The Crossbow

Perhaps there is no better day of the year than "Black Friday" to consider some various ways in which modern Christendom seems to work against its professed King.

And, perhaps there is no more concrete reminder of it than today's news that a Wal-Mart worker on Long Island was trampled to death ... by people shopping for Christmas presents.  (Many modern Christians seem to find "Black Friday" more important than Good Friday -- which is known in the Christian East by the more reverant term "Holy and Great Friday".)

In years past, I've written extensively about the hijacking of Christmas.  Eventually, my research led me to believe that Christmas needs an 'Extreme Makeover', if it is to be kept around at all.  For those that don't want to read those lengthy columns (too much turkey making you drowsy?), here are a few points that should get your attention.

According to my Bible research, Jesus was born in the Spring -- specifically, on Passover.  And, the entire celebration of Christmas -- especially its placement just after the Winter Solstice -- is of totally pagan origin.  And, before you "deck the halls with boughs of holly", consider that a fellow Bible-researching blogger told me that "holly wood" is the material of the handle of a witch's broom.

But, that's trivia compared to the larger issues that I want to present here.

Over the past few months, I've received e-mails from friends and pastors that have read my second book, Tribulaiton:  2008.  They have told me that it opened their eyes.  But, it seems that there are some "religious" people that are quite content to keep their eyes shut tight.  And, they want to make sure that everyone else keeps their eyes shut, too.

In order to blind people's eyes to the truth, these "Relief Valves" hide behind certain oft-repeated myths.  These myths are repeated so often that many people believe them.  Yet, there is no proof anywhere in the Bible for such myths.

Myth #1:  The Antichrist must come from the Middle East.  (Therefore, no one in the West can know in advance who he is.)  Really?  Where does it say that in the Bible?  In fact, can anyone show me one verse in the Bible that describes where the Antichrist comes from?

Myth #2:  The Antichrist must come from Rome.  Really?  See above.  But, this myth is fueled mostly by anti-Catholic bias, which further divides Christians from one another.  Jesus prayed about us to the Father, "that they may be one, even as we are One".  Have there been some problems in the Roman Catholic Church?  Oh, yes!  (just like any other church denomination)  But, remember that their roots come from the Christians that survived the orginal wave of persecutions (which started because Roman pagans believed that so many people converting to Christianity was the cause of a severe drought).  We owe some respect to those roots.

The ultimate expression of the above two myths comes from those people that believe that The Antichrist will be a Muslim from the Middle East, but living in Rome and masquerading as the Pope!  (There really are people that believe it.  They used to call my talk-radio program.)

Myth #3:  There is no point in studying End Times prophecy, because "no man knows the hour nor the day".  Although the quoted verse is true, Jesus also said that we will know the "signs and seasons".  How will we know them?  That is explained in the book.  But, certain people want to ignore -- or even attempt to discredit -- a complete and logical examination of Bible prophecy, because they don't want to consider the idea that The Tribulation could happen in their lifetime.  And, that leads us to...

Myth #4:  No Christians will be on Earth during The Tribulation.  Again, this is refuted extensively in the book.  Here is the short version:  If there are no Christians on Earth during The Tribulation, then who gets persecuted by The False Prophet and by The Antichrist?  (Before you answer, "The people that are converted directly by the Holy Spirit, after The Rapture," you should read 2nd Thessalonians 2:7)

Modern Christians are so fixated on shortcuts to Bible reading that they don't apply logic.  (In fact, some people actually think that it would be "un-spiritual" to apply critical logic to Bible reading.  What do they think God meant when He said, "Come, let us reason together"?)  Those shortcuts lead them to believe myths, simply because they saw someone say it on television or heard it on the radio.

Modern Christians are so fixated on their expensive "toys and games" that they don't seem to want Jesus to come back soon ... if at all.  Yes, it's true that terrible times are in store for some people during The Tribulation.  Yes, it's true that our lives might get disrupted.  But, it's also true that God will put His seal of protection upon many believers during that time ... just to show the enemy that He can!  And, it's also true that Saint John knew all of those things when he wrote...

"... even so, come Lord Jesus."

Now, if only "The Church" would stop interfering with the plans of The Christ.  (Interestingly, considering the introduction to this column, Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."  Matthew 5:13)