The Reason for the Season?

The Reason for the Season?

By Douglas S. Winnail

Billions of people are caught up in Christmas celebrations each year, but do they really understand the truth about Christ’s birth? The answer is right in the pages of your Bible!

At year’s end, busy shoppers and party-goers turn their attention to annual Christmas celebrations. But how often do they stop to ask: Why? What do trimming a tree, decorating the house with lights, stockings, pine boughs and flying reindeer, hanging mistletoe and taking the children to see Santa Claus have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ—the supposed "reason" for the season? Why do sleigh bells and carols about "peace on earth, good will toward men" ring hollow as headlines report increasingly violent crimes, international terrorism, spreading droughts and famines, continuing wars and declining morals? Why do so-called Christian nations perpetuate anti-Christian customs that make life an endless round of momentarily pleasurable, but largely meaningless, social activities? Though credible scholars and historians universally recognize the fact, the average professing Christian has no idea that the customs surrounding Christmas originally had nothing to do with Jesus Christ! Even the widely held idea that Jesus was born on December 25 is known to be a fabrication! Contrary to the common tradition, Jesus was probably born in the fall, because Scripture recounts that sheep were in the fields (Luke 2:8)—a situation that would not exist in December. Jesus was also six months younger (Luke 1:24–27, 36) than John the Baptist, who was conceived in late June (after his father had served the eighth course of Abijah—see Luke 1:5; 1 Chronicles 24:1–19). Josephus, the Jewish historian, explains that 24 courses of priests served in the temple for week-long periods twice a year, beginning in the month of Nisan (in the spring, about April). John, conceived in June, would have been born in March, meaning that the six-months-younger Jesus would have been born in September—not on December 25! So, why do people celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25—even though Scripture nowhere gives that date, and does not even teach that Christians should celebrate Christ’s birthday at all? Late December is the time of the winter solstice, one of the major festival periods in the ancient world. Historians note "the birth of many solar saviors and dying gods is celebrated at this time, usually on December 25th" and that "Christmas is a wonderful amalgamation of many religious traditions, ancient and modern, pagan, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Mithraic, and Christian" (The Pagan Book of Days, pp. 132–133). Modern Christmas is a composite of several year-end festivals celebrated in pagan Rome. The Saturnalia, (December 17–21) was a time of "extravagant decadence" when slaves and masters traded places for a few days. It was a season of revelry where the common greeting was "bona Saturnalia." Next came the Sigillaria—the feast of dolls—on the 22nd when toys were purchased and given to children. The Brumalia (December 25) was celebrated as the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, when the days began to lengthen after the solstice" (Christmas and Christmas Lore, Crippen, p. 7). These were times of feasting, drinking and debauchery. The Egyptians also celebrated the rebirth of the sun in the form of an infant several thousand years before the Romans (see The Golden Bough, St. Martin’s ed., pp. 471–472). By contrast, the early Christian Church did not celebrate Jesus’ birthday as long as the teachings of the Apostles remained intact. In fact, as late as 245ad, the church scholar, Origen "repudiated as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed.). However, in an effort to gain converts, "the church at Rome definitely fixed on the 25th of December as the birthday of the Lord" in the 4th century (Crippen, p. 6). The choice of the winter solstice festival and the birthday of the sun-god were deliberate. New "converts" could continue their popular pagan customs uninterrupted—but under a new "Christian" name! People follow the same fabricated practice today—largely ignorant of what is hiding behind the "Christian" façade. But have you ever wondered if there is more to life than this? Have pagan customs adopted by mainstream Christianity replaced more meaningful biblical practices? The Hidden Dimension It may come as a surprise, but the Bible outlines a specific series of festivals or feast days that the people of God are commanded to observe. While many have been taught that these festivals were Old Testament practices and are no longer relevant to Christians, nothing could be further from the truth! The festivals outlined in Scripture (see Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16) are extremely significant and packed with meaning. They outline God’s plan of salvation for humanity, and reveal the major steps or events in that plan. The sequence of the festivals reveals the true purpose of human life! That purpose is exciting, inspiring—and humbling—yet it has been obscured by pagan holiday traditions professing Christian churches have absorbed! Church services—commanded assemblies—on each of the Holy Days review the meaning of the festivals. Notice what historian W. D. Davies wrote about early Christian practices: "Everywhere, especially in the East of the Roman Empire, there would be Jewish Christians whose outward way of life would not be markedly different from that of the Jews. They took for granted that the gospel was continuous with [the religion of Moses]; for them the New Covenant, which Jesus had set up at the Last Supper with His disciples… did not mean that the covenant made between God and Israel was no longer in force. They still observed the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles; they also continued to be circumcised, to keep the weekly Sabbath and the Mosaic regulations concerning food." [Judeo-christianisme, "Paul and Jewish Christianity," 1972, p. 72, quoted by Samuele Bacchiocchi, From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 151]. Historian Edward Gibbon made a similar observation: "The first fifteen bishops of Jerusalem were all circumcised Jews; and the congregation over which they presided united the law of Moses with the doctrine of Christ. It was natural that the primitive tradition of a church which was founded only forty days after the death of Christ, and was governed almost as many years under the immediate inspection of his apostle, should be received as the standard of orthodoxy. The distant churches very frequently appealed to the authority of their venerable Parent" (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 15, section 1, p. 389). What is this sequence of biblically ordained festivals? The annual sequence begins in March-April, with the Passover, followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread. The Passover is an annual reminder of our need for a Savior and forgiveness of sin. The Passover lamb offered in the Old Testament (Exodus 12:3–6) foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ to die for the sins of mankind (John 3:16). Even after Jesus fulfilled the symbolism of the sacrificial lamb (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29), the Apostles and the early Church observed the New Testament Passover (Luke 22:14–16; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26) as an annual memorial of Christ’s sacrifice. During the seven Days of Unleavened Bread, leaven is removed from dwellings, conveying the lesson that to obey God we must put sin (symbolized by leaven) out of our lives. This is what Christian growth—repenting, changing, growing and overcoming—is all about. The Apostles and the early Church kept the Days of Unleavened Bread to perpetuate the meaning of those days (Acts 2:38; 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7–8). The next New Testament Church festival, Pentecost, comes in late May or early June, commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2). The Feast of Pentecost ("pentecost" comes from the Greek for "count 50") is also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits because it came at the beginning of the summer harvest. This harvest was small, picturing God’s plan to call just a small group of people to salvation in this present age (Matthew 13:10–17; John 6:44–66; 1 Corinthians 1:26–28), before He begins working with all mankind. The annual observance of Pentecost is a constant reminder that God has a special purpose for those called to be firstfruits (Revelation 14:1–5), and of the special understanding that comes by receiving and nourishing the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–16, 26; 16:13; 2 Timothy 1:6–7). These first three annual festivals picture events in God’s plan of salvation that have already happened. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection fulfilled the meaning of the Passover nearly 2,000 years ago, so we no longer sacrifice a lamb—but we continue to observe the Passover at His command as a memorial of that important event (Luke 22:19). The Days of Unleavened Bread picture Christians’ ongoing process of putting out sin from our lives. The events of the Day of Pentecost—the giving of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the New Testament Church—inaugurated the Christian era in 31ad. The next four festivals in God’s sequence are still prophetic, picturing major events that have yet to occur! When we observe these festivals, we can better understand the future, and we can have hope. These festivals outline the remaining steps that will culminate in God’s plan of salvation for humanity—a plan that has largely been hidden from the world by false man-made holidays such as Christmas! Revealing the Future The Feast of Trumpets pictures a soon-coming event that will change the course of human history forever—the return of Jesus Christ. Bible prophecies associate the Second Coming of Christ with the blowing of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15). Trumpets are used to make announcements, mark the feasts and sound alarm during times of war (Numbers 10:1–10). Cataclysmic events will precede the Second Coming of Christ (Matthew 24; Revelation 6; 8; 9). Jesus will return to a planet torn by war and tribulation to save mankind from utter self-destruction (Matthew 24:3–7, 21–22). He will conquer human armies that will resist His return (Revelation 19:11–19). At His return the saints (the "firstfruits") will receive immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–54) and reign with Christ on this earth (Daniel 7:26–27; Revelation 5:10). The annual observance of the Feast of Trumpets keeps us mindful of these incredible events. It supplies real hope in a world filled with bad news. The Day of Atonement pictures the fact that Satan—the real instigator of the evils and troubles in this world—will be bound for a thousand years when Christ returns (Revelation 20:1–2). This future event was foreshadowed in the Old Testament observance of this festival when the priests sent a goat into the wilderness bearing the sins of Israel. Though modern translations of the Bible refer to this animal as the "scapegoat," suggesting it was without guilt, Jewish traditions correctly identify this goat as symbolic of the prince of fallen angels—Satan (Leviticus 16:8–10). The other goat used in this ceremony, killed for the sins of the nation, foreshadowed Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. God’s command that we fast on the Day of Atonement teaches us the need for humility and reminds us of our need to become at-one with God (see Leviticus 23:27; Psalm 35:13; John 17:11). The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the coming of the Kingdom of God to this earth. This seven-day festival offers an annual foretaste of the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ and the saints (Revelation 20:4–6). During this period, also called the "Millennium," the government of God will bring peace and justice to this earth and restore all things (Isaiah 9:6–7; Acts 3:19–21). It will be a time of harmony (Isaiah 11:6–9), health and abundance (Isaiah 35; Amos 9:13). The government of God will proclaim the laws of God from Jerusalem to the whole world (Isaiah 2:2–4). Unlike our present age, when only a very few receive the knowledge of God’s Way, during the Millennium all will be taught to obey God and experience the wonderful blessings that come as a result! The Last Great Day is the final festival on God’s annual calendar. It pictures the Great White Throne Judgment period, described by the Apostle John (Revelation 20:11–12), when the Holy Spirit will be made available to those who had never before had their minds opened to God’s way (John 7:37–39; Ezekiel 36:24–27). They will be resurrected and have their first opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and obey Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the message of the Last Great Day is that those who died without hearing the Gospel are not lost! They are not burning right now in hell. They are waiting in the grave for this great resurrection. Those who then choose to live according to God’s way will receive immortality, but those who reject God’s way will be consumed in a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15). Warnings and Hope "That sounds interesting," you may be thinking, "but what does it matter if I observe Christmas instead of those Old Testament festivals?" You may feel that you "love the Lord" and that you are honoring Jesus by celebrating His birth. "I’m just ‘baptizing’ those old pagan customs by offering them to the Lord," you may think. Well, what does the Bible say about this approach? God told the nation of Israel to follow His commandments and not alter them (Deuteronomy 4:1–2). Through Moses, God repeatedly warned the Israelites not to forget His commandments (Deuteronomy 8:10–14) and to avoid being captivated by the false religious practices of pagan nations. God specifically warned, "do not inquire after their gods, saying ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods" (Deuteronomy 12:30–31). Again, in this context, God states: "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32). These clear warnings are repeated in the Old and New Testaments. The prophet Jeremiah pointedly told the Israelites, "Learn not the way of the heathen.… For the customs of the people are vain" (Jeremiah 10:2–3, KJV). Jesus even said, of religious people, that "in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8–9, KJV). The Apostle Paul gave similar admonitions (1 Corinthians 10:6–7; 2 Corinthians 6:14–17). However, in spite of these clear warnings, the history of the Israelites—and of the modern professing Christian churches—has been to ignore and reason around God’s very clear instructions. Rebellious human beings have substituted customs that God says are evil, for festivals God designed to keep them mindful of His great plan of salvation and the true purpose of life. People professing to be Christian have listened to false teachers "who call evil good, and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). They have been deceived by religious leaders, "who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). They have "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature [pagan customs] rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). But you, personally, can make a different choice. When you start observing the biblical festivals God has ordained, you will begin to understand what life is all about. The Bible and the world around you will begin to make sense as never before. The excitement and fulfillment you will experience will make the frivolities and falsehoods of pagan holiday practices seem empty by comparison. If you have not already done so, please write to the regional office nearest you (listed on page 30 of this magazine) and request your free copy of our booklet, The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan. Then you will truly begin to understand the reason for the season!

The Ezekiel Warning Message

The Church of God Must Warn the World!
by David Ben-Ariel

The Church of God has been charged to get the Word out to all the world and make disciples (students) within every nation, teaching them to follow Yahshua's (Jesus') teachings.

What did Yahshua teach? Yahshua boldly proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God, the immortal family of divine beings soon to reign over all the earth.

He also taught His students how to live a life that graces the Gospel and compliments the Kingdom. We're to become more godly, more Christlike, more Kingdom-like, daily, in anticipation of its Dawn.

But Yahshua also warned of TURBULENT TIMES to occur just before His landing on the Mount of Olives to liberate Jerusalem and secure David's Throne (leading to Israel's deliverance).

We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).

The early Church of God preached the Gospel, but within the framework of addressing issues and concerns of their time and place. For example, they emphasized Yahshua's necessary death and resurrection.

The biblical approach is to offer "meat in due season," custom-made messages, tailored for the times, "becoming all things to all men," using current events as a prop and a podium.

The Sabbath-keeping apostles and evangelists preached Christ and Him crucified, and didn't deal with Yahshua's prophecy about Jerusalem's imminent fall and the Temple's destruction. Why? Because it wouldn't affect the daily lives and national affairs of their Gentile audience.

However, today the European Beast is taking shape and form before us, while the American, British and Jewish peoples continue their nosedive to oblivion. Both of these intertwined events were clearly prophesied (Lev. 26; Deut. 28). And it's only with our God-given understanding of biblical prophecy that we can see where these trends are rapidly heading.

Both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation reveal a Gentile confederation of nations to emerge upon the world scene just before Messiah comes, wrecking havoc upon Israel and opposing the Heavenly Army (Dan.7; Rev. 13; 17).

These prophesied headlines will directly affect the lives of every member of the Church of God and nations of Israel! We're living in the prophesied time of a knowledge explosion, of mass transit and rapid communication, and have truly become a global village (Dan. 12:4). Therefore these "geopolitical" prophecies are most personal and pertinent.

It was necessary for God to first identify Israel today (the so-called Lost Ten Tribes) so the Church of God could deliver His message to them, preserved by the Prophets for our time. We're to warn the sinful English-speaking nations of white Israelites that the Holocaust was only a preview of what's to come! We're to deliver the Ezekiel warning message to them specifically (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:1-9).

Many different groups and organizations (for better and for worse) have helped to restore Israel's identity. But Herbert W. Armstrong was the most influential, through his inspiring book The United States and Britain in Prophecy, as God ordained (Isa. 49:6). How else could we go with the Gospel to the "lost sheep of the House of Israel" unless God directed us? How could we warn about the imminent "Time of Jacob's Trouble" unless God sent us?

Many professing-Christian ministries today are still lost in their own little religious worlds (Ezek. 34:4-5). They still don't know or care who Israel is or reject our identity (yet express interest in our Jewish brethren), although God expects His shepherds to help remind Israel of our biblical roots and responsibilities and regather them as "One Nation Under God," a truly "United Kingdom" (Ezek. 37:22).

It appears that they're happy believing they're Gentiles (with their counterfeit Christianity/Gentile religion) and don't want to return to biblical ways and days, preferring their perverted scatter-brain traditions (Hos. 1:9).

As brought out in my timely book, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, "Christ referred to WORLD WAR III as the GREAT TRIBULATION (Matt. 24:21-22). He had given an outline of prophetic events to occur just prior to His Second Coming. Although we can't know the exact time or date, we can know when it's very near!"

Yahshua taught that the end time would be very similar to Noah's time and how it was in Sodom and Gomorrah. Didn't Noah know what was about to happen? Wasn't Lot warned about imminent destruction? YES! Biblical precedent provides the proof that the people of God won't be left without a clue (Amos 3:7).

The Sabbath-keeping Church of God, His called-out ones (drafted to be delightfully different and wonderfully weird, living "ahead of our time"), are called Children of Light (1 Pet. 4:4; 1 Thes. 5:1-6).

We haven't been left in the dark, in stark contrast to those around us who know the latest weather report but miss the significance of the times. Too many remain oblivious to the fact that a EUROPEAN STORM IS BREWING (Matt. 16:2-3). Many won't realize it until it HITS HOME and they're devastated!

There's precious little time left to help sound the alarm and let the sirens go off. We're supposed to serve as God's EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (Jer. 44:4).

From the Watchtower of Faith we're able to see what's on the horizon and pick up on our spiritual radar screen the clear and present danger Europe presents. We know what's going to happen, based upon biblical facts, and declare it with confidence (Rom. 4:17).

If we don't help warn the world, giving everybody a chance to escape, we'll be held accountable for their deaths (Ezek. 3:18). Isaiah 42:19 warns about God's servant going blind and His messenger going deaf; Isaiah 56:10 rebukes blind watchman and dumb watchdogs that don't know how to bark and are asleep on the job!

Obviously God didn't "hire" them that way. This is so serious that God must warn us about it, (and you're being warned right now) because apparently many won't pass this part of our Christian test, deserting our posts, and running like Jonah. Such Christian-doves will get swallowed up in the belly of the Beast! There's nothing new under the Sun: just as Yahshua's closest friends fell asleep just before His trial and crucifixion, it appears some will nod off just before our Church and nations are scourged.

An important part of Yahshua's teachings, relevant to this generation, is the warning signs of what's about to strike, so everyone can prayerfully watch and seek shelter before it's too late (Lk. 21:36). But we're to share His survival course with others so they can know what to look for and expect and how to receive around-the-clock protection by trusting in Him. We can help save lives and prepare people for what's just ahead, whether it's World War III or the Lake of Fire (Jude 23).

Signs reveal what direction we're heading and how close we're getting to that destination. We're to share our God-given light of understanding with the world that they may be warned. That is our solemn privilege and responsibility. How nations or individuals respond is not our responsibility, it is between God and them.

Ezekiel's warning message is the same as Yahshua's and Paul's: repent or face the judgment of God. Likewise, Revelation's message is to repent of such things as murder, occult practices, immorality, idolatry, etc. and begin to obey the commandments of God and hang on for dear life to Jesus' teachings (in attitude and actions, in word and in works). However, God has decreed that His final warning to the world before the Storm breaks should be directed to His People Israel, now identified as prophesied, and that it should include exposing the European Beast as a satanic system opposed to the saints of God and His government.

If God preferred that we stuck to a general message of salvation rather than to warn about a specific POLITICO-RELIGIOUS POWER rising in Europe, then He wouldn't have given us such inspired details in the Bible!

Those who think otherwise are vainly dismissing the Prophets and Revelation as unnecessary. They think they're so smart but they're acting like fools (Rom. 1:22; Job 38:2). God knows what He's doing. Anyone can preach a generic message, but only the Children of Light can understand the fine print in God's Word and reveal His Secrets to mankind.

All the magicians in the times of Joseph and Daniel put together couldn't provide the right answer to the questions of their day, yet those two witnesses gave God the glory and revealed truth that could only come from God (Gen. 41; Dan. 2:30). Likewise, God expects us to share HIS DIVINE REVELATION (Isa. 48:6). This deeper understanding and special relationship with God and His Word ought to be evident to outsiders as something truly unique (Deut. 4:6-7; John 15:15).

May the Church of God share the complete teachings of Yahshua, His full gospel -- individual and national -- with all the world. Such priceless teachings about the Kingdom of God, faith and forgiveness, also warn about frightening events that will signal the end of this age and help usher in the Wonderful World Tomorrow.

May we faithfully explain the spiritual significance of today's bad news (through the light of Bible prophecy) and emphasize the GOOD NEWS that we have a Savior from sin and a Deliverer from men!

Come Lord Jesus! Hosanna in the Highest!

************
The Church of God Must Warn the World!


The Church of God Must Warn the World!


The Church of God Must Warn the World!

C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism

Charles Haddon Spurgeon on Christmas

From a sermon preached by C. H. Spurgeon on Dec. 24, 1871:

We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas. First, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English. Secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. 'Superstition' has fixed most positively the day of our Savior's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occurred. ... It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the Church celebrated the nativity of our Lord; and it was not till very long after the Western Church had set the example, that the Eastern adopted it. ... Probably the fact is that the "holy" days were arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals. We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Savior was born, it is the 25th of December. ... Regarding not the day, let us, nevertheless, give God thanks for the gift of His dear Son.

C.H. Spurgeon on Roman Catholicism

"Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho." Joshua 6:26
"Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers' days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundations. O Lord, be please to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope's bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, 'The devil hates goose quills,' and doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of his accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do?"

From "Evening By Evening" by Charles Spurgeon
Uhrichsville, Barbour and Company, 1991.

God and the Gays by David Ben-Ariel

God and the Gays: To Be or Not to Be (Chapter 1)
God and the Gays: All that Glitters isn't Gold (Chapter 2)
God and the Gays: Once Gay, Always Gay? (Chapter 3)

God and the Gays: Of Vice and Men (Chapter 4)

God and the Gays: A Time to Heal (Chapter 5)

Related articles of interest:

Scarlet Letter: A Christian With AIDS
Does God Heal Today?
Straight Talk about David and Jonathan
Brokeback Mountain Blues

Lost Ten Tribes, David Ben-Ariel, Herbert W. Armstrong

Here is the data for David Ben-Ariel that EzineArticles.com gathered for October 2009.

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Fearing death?

Re: Do you fear death?

I don't fear death...
I trust in the tender mercies of God to bless me to be in the First Resurrection at Yahshua's glorious return!

When we die, we're dead until the resurrection. Nobody goes to "Heaven or Hell," contrary to traditional misunderstandings and popular religious lies.

Pearly Gates (David Ben-Ariel YouTube Video)


Dead & Buried (David Ben-Ariel YouTube video)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where's our attitude of gratitude?

The Israelite Origins of the United States

This recent exchange with a gentleman at the History Channel Forum is just in time for Thanksgiving Day. God help us to remember our Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities and always have an attitude of gratitude for His tender mercies!

The twelve tribes themselves are not European in origin

The Twelve Tribes of Israel - the Anglo-Saxon-Celtics and white peoples of Northwestern Europe -- are Israelite in origin. We're the so-called "Lost Ten Tribes." We were taken captive by the Assyrians and later, as prophesied, migrated north and west into Europe and King David's dynasty continues in the Sceptered Isle.

Of the 12,000 from each tribe to be taken on judgement day, how many do you think will be of mixed blood?

If they're so mixed the Holy Spirit wouldn't have inspired John to write specifically of the unique tribes of Israel. They're obviously not "mixed" enough to disqualify them from being considered, in God's eyes, this or that specific tribe of Israel. Undoubtedly we have married among ourselves to some extent, yet still this or that tribe dominates in our ancestry, having sifted through various countries (we can say we're English, Irish, Dutch), but we're still ISRAELITES.

When Revelations was written the author probably had no idea that the Jews would have dispersed across the globe as they have or intermarried as they have with other peoples

John was a prophet and the Holy Spirit undoubtedly inspired him to know the other prophecies in the Law and the Prophets that clearly foretold the reach and expansion of all Twelve Tribes to the far ends of the Earth - not just the Jews! The Jews are only a small part of the big family of Jacob-Israel.

It's written in Amos that we (the Northern 10-tribed Kingdom of Israel) would migrate, sift through the nations, and yet not lose our identity (as far as our ethnic make-up is concerned, our basic DNA).

assuming that you are a Gentile

God's mercy extends to all peoples, although His plan calls for the Jews (and Israelites) first and then the Gentiles. God has called our peoples, the Jews and the Joes, Israelites, to ultimately become His Servant Nation to bless all nations.

I am a Joe (descended from Joseph/Anglo-Saxon-Celtic heritage), as well as a Jew, scion of King David, as our family goes back to the British and Scottish Royal Families. Apparently I'm also a descendant of two Mayflower Pilgrims, John and Priscilla Alden, and collateral descendant of three American presidents.

[The Scripture] doesn't apply to America because we were given nothing. We TOOK everything we have from the natives

The United States was given primarily to the descendants of Joseph and the other Northern tribes of Israel, with some Jews living among us (even though God has given them a Jewish Homeland).

Just like ancient Israel had to be willing to fight to secure their inheritance, so did we. Sometimes we were more honorable than others, just like Jacob with Esau, but regardless Manifest Destiny was to be and was fulfilled in us. We didn't take from the natives as it wasn't theirs to begin with -- it belongs to our Great Creator God and to whomsoever He gives it, as is His divine prerogative.

The various natives took from each other and had a violent history towards different tribes and were carried away with their raw paganism. Some were more advanced than others.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
10 “So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— 12 then beware, lest you forget the LORD...

we built the cities, invented our gadgets and things, built a gargantuan economy, paved the roads, assembled a massive military, etc. all by ourselves. God had nothing to do with these things

God works in and through and for people at the same time. He warned us not to develop such an unhealthy and pompous attitude of vainly imagining we did all these things without His help and inspiration, even giving us the health to accomplish great things. God has blessed our efforts. It's true that God helps those who help themselves. The "Protestant work ethic" is a biblical work ethic.

Deuteronomy 8:9-20
9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. 11 "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God...17 then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'

18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.

As Abraham Lincoln warned, he said we had forgotten our Great God and encouraged all to repent and pray that God might save our nation. We were spared that God might fulfill His many prophecies, His wonderful promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob about the peace and prosperity of their descendants because of ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE.

God has given us these many things and wonderful years and we have forgotten him as self-made men and women who vainly imagine we don't need God and this is all our doing, the work of our hands, so God - who controls the weather - will strip these things out of our hands and show us how we're at His mercy to humble us and bring us back to Him and remind us to keep His commandments, His holy Sabbath and biblical festivals, the "Jewish holidays," and reject the replacement theology and pagan holidays of bloody Rome!

If we have god to thank for the invention of the airplane then we have him to thank for 9/11.

That's just plain ridiculous. What we do with a gift is our responsibility. Everything has the potential to be a blessing or a curse. God gives us free moral agency to determine what we will for ourselves, what we will do with what we've been given: whether we'll squander our inheritance or use it wisely, with an attitude of gratitude and loving obedience.

I see you conveniently did not address Isaiah 24 I quoted, which says:
1. Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, He makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad its inhabitants.
2. And it shall be, that as it is with the people, so with the priest; as it is with the servant, so with his master; as it is with the maid, so with her mistress; as it is with the buyer, so with the seller; as it is with the lender, so with the borrower; as it is with the taker of usury, so with the payer of usury to him.
3. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth languish.
13. When this happens: in the midst of the land among the people, it shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and like the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. 14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea. 15 Wherefore glorify you the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea. 16. From the furthermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe to me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yes, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. 17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 And it shall be, that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth is completely broken down, the earth is fully dissolved, the earth is exceedingly moved. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and its transgression shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

These verses prophesy destruction of everything and everybody which does not jibe with what you're telling me.

I did not ignore it and I did address it. Mankind will get to the point of no return: except for divine intervention no flesh would be saved alive, no human being would remain, just as Yahshua and the Prophets foretold. Within that Scripture it reveals survivors who are praising God, which I have highlighted.

Matthew 24:21-22
21 For then there will be great tribulation [Time of Jacob's Trouble], such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake [the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] those days will be shortened.

Isaiah 1:9
9 Unless the LORD of hostsHad left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Isaiah 43:1-3
1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the LORD your God,The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

God always saves a remnant to keep His promise alive to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would be their God and the God of their descendants (which means they must always have some descendants). This GOOD NEWS is why the first chapter of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is appropriately called, "Survival Guaranteed!"

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Watch the United States in Prophecy! for further information.

New David Ben-Ariel Blog!

God Given Names

Monday, November 9, 2009

I was born David A. Hoover on January 10, 1960 in Bowling Green, Ohio. However, I legally changed my name to David Ben-Ariel (with the help of my Jewish lawyer) during the Spring of 1989. It cost me $300.00.

It also required that I take out a small ad in a newspaper announcing my intentions 30 days beforehand. I placed my ad in the Bowling Green Sentinel.

I also had to appear before a judge (it depends on what county you were born) for him to privately question my motivations. Continue reading “God Given Names”

 

Israel’s Unjust Deportation of David Ben-Ariel

November 9, 2009

As a Christian-American member of the Temple Mount Faithful Movement, I had been privileged to participate in their legal demonstrations during my 10-month stay in Jerusalem awaiting dual citizenship. Israeli television often showed me with my Jewish friends carrying Israeli flags throughout the Old City. Continue reading “Israel’s Unjust Deportation of David Ben-Ariel”

Speaking of the plain truth...

Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?

Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?

The Plain Truth Prevails!

Enemies have attacked http://www.davidbenariel.org/ but the plain truth of the Bible, history and currents events, as shared by David Ben-Ariel in his many articles, can be found in many other places throughout the Internet world. The plain truth prevails!

Jeremiah 15:10-21
10 Woe is me, my mother,
That you have borne me,
A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth!

http://www.davidbenariel.org

http://beyondbabylon.blogspot.com

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/73354/david_benariel.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Ben-Ariel

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/author.cgi?C=10267

http://rs39.com/davidbenariel/

http://www.pushhamburger.com/david.htm

Many YouTube videos, including
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDxc1ZTFGCk

Google David Ben-Ariel!

Speaking of Science

Christianity, Judaism, and Science

1 Timothy 6:20 (King James Version)
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called...

Legitimate science is not opposed by true Christianity or Judaism, as evident by books like these:

The Hidden Face of God: Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth
by Gerald L. Schroeder

The Science of God: The Convergence of Scientific and Biblical Wisdom
by Gerald L. Schroeder

And articles:

Does The Bible Teach There Were Human Prototypes? by David Ben-Ariel

And booklets:

What Science Can’t Discover About the Human Mind by Herbert W. Armstrong.



http://www.davidbenariel.org/

A Sister's Encouragement

Nancy commented on Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

I'm glad someone isn't afraid to actually put the TRUTH out there that is in the Holy Bible, which other "Christians" blatantly ignore. They are not innocent because they do not know the truth which they can easily find in the Holy Bible...if they read it. Thanks a lot!

God Bless you brother in the name of Christ.
 
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Thank you for encouraging all who dare to share the plain truth of the Bible.

Please watch:
The Plain Truth (David Ben-Ariel YouTube Video)

Hateful Gentilizers!

Re: To your seed I have given this land

not a Jew nor is he an Israeli. He is an admitted homosexual and a Judaizer who was born and raised as in the United States as David Hoover

What chutzpah! Where did I claim to be an Israeli? Unlike the president usurper Obama, I was born and raised in these United States of America, the Promised Land of Manasseh (the son of Joseph), a natural born citizen.

Who do you think you are to determine who is a Jew when you've already exposed your woeful/willful ignorance of Jews (Judah) and Joes (Joseph)? I am an Israelite of Anglo-Saxon-Celtic origins, as well as of the tribe of Judah through my descent from the British Royal Family (and Scottish ancestry).

German-American Israelites?
Joseph isn't Jewish!

You're a hateful Gentilizer! However, such Jew hatred is nothing new under the sun. The early Church of God had to contend with deceived and deceiving Gentiles, under heavy pagan and demonic influence, attempting to distance the Sabbath-keeping Church of God from its Jewish/biblical roots by hatefully branding those who held their holy ground as "Judaizers." Such accursed replacement theology accounts for the baptized paganism apostate Christians are steeped in, counterfeit Christianity has fallen for, and why traditional Christians remain stuck in the muck of Babylon and refuse to hear and heed Christ's command to come out of it! I make mention of this in my YouTube video, The Plain Truth.

I am an admitted REPENTANT homosexual, to the glory of God (having written all about it in God and the Gays), and you reflect the darkness of Satan and his demons, the accuser of the brethren, rather than rejoice over repentant sinners like the holy angels in Heaven do. Shame on you! At least you serve as a useful idiot providing opportunities for me to dare to share the plain truth. God always frustrates Satan's agenda and advances His own, turning lemons into lemonade and how sweet it is!

Yes, my former name was David Hoover, which you only know about due to my God-given Names article which explains how I came to receive my God-given name of David Ben-Ariel, something truly spiritual folks appreciate.

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Alternative to UN (YouTube Video)

An Alternative to the UN
The hypocritical UN, that diseased body of the dysfunctional family of nations, is worthless except as a polluted podium for the sworn enemies of freedom, righteousness and democracy.

(read more ...)

The Plain Truth

David Ben-Ariel dares to share the plain truth of the Bible, as taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, as well as addressing current events like how president usurper Obama has failed to prove he is a natural born citizen!





Emperor Obama

Drunks and Whores (David Ben-Ariel YouTube video)

Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?
 
The Plain Truth About Easter
 
The Plain Truth About Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God
 
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Pagan Anglicans and Catholics

Radicals from the Anglican faith are leaving their Anglican

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They're all family, Catholics & Protestants, immersed in much of the same baptized paganism (stuck in the muck of their replacement theology of Christmas, Easter and Sunday instead of Sabbath and the biblical festivals like the early Church of God faithfully kept and the legitimate Church of God keeps today), so why not acknowledge their harlot mother and submit to their false father figure? It's prophesied they will have their dysfunctional family reunion and then turn against those who expose them as counterfeit Christianity, apostate Christians, the Mystery Babylon religion in Christian drag.

www.davidbenariel.org

The pagan darkness of Diwali

President Obama celebrates Hindu holiday

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As a former Hindu, I find it abominable that the president usurper would pollute the White House with such paganism and afford the dark religion such honor. It's bad enough the baptized paganism of traditional Christianity (Christmas and Easter) defiles the place!

Obama is definitely not enlightened but deceived at best, drunk on the spirits of ecumenism.

A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God

Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God Mentioned in Israeli Newspaper

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Halloween

Every year at Halloween, well-meaning parents dress their children in grotesque and ghoulish costumes. Is Halloween really harmless? Who and what's behind this bizarre holiday?

Is Halloween Harmless?

Tabernacles

http://www.ucg.org/about/feast-of-tabernacles.htm

The Feast of Tabernacles

Chronicling the activities of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, the book of John points out that when the "Feast of Tabernacles was at hand," Jesus Himself "went up to the feast" and taught at the Temple in Jerusalem. This was done in observance of the final of three annual Festival seasons that are outlined in the Bible, particularly in the book of Leviticus.

These three seasons, the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Pentecost and the Fall Festival season, were all observed by Jesus and the first-century Church. The latter season is capped by the eight-day Festival of Tabernacles and Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:33-36).

"As part of the United Church of God's commitment to follow the example of the first-century Church, we keep these days, even though they are essentially nontraditional in today's age and not largely observed by other religious organizations," explained Clyde Kilough, president of the United Church of God.

This same commitment leads members of the United Church of God to observe a seventh-day Sabbath on Saturday as Christ did.

Kilough pointed out that from a biblical perspective, the Festival of Tabernacles pictures the coming time when Jesus will return to earth and directly rule the world for 1,000 years.

"As the Feast of Tabernacles represents a coming time of unprecedented harmony and peace, we conduct this annual eight-day event with a strong family focus," Kilough explained. Accordingly, members and families take part in daily church services and a whole range of positive family-based activities throughout the Festival.

This eight-day Festival represents the prophesied fulfillment of the coming Kingdom of God, which Jesus taught about extensively during His earthly ministry. The annual festivals observed earlier in the year by the Church represent the Christian's redemption from sin through Christ's sacrifice, the commitment of Christians to put sin out of their lives and the coming of God's Holy Spirit to strongly empower a Christian to live life in harmony with God's law and prepare for eternal life.

In 2009, United Church of God members and families will travel to more than 50 Festival of Tabernacles sites around the world to take part in this biblical assembly. Church members traditionally observe the earlier festivals in their local areas. However, proper observance of the Festival of Tabernacles requires that members reside in temporary quarters (called "booths" or "tabernacles" in the Bible – Leviticus 23:42).

The Church rents large conference centers or facilities to accommodate daily worship during the Festival, and members typically stay in nearby hotels to fulfill the temporary nature required by the biblical command. "Staying in a temporary dwelling such as a hotel underscores the transitory nature of this present world and illustrates how it will be replaced by the prophesied Kingdom of God," noted Kilough.

This year the Festival of Tabernacles will be observed by about 20,000 members and families of the United Church of God October 3 through October 10, 2009.

"The emphasis placed by Christ on the coming Kingdom of God is intense, and Church members accordingly take the opportunity to observe this Festival very seriously," explained Kilough.
Because the Festival of Tabernacles occurs during a nontraditional time when vacations and school absences are not common, the Church encourages members and families to notify employers and schools well in advance of their plans.

This helps minimize misunderstandings and to obtain school assignments and other information.
"This way Church children don't fall behind in academics while they are briefly absent from school to observe the biblical festivals with their families," Kilough related.

The Church president also noted that the vast majority of teachers and administrators are "very cooperative across the United States" in helping students prepare for their brief absences to observe the biblical festivals.

Feast of Tabernacles locations sponsored by the United Church of God.

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About the United Church of God, an international association
Basing its beliefs on the biblical practices of the original 1st Century Church, the United Church of God maintains congregations in more than 40 countries around the world. Following the recorded example of Jesus Christ and the first apostles, the Church observes a seventh day Sabbath and the annual Holy Day seasons as outlined in the Old and New Testaments. The main offices of the Church are located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This is the United Church of God - Preaching the Gospel, Preparing a People
The mission of the United Church of God is to proclaim to the world the little-understood gospel taught by Jesus Christ—the good news of the coming Kingdom of God—and to prepare a people for that Kingdom. This message not only offers great hope for all of humanity, but encompasses the purpose of human existence—why we are here and where our world is headed.

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Feast of Tabernacles & Last Great Day Related Resources

The Feast of Tabernacles: Jesus Christ Reigns Over All the Earth
The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles pictures the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ over the earth after His second coming.

The Feast of Tabernacles
How is the festival that represents the sixth step in God's plan to be observed?

The Last Great Day
The seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles are followed by another high day, on which God commands an assembly. This eighth day is the Last Great Day of the fall festival season, and it represents the final, or seventh, step in God's plan of salvation.

The Feast of Peace
God instructed the ancient Israelites to leave their homes every year to observe a festival in a location He chose. What is the significance of this feast, and what does it mean for you?

Are the Biblical Holy Days Christian Festivals?
Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible? When were the biblical feasts abandoned, and why? How can we be sure which sacred days Christians should observe? Here are the answers!

The Biblical Festivals That Reveal Christ's Role in God's Plan
Jesus Christ celebrated seven festivals every year that most Christians today can't even name, yet they have His imprint all over them. He is the reason for each of these seasons, and they have great meaning for anyone who would like to follow Him better. What are these festivals, and what do they reveal about our Savior and King?

The Biblical Festivals That Show How God Will Bring World Peace
Will mankind ever experience lasting peace? Humanity's track record isn't very good. But a series of biblical feasts reveals how God will indeed bring lasting world peace!

Should You Keep the Festivals Jesus Observed?
Jesus observed the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles and the other festivals that God gave to Israel. Should you follow His example? Are those sacred festivals still applicable for Christians?

God's Harvest Feasts: His Assurance of Hope for Mankind
Despite the enormous problems facing humanity today, mankind has great hope for the future. Proof of that hope lies in God's harvest celebrations laid out in the Bible.

Knowing God for the First Time
A time is coming when all mankind will come to know God. But meanwhile, through His festivals, God offers us the opportunity to experience now what the whole world will experience in the future.

The Biblical Map to Jesus Christ's Return
Maps show the way from where you are to your final destination. The Bible provides the only spiritual map to our ultimate destiny. Doesn’t it make good sense to plan your life's journey by learning how to read the genuine biblical map?

God's Plan to End Evil and Suffering
Is God blind to evil and human suffering? Why doesn’t He intervene to put a stop to it? Or could it be that it’s we who are blind to what God is doing and that humankind must learn some major lessons before He puts an end to evil?

Coming: God's Solutions to the World's Problems
Nearly everywhere we look, the world seems to be spinning out of control. Why do we see so many problems? Can we find a solution? Does the Bible offer hope for answers?

Life or death?

Will our nations repent or die?

2 Chronicles 7:14 (New King James Version)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Meditating on this holy Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, recognizing how difficult it is for Sabbath-keeping Christians to overcome sin, to avail ourselves of our great spiritual resources, to receive the pardon and the power to go and sin no more, I thought about how much more difficult it is for non-Christians since many of them don't even acknowledge their sins are sins, as defined by the Bible (1 John 3:4), just like many professing traditional Christians refuse to believe their baptized paganism, their religious ways, are sins (1 John 2:4). How can our nations then be saved from the coming destruction foretold in the Scriptures?

God offers the gift of repentance and our English-speaking nations of White Israelites are rejecting it. It strongly appears then we'll be rejected and become so much refuse, littered among the nations, insisting upon learning the hard way, as usual. The good news is that those individuals who do favorably respond to God's call, who receive the gift of repentance and forgiveness, can be spared from the worst of what's about to be unleashed upon this world.

Overcome in Christ Daily
GOOD NEWS: Yahshua is able to break the bonds of sin and set free those who are slaves, saving us from both sin's eternal death penalty and delivering us from the sin. Some deny this POWER and only want the pardon but the Throne of Grace offers both.

Don't Give Up!
If you begin to cry out to God for help, even if it's only a whimper because you're so weak, He'll see and hear and respond. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit... none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate" (Ps. 34:18, 22).

Shape up or get shipped out!
If we insist on foreign ways, we'll be deported to foreign lands

A Nation of Drunks and Whores
We’ve been living a lie and have loved to indulge in deception. “Don’t confuse me with the facts” has been our shameful attitude, and truth has been treated like some social outcast. Therefore, God threatens to use Europe to wake us up...

Ravaged by Weather and War
Thomas Jefferson was moved to remark: "My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!"

Thanksgiving: Attitude of Gratitude
"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God...17 then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth...'

Death to the American, British and Jewish Peoples?
The German-Jesuit EU will conquer the British-Israelites and Jews because God will use them to punish us for our idolatry and immorality. Such defeat, deportation and occupation will last 3 1/2 years and then Yeshua will return and reign and save us from our sins and our enemies.

British-Israelites and Jews in Grave Danger
Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall warns that due to our idolatry and immorality, our nations are prophesied to fall and fall hard if we don't turn from our ways and remember our Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities (Malachi 4:4).

Death to America: Major American Cities Targeted by Terrorists?
Will Providence permit foreign murderers in our midst (in attitude, if not yet in action) to unleash nuclear fires within our major cities? Will militant minorities work with them against us? Won't our British-Israelite brethren suffer the same within their respective biblical inheritances?

www.davidbenariel.org

Forget Ramadan for Yom Kippur!

Re: Muslims Find new Ramadan Fast Partners: Christians

Such holier-than-God apostate Christians would do well to stop aiding and abetting Nazi Muslims and repent and start keeping the same biblical ("Jewish") festivals as Yahshua. They can fast on the holy day/date our Great Creator God, the God of Israel, YHVH, has ordained: on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Ultimately all nations will learn from Jews and go up to Jerusalem and celebrate the biblical festivals and worship our King in the House of Prayer for All Peoples, growing in understanding of the God of Jacob - not learning everything they never needed to know about the moon cult of Islam from Muslims!

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Celebrate the Feast of Trumpets!

The Feast of Trumpets introduces the autumn festivals—representing the culmination of the present age of man and the beginning of an incredible time during which God will play a much more direct part in world events. The previous festivals constitute personal responses to the workings of God in the people He calls and chooses. But the Day of Trumpets heralds the intervention of God in the affairs of humanity on a global basis. This Holy Day represents a dramatic turning point in world history.

This particular festival also marks the beginning of the third and final feast season (Exodus 23:14; Deuteronomy 16:16), which includes the final four Holy Days of the year.

Click here to continue

Don't celebrate Christmas or Easter!

Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?
Going into debt certainly isn't biblical, so why not break free from the trance? The "Christmas" rush is a "drug" pushed by commercial pimps prostituting a supposedly Christian holiday for their ungodly profits! They hold hands around the cash register and sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus."

The Plain Truth About Easter
Has it ever occurred to those stuffing their faces with Easter ham that Jesus would puke at the thought? Neither Jesus or Peter, James or John ever ate forbidden foods. They wouldn't feel too comfortable at plenty of people's dinner tables.

C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism
First, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English. Secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition

Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas
I was blessed to grow up in Risingsun, Ohio next door to my Grandma and Grandpa Hoover on their farm that embraced where we lived, surrounding us with its loving arms on both sides (until the age of 11) and behind, with our woods over yonder a bit, that I loved to walk through as a boy, always looking for my "brother" hawk, circling overhead, to greet me...

Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?
Abominable Christians, those who have the perverted religious preference of tradition over truth, are just like every other sinner unwilling to confess and forsake their sins and seek to whitewash or justify them. The difference is such professing Christians often pretend to be better or more righteous than those physical idolaters and immoral folks (who also refuse to repent) while they engage in spiritual idolatry (putting tradition over truth) and spiritual immorality (whoring around with other gods and foreign ways) bringing divine judgment upon our nations.

Shape up or get shipped out!
If we insist on foreign ways, we'll be deported to foreign lands

Death to America? (David Ben-Ariel YouTube video)
Death to the American, British and Jewish peoples? Concentration camps for YOUR family and friends? Why would God permit Europe to defeat and deport us? Does He really hate the abominations of Christmas and Easter that much?

God has a plan to heal Michael Jackson

Deeply loved by his fans, Michael Jackson was nevertheless a polarizing figure. Will he be remembered for the wide-eyed exuberance he showed as a pre-teen sensation in The Jackson 5? Will he be lauded for “We Are the World” and its charitable outreach to starving Africa? Or will he simply be “Wacko Jacko”—a confused narcissist and alleged pedophile who literally seemed uncomfortable in his own skin, who by the end of his life had become a walking advertisement for the dangers of too much plastic surgery?

God has a plan to heal Michael Jackson

Herbert Armstrong was not antisemitic!

Deceptive Ad

You recently ran an ad for a book, Beyond Babylon, by "David Ben-Ariel."
This is a Christian radical theology fronting for offshoots of the Worldwide Church of G-d, Herbert W. Armstrong, representing the British Israel branch which has crossovers with other antisemitic groups.
I thought you would want to know.

Yitzchok Dovid Smith
Received by email

SLR Responds: You are 100 percent correct we would want to know, and we are very grateful to you for pointing out our potentially severe error. We have no idea if this group is antisemitic (nothing we found out about them would indicate that), but they are definitely a Christian evangelical group, and their ad in our paper indicates that they were being deceptive. You can trust their ad will not appear again.

This exchange appeared in The Jewish Voice and Opinion magazine, May 2009, in reference to two full page ads that I, David Ben-Ariel, bought and paid for in full (January and April issues) - not any group or organization!

I sincerely hope that "Yitzchok Dovid Smith" knows more about Judaism than he does about Herbert W. Armstrong and the offshoots of the Worldwide Church of God, as those who are knowledgeable about Mr. Armstrong and those associated with him, having read or are familiar with his former magazine The Plain Truth, know that we are not antisemitic in any manner, shape or form and to attempt to discredit us by a faulty connection to some who are is as deceptive as linking all Jews with Bolshevism or other godless movements!

Mr. Armstrong was well known in Israel among the leadership for years, even honored in Jerusalem many times, and met every prime minister from Golda Meir on until his death in 1986. Ambassador College (Pasadena, California) worked with Hebrew University on many archaeological digs and Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem honors Herbert W. Armstrong to this day with a monument.

Furthermore, I am not a member of any "Christian evangelical group" and neither Herbert W. Armstrong or offshoots of the Sabbath-keeping Worldwide Church of God have anything to do with traditional Christianity, which we consider baptized paganism: the Babylonian Mystery religion in Christian drag!

My two full page ads (they were my ads, representing my politico-religious concerns for Israel in light of the pope's campaign to undermine Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, Europe's new crusade) in The Jewish Voice and Opinion were not deceptive in the least, as I have always focused on where I agree with Jews, as Torah-observant Jews can testify who have known me for years, like Gershon Salomon, chairman of the Temple Mount Faithful, and Ze'ev Bar-Tov; Aryeh Gallin, President of Root and Branch Association; Attorney Howard Grief; rabbis Yehoshua Friedman and Avraham Feld; Yair Davidiy of Brit Am Yisrael; Barry Chamish, etc.

Last but not least, my legal name is David Ben-Ariel. Again, nothing deceptive. Just the plain truth!

For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel

Shimon Peres aids and abets Israel's enemies!

Christian-Zionist David Ben-Ariel's strong response to Shimon Peres' weak AIPAC speech, condemning the lying peace process, collaboration with the Vatican and warning about UN Resolution 181 as the Final Solution!





Isaiah 28
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we are in agreement.
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
It will not come to us,
For we have made lies our refuge,
And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”

Shimon Peres, the bloody vulture who initially came to power over Rabin's dead body, the perfidious president of Israel, has publicly wished president usurper Obama at the AIPAC Conference in Washington, DC, "full success" and "God speed." What a madman! Such success would mean death to the United States and death to Israel!

Shimon Peres' schizophrenic speech, with no basis in reality except for the clear and present danger Iran poses, continued to self-righteously push the delusional "peace" process as something desirable, rather than a miserable failure and fraud that should be declared null and void.

The irreligious Shimon Peres had the chutzpah to speak in the name of a god who "doesn't believe in war." Our Great Creator God, the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, instructs Israel to offer peace on our God-given terms, our God-given conditions, not based upon "painful compromises" or "painful concessions" Israel's sworn enemies dictate! And when such offers of peace are rejected, our Great Creator God, the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, demands Israel enforce peace through strength. Not to insanely keep trying to make peace with sworn enemies who must be defeated and driven out, as Meir Kahane courageously reminded the nation of what Moses taught (Malachi 4:4).

Shimon Peres condemned Iran funding and arming Hezbollah and Hamas, yet remained deathly silent about the United States and Israel funding and arming Fatah and Hamas, and aiding and abetting the terrorist PLO office to remain open in Washington, DC, and failing to move the United States' embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem where it belongs, as acknowledged by the Jerusalem Embassy Act.

Shimon Peres accused the Iranians of "trying to impose a foreign and violent ideology. Their agents target Americans, Europeans and Arabs alike." That's true. However, the same thing must be said about the Vatican's Crusade to undermine Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, pushing illegitimate Catholic claims forward with the German pope's planned visit to the Holy Land of Israel, while continuing to hold the Temple treasures and Judaica hostage in Rome.

The Roman Catholic Church, backed by the German-dominated Europe, poses the greatest external threat to Israel's survival. However, the greatest threat to Israel is from within: the Jews' worst enemies are those Jewish collaborators with the accursed Vatican, who sell out Jerusalem and betray Israel.

Jewish Israelis must remember they are Jews first and Israelis second, return to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and go by the Book. Otherwise the German-Jesuit jackboot will stomp Jerusalem and peacekeeping troops pollute the Holy Land of Israel, imposing UN Resolution 181 as the Final Solution.

For Zion's sake (Isaiah 62),
David Ben-Ariel