Tag Archives: Idolatry

The Golden Calf Incident: A Prophetic Picture of the Church

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Exodus 32

On Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost), at Mount Sinai, YHVH entered into a marriage covenant with the children of Israel, but they were not ready to live up to the terms of that covenant. Those terms, simply stated, involved the Israelites being faithful and obedient only to YHVH, Israel’s Elohim (God) and spiritual husband, and to follow his instruction in righteousness, the Torah. This Israel quickly demonstrated they were not willing to do, for they had hardly said “I do” to their marriage vows (Exod 24:3, 7) when they turned their hearts away from YHVH and began worshipping the golden calf—a pagan deity from Egypt. After the golden calf incident and up until Yom Teruah (the Day of Trumpets or Shofar Blasts) when Moses received the second tablets of stone from YHVH containing the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel, the bride of YHVH, prepared herself not only to receive YHVH’s instructions again, but this time to be faithful to her marriage vows. This Israel did. She remained faithful to YHVH for approximately 38 years while trekking through the wilderness of Sinai, after which she entered the Promised Land and “stayed the course” until after the death of Joshua.

Golden Calf 6 21409020Sadly, the cycles of history often repeat themselves. This time, it involved the descendants of the children of Israel who were at Mount Sinai. In the early first century a.d.,  the redeemed Israelite followers of Yeshua received the Torah written on the fleshly tablets of their hearts by the finger of the Spirit of Elohim on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot) as recorded in Acts 2. But starting at about a.d. 70 with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and continuing up through the Second Jewish Revolt of a.d. 135 until the time of Emperor Constantine (in the fourth century), the first-century spiritual bride of Messiah had, to a large extent, abandoned YHVH’s Torah-commandments and turned, to one degree or another, to a mixed form of worship (of which ancient Israel’s worship at the golden calif was a prophetic foreshadow) where some pagan practices were assimilated into the early churches’ belief system (most notably, Sunday replaced the Sabbath, and Christmas, Easter and other paganistic holidays replaced the biblical feasts).

Moses’ descent of Mount Sinai on Yom Teruah with the second set of tablets containing Continue reading →

 

Are You a Baal Worshiper?

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Baal was the god of the Canaanites, the enemies of the ancient biblical Israelites. God’s people were constantly being enticed by the heathen practices associated with Baal worship. Down the through the ages, the worship of Baal has resurrected itself and taken on the trappings of each new culture. The concepts behind Baal worship are thriving and growing in our post-Christian culture. To what degree having you fallen for the enticements of Baalism? Before you write this off saying it doesn’t apply to you, please watch this video!

 

Are you a Baal worshiper? Think twice before you answer.

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In this brief study, we will examine the characteristics of a society that is spiritually backslidden. Jeremiah the biblical prophet more than 2500 years ago talked about such society (Jer 2:19) that had forsaken YHVH Elohim, the God of the Bible (Jer 1:16; 2:3, 19), and turned, from one degree or another, to Baal worship (Jer 1:16; 2:8, 23, 28; 5:19; 7:8, 17; 9:14; 11:13, 17; 12:16; 23:13). What does this have to with those living in the twenty-first century and what can we learn from this?

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Though the prophet Jeremiah is specifically addressing societal conditions of ancient Israel who had turned away from fully following YHVH Elohim, the main issues still apply to any society, ancient or modern, that forsakes biblical spiritual values for secular and materialistic ones. Down through the ages humans are still driven by the same fleshly passions. Although the theater, costumes and actors may have changed, it is still the same play. Human nature has never changed! When a society fails to learn the lessons of history, it will repeat the same mistakes of the past again and again.

While the name Baal — one of the gods of the ancient biblical Canaanites — may mean nothing to modern people, the Hebrew word baal simply means “lord” or “master.” In modern terms, whatever mores, principles or ideals a society has given itself over to and therefore dominates that society become de facto the lord, master (or Baal) or god of that society.

Human history tends to repeat itself over and over again. What has happened before will happen again, because human nature remains the same. We can learn many valuable lessons from mistakes of those who have preceded us. If we don’t, we will make the same mistakes and suffer the same consequences (judgments) as our forefathers.

YHVH Elohim is every-loving and gracious and he constantly warned his people in biblical times to repent of their sins and turn back to him. He is doing the same thing in our day if we will admit our stubborn pride, humble ourselves, and turn back to obeying his ways that bring healing, peace and eternal life.

In the past, the ancients worshiped concrete images that represented the depraved and dark side of man where physical idols represented the ideas behind Baal worship. Continue reading →

 

The Rise of the God of Statism (Satanism)

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More and more, big government (both national and international), and increasingly small government as well, is at war with the people it’s supposed to be serving. Government wants to replace the God of the Bible with itself, which is why it’s at war with the God of the Bible, and anything it perceives to be biblical in nature.

What we’re seeing is the rise of the god of statism. This god, which is the invention of an elite and powerful few who follow Satan, demands total obedience of its subjects. Those who dare to resist will incur the severe wrath of this god.

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The true God, YHVH Elohim, has allowed this other god to rise up as a judgment against his willful and prideful people who have turned away from him in favor of the false gods of the heathen. As with the biblical Jews of old who refused to obey YHVH, he is giving them a harsh, demonic slave master who, on the one hand, promises salvation and blessings, yet delivers bondage and misery. If you’re an American, think of the mantra “hope and change” you heard not long ago!

What we’re seeing is the rise of the global governmental system called Babylon the Great of Revelation chapter 18 which will rule over a dumbed down, pleasure-seeking, self-worshipping, pharmakeia influenced population of slaves.

What’s the solution?

The Bible says that if YHVH’s people will humble themselves, pray and seek him and turn from their wicked (lawless or Torahless) ways, then he will hear them, will  forgive their sin (the sin of Torahlessness, 1 John 3:4) and heal their land (2 Chron 7:14). This isn’t talking about the other guy; it’s talking about you!

Sadly, the Bible prophesies that this won’t happen until God’s people go through great tribulation at the hands of their false savior — the god of statism, which is a thinly veiled form satanism. Thankfully, some will have their spiritual garments washed clean through the refining fires of great tribulation as they turn from their wicked and Torahless  ways (Rev 3:18; 7:14; 19:7–8). The rest will go through the hellish wrath of Elohim prophesied in the the book of Revelation.

The Bible reveals that when Yeshua the Messiah returns, Babylon the Great will fall at his feet defeated and its captives will be set free. YHVH will pour out his Holy Spirit upon his prodigals who will repent of their sinful rebellion against him. He will then bless them by giving them their promised inheritance in his eternal kingdom.

Why wait till then? Seek Elohim now and live!

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. (Deut 10:12–14)

 

 

The Golden Calf Incident: A Prophetic Picture of the Church

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Exodus 32, On Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost), at Mount Sinai, YHVH entered into a marriage covenant with the children of Israel, but they were not ready to live up to the terms of that covenant. Those terms, simply stated, involved the Israelites being faithful and obedient only to YHVH, Israel’s Elohim (God) and spiritual husband, and to his instruction in righteousness, the Torah. This Israel quickly demonstrated they were not willing to do, for they had hardly said “I do” to their marriage vows (Exod 24:3, 7) when they turned their hearts away from YHVH and began worshipping the golden calf—a pagan deity from Egypt. After the golden calf incident and up until Yom Teruah (the Day of Trumpets or Shofar Blasts) when Moses received the second tablets of stone from YHVH containing the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel, the bride of YHVH, prepared herself not only to receive YHVH’s instructions again, but this time to be faithful to her marriage vows. This Israel did. She remained faithful to YHVH for approximately 38 years while trekking through the wilderness of Sinai, after which she entered the Promised Land and “stayed the course” until after the death of Joshua.

Golden Calf 6 21409020

Sadly, the cycles of history often repeat themselves. This time, it involved the descendants of the children of Israel who were at Mount Sinai. In the early first century A.D.,  the redeemed Israelite followers of Yeshua received the Torah written on the fleshly tablets of their hearts by the finger of the Spirit of Elohim on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot) as recorded in Acts 2. But starting at about A.D. 70 with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and continuing up through the Second Jewish Revolt of A.D. 135 until the time of Emperor Constantine (in the fourth century), the first-century spiritual bride of Messiah had, for the most part, abandoned YHVH’s Torah-commandments and turned, to one degree or another, to a mixed form of worship (of which ancient Israel’s worship at the golden calif was a prophetic foreshadow) where some pagan practices were assimilated into the early churches’ belief system (most notably, Sunday replaced the Sabbath, and Christmas, Easter and other paganistic holidays replaced the biblical feasts).

Moses’ descent of Mount Sinai on Yom Teruah with the second set of tablets containing the Torah prophetically foreshadows Yeshua’s second coming. As Moses renewed YHVH’s Continue reading →

 

What Is Our Greatest Enemy and How Do We Defeat It?

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There’s an enemy lurking and seeking to destroy us.  It’s sneaky and can overtake us unawares. This vicious enemy is weariness, complacency, and apathy and is perhaps are greatest spiritual foe. It can weaken and even destroy individuals and a nation. It can weaken us so that we  become sitting targets and victims of the world, flesh and the devil.

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We can be very active in spiritual works and ministry, but fall prey to this enemy at the same time. Religious activity devoid of heart, love, passion and the Spirit can leave us like an empty spiritual shell. Europe and America are full of beautiful old churches and cathedrals and denominations that are cold, empty and devoid of spiritual life. The same thing can happen to individuals.

Let me give an example of what I mean by asking a simple question. We may have fallen into the snares of weariness, apathy and complacency without even knowing it. If the answer to this question is yes, then we may be a victim who needs to take a serious look at the state of his or her spiritual life. The question is this: How would your life change today if you knew Yeshua were coming tomorrow?

Most exert great effort to prepare our homes when we know that company is coming to visit us. Why don’t we attach the same priority of effort to our spiritual homes with regard to Yeshua? He could come anytime. Let me explain. Continue reading →

 

New Video: What Is Your Idol? Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler

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In the Bible, the rich young ruler had everything and was a good person, but despite all this, he had one idol in his life that kept him out of God’s kingdom. What is the most important thing in your life, the thing you’ve given your heart affection to? This is your god or idol. In this video learn how our idols keep us from coming into a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and from entering into his eternal kingdom.