http://ichthys.com/ 
Cults and Christianity XI
Question #1:   
Hi Bob,

I completely understand, it was just that other bible scholars aren't as good is all. I've been laid up with the flu for a week and in that time, I was looking at some ministries on Youtube. I've come to the same conclusion that you gave me earlier Bob, there aren't many safe places left. I looked at a local bible discussion group which has become a victim of its own success and become a Christian rock venue. Another one on Youtube was a "Christian" ministry that told the followers to follow all the rules of the Torah. On closer inspection, this ministry exposed itself as a cult whereby the leader (a woman) screamed at her followers: "The Sisterhood" to fear the Lord as she dangled salvation in front of them like a carrot and threatened to whip the salvation away should anyone accuse her of legalism or even slightly criticise her in any way. I'm really shocked that such places exist in 2018!! I am also shocked that I brushed so close by this cult as it was so pleasing to the ear. Maybe the reason this is happening now is that Jesus is telling me that I need to get my discernment chops together quickly! It's really scary that Youtube recommends such channels once the algorhythm figures out you want to see Christian content. Maybe Youtube is not for me any more. I've caught on that so many other channels I listened to are affiliated with this nasty cult! I really need to get deep into my bible studies and gain the growth I need. No more shortcuts! If it comes easy then it isn't spiritual growth is it?

In our loving Saviour, who is the only truth,
Response #1: 
Hope you are feeling better!

Yes indeed, the profusion and proliferation of false teaching is definitely a "sign of the times":

(1) The Spirit explicitly says that in the end times certain men will rebel from the faith, giving their allegiance [instead] to deceitful spirits and demonic doctrines. (2) With their own consciences seared away and speaking with the hypocrisy of men [who peddle] lies, (3) they will [instruct their victims] to refrain from marriage, and to keep away from certain foods – which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and fully understand (epigignosko) the truth.
1st Timothy 4:1-3

So be aware of this, that in the last days there will be difficult times. For [in those times] there will be men (i.e., false teachers; cf. chap.2) concerned only for themselves, devoted to money, egotistic, arrogant, blasphemous, not concerned for their parents, ungrateful, irreverent, implacable, slanderers, uninhibited, savage, despising the good, betrayers, impetuous, megalomaniacal, devotees of pleasure rather than lovers of God, possessing an [outward] appearance of godliness, but [in reality] having rejected its [true] power. From such men turn away.
2nd Timothy 3:1-5

For the time will come when they will not put up with sound teaching, but will [instead], desiring to have their ears scratched, heap up by their own [devices] teachers to match their specific lusts. And they will turn their ears from the truth and resort instead to fictions.
2nd Timothy 4:3-4 

But as far as YouTube goes, it's merely a medium, like the internet. I read somewhere one time that some whopping percentage of internet traffic is pornography related. Add to that all the other nasty and evil and counterproductive things that happen online and it might seem prudent to some to stay off line entirely. But there are some good things online as well (Ichthys and Bible Academy [link], among other good things). 

I sure hope you are not going to give up on your own inspiring YouTube series.

Thanks for your good and insightful words, my friend.

Keeping you in my prayers daily.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Bob! 

What exactly does it mean when it says that we shall judge the angels? 

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Corinthians 6:3) 

I've heard interpretations from judging the fallen angels to having authority over them. Some have even suggested that this verse means to judge the Nephilim, but that doesn't seem to make sense to me since they are not angels. 

I was also telling my brethren that the health and wealth prosperity gospel is from the pits of hell, and they said that it's not true since Job was extremely wealthy and had lots in his possession, and also that the patriarchs of the OT were living in abundance. So they said that when Jesus said that it is impossible for a rich man to enter into God's Kingdom was only describing the religious leaders instead those who were justified in God's eyes. Thanks! 

God Bless,
Response #2:
1st Corinthians 6:3 is speaking about believers dominating fallen angels AFTER the resurrection at the second advent (see the link), but has nothing to do with elect angels (who have no need to be "judged") and nothing to do with events on earth before the end times, since we cannot even see angels at the moment.

You are of course correct about the so-called "prosperity gospel" (see the link: the Dangers of the Prosperity Gospel). Any Christian who is fixated on money and wealth is going about the Christian life in entirely the wrong way, and dangerously so as well:
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1st Timothy 6:9-11 NIV
The "wandering from the faith" is apostasy, loss of salvation. Exchanging eternal life for any amount of wealth is the very definition of trading one's birthright for a mess of pottage like Esau did.

Yes Job was wealthy. Do your friends want to endure the suffering Job endured? Yes, Abraham was wealthy. Do your friends want to be called upon to sacrifice the one they love the most? Paul is one of the greatest believers who ever lived and he will be one of the most highly rewarded in eternity with one of the foundation stones of the gates of New Jerusalem bearing his name – and he was dirt poor his entire life. Jesus also had nothing – materially speaking – and what little He had was divided up at the foot of the cross and given away. Aren't we supposed to follow His example? There's nothing wrong with having means; in this country and society we have to have some means even to survive to learn the truth and minister it to others. But lusting after "prosperity" is a horrible trap.

Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #3:
Hi Bob,

The pagans in Rome charged Christians of "cannibalism" because they believed in eating the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Is that evidence that the early church did take the words of Jesus "this is my body" literally?

Sincerely,
Response #3:
The true Church of Jesus Christ is composed of those who believe in Him.

But Christianity as a religion, the "church visible", is composed mostly of those who do not know Him. It has ever been thus, and almost nothing non-believers who are playing the devil's version of the truth do would surprise me. This will be seen in spades during the Tribulation when the beast pretends to be Christ.

In Jesus our dear Savior,

Bob L.
Question #4:
Hello Bob,

It deeply disturbs me that there are SO MANY nominal "Christians" these days, and it's usually coming from well-known people or celebrities that have charisma; but a worldly charisma that leads others to be deceived when all the while the deceiver is being deceived themself. A good example is from what I've read today in an article where Oprah Winfrey is a self proclaimed Christian, and at the same time she vehemently denies that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. 

Oprah was discussing what I refer to as "New Age Christianity" on her show. An audience member spoke out on how Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to God where we have access to Him because of His One and Only Son. Oprah then got upset and said, "How can there possibly only one way to God?" Furthermore, she said that almost or all other religions lead to God. A straight up lie!

Unfortunately, the audience member had no reply to that question, which is why she should have studied the Word of God herself to have an answer to every man who asks why we are Christians (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:15). I wished I was on her show at that moment so I could've refuted everything she falsely said about Jesus and God. If Oprah asked me that same question she asked a member audience, I would reply by saying, "There is ONLY ONE WAY to God, and says who?...Jesus Himself who was God in the flesh. Is Oprah more wiser than God Himself? NO!

I would like to know your thoughts and feedback on this. Thank you so much for your help and giving me a better understanding regarding what the Word of God TRULY says.

God Bless!
Response #4:
Many people – especially celebrities and politicians it seems – claim to be Christian when they may well not be believers in Christ at all, but I certainly agree with you about the substance, my friend!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
John 14:6 NIV
However, the above is essentially what the person who confronted O.W. said – the truth. Once people reject the truth, what more can we do? More than that is throwing pearls before swine – as all have proven themselves to be when they reject the truth. Putting the truth in a different form or saying it in a different way or saying it louder or with more emotion doesn't make it any more true – it was true the first time. People who don't accept the truth in one form are not going to accept it just because the packaging changes.
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Luke 16:27-31 NIV
Times are coming when the ears of all who are not of Christ will be stopped (cf. Is.6:9-10; Matt.13:14-15). But the Spirit will tell us what to say.
"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Matthew 10:19-22 NIV
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #5:
Hello Bob, 

Thanks for all your wisdom and support!

Speaking of wisdom, I stumbled on a channel (yes alas alack again on the dreaded YouTube) and a man was decoding the bible and uncovering hidden symbolism. He was using codes and gematria and although fascinating I suddenly became worried. He said that his amazing knowledge came from the Holy Spirit but then I got worried that this was hidden knowledge that we are not suppose to know about. Do you think this kind of thing is what God would want us to be doing? I guess we are all curious creatures and I'm a sucker for a mystery just as the next person but I wouldn't want to do anything forbidden. I don't need or want "proof" of God or Jesus, I know very well that they are real. I am aware that it was written that knowledge will increase at the end but was not sure if this is the kind of knowledge. I don't know much about Kabbala, mysticism or Gnosticism but I have a feeling that they are all bad. Are they?

In lots of ways I do like mysteries but at the same time I am happy for things to remain mysterious. I want to go to Jesus with the innocence and wonder of a child and I am aware that there are many out there that are happy to prevent that from happening.

Many thanks again my dear friend!

In Our Loving Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
Response #5:
I like solving puzzles too, but this stuff is to be avoided. It's all a bunch of "hooey". One variant of this codes nonsense wants to see significance in the use of the Hebrew direct object marker! That would be like considering the word "THE" of special mystical meaning in newspaper articles! For anyone who knows Hebrew, these ridiculous systems seem just that, but the people who hawk them have honed their salesmanship approach to draw in non-specialists. Just as in advertising, a persuasive approach and an attractive presentation can make Brand X oatmeal sound as if it were ambrosia itself – but in the end it's just oatmeal (and it might not even be particularly good oatmeal).

This particular variation of satanic false teaching has been around a long time. It traces its roots back to the Jewish Gnosticism which Paul battled against might and main (notable in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Hebrews in particular). There are various "flavors", but it all boils down to enticing people with the promise of "secret knowledge" and then luring them into all manner or absurd false teachings, often involving the veritable worship of angels or equivalent entities. Scientology is also a form of this sort of thing (or ripped it off at least). So I advise you to steer clear, my friend! Here are some links that will fill in more of the details:
Bible Codes
Numerology
Aleph Tav
The "Chronicles Project"
Gematria
Gnosticism in 2nd Peter and Jude

"Elemental principles" (ta stoicheia) in Paul

Gnostics and Gnosticism

Gnostics and aeons

Gnosticism and the Johannine comma

Gnostics and doxai

Gnostics and the pleroma

Visions of angels in Colossians 2:18

Reviling angelic beings

Combating Gnosticism

Adoration of angels
Hope you are doing well, my friend! I'm keeping you and your spiritual growth and welfare in my prayers daily.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #6:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,

I recently read an adult Sunday school someone gave me from a United Methodist Church and would like your comments on them, I also have comments that I am going to share with the person who gave me this book.

Excerpt: 1 - The Bible Study teacher writes this in the Editor's Perspective: A few hours after attending an Ash Wednesday service several years ago, I went to my exercise facility. One of the trainers immediately approached me with a tissue and said, You have some dirt on your forehead. Leaving the ashes on my forehead had been intentional, a sobering symbol of my sinfulness, and mortality but also a hopeful reminder of my identity as one created, loved and redeemed by God in spite of my sinfulness. What had visibly set me apart and marked me as a follower of Christ would need to take different forms in the Lenten days that followed. The season was ripe with opportunities to learn more fully and to demonstrate more faithfully my identity as a Christian disciple.

Excerpt 2 - She writes - We, too, have been marked with a sign. Our baptism is a means of God's grace towards us, a sign of incorporation into the body of Christ. When we reaffirm our baptism, we recommit ourselves to living up to our side of our covenant with God. 

Excerpt 3: The writer of the Sunday School lessons holds a Ph.D. in English, a M.R.E., and a M.Div. In addition she has written biblical curriculum and spiritual formation materials for adults for more than then year. She writes: The writer of Genesis insists that when the smell of burning flesh reached God's olfactory system, it was a pleasurable experience. He sees God questioning His own decision for justice. She then asks this question: Can God be manipulated by the quality of our worship or our supplications? She references Genesis 9:8-17 and further states: The covenant God makes with Noah implies a level of equality among its recipients. Its conditions are guaranteed to each of the classification alike, and thus it expresses a bond between people and animals. There is a sense of a new Eden and the complementary order of all created beings. Harmonious interaction is encouraged in the vital connection between people and animals, a connect that has no doubt been intensified by the weeks of shared living within the ark. She further states: On the other hand, we may understand the Flood as a figure of speech in which one thing is meant to represent the whole. God may have been using the Flood to represent all forms of destruction. God may have placing the emphasis on the impulse to destruction rather than the form of destruction. The diction of God promised Noah and thus all humankind that he will never again unleash his wrath on humans with the intent of destruction. She goes further: The covenant with Abraham anticipates the plan of redemption that the incarnation in Jesus promised the Jewish nation. In a similar way, symbolism of circumcision anticipates the sacrament of baptism. Baptism is the covenant of grace that God makes with believers, the attestation to God's avenue for salvation.

Concerning the Sabbath she writes; The admonition to keep the Sabbath has a basic level of divine logic to it. It places Sabbath observance squarely within the life-death continuum that persons experience every day as cells replace cells.

These are just a few of the things she wrote in her Sunday School book. Would really appreciate your comments on these. I want to share them with the person who gave the Sunday School book.

May the God who knows all things give you continued wisdom, knowledge and understanding into His Word, as I ask and pray for the same also.

Blessings to you in the Name above all names.

Your friend,
Response #6:
Always good to hear from you, my friend. As to your questions on these excerpts:

1) Putting ashes on one's head is a ritual connected to the R.C. church and certain older, traditional denominations – though of late many "Christian" churches are doing more and more R.C. things. When teaching the truth and searching for the truth cease, ritual, emotionalism and entertainment generally take their place. I don't believe in hiding one's faith. I'm also not going to get a fish tattooed on my forehead. Making an issue out of one's faith by adopting weird behaviors is hardly being a good ambassador for Christ. And in my experience, the witness of the life is a much better "sales pitch". If we really are walking and acting in love and are filled with the truth and the Spirit, this will not be missed by those around us – and when they find out we are Christians, that will influence them for the Lord much more than a false crusade.

2) Water-baptism, if that is what is meant, is likewise a non-biblical ritual (see the link for the latest on this). In the history of the Church, it has done far more harm than any possible good (of which I see none at all). The only water-baptism in scripture is John's which looked forward to the Messiah and was meant for penitent believers, not as a mark of becoming a believer. The only believer baptism in scripture is the baptism of the Spirit in which all believers share from the point of salvation onward (e.g., Rom.8:9).

3) God is spirit (Jn.4:24), "and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (NKJV). He does not have a literal, physical body and thus He does not have a nose. He represents Himself in human terms to us that we may better understand Him, but all such anthropomorphisms and anthropopathisms have to be understood as such, for He is spirit (see the link). Jesus Christ did share humanity with us and has since the virgin birth. He is indeed a genuine human being – but He is unique. The ritual of animal sacrifice is meant to show the Father's good pleasure with the work of Christ on the cross, with the violent death and burning of the sacrifice representing Christ's going into the darkness on the cross and being judged for all our sins that we might be saved; that is the true "blood of Christ" (link).

As to "God questioning" Himself that is patently absurd and betrays a complete misunderstanding of God – as if He were just a big human being; everything in the plan of God has been decreed. There is no "second guessing" and if God needed to "second guess" He would not be God.

As to the rest of the wild speculation here, for example, the creation of some "bond between people and animals", it should be enough to say that there is not a trace of any such thing in the scriptures, and certainly not in this passage. All covenants are part of the one Covenant, which was "old" in the sense of being taught through a variety of shadows involving animal sacrifice but since the incarnation and the cross is now "New" since Christ has ratified it with His death: we are saved from our sins by the work of Christ, God's grace accepted by us in faith; that is the agreement; that is the covenant (link).

I could go on, but I think you get "the drift". This is a very confusing set of excerpts shot through with enormous doctrinal error and rank speculation wherein there is almost no contact maintained with the scriptures whatsoever. I would give it a very wide berth.

Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #7:
Hello my friend,

That is my sentiments exactly even before I wrote you this email. In my opinion, the so-called Bible teacher who wrote these excerpts, and many others which I did not mention, knows very little of the God of the Bible nor is Word.

I agree with you whole-heartedly, and ask that you pray for me to find a way to break the news to the person(s) who asked me if I wanted to read their Sunday School material. I intend to do that as gently as I can and with God's love with me, He will show them the truth.

I don't have words to express to you my gratitude to our Lord and Savior for getting to know your teachings. I cannot never thank Him and you for what you have done in my life to further open my eyes to the Truth, the Way and The Life.

May God grant you His grace and blessings as you continue His great work thru you.

Your friend,
Response #7:
I more than suspected that was the case, my friend. You have excellent "spiritual common sense", and it is clearly growing as you continue to grow in the Word.

I also certainly appreciate all your good words, my friend. Thanks!

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior – He who is the very truth.

Bob L.
Question #8:
Hello again Bob!

I was about to say that I always disliked the visible (and even not so visible) display of wealth and power in the big churches. We can be in awe at the architecture of great cathedrals (there are so many beautiful ones in England and in the places in Europe I have visited). Maybe the greatness of the building is meant to be honouring the greatness of God but something about this has never sat right with me. When I think of Christ I think of his birth in a stable, born to a carpenter, travelling on a donkey. He taught humility and charity, obedience and love. I don't see any of this represented in the big cathedrals and churches. Even worse, these days we see the rise of the mega churches that make ludicrous amounts of money by tickling the ears of the congregation with a palatable worldly take on the teachings.

I wish to live openly as a practising Christian but I don't know how to. I was told as a child that Sunday was the sabbath but now have read that we should keep the Jewish sabbath holy? Is this true? Most churches do not have Friday/ Saturday services. 

Which church should I go to? Should I go to church at all? I no longer feel that the Catholic Church is heading in the right direction and may even be part of the great deception. The Pope has said many strange things recently that are bordering on (if not in actuality) apostasy.

When I am studying the bible at home and think about Jesus and my relationship with him and with God the father I feel strength and warmth and belonging. When I look out into the world and see so many different variations of Christianity and so many false doctrines, it pains my heart.

I have suffered with many things for a good part of my life and my faith is really helping to fulfil me and heal me in ways I didn't think possible but there is such a massive disconnect between what I read in the bible, what I feel in my heart and what I see in the churches. It causes me much distress. 

The secular world in England is so proudly atheistic and anti-Christian, it is really shocking. Maybe it shouldn't be shocking to me. Historically England has always had a love/hate paradoxical relationship with religion. It does feel that I am living in the devil's kingdom and the current time we are living in thinks that science is a preferable belief system over theology.

I want to serve God and God wants us to keep the sabbath holy as one of his commandments. 
I neither am confident over which day is the true Sabbath and how to honour it and keep it holy.
I am happy to not work and study the bible on this day and spend the day resting and with loved ones.

Where I live there are a few Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Methodist churches and one High church. Why has it become such a minefield? Christ wants me to come to him with the faith of a child and yet all these differing and warring denominations are real stumbling blocks for me in my eager walk towards Christ, it really grieves me. 

God wants us to follow him and would not want it to be such a complicated business that would keep his children away from him. It is man who has complicated it. Fenced it off and segregated the faith into tribes and cults.

Bob I have cried often about this. For me, I want to be a Christian and follow Christ and give him and the father glory. I don't know how to Bob! I get so confused by different teachers, voices, interpretations.

I wish that Jesus was here now so we could follow him! 

I don't know what to do for the best. 

Thank you as always for your continuing concern, friendship and tireless support.

Your friend in Christ Jesus,
Response #8:
I agree with your thinking completely. The RC church is a place where – as every single one of the RC refugees who have communed with me in this ministry affirm – salvation is impossible (as being of works entirely, which is of course not salvation at all: Eph.2:8-9), far less spiritual growth. Protestant churches these days also offer little in the way of the latter, sad to say. It would be great if there were a commutable Bible-teaching church for every Christian, a place which was not awash in legalism and which was actually straight on the important teachings of the Bible, a place were there was sufficient genuine, in-depth teaching (as opposed to unguided-missile type emotional preaching) for a believer to grow. The truth is, I know of very few such places anywhere in the world. So I have come to the point of saying, "Ichthys is my church", and you are certainly welcome here any time. 

What I always counsel is to set aside a time of sufficient length every day for prayer, Bible reading, and, what is also essential, listening to / learning from a good Bible teaching ministry. That is the only way to grow spiritually, and spiritual growth solves all problems by bringing the believer ever closer to the Lord through the truth. It's all about the truth, and the truth can only be gotten from the Bible (where there are limits to what a believer can get without a teacher) and from Bible teaching from a good source. If you are more audio-visually inclined, I also recommend Curtis Omo's Bible Academy (at the link).

No, there is no mandate for Sabbath worship – not any more – whether a person want's to call it Saturday or Sunday. That was under the Law, but the Law has been superseded by the New Covenant, ratified by the blood of Christ (His spiritual death on the cross in being judged for our sins). See the link (and the entire book of Hebrews, e.g.).

It is typical of many denominations, the RC church in particular, to go back to the Law and adapt it to what they prefer instead of what the Bible says.

They emphasize days, because the Law does, but we are to grow in Christ and walk with Christ EVERY day making no distinction between days (Gal.4:10-11; Col.2:16-17).

They emphasize persons with special access to God (priests), because the Law does, but we all have access directly to the Father through the Son who is our only High Priest (Eph.2:18; 3:12; Heb.7:1ff.), whose priesthood has supplanted that of the Law (Heb.7:12).

They emphasize altars and attendant rituals, because the Law does, but we have an altar from which those who served the one established by the Law have no right to eat (Heb.13:10), the body and blood of Jesus Christ, His Person and His work, through faith in which we are brought near to God (Eph.2:13)

They emphasize buildings, because the Law does, but we ourselves are God's temple through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.6:19), and we are being built up into a Church which is the very Bride of Christ.

There are good believers like yourself all over the world, of course, people who put learning and living the Word of God in first place. The man who is my "succession keeper" is a UK resident, and I spent a good deal of the evening editing a piece he is doing debunking a number of RC doctrines. He is ex-RC himself, and many of his friends and acquaintances are struggling with the same sorts of issues you are facing. I will be posting his material when he is done (at the link).

So please be encouraged. It is true that there is much that is false out there, but there is more than enough that is true. There are reasons that all this is not "totally easy" – it tests the faith of those whose hearts are generally true, and in the refining of them demonstrates the world of men and angels both that God is faithful to provide . . . to all those who really do want His provision.
No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.
1st Corinthians 11:19 NIV
Do feel free to write me back any time, my friend.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #9:
Hello again Bob,

I am not well at the moment. I'm going to step away from things that makes me anxious and the top two things that make me anxious are being on the phone and the Internet.

Sometimes it's only faith alone that gets me through. When I read the verse that says that God is patient, it felt so personal to me that I wept but with joy. My family is very impatient and very actively target driven. Their lives are very much about proving yourself to be worthy and even superior to the outside world. Competing hard and being "winners".

I have always been the oddball, the black sheep. The taciturn creative. The disorganised jumble. The one without ambition. 

I guess I have often wondered what use am I. I often pray "what is my purpose?" And then "Please give me a purpose?" And then "Do I really have no purpose?"

I know that everything and all is vanity. But I want to help others and do some good even in a limited way. And yet I cannot even help myself. Even the basics are a struggle at times.

Bob, I don't trust people anymore. I have often wondered why people have hated me so much when I look back I was very trusting, loving, gentle and innocent. I've been told that I am now very judgemental, paranoid and unforgiving. [details omitted]

I am sorry to unburden all this on to you. I am starting to talk to Jesus about all this. I am shocked that trusted ones have withdrawn support. Why are there times in life when you feel deserted by people? Why are people so unwilling to help the most needy?

Last night I thought about Jesus on the cross and that his own friends abandoned him and locked themselves in a room through fear. I think fear does this to people. I cannot imagine what that must have felt like. That level of betrayal and loneliness. It is incredible to think of.

It is as though people want to walk all around the houses to get round the back to find another way in, when the garden gate is open and the path is right in front of them.

Hope this finds you well and happy.

God bless you and take care of you,
Response #9:
I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles, my friend!

I'd don't think there is anything wrong with being wary about people. Christians are told by the Lord to be wise as serpents when it comes to other people, even as we are being harmless as doves. In other words, like the Lord, we have to be realistic about what people, all of whom have sin natures, are actually like (Jn.2:24-25).

Your family and former friends are typical of this the people of this world. But we who have committed ourselves to Jesus Christ are not looking to this world or the things of this world for joy or affirmation or purpose. The Lord is our purpose – and what He wants us to do. And He wants us all to keep growing spiritually, keep progressing in bearing up under the testing of life and walking with Him, and keep helping others as we are given to do. 

Bible Basics 6A: Peripateology will soon be posted [now at the link] (just as soon as the UK friend I wrote you about finishes proofing it for me), and it has a lot to say about all this, so please do consider reading it. If you have a printer, you could print it out and read it without being online (but it is over 250 pp. single-spaced, however).

I'm sorry to hear that you are having a tough time and that you have had such a tough time in your life. But I also want you to know that you are NOT alone. First, the Lord is with you and will never forsake you, ever. Second, we are all one Church – genuine believers, that is, not those who show up some place Sunday morning). And third, I have received very many similar reports from believers over the years. I also think it is fair to say that, reasonably evaluated, life and this world are totally depressing, and that those who don't think so aren't thinking straight. We all have a hole in the heart that only Jesus Christ can fill. But for those of us who let Him do so, there can be joy and peace and purpose and hope through whatever ocean of tears we have to swim. That is my testimony – and that of mostly all who are trying to live godly in Christ Jesus. What we have to look forward to is wonderful beyond calculation, and the time between now and then is minuscule – when viewed in the light of eternity.

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1st Corinthians 9:25 NKJV

Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior, the One who is our joy forever.

Bob L.
Question #10:
Thanks for your reply Bob.

I wonder if a lot of things e.g computers, smart phones and Internet are technology from fallen angels. I know that Tesla (whose work is highly important in today's world) consorted with demons and he was rebuked by a member of his family who was a Rabbi.

Sorry I know that it is off topic and I know that a lot of good can come from these things (finding you and your ministry for example!) but there is a lot of poison mixed in with the sugar. I guess we need to be circumspect on all things, especially when we become Christians.

What you wrote to me has helped me a great deal! Thank you so much for that. Last night I went to bed thinking about Christ and woke up thinking about him. I realise that this is very important. Your email made me realise that I was looking through the wrong end of the telescope! I was still thinking from a materialist and worldly view and trying to force the bible into complying with it which obviously is the wrong way round.

I need to be using the bible as my lens to look at the world through instead of looking at the bible with worldly eyes.

I realise that on the Christian path, the path diverges from the worldly path. Maybe deep down I already knew this. What has come as a shock to me is just how much it diverges! Yes! It is a true commitment and one that will be visibly obvious to others (especially in the end times).

I always knew deep down as a child that the world was unjust and cruel. It makes so much more sense that Satan has control over it (to a certain degree and for a finite time). I never understood people saying "what a wonderful world!" Of course I can see beauty in the creation everywhere, I can see good people and love and kind acts big and small. I can see beauty in the natural world but I also see the cruelty. I also see the danger in worshipping the creation over the creator. 

Like you said Bob, you would have to be blind to not see the full picture! The greed and breathtaking inequality, the poverty, the corruption, the senseless wars! What is wonderful about that? 

What makes me angry about this is that people blame God for man's downfall! The arrogance and pride of this is incredible! They blame God for disease, famine, war...you name it! And yet man stands there in his sin nature and blameless!

I like the C.S.Lewis quote about putting God in the dock and on trial, whereas it truly is man on trial. I fear that maybe I have been guilty of this too, of putting him on trial. I hope he will forgive me of this and many other sins of doubt and worldly pride.

I really do see that pride is one of the worst sins. If you have pride it opens you up to all the others sins. Pride was Satan's sin and he has now weaponised this sin and uses it against us. It is interesting that the worst sin is also the easiest one to commit. Pride is never far away and is always one thought or conversation away. Have you noticed that? Pride comes before the fall. Satan's fall. Adam's fall. Mankind's fall.

It is interesting that the word pride is being used again everywhere. We are being told that pride is a good thing again. Satan pours the same old lies from the same old bottles. Only the labels are new.

I realise that I have a long way to go on my journey and that as I go along it, the path will go further and further away from the path that most people are on. I guess it can be a lonely path but you are on it too (although you have far more progressed on your walk and have the confidence, assuredness and wisdom of a journey begun long ago), other Christians are here too and of course we have the Holy Spirit and at the end of the path we have God and Jesus cheering us on and encouraging us with wisdom and unerring love.

I need to be bold about my journey Bob. I realise that it will be tough at times and is not the easy route but it really is the only way forward for me, I just need to take the first baby steps forward and the more I take, the more confidant I will grow. Being born again means that I am a baby in this faith so I need to learn a lot and walk the walk and be patient with my loving Christ Jesus as he is with me.

Amen.

In our loving Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those called to the wedding feast.
Response #10:
You have excellent spiritual vision, my friend! It is a struggle for us all to keep it focused, however. As I say, the next BB installment deals specifically with that question, and I think it will be of help to you. Until it is posted [now available: link BB 6A], here are a couple of links that are related which you may find helpful too:
Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth III

Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth II

Encouragement, Spiritual Testing and Spiritual Growth I

The Battlefield Within: Fighting the inner spiritual Struggle.

Who Controls our Thoughts and Emotions?
I'm very happy to hear from you and to see how you have rallied spiritually from this attack. Good for you! That is something all believers need to do from time to time – and more often rather than less once they begin to grow because that is when the attacks start to come fast and furious.

This is also an excellent testimony, and your comments on pride are spot on. I think this will be helpful for others to hear as well. You have a lot to offer the Body of Christ. So please do keep plugging away on your journey, my friend. There is great peace and joy and encouragement in so doing – and, really, the only direction that makes any sense for those who see the truth is "forward".

Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #11:
Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for your reply my friend.

I am currently reading through your expert 'The Coming Tribulation' series and it is helping me a great deal and determining me for serious eschatological study. The nature in which I have come to be following Jesus' path and truly awoken to the current horrors of our day has put me on firm purpose of being of help in the end times.

I used to live in London surrounded by a large bunch of people who were all creatively inclined (like myself). As a lapsed Roman Catholic, I found many times in my life, that my supposed liberal minded views were constantly being put to the test. I saw one friend after another going down one shocking path or another. I was confronted by social "freedoms" that on paper I agreed with but then when it was right in front of me I felt an inner fright, shock, pain of disbelief and inability to be happy about someone else's choice that seemed wholly self deluded and destructive. I remember the last time this happened to me being a final blow that sent me careering forwards on the path that I am on now, with my newly awakened Christianity. A friend of mine was gleeful of her confirmed separation from her kind and sensitive husband and father of her children. She was amazed that I wasn't sharing in the jubilation of the destruction of her marriage and the uprooting of her family. I just sat there in shock absolutely horrified. I'll never forget that evening, it was as if something in me broke, spun around and snapped into place in the opposite direction. I suddenly found that my friends were speaking a completely foreign language to me, a language that jarred with me, that sounded coarse and disturbing to my ears. What made this even worse was that I was on the exact same path as my friends, blindly stumbling down one spiritual dead end after another. I have almost touched the void that men can fall into.

I wish that my faith was given to me through a pure pursuit of truth and innocence but instead it was hard won in the front line trenches of the wars in sin. Maybe that is why I feel a calling towards eschatology as I have had a real brush with mankind's sin nature and have seen with my own eyes where it can lead. I have recently told my family that their sleepy lives has formed a bubble around them that has protected them from the ugly truths of this world.

One came over to dinner last night, and I explained that I was born again and believed that we were in the end times. It is strange how many Christians view the apocalyptic texts as fear mongering madness. 

I guess I was trying to minister but I learned a lot in the process! . . . that I am "too fixed on the devil" and that I am not enjoying the joys of Christ. That is true. I am too vigilantly fixed on the devil's work. I do feel though that this is part of my calling somehow, to know his tricks so that I can help to steer others away. The problem with this is that it is dark and depressing territory, it is a real joy to read about Christ and his beautiful teachings. I need to fill myself up with that joy so that I can truly help others to find the right path. 

It is a real joy to have found your site and your hope inspiring studies! When I was in London, a friend said to me that "I can't believe that someone as intelligent as you could believe in something so stupid as a soul". We then have a two hour debate/argument over the existence of God and I posited that his evangelism of science had become a religion of sorts. That evening started the ball rolling for me. I realised that I wasn't an agnostic and couldn't comfortably sit on the fence anymore. I had been brainwashed and press ganged into believing that you couldn't be highly intelligent and believe in God. You are the living proof that this is a fallacy and God Bless you for it. I never even knew about apologetics until a few months ago and so my mind has been blown over all this. I never felt happy exploring and using my talents and abilities in a secular world but now, whenever I use them to give glory to God, my heart rejoices. Knowing that I can serve God this way has really lifted me and for the first time in my life given me direction and purpose. Knowing that my work can glorify God and also give expression to my artistic soul has never occurred to me before and suddenly a huge gigantic weight is lifted off my shoulders!

Being a Christian in this age is not an easy route as the obstacles are many and it sometimes feels like being in a social wilderness but I'm making steps forward even if only baby ones. I know that many, many others feel as I do, that it is really liberating and heartening to read your studies and your emails. I joked with my friend that we all need a pocket Bob with us whenever we struggle to intelligently articulate our feelings of and on faith.

I wish I could remember and quote from the bible as the truth of it continually knocks me over. I will endeavour to work on this admirable skill. My catholic priests were always the gatekeepers of this knowledge and by the time we had heard the truth it had had all its urgency and life squeezed from it.

Today in your series I read:
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?
This absolutely knocked me off my chair! I am struggling to confidently profess my faith to non believers and yet the woods are still relatively green! I worry that there will come a time that Jesus will be ashamed of me and say that he does not know me. I am wrestling with this at the moment, the pride in what the world thinks. I need to hasten my courage with this as time is short! I hope you don't mind me taking up your valuable time, especially with such a long missive! 

Yours in our loving saviour, Jesus Christ,
Response #11: 
It's wonderful to hear from you (please feel free to write any time), and thank you so much for this marvelous testimony! I know that it will be a great encouragement and tonic to others as it has been to me (hope you don't mind it being posted at some point – anonymously of course without identifying features).

I do want to assure you, however, that as a born again child of God, you have nothing to worry about. The Lord "knew you" in the womb, He knows you now, and He will always know you, with His Name emblazoned on your forehead in the New Jerusalem with all of the rest of us who love Him more than life itself.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Romans 5:8-11 NKJV
The logic here is inescapable. God loved us when we were His enemies so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place so that we might be saved. He wants all to be saved. So if that were His attitude towards us as unbelievers, how much more are we not safe and sound in Jesus Christ now that we are part of His Body, part of His Bride? If you believe in Him, you are part of Him. If you are fighting the fight, you have no worries about your share in the light.

Looking forward to cheering you on as you receive you reward before our Lord on that great day to come.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #12:
Hello Bob,

Have you got any writings on John 17:6? A JW asked someone I know this question and it is something I never went into assuming maybe the answer was The Word...What is your reasoning? As always many thanks for the time you give me with my many queries.

In our love for Jesus the Saviour

"Maybe you can help me. Why did Jesus say that he has declared the Father's name to his disciples at John 17:6". What name? 
Response #12:
Good to hear from you. 

When dealing with JWs, one has to preface by saying that a question from them is never a question, that is, it is never an honest request for information. Rather, such questions are always meant to lure the respondent into some (they think) cleverly concocted trap. No doubt this trap has to do with their assumption that the Father is YHVH but the Son is not – but that is of course the opposite of what scripture says throughout: e.g., in the same epistle our Lord affirms, "I AM", claiming the title YHVH (that is the essential meaning of the tetragrammaton) in several places (Jn.8:28; 8:58; 13:19; 18:5-6) – as well as affirming His deity on very many occasions in the gospel of John. He is with the Father before creation and equal to Him (Jn.1:1-2); He created the world (Jn.1:3); He is the Bread of life (Jn.6:35-51); He is from the Father and sent into the world by the Father (Jn.7:28-29); He is the Light of the world (Jn.8:12; 9:5); He is from above (Jn.8:23); He is the Door to life (Jn.10:11); He is THE Son of God (10:26); He is the resurrection and the life (Jn.11:25); He is the way, the truth and the life (Jn.14:6); He is in the Father and the Father is in Him (Jn.14:10-11); He is the true Vine (Jn.17:10); etc. If there were one book the JWs and all who deny the deity of Christ could delete from scripture, it would be the gospel of John, because no one can read it with care and not realize that Jesus is claiming deity throughout. It is crystal clear.

Back to the specific question, the word "name" in Hebrew and Greek scripture in particular has more significance than the word may suggest in English. Although in English we do say things like "he really made a name for himself" – meaning reputation. That is close to what 'name' means in the Bible in this and many other instances, specifically, the PERSON referred to by the name. That is to say, it's not just the designation by which we identify the person but it actually represents the person. That is not a long jump from English usage but it is an important one. So for example in Matthew 28:19 where it says "baptizing them INTO the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", this is not a verbal formula to be pronounced but the result of the Spirit baptism the apostles are to effect, that is, being entered INTO (that is what the Greek says, "into", definitely NOT "in") the Person of each member of the Trinity. We are made one with Christ by Spirit baptism, one with His "name", that is, His Person.

The same sort of thing applies in John 17:6. When our Lord says "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world" (NKJV), it does NOT mean "I told them what your (secret) name is", but rather, "I taught them what you are like personally through My example and words of truth" – and the latter of course is just exactly what Jesus did in all of His teaching and ministry.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
John 14:7-9 NKJV
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Bob L.
Question #13:
Dear Bob,

I was tempted to write after the 10/21 email posting but was reluctant. Today's (10/28) post pushed me over the edge. On the 21st, a correspondent recommended turmeric. For what, I
don't know, but it's good for many things; anti-cancer and pain, e.g. A friend has taken turmeric to control degenerative arthritis pain. That got me thinking about Tribulation.

If we are not to take the sign of the beast and will not be allowed to buy and sell, we will be on our own with only what the Lord provides. It seems like some of use should know what can be eaten and what can heal. Allopathic medicine won't be available to us. 

It's my belief that, in every locale, the Lord provides useful food and herbs to heal. This is not a superstitious belief in witchcraft or pagan rituals. Your correspondent in this weeks post cannot
possibly bring "peace and love" by burning sage. That's new-age hocus-pocus. It could be mildly helpful though in some upper respiratory conditions and raw sage is good for gingivitis. It's
not, however, a magic bullet.

I'm of the opinion that it's Satan's influence that confuses the reality of herbs with the witchcraft aspect to dissuade and discourage those who would consider using something successfully used for thousands of years - for real, human problems.

For a long time I disagreed with you about self defense during the Tribulation. I've read the Code of Conduct; general orders as it were. I've come to see that disagreement as a mistake. Defense, I
think is good and authorized, but of limited value. If what I'm seeing today is an indication of what's to come, Tribulation will be more horrible that we can possibly imagine. I suspect that after the initial parts of Tribulation, we will be in survival mode. Trusting the Lord will be the only defense.

That's a long way around connecting Tribulation to my previous herbal comments. I think Joseph is a good model. He brought Egypt and his family through seven years of famine by storing up enough food. We are in a different situation. We won't have granaries available. But I think the principle applies. I've often wondered what my calling is. Perhaps this is it or at least a part of it.

What are your opinions?

Finally, the emails on JW struck a chord. I may have told you this before. If so, please forgive me. (Getting old isn't for sissies.) I too took their "bible study." They had me follow along in my
Bible. After my questions about the discrepancies, they kept bring in heavier guns. Finally, we hit John 1:1-4 where their bible translated "and the Word was a god." When I protested that "the Word was God" was not the same and the two were very different, they got up in a huff and left. (There were six at that point.)

I had no intention of offending them, but apparently I did. Since, then when new recruits come by, I tell them politely that I'm familiar with their beliefs and don't agree. That seems to be
sufficient.

Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Response #13:
Thanks for the good info. I don't see anything wrong at all with eating healthy and using natural foods / herbs as healthy supplements. As to the Tribulation, it may come to that. No one can tell what things will look like then, and it's likely to be a different story depending where on earth a person is living during that terrible time. During the siege of Leningrad, every spare inch of ground was planted with one crop or another. It doesn't always take the Tribulation to provide the necessity for extreme methods. And – yes – the Lord is our security. He is not going to let us starve to death because we failed to buy that case of canned tuna at Costco. And even if we buy a hundred of them, this will not cause us to be secure without Him. We may be forced out of house and home. No one can say at this point. We have to learn to trust Him completely. So of course it's a good idea to get into that pattern now.

Thanks for your report on the JWs. The world is filled to overflowing with unbelievers, and they all need the gospel. However, not a single one of them is going to perish for lack of it. God will provide to anyone who expresses a fraction of an ounce of willingness. So while I have nothing against expending energy and effort towards individuals in groups such as this, on the one hand they are no more "lost" than the person we meet on the street who is not in any such cult, and on the other hand members of this group certainly ARE less likely to respond to the truth than that average unaffiliated unbeliever – which explains why they are in "that group".

Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Bob L.
Question #14:
Thanks, Bob, for your reassurance. I should observe that, since I've been telling JW visitors that I didn't agree, not a single one asked why.

I don't prepare for the Tribulation. I can't. Aside from the yearly stores of preserved produce which my family has done for generations, there's absolutely no way I see to store enough to get through the Tribulation. I do use herbs for medicine and food since they always work and I have them here. But that's just me. Others may not feel it's appropriate or have the resources I do.

After watching, or rather reading about, the current degeneration of society, I see no way of guessing what the future holds though I have to admit, it frightens me. Reliance on our Lord is the only thing that makes sense to me.

As for farming in tough times, as I understand, the French got through the German occupation by growing food under glass cloches which were warmed by rotting horse manure in trenches between the rows. Southerners survived the siege of Vicksburg by eating cattle fodder - blackeyed peas. The basis for the Southern New Year's tradition.

Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Response #14:
Hah! I knew about New Years, but I didn't know that was the origin of the tradition. I'm not much on black-eyed peas (or veggies et al. in general), so this strikes a chord with me!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:
Bob,

Its been a while since I've written. Hope you are doing good. We are plugging along. [details omitted]. Sorry to go on and on about these small things but I felt I needed to give you a bit of family background before I asked you for some guidance I need on a recent situation.

My __ is thick into the Mormon religion; father in law is a bishop. Her son just a few days ago announced on Facebook he is going on a mission for the Mormon church. I know in my heart he is being pushed to going and really doesn't want to. He will be going to ___ and will be gone for two years. When ever a missionary gets ready to leave on a mission they have a farewell. I can see the writing on the wall. We are going to get invited and because we will not be attending the event we are going to be attacked. We hope the best for him in his journey for the next few years in ___ and our prayers are with him. But this is where I'm always attacked and that is standing for what I believe. I really don't feel like I can engage in any conversation with them as of course I'm not supportive this time around. I know they are going to ask why or throw out other questions just to try and get something out of me so the can spin it or trap me out to be the bad person. My family are always trying to find something in me that they can use to justify them being the better person and then they feel comfortable for all there wrong doings. My one family member told me a year ago she doesn't believe in the Mormon religion and hasn't participated in years, but I was shocked to see her comment of congratulations on FB! I just can't do that!!! He is headed out to teach a lie. They don't teach the bible. They focus on the Book of Mormon that contradicts the bible. I feel like if you believe in God's truth you should stand in truth. Of course you don't always have to make an open stand. You might get attacked by the wolves...Every situation is different. That's were I'm needing some help. I need strength and wisdom on how to positively deal with this. I have learned in the past to say as little as possible but I feel this situation is coming on heavy. I'm always thinking how would Jesus respond. Its been years now since we officially took our names off the church records. We haven't got any questions from community members or family here yet as of Why or how come? Maybe they don't know we took them off...maybe they think we are just inactive members. All I do know is I feel this energy that is coming and it isn't good. [details omitted]

Thanks for your time Bob
Response #15:
While I understand the "flak" you will get for doing the right thing, the thing that your conscience tells you to do in the Spirit, you will feel much better with that in the long run (short run too) than giving into the pressure and doing what everyone else expects. After all, if your relative really is not committed to this dangerous nonsense, then the last thing he needs is you, one of the only spiritually sane people in his universe, to be telling him to "go for it" when "it" is a huge mistake. We are supposed to "rejoice with those who rejoice", but we are not supposed to encourage people to feel good about doing the wrong thing.
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Proverbs 24:11-12 NIV
If your family member were getting married and you knew in your heart that it was a mistake, that might be a time to grin and bear it – unless he asked you for earnest advice. And this might not be a time in the example cited above to jump in and tell him what a bad idea this is. That's probably not the right thing to do here either. This won't kill him and may be just what he needs to figure out that giving his life to this hoax and losing his chance for eternal life as a result is a really bad deal. But suggesting to him that this is "OK by you" is definitely the wrong thing. So I applaud your decision to refrain from doing something you know is wrong and would be potentially harmful to someone you love just because others will slander you and think ill of you – for all the wrong reasons. What matters to us is what God thinks, not what people think.

I pray and I sure hope that you can find a good job situation that is out from under all such needless theatrics. There are a lot of wolves in sheepskins out there these days, but in disguise or not, we who follow Jesus closely see through them . . . and have faith that He will not let us fall into their power.
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Psalm 27:1-6 NIV
Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #16:
Dear Professor 

Thank you for your kind reply. Do not feel you need to reply each time as I know you must have a heavy load, especially with classes back in full swing.

My OT friend took a turn for the worse yesterday. I dropped in again today and he was well enough to have his wife return to work. He is waiting on results of scans. I have been praying for his healing as he would be greatly missed by his family, others, and me. I so much appreciate his teaching me personally.

It is an emotionally and therefore physically draining week, and I have had to drag myself out of bed at last minute to go to work. Usually I can get up early as 4am to do some subject indexing. Just coping with grief. Found out yesterday a fellow driver died the day before.

My ___ texted to invite me to her son’s football semi final this coming Saturday morning AND to her partner’s baptism into the mormon church in the afternoon. I said I would endeavour to come to both but said I would not pretend to be pleased about the latter and if I attended it would be because I loved her, not the mormon church.

A great little trick that the mormons exploit with astonishing success is a simple formula.
Study these things, and the missionaries will help you with this (i.e. if the mormon church is Christ's restored church on the earth today; or anything else you need convincing of); and ponder them in your heart, ask God and He will reveal the truth unto you by the Power of the Holy Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Spirit you may know the truthfulness of all things. When you get that warm feeling of the still small voice speaking comfort to your soul, it IS the Holy Spirit witnessing the truth. When I recently pointed out some Bible truths via text chatting, my ___ dismissed my explanations from the Bible, and reverted to “I will ponder these things” (the formula!)

Needless to say, all cults use devious methods, and of course mormons claim being the ONLY true church on the face of the earth today, having a living prophet at the head and continuing revelation. Cult members all feel “good”; theirs is right and unique. And of course many reinforce the feelings with stirring hymns.

I have watched Q & A on TV where the audiences, with different views are selected to put Qs to the panel. Enthusiastic applause when one side feels warm and fuzzy and tickled ears; enthusiastic applause from the other side when the opposite view is put!

And of course there are those who feel so right and fuzzy, they think, they are doing God a service, by putting you to death. Sometimes, sadly, a minuscule distance between fuzzy and frenzy!

Thank you for your prayers. Much gratitude for your ministry of teaching (where would I be without it). Such a wonderful blessing to have your devotion to God’s truth available to us.

Your student in Him Mighty to Save, Jesus our dear Lord and Savior
Response #16:
I've said a prayer for your friend.

You've had a lot on your plate lately, my friend. Please take care of yourself and back it off a notch or two. Times of exceptional grief and stress such as this require us to prudently conserve our emotional and physical resources, so please do so for the sake of yourself and those who care about you. 

I'm sorry to hear about your family member's persistence. I'm keeping that situation in prayer too.

Thanks again for your insightful description of the methodology of this cult. This a common cult characteristic as well. It's a very effective technique especially nowadays when so many are emotionally disconnected from family and society in our upside down techno-world. For the lonely, isolated and purposeless, "feeling good" is especially wonderful . . . unless it is artificially induced. Drugs do that too. Alcohol does that too. All manner of illicit behavior does that – temporarily. Criminals tell of the "power" they feel when they are involved in crime – it makes them "feel good" as if they are "somebody" (and is a big part of the reason behind recidivism). And lonely people immersed in a group, singing feel-good songs and getting all emotional and telling all manner of feel-good myths and lies, can really set the hook too. That is because, just as with all the other stimuli mentioned, this "feel-good" state goes away pretty quickly after the stimulus is removed. So it has to be repeated. And repeated and repeated. More drugs, more alcohol, more illicit behavior, more crime . . . more emotional outpouring is necessary to repeat that "great feeling". As time goes on, the highs are harder to achieve and the lows are ever deeper and harder to escape. This is why addiction of any kind is so difficult to break, but the problem with cults is that the addiction is not physical but mental and emotional, with the result that no one and nothing but the cult can supply the necessary "drug". So it is always a blessing when someone like yourself proves that escape is indeed possible. But that takes exposing the lie and seeing it for what it genuinely is.

We who are drawing closer day by day to Jesus Christ know what true joy is, and learn how to have peace by resting in our trust in Him even when things are far from joyous. We train our emotions with the truth, rather than artificially stimulating them with lies.

Thanks for the updated index, my friend – you're over half way through now!

Keeping you and your family in my prayers daily, my friend.

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #17:
Dear Professor Luginbill 

My sincere heartfelt thanks to you for your most gracious ministry. After many years in the wilderness, having left Mormonism after over 25 years of my adult life, I finally came across your site, following perhaps years on the internet looking for somewhere that taught the truths of the bible.

I read many books online. Firstly to detox from the untruths of mormonism, then searching about freemasonry (there is a connection with mormonism ), illuminati, black popes etc. Then I searched Christian literature and sites and at long last came across yours. At first read I found it hard going as I wanted quick answers which I found readily at sites such as CARM. I soon yearned for more light from the scriptures and struggled to relocate your site again (hadn’t taken note of site name). I have been downloading your materials, for a little while, though I noticed the one date from 2015, so it is longer than I thought. 

I am almost overwhelmed at the generosity of your ministry. The bible taught thoroughly and correctly, as you well know, is a pearl of great price. I have learned more truth from just a short time at your ministry than from all my previous years of life. I am endeavouring to learn quickly and use your materials in a way I hope will be pleasing to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Just an observation that you might like (or not) to comment on. I have mentally noted several references during high profile panel discussions to a “benevolent dictator” of the world that would solve environmental catastrophes, privacy outrages and so on. There did not seem to be any serious opposition or outrage at the suggestion. I am not suggesting that the people on the panels were endorsing such a proposal but no opposition was voiced that I could detect. If you use any of this email I think it may be prudent not to mention names of people on panel as you tube views may have been edited and in any case I wish no false aspersions cast upon people who are unable to reply. The adjudicator of one panel suggested a benevolent dictator as a solution to the destruction of threatened species. One did say that we don’t have a benevolent dictator so we have to work with what we got. Here in Australia, a national radio show host also “floated “ the idea of a BD with some ways BD could ensure our privacy is not abused by the big players. As a young adult I do not recall any sentiment for same sex marriage, yet after the “floating “ of the idea both left and right political parties were falling over themselves to enthusiastically embrace “equality in marriage “ (of any sort). Having read your CT series (thank you) I can now see how BD (antichrist ) also can be a reality.

I pray daily for the success of your most gracious ministry and for your welfare in all your family affairs and of course for your fabulous tent making. Praise to the Lord you are using your talents to serve Him so diligently. I will have to rely on your translations of the scriptures (my junior English mark was just 50%, they let me pass, I think as my other subjects were good). 

As a PS. Thank you for putting your CV online. A lot of stuff on the net is incognito and I have no idea of their authenticity or in the case of some only learn it after hours wasting my time reading. I do apologise that I did google for your credentials and found your name on the University site.

Your work is an immense benefit to me. I am endeavouring to share your site with others who want to follow the truth.

Praise to our Lord Jesus

Thank you Professor.

Your brother in Jesus 
Response #17:
Very good to make your acquaintance! I deeply appreciate your kind words about this ministry. They are a real tonic. I am always pleased to learn that this ministry has been helpful to a Christian's spiritual growth, and it is always particularly nice to find out that some of the things done (as in posting the C.V.) have had their intended purpose.

As you probably know from the site, a number of readers are ex-Mormons, so I am sure that this email of yours will be of encouragement to them once posted (it can take a while for that to happen, however – big backlog but sometimes topicality trumps that).

Your report about the desire for a dictator is interesting. I think anyone who has been in this world for a while – any Christian who has resisted the march of human viewpoint at any rate – will recognize in that trend as in many others the effectiveness of the devil's preparations for what is coming next. Blessedly, of course, our God has prepared ALL in eternity past and already decreed our deliverance (whatever form it takes). The sealing of the 144,000 surely indicates that those of us already sealed by the Holy Spirit will not be subject to the plagues that come from God (and cf. Rom.5:9-10), and our Lord tells us that He will "shorten the days" for our sake as well (Matt.24:22; Mk.13:20):
"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book."
Revelation 22:18 NKJV
. . . from which I conclude that those of us who are walking with Him are not going to be subject to any of the divine plagues of the Tribulation. We know that too from the experience of the children of Israel in Egypt. The ten plagues cast upon Pharaoh and his kingdom did not touch the Israelites and they were delivered from him and from Egypt. Pharaoh is a type of antichrist and the exodus a type of the Tribulation so we can draw the conclusion that while we will not be delivered from the general hardships of the period or from the depredations of the evil government (making bricks without straw – and we may be martyred), God is protecting us now and will continue to do so then. Our job is to trust in Him and His deliverance – something the vast majority of the exodus generation did NOT do (1Cor.10:1ff.).
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1st Corinthians 10:11 NKJV
Thanks for your testimony too. I think it is very encouraging to be reminded (as I am so often by brothers and sisters who have come to this ministry) that it really is all about choice. No matter where we start and what we have as advantages or disadvantages, the Lord is all-sufficient to fulfill the least inclination of positive desire to come close to Him through the truth of the Word of God.

Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob Luginbill
Question #18:
Dear Professor Luginbill 

I am genuinely humbled by your immediate reply (we are on opposite sides of the globe as well). I’ve read your reply many times and will many times more. However I am not expecting you to reply to this email as you have a huge load. 

This email is in acknowledgment and appreciation of your diligent ministry for the Lord Jesus which happens also to be for us who benefit immensely from your faithful service. I have tried to put the formula you teach of reading, learning, believing and applying into practice. As my knowledge and confidence in the gospel increases I endeavour to share with believers and unbelievers. Faith grows by hearing the Word of God.

Since finding your ministry we (my immediate family) meet as we can with some ex Catholics, though I didn’t know that at the time (my wife bought up Catholic too). He gives the lessons from the bible and teachings from the born again church he attended in the Philippines. I introduce things from Ichthys such as no pre trib rapture and the CT. I already believed these things from the bible. Your explanations have expanded my understanding. I now just started to join the “cuppa” morning once a week with divergent viewed Christians (one is the Baptist pastor) and some non believers. I have “hit it off” pretty well with one guy (a pre-tribber). He gives me literature and dvd’s. I have printed several pages from your CT book. He is not good with computers (I am basic only, my sons help me when I’m stuck).

Next step is for me to help him locate your site and hopefully read for himself. He prefers hard copy but my printer runs out of ink quickly. A positive is that he always refers to the bible to check things out.

Professor, all these and other “little” things have started happening only since I have been feeding at Ichthys. I agree wholeheartedly with you that the worth of a well prepared teacher is immense. The Saviour, our great teacher has the words of eternal life. The responsibility is huge on any gospel teacher to get it right. The Lord entrusts such with teaching the truth unto eternal life. I have great respect for your thorough diligent work and I am blessed to use it for my enlightenment, edification, growth and sharing with any who desire to partake.

Referring to your email; no I hadn’t picked up there were other ex mormon readers, though in some emails mormonisn was referenced. I did presume there would be some who would have searched as I had done and had also found what they were seeking for at Ichthys. I am so glad.
I have been downloading your emails and books for my own use and to share with all who show an interest. I want to index them (especially email topics) to easily find subjects (it’s taking some time). Also when I finish you are welcome to a copy, though it is your work and you can locate and know your own work well, others such as myself may find it helpful with discussions with learned and unlearned alike. (JW and M are active on doorsteps as well). Besides, reading your answers to emails of others has reflected a lot of my own questions and their concerns have been mine as well, edifying me and feeling their pain also as they battle it out here below.

My first thought was self interest and I am concerned that any site that dares seek to teach the whole truth would be subject to the attention of foes. (As an aside have you noticed that if you google “Christ or Jesus” that the mormon religion comes up on first, second, third and more?). They have a huge investment on the net. Other reasons are that the internet is not available wherever I go, some don’t have computers, making backup copies (not got there yet) for myself and to share.

Much more than my very favourite teacher in primary school who I still think of, your teaching of the word is for the eternal salvation of souls.

Just a question if I might (no need to answer in the short term and I may yet find it at your site). I have for along time believed (not by any great knowledge of scripture and certainly not to any comparable knowledge such as yourself) that the Second Advent would be around 2033; 2000 years after the Resurrection (if the dating system was accurate). I have read your explanation of the millennial days and see how it fits the time frames. Is there ANY possibility that the Tribulation will start in 2033 (a bit more breathing space, though it seems to be gathering momentum even now) with the Millennial starting in 2040. I guess what I am asking is there any OTHER feasible explanation from scripture. Just the short answer no will be fine. I am fairly sure of my own amateur interpretation and much more so by your excellent explanation from scripture though I suppose I wanted to know if other scripture experts had advanced any alternative time frame; e.g that the 7 years are not deducted from the church age.

On further reflection, even at the present rate of change (and as you point out, things will race along during the Tribulation at almost breakneck speed), it seems there is not much time to fill the lamps.

Please let me know if there are any cautions I should take with my “indexing” my copies of your emails. I find them a wonderful resource along with your more in-depth studies and am hopeful others will see their precious value explaining and testifying to the truth of the scriptures .
Thank you again for your generosity to us and for your willingness to serve the Lord Jesus.

Your brother in the Lord Jesus
Response #18:
I appreciate you, my friend! And your great comments as well. 

On 2040 as a possibility, you can read what I've written on that issue at the link in SR 5: "The Tribulational Overlap". It is a good point you make. I have put things a bit dogmatically at the link, but that is because of a desire not to have anyone feeling too secure when the wolf is right at the door. I say at the link that the false notion of a pre-Trib rapture has contributed to the 2040 position. That is because if there is no pre-Trib rapture (and there is isn't) then what are we Church Age believers doing in the Age of Israel – if the Tribulation is exclusively belonging to the Age of Israel? The pre-Trib rapture would clear up that problem – because we wouldn't be here – but there is no pre-Trib rapture (at least not in the Bible). As I also say in the text, the festival complex which heralds the second advent (Trumpets and Atonement) occurs within the Church Age gap in the Jewish calendar – something that only makes sense if there is an overlap between the ages. At the link, there are six (more really) other reasons for the overlap, the combination of which I find difficult to ignore. I guess it might be nice to have seven more years – and nothing is impossible for the Lord. But this is how I see it. Of course I could be wrong. As I tell my classes at the university, "there WAS that one time back in 1974 . . ."

On Mormonism, if you will click this link it will give you most of the files at Ichthys which discuss it: "Mormonism search at Ichthys".

As to your index, it would be GREAT to get that from you [see the link]! I'm sure that all readers would benefit. I have done what I can to make navigation of the site "not impossible", but it has gotten very large and even I have trouble finding things sometimes. Anything you could do to help would be greatly appreciated.

Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #19:
Dear Professor Luginbill 

Thank you for your reply which was yet another unexpected pleasure.

I am on the same page as yourself in believing in the imminent Tribulation. 

I must admit that I am disappointed (though not completely surprised)that even the possibility of a Tribulation is met with disdain among unbelievers and nonchalantly by many believers I talk with (we’ll be raptured anyway). My cuppa morning with some of my new pre tribber friends this morning so I had better get to sleep presently (after midnight here). Just to make a point, that even though I have come to some of the same conclusions as yourself (there also were some that challenged my previously held views and I only changed to your view point as you always support your position with an abundance of scriptures), I am sometimes out of my depth trying to understand all your teachings, not having anywhere remotely near the learning, qualifications and understanding of yourself. This is especially more so when reading some emails and your studies regarding Hebrew and Greek translations. It would be fair to say that I take it on trust that what you translate is indeed an accurate meaning of the original scriptures.

Your teaching and explanations ring true and your translations clarify scriptures that once puzzled me in that they seemed to contradict other scripture. And yes thank you for the explanation of interpolations ( I think that is what you called them - words included that were not in the original writings). That has cleared up a lot of confusion for me for seemingly conflicting doctrine.

Yesterday going through some of your emails at Ichthys, I was impressed with your responses and testimony and faith when replying to a scientist’s questions. These are great teaching and edifying moments for us, your students.

As a bit of an aside I have had thought how much wealth you could have accumulated with your teachings, especially with marketing your work. Imagine how much people would pay for the truth. Yet I find on the internet people becoming incredibly wealthy teaching half truths and outright lies. 

In my long search for a trustworthy bible teaching site I was astounded at some of the teachings (mind you, I am now astounded at what I previously believed as a former mormon - actually aghast at what I believed). A prominent SDA on you tube said he had no concerns about receiving an implant or mark to buy and sell, as what was meant by scripture was that the Saturday Sabbath day was the sign of believers. 'Satan's lot do not keep the Saturday Sabbath and are followers of the antichrist.' I was shocked that he believed this and was teaching it.

I have not re downloaded it but I noticed one minor wording “change “ in one of your books, when I went back the other day to read something I was not sure about; Abraham’s bosom substituted the word Paradise). Once I feel I might have something even a little bit useful (though others have probably also have started their own system to use your teachings effectively in their own ministry already) I will keep you informed. At the moment it is just a whole lot of PDFs in alphabetical order to “S” and only the very beginning of an index.

Thank you so much for your generosity to us and devoted service to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Response #19:
I admire your determination in sharing the truth with others. Good for you my friend – keep up the good work for Jesus Christ!

Thanks for all your good words. As to Greek and Hebrew, etc., I'm always happy to provide an explanation in more detail for any such whenever it's asked for. I'm reluctant to go into detailed exegesis and grammatical explanations in every case where I do not follow what many of the versions have because this is not the most edifying stuff for most who use the site unless there is a need to document. That's a judgment call. But as I say I'm happy to go into more depth in any place where you are wondering where/how I "got that" (cf. Mk.6:2).

You're insight into this new Mormon wrinkle is also much appreciated. No doubt there will be all manner of rationalizations and justifications employed by religious groups and even co-opted Christian groups to persuade their members to take the mark. But the scripture is very clear: ANYONE who takes the mark "shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Rev.14:10 NKJV).

Did you see the correspondence with another Mormon refuge friend of this ministry in yesterday's posting? It's at the link.

On Abraham's bosom vs. paradise, please see the link in SR 1: "The Seven Edens"; and it actually would be better to begin reading at the start of the section: "Angelic Pre-History".

On wealth and success, they are highly over-rated. In any case, it has been a signal pleasure for me not only not to have to charge for these materials but also to not to have to ask for donations. There is nothing wrong in principle with doing either ("the workman is worthy of his wages": Lk.10:7; 1Ti 5:18), but I am very grateful to be able to say along with apostle Paul, "What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel" (1Cor.9:18 NASB). Taking money out of the equation has gone a long way – especially in a necessarily somewhat impersonal internet ministry – toward reassuring readers that this is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. In any case, I rather suspect that the number of people interested in the actual truth is much, much smaller than we would hope – and that the number of people who would be willing to pay "big bucks" (or any bucks) for it is even smaller. Blessedly, I don't have to be concerned about that – but the sentiment is greatly appreciated, my friend.

Thanks also for your indexing efforts! Looking forward to seeing the results.

Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #20:
Dear Professor Luginbill 

Thank you for your reply and links. Just to clarify my previous email (and I honestly have no idea from a human perspective how you keep up with so much on your plate). Your response paragraphs...

1. No further depth of explanation is needed of Greek and Hebrew. I have no understanding of these things and as you rightly say would not benefit from further explanation, though I do read your explanations as a matter of course.

2a. My point about the mormon religion is the vast amount of money they pour into the internet gives them a huge first, second, third and more presence on search engines.

2b. The mark of the beast is related to Seventh Day Adventist you tube video I had watched.

3. I read your link ‘another mormon refugee’ (I give the mormon religion a small ‘m’ as I resist elevating what I consider such deception in any way possible). The main body of the church do not practise polygamy today as they changed the practice under severe pressure back around the 1890’s. However it is still an “eternal “ teaching of this same mainstream church who tolerate the restriction on earth to “fit in” with mainstream Christianity and to be politically acceptable. Some splinter groups who stuck with the first “prophet’s” teachings apparently still do continue the practice today.

4. I was just saying one of the wordings I originally downloaded from Ichthys is slightly different to the version now online. Though the meaning appears to be much the same. It is not a problem for me or anything like it.

5. On wealth and success I somewhat to strongly agree with you. I was comparing your truth ministry to the somewhat true and the absolutely false ministries that do rake in the cash for trash and slight of hand tricks. I strongly agree that the work you are doing in your ministry will result in the Lord rewarding you beyond anything you may ever receive here below. I pray for you and your ministry as the Lord Jesus blesses us students through your most generous efforts. I pray you will endure to the end. 

Following the linked email trail you sent and comments about your health, we are aware that long hours at a computer isn’t great for your back etc; and your advice given of doing something instead of being disheartened at not being able to always do huge amounts in our spiritual lives also applies to our physical health. Periodically I also am reminded of this when it is painful to do ordinary things after not physically being mindful. It is a busy time for me for the next few weeks or so, doing long overdue temporal things that have become rather urgent. I will return with the intent to complete what I started as soon as I am able to.

I continue to be tutored and uplifted at your site and am so grateful the Lord has allowed me to find truth taught here compared to so much tinkling and clanging brass on the net.

I will not take any more of your valuable time for a while to enable you to concentrate more on your bible e books. I will still visit the site daily to feed in the meanwhile.

Thank you Professor.

Your student in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Response #20:
I do take your point about the money and power of that religion and how they are using it. It's all part and parcel of the set up for what will soon be taking place once the Tribulation begins – and I imagine that all organized religion will be playing similar roles (see the link).

On the index, by all means please take your time. I have a VERY full desk at the moment in any case.

On discrepancies between files – or any typo large or small and even only suspected – I very much appreciate these being reported. There is only so much I can do to spot such things so I always appreciate readers spotting them for me.

Thanks again for your very encouraging words and good witness to the truth, my friend!

Keeping fighting the good fight for Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior!

Bob L.
Question #21:
Dear Professor 

My gratitude as always for you and your ministry for our Lord. Apologies for taking your time, and as always do not feel the need to respond in the near term.

My latest “distraction” occurred at your Subject Index “Essence of God” BB 1. 

A) Thank you, in particular point 4. God is Unique. I have been noticing the mormon missionaries around town and it has rejuvenated my interest in scriptures to refute mormon doctrines. On this one point A) mormon doctrine is shot. (Men becoming gods)

B1) Danites and “destroying angel”. Second president of the mormon church, Brigham Young reportedly had at least two head “destroying angels” in his employ; Bill Hickman and “Port” Rockwell. (Wife No. 19: Ann Eliza Young. P 279 and P269.) Free on Google Play Books.

B2) Brigham Young preached from the pulpit: “Will you love your brothers and sisters when they have a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman enough to shed their blood? That is what Jesus meant. The time will come when the law of God will be in full force. This is loving our neighbour as ourself: if he needs help, help him; if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood upon the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it.” (Wife No. 19; P189)

C) Joseph Smith claimed he was a lamb going to the slaughter at Liberty jail. A pistol was smuggled to him and he reportedly shot at and hit several of his assailants before being shot dead himself. Yet he is immortalised in such stirring hymns as “Praise to the Man”; and teachings that everyone of this dispensation will have to enter through Smith to the kingdom. (slain dead, yet now alive)

D) Having read your CT series it brings parallels to mind of the antichrist and his coming brief reign of terror. The mormon religion is definitely a wolf dressed as lamb.

E) Between my first visit, and second visit some 16 years later, the gory parts of the endowment ceremony was removed (live disembowelment, ripping heart out and slitting throat from ear to ear), due to a “poll” of selected members. Now there is just a stern warning of serious consequences, if you reveal secret oaths, signs and covenants.

Yes there are plenty of doctrines that these leaders were way off being correct without these first hand (third party reports). My experience is first hand and the false doctrines are buried in church publications. Some quite hidden in plain view. Some just Wrong.

By grace I was rescued from mormon madness.

By grace now I have a worthy site to feed.

Your grateful student in our One and Only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 
Response #21: 
This is good stuff, my friend! I knew some of these things, but the weird and clearly nutty things that you relate makes you wonder how anyone might assume that this cult has anything to do with genuine Christianity. Of course that is true of many cults and religions. I know something about the R.C. church because of growing up in Chicago, my seminary studies of that church, and the very many refugees who've talked with me about various issues in the past. But in editing my good UK friend's piece on the cult of Mary (at the link), I'm finding out absolutely amazing things about their unabashed disregard for the Bible – even worse than I had imagined.

I'll be sure to post this info the next time I do anything that is Mormon related.

I appreciate your insight, my friend!

In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,

Bob L.
Question #22:
Dear Professor 

As some sort of mild “excuse” of my (and others), past association with the mormon cult, I can assure you that I knew nothing of these things initially and most only after the Lord graciously pulled me out of their door. I think most mormons are enamoured with the soft fluffy wool lamb skin, and not aware of the wolf disguised within it. I felt lonely at the time as I lost my former “life” and was in the wilderness for many years. BUT felt good to be out!

Sometimes still feels lonely. Thankfully God graciously rewarded my years of searching with finding your ministry. I am thankful to our Lord that you have dedicated your life to the truth from the scriptures. (As an aside my youngest asked me what site I was on; on his tablet a google search of Ichthys did not bring up your site; instead Ichthys.com had to be first entered)

In their proselyting, they emphasise Jesus and His “restored church” after the Apostasy of the Dark Ages. Restored with a prophet, seer and revelator, also a council of 12 apostles, seventy etc to try to imitate Christ’s true Church. (Name is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”). I.e the perfect church of Jesus restored. Did I miss the only true and living church on the face of the earth?

Hence I emphasise the imitating as the antichrist and false prophet will do!

Blood letting was advocated and done “to save” (by murdering them) and Brigham Young preached it, and advocates it to happen again! 
“The time is coming when justice will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet: when we shall take hold of the old broadsword and ask, ‘Are you for God?” And if you are not heartily on the Lord’s side, you will be hewn down.”
(Page 189. Wife No.19 or the story of a life in Bondage by Ann Eliza Young. Published by Dustin, Gillman & co. Hartford, Conn. 1875)

My interpretation is “you do not believe our false prophet and false god, we will slay you with the sword”. For those who perhaps think it will not happen; it has already happened; the same church prospers today, they still hail Brigham Young as a prophet, seer, revelator. AND he desired it on a huge scale on “unbelievers “. With a jury of 8 “Israelites” and 4 “Gentiles” B.Y. was never going to be convicted of any crime he was accused of.

With the advent of the Tribulation and it’s fast pace it is not difficult to imagine such a corporation enthusiastically stirring up the “faithful”. I can assure you they affirm their belief in Christ and preach it-but what “christ” will they follow seeing they still affirm also that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are true prophets. (In spite of failed “revelations” and false doctrine).

How difficult will it be to lead many, if not most, of their sheep after the false prophet and his false christ. (Consider the great sky show, perhaps combined with stirring “hymns”, the “liberation” from the Mahdi and other “miracles of the false prophet “.

(The Christ we know, does not require us to “save” others by slaying them)

By the way, a Google search today, of ‘Jesus Christ’ bought up Wikipedia followed immediately by two LDS (mormon) sites. All the soft furry stuff will be there . Warning: Do not remove soft furry covering! Wolf inside!

Professor, I can not put it any plainer for now.

As always I am so grateful for you and your ministry and am your student in our Lord.

May our dear Lord and Savior bless you and your ministry.
Response #22:
Well said, my friend.

The beast will have help from virtually all denominations in the end – as far as I can discover – even if they are not cults. Please see the links:
The anti-Christian religion and its worldwide expansion
Characteristics of antichrist's relgion
Persuasiveness of antichrist's religion

Dangers of cooperating with antichrist's relgion
False piety of antichrist's religion
The false prophet's administration of antichrist's religion
Getting inoculated in the manner that you have is thus a real blessing in the end – even if it didn't seem so right after the "shot" and before the sting wore off.

Keeping you in my prayers.

Your friend in Jesus Christ,

Bob L.