The Kingdoms of our World and the Kingdoms of our God and the Body of Christ.

No rulers over the Kingdom except Christ
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
We see here the end of the Prophecy concerning the Kingdoms of the World System through Nebuchadnezzar and the beginning of the Kingdom of God.

3 principles of the Kingdom from Daniel
Shall not be left to other people
Whether secular or religious no human authority has the right to rule the kingdom of God nor can it. This stands against
Break in pieces
Unlike ecumenicism, the Kingdom can not gathered into one body prior to the Second Coming.
Consume all kingdoms and shall Stand for ever
This kingdom will evangelize from every kingdom. Yet while every kingdom will have a short life span, the Kingdom of God Will never die.


The church should not be taxed
Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
Mat 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Mat 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Mat 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Here is something to remember. Money had been taken up by Judas. He had been the treasurer, they could have very easily taken up money from Judas to pay tribute. However, Jesus instead has Peter gather the money separate from the church account. Why? Because the money belonged to the body of Christ. We are children by adoption. Therefore, God’s money should not be taxed. The government does not truly own the Land, it was given to them by God. Therefore, God does not owe the government anything.
In fact in the preamble to the US constitution it says that we are to
“secure it’s blessings” What is blessing the USA? Not Britain! The Lord God is the one blessing us!

Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Mat 22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
Notice, the sense of Justice, we are to individually pay our taxes to Caesar. Yet we are to separately pay our tithes to God. Tithed money/possessions are Holy and belong to the Lord. Yet tribute is always given to government authorities independantly



Rulers of American churches today
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Christians submit to governing authorities. But only willingly, the government is not the highest authority. The Christians concern is not the sovereignty of man, but their testimony to mankind. The government is simply an authoritative system to take care of their own matters and no more.
Act 18:12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
Act 18:13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Act 18:14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
Act 18:15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
Act 18:16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
Act 18:17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
Here we see the local government siding with Paul against anti-Christian Jews. Since Paul never disturbed the peace the government had no desire to bother oppressing him. Any just government will react this way to law abiding Christians.
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Act 4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
Act 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
However, when government tries to become god and rule the hearts and spirits of Christians, they will not avail. God is a higher authority than them and His rule will always overcome theirs.



Non-profit status (501c3) and the IRS
Many Churches became enamored by the idea of having the government label them a 501c3 because it said they were tax exempt. Therefore, church members could get their taxes written off of their contributions.
However, the right to be tax-free was a right the church had already obtained. However, church members won’t get their taxes written off. But should Church members get their taxes written off?
Individually church members should pay their taxes. If we are commanded to render unto Caesars what is his. Then we need to be godly and pay our taxes that we owe.
The issue of labeling also is sad in the fact that it implies that the church is subordinate to the government. Why does the modern church need government approval? Peter and John did not need government authority. If God really is the highest authority then what authority do you need on the earth? None!!!
When a church claims that it is autonomous and then signs on as a 501c3 they have declared themselves to the world as hypocrites! Hundreds of Colonial Baptist endured persecution for this reason. Thousands of Chinese Christians have died and millions more have been persecuted for this principle. Yet the modern American church rushes to remove their sovereignty just so that they can get a tax right off.
Now admittedly many churches are only guilty of naiveté. They simply wanted to follow this process to show that Christians are peaceful people who respect the government. But now Christians need to wake up. Liberals are now starting to slowly take advantage of this situation. They are trying to rule that churches will have to hire homo-sexuals according to fairness laws. Then they will legislate that churches will also have to follow hate-speech.


Insurance, Banks and moneylenders

Bank accounts can be usable as long as the church is very good about keeping it’s record and has a well-trained representative handling affairs.
Yet, Churches should be extremely careful in regards to bouncing checks. It is understandable for a bank to fine those who have their checks bounce, yet it is an abomination for church members to let this happen. This led us to any type of money lending.
As churches, continue to gain possessions, they now have to their building and host of items insured. The more insurance gets involved with the situation the more stipulations come into play. This leads to all sorts of issues with the church.

Bishops, denominations and non- profit organizations
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Many people throughout church history have gotten the wrong idea about authority over the local church. They assume that they can take advantage of a local church and tell it what to do. Yet to push churches around flippantly is to set yourself up as God. Which is exactly what happens many times, when there are churches or other ruling hierarchies. Many of these bodies end up handling God’s money in vicious ways. Members of Anglican/Episcopalian churches who want to stand up against homosexuality have to lose their own churches in order to separate since the denomination owns them instead of God.

Even mission organizations can in fact exercise unbiblical authority over the churches.
Mar 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Mar 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Mar 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

The Southern Baptist organization IMB has taken several liberties to personally qualify those who are and are not fit to be missionaries.
Among them, situations involving divorce and health issues. Ironically the Southern Baptist denomination was formed so that even slave owners would be allowed to travel abroad as missionaries. The purpose of a denomination like the SBC is to be rule bottum up at the laity level, not top down. Now ones theology surrounding speaking in tongues can play a role in whether they are allowed spread the gospel overseas. The real problem with this conclusion is that almost half the Southern Baptist ministers believe in such a process and the issue is not covered in the Baptist Faith and Message.
Ultimately, the question has to be asked what gives the IMB Authority to pick and chose who should go on the mission field? Who ever it is, it is not God. Even if we say churches gave IMB the right, did all churches vote this way? I don’t remember getting this vote. Ultimately, this organization has overstepped it’s bounds.

Ways that the church defiles itself to rule over others
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Employment: When the church becomes a business it gets into sticky waters and ends up in bizarre power plays. The following issues result
Hiring and stock: When hiring non-Christians or just non-church members we get ourselves in a sticky situation. If we have standards, then we end up trying to control staff externally with moral rules. The other issue, which is common for mega-churches and denominations, is the idea of taking money and putting it in the stock system. Yet this makes world business and not church members the stewards of God’s money. As a result, money is passed around to non-christianity. Then money can be invested in worldly business like gambling, alcohol, strip-joints/pornography. I am aware of this happening with at least two or three ministries.

Secular education & daycare: First we deal with state regulations on how to properly care for kids. As well as state regulations on what to educate children with. Secondly, our desires many times states that we want to save our children in a way different than the gospel. Whereas the Bible teaches that saves by grace through faith. Our practice states that we want to save our children by “education through indoctrination”. This works fine for churches who believe in the sacramental of infant baptism. They assume that if one has the right answers, they are born again. Yet I have seen this backfire. I know of at least one church, which has a Christian school and has a great deal of trouble with outbreaks of Wiccan cults very near to where I live. The church ironically is confessional ultra-conservative. We cannot make people born-again. Daycare and school provide an illusion which most commonly gets in the way of the gospel as oppose to helping it. Biblically the duty of education has always belonged to the parents.
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Yet many churches in our era feel that they are in charge of education. They seem to have picked up the idea from the Catholic Church. But where did they get the idea? In the Middle ages the Catholics would not even educate their own members on how to read. Leaving only the priest with an education. This movment happened not long after the reformation, when Catholics were losing political control in Europe after the reformation. During the counter reformation they started these schools and began starting them all over the world. These were not simply about education but about acquiring power. Has the helped the poor and uneducated they receive their payment in loyalty service and proslytization. Many have cultures have been taken over in this very fashion. Education is the new political dominance in the modern world. But if Bible believing evangelical copy this activity they will only gain the world to loose the souls of those they educate.

Concerts, sports, picnics & festivals: Many times churches will use entertainment events in order to raise money and pay for projects or depts. I have witness this carried out to extreme in the Catholic churches. The other day my wife and me walked to a Catholic Church in our neighborhood. They had rented a small carnival in their parking lot. The prices were astronomical, so we left. Churches Catholic or not often give the impression that they are concerned more with your money than your soul. Also many mega churches have similar habits with their Christian concerts they say they are there to evangelize why charging admission.

Government lawsuits and copyright laws, and psychologist:
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
It is a pathetic showing when Christians try to play legal games with each other. I know that there is a reason for copyright laws but, we know that those on both sides can abuse them. We must be very careful in how we use our rights. Why do churches participate with secular psychologist? Are not the saints with the word of God sufficient to give advice? When we go to the secular world for advice we are not going to God. How can Christians sustain themselves while depending on the advice of the lost?


Politics: Now I know that this is an area that can be particularly tricky. I also acknowledge that most churches are not political/socially active enough. I encourage churches to be active on specific issues like abortion. However, I do see places were many churches cross the line. First of all, I think it is wrong for a New Testament church to endorse a specific candidate or be linked to a political party. I think that a church has a constitutional right to have these opinions but not a biblical one. Many churches may endorse a particular candidate so that they receive special treatment. While many churches may agree with a specific party if they become linked to that party, whatever it is, they have inevitably covenanted with unbelievers.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Therefore while I do politically believe churches have the right to be this opinionated. I also believe that it is ok for Christians to be fully active as private citizens. I still argue theologically that we keep our noses clean.

The ultimate question which underlies these types of activities is, are they really the purpose of the Church? You never see Jesus tell his church to set up all of these things. Most of the time these things become burdens more than they become helps. Many times churches spend so much time conforming to the world that they never have time to follow God and fulfill the great commission.
If it is hard enough to get a rich man into heaven then how will we get a rich mega church to fit through the eye of a needle?

Satan in and out of Christianity

[This is the third installment of Satan and his religion. I obviously could not cover everything as far as satanic religions. I wanted to show a historical thrust of paganism through history. Now I am focusing on Satanism as it has tried to infiltrate the church over the last two or three centuries. There are several occultic ministries not covered, but hopefully through this article you will be able to identify them. (examples: Spiritism, Christian science, unitarianism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Santeria etc.) This is the most controversial of all the reports in the sense that I am suggesting that these movements are in fact pagan. Yet paganism is not simply the black magic Satanism, but in fact the attractive moral sounding white magic as well. I know many Christians who have been involved with many of these movements many of them are sincere and honest born-again Christians who were raised up or deceived by these philosophies. The Lord Jesus talks about these types of Christians.}
Rev 2:18-29 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
[If you go to one of these churches, I believe your church has a disease. It either needs to repent or you need to avoid it. You need to look at what I am writing and seriously evaluate if what I am telling is true. I may be wrong, then the only fault would be mine. But what if I am correct? Do you really want to defile your relationship with God and reap the curses of Satan? Could this be something keeping you from the gospel? I don’t blame you if a satanic group has deceived you. I have been deceived many times earlier in my walk. Yet we have to move towards maturity.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Do not be like Lot’s wife, do not look back at Sodom, but move onto salvation.]

Masonry
As a result of Catholic dominance dark magic was regulated to a certain degree. Yet it was never wiped out. Catholics would store occultic books in their libraries. According to some, Rome was invaded and a collection of occult books were retrieved by French priests.
Masonry has a mysterious and debated past. Some argued that it was a Christian club. Others argue that it was and yet was tainted in the 1800’s by Albert Pike. Still others claim that it was a continued tradition, that goes back to Gnosticism. I believe that it was tainted rather from the beginning in Europe and became tainted in America by Albert Pike. There are many sources of the Masonic religion. Most likely, I believe, this theology comes from Spain where there was a temporary peace between Christians Muslims and Jews. The use of Kabala or Jewish paganism and Islam points heavily to this fact. It also has a great deal of influence from Babylonian fertility cults and Egyptian paganism.
For instance why would a French/British club surround with Islamic symbols and terminology like red “fez” hats with half moons and swords. The lack of crosses, and titles like “PBUH”. Oaths that were taken in the name of Allah. (In the case of shriners)
Unlike fundamental Islam this religion is very pro-pagan and yet seems to point to Allah as the Supreme Architect. This pagan Islam is very reminescent of the later Bahai faith. You see Islam started as a henotheistic religion. (polytheism with one main tribal deity).
“Early Arabian kingdoms include Magan, Dilmun, Sa’ba, Ma’in, Qatablan, and Hadramaut. Their deities include`Athtar the male Venus star, Ilmuqah (also knowns as Hawbas, ‘Amm, Anbay, Wadd, Sin, or Mawl) the moon god, and a sun goddess, Dhat Ba’adan or Dhat Himyan….
“Their religion was polytheistic and was related to the paganism of the ancient Semites. The beings it adored were in origin the inhabitants and patrons of single places, living in trees, fountains, and especially in sacred stones. There were some gods in the true sense, transcending in their authority the boundaries of truly tribal cults. The three most important were Manat, ‘Uzza and Allat’. These three were themselves subordinate to a higher deity, usually called Allah.” Dr. Walter Martin The Kingdom of the Cults pg.613
“Early in his work as a prophet, Satan fooled Muhammed into thinking that true followers could worship three Arab Deities. For a brief period, one of the chapters of the Quran contained approval of such pagan worship.
As soon as Allah told Muhhamed of the deception by Satan, the prophet moved quickly to remove the offending passage. Ever since these passages have been called the Satanic verses.” James Beverly Understanding Islam pg.21
Deu 13:2-3 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Paganism is a central idea that has pervaded this secret society.
“That which we must say to the crowd is: we worship a god, but it is the god that adores without superstition. To you Sovereign grand inspector general, we say this, that you may repeat it it to the brethren of the 32nd , 31st , and 30th degrees-the MASONIC RELIGION should be, by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian doctrine. If Lucifer were not god, would Adonay(Jesus)… caluminate (spread false and harmful statements about) him?… Yes, Lucifer is God…”
General Albert Pike A.C. De La Rive, Femme et I’enfant dans la Franc-Maconnne`rie Universelle pg. 588 (Gathered from “The curse of Baphomet”: Chick Publications)
( my translation of the french title is ‘Women and children in the French masonry Universal )
“Thus by the very honor which masonry pays to the Bible, it teaches us to revere every book of faith…joining hands with the man of Islam as he takes his oath on the koran, and with the Hindu as he makes covenant with God upon the book that he loves best. For Masonry knows what so many forget, that religions are many, but religion is one…. Therefore, it invites to its altar men of all faiths knowing that, if they use different names for ‘the nameless one of a hundred names,’ they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all; knowing also, that while they read different volumes, they are in fact reading the same vast Book of the Faith of Man.” Joseph fort Newton the Bible and masonry
Lamplighter May 2007 “Should a Christian be a Mason?”

Masonry’s children
Mormonism
“There can be no doubt that Joseph Smith received a great deal of inspiration from masonry.” Dave Hunt & Ed Decker The God Makers pg 121
polytheism) “In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it.”(Teachings of Joseph Smith, 349)
False priesthood)
“The Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery through the ministration of Peter, James and John, shortly after conferring the Aaronic order.” The Priesthood and Church Government John A. Widtsoe pg. 107
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The priesthood came unto the Believers. How could it be given to Joseph Smith when it was never taken from the church?
Deification) “Gods exist, and we had better strive to be prepared to be one with them.”
( Brigham Young Journal of discourses, 7:238)

Conflicting prophecy)
Unlike Christians LDS Mormons have the ability to change their prophecies through years to match the culture. When Polygamy became an issue of survival they switched positions. When racism became an issue they claimed a new revelation. This ability to replace revelation is a source of chaos. What will happen when they are challenged on ethical issues like homosexuality will they suddenly have backbone?

Pagan style rituals) sacred underwear, ritual killing

Habitual lying) Of all the religions, Mormonism seems to barely beat out postmodernism as the most dishonest of all religious worldviews. (this is because post modernist are honest about the fact that there is no truth. They have contradictions in the calling of Joseph Smith. The sources of Smith’s prophecy.

Theosophy


“A vast organizational network today, the New Age Movement received it’s modern start in 1875 with the foundimg of the theosophic society by Helena Petrovna Blavatski.” Constance Cumbey The Hidden Dangers of The Rainbow
One of the first major universalistic religions. Blavatski borrowed not only from the paganism around her (probably Masonry) but traveled the world especially to the east to find eastern paganism. This brought in New doctrines like reincarnation as well as a dogmatic understanding of pantheism.

New Age
“The new religion is not reducible to the classic eastern religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, and their offshoots). Rather, the injection of Eastern, neo-pagan and occult ideas into Western religious thought has produced a hybrid spiritually; it takes the essence of eastern religions but retains some elements of the western, Judeo-Christian world view. What results is a mutation.” Pg.131 Unmasking the New Age Douglas R. Groothus
Syncretism
“Syncretism is the attempt to blend many religions into an amorphous mass. It’s the teaching that, since all roads lead to God, you might as well buy a Euro-rail pass and try them all out.”
“Pagans try to imply that Biblical Judaism and Christianity are actually syncretistic religions.”
Pg23
“Syncretism demands tolerance of differences in pagan teachings. This is accomplished by the teaching that each person has his own path. Even when New Age publications carry articles based on opposing premises, it makes little difference since all paths lead to the same place.” Pg 24

“As we said earlier, New Age spirituality takes on a distinctively Western identity. Because the West still remembers it’s Christian heritage, traffics in Christian images and bandies about Christian words, Christian symbols serve as a good medium for advancing the One. The semantic rail system has already been laid by hundreds of year of Christian tradition, and the message is now steaming full speed ahead.” Pg. 144 Unmasking the New Age Douglas R. Groothus

Psychology
Now I believe that some study of the mind is beneficial. Some medicine for mental disorders are also at times needed. Yet the majority of psychology in history has been defiled by Secular and new age philosophy which has transformed a great deal of it to New Age mumbo-jumbo. The fact is that Judeo-Christian society has survived as well if not better over the centuries without psychology. It doesn’t make any sense why it is needed now.

Ungodly Sigmund Freud
“Sigmund Freud born in the middle of the nineteenth century Austria, was ‘very attracted to Darwin’s Theories because they offered the prospect of an extraordinary advance of human knowledge’”.
Hal Lindsey Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth pg..78
“Freud’s doctrines and particularly his ethics, are the product of his concept of the human race. There is no purpose in man’s existence. There is no goal in mankind’s presence on earth. There is no God… and if this is so, all is permitted.” The Permissive Society Boris Sokoloff

Occulticism of Carl Jung
“Jung although an early disciple of Freud, questioned his mentor’s reduction of all human behavior to sexual impulse. He likewise took exception to the notion that religious beliefs were noithing but harmful illusions. While Freud’s view of the subconscious was that of a dark culdron of powerful forces largely beyond our conscious control, Jung took a more positive view which left room for the mystical and religious (although in psychoanalytical redefined terms). Jung also posited a “collective unconscious”-a reservoir of psychological images and forces accruing through all history and shared by all people. Jung’s approach makes him quite popular in New Age circles.” Pg.73-74 Unmasking the New Age Douglas R. Groothus

Other New Age psychologist
“It is difficult to document such a thing as the general attitude of a profession. But the hostility of most psychologists to Christianity is very real. For years I was part of that sentiment; today it surrounds me. It is a curious hostility, for most psychologists are not aware of it. Their lack of awareness is due mostly to sheer ignorance of what Christianity is – for that matter, of what religion is. The universities are so secularized that most academics can no longer articulate why they are opposed to Christianity. They merely assume that for all rational people the question of being a Christian was settled-negatively-atsome time in the past.” Dr. Paul C. Vitz Psychology as a religion: The cult of self worship. Pg.12

New Age and psychological missions (one letter difference.)
New Age Pyschology
Thou art God Thou art Good
You must realize that you are God. You must realize that you are good.

When you know you are God, When you know you are good
Then you will be God Then you will be good.

In the proper environment, In the proper environment,
You inner self will- You inner self will-
Naturally lead you to be God Naturally lead you to be good
From Ancient Empires of the New Age Paul Deparrie pg. 29


Positive thinking
“For a two year period I was church editor of a metropolitan newspaper, during which I came in close contact with clergymen and leaders of all sects of denoiminations, mind-healers, divine healers, spiritualists, Christian scientists, New thought-ers, Unity leaders, sun and idols worshippers, and, yes, even a few infidels and pagans.” Pg. 3
“Many years later I was commissioned to write a series of articles on what is known in police parlance as the ‘fortune-telling racket.’ I visited everything from gypsy phrenologist to crystal ball gazers, from astrologers to spiritualistic mediums. I have heard what purported to be the voices of old Indian guides tell me the past, the present, and the future, and I heard from relatives I never knew existed.” Pg. 4
“I have always had an unsatiable yearning to seek explanations and answers. This yearning has taken me to many strange places, brought to light many peculiar cases, and has caused me to read every book I could get my hands on dealing with religions, cults and both physical and mental sciences. I have read thousands of books on modern psychology, metaphysics, ancient magic, Voodooism, Yogism, Theosophy Christian Science, Unity, Truth, New Thought, Cou`eism, and many others dealing with what I call ‘Mind Stuff’ as well as the philosophies and teachings of the great Masters of the Past.” Pg. 4-5
“Gradually I discovered that there is a golden thread that runs through all the teachings and makes them work for those who sincerely accept an d apply them, and that thread can be named in a single word –belief.” Pg5
The Magic of believing by Claude Bristol
Lev 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Lev 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Exo 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Norman Vincent Peale
“In my opinion, one of the few greatest inspirational and motivational books ever written in the united States is the magic of believing by Claude Bristol.”
“This book is one of the greatest expositions of the positive principle.”
Norman Vincent Peale The Positive Principle Today pg.32-33
“Reverend Norman Vincent Peale is, to many, the most prophetic and moving New Age preacher of the twentieth century. He is also the father of the self-help movement that formed the groundwork of the for the church growth movement. Peale formed perhaps the most dramatic and meaningful link between religion and psychology of any religious leader in history.”

“In an April 1984 newspaper interview, Norman Vincent Peale called the virgin Birth ‘some theological idea’ of no importance to salvation. On the Phil Donahue TV show in October 1984, he denied the necessity of being born again. ‘I have my own personal relationship with God, you’ve got yours,’ he told a questioner. ‘I know a shinto temple in Japan where I found eternal peace one day in my soul.’ The connection between Positively and possibility thinking and mind-science cults such as Unity School of Christianity is clear.” Dave Hunt and T.A. Mcmahon The Seduction of Christianity pg. 152

Robert Schuller
“You may be one of those who are being kept from having a fruitful stimulating, wonderful, happy life because tension is dominating your inner self.
“It is only when a tension-tortured person replaces inner turmoil with a quiet, peaceful and harmonious center that innate powers are released. Then it becomes possible to realize dreams, to think creatively, to reach exciting goals-to live- and to live joyously.” pg. 17-18
“The Possibility thinking, peaceful-centered mind generates ideas which produce enthusiasm which is energy!” pg. 23
“Turn Energy-producing Power on. Turn Fatigue-producing Tension Off.” Pg. 24
“I want you to learn the secret of achieving your own quiet power from a peace centered mind. Then, someday, if it were possible to take a photograph of your inner being we would see a silver center of serenity. Achieve this inner calmness of soul, and instead of destructive emotional storms, a fresh, youthful, energizing power will well up within you! You will be driven by a controlled force that will produce constructive, creative thinking and action. …
“Just as the quiet-power center of a typhoon is at the heart of tremendous violent action, so the peace centered mind generates the psychic energy which is then transformed into physical and mental activity.”

Rick Warren
As I have shown before Rick Warren preaches an empty and elusive worldly gospel. Where the Word of God is watered down. With all that space in his building, what does he put in there with the room made by missing scripture?
“ I’m praying that every Pastor will read this book, believe it, be prepared to stand corrected by it, and change to match it’s sound and scriptural wisdom. Rick Warren is the one all of us should listen to.” Robert Schuller quote for purpose driven church.
Schuller’s overwhelming command to preachers to follow Warren’s teaching like scripture should be enough to raise eyebrows.

Does Rick Warren preach the new Age self help system?
“Everyone is driven by something.” Pg. 27
“What is the driving force in your life?” Pg. 27
From here a good point to illustrate my point with Schuller and Warren is to look at the following quotes and simply replace words like purpose and purpose driven and driven, with words like possibility/positive thinking. Warren starts off with what drives us. What “drives” can be replaced by energize. He then goes on to describe what identifies as negative drives.
“Many people are driven by guilt” “Many people are driven by resentment and anger.” “Many people are driven by fear” “Many people are driven by materialism” “Many people are driven by the need for approval”
Notice how all these ‘negative drives’ are put in either psychological or philosophical language? As opposed to interpreted in a Biblical worldview, which discusses sin. Much like the New Age paradigm we are discussing a force “drive” which can be used negatively or positively.

“Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. We were made to have meaning. This is why people try dubious methods like astrology or psychics, to discover it.” Pg. 30
Now those who practice witchcraft desire this “purpose”. However do these people want the will of God or to please Him? No. But they do want the “force” which will help them master their destiny. Could this purpose be that force?

“The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.” Pg. 30
So then, is a life without purpose worse than God’s Wrath in Hell? Is it worse than missing a relationship with Jesus? Many would retort that only a relationship with Jesus is a life with purpose. This is false however, Adolf Hitler was an evil man, but he had a purpose. His purpose was evil but set his life to accomplish it and almost did.

“People who don’t know their purpose try to do too much- and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict.” pg. 31
Nottice the language here, look again at Schullers “possibility thinking” book.

“Purpose-driven living leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule. The Bible says ‘A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.” It also leads to peace of mind. ‘You LORD give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.”31-32
One of the tricks, which Warren constantly employs, is to use only pieces of verses and then uses the sloppiest translations of these phrases in order to authenticate his point. However, this still does not prove that what he is saying is biblical. The two verses above he quotes he does not even directly identify. You have to go to the back of the book to find the references. So I found them and looked at them in a literal translation.
Pro 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
The Message paraphrase entirely looses the meaning of this verse as regards greed. Yet Warren takes the paraphrase to verify his philosophy which does not address money at all. This is a very pathetic exposition of scripture.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
The focus is not on “purpose” but meditation on the Lord. Perfect peace is not the same as peace of mind. Peace of mind is a temporary quality. But perfect peace is permanent. This verse is not a complete thought let’s see the next verse.
Isa 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Perfect peace believes in Jehovah God, not principles, because this gives us everlasting peace when we have peace with him.
Yet, Warren again goes to the same concepts as Schuller focusing on peace of mind.
“You think, maybe this time it will be different, but it doesn’t solve your real problem- a lack of focus and purpose. ”
According to Warren, the Ultimate problem of life is not the issue of sin, but it is a lack of “purpose” or focus.

“The power of focusing can be seen in light. Diffused light has little power or impact, but you can concentrate your energy by focusing it.”
“There is nothing quite as potent as a focused life, one lived on purpose.” Pg.32PDL
“Knowing your purpose motivates your life. Purpose always produces passions. Nothing energizes like a clear purpose. On the other hand, passion dissipates when you lack a purpose.”
Here we see that purpose driven is a way of focus our own energies, much like “the power of belief” “positive thinking” or “possibility thinking”. It is centered on our own mental power and not the power of God.
“George Bernard Shaw wrote ‘This is the true joy of life: the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.’”
Here Warren quotes secular entertainment guru George Bernard Shaw probably, because of the use of the word “purpose”. Shaw says we ought to image ourselves “as a mighty one”. Where does that phrase come from?
Gen 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gen 10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
“Mighty one” was the phrase for the demon possessed Nephilum/fallen ones. These were known to glorify themselves.
“The way you see your life shapes your life.”
“If I asked how your picture life, what image would come to your mind? The image is your life metaphor.”
“People often express their life metaphors through clothes, jewelry, cars, hairstyles, tattoos.”
Here we can see Peale’s imaging techniques manifested in Warren’s Purpose Driven Life.

“What is the glory of God? It is who God is. It is the essence of his nature, the weight of his importance, the radiance of his splendor. The demonstration of his power, and the atmosphere of his presence.”
“Everything created by God reflects his glory in some way. We see it everywhere, from the smallest microscopic form of life to the vast Milky Way, from sunsets and stars to storms and seasons. Creation reveals our creators glory.”
At first glance, this appears to the Christian doctrine of natural revelation. Yet there are a few dangerous words mentioned. If the glory of God is the essence of God, then it is a piece of God.
es·sence (µs“…ns) n. 1. The intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something. 2. The most important ingredient; the crucial element. 3. The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things. 4.a. An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form. b. Such an extract in a solution of alcohol. c. A perfume or scent. 5. One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated. 6. Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity. --idioms. in essence. By nature; essentially. of the essence. Of the greatest importance; crucial.
Ultimately, Warren just stated that the nature of God is everywhere and it is in all creation.

Is Rick Warren New Age?
If we are talking about the open and honest outgoing pantheistic New Age system then “No.”
Warren does not hold to the popular Buddhism doctrines of reincarnation. He doesn’t use pyramids and rainbows etc. He is a theist and at least one of his ministers argues for theism (Lee Strobel “The Case for a Creator”)
However, if we look at the doctrine of “syncretism” where the goal is to shift a religion partially to conform to a worldwide universal religion specifically to the “White Magic” side where there is a morality in competition to the dark side. Then we start to see a compelling case. I admittedly do not know Warren and his ministry on a personal enough level to say what He believes. (I have read a very hazy and infantile belief statement on their websight and then search deeper to finally find a biblical but still shallow confession.) Come to think of it, the first shallow belief statement does allow for New Age doctrine.
However, much of his actions have in fact hurt the gospel as much as help it.

Consider the fruits.
In the past couple years we have seen record of what warren has done with the Saddle Back church.
The Watering down of traditional church structure. (covered in my article Warrenism and the false gospel of worldliness)
Less preaching) Warren Boast of preaching only 15 minutes.
Less Bible) They do not have Bibles readily available and the sermons are based of a wide variety of translations.
More psychology preaching) Preaching is not expositional. Instead it is based on topical psychological felt needs.
More Psychological counseling groups
There are massive amounts of psychological counseling groups. Which can introduce the new age teaching that psychology regularly provides.
segregated bible study
There are Bible studies but they are not top priority. They are optional. Therefore God’s Word is not sovereign in his own house!
More entertainment) many times church worship is started off by drama, at times secular music is said to have been plaid in the sanctuary.
Man centered worship)
The whole avenue of worship is measure to the unregenerate man’s preference. Yet the lost are the children of the devil. Therefore it is obvious that worship can become idolatry.
Multi-culturalism /soft-racism) by using target evangelism they tend to attract upper middle class whites more than other people groups. As oppose to the gospel targeting everyone

Hypocritical ethics
Recently Warren came under fire recently for not rebuking one of his parishioners. Rupert Murdoch is a multi-multi-millionaire. He is most famous for ownership of Fox News. However what is not as easily well known is that Murdoch also owns several adult TV channels. In fact it has been alleged that he has made more money off of pornography than Larry flynt. Would this have something to do with Murdochs multi-million dollar offering to Warren’s peace plan?

The encouragement of liberal/New Age causes.
Aids) people give millions of dollars to stop a disease that could easily be stopped through abstinence and is easily spread through homosexuality. The insane drive for money to find a cure is to help most of the infected continue in fornication.
Global Warming
Warren helped gather a group of evangelical leaders together to vow to help the environmental and fight global Warming.
“A modern witch said in an interview that paganism is the spirituality of the ecological movement.” Pg.135 Unmasking the New Age Douglas Groothuis
There is little real evidence is behind global warming if there is Global Warming. So where does a;; the billions of dollars spent this cause go? The pocketbooks of liberal New Agers.
Refusing to evangelize Jews
Warren taught thousands of Jews in L.A. the Purpose Driven method of ministry. After several hours managed to never even mentioned the name of Jesus.
Social gospel as oppose to missions
It is easy to figure if we throw money at a foreign nation then it will solve all their problems. Doing so undermines the ability of the gospel of Christ. Not only that but it encourages greed and idleness encouraging evil dictators.
Encouragement of Christian murdering dictators
Warren has already visiter Syrian ruler __ who is responsible for murdering many Christians and Jews. He is schedule to visit the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Yul


Joel Olsteen) Of the most popular Christian evangelist, Joel Olsteen is probably the most noteworthy promoter of New Age ‘White Magic’. He borrows very extensively from the positive thinking movement. I remember once listening to him preach “Our God is a positive God and in him there is nothing negative!”
Yet He also draws very deeply from the word of Faith movement, claiming the doctrine that words are containers of power. Unlike most evangelicals he has publicly denied the doctrine of exclusive salvation on national TV. First on the “O’Reilly factor with Bill O’Reilly” then more famously on the Larry King Live program arguing that it was not up to him to judge and that he knew several good Hindu’s out there.
A similar preacher who ought to be looked at is Bill hybells. Though that report will be another day.



Word of Faith Movement)
E.W.Kenyon
“The Christian Church was first introduced to Word faith teachings through Kenneth E. Hagin, also known as ‘Dad’ Hagin by those who admire him. He got his doctrines from E. W. Kenyon, an individual who was greatly influenced by the metaphysical mind science cults such as Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity and Church of religious science” Dr. Walter Martin The Kingdom of the Cults pg 514
Kenneth Hagin
Walter Martin then goes on to show Hagin’s plagiarism by comparison of two chapters nearly identical. “What faith is #2” faith study course pg. 20 by Hagin and “The two kinds of Faith: Faiths secrets revealed”pg.7 by Kenyon

Kenneth Copeland
“He’s very much like you and me. A being that stands somewhere around 6’2”,6’3”, who weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred pounds, little better, [and] has a [hand] span of nine inches across.” Kenneth Copeland “,Spirit, Soul and Body I” audiotape#01-0601, side 1.
God
“God has to be given permission to work in this earth realm on behalf of man… Yes! You are in control! So, if man has control, who no longer has it? God.”
Frederick K. C. Price (“Prayer: Do you know what prayer is… and how to pray?”) The Word Study Bible (tulsa, OK: Harrison House, 1990), 1178.

Faith
“If you have faith as a seed, or, if your believing becomes SEED-FAITH, no matter how small it seems to be, it will meet needs and problems that appear as impossible as mountains before you. This is because each act of faith is a seed planted and will be multiplied many times.”pg.6
“Whatever you can conceive, and believe, you can do!”pg.7 (underline is original)
Miracle of Seed Faith Oral Roberts
As we can see here faith is no longer defined as trusting Jesus for salvation. Instead it is defined as a force by which we can accomplish many things. This becomes very similar to the metaphysical cults who try to accomplish miracles not through god by themselves.
gods “It’s understood that you or I are not God. There is only one God. However as his children, we are like him. He’s the big “G” we are the little “g”. In Him we are given the authority to rule and reign just as Jesus did.” Creflo Dollar The Image of Righteousness pg. 91
Here we see the old temptation of Satanic religion. The belief in our own Deity. This is ultimately Satanic because whenever we claim our own authority then we must take authority away from God.
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
“We are created after Gods ‘kind’, which tells us that we are not mere human beings. Instead we are super-human beings, possessing supernatural creative power.” Creflo Dollar The Image of Righteousness Pg.81
When we claim this exceptional power we compete with God and findourselves alone.
Eze 28:9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
This movement has contained a host of other false teaching, such as deny Christ blood as atonement and so on. I believe for further research you ought to read “Christianity in Crises” by Hank Hannegraff. The most thorough book on the subject.

Biblical passages to guide us away from paganism in the church

Biblical practice and no man-made worship
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Col 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
In our religious walk many people argue that the Bible does not apply to science. I feel strongly that it does. Yet Biblically there is little real argument that the Bible is supposed to apply to our religion! That Means worship (public and private) theology, ministry(in and out of the church). When we loose or water down our doctrine something has to replace it. The more man-made religion in your church, the more pagan religion that will come in your church.

Keep away from repetition
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
1Ki 18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
1Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1Ki 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1Ki 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
1Ki 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
1Ki 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
We can not expect God to grant the prayers that we have if our intent is to manipulate Him. God is the holy Lord of the Universe. We can not make him do anything, no matter the method or formula. When God promises to grant prayers in His name, it is according to His will. We can not subordinate His will for ours.


Keep away from images
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1Ti 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The pagan, whether or not they call themselves Christian, first tries to manipulate in their spirituality. Secondly, they use an idol to focus their energies. Unfortunately the “energy” no matter what it is titled is in reality a demonic spirit.
Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
The real God is invisible, we do not imagine Him, for He is real! We can only approach him through blind faith. Not to be confused with dumb faith which imagines Him to be true, but blind faith that can not imagine him yet trust that He is who He is.

Satan’s religion in History:Old Paganism

As earlier established in the previous article, false religions started at Babel

Gen 10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
Gen 10:9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
Gen 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Gen 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
“Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, - a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe it was their own courage, which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny,- seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into constant dependence upon his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, If he should have a mind to drowned the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach!”
Josephus Antiquity of the Jews book1 ch. 2, 2
The first pagan religion multiplied with the splitting of the tower of Babel.
Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Jos 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
Deu 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Paul’s letter to the Romans describes what happened spiritually.
Rom 1:19-32 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.


From the law we can see some basic aspects of their religion
Deu 4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
Deu 4:17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
Deu 4:18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Deu 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

There is a focus upon anything and everything but the one true God.
So since their was different cultures their was a polythiestic religion for each culture.
“The prominent gods in Mesopatamia were those over heaven, air and earth personified by Anu, Enlil, and Enki (Ea). Another group was made up of those that controlled the heavenly bodies: the sun, the moon, and the planet Venus (the ‘morning star’). In fact, Ur, the city from which Abraham came, was the center for worship of the moon god ‘SIN’. As Mesopatamian religion developed, each god has his or her own star, and the worship of stars became popular with the development of ASTROLOGY. Many of the astrological texts and charts of the ancient Babylonians read like modern horoscopes. The worship of the sun, moon, and stars eventually spread across the entire ancient world. The Egyptians, Canaanites, and Phoenicians all incorporated features of this form of worship.” Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary “GODS, PAGAN” (The pagan god’s of Mesopatamia)

Gnosticism
Gnosticism was essentially the initial attempt to merge Christianity with paganism
“ ‘For a long time the pagan beliefs had ceased to be take seriously by thoughtful men and had been displaced by various creeds derived from philosophical speculations. These in themselves were abstract and unsatisfying, but had been partly vitalized by union with the theosophies of the East. An attempt was made on the part of this philosophical religion to effect an alliance with Christianity. A section of the church was dissatisfied with the simplicity of the gospel, and sought to advance to something higher by adopting the current speculations…the late books of the New Testament are all occupied more or less, with this movement, which was the more dangerous as it threatened the church from within.’ (Professor E. Scott, The Apologetics of the New Testament, 14)”
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia “Gnosticism”

Essentially, Gnosticism was composed of pagan philosophy it attempted to merge with Christianity since regular paganism had lost it’s passion. These views were seen by the New Testament as demonic.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Catholicism
The church absorbed millions of pagans through force thanks to Constantine
At first it seemed a blessing, Constantine started by legalizing Christianity. The religion had grown illegal for 2 centuries to 10% of the Roman Empire. Now it was free, but then two events happened. First, Constantine pushed for a creed, which would settle the trinity controversy. Christianity at this point needed no creed but the Bible. As a result Christians would be judged by their fidelity to the creeds and Bishops alone, but not the rest of the Bible. For instance the Donatist was a massive Christian movement in North Africa consisting of about half the church. The donatist decided to separate from the mainstream church because they used ministers who had went apostate and denied the faith during the persecution, as well as they had loose ethics on alcohol and were known for drunkenness. As a result, (St.?) Augustine had them persecuted, imprisoned and exiled. Why? Because they crossed the Catholic Church. The mainstream was allowed to act unbiblical so long as they did not cross the Bishops and church.
Secondly, the church was now expanded by force. The Roman Empire would force everyone into this form of Christianity with death threats that were on occasion carried out. Now did these people really become born again Christians because of threats?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Therefore, the majority of Catholics were not born again Christians.

The pagans of the Empire historically have had the same religion reinterpreted in every generation.


The culture of the Empire was one of which where religion would follow the culture and was enter changeable. Babylonian religion was translated into Persian religion. Persian religion was translated into Greek religion and then translated into Roman religion. The same theology would simply take different names.
When these pagans were turned “Christian” but not born again. An they made statues to honor the saints, which was never biblical. Then they crowned Mary calling her the unbiblical title of Mother of God. The call her “Queen of Heaven” which is the title of a Babylonian Goddess condemned in scripture.
Jer 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Jer 44:18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
Jer 44:19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Jer 44:25 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
Jer 44:26 Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
It seems obvious, to me at least, that paganism was a part of the church of that day and the Catholic Church of today.

The Catholic Church indoctrinated its ministers with pagan writings while down playing the Bible.
Most pastors were thoroughly indoctrinated by Philosphers like Aristotle and Plato. They had very little background in the Old Testament.
With the help of many Eastern Church Fathers Augustine developed a system of theology where all prophetic passages where interpreted in a complicated allegorical system.
The Pastors then started to practice their religion with many pagan philosophies attached to them. Church Buildings were made like the pagan Temples. The atonement was interpreted as a cosmic battle that had nothing to with salvation and justification. The pastors became priests who would deal out salvation through liturgy. The Bible was seen as too complex for illiterate commoners.
Through this process many became apostate and the pagans stayed pagan and still practiced much of the Roman pagan holidays.
The priest were then taught Gnostic worship which we call monasticism, they became so obsessed with trying to live out personal perfectionism that thorough exposition flew right out the window.
The church did arrest those who were heavily into the occult or “black magic”. Yet they preserved all their writings hidden in libraries. Those with more conservative Bible believing views were held in more contempt than the witches. Not only were they killed and persecuted but their bibles were burned unlike the witches.

Other religions
According to scripture all who reject the Messiah are under the authority of Satan.
Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Jews had made the temple an idol. Even today 85% do not practice their faith. The other 15% have to deny the Messianic prophesies and usually do not believe in all of the Old Testament.
Muslims have worship an entirely different God. This God is name “Allah”. He is specifically not a father, not really personal and definitely not the Trinity. The Bible says that Jehovah is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Allah only claims to be the God of Abraham.
Exo 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
Exo 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Exo 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
It is said that Muhammad himself wondered if he was in fact demon possessed. Though his wife changed his mind.

Eastern religion
While all this was going on paganism was hitting full blast. There were rare witnesses of Jews and then Christians. But generally, India and China were pagan. This polytheism is very similar to the Western paganism. Yet they had one great doctrinal twist. They argued for the doctrine of reincarnation. This was a good way to explain away the Doctrine of God's Judgement.