history of religion, including "Christian religion," is but a succession of religious wars wherein religionists slaughter one another under the flag of "religion," usually with political overtones. The Crusades of the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries are but one historical example among many.

Religious bigotry has been evident in every century as religious leaders engage in racial, national, sexual, ideological and denominational exclusion, ostracism and persecution. There are always the religious attempts to purge those who disagree, and to punish those who do not conform to legislated morality. The period of the Inquisition is a sad example in the history of "Christian religion."

People of the world observe the big religious organizations with their huge ecclesiastic superstructures. They are often rich, powerful, tax-evading, and political in nature. They observe the religious fanatics who try to justify any activity from bombing an abortion clinic to murdering a doctor who works therein. Any means seems to be justifiable if it achieves their religiously deified end-cause. They observe the seemingly endless and meaningless religious activities of church services, ceremonies and programs which seem to be just "pomp and circumstance."

Is it any wonder that many of the people of the world speak derisively of religion? They have read their history books and have heard of the atrocities perpetrated in the name of "religion." They hear of the vast gold reserves and corporate holdings of religious conglomerates gained through tax-exemptions and unfair advantage. They can see the exploitation of the populace through superstition and fear. They see through the ecclesiastic politicizing and cultural manipulation. They see the people going through their meaningless motions of religious ritual to try to appease God. Often they have come to the conclusion that they do not want anything to do with "religion," and I, for one, do not blame them! The world has a right, even an intellectual obligation, to reject the religious folderol that is so prevalent, and to demand reality.

Was Marx correct in his appraisal that "religion is the opiate of the people"?

Christianity is not "Religion"

Religion emphasizes precepts, propositions, performance, production, programs, promotion, percentages, etc. Christianity emphasizes the Person of Jesus Christ, and His life lived out through the receptive Christian believer.

Religion has to do with form, formalism and formulas; ritual, rules, regulations and rites; legalism, laws and laboring. The "good news" of Christianity is that it is not what we do or perform, but what Jesus has done and is doing in us. Jesus exclaimed from the cross, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). The performance is hereby accomplished! Jesus has done all the doing that needs doing for our regeneration, and continues to do all the doing that God wants to do in us. "God is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

Some have tried to explain that "Christianity is not religion; it is a relationship." Such a statement is too ambiguous, for it is possible to have a "relationship" with religious peoples and practices. Although Christianity does involve a personal relationship between an individual and the living Lord Jesus, it must be pointed out that this is effected by the ontological presence of the Spirit of Christ dwelling within the spirit of a Christian who has received Him by faith, and the Spirit of Christ functioning through that Christian's behavior. It is not just a casual relationship of acquaintance with the historical Jesus or with the theological formulations of Jesus' work. Perhaps it would be better to indicate that "Christianity is not religion; it is the reality of Jesus Christ as God coming in the form of His Spirit to indwell man in order to restore him to the functional intent of God whereby the character of God is allowed to be manifested in man's behavior to the glory of God.

Christianity is not religion! Christianity is Christ! Christianity is "Christ-in-you-ity." Jesus Christ did not found a religion to remember and reiterate His teaching. Christianity is the personal, spiritual presence of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ, manifesting His life and character in Christians, i.e. "Christ-ones." Paul explained, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20)

Christianity is for Weak, Stupid People

Many skeptics think that Christianity is for people who do not want to think. Christians are often characterized as people who believe whatever they are told by the church. Faith is thought of as something that one believes blindly - with no supporting evidence. However, this viewpoint does not represent biblical Christianity. In contrast, to what many skeptics believe, the Bible challenges its readers to test it and come to a reasonable conclusion. There are those Christians who believe blindly, and certain cults (such as Mormonism) teach that truth can be known through prayer. These ideas are heretical to biblical Christianity and often lead to deception, making such individuals susceptible to conversion by the cults.

Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

What does the Bible teach?

Contrary to what many non-believers think, the Bible does not teach blind faith. In fact, the Bible actually tells believers to test everything. No other "holy" book tells its readers to actually put what it says to the test. The Bible can make such a statement because it passes the tests of truthfulness that no other "holy" book can. God Himself in His revelation to Isaiah stated, "Come now, and let us reason together..." God, the Creator of humans and human reasoning ability wants us to use that ability to determine His plan of salvation. How do we determine if the Bible is true? We test it and see if it is reasonable. Psalm 19 tells us that the universe "declares the glory of God" and that this "voice goes out into all the earth." This site is dedicated to showing how the universe declares God's love and design. In fact, the Bible says that the evidence for God's design of the universe is so strong that people are "without excuse" in rejecting God and His plan of salvation.

The importance of the mind in the life of believers and non-believers

The Bible encourages people to use their minds. In fact, the Bible says that God created humans and endowed them with a mind so that they would use it. The Bible says that God and Jesus Christ will test the minds (as well as the hearts) of people. One of the most important prophecies to Christianity, the prophecy of the New Covenant, fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, describes the changes God does in both the heart and the mind of those who are transformed. The Bible says that those who do not believe do so, in part, because of deception in their minds.This deception leads to hostility to God and defiling of their minds and consciences. The mind is also very important in the life of a Christian. The Christian is encouraged to set his "mind on the things above." We are also encouraged to direct our "mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation." Christians should use their minds in all aspects of life and "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." We are to use our minds to experience the reality of the Holy Spirit in order to experience His peace. This peace of God, "which surpasses all comprehension" guards both our hearts and our minds.Even the act of worship (both prayer and singing) should involve both the spirit and the mind.

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

The Bible encourages people to acquire knowledge

The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament gives practical advice for living, raising children, and making good choices versus bad choices. Many of the verses discuss the importance of acquiring knowledge and wisdom, even to the degree of choosing knowledge over riches. Faith is of utmost importance to the Christian. But the Bible doesn't say to limit your belief to faith alone. In fact, it commands us to add first moral excellence then second knowledge. Daniel, one of the greatest examples of faith, who had an amazing prayer life, was also a man of great knowledge and intelligence, and used this ability to witness to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Solomon, in his prayers to God, asked for wisdom and knowledge, both of which God granted to him.

Biblical faith is based upon knowledge and sound doctrine

God wants believers to be knowledgeable, especially regarding their faith. A lack of knowledge leads to apostasy and destruction, as God Himself said to Hosea, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." A zeal for God is not sufficient to please Him, since many Jews have this zeal, although it is misplaced since it is "not in accordance with knowledge." The Bible encourages believers to have a knowledge-based faith, built upon sound biblical doctrine.When Paul preached the gospel, he did it through reasoning from the scriptures and not an appeal to blind faith. Paul, in his letters told believers to do away with childish thinking and reasoning. Christians are advised to set an example for others in teaching by modeling "integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech." The physician Luke, in his prologue to his gospel revealed that he determined the truth through careful investigation:

...it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:3-4)

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37)

What did Jesus teach?

Jesus extended the first of the ten commandments to love the Lord not only with our hearts and souls, but also our minds. Jesus almost always taught using parables and examples. He did this specifically so that people would think about what He was saying. In fact, in many instances, Jesus would ask people what they thought of what He said. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he explained the scriptures to his disciples and "opened their minds" so that they could see how He fulfilled the messianic prophecies.

Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD (Isaiah 1:18)

Conclusion

The Bible teaches a rational faith, based upon knowledge and refined through testing. Christians are encouraged to use their minds in all aspects of life, including our spiritual life - prayer and worship. God values truthfulness to a high degree and wants us to know the truth about his creation, the nature of His being and His scriptures. Ultimately, God wants all people to come to the knowledge of the truth of His salvation through Jesus Christ, so that they may spend eternity with Him in the new creation.