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- September 17, 2005 at 11:11 pm#8804EliyahParticipant
Brother Jerry Healan sums it up very well concerning todays modern religious worship that I discovered years ago.
“””””The Apostle Peter warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” 1 Pet. 5:8. To be sober means to be discreet, while to be vigilant means to keep awake and watch. Are you employing these tactics in your life or have you gone to sleep and has Satan gotten the advantage over you? This treatise is prepared for you to examine yourself to see whether you have fallen victim to Satan or not.
By Jerry Healan
An interesting statement is made in Rev. 12:9, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, WHICH DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Isn’t it amazing that the very first book of the Bible (Genesis) begins with the deception of the woman in the garden of Eden and when we get to the very last book of the Bible (Revelation) deception is still going on? Shouldn’t this tell us something about the serpent Satan? Shouldn’t this warn us that something is extremely wrong and that we should take another look at things? Is it always the other religions, the other faiths that are in error while your own faith is the one true faith?
I was a member of a church some years ago that believed that they were the one true church. That church alone had the truth and the inside track to Salvation and the kingdom. Why does anyone choose to be a member of a certain church or faith? Isn’t it usually because they believe that they have the keys to salvation and the kingdom? Surely no one attends a church believing that they are deceived and do not have salvation in that way of life and faith which they embrace in that congregation or group of congregations. Surely they believe that their church or study group has an inside track on salvation or they wouldn’t be attending there. Surely they don’t believe that they are deceived.
One man used to quote, “A deceived person doesn’t know that he is deceived.” Isn’t that true? A deceived person may eventually find out later that he has been deceived, but during the time that he is deceived, he doesn’t know that he is.
The Apostle Paul encouraged, “Put on the whole armour of YAHWEH, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” Eph. 6:11.
Paul also wrote, “To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of the Messiah; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” 2 Cor. 2:10-11.
THE MEANINGS OF WORDS & NAMES
Words and names have meanings that we sometimes overlook or have a tendency to fail to understand them in the overall scope and concept of their meaning. This is especially true concerning the Scriptures. It would be very instructive to take the descriptive words concerning Satan the devil and look at those words under a magnifying glass. It certainly should increase our scope of understanding as to what is meant.
The word in Eph. 6:11 that “wiles” has been translated from is the Greek word “methodia”. It is #3180 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Greek Dictionary). Its meaning is given as: traveling over, i.e. travesty (trickery). It is also translated as “lie in wait.”
“Travesty” means: 1. a grotesque or farcical imitation for purposes of ridicule; burlesque 2. a crude, distorted, or ridiculous representation (of something). (Webster’s New World Dictionary)
Notice also that the word “wile” has to do with “trickery.” Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “wile” as: 1. a sly trick; deceitful artifice; stratagem 2. a beguiling or coquettish trick 3. craftiness, guile.
Do you see what we can already learn about Satan just by researching into the one word “wile” and its various meanings? His character is to misrepresent that which is good and pure with ridicule, burlesque, a crude, distorted or ridiculous representation. How does he do it? Through sly tricks, deceitful artifices and stratagems, beguiling or coquettish tricks, craftiness and guile.
What does “coquettish” mean? Coquet, 1. to behave as a coquet; flirt 2. to trifle or dally….Coquette, a girl or woman who merely from vanity tries to get men’s attention and admiration; flirt. (Webster’s New Word Dictionary)
A harlot is a coquette isn’t she? Don’t the Scriptures reveal that there is a great harlot who sits on many waters? (Rev. 17:1) This great whore has caused the whole world to wonder at the beast (v. 8). Scripture says that she has committed fornication with the kings of the earth and has made the inhabiters of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication (v. 2). Here is a spiritual application of the word “coquette.”
Let’s look at one more word associated with “coquette” which is the word “trifle.” Trifle’s etymology is given thusly; n. [ME. < OFr. trufle, mockery, dim. of truffe, deception] 1. something of little value or importance; trivial thing, idea, etc.; paltry matter. (ibid) Now how would “trifle” apply spiritually? Could it be that Satan causes us to focus on trifling things and make them into the “more important things” in our mind? While, on the other hand, the important things are made to appear as “trifling” to us? Now let’s focus on the word “devices” found in 2 Cor. 2:11. “Devices” comes from the Greek word “noema” which means, a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by impl.) the intellect, disposition, etc. It is #3540 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is also translated into our English words mind, thought. It comes from #3539 “noieo” which means, to exercise the mind (observe), i.e. (fig.) to comprehend and heed. “Noieo” is variously translated as consider, perceive, think, and understand. THE GARDEN OF EDEN Now let’s apply this to the scenario presented to us in the Scriptures concerning the incident in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were “naked” and not ashamed (Gen. 2:25). But when they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked (Gen. 3:6-7). What was wrong with them being naked? They were the only two humans around. When YAHWEH made them, He made them naked and allowed them to continue in their nakedness. Scripture says, after the whole creation was completed, it was very good (2:31) so there was nothing wrong with that nakedness. Yet, when they took of the fruit they knew (perceived) their nakedness and made aprons of fig leaves in order to cover themselves (3:7). However, when YAHWEH came walking in the garden in the cool of the day they ran and hid. Why? Adam said, “I heard Thy voice in the garden and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself,” Gen. 3:11. How is it that he still considered himself naked? Didn’t he cover himself with fig leaves? His physical nakedness was covered, but his statement revealed that his nakedness now went further than skin deep. His nakedness now was a concept developed in the mind, the intellect, the perception (noema/noieo). What had the serpent done? Hadn’t he used trickery, a stratagem, a coquettish trick to deceive the woman into taking of the forbidden fruit? There were two trees in the midst of the garden, the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (which represented corruption, sin, death, vanity). Which is better to choose, life or death? Life should be full of movement, awareness, stability, strength, production, enjoyment, even pleasure. But death is full of darkness, chaos, confusion, failure of strength, failure of freedom of movement, cessation of life etc. Life is the choice of reality. Life is the choice of wisdom and understanding. Death is a trifle compared to life. Death is empty, vain, uselessness, nothingness. The serpent employed a coquettish, trifling trick to begui le the woman into taking of the fruit of emptiness, vanity, grief, suffering and death. Yes the serpent utilized a coquettish trick to parade the tree of the knowledge of good and evil before the woman. He made vanity (a trifling thing) to appear as if it were wonderful and the thing to be desired to make one wise. How did he do that? THE SUBTIL SERPENT Scripture says, “Now the serpent was more SUBTIL than any beast of the field which YAHWEH Elohim had made,” Gen. 3:1. The word “subtil” is #6175 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Its definition is given as, ‘ârûwm, pass. part of 6191; cunning (usually in a bad sense):—crafty, prudent, subtil. #6191 = ‘âram, a prim. root; prop. to be (or make) bare; but used only in the der. sense (through the idea perh. of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense):— x very, beware, take crafty [counsel], be prudent, deal subtilly. One of the interesting things about this is that when Scriptures say of Adam and Eve, “And they were both NAKED, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed,” (Gen. 2:25), this word “naked” comes from the same root word #6191 ‘âram. The word to describe Adam and Eve’s nakedness is #6174 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance which is defined as, ‘ârôwm; from 6191 (in its orig. sense); nude, either partially or totally:—naked. E. W. Bullinger comments about this, “they were both naked (‘arum), the man and his wife, and [knowing only good, 2.17] were not ashamed [before G-d]. But the Nachash was more wise (‘arum) than any living being of the field which J-hovah Elohim had made, and [knowing evil, and not ashamed (2.25) to question the truth of G-d’s word] he said unto the woman,’ etc.” Adam and Eve in their original nakedness were good and not knowing any evil were not ashamed of their nakedness. The serpent was more naked, in a spiritual sense, because he knew evil and was not ashamed of it, but rather relished it. He wasn’t even afraid of or ashamed of contradicting YAHWEH'S word. This explains how Adam and Eve could have had their nakedness covered with fig leaves, yet still considered themselves naked before YAHWEH. That nakedness became a spiritual condition of the mind rather than the outer physical nakedness of the body. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “Subtil or subtle” as, 1. thin; rare; tenuous; not dense or heavy [a subtle gas] 2. a) capable of making or noticing fine distinctions in meaning, etc. [a subtle thinker] b) marked by or requiring mental keenness [subtle reasoning] 3. delicately skillful or clever; deft or ingenious [a subtle filigree] 4. not open or direct; crafty; sly 5. delicately suggestive; not grossly obvious [a subtle hint] 6. working insidiously; not easily detected [a subtle poison]. Satan, the serpent is insidious. He is very skillful, deft, clever and sly. He is a subtle thinker who is able to make or notice fine distinctions in meaning. Let’s take, for example, what he said to the woman, “Yea, hath Elohim said, ‘Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ And the woman said unto the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’ And the serpent said unto the woman, ‘Ye shall not surely die: for Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as elohim, knowing good and evil.’” Gen. 3:1-5. CONTRADICTION Notice the tactic, the device of the serpent which was employed here. Begin first with a question, then contradict or deny the very words of YAHWEH the Creator. Jude warns, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” v. 3. Jude is writing to the New Testament assembly. He is warning them (us) that we need to earnestly contend for the ORIGINAL FAITH. What was wrong? What had happened? “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, impious men, turning (can also be translated as “perverting”) the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying (can also be translated as “contradicting”) the only Sovereign YAHWEH, and our Sovereign YAHshua the Messiah,” v. 4. These are the tactics of the serpent Satan, “pervert, corrupt, and twist, deny and contradict.” He did that to deceive the first woman, Eve, and he has done that to also deceive the bride of the Messiah. The Apostle Paul warns, “Would to Elohim ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with pious jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to the Messiah. But I fear, lest by any means, AS THE SERPENT BEGUILED EVE THROUGH HIS SUBTILTY, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN THE MESSIAH,” 2 Cor. 11:1-3. The Apostle Peter also warned, “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 (contradicting) the Sovereign That bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (blasphemed). And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not…YAHWEH knoweth how to deliver the pious out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of (blaspheme) dignities (the glorious ones). Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before YAHWEH. But these, as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of (blaspheme) the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children; which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Sovereign and Saviour YAHshua the Messiah, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, ‘The dog is turned to his own vomit again’; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire,” 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 9-22. As the Apostle Paul writes, the New Testament Assembly is to be the bride of YAHshua, but warnings throughout the Scriptures reveal YAH WEH'S people are deceived time and time again to turn to corruption, emptiness and vanity. YAHshua, Jude, Peter, Paul and others warned the New Testament Assembly that deception and corruption would come to the many even among themselves. The subtle serpent would send his own emissaries to utilize subtle, coquettish tricks to lure the believers away from the truth, from eternal life to a life of vain pursuits and death. The believers, like Adam and Eve, will find themselves covered with a covering that they trust in among themselves and toward the outside world, but when YAHshua returns, they will realize their error as Adam and Eve did and run and hide because of their nakedness. THE NAME SATAN At this point we need to look into the meaning of the name of the perpetrator of deception and evil, that is, Satan. Satan is a Hebrew word. Its meaning is described in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7854 of the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary as; from 7853; an opponent; espec. (with the art. pref.) Satan, the arch-enemy of good. It is also variously translated as adversary and withstand. #7853 is defined as; sâtan; a prim. root; to attack, (fig.) accuse. It is variously translated as; (be an) adversary, resist. The meanings of this name reveal the very nature of Satan the Devil. He is the arch-enemy of everything that is good. He withstands and resists that which is good. He utilizes the tactics of accusations and attacks (whether true or false) to accomplish his means. He stands as an opponent and adversary against the Creator and His chosen people. But the first part of the name or word Satan also comes from another Hebrew word “sêt” (sayte). “Sat/set” [sayte] is #7846 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is defined as; from 7750; a departure from right, i.e. sin and is variously translated as revolter, that turn aside. Satan is the king of those who depart from that which is right, those who turn aside to sin. He is the great revolter or rebel. He is sin (the transgression of the law [1 Jn. 3:4]) personified. “Sat/set comes from #7750 which is the Hebrew word sûwt (soot) which is defined as; a primitive root; to detrude, i.e. (intrans. and fig.) become derelict (wrongly practise; namely, idolatry) and is usually translated as turn aside to. (Emphasis mine.) Satan is also called a serpent. One of the Hebrew words for serpent is “tan”. “Tan” is #8565 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as; from an unused root prob. mean. to elongate; a monster (as preternaturally formed), i.e. a sea-serpent (or other huge marine animal); also a jackal (or other hideous land animal) also being variously translated as dragon, or whale. One of the first things that comes to mind concerning the definition as a “sea-serpent” is the “leviathan.” YAHWEH prophecies, “In that day YAHWEH with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea,” Isa. 27:1. “Leviathan” is #3882 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is defined as; from 3867; a wreathed animal, i.e. a serpent (espec. the crocodile or some other large sea-monster); fig. the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Bab. It is also translated as “mourning.” #3867 is the Hebrew word “lavah”; a prim. root; prop. to twine, i.e. (by impl.) to unite, to remain; also to borrow ( as a form of obligation) or (caus.) to lend. It is variously translated as; abide with, borrow (-er), cleave, join (self), lend (-er). This accounts for the first part of the word “leviathan” which is “levia”, but it leaves the last part “than” unmentioned. “Than” is made up of the same Hebrew characters that “tan” is made up of, namely, (nt). It is important to keep this in mind as we continue on with the descriptions of Satan. The word “leviathan” would carry the important meaning of the sea-serpent (tan/than) that joins or unites (lavah/levia) with something. Satan is the leviathan. He is the serpent that unites one with the wrong practices of idolatry. This produces a nakedness that is beyond the natural physical nakedness in which Adam and Eve were created. It is a spiritual nakedness introduced by the serpent Satan to cause one to wrongly practise, namely IDOLATRY. THE GOLDEN CALF Upon Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt, they were brought to the foot of Mt. Sinai where YAHWEH proposed to make a covenant with the people if they would promise to obey Him (Ex. 19:1-8). After personally delivering His commandments, statutes and ordinances (Ex. 20-23) the people promised that they would obey all the words that YAHWEH had spoken (Ex. 24:3-8). Moses was called up into the mount in the midst of the cloud where YAHWEH further instructed him concerning the building of a tabernacle, the establishment of the Aaronic priesthood and certain rituals that were to be performed (Ex. 24:18, and chapters 25-31). While Moses was in the mount the people began to lose faith questioning where Moses was and expressing doubt as to whether Moses would even come back (Ex. 32:1). They besought Aaron to make them elohim to go before them. Aaron had them break off the golden earrings, etc., fashioning a golden calf from the jewelry. He built an altar for it, proclaimed a feast, offered offerings to it and the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play (Ex. 32:1-6). Israel had just been delivered out of Egypt where the Pharaoh had been worshipped as the incarnate son of g-d. He was represented by the apis calf or bull. All of the pagan idolatrous nations represented their g-ds or elohim as a form of a calf or bull. Israel had quickly turned to idolatry. When Moses came down to the camp he and YAHshua, the son of Nun heard the noise of the partying and saw the idolatrous abomination that Israel had turned to (Ex. 32: 15-19). Moses angrily cast the tablets of stone wherein YAHWEH had written His commandments breaking them to pieces. He took the golden calf, burned in with fire, ground it to powder and cast it into Israel’s water making them drink thereof (Ex. 32:19-20). Ex. 32:25 says, “And when Moses saw that the People were NAKED; (for Aaron had made them NAKED unto shame among their enemies:)…” The people had quickly “turned aside”, “turned out of the way”, “become derelict in their duty”, “wrongly practised, namely idolatry” becoming NAKED not only physically, but in a spiritual manner. This is after the manner of Satan. Satan causes a deep, intense NAKEDNESS that goes further than skin deep. It is a SUBTLE NAKEDNESS that is of the spirit. One can be physically clothed as Adam and Eve had clothed themselves with the fig leaves. As long as it remains physical in appearance to the eyes of man, it appears as if the nakedness is covered. But there is a subtle nakedness that is associated with the mind that does not become apparent until YAHWEH discloses Himself. Then the nakedness appears because it is spiritual in nature. THE SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS E. W. Bullinger makes a comment concerning Ex. 32:1 which says, “And when the People saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the People gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, ‘Up, make us elohim (g-ds), which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” Bullinger comments: “make us gods. The great sin of to-day (1 Cor. 10.7, 11). Made now not of materials; but made by imagination; and worshipped by the senses.” (The Companion Bible, p. 34). Bullinger is referring to the writings of Paul who warned, “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, ‘The People sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play’…Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come,” 1 Cor. 10:7, 11. Bullinger had tremendous insight when he stated that the great sin of today was that the idols were not now necessarily made of materials; but MADE BY IMAGINATION. How could Satan deceive the New Testament Assembly so easily that it cannot be detected? Through his subtlety, through his intellect, through the use of skillful mental keenness which notices fine distinctions in meaning (see the definition for the word “subtle” again). Paul also warned, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted,” 1 Cor. 10:6. What happened to Israel was a warning to us. It was a situation of examples or ensamples (Gk. = tupos = types) for those of us upon whom the end of the age has come. NEW TESTAMENT APOSTASY The book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 gives an overview of the history of the New Testament Assembly. There were seven assemblies named in those chapters each possessing identifying characteristics. Even though all seven assemblies have possibly co-existed down through history, we do know that they did co-exist at the time that the prophecy was given to the Apostle John. It appears that the order in which the messages are given to each assembly is also an order of the history of the assembly as it existed down through the ages. It seems that the individual spirit of a certain assembly has prevailed during certain eras of history. The first assembly and prevailing spirit was that of Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7). They were evidently a very hard working, patient assembly that could not tolerate any form or association with the works of idolatry. But they left their first love. What was the first love of the assembly? Wasn’t it to go everywhere and witness to the righteousness and fulfillment of the Scriptures by YAHshua? Didn’t they declare His faithfulness everywhere? But time and other conditions work against us all. Daniel was inspired to prophesy that a little horn would rise up out of the fourth beast kingdom (Dan. 7:8, 20-21). This little horn would wear out the saints of the Most High who were given into his hand (Dan. 7:24). In chapter 8 another little horn was prophesied to rise up which would “destroy the mighty and the holy People” (Dan. 8:24). The word “destroy” can also be translated as “corrupt.” In Rev. 13:7 the beast was allowed to make war against the saints and to overcome them. Time and adversity seems to have eventually overcome many of them and they left their first love. The Smyrna assembly (and era) evidently resisted the beast and its little horns to the death. They loved not their lives in this world, but were willing to suffer in the same manner of the Messiah in order to gain eternal life. It appears that most of them were persecuted right out of existence in this present evil world. The Pergamos assembly held steadfast to YAHshua’s name and did not deny YAHshua’s faith, but they began to allow those who held the doctrine of Balaam and also the Nicolaitans to dwell in their midst. Balaam taught Balac how to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel causing them to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. Peter warned that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. The Greek word used for “stumbling block” is “skandalon” from which we get our English word “scandal.” It can also be translated as trap-stick, snare, occasion to fall and offence. Since Pergamos dwelt where Satan’s seat was, it is not difficult to see how Satan could begin to easily influence the saints to allow idolaters into their midst. The message to Thyatira reveals another step in the downward spiral into idolatry. There is a “Jezebel” in her midst who teaches YAHshua’s servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. There are many in this assembly who know the “depths” of Satan (Rev. 2:24). This word “depths” comes from the Greek word “bathos” which also means; profundity, i.e. (by impl.) extent; (fig.) mystery. One of the definitions for “profundity” or “profound” is; marked by intellectual depth. There are those in Thyatira who know and teach the profundity, the deep intellectual mysteries, the subtleties of Satan. They are held in a mystery just as the things of YAHWEH and YAHshua are held in a mystery. One mystery leads to death while the other leads to life everlasting. But Satan has deceived the many, with his own mystery. The next assembly era is Sardis which receives a frightening indictment. They have a name as if they live, yet are dead. This can only apply to a name of idolatry, the name of a false elohim. YAHshua warns that most of the names (of the members) in Sardis will be blotted out of the book of life, however he states that there are a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments and will walk with YAHshua in white. He promises to confess the names of the faithful before His Father and before His angels. Those of the Philadelphian assembly and era keep YAHshua’s word and do not deny His name. They evidently undergo a great deal of persecution for this steadfastness because YAHshua promises to make them of the synagogue of Satan to come and worship before their feet, causing them to know that He has loved them. YAHshua promises to write upon them the name of His Elohim, the name of the city of His Elohim, new Jerusalem and YAHshua’s own new name. It is apparent that the Smyrna and Philadelphian eras undergo persecution for holding fast to the truth and the pure worship for which they are exonerated, while the other assemblies have lost their first love and allowed satanic idolatry to come into their midst. When we finally get to the Laodicean assembly a lukewarm condition exists because they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. But YAHshua says that they don’t even know that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and NAKED. Nakedness means that they are practicing IDOLATRY! However, they are absolutely BLIND to this condition. How can this be? How has this come about? Remember that there is one called Satan! Paul had warned that he had feared that as the serpent had beguiled Eve through his craftiness, even so their minds were become corrupted from the simplicity that is in the Messiah. (2 Cor. 11:3). Paul warned, “For if he that cometh preacheth another YAHshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another evangel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him,” 2 Cor. 11:4. ANOTHER SAVIOR Satan is crafty and subtle. He is mentally keen and insidious. He is capable of making or noticing fine distinctions in meaning, etc. Balaam had taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel. Satan has sent his emissaries into the New Testament assembly to cast stumbling blocks before the assembly. Jude warned, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, unrighteous men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying the only Sovereign YAHWEH, and our Sovereign YAHshua the Messiah,” 3-4. YAHshua had warned of false prophets and false messiahs who would come to deceive. We have already seen that those stumbling blocks were cast before the assembly as reported in Rev. chapters 2 and 3. Author Raymond Capt writes, “It is of interest to note that the Druids revered a form of the cross. It was their custom to search diligently for a large, handsome oak tree, having two large armlike branches. When viewed in conjunction with the trunk of the tree they formed a cross. This ‘cross’ was then consecrated by cutting characters for the word ‘Hesus’ spelled ‘Yesu,’ upon the right branch. Upon the middle trunk they cut the word, ‘Taranus,’ upon the left branch, ‘Belenus,’ and over them all the word ‘Than,’ meaning G-d. “Hesus’ or Yesu was the Supreme G-d whom they worshipped as the great ‘All-Heal’ and they believed in Him as the ‘Saviour’ of the world. In both the Druidic religion and the Hebrew religion of patriarchal times we can see a parallel preparation for the coming of Chr-st. The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that the promised Messiah would come as a babe, grow to be a great teacher, and finally be revealed as the Redeemer. “Through the ministry of the Druids, the same doctrines were believed, with the expectation of the same Saviour, Hesus (Jesus). In the ancient British tongue, ‘Jesus’ had never assumed its Greek, Latin or Hebrew form, but remained the pure Druidic ‘Hesus’ or ‘Yesu.’ Talisen, a Welsh bard of the sixth century wrote: ‘Chr-st, the Word from the beginning was in the beginning our Teacher, and we never lost His teachings. Christianity was a new thing in Asia, but there never was a time when the Druids of Britain held not its doctrines.’” (Stonehenge And Druidism, pp. 78-79. Mr. Capt further reveals on page 6 of said book that this sacred oak was the Celtic Zeus. What is revealed here is that the Hesus of Druidism is equivalent to the Greek Iesous, the Latin Yesus and the modern day Jesus. THE SACRED OAKS James G. Frazer writes, “Now of all European trees none has such claims as the oak to be considered as pre-eminently the sacred tree of the Aryans. Its worship is attested for all the great branches of the Aryan stock in Europe. We have seen that it was not only the sacred tree, but the principal object of worship of both Celts and Slavs. According to Grimm, the oak ranked first among the holy trees of the Germans, and was indeed their chief god. It is certainly known to have been adored by them in the age of heathendom, and traces of its worship have survived in various parts of Germany almost to the present day. Amongst the ancient Italians, according to Preller, the oak was sacred above all other trees. The image of Jupiter on the Capitol at Rome seems to have been originally nothing but a natural oak-tree. At Dodona, perhaps the oldest of all Greek sanctuaries, Zeus was worshipped as immanent in the sacred oak, and the rustling of its leaves in the wind was his voice. If, then, the great god of both Greeks and Romans was represented in some of his oldest shrines under the form of an oak, and if the oak was the principal object of worship of Celts, Germans, and Slavs, we may certainly conclude that this tree was one of the chief, if not the very chief divinity of the Aryans before the dispersion; and that their primitive home must have lain in a land which was clothed with forests of oak. (The Golden Bough, pp. 291-292) It is interesting that all of these pagan deities, Zeus, Jupiter, Taranus, Belenus and Hesus (Jesus) were worshipped in the sacred oaks, for YAHWEH issues indictments against such things, “And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake YAHWEH shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them,” Isa. 1:29-31. Notice that Isaiah says they have forsaken YAHWEH and desired the oaks. He also writes, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and YAHWEH alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of YAHWEH of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures, Isa. 2:11-16. This condemnation has everything to do with idolatry, paganism and heathenism for Hosea writes, “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their Elohim. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery,” 4:12-13. Would there be any connection between this Scripture and the immoral sexual practices imbibed in by our world today? The increase in teenage pregnancy is phenomenal in our nation (which is supposed to be a Christian nation) and world at large. Well over half of the marriages end in divorce most of them because of adultery. Hesus (Jesus) was an oak of Bashan. Those who love the name “Jesus” openly hate and despise the name YAHWEH and those who have been led to turn to the true and proper Name of the Creator. They have forsaken YAHWEH and turned to love the oaks that YAHWEH warns against. However, the world has been deceived by Satan and doesn’t even know of the tie in with the Celtic oak. The assembly has been beguiled by Satan and led to worship another messiah. Satan has “turned aside” the many “uniting them with idolatry.” THE ENCHANTING SERPENT If we go back to the excerpt from Raymond Capt’s book Stonehenge and Druidism we will find that the word which was written over the names Yesu (Hesus), Taranus and Belenus was the word “Than” meaning “God.” Than is a purely Hebrew word for the sea-serpent! The worship of this sacred oak was and is, in fact, serpent worship. In Gen. 3:1 we read, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which YAHWEH Elohim had made.” The Hebrew word for “serpent” is “nachash.” It is #5175 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance being defined as; from 5172; a snake (from its hiss). #5172 is presented as the same Hebrew word “nachash” and is defined as; a prim. root; prop. to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate and is variously translated as; divine, enchanter, (use) enchantment, learn by experience, diligently observe, etc. The serpent whispers a magic spell. He uses whispers, magic spells and enchantments in order to mislead others. “Magic” is the use of charms, spells, and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events, or govern certain natural or supernatural forces; sorcery; witchcraft (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Satan has been deceiving and misleading this world through the use of enchantments, charms, spells, rituals, sorcery and witchcraft which causes his adherents to think that they can control events or even govern certain natural and supernatural forces. THE SPIRITUAL CALF The incident with the golden calf in the wilderness was a warning to our day and age as Paul warns, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come,” 1 Cor. 10:11. He had previously used the incident of the golden calf as an example, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, ‘The People sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play,’” 1 Cor. 10:6-7. The quotation Paul employs here comes directly from Ex. 32:6 which is related to the incident with the golden calf. Most of the professing Chr-stain world does not know where the word “God” came from, but many of the teachers and ministers do. In an effort to overthrow the growing movement of the true and proper Names a booklet was produced by Garner Ted Armstrong of the Church of God International which gives true origin of the word “God.” Armstrong writes, “Take, for example, our English word ‘God.’ Where did it come from? The Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, says, ‘God. The common Teutonic word for a personal object of worship…The word ‘God’ [German ‘Gott’ from ‘Guth,’ which was related to Taurus, the Bull] on the conversion of the Teutonic races to Christianity, was adopted as the name of the one Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe… ‘God’ is a word common to all Teutonic language. In Gothic it is Guth; Dutch has the same form as English; Danish and Swedish have Gud, German Gott. According to the New English Dictionary, the original may be found in two Aryan roots, both of the form gheu, one of which means ‘to invoke,’ the other ‘to pour’, the last is used of sacrificial offerings. The word would thus mean the object either of religious invocation or of religious worship by sacrifice. It has also been suggested that the word might mean a ‘molten image’ from the sense of ‘pour.’” (Vol. 12: p. 169.)” (What is God’s Name? P. 6). Here is a man who has discovered the root origins of the word “god,” which has been utilized as the name of the Creator, and yet he thinks nothing about it. He simply explains it away thusly; “Gott’ and related terms, then, were merely Teutonic sounds for ‘deity’ or ‘things that are worshiped,’ and are therefore the equivalent of the Hebrew Elohim, the Greek Theos, and the English God. “Notwithstanding the pagan origins of the word itself, it is important to understand that words are merely sounds, or written characters, which convey thought, meaning, understanding, to the human mind. Today, when a modern Englishman or American addresses ‘God’ in prayer, he is thinking to address the Father of Jesus Christ; the great God who is Ruler of the universe; the Member of Elohim Who created all things through His Logos, or Spokesman of His Divine Family. Surely, no modern American or Briton thinks he is using a word which connotes a molten image, or means ‘to pour,’ no matter the ultimate Aryan roots of the English word.” (ibid, pp. 6-7). I agree with GTA on the fact that no one in the modern day world thinks that when he uses the word “God” that he is thinking to address “Taurus, the Bull” or a “molten image” no matter the ultimate Aryan roots of the English word, but GTA also knows the Scripture in Rev. 12:9 which states, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Remember, a deceived person doesn’t even know that he is deceived does he? Notice how Armstrong seeks to explain the use of the word “God” away by saying that words are merely sounds and written characters which convey thought, meaning and understanding. Notice the complaint that Armstrong had against his own father when he found out that he was employing the same tactics that he, himself, is seeking to justify using, “I was especially shocked when he (HWA) told me, and wrote in a letter, of how, when he spoke with Arab heads of state, like Egypt’s late President Anwar Sadat, he could not speak about ‘God and Jesus Christ.’ He said, ‘Their word for God is ‘Allah.’ So, when I speak to them about God, I use the word, ‘Allah.’’ But the Bible said we are to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name. It was the name of Jesus that infuriated the Pharisees. “My father said he spoke to the Jews about the ‘Messiah,’ rather than using the name of Christ. Again, there was disagreement between us.” (The Origin and History of the Church of God, International p. 45). Question: How is it that GTA can excuse and justify the Teutonic races for adopting their own “pagan” name for the Creator and yet condemn his own father for allowing other races to do the same thing? Question: How is it that GTA can continue to justify utilizing the name “Jesus” as the name that the Pharisees heard when he knows that such is not the case? He knows that the Savior was never called “Jesus” during His whole lifetime and that the Savior's true name is the same as YAHshua the son of Nun and YAHshua the High Priest (or Yehoshua). The modern day English equivalent to the name YAHshua is Joshua not Jesus. Question: Why does GTA stand against the use of the word “Messiah” (which is the more accurate, original and true) preferring and arguing for “Christ” the English equivalent to the Greek “Christos”? Isn’t it strange that he publishes one booklet in 1992 justifying and agreeing with usage of pagan names on the one hand (in What is God’s Name?) and condemns it in another (in The Origin and History of the Church of God, International)? Isn’t this duplicity? GTA continues, “It is also important to understand that God does not frown upon everything created by ‘pagan’ (or non-Hebrew) cultures. He forbids only those things that are contrary to His laws and things that misrepresent Who and What He is!” (What is God’s Name? p. 7). Good statement! The word “God”, in reality and its original meaning, misrepresents Who and What He is! ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD GOD According to the New English Dictionary, the word “God” may be found in two Aryan roots, both of the form gheu, one of which means “to invoke,” the other “to pour”. In his book The Roots Of English Robert Claiborne gives the following meanings for gheu: GHEU-1, L fundere, fus-, to pour, whence the FUNNEL through which you pour things, and the FOUNDRY in which FUSED (molten) metal is poured into molds. Figurative uses include CONFUSE (“pour together”), DIFFUSE (“pour apart”), PROFUSE (“pouring forth”), TRANSFUSE (“pour across”), and REFUND (“pour back”). To REFUSE is another kind of “pouring back”—though some derive the word from a quite different root. A more remote L relative is futilis, easily emptied, leaky; pouring water into a leaky vessel is FUTILE. Gc members of the tribe include GUSH, GUST (a “gush” of wind), the GEYSER from which hot water gushes, and—improbably but pretty certainly—GUT (? because the guts of a butchered animal “pour out”). GHEU-, to yawn or gape (? related to ghai-), whence the GUMS you expose when you do. A Gk word for a yawning chasm gave us CHAOS, from which a seventeenth-century Dutch scientist coined GAS. GHEU (h)-, to call, invoke, whence the Gc GOD one invokes, and GIDDY—a word much weakened from its original sense, “possessed by a god, insane.” In Word Origins And Their Romantic Stories (author unknown) the following is said about the word God: “The central word of all faiths is God, and the history of the title God is a tangle of guesses. The word God itself is related to similar words in Danish, Saxon, Old High German, Scandinavian, and other languages, and may even be related to an ancient Lithuanian word that referred to someone who practiced magic.” (p. 279) Wade Cox of the Christian Churches of God also writes, “The word God is derived from the old Teutonic form gudo which means that which is invoked (or worshipped) by sacrifice (cf. Oxford English Universal Dictionary, art. God, p. 808). This was adapted among the Teutonic tribes in the variant forms. “The words are further misunderstood from a symbolism adopted in the early Hebrew and among the Semites. This was instanced in the practice of referring to the deity by the symbolism of a bull. The clear indication comes from Psalm 22:12. The strong bulls of Bashan which are associated with Gilead are of the word form SHD 47. This word and the word from SHD 6499 are combined in the usage, and both are termed bulls. “The word rendered strong bulls is actually the word abbiyr derived from SHD 46 ‘abiyr meaning mighty one and spoken of God. SHD 47 abbiyr means angel [heavenly messenger], bull or chiefest, mighty one, stout, strong or valiant. “The terms occur in Psalm 22:12 where the bulls are also reduced to lesser beings. They occur in Psalm 50:13; 68:30: Isaiah 34:7; and Jeremiah 50:11. “Jeremiah 20 refers to the twe lve brazen bulls under the altar by the term SHD 1241 baqar in distinction to the term abbiyr which he uses elsewhere. “The representation of the loyal heavenly Host as bulls representing God is ancient, even being found in pre-Hebrew culture. The Babylonian system in its mystery cults adopted the bull-slaying typology which carried into Mithraism. The bull-slaying typology is a representation of the wars in the heavens (see David Ulansey The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries, Oxford, 1989 for the cosmology; Perseus is the bull-slayer for the Mysteries). This symbolism is carried on in the association with the mighty one and the centrality of goodness or Gott or Goode. “The English word God, via the Teutonic Gudo and the earlier forms, is associated with the ancient Semitic and Hebrew as we see above. Thus, the bull was both symbol of reverence and the significant sacrifice. Hence, the name came to be associated with the bull. This pointed towards the sacrifice of Messiah as the Bull of Atonement. This understanding was long held among the Semites from Shem as high priest from the post-flood epoc. From recent finds, it seems this was further distorted in the system at Ur. “Yahovah is the Bull of Israel. He is Messiah as the Great Bull of Heaven acting for the Father, the centre of ultimate goodness.” (End of quote.) There are several mistakes that Wade Cox has made here that must be pointed out. #1 He says that there were twelve brazen bulls under the altar which was referred to in Jer. 20. The reference is actually in Jer. 52:20. Wade is confused concerning the brazen altar. Even though bulls and bullocks were slaughtered on the altar, Solomon did not make twelve bulls under it. The twelve bulls were placed under the molten sea in order to hold it up (1 Ki. 7:23-25). #2 He calls the Messiah the Bull of Atonement. The bull that was sacrificed on the day of Atonement was for Aaron the High Priest and all his house. The animal that was sacrificed for the sins of the people on the day of Atonement was a kid of the goats (Lev. 16). YAHshua is nowhere called a bull. He is always called the Lamb of YAHWEH. #3 He glorifies the system at Ur, but it was that system that Abram was called out of as a type of YAHWEH'S people being called out of Babylon today. #4 He calls Yahovah (YAHWEH) the Bull of Israel and Messiah the Great Bull of Heaven. Paul writes, “Because that when they knew YAHWEH, they glorified Him not as Elohim, 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 ELOHIM INTO AN IMAGE MADE LIKE TO corruptible man, and to birds, and FOURFOOTED BEASTS, and creeping things. If I were Wade Cox I would tread very softly because I have never seen any Scriptures which make YAHWEH into the form of a bull. One should only refer to YAHWEH and YAHshua in the manner that the Scriptures allow. Even though YAHshua is called the Lamb of Elohim by John the Baptist and is referred to as a Lamb and a Lion in Revelation we must take care as to how we view Him. His is like a lamb in sacrifice and like a Lion as king, but we are to make no images as such for this would be against YAHWEH'S commandment (Ex. 20:4-6). However, Wade’s article coupled with GTA’s as well as Robert Claiborne’s The Roots of English serve the purpose of revealing the etymology of the word “God” and its true original meaning. It was a popular Teutonic word utilized for their mighty ones which had to do with representing them as a bull, a molten image, a thing to be worshipped, a thing to invoke or pray to and associated them with Taurus the Bull, one of the constellations in the heavens. ASTROLOGY AND BULL WORSHIP Wade admits that bulls representing God is found in pre-Hebrew culture. Such, of course, is exactly the case. The following is an excerpt from Insight On The Scriptures Vol. 1, p. 207, under the article Astrologers with the sub-title Molech And Astrology In Israel: “There is evidence to show that astrology was closely allied with the worship of Molech, a god who was sometimes depicted with a bull’s head. The bull was worshipped by the Babylonians, Canaanites, Egyptians, and others as a symbol of their deities—Marduk, Molech, Baal, and so forth. The bull was one of the most important signs of the zodiac, Taurus. The sun-god was often represented by bulls, the horns signifying the rays and the bull’s strong reproductive power, the sun’s power as ‘giver of life.’ The female, the cow, was given equal honor as a symbol of Ishtar or Astarte, as she was variously called. So when Aaron and Jeroboam introduced in Israel such worship of the bull (calf worship) it was indeed a great sin in YAHWEH'S eyes—Ex. 32:4, 8; De. 9:16; 1 Ki. 12:28-30; 2 Ki. 10:29. “This apostate ten-tribe kingdom of Israel was denounced for joining this astrology cult, for ‘they kept leaving all the commandments of YAHWEH their Elohim and proceeded to make for themselves molten statutes, two calves, and to make a sacred pole, and they began to bow down to all the army of the heavens and to serve Baal; and they continued to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire and to practice divination and to look for omens.’—2 Ki. 17:16, 17. “In the two-tribe kingdom to the south wicked king Ahaz and his grandson Manasseh both took the lead in worshipping the star gods and in fiendishly offering up their children to be burned alive as sacrifices (2 Ki. 16:3, 4; 21:3, 6; 2 Chr. 28:3, 4; 33:3, 6). Good king Josiah, however, ‘Put out of business the foreign-god priests’ who were making sacrificial smoke to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations of the zodiac and to all the army of the heavens,’ and he tore down the high places and made Topheth unfit for worship so ‘that no one might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.’ (2 Ki. 23:5, 10, 24). YAHWEH, by his prophets Zephaniah and Jeremiah, denounced them for their astrological practices, as ‘those who are bowing down upon the roofs to the army of the heavens, and those ‘making sworn oaths by Malcam (Molech).’ Zeph. 1:5; Jer. 8:1, 2; 19:13. “Further showing the interconnection of Molech worship, calf worship, and astrology is Stephen’s account of the rebellion of the Israelites in the wilderness. When they cried to Aaron, ‘Make us gods for us to go ahead of us,’ YAHWEH ‘handed them over to render sacred service to the army of heaven, just as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices…But it was the tent of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan that you took up.’ Acts 7:40-43.” (End of excerpt) Israel’s apostasy was associated with calf worship which was itself associated with the worship of the host of heaven, especially Taurus the Bull. God is a word which stems from paganistic idolatry and is related to and associated with Taurus the Bull. Has a GREAT DECEPTION been foisted on the people of the earth by Satan? Scripture says that such is the case! THE TRINITARIAN BULL Wade Cox points out that one of the Hebrew words for bull (-s) is “abiyrim.” This word is #47 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew And Chaldee Dictionary. Its definition is given as: abbiyr; for 46:—angel, bull, chiefest, mighty (one), stout [-hearted], strong (one), valiant. #46 is defined as: abiyr; from 82; mighty (spoken of G-d):—mighty (one). #82 is defined as: abar; a prim. root; to soar:—fly. #83 also comes from #82 and is defined as: eber, from 82; a pinion:—[long-] wing (-ed). I list these words and definitions in order to link this word with Figure #1. This is a Syrian representation of an abbiyrim. Syria, Assyria and other nations depicted their gods and kings as part man and part bull even as this relief depicts the images as the upper half men and the lower half bulls. This relief depicts the Syrian r epresentation of the Trinitarian sun god. The sun is given wings because it soars through the heavens. The three man-bulls would be the Trinitarian Taurus the Bull that mediates between heaven and earth for they uphold the sun as it wings its way through heaven. Figures #2 & #3 are panels from four-sided blocks, probably originally parts of an altar, found during excavations in the choir of Nôtre Dame church, Paris, France, in 1711. The remaining panels not shown featured Jovis and Volcanus (Vulcan). Esus (pronounced Hesus) was a Celtic god in mainland Europe. Jovis and Volcanus were Roman gods. Thus there appears to be a blending of Celtic and Roman Deities. Taros Trigaranus simply means “The triune bull.” Notice the three cranes on the back of the back of the bull. A crane flies through the midst of heaven. Thus this would symbolize mediators between heaven and earth. These are Celto-Roman gods (bulls). Jovis is Jupiter while Volcanus was a fire-god. Esus (Hesus) is none other than Jesus. Alexander Hislop writes, “It is well know that Kronos, or Saturn, was Rhea’s husband; but it is not so well known who was Kronos himself. Traced back to his original, that divinity is proved to have been the first king of Babylon. Theophilus of Antioch shows that Kronos in the east was worshipped under the names of Bel and Bal; and from Eusebius we learn that the first of the Assyrian kings, whose name was Belus, was also by the Assyrians called Kronos. As the genuine copies of Dusebius do not admit of any Belus as an actual king of Assyria, prior to Ninus, king of the Babylonians, and distinct from him, that shows that Ninus, the first king of Babylon, was Kronos. But, further, we find that Kronos was king of the Cyclops, who were his brethren, and who derived that name from him, and that the Cyclops were known as ‘inventors of tower-building,’ occupied a position exactly correspondent to that of Rhea, who ‘first erected (towers) in cities.’ If, therefore, Rhea, the wife of Kronos, was the goddess of fortifications, Kronos or Saturn, the husband of Rhea, that is, Ninus or Nimrod, the first king of Babylon, must have been Ala Mahozin, ‘the god of fortifications.’ “The name Kronos itself goes not a little to confirm the argument. Kronos signifies ‘The Horned one.’ As a horn is a well-known Oriental emblem for power or might, Kronos, ‘The Horned one,’ was, according to the mystic system, just a synonym for the Scriptural epithet applied to Nimrod—viz., Gheber, ‘The mighty one’ (Gen. x.8), ‘He began to be mighty on the earth.’…. “The meaning of this name Kronos, ‘The Horned one,’ as applied to Nimrod, fully explains the origin of the remarkable symbol, so frequently occurring among the Nineveh sculptures, the gigantic HORNED man-bull, as representing the great divinities in Assyria. The same word that signified a bull, signified also a ruler or prince*. *The name for a bull or ruler, is in Hebrew without points, Shur, which in Chaldee becomes Tur. From Tur, in the sense of a bull, comes the Latin Taurus; and from the same word, in the sense of a ruler, Turannus, which originally had no evil meaning. Thus, in these well-known classical words, we have evidence of the operation of the very principle which caused the deified Assyrian kings to be presented under the form of the man-bull. Hence the ‘Horned bull’ signified ‘The Mighty Prince,’ thereby pointing back to the first of those ‘Mighty ones,’ who, under the name of Guebres, Gabrs, or Cabiri, occupied so conspicuous a place in the ancient world, and to whom the deified Assyrian monarchs covertly traced back the origin of their greatness and might. This explains the reason why the Bacchus of the Greeks was represented as wearing horns, and why he was frequently addressed by the epithet ‘Bull-horned,’ as one of the high titles of his dignity. Even in comparatively recent times, Togrul Begh, the leader of the Seljukian Turks, who came from the neighbourhood of the Euphrates, was in a similar manner represented with three horns growing out of his head, as the emblem of his sovereignty…. “As sovereignty in Nimrod’s case was founded on physical force, so the two horns of the bull were the symbols of that physical force. And, in accordance with this, we read in ‘Sanchuniathon,’ that ‘Astarte put on her own head a bull’s head as the ensign of royalty.’ By-and-by, however, another and a higher idea came in, and the expression of that idea was seen in the symbol of the three horns. A cap seems in course of time to have come to be associated with the regal horns. In Assyria the three-horned cap was one of the ‘sacred emblems,’ in token that the power connected with it was of celestial origin, — the three horns evidently pointing at the power of the trinity. “There was another way in which Nimrod’s power was symbolized besides by the ‘horn.’ A synonym for Gheber, ‘The mighty one,’ was ‘Abir,’ while ‘Aber’ also signified a ‘wing.’ Nimrod, as Head and Captain of those men of war, by whom he surrounded himself, and who were the instruments of establishing his power, was ‘Baal-aberin,’ “Lord of the mighty ones.’ But ‘Baal-aberin’ (pronounced nearly in the same way) signified ‘The winged one,” and therefore in symbol he was represented, not only as a horned bull, but as at once a horned and winged bull–as showing not merely that he was mighty himself, but that he had mighty ones under his command, who were ever ready to carry his will into effect, and to put down all opposition to his power; and to shadow forth the vast extent of his might, he was represented with great and wide expanding wings. To this mode of representing the mighty kings of Babylon and Assyria, who imitated Nimrod and his successors, there is manifest allusion in Isaiah vii. 6-8: ‘Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; now therefore, behold, The Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and mighty, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his banks. And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over; he shall reach even unto the neck; and the STRETCHING OUT OF HIS WINGS SHALL FILL the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.’ When we look at such figures as those which are here presented to the reader (Fig. 14 and 15), with their great extent of expanded wing, as symbolising an Assyrian king, what a vividness and force does it give to the inspired language of the prophet! And how clearis it, also, that the stretching forth of the Assyrian monarch’s WINGS, that was to fill the breadth of Immanuel’s land,’ has that very symbolic meaning to which I have referred—viz., the overspreading of the land by his ‘mighty ones,’ or hosts of armed men, that the king of Babylon was to bring with him in his overflowing invasion! “Now, the understanding of this equivocal sense of ‘Baal-aberin’ can alone explain the remarkable statement of Aristophanes, that at the beginning of the world ‘the birds’ were first created, and then after their creation, came the ‘race’ of the blessed immortal gods.’ This has been regarded as either an atheistical or nonsensical utterance on the part of the poet, but, with the true key applied to the language, it is found to contain an important historical fact. Let it only be borne in mind that ‘the birds’—that is, the ‘winged ones’—symbolised ‘the Lords of the mighty ones,’ and then the meaning is clear, viz., that men first ‘began to be mighty on the earth;’ and then, that the ‘Lords’ or Leaders of ‘these mighty ones’ were deified.” (The Two Babylons pp. 33-39.) THE BULLS OF BASHAN Look at Ro. 1:23 again for men turned the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (serpents, reptiles, etc.). Each of the Figures represented carr y the form of man, birds and four-footed beasts (bulls). This all comes from the subtle and clever serpent Satan. It is, in reality, serpent or Satan worship. This is a travesty, a coquettish trick, a deceitful stratagem foisted upon an unsuspecting mankind. Wade Cox refers to Psalm 22. Psalm 22 is about the suffering Messiah. Notice the language, “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My ehart is like was; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jows; and Thou h
September 17, 2005 at 11:59 pm#8807davidParticipantElijah, Is there any way you could sum up the above post in a sentence or two?
thanks.
dave.
September 18, 2005 at 12:18 am#8808EliyahParticipantDavid, why don't you take the time and read it carefully, for IF you do, you will SEE the “” folly “” that you quoted of Mr. Wade Cox's article, and a host of other pagan deceptions.
Here is a man that has discovered the SAME MANY TRUTHS that I have researched for many years, and I will quote from his findings, because they are my same research findings from years ago.
Why don't you read it very close, it also quotes from INSIGHT ON THE SCRIPTURES??
That Article and others can be read at….
http://hometown.aol.com/jerrheal/index.html
under “” ARTICLES “”.
Or, do you even HAVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH?
You seem to think before that ” I ” was the ONLY PERSON who knew this, well here is ANOTHER Person who KNOWS that same truth too.
September 18, 2005 at 12:31 am#8809EliyahParticipantContinuation of the SAME ARTICLE by Jerry Healan
THE BULLS OF BASHAN
Look at Ro. 1:23 again for men turned the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (serpents, reptiles, etc.). Each of the Figures represented carry the form of man, birds and four-footed beasts (bulls). This all comes from the subtle and clever serpent Satan. It is, in reality, serpent or Satan worship. This is a travesty, a coquettish trick, a deceitful stratagem foisted upon an unsuspecting mankind.
Wade Cox refers to Psalm 22. Psalm 22 is about the suffering Messiah. Notice the language, “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My ehart is like was; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jows; and Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death…They pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell (count) all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture,” vv. 14-18.
Now notice verse 12, “Many bulls (myrP/parim) have compassed Me: strong bulls (yryBa/abiri) of Bashan have beset Me round.”
Just as there were the “oaks of Bashan”, there were also “bulls of Bashan.” Like the oaks, the bulls have been instrumental in keeping men steeped in idolatry.
When the Psalmist (Savior) cried out about being compassed and beset round, there are deeper realities implied here than first meets the eye. The Hebrew word for “compassed” is “cabab” (saw-bab). Its primary meaning is to revolve, surround or border. The Hebrew word for “beset round” is “kathar.” Its primary meaning is to “enclose;” hence (in a hostile snese) to “besiege.”
The instance concerning YAHshua the High Priest, son of Josedeck portrays the true intended meaning here. Zechariah is showing YAHshua the high priest standing before the angel of YAHWEH, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (Zech. 3:1).
There is an interesting thing about the Hebrew word that is translated as “resist.” The Hebrew word for the name “Satan” is (!j'F') while the Hebrew word for “resist” is (nj.fi). The Hebrew name for “Satan” is #7854 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance while the Hebrew word for “resist” is #7853. The definition proffered for #7854 (Satan/nj.fi) is “from 7853: an opponent; espec. With the art. Pref.) Satan, the arch-enemy of good:—adversary, Satan, withstand.
The definition for #7853 is “satan/nj.fi; a prim. Root; to attack, (fig.) accuse:—(be an) adversary, resist.
What is being revealed here? Certainly that Satan is resisting YAHshua, but in what manner? To attack, accuse, withstand, yes, but deeper than that, Satan has “satanized” the Savior. How? By surrounding Him with paganistic, idolatrous practices.
YAHshua was clothed (surrounded) with filthy garments (Zech. 3:3). The Hebrew word for filthy is (myawc) which has to do with excrement or dung (See Strong’s #6674 & #6675). Jeremiah reveals that, because of Judah’s practices of the worship of the host of heaven, they would become as dung upon the face of the earth, “At that time, saith YAHWEH, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: and they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith YAHWEH of hosts. Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith YAHWEH; Shall they fall, and not arise? Shall he turn away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return,” 8:1-5.
SYNCRETISM
King Solomon had built the temple for YAHWEH'S name in Jerusalem (1 Ki. 6, 8). But Solomon had many strange (foreign) women and wives who turned his heart away from YAHWEH in his old age (1 Ki. 11:1-4). He began to worship their deities also building high places for the deities of all his strange wives so they could burn incense in worship to them (1 Ki. 11:5-8).
Jeremiah reveals that the people of Jerusalem of his day were worshipping other deities and then coming to YAHWEH in His temple to worship Him, “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not: and come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’” 7:8-10.
The prophet Malachi was inspired to write, “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of YAHWEH which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange El,” 2:11.
Furthermore, Malachi was inspired to write, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? And if I be a Master, where is My fear? Saith YAHWEH of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised Thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted Thee? In that ye say, the table of YAHWEH is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? Saith YAHWEH of hosts….For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith YAHWEH of hosts. But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of YAHWEH is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even His meat, is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! And ye have snuffed at it, saith YAHWEH of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith YAHWEH. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto YAHWEH a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith YAHWEH of Hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen,” Mal. 1:6-8, 11-14.
YAHWEH says that He and His name have been polluted by the actions of the Levitical priesthood and the leaders of Judah and Israel. For this He warns, “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith YAHWEH of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it,” Mal. 2:1-3.
Since they polluted His name and His ways with false heathenish practices, the worship of the host of heaven, the sun, moon, and stars, etc., which are as vain and useless as dung, YAHWEH proclaims that He will in turn smear their faces with dung and that they will be as dung on the face of the earth (Jer. 8:2).
CLOTHING OF DUNG
The point is that idolatry and the syncretism of the worship of YAHWEH with the worship of the deities of the nations (heathen) is regarded by YAHWEH as dung. YAHshua the high priest, the son of Josedech was a symbol of the true Heavenly High Priest, Savior and Messiah YAHshua for Zechariah was
inspired to write, “And the word of YAHWEH came unto me, saying, ‘Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of YAHshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, ‘Thus speaketh YAHWEH of hosts, saying, ‘Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of YAHWEH: Even He shall build the temple of YAHWEH; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.,’” 6:9-13.YAHshua the high priest, the son of Josedech was a type of YAHshua the Heavenly High Priest, the Son of the Most High Elohim, the righteous YAHWEH. Josedech is a Hebrew name that is a combination of two words Yehow and tsadaq. Yehow = to the name YAHWEH while tsadaq has to do with being morally right, clean, clear, righteous. Josedech = the righteous YAHWEH.
But YAHshua the Savior and Heavenly High Priest has been withstood (satanized) by Satan who has compassed (clothed) Him with the filthy clothing of idolatry (dung).
THE WORD “CHRIST”
Due to the Greek influence, the Savior is called the “Christ” rather than the “Messiah.” Christos is said to be the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word Mashiyach. A quick look into Webster’s New World Dictionary reveals another disturbing thing about this appellative. The etymology of the word Christ as given in said dictionary is [ME. & OE. crist < LL. (Ec.) Christus < Gr. christos, the anointed (in NT., MESSIAH) chriein, to anoint < IE. base *ghrei-, to spread over, smear, whence GRIME]. (Emphasis mine.)
“Grime” is defined as dirt, esp. sooty dirt, rubbed into or covering a surface, as of the skin. (Ibid) Thus, in the very word Christ, itself, is the description of Zech. 3:3.
We have already seen how the current name J-sus, used for the Savior, is steeped in idolatrous paganism. We have also seen how the word G-d is affiliated with bull or calf worship. These are the tools of idolatry which is nothing more than dung. Also, we now find that the word Christ is associated with filth. But Zechariah reveals another step in the road to idolatry.
THE CLEAN GARMENTS
After Satan is rebuked in Zech. 3:2, the statement is made to take away the filthy (excrementitous, dung) garments from him (Zech. 3:4, first part). The statement is then made, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment,” Zech. 3:4, last part. The Jay P. Green Sr. Interlinear Bible renders this last part of verse 4 thusly, “See, I have caused to pass from you your iniquity, and I will clothe you with FESTAL GARMENTS.” Do you get that? FESTAL GARMENTS! In other words, garments of the feasts! Which feasts? The feasts that YAHWEH commanded in Lev. 23!
Not only have the Savior and His Father been given false pagan idolatrous names, but they have been and are being worshipped through false pagan idolatrous feasts (holidays) in today’s world.
YAHWEH commanded the seventh day Sabbath observance (Ex. 20:8-11, Lev. 23:1-3). Most of the Christian world today has changed that day from the seventh to the first day of the week called Sunday, the day of the invincible sun (Solis Invicti).
YAHWEH also commanded the observance of 3 specific times of the year which included the Passover/-Unleavened Bread observance (the first time), Pentecost (the second time) and the fall festival season (the third time) which included Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. But most of Christianity has been observing the pagan festivals of December 25 (birthday of the unconquered sun), Lent (mourning for Tammuz), Easter (the day of the pagan goddess Ishtar and her consort Tammuz), etc.
THE CLEAN MITRE
One final and most important link to understanding the importance of what has happened concerning the holy names is found in Zech. 3:5, “And I said, ‘Let them set a fair mitre upon his head.’ So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of YAHWEH stood by.”
Josephus wrote concerning the mitre of the high priest, “A mitre also of fine linen encompassed his head, which was tied by a blue riband, about which there was another golden crown, in which was engraven the sacred name [of G-d:] it consists of four vowels.” (The Works Of Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book v., p. 556.)
Josephus is writing about the high priest and his entrance into the holiest place once a year on the day of Atonement.
Zechariah’s request concerning the clean mitre portrays the significance and importance of the true holy name of the Creator. YAHWEH'S name was to be placed upon the mitre of the high priest. Satan had not only surrounded the true High Priest, the Messiah YAHshua with paganistic idolatrous clothing and holidays that had to be removed, but he also has deceived man into placing names of Baal, names of idolatrous deities upon his head.
The true name of the Creator is YAHWEH. YAHshua, the true High Priest, came in His Father's name, “I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive,” Jn. 5:43. Another has come in his own name and the world has received this false idolatrous messiah and rejected the true Messiah and His Father as well as their names.
The true gist of Zech. 3 is that the Savior, the true heavenly High Priest has not only been surrounded by false paganistic idolatrous practices (dung) which must cast away and replaced with the true, but that He and the Father have also been misrepresented with false paganistic idolatrous Baal names which also must be cast away and replaced by the true.
THE IDOL SHEPHERD
YAHWEH reveals in Zech. 11 that He would raise up an idol shepherd (v. 17). Furthermore, this idol shepherd would take the instruments of a foolish shepherd (v. 15). The word “foolish” also means worthless, impious, or perverse. When would this event occur? The answer is given in vv. 12-13, “And I said unto them, ‘If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.’ So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And YAHWEH said unto me, ‘Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them.’ And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of YAHWEH.”
This was the prophecy of the selling out of the Savior. Judas sold YAHshua out for thirty pieces of silver (Mt. 26:14-16). After YAHshua was taken prisoner, Judas repented himself and sought to return the money casting it down in the temple of YAHWEH (YAHWEH'S house [Mt. 27:3-5]). The thirty pieces of silver was utilized in purchasing the potter’s field (Mt. 27:6-10).
It was after this time that YAHWEH had prophesied in Zech. 11 that a foolish idol shepherd would be raised.
YAHshua, Himself, had warned of the coming deception of false prophets and messiahs (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 23-24). It was Zechariah who gave us the key concerning from whence this deception would come, “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; when I have bent Judah for Me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons O Greece,” 9:12-13.
The deception and the false shepherd would come from Greece!
TREACHEROUS DEALERS
I want to go back to Mal. 2:11 for YAHWEH indicts Judah and Israel by saying, “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of YAHWEH which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange el.”
Hosea has also written, “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud,
and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings. But they like men (Adam) have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me,” Hos. 6:4-7.YAHWEH says that both Judah and Israel have transgressed His covenant as did Adam (the word “men” in Hos. 6:7 should have been translated as Adam.). Adam was cast out of the garden of Eden for his transgression and both Israel and Judah were eventually cast out of the land of Canaan, the land of promise for their transgressions. Furthermore, they profaned and polluted YAHWEH and His holiness by turning to a strange el.
Notice what Rabbi Arthur Green admits, “I further betray my faith by the use of the English word ‘God,’ rooted as it is in old Germanic paganism. I struggle with ways to replace this term in English but come up empty-handed.” (Seek My Face, Speak My Name, p. 18)
Notice it again! He betrays his faith! How? By use of the word “God!” Why? Because he can find no equivalent term in the English language to the Hebrew word or words which describe as to Whom He is. Then why not simply utilize the term that the Creator has utilized for Himself? Many, many other words of the English language have been taken from other languages of the world because there were no equivalent terms in the English. As a matter of fact, many of our English words have come directly from the Hebrew language. Ever heard of the word “HalleluYah?” Why not utilize the Hebrew word El or Elohim?
The prophet Isaiah proclaims, “From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.” Isa. 24:16.
One thing that we do need to point out is that when a matter is repeated a second time, YAHWEH is putting stress and emphasis on that point, but notice that YAHWEH has made use of the words associated with treachery four times in this one verse alone.
Again, in Isa. 21:2 YAHWEH inspires the prophet to declare, “A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth.”
THE COVER-UP
The Hebrew word for treacherous (-ly) is #898 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is the Hebrew word “dgb” spelled as bagad in the English and pronounced baw-gad'. It is defined as; a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage. It has been variously translated as: deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), X very, etc. throughout the KJV.
“…have dealt very…” in Isa. 24:16 is translated from the Hebrew word “beged” which is simply another form of #898. It is #899 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage. It has been translated variously as: apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, X very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe, etc. throughout the KJV.
Here are the other prophets who are speaking out through inspiration, warning that there has been a cover-up. Remember that in Zech. 3:1-3 Satan has satanized the Heavenly High Priest YAHshua. YAHshua has been dressed in the filthy clothes of dung, grime, idolatry! YAHshua has been covered up in the garments, vesture, wardrobe, vesture, apparel, clothing, etc. of treachery!
Notice that one of definitions of “bagad” is to act covertly. What does this mean? It means to conceal, hide, disguise, to be surreptitious. Surreptitious means done, got made, etc. in a secret, stealthy way; clandestine, acting in a secret, stealthy way.
Can we discover more concerning this cover up? Indeed we can if one has a mind to receive and grasp it! Isaiah warns, “But ye are they that forsake YAHWEH, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number,” 65:11.
The word “that troop” is translated from the Hebrew word “gad.” “Gad” was actually the proper name of a Babylonian deity of fortune. Its pronunciation was just like our English word “God.”
Gad (God) is #1408 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is translated from the Hebrew word dg. Now let’s compare the word Gad (dg) with the word treachery (dgb). Notice that the only difference between the two is the beit (b) in the word “bagad”.
Now let’s discover the cover-up! Many, many times when the beit (b) preceeds a word, it is meant to be translated as the word “in.” Thus, “bagad” (dgb) could be translated as “in Gad/God.”
THAT NUMBER
Now, before you go off scoffing at this idea, let’s research another part of Isa. 65:11. What Isaiah is referring to in 65:11 is a couple of false pagan deities. Isaiah should be translated as, “But ye are they that forsake YAHWEH, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Gad/God, and that furnish the drink offering unto Meniy.”
While Gad/God was the Babylonian deity of fortune, Meniy was the deity of destiny or numbering. Meniy is #4507 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as; from 4487; the Apportioner, i.e. Fate (as an idol).
#4487 is the Hebrew word “hnm” ( manah, pronounced as maw-naw') and is defined as; a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll. It is variously translated as; appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.
Furthermore, the next word in Strong’s which follows is #4488, Hnm; maneh, pronounced as maw-neh' and defined as from 4487; properly, a fixed weight or measured amount, i.e. (techn.) a maneh or mina. This word is utilized in Scripture only five times. Each time it is utilized in 1 Kings 10:17; Ezr. 2:69; Neh. 7:71, 73 it has to do with weighing out gold and/or silver.
The fifth time, it is utilized in Ezek. 45:12 which says, “And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.” Notice that! It is translated as the word “maneh”, but what is it speaking of? Isn’t it speaking of the manner in which their MONEY was to be measured out?
Notice that again! Our English word “money” would be an exact translation from the Hebrew “maneh.” Just as they weighed out or counted or numbered their gerahs and shekels, we also weigh out or count out our money. A dollar equals 100 pennies, 20 nickels, 10 dimes, 4 quarters, 2 half-dollars, etc. At one time our dollar was weighed out in gold and silver.
Now what do we put on our money/maneh/Meniy? IN GOD we trust!!!!! “In God” would be translated in the Hebrew as “bagad” (dgb) which is treachery! We count our FORTUNE (-S) in money, do we not? Gad/God was/is the deity of FORTUNE! Meniy/maneh/money was/is the NUMBERER!
Today’s world worships at the altar of the almighty dollar. People spend the greatest part of their lives preparing themselves in education so they can go out earn their fortune (counted in dollars which have “In God [bagad=treachery] we trust” printed on them). Many others will descend to the depths of depravity, prostituting themselves to crime and drugs in order to obtain the almighty dollar (whereupon is printed “In God [bagad=treachery] we trust”). So many people are willing to kill or murder others for the almighty dollar (whereupon is printed “In God [bagad=treachery] we trust”).
The far, far greater majority neglect the more important wisdom of YAHWEH because of their search and quest for their FORTUNE (weighed out and numbered in dollars wherein is printed “In God [bagad=treachery] we trust”). Even the greater preponderance of religious leader
s utilize their knowledge of Scripture (which in most cases is perverted) to amass great FORTUNES (whereupon is printed “In God bagad=treachery] we trust”).YAHshua warned, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Elohim and mammon,” Mt. 6:24.
“Mammon” is translated from the Greek word “mammonas” and is defined as; of Chaldee origin (confidence, i.e. wealth, personified); mammonas, i.e. avarice (deified). Notice that even the word “mammonas” comes from the Chaldee (Babylon) as does the word “Gad/God.”
Another point is that our world subliminally understands that the word “God” is associated with FORTUNE. Years ago, when I lived in the Houston area, I began to listen to a talk radio program. The host was quite charismatic and interesting. As do all successful radio hosts, his reasonings were basically in line with the majority of the population. Thus, he was very popular at the time.
One day a man called and they got onto the subject of religion. The talk show host made a statement that has stuck in my mind even to this day. He stated, “I never thought that I deserved wealth until I became a Christian.”
In other words, until he had embraced the faith that he thought was taken right out of the Bible, his life had been a life absorbed in living against what he thought were Biblical principles. Thus, he deserved to suffer poverty and all other curses warned in Scripture. Then, when he turned his life around somewhat, and embraced Christianity, he had supposedly turned to the “God” of Scripture and now he deserved to be blessed with wealth (mammon) thereafter.
Even our own financial world exudes the belief that if we believe “in God” then we deserve to be blessed with great wealth, because we place the statement “In God we trust” on our money.
THE CONSPIRACY
I realize that there are people and even elders in the Assembly who will withstand and pooh, pooh this information as there has been a controversy raging for about a year or so over whether it is alright to utilize the word “God” as a title for YAHWEH. However, it is easy to see that those who are in support for the use of the word “God” are utilizing flawed, fallacious reasoning to support their views. However, they are very subtle in their approach, but we can see through that subtlety if we will only give YAHWEH the chance to lead us through His Spirit.
One of their main contentions is that one of the sons of Jacob was named Gad/God, thus there is nothing inherently evil about the word. They even go so far as to try to prove that the word God is similar in definition to Elohim. However, while a son of Jacob, a tribe of Israel, a prophet and the region that they inhabited all bore this name Gad/God, that is exactly what this word is utilized as in this instance, a PROPER NOUN. This proper noun has been utilized by the present day world as a replacement for the very name of the Creator. That is the great sin.
Some of the definitions proffered for Gad/God is to crowd upon, attack, invade and overcome and that is exactly what the word God had done to the true name and titles of YAHWEH our Elohim! If they fail to see this distinction, then they have been blinded by their own philosophy!
It has never been the intention of Scripture to replace the name of the Creator YAHWEH with another name. As a matter of fact Scripture reveals that there has been a conspiracy to replace YAHWEH and his name with other Elohim, names and titles that are false and pagan.
YAHWEH proclaims, “And YAHWEH said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other Elohim to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith YAHWEH, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto Me, I will not hearken unto them. Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For according to the number of thy cities were thy Elohim, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal (the Lord who is also named God),” Jer. 11:9-13.
Notice it! There has actually been a conspiracy among the men of Judah and Jerusalem to turn back to the iniquities of their fathers! Hasn’t that been purpose of almost all Israel since their delivery from the land of Egypt? Didn’t they begin to complain very early after their delivery? When Moses ascended into the mount, didn’t they turn back to calf worship and idolatry? Time after time in the wilderness didn’t they attempt to set up captains over them so that they could return to the land of Egypt?
When they finally entered into Canaan, the land of promise, they suffered a succession of periods under the hands of the judges wherein they would fall away from YAHWEH and His covenant until they came into bondage under foreign nations. When they cried out to YAHWEH He delivered them. The period of the kings was no different. An unfaithful king would lead them into idolatry. A faithful king would raise up to deliver them, but they eventually had to be cast out of the land for their unfaithfulness!
What was the great sin? The unfaithful leaders always sought to introduce the worship of the elohim of the nations around them into their everyday life.
The prophet Jeremiah reveals that the Jewish leaders of his day were beginning to mix, to syncretize the worship of the elohim of the nations with the worship of YAHWEH, “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other elohim whom ye know not; and come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’? Is not this house (temple), which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith YAHWEH,” Jer. 7:8-11.
Yes, there has been a conspiracy among the men of Judah and Jerusalem. You may accuse me of anti-Semitism, but these are not my words. These are the words of the very Creator and Elohim of all the men of Judah and Israel.
JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM
YAHWEH inspired Isaiah to proclaim, Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of YAHWEH, and make mention of the Elohim of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness,” Isa. 48:1.
Do any the Jewish people as a whole in today’s world swear, use, speak, etc. the name YAHWEH? No, they have replaced it with either Adonai or HaShem. They also utilize the pagan English word “God” in reference to Him. Waters are utilized in Scripture to mean “spirit.” What is the spirit (waters) of the modern day Jewish people? Isn’t it Judaism?
But, let’s take this a little further because there are two other religions that have come from the waters or spirit of the Jewish people which they admit in so many of their writings available to us in this modern day world. Those religions are Christianity and Islam.
Christianity speaks of YAHWEH the Creator and His name, but not by His true name. They call Him God and replace His originally inspired true name with either “the LORD” or “God.” Islam speaks of YAHWEH the Creator and His name, but not by His true name. They call Him Allah and God.
We have the three principal religions that have stemmed from the waters of Judah, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Applying Isa. 48:1 to this situation, we can see that they speak of YAHWEH,
they swear by His name and make mention of the Elohim of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.YAHWEH continues in Isaiah, chapter 48, “elohim have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of My mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass,” vv. 3-4.
THE IRON AND BRASS
The choice of the metals iron and brass are quite interesting, because these are the metals utilized to describe the last two world ruling kingdoms in Dan. 2. Nebuchadnezzar had seen a great image in a dream. Daniel was given the meaning of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar had seen an image whose head was gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass and legs of iron while the feet were iron and clay.
Daniel gives us the key to decipher the image. Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. He was told that the other metals represented successive world ruling kingdoms that would follow his. We know from Biblical and secular history that Persia followed Babylon. So the Persian kingdom would be the next kingdom to follow Babylon. Then Alexander of Macedon overthrew the Persian kingdom and the next world ruling kingdom was Greek. Finally, the fourth kingdom was the Roman kingdom.
Our government, as well as most of the governments of the world today are remnants of these four great world ruling kingdoms. Furthermore, the principal ideology of Greece was democracy while the principal ideology of Rome was republican, even though they were still governed by dictators. Thus, we proclaim that we are a democracy with a republican form of government.
YAHWEH revealed with the feet that the kingdom would be divided. But this division actually began with the belly and thighs of brass because the Greek kingdom was united under Alexander for a short period of time, but was divided to the four winds upon his death. His four generals divided the kingdom into four principal kingdoms under their control. However, two principal governments came out of this division that were more powerful and hardy than the other two. They were the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria.
When Rome entered the scene there was unity for a while, but Constantine the Great effectively divided the empire between east and west. The western capital was located at old Rome while the eastern capital was located as Constantinople (known as Roma Nova or New Rome). The eastern capital was eventually transferred to Moscow Russia (known in history as the third Rome). Actually, the western kingdom was under Latin influence while the eastern kingdom was under Greek influence. This continues to be somewhat the case even today.
But now let’s look at the feet again. Of course, we know that there are two feet which stands for division, but their make-up was also iron and clay which also denoted division (Dan. 2:31-33, 40-43). Our government, as well as the governments of Europe are divided between the Democrats and Republicans (or similar parties). Even though there is some semblance of unity, there is also division because of differences in ideology in the two parties. One party, the Democrats tend to lean greatly toward socialism and communism called the left, while the Republicans tend to lean toward capitalism and commercialism called the right. They really don’t mix very well.
This is the modern day spirit and attitude of Judah and Israel. Both actually love this form of government. The neck is as an iron sinew and the brow as brass. YAHWEH reveals that His people are obstinate, stiff-necked and hard headed!
IDOLS AND GRAVEN IMAGES
The prophet Isaiah continues, “I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, ‘Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.’ Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously (bagad=in God), and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
What does the world call the Creator today? Isn’t the principle word “God?” What do the very roots of the word God mean according to the etymologists? Don’t they trace the origin to the word Gheu which means; L fundere, fus-, to pour, whence the FUNNEL through which you pour things, and the FOUNDRY in which FUSED (molten) metal is poured into molds?
The problem is that Israel has always wanted to be like the nations around them. They had the greatest, most righteous, most powerful Being as their Elohim. The other nations of the world would not change their deities even when they saw the great and powerful works performed among them on Israel’s behalf. The sin of Israel is that they have not been faithful to YAHWEH their Elohim. As He proclaims, Israel has been a transgressor from the womb!
Israel has always had the tendency to adopt the customs and elohim of the nations around them. Instead of being the greatest of nations, they have been the weakest and through their unfaithfulness, they have seemingly weakened the power of YAHWEH their Elohim by blending His worship with the deities of the nations of the world.
His name has been forsaken in today’s world while the names and titles of other elohim have taken its place. How and why? Because there is a subtle serpent who is extremely deceptive. His desire is to transfer the power and worship of YAHWEH to himself.
HELEL/SATAN
YAHWEH inspires Isaiah to cry out, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of El: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit,” 14:12-15.
Here is where the root of all deception lies. It began with the serpent in the garden of Eden when he deceived the woman into rebelling against the commandment of YAHWEH. Adam also followed along sheepishly.
The book of Revelation identifies him as “…that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…,” Rev. 12:9.
Paul identifies him as “…the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience,” Eph. 2:2.
Paul also says, “But if our evangel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious evangel of the Messiah, who is the image of YAHWEH, should shine unto them,” 2 Cor. 4:3-4.
YAHshua warned that false prophets and false messiahs would come and deceive many. Such has been the case! Satan and his ministers are able to present themselves as angels of light, all the while working in the darkness of deception and deceit!
Satan hates YAHWEH. He wants to be worshipped as the mighty one in the heavens. He accomplishes his task through his subtle deceptions. Many think that they are walking in the light because they seem to be following Scripture. But the truth is that their works are actually contrary to what the Scriptures declare that they should be.
BABYLON THE GREAT
Satan has been at the right hand of the Savior YAHshua resisting (satanizing) Him at every turn. He has deceived the world into turning aside to paganistic idolatry and encompassing the Savior with such practices. This is Babylon, Babel, confusion.
The Apostle John was given a revelation conc
erning the events and conditions that would exist in the last days. He was shown a great beast and false prophet in Rev. 13. In Revelation 17 another piece was added to the puzzle for he was shown a great whore who sits upon many waters. She has committed fornication with the kings of the earth and has made the inhabitants drunk with the wine of her fornication.This woman sits upon the beast which is FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY being arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. She is called MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
This woman is a great religious system which causes the inhabitants of the earth to wonder at and worship the beast as the messiah. It is a great religious system which employs the idolatrous practices of the nations, pagan gentiles and heathenism in its worship. She has also spawned many harlot daughters.
We are told, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies,” Rev. 18:2-3.
Look at how the merchants wax rich through the abundance of the delicacies of December 25th, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc. The merchants even wax rich through the abundance of the delicacies of Sunday worship for everyone decks out in their Sunday best with expensive clothes, shoes, jewelry, automobiles, etc. in order to make a good showing.
Satan and his great beast power has opened his mouth to blaspheme YAHWEH, His name and tabernacle (Rev. 13:6). He has waged war against the saints of the Most High overcoming them (Rev. 13:7). He has spoken great words against the Most High, wearing out the saints of the Most High, thinking to change times and laws (Dan. 7:25).
What can we do? The voice cries out, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and YAHWEH hath remembered her iniquities,” Rev. 18:4-5.
Yes, come out of her. Turn and repent of the paganistic idolatrous influences utilized by this world in the worship of the Father and Son. Satan HAS DECEIVED THE WHOLE WORLD! (Rev. 12:9). He has been instrumental in blaspheming the names of the Heavenly Father YAHWEH and His glorious Son YAHshua. He has been instrumental in perverting and corrupting man’s understanding of the Savior, thereby encompassing Him with deceitful, coquettish, trivial matters. He has utilized sly tricks, deceitful stratagems, guile, etc. to lead the world astray into the idolatry that he loves.
If you are taking part in the heathenish practices of Sunday worship, celebration of Dec. 25th, observance of Easter, Valentines’ Day, etc., utilizing the word God in worship of the Father and Son, utilizing the name Jesus Christ and its derivatives for the Son, then you have fallen for the deceitful tricks of Satan the Devil.
The voice cries, “Come out of her.” Yes, come out of her so that you be not partakers in her sins and the wrath which is soon to be poured out.
By Jerry Healan
September 18, 2005 at 12:40 am#8810EliyahParticipantBrandonIke, we are not the ONLY ones that know the truth of this pagan Idolatry worship in modern christianity, evidently there are more and more who know this too.
September 18, 2005 at 12:50 am#8811EliyahParticipantMr. Healan quoted “”
Quote We are told, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies,” Rev. 18:2-3 Exactly so, modern christianity is THE WHORE OF BABYLON, and all her daughters THE PROTESTANTS have made the world drunk on false doctrines and teachings of BABYLON, and they worship a ” gawd =god ” which is a Babylonian deity.
And the Book of Revelation says, “”
Quote and is become the habitation of devils( demons), and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird This is none other than satan worship( Rev.9:20; Rev.13:3-4, 8) through deception ( Rev.12:9).
Who have people been fooled into worshipping today?
Eliyah C.
September 18, 2005 at 5:11 am#8813EliyahParticipantPointing out Major things in Jerry Healan's Article.
Quote It is interesting that all of these pagan deities, Zeus, Jupiter, Taranus, Belenus and Hesus (Jesus) were worshipped in the sacred oaks, for YAHWEH issues indictments against such things, “And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake YAHWEH shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them,” Isa. 1:29-31.
Notice that Isaiah says they have forsaken YAHWEH and desired the oaks. He also writes, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and YAHWEH alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of YAHWEH of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures, Isa. 2:11-16.
This condemnation has everything to do with idolatry, paganism and heathenism for Hosea writes, “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their Elohim. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery,” 4:12-13.
Would there be any connection between this Scripture and the immoral sexual practices imbibed in by our world today? The increase in teenage pregnancy is phenomenal in our nation (which is supposed to be a Christian nation) and world at large. Well over half of the marriages end in divorce most of them because of adultery.
Hesus (Jesus) was an oak of Bashan. Those who love the name “Jesus” openly hate and despise the name YAHWEH and those who have been led to turn to the true and proper Name of the Creator. They have forsaken YAHWEH and turned to love the oaks that YAHWEH warns against. However, the world has been deceived by Satan and doesn’t even know of the tie in with the Celtic oak. The assembly has been beguiled by Satan and led to worship another messiah. Satan has “turned aside” the many “uniting them with idolatry.”
This was practiced by the Celtic Druids, and we owe it all to the pagan Roman MOTHER in ( Rev.17 and 18).
Notice this quote by ( Garner Ted Armstrong ) in the Article that he tries to justify using the word ” G-d “, then admits its pagan origins.
“””
Quote Armstrong writes, “Take, for example, our English word ‘God.’ Where did it come from? The Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, says, ‘God. The common Teutonic word for a personal object of worship…The word ‘God’ [German ‘Gott’ from ‘Guth,’ which was related to Taurus, the Bull] on the conversion of the Teutonic races to Christianity, was adopted as the name of the one Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe… ‘God’ is a word common to all Teutonic language. In Gothic it is Guth; Dutch has the same form as English; Danish and Swedish have Gud, German Gott. According to the New English Dictionary, the original may be found in two Aryan roots, both of the form gheu, one of which means ‘to invoke,’ the other ‘to pour’, the last is used of sacrificial offerings. The word would thus mean the object either of religious invocation or of religious worship by sacrifice. It has also been suggested that the word might mean a ‘molten image’ from the sense of ‘pour.’” (Vol. 12: p. 169.)” (What is God’s Name? P. 6, by G.T.A.). Here is a man who has discovered the root origins of the word “god,” which has been utilized as the name of the Creator, and yet he thinks nothing about it. He simply explains it away thusly; “Gott’ and related terms, then, were merely Teutonic sounds for ‘deity’ or ‘things that are worshiped,’ and are therefore the equivalent of the Hebrew Elohim, the Greek Theos, and the English God.
“Notwithstanding the pagan origins of the word itself, it is important to understand that words are merely sounds, or written characters, which convey thought, meaning, understanding, to the human mind. Today, when a modern Englishman or American addresses ‘God’ in prayer, he is thinking to address the Father of Jesus Christ; the great God who is Ruler of the universe; the Member of Elohim Who created all things through His Logos, or Spokesman of His Divine Family. Surely, no modern American or Briton thinks he is using a word which connotes a molten image, or means ‘to pour,’ no matter the ultimate Aryan roots of the English word.” (ibid, pp. 6-7).
This same man( G.T.A.) condemned the ( Catholics and Protestants ) for their pagan practices of Christmas and Easter, yet he himself says that the TRUE CREATOR DOES NOT FROWN UPON EVERYTHING PAGAN.
“””
Quote The Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, says, ‘God. The common Teutonic word for a personal object of worship…The word ‘God’ [German ‘Gott’ from ‘Guth,’ which was related to Taurus, the Bull] on the conversion of the Teutonic races to Christianity, was adopted as the name of the one Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe… ‘God’ is a word common to all Teutonic language. In Gothic it is Guth; Dutch has the same form as English; Danish and Swedish have Gud, German Gott. According to the New English Dictionary, the original may be found in two Aryan roots, both of the form gheu, one of which means ‘to invoke,’ the other ‘to pour’, the last is used of sacrificial offerings. The word would thus mean the object either of religious invocation or of religious worship by sacrifice. It has also been suggested that the word might mean a ‘molten image’ from the sense of ‘pour.’” (Vol. 12: p. 169.)” (What is God’s Name? P. 6, by G.T.A.) Notice what he says “”
Quote GTA continues, “It is also important to understand that God does not frown upon everything created by ‘pagan’ (or non-Hebrew) cultures. He forbids only those things that are contrary to His laws and things that misrepresent Who and What He is!” (What is God’s Name? p. 7, by G.T.A.). Oh, the Creator does not FROWN upon everthing PAGAN?
Then WHY did G.T.Armstrong condemn the ( Catholics and Protestants ) for observing their pagan christmas and Easter ??
This is what Messiah meant when He said, “”
Quote Why do you behold the splinter in ye brother's eye, but behold you have a log or rafter in thine own eye,
and He called them Hypocrits””Those who condemn ( Catholics and Protestants) for their pagan Christmas and Easter, and then turn arround and keep their pagan ” G-d ” word are in the same boat and riding the same dead beast of Revelation whether they want to admit or not.
There is no difference in YHWH'S sight.
Eliyah C.
September 18, 2005 at 7:07 am#8814davidParticipantFor years, I've heard the illustration of:
If you have a glass of clean fresh water and put the smallest drop of poison in it, would you drink it?
Of course, one would say no. No paganism allowed in true worship.
I can't believe this, but Elijah has forced me to come up with another interesting illustration along the same lines. Man, I can't believe I'm doing this. I must be very sleepy:
Would you brush your teeth if there were feces on your toothbrush?
“No,” you say. Disgusting.
Well, what if it was just a little feces?
Remarkably, even if you don't keep your toothbrush in the bathroom, there is the smallest traces of feces on it when tested for bacteria. It's inescapable, even if your toothbrush is in another room!So, do we stop brushing our teeth?
Not if you suffer from coprophagy. (In our illustration, paganism or false worship). In rare instances, people with severe developmental and psychological disorders practice pica, the consumption of non-food items, including coprophagy, the ingestion of feces.
I suggest dental floss. We must eliminate all intake of feces. From now on, it's only dental floss for me. I've changed my ways. I've seen the light.
And every time Elijah asks if pagansim should be allowed in true worship, I'll ask him if feces should be allowed in our mouths.
Of course, the answer should be “No” to both.Is this extreme reasoning? Yes.
Am I proud of it? No.
Will I continually ask Elijah if he brushes his teeth? Not sure.david
September 18, 2005 at 7:09 am#8815davidParticipantI'm going to floss, then off to bed for me.
Night.
davidSeptember 18, 2005 at 8:05 am#8817EliyahParticipantDavid, You said “”
Quote I've changed my ways. I've seen the light.
And every time Elijah asks if pagansim should be allowed in true worship, I'll ask him if feces should be allowed in our mouths.
Of course, the answer should be “No” to both.Is this extreme reasoning? Yes.
Am I proud of it? No.
Will I continually ask Elijah if he brushes his teeth? Not sureThen also read this from YHWH'S own words to ALL YOU modern socalled PRIESTS, MINISTERS, PASTORS,…
Quote ( Mal.2:1-3) And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If ye will not hear( listen), and if ye will not lay it to heart( MIND), to give glory unto my NAME, saith YHWH of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart( or mind).
3 Behold, I will corrupt your children, and spread dung( MANOUR) upon your faces, even the dung( MANOUR)of your solemn feasts( = sunday=Holidays); and one shall take you away with it.
Ok David, what is “” DUNG” or ” MANOUR ” ?
Then, everytime YOU or ANYONE on this forum uses those “” pagan titles “”, then maybe I should remind you to NOT INGEST DUNG OR MANOUR IN YOUR MIND ??
“””
Quote I've changed my ways. I've seen the light.
And every time Elijah asks if pagansim should be allowed in true worship, I'll ask him if feces should be allowed in our mouths.
Of course, the answer should be “No” to both.Then everytime you use those PAGAN TITLES, I will ask you WHY do you allow DUNG OR MANOUR in your mouth and mind BOTH ??
September 18, 2005 at 7:38 pm#8826davidParticipantRight, so you admit that it's the same, and the same line of reasoning.
THANKYOU.
September 18, 2005 at 8:01 pm#8827davidParticipantElijah, I believe those who want to serve Jehovah out of a clean heart will one day be joined in a pure language.
Although not written in scripture, it would make some sence if we returned to the original language, one untainted. There will be no divisions in worship, politics, language, etc. Mankind will be truly united. (Just out of curiousity, you've already learned Hebrew, haven't you?)Yet, that time has not yet come. All things have not been restored yet.
1. We are told to be separte from the world and be no part of it.
2. Yet, we must live in this world.
3. And we cannot completly separate ourselves from everything vile.
1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-10
“In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world.”
WE ARE TOLD TO NOT MIX WITH UNCLEAN PEOPLE, but, BUT, BUT, NOT meaning ENTIRELY. “Otherwise, YOU would ACTUALLY have to get OUT OF THIS WORLD.”Elijah, there's FECES (dung, manour) on your toothbrush. (Is this the reason you cover it up with toothpaste?) It's inescapable, unless you steralize your toothbrush before each brushing.
Now, what are you going to do about it? You're putting feces in your mouth, allbeit, an extremely small amount.
To be clean, there are limits to reasonableness. I've known people that suffered from OCD, where they washed their hands 200 times a day, until they were red all the time. Now, such a person would look at your hands Elijah, and see that they are not clean. And comparatively, they aren't. Your hands aren't perfectly clean Elijah, especially compared to the person who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT REASONABLE.
“Let YOUR reasonableness become known to all men.” (Phil 4:5)Are you literally putting feces in your mouth Elijah?
Are your hands clean?September 18, 2005 at 9:17 pm#8829EliyahParticipantSince you brought it up.
David, aren't you then eating MANOUR OR DUNG in BOTH your mouth and mind when you eat those pagan words too?
September 18, 2005 at 9:56 pm#8830davidParticipantMy point exactly. We are born of flesh, sinful, and live in an imperfect world literally covered in dung, spiritually, and physically. We will never be able to scrape all the dung off our bodies literally or figuratively. We can only do what is reasonable. Is it reasonable to give up English and speak Hebrew? Is it reasonable to stop brushing our teeth? “Let your reasonbleness become known to all men,” Elijah.
Read the post above again, and respond to the actual reasoning and logic in it if you can.
September 18, 2005 at 10:21 pm#8832EliyahParticipantDavid, I do agree with you, however, we are NOT to purposely ingest spiritual manour in our mouth and mind because others are doing it, and we are not to purposely keep rolling arround in it because others are doing it.
The scriptures even of the N.T. teaches to expose such things, not to merely keep going along with it, and doing it as the rest of the world is practicing such things against YHWH'S Word and Commands.
Or, are we to do as “” little Johnny does “”, when he says “” Well Daddy, I seen Billy wallowing in that manour pile, and I thought it was ok for me to do it too, but I did'nt know it was wrong.”” Unquote.
When Daddy points out the wrong, does the little one keep purposely going back into that manour pile because everyone else is doing it ?
October 17, 2005 at 8:12 am#9554AdminKeymasterThis discussion is now closed as it is too similar to others.
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