Why and What at the British Museum.

The other day I was in an antique shop somewhere and I came upon a little hardback book entitled, "Why? and What? at the British Museum," by Lettice Bell. It was printed in New York, and had no date at all but it looked to be around the turn of the last century (early 1900's). It was an easy read, with only 81 pages, but it was an amazing little book. It was written to children, and it was a guided tour of the British Museum, showing the many antiquities there and how they prove the Bible true.

It was also full of drawing of the many items in the British Museum, and it gave a Bible story connected with each of them, even quoting scriptures which mentioned either the people or the peoples involved.

As you read the book, you are supposed to have it in hand when you go to the British Museum, as it is a guide book to that institution, and it pointed out many of the exhibits.

It starts with a bust of the maniacal Roman leader Nero, and gives his dreadful history of debachery and murder. It also shows the Apostle Paul as a prisoner under Nero's reign.

Netx it mentions the bust of Tiberius Claudius, and points out that it was under his reign that all the world was taxed, and that this was when Joseph and Mary had to travel to their native places of birth to be counted. It continues with a bust of Julius Caesar and others.

I then gives a drawing of a statute of Diana, and tells the story of Paul in Ephesus who preached Christ Jesus, while the worshippers of Diana cried aloud against him. It even delves into Nimrod and how Diana really represents Semiramis and who idol worship started with them in Babylon.

It then lists the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These include:

1. Diana's Temple at Ephesus

2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

3. The Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria

4. The Colossus of Rhodes

5. The Great Pyramid of Egypt

6. The Sphinx

7. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassos.

The book then turns it's attention towards a small little black obelisk numbered "98," which was found in the city of Calah, near Ninevah. The monument records the story of Israelite King Jehu kneeling before the conquering Assyrian King Shalmaneser.

On and on the book continues showing exhibit after exhibit tying them into the history given the the Bible. We find Sennacherib before King Lachish, a Moabite Stone which ties in to the book of 2 Kings, Sennacherib's Clay History Book, Nebuchadnezzar's Doorstep, and much more. And it's amazing how the exhibits in the British Museum do nothing more than PROVE the histories found in the Bible. Still, there are those who choose not to believe the word of God.

Yes, this was an interesting book. Too bad there aren't more like this simple children's book which seek to PROVE and not DISPROVE the Bible as the word of God.

Bringing Men to Christ

I love old books! When I'm out and about I love to stop at Antique Shops, Flea Markets, Book stores, and more, looking for old literature. The older the better, for modern books don't give you as much information as those of old.

My recent find was a book by R.A. Torrey from 1893, entitled, "How to Bring Men to Christ."

It his preface, the author writes: "This book is written because it seems to be needed. The author has been repeatedly requested by Ministers...Christian Workers, and his own students to put into a permanent and convenient shape the substance of what he has said at Conventions, Summer Schools, and in the classroom on personal work. The time has come to yield to these requests..."

When I read that I was stupified. He said that there was a NEED to write a book about how to bring men to Christ. Why would he say this? Didn't Christians in his day know how to bring men to Christ? I mean, shouldn't they know how to win souls? Obviously many of them didn't.

The author continues: "...Never before in the history of the Church were there so many who desire to win others to Christ... But while they desire to do this work, many do not know how. This little book aims to tell them."

What a confession! In 1893, the notable evangelist R. A. Torrey said that there were many that wanted to win souls, but very few that actually knew how to do so!

If that was true in 1893, I wonder what things are like today? Could there many in our day who also don't know how to win souls to Christ? Are there even any left who desire to see souls saved?

Obviously, we are in a time of apostasy. That means there are very few who have the truth. And, there are even fewer still who are preaching it.

The Independent Baptist Movement wants us to think that they are the last "bastillon of orthodoxy" and only they are holding up the truth amidst a day of darkness, as they are the only denomination left that hasn't fallen head-long into apostasy. But sadly, they too are apostate in many of their practices, especially in that of evangelism, as they are now preaching the same apostate Gospels that many other denominations are teaching. They are "BLOODLESS GOSPELS" which entirely omit the blood of Jesus Christ.

In short, there are more modern day "soul winners" that are damning souls then there are actually winning souls to Jesus.

This is undeniable, as the church is not growing, instead the world is growing wickeder, and there are less people in our churches than ever before. Yet, Independent Baptists, among almost all other denominations, are still bragging on how many souls they've won, and how big their "Mega-churches" are. But, if this is so, why aren't those souls they claim to have won changed? And, why aren't they in church? Why is it they are still in the world doing the same things they did before? And why isn't the world getting better if there are so many souls being won, as many denominations claim?

Let's look at what the Bible says and then at what modern day "soul winners" are saying.

In the Bible, the Gospel is found in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. There, it states:

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Here the scriptures tell us exactly what the Gospel is. It has five points, just as our Lord had five bleeding wounds. They are clearly seen in the above verses:

1. Christ died

2. On the cross

3. Was buried

4. Rose again

5. According to the Scriptures

This is the true Gospel, and one can't look at it without clearly understanding that it's Bloody. It's not about man and what he's supposed to do or not do. It's about Jesus, and what HE DID for man. He died a bloody death, crucified on a blood-stained cross, shedding every drop for our sins. He was then buried in the very same blood-soaked ground he died on, and then he rose again after three days to put his blood on the mercy-seat in heaven. And he did all of this, according to the scriptures, which prophecied of him in type with the death of sacrificial lambs mandated by the Old Testament law.

In short, the Gospel is BLOODY, and it's all about Jesus Christ and his SHED BLOOD for our sins to offer us forgiveness and eternal life, which we obtain not of works, but by simple FAITH in Jesus' bloody payment for our sins in our place!

But is this what is being taught today by modern soul winners? Unfortunately it is not. They quite often leave out the blood of Jesus in their presentation of what they call the "plan of salvation." Instead of stressing a sinner's need to trust Jesus' blood atonement for their sins on their behalf, most "soul winners" of today instruct Sinners to only do one of the following:

Repeat a Sinner's Prayer

Ask Jesus to Save them

Invite or Ask Jesus into their hearts

Beg Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins

Make their commitment to Christ

These are common sayings from many modern day "soul winners," but are they Biblical? Are any of these the true Gospel of salvation? According to the Bible, they most certainly are not! For they all have one thing in common, THEY LEAVE OUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, and MAN'S FAITH IN IT ALONE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS. These then are BLOODLESS GOSPELS, devised by men to get sinners to DO something, rather than simply rest by faith in what Jesus has DONE for them 2000 years ago. They, then, are damnable heresies which twist the emphasis from Jesus to man himself. And they will save no one.

Oftentimes, so-called modern day soul winners will simply tell a Sinner to be saved all he has to do is "call" upon Jesus. They take Rom. 10:13 as their main text, (instead of 1 Cor. 15:1-4), and teach that this "calling" is only through prayer. But to do so, they wrestle the word of God to their own destruction. For in the scriptures, calling upon God for salvation is by FAITH, not by a vocal prayer alone. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT CALLING UPON GOD BIBLICALLY

This is important, as many of those today which brag about being "soul winners" don't make this distinction. In fact, they don't do much more than just quote Rom. 10:13, and then tell a Sinner they are saved by their prayer. This leads to a Sinner, if and when he doubts he is saved (which he will do, because he's not saved if he's not trusting the finished work of Christ alone), to simply repeat a prayer over again until he feels like God heard him. Sinners who believe they are saved by prayer never have assurance of salvation (something the scriptures say all true believers should have), so they often times pray the prayer again, many times every night of their lives before bed, hoping some how each mystical enchantation will give them eternal life. This leads to them doubting their salvation, as they never know for certain if they are saved. This is why they pray the prayer again, over and over.

And, many of those who do this are the very same people who claim to be "soul winners." It's all they know, and they go out instructing others to do what they have done. (Notice, it's all about what they have done, not about what Jesus did for them).

Maybe this is why in Chapter one of R. A. Torrey's book, "How to Bring Men to Christ," he says: "There are certain general conditions, the fulfilment of which is absolutely essential to real success in bringing men to Christ. These conditions, fortunately, are few and simple and such as any one can meet. First, The one who would have real success in bringing others to Christ must himself be a THOROUGHLY CONVERTED PERSON."

This is so important! For how can you get others saved if you are not saved yourself? Sadly, it appears that many of those who claim to be Christians today are not saved. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof (i.e. the BLOOD OF JESUS). They might be making "converts" but they are not truly, nor "thoroughly converted," for they oftentimes end up trusting in the prayer they SAID, instead of the blood God SHED.

If anyone doubt this, just ask anyone who claims to be a "Christian" what their testimony is, and you'll be surprised to see how very few will tell you they are trusting the finished work (i.e. the shed blood) of Jesus Christ. Instead, they'll say things like, "Well, I said the prayer," or "I asked Jesus into my heart," or "I commited my life to Him," or "I asked God to forgive me my sins."

But all of these things can be done by man without trusting in what Jesus did for him. Why do they all consistenly leave out the blood? And why are they trying to do something to be saved instead of simply resting by faith in what Jesus did for them?

I'm not saying that all those who claim to be "Christians" are lost. I'm not saying that. But I am saying that not all those who claim to be "Christians" are saved! There are countless millions of people who label themselves as Christians, that are religious but lost.

These people need the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, for they've been dooped into thinking they can obtain salvation by something they do; some religious ritual they must perform.

They truly need someone to show them how to come to Christ the right way-the Bible way-through FAITH in His bloody sacrifice as sufficient to forgive them of their sins.

Mr. Torrey wrote a good book, but he too left out the blood on many occasions in his illustrations and verses to present a Sinner in his many different ways to "come to Christ." However, he did redeem himself on page 34, when he said, "The way of salvation can be made plain by the use of Exod. 7:7,13, and 23. These verses show that it was the blood that made the Israelites safe and just so it is to-day the blood that makes us safe, and when God sees the blood he passes over us. The only thing for us to do is to get behind the blood. Then show the inquirer that the way to be behind the blood is by simple faith in Jesus Christ."

Have you come to the cross of Calvary and trusted the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Romans 3:25 says, "Whom God set forth to be a propitiation, THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD..." Is Jesus your propitiation? Have you trusted his blood for the forgiveness of your sins? If not, why not?

Or, are you one of those who prays the prayer every night, each time hoping somehow you'll get assurance and know you are on your way to heaven? If so, you can be saved and know it. You can be ASSURED of your place in heaven. Just trust the shed blood of Jesus.

It's clear that anyone can pray a prayer. But just because a man approaches God and speaks to him doesn't mean he's saved. Salvation is by heart-felt faith in the finished work of Christ. Any man who approaches God outside of believing upon him for salvation is not saved! Thus, they need to be brought to Christ. How? Through the Blood!!!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY BOOK THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Review of The Blessed Hope: We're Almost Home by Rowley

A friend of mine asked me to read the online book by Dave Rowley, entitled: The Blessed Hope: We're Almost Home.

(This book can be found online at: http://www.sounddoctrine.com/blessed_hope.htm )

I not only knew what the book was about, I also met the author years ago, and we discussed a little about the topic. I further learned that many Christians have read his book, and have decided to follow it and it's doctrinal teaching that the tribulation has only 3 1/2 years left to go. With that in mind, I'd like to review this work and give my thoughts on the book. I also suggest you read it for yourself, and to DISCERN it. My father taught me how to discern things, and I would stress to others to do the same. Study for yourself and come to a logical conclusion. Don't just take a man's word on anything, mine included!

As I began reading the book, I couldn't chuckle at the title words, "We're Almost Home," especially after the author wrote that he started the book in 1973, and completed it in 1996. It is now 2010, so I don't know what his definition of "almost" is, but to me, that's pretty far off from "almost!"

The author starts with: "The coming of Christ for His Church is a subject close to the heart of God's people. Notwithstanding, the Church has been derelict in its charge to discover the details of that remarkable event." I'm sure that's true today, as more and more ministers depart from teaching sound doctrine, but I remember being in many a church in my lifetime and hearing much preaching and teaching about the RAPTURE when I was younger. I even remeber that before I was saved, I was scared to death to miss the rapture! I wasn't even saved, but I could have taken you to the verses and showed you where they were (I'd heard about it that much!)

As Rowley continues, he quotes people who say we can't know the date of the rapture, therefore we shouldn't talk about it. And, like the author, I agree they are wrong. 1 Thess. 5 tells us we are not in darkness, and that we can know the times and seasons.

The author does a great job showing the difference between the "Day of the Lord" and the "Day of Christ." Something I'm grateful I was taught in Bible School, as most fundamentalists colleges try to reject the notion and follow "Bible Correctors" and "the Critical Texts" to prove they are not different. The truth is they are!

He further speaks about the "immenincy doctrine" of the rapture, and how it can come at any time. I've always believed this, that is, until I got saved and read the Bible. And, it's clear that in Thessalonians, the Lord can't come back until the anti-Christ first be revealed. (Then, as soon as he is, then we'll immediately be called out!)

Up until then I enjoyed reading the book, and agreed with it readily, realizing most of it was taken from notes we were taught in Bible School (the author graduated from the same Bible School as I did). But I had problems with his teaching of what he called a "mid-week" rapture. (He made sure not to call it a Mid-Trib. rapture). He further states that the term "Great Tribulation" applies to the entire tribulation, and it consists of only 3 1/2 years. I have a great problem with this. The following verses from Revelation below show us otherwise:

Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

The verses above in Rev. chap. 11 show Jews worshipping in their temple, and then they are cast out so that the Gentiles can occupy it for 42 months (3 1/2 years). Logically then, the Jews must have been there for 3 1/2 years before. How can this happen if their temple isn't rebuilt yet in our day?

In the verses above in Rev. 13, we see the anti-christ ruling, and then power is given him to continue 42 months. That means he must have been ruling already if he's going to "continue" to do so. (Interestingly enough, Rowley quotes this verse too, but omits commenting on the small little word "continue.")

From my studies, the term "Great Tribulation" refers only to the last 3 1/2 years of the seven year Tribulation, while "tribulation" refers to the entire seven years. I would challenge you to look up the verses on the "Great Tribulation" to see if that makes sense.

The author does a great job of showing how Christ's coming was conditional upon his being accepted or rejected by the nation of Israel, and how God's "times and seasons" were moveable, based upon their decision. Had Israel accepted their Messiah, then the tribulation would have taken place after Jesus' resurrection, and then Armageddon would have been later. But because the nation as a whole rejected their Messiah, then Jesus allowed the church age to come into fruition, and it will end with the rapture, the tribulation, and then Armageddon.

He continues by breaking up the train of thought by giving examples of Babylon the Whore, and taking about diet, but then he comes back to the point he's trying to make in chapter four under the title of "Seven or Three and One Half?"

Rowley then runs to Daniel 9:27, and makes the second word "he" refer to Jesus Christ instead of to the main-stream view of the verse speaking about the anti-christ. (Something that is interesting and worthy of further study!) But then he tries to make the tribulation only 3 1/2 years, by saying the verse doesn't give us any specific information on when the week (of seven years) is divided into two periods of 3 1/2. And, he openly states that for him, there is only 3 1/2 years left, for the "covenant" in Daniel 9:27, was the Abrahamic covenant (which he claims Daniel mentions in verse four), and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Daniel 9:27, when he came to the earth and died on the cross, and after his resurrection, all is desolate in Israel. Thus, he says 3 1/2 have already passed, and 3 1/2 are still future.

In Rowley's own words he theorizes, "I constructed a chronology (see appendix) which runs from the decree of Cyrus King of Persia until the beginning of the public ministry of Christ. That puts the end of the 483 years of the prophesy not at the death of Christ, but at the beginning of His public ministry which lasts approximately 3½ years."

In other words, to Rowley, the first 3 1/2 years of the seven years of tribulation have already taken place in Jesus' earthly ministry!

This is very hard to swallow! Rowley must have forgetten to read verse 26, in which Messiah is "cut off" (i.e. CRUCIFIED) after 62 weeks. This still leaves seven years AFTER Jesus is crucified.

So, it appears hard to make the arguement that half of the tribulation is already over and it was completed in Jesus' earthly ministry. (One would do better in my book in trying to prove that half of the tribulation was fulfilled in the time right after Jesus' death and resurrection in which the Apostles preached with signs and wonders.)

Rowley finishes his treatise in chapter five talking again about the rapture and makes some valid points.

SUMMARY

It all boils down to whether or not there are only 3 1/2 years left or a full 7 as stated by the book of Daniel. If 3 1/2 years of the tribulation were already fulfilled in the book of Daniel, then there are only 3 1/2 left. (Which is Rowley's theory). However, what if Rowley is wrong? What if the tribulation is a full seven years still in the future? Would not Rowley's teaching then deceive people into thinking they are not in the tribulation if indeed the rapture comes and they are left behind? That's a scary thought!

I enjoyed ready Rowley's work and discerning his arguements. It was very thought provoking. However, I still don't see only 3 1/2 years of tribulation coming. I see a full seven! If you get a chance, go back and read the book of Revelation again all the way through, and see if you don't come up with the same teaching of seven years still future in which the anti-christ rules as a man for 3 1/2 years and then dies and then comes back as the son of perdition to reign for another 3 1/2 years. Also, reread Daniel. For in chapter 9, it's clear the Messiah must be "cut off" before the seven years begin. How on earth could you get Jesus' earthly ministry being half of the tribulation??? I mean, I can see how it's possible that 3 1/2 years could have passed already after Jesus died and rose again in the ministry of the apostles, but even then I'd have a problem lining that up with the book of Revelation.

What do you think about it? How about some comments?

DEMONOLOGY by KING JAMES I of ENGLAND

I recently read a small treatise by King James the I of England (yes, that King James, who gave us our King James Bible), written in 1597 on the subject of "Demonology." Or to be fair, the title as written in Old English is: "Daemonologie, in form of a Dialogue, Diuided into three Bookes."

It was a very interesting booklet with very interesting subject matter, of which I will attempt to comment upon shortly. However, I most declare that those who reprinted the orignial booklet (The Book Tree in San Diego, California) did not seem to be very much into God, the Bible, or truth. In fact, I think they might even be a New Age book publishing company. Their summary of the book on the back page shows their bias to the fact that biblically demons do exist, and that witchraft is a very real system:

Although he did not know it at the time, the author of this book, King James, was to become one of the most influential people in mankind's religious history. King James the I of England was responsible for the widely accepted King James Bible, based in part on the beliefs he puts forth in this book...It seems that the beliefs of King James had a profound effect on the translation used for the King James Bible. This book is an important historical and religious study, written by King James' own hand. It allows one to study King James and his concerns at the time this book was written. He hated "witches" and believed that they had tried to kill him on at least three occasions. We know today that the witchcraft craze was nothing more than a delusion--in fact, historians refer to it as "the witchraft delusion." This book is important because it shows how the superstitions of leaders can translated into mass hysteria like the Inquisition's witch hunts and the reign of Bloody Mary. It also shows how new religious creations like the King James Bible can come about."

The book's Foreword, written by a Mr. Paul Tice, further slanders King James, and King James Bible readers, when he states, "This belief was only the beginning of Jame's dysfunctional weirdness. He preferred the company of young boys as opposed to mature woman. In fact, his homosexuality has been documented in numerous books and public records--to such a degree that there can be no argument on the subject. This is something to consider for those devot and pious Christians who oppose this type of activity yet swear by this man's bible.

From just this paragraph alone, one can see Mr. Tice's hatred towards King James and those who believe in and read the King James Bible. As the preface contiunues, it's hard to understand why they would even reprint King James' treatise on Demonology, as the writer of the Foreword does all he can to paint King James as superstitious, wicked, dysfunctional and ignorant.

Further, his stating "there can be no ARGUMENT," on the subject of King James being a Homosexual, shows his liberal bias. The truth is King James' critics and enemies wrote that he was homosexual, but history and public writings prove most certainly that he was not! (Get a book entitled, "King James: Unjustly Accused" for PROOF that King James was not a sodomite!)

So as I read the treatise, I did not allow the Foreword to sway my reading. Rather, I listened to what James had to say and compared it to scripture, and what I found was very enlightening.

The entire text is a narration between two men--Philomathes and Epistemon--who discuss demonology in a question and answer setting. As I read the dialogue between the two talking about what devils are, and how they are active in witchcraft, I learned a lot.

From studying the Bible, I already knew that demons (which the King James Bible calls devils) were real. And I knew from my reading my bible, that somehow they are connected with idols and idol worship, while being intertwined with pagan blood sacrifices. (The subject of Where Demons come from and what they are, I hope to write soon in another blog.) I futher knew that the Bible speaks of those who practice witchcraft and sorcery, but I never really seemed to put it all together until I read the book, as it really tied everything together for me.

Blatantly put, Witchcraft is the art of summoning devils to do one's bidding! And this book gave detailed examples of witches and warlocks practicing this evil art for gain, pain, and pleasure.

It still made me wonder. Why would demons want to work for human beings and do their bidding? I guess they just have nothing better to do. Or, I guess, since they are pure evil, they enjoy letting humans give them evil ideas to put into practice.

At any rate, King James talks about how three times evil men used witchcraft and devils to try to assassinate him. Is there a reason for this?

Interestingly enough, as I read the book, a friend of my called, and we talked about his time before he was saved. He told me he used to talk to demons, and he said from his understanding, there are two things that all devils hate:

1. The Blood of Jesus Christ!

2. The King James Bible!

No wonder in the preface of this book, they attacked the KJV! And no wonder it tried to make King James look supersticious!

As I read through the booklet, I noticed a ton of scripture and quite a few biblical illustrations. King James was not superstitious. He was a Bible Believer, and he used scripture to back up his treatise!

As I read certain passages of actual examples of things King James himself witnessed, I couldn't help but think of the demon-possed maniac of Gadera in Mark chapter five. Below are the words of King James himself discribing a story of a witch who bewitched a man (conjured up demons to afflict the man). The story is in old english, written the exact way King James wrote it, but I believe you'll be able to understand it:

"...He [one Dr. Fian, alias John Cunningham] confessed that by his witchcrafte he did bewitch a Gentleman dwelling neere to the Saltpans, where the said Doctor kept Schoole, onely for being enamoured of a Gentlewoman whome he loued himselfe: by meanes of which his Sorcerye, witchcraft and deuilish practises, he caused the said Gentleman that once in xxiiij. howres he fell into a lunacie and madnes, and so contiued one whole hower together, and for the veritie of the same, he caused the Gentleman to be brought before the Kinges Maiestie, which was upon the xxiiij. day of December last, and being in his Maiesties Chamber, suddenly he gaue a great scritch and fell into a madnes, sometime bending himselfe, and sometime capring so directly vp, that his head did touch the seeling of the Chamber, to the great admiration of his Maiestie and others then present: so that all the Gentlemen in the Chamber were not able to holde him, vntill they called in more helpe, who together bound him hand and foot: and suffering the said gentlemen to lye still vntill his furye were past, he within an hower came againe to himself, when being demaunded of the Kings Maiestie what he saw or did all that while, answered that he had been in a sound sleepe..."

Scary, huh? Oh, but wait! You are just supposed to believe that none of that really happened. According to the Foreword, King James is just "superstitious," as he lived in a time of..., oh, what was that called again by historians, oh yeah... "the witchcraft delusion." So, I guess King James just made all of this up!

If that be the case, then Mark chapter five must be superstition as well, and completely made up. How interesting that two examples of the same thing that historians can say are "not real" can sound so close!

Nope, that won't work. I believe it really did happen. I believe the King James Bible is the word of God, and I believe old King James himself was a very smart man, who wrote an interesting book about real witchcraft and real demons which he witnessed in his time. I further believe throughout history there have existed people who have the power to conjur up spirits, and that these people are still around today.

Thankfully, the blood of Jesus Christ is more powerful than they are!

The Law by Frederic Bastiat

This is the first of my book reviews...

I've recently read the book entitled "The Law," by the Frenchmen Frederic Bastiat, and I was amazed at how intelligent this man was in his knowledge of different forms of government. his book was first published in French in 1850 in the form of a pamphlet, and it is still very pertinent today. If you have not read this book, you must get a copy!

In 1853, the book was translated by an unidentified Englishman, and published in English.

The book focuses in on the importance of LAW, and why men need it so badly. The book also shows laws should come from a Creator, for if not, laws will become corrupt, and be used for evil instead of good.

Mr. Bastiat's favorite word, it appears, is "plunder. And he does a great job of showing how without law, others plunder their neighbors. Under just laws with just rulers, they do not. But, and this is where we are in America today, under unjust rulers, laws are perverted so that they can plunder the masses.

He further shows how socialism is a bad form of government that is nothing short of legal plunder.

Mr. Bastiat was so intelligent, he exposes people like Rousseau as the fakes they are, and gives real logical reasons for how and why a government must work.

Of Rousseau he says, "The followers of Rousseaus's school of thought--who consider themselves far advanced, but whom I consider TWENTY CENTURIES BEHIND THE TIMES--will not agree with me on this..."

Bastiat calls socialism nothing short of "legal plunder." He further attackes the "seductive lure of socialism" and shows how it tries to bring a man to its submission, as it takes away his freedom and right to choose.

I quote Mr. Bastiat, "Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. It is not considered sufficient that the law should be just; it must be philanthropic. Nor is it sufficient that the law should guarantee to every citizen the free and inoffensive use of his faculties for physical, intellectual, and moral self-improvement. Instead, it is demanded that the law should directly extend welfare, education, and morality throughout the nation. This is the seductive lure of socialism. And I repeat again: These two uses of the law are in direct contradiction to each other. We must choose between them. A citizen cannot at the same time be free and not free."

Doesn't this sound like it applies directly to us today, and what we are going through in our current political system?

Bastiat continues by speaking of "fraternity." As I read this, I thought about all the "Labor Unions" in the world today, and how they are trying to take over under the slogan of "workers of the world unite!"

Bastiat's words are so powerful when he writes, "Mr. de Lamartine once wrote to me thusly; 'Your doctrine is only half of my program. You have stopped at liberty; I go on to fraternity [i.e. unions].' I answered him: 'The second half of your program will destroy the first. In fact, it is impossible for me to separate the word fraternity from the word voluntary. I cannot possibly understand how fraternity can be legally enforced without liberty being destroyed, and thus justice being legally trampled underfoot."

This statement should send cold chills up your spine! For the current administration is busy taking over the private sector and setting up unions which are subservient to the powers that be!

Bastiat further speaks of the importance of the ownership of private property, (something socialists and communistis are against), as well as how "Socialists wish to play God."

His words, "Socialists look upon people as raw material to be formed into social combinations. This is so true that, if by chance, the socialists have doubts about the success of these combinations, they will demand that a small portion of mankind be set aside to experiment upon."

Sounds exactly like what Hitler and the Nazi's did, doesn't it? This guy Bastiat is a prophet!

He continues writing under the following headings:

The Socialist Despise Mankind

Socialists Ignore Reason and Facts

Socialists Want to Regiment People

The Socialists Want Forced Conformity

The Socialists Want Dictatorship

The Socialists Reject Free Choice

Bastiat hits the nail on the head time and again. He even has a small section in his pamphlet entitled, "The Leader of the Democrats," in which he atacks Rousseau again for his illogical political ideas.

I just thought it was funny that he mentioned Socialists and Democrats so closely knit together. It's almost like he wrote his book in our day and not in the mid 1800s. He was a true Conservative.

Under a section called, "The Doctrine of the Democrats," Bastiat states, "The strange phenomenon of our times--one which will probably astound our descendants--is the doctrine based on the triple hypothesis: the total inertness of mankind, the omnipotence of the law, and the infallibility of the legislator. These three ideas form the sacred symbolof those who proclaim themselves totally democratic. The advocates of this doctrine also profess to be social...But so far as they are social, they regard mankind as little better than mud...But when the [Democratic i.e Socialist] legislator is finally elected--ah! then indeed does the tone of his speech undergo a radical change. The people are returned to passiveness, inertness, and unconsciousness; the legislator enters into omnipotence. Now it is time for him to initiate, to direct, to propel, and to organize. Mankind has only to submit; the hour of depotism has struck.."

Does that not sound like the Pelosi, Reid, Obamer agenda, which continually goes against the will of the people, while claiming it is doing what's best for the people?

Bastiat continues with a wealth of well-thought-out, logical, and impecable wisdom under the headings of "Socialists Fear all Liberties," "The Basis for Stable Government" and "Justice Means Equal Rights."

I won't further give away the book, as I urge you to read it for yourself. But it's amazing how well it's written and how much of the book applies to us today. (The copy I have is only 74 pages long, so it's an easy read).

Suffice it to say, Bastiat went through a Revolution in France, and he saw his country destroyed.

What destroyed it? Socialism. That is why he wrote this book to warn others of the dangers of such a system, or any other political system that takes away liberties, enslaves the populace, and takes away their God-given rights. And, for over 150 years Frederick Bastiat has been dead-on right!

So why haven't you heard about this book? Why hasn't it been taugth in every school in America? I think you know the answer to that.

The old addage really is true, "The only thing men never learn from history is that men never learn from history!"

That's why you need to read, study, and disperse information to others!