A Commentary
By Mike Oppenheimer
Let Us Reason Ministries
Used with permission.
A Right and Left Hook to the Bible
We have just witnessed a two-prong attack through the media. On May 14 Israel celebrated her 63 anniversary as a nation. Days after, the president gave them a surprise by asking them to go back to their 1967 borders (with a few adjustments). This has reversed our policy we had with Israel; certainly the word betrayal would be apropos.
A few days after this the news was abuzz about a proven false prophet that they used to represent the Christian church. Harold Camping of Family Radio had predicted a rapture and judgment on May 21, and kept his record consistent - nothing happen. Camping went from dumb in 1994 to dumber 2011. Camping had published the book, “1994?” and a sequel, “Are You Ready?” More than 80,000 copies of the two books are in print which stand as proof of him being a false prophet (see: Oops I did it againThe Pride of a false prophet ).
Camping considers himself a reformed amillennialist, but he promotes himself as a premillenialist. Family Radio is heard in more than 30 languages through international affiliates. In 2009, the nonprofit org. reported in its IRS filings that it received $18.3 million in donations, and had assets of more than $104 million, including $34 million in stocks or other publicly traded securities. Family Radio has spent millions of dollars, some from donations of followers on more than 5,000 billboards and 20 RV’s with their May 21, 2011 Judgment Day message.
One man personally spent $140,000 of his life savings on billboards in the Boston area. Will anyone see their money refunded by Family Radio for following the false advertisement of Camping’s calculation? Can he sue camping for false advertising and manipulation? If he had been taught the Bible in truth he would not have listened to the cultist Camping. He and others would not have entertained a date because the Bible has this much to say on the date______. NOTHING!
“The day after” The Oakland, California, headquarters of the network of 66 U.S. stations hung a sign in the door that read: “This Office is Closed. Sorry we missed you!” Maybe it should say we are sorry we missed the prediction!
Those who have contributed to – participated with the programming of Family Radio should be marked as associates of this inane, inept, juvenile old man who has promoted his mathematical delusions. This is why we stress sound Bible doctrine being taught from the pulpits. Essentially all false prophecies bring reproach to Christ and the church. However, this is more dangerous than when Kenneth Copeland says at a christening of a new church that a billion Muslims will be saved in the coming months and it fails.
Reactions from his followers have been varied from “I don’t understand:” to “I will have to look into it.” Or just keeping quiet for the time being. What Camping has done is contribute to the apostasy; he gave it a real boost.
Camping has mocked the credibility of those who believe in the Bible, in the rapture and the basic Gospel itself. Comedy sketches have been surfacing and it’s not over, as Camping has moved the date to Oct.21, so I guess we can expect the false prophecies to be seasonal. Here’s the thing about being a false teacher, they think they have it right. When a prophet gets it wrong they have to justify it, they rarely repent.
Why would we consider Camping a cult; anytime people follow a wrong interpretation of the Bible from a single man, a unique interpretation that removes them from orthodoxy and affects their lives in such a manner, they have become a cult.
Atheists in different parts of the country had celebrations and get-togethers to mark the failure of Camping's May 21 prediction. And they are right in disdain, for it was a man’s prediction; God had not spoken. Now agroup of atheists are calling for a congressional investigation.
On the biggest computer geek sites in the world, produced an article linked to for system administrators titled, “10 Things IT Groups Need To Know About the Rapture.” Referring to being Rapture-proof …But forewarned is forearmed. Here are the 10 things you need to know in case Camping, this time, gets it right.
The anointed cherub (the Devil) challenges God, he waits for one he can use and present a distortion to the world as a representative of Christianity. Of course this all gets worldwide airplay, it’s the season to mock Christianity, and with friends like Camping who would want to become a Christian when this is heard in the media? Why did we not see the church stand up and go on the TV to counter this man’s nonsense before the date? God is constantly testing the courage and loyalty of the church by men who challenge the word from within. While so many are quick to try and use new methods and programs to outreach, they never seem to be there for a defense of the truth, and outreach with that. We have become our own worst enemy by allowing men that should not be teaching to have a voice in the church unchallenged.
This man is an example of what the Bible actually says will precede the actual event. THIS PROVES the BIBLE is true.
A number of people are responsible besides Harold Camping. Those who support the end time cult of family radio are responsible. Family Radio also is guilty of spreading Camping’s false prophesy. Without their approval, none of this would have been advertised. If Family Radio board is to have any credibility, they need to remove Harold Camping and publicly apologize in advance before Oct.21.
Camping was reportedly taken by ambulance Thursday night (June11) from his home in Alameda, Calif. was and hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
Interfaith anomalies
We have mentioned in previous newsletters of the growing concept of Chrislam and churches softening positions and adapting compromise. Watch for this being promoted in your area as a peaceful solution to the peaceful religion of Islam.
“New Jersey Episcopal church to feature Muslim call to prayer, Qur'an readings this Sunday”
“Interfaith Service at St. John’s Parish in Montclair,” by Megan Schaefer for Baristanet, May 19: This Sunday morning, May 22, at 10 a.m., the sounds of the adhan — the Muslim call to prayer — will ring out in St. John’s Episcopal Church Montclair.
(a forthcoming article will be published on this)
New age equality
We live in a culture that values animals more than humans, even a tiny fish is to be preserved over children in the womb. The new age agenda is to make all things living as equals to humanity.
Mother earth given “human rights”CANADA.COM, 4/11/2011: UN document would give 'Mother Earth' same rights as humans [excerpts]--Bolivia has drafted a UN treaty giving “Mother Earth” the same rights as humans--having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country. In indigenous Andean culture, the Earth deity known as Pachamama is the centre of all life, and humans are considered equal to all other entities.
The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to “dominate and exploit”--to the point that the “well-being and existence of many beings” is now threatened.
Copying Bolivia's Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted in January. The document speaks of the country's natural resources as “blessings,” and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water, and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution.
It also establishes a Ministry of Mother Earth, and provides the planet with an ombudsman whose job is to hear nature's complaints as voiced by activist and other groups, including the state....”
And exactly whom would be the one conversing with the planet? Bolivia's plan to “save the planet”—also has the intent “to end capitalism.” As we have warned for years, the new age transformation of society has as its basis spiritual socialism.
Washington’s non- solution
So many things are out of control, the solution- more control; Government control, which means less freedom.
Washington examiner reports the administration is seeking more broad powers given to president to combat terrorism. Congress has begun a debate on a defense bill that some fear would grant President Obama expansive new authority to wage the war on terror, reigniting a debate over just how much unfettered power the commander-in-chief should be allowed to exercise to protect the country.
In the meantime, we watch TSA pat down (molest?) children and grandma’s and we grin and bear it because it’s for our protection…
The Hill reports: “I walked through … right behind me there was a grandmother — little old lady, and she was patted down,” Rep. Paul Broun (R-Georgia) said on C-SPAN's “Washington Journal.”
“Right behind her was a little kid who was patted down. And then right behind him was a guy in Arabian dress who just walked right through. Why are we patting down grandma and kids?”
Israel and the nations -The right hook
Usama was sent to his just reward, this ends chapter one in the book of violence. How many more chapters are uncertain, we do know that this does not read like a short story.
In Pres. Obama’s middle east speech “every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself -- by itself -- against any threat. Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism; to stop the infiltration of weapons; and to provide effective border security
Palestinians should know the territorial outlines of their state; Israelis should know that their basic security concerns will be met (President Obama's Mideast Speech Published May 19, 2011).
Yet at the same time Pres. Obama has proposed to Netanyahu the Palestinian state should be shaped around the border lines that existed before the 1967 war in which Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. “We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps” of land.’
While we fight a war abroad to counter terrorism it appears those in Washington do not comprehend that Israel faces this same war on their land each day; borders are a necessary protection.
The two leaders sat in the Oval Office as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly rejected Obama’s pro Palestinian plan. He concisely explained to the public the idea of using his country's 1967 boundaries as the basis for a Palestinian statehood as impossible. Netanyahu sitting next to Obama spoke, “While Israel is prepared to make generous compromises for peace, it cannot go back to the 1967 lines,” “These lines are indefensible.” Further clarifying he stated: Remember that, before 1967, Israel was all of nine miles wide,” emphasizing his words with his hands. “It was half the width of the Washington Beltway. And these were not the boundaries of peace; they were the boundaries of repeated wars, because the attack on Israel was so attractive.”
Why Israel need its borders:
Prime minister Netanyahu “It's not going to happen. Everybody knows it's not going to happen,” he said. “And I think it's time to tell the Palestinians forthrightly it's not going to happen.”
Obama says there will be disagreements among friends but is willing to break an agreement that every president has kept between our countries. Obama trying to force Israel to give up land that is strategically important for her survival betrays our only ally in the Middle East. The land includes East Jerusalem, where the Temple Mount is located. All the sacred sites would fall into the Palestinians hands. You will not longer be able to visit them; they will be off limits like the temple mount is. They will be desecrated or destroyed as Muslims have done in the past. The giving up of land is addressed in Joel 3 and God punishes those who do this because of the covenant he made with Israel. This covenant is active and yet to be completed.
Netanyahu unwavering stated, “In an unstable Middle East, Israel is the one anchor of stability. In a region of shifting alliances, Israel is America's unwavering ally. Israel has always been pro-American. Israel will always be pro-American.” The question we need to ask is: if America is pro freedom (democracy) why are we not pro- Israel. They are the only democracy in the middle east. The Arab spring that we are watching is not about democracy but about the unification of the Arab states to bring about new caliphate. The Arab spring will soon turn into the dead of winter.
In returning the land to pre 1967 borders acquiesces to Islam and gives them a victory in war they lost when they attacked Israel. There is far more to this than a wrong decision. The president is coming from a view point that the land involved that was won in the 1967 war is not theirs. This will bring a repeat of wars they fought, and bring them to the ultimate war for all the land; this is all part of the jihad against Israel.
The president told America’s pro-Israel lobby that “we cannot afford to wait another decade, or another two decades, or another three decades, to achieve peace.” It’s becoming obvious that for Israel to exist she will have to make a treaty. I’m sure he would love to be known as the peacemaker and be the one to have a treaty made, unbeknowest to him, fulfilling Bible prophecy. To have Israel not to be recognized, their homes, streets, airport, lands of agriculture are all to be forfeited and all given to the Palestinians, and in return they get nothing except a promise of peace - we all know how that will go.
The Bible mentions Jerusalem nearly 800 times and is specific on whose city and land it is, the God of Israel. Yahweh is called “the God of Israel NOT the God of Ishmael. The Arabs believe they were there even before Mohammed’s time. How can this be? Because they believe that Abraham and Moses were Muslims; and as Jews trace their lineage to them so do the Arab Muslims. But they purposely do not call the land Israel because that identifies it with the Jews, so it called Palestine, which was originally coined after Israel’s enemy, the Philistines. Yet the name Israel is in the Qu’ran 40 times (not always well -spoken). In Surah 2:40: “O Children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil your covenant with Me as I fulfil My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me.” Notice what it says they have special favor and God will fulfill his covenant.
It is only after Israel’s rebirth that Jerusalem became especially sacred to Muslims. Why do they think Jerusalem is theirs when the Qu’ran does not mention it? After Mohammed, Caliph Omar conquered Jerusalem from the Byzantine Romans in the 7th century and brought Muslim rule over the territory, they call it Waqf land. Meaning, this became their land and no one else’s. This is what they think of any land they have conquered. The same standard they apply to Israel is what they want to apply to Europe.
We are watching this attitude of the nations being developed. God tells us in the last days He would cause Jerusalem to be “a burdensome stone for all people” (Zech. 12:3). How? It began by Israel being regathered back into the original land of their ancestors God gave them. Proving “gifts and calling...are without repentance” (Rom 11:29).
It was prophesied Israel would regain the city of Jerusalem, this happened in the 1967 war. Israel has not been the aggressor once as they inherited portions of land from a war. Then they were attacked again in 1973, and now have an ongoing war, the intifada since the year 2,000. So far, every time Israel is attacked their land expands, but they have never received all the land promised in Genesis (Gen. 15:18; 17:7-8). This will happen in the Millennium when the Messiah resides in rulership over the world from Jerusalem.
Hitler massacred 6 million out of the 9 million plus Jews in the world at the time. The Jews are the only people in history that have kept their national identity as a nation dispersed all over the world. After 1,800 years the UN gave 18 percent of the land of Palestine, mostly desert, to Jewish settlers to create a small state for a settlement of the survivors of Hitler's holocaust. The Arabs were given 82 percent of Palestine as a state of their own. So who’s to blame for them not having their own state? If we break it down: there are 22 Arab League countries have 6,145,389 square miles. By comparison, all 50 states of the United States have a total of 3,787,318 SM. Israel has 8,463 SM, about one-sixth of that of the State of Michigan. World Arab population: 300 million; World Jewish population: 13.6 million; Israel's Jewish population: 5.4 million (posted on think Israel).