The Things to Come

Jody Brown OneNewsNow.com May 23, 2007

More than 20 years of research, says The Barna Group, has revealed a disturbing trend among Americans’ spiritual beliefs and behavior: their commitment to orthodox biblical perspectives is “slipping.” The director of a recent Barna study says the findings reflect a “spiritual profile” among Americans similar to that of the early church at Laodicea — a church which Jesus admonished for being “neither hot nor cold” and called to repentance.
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Every year, The Barna Group explores the “state of America’s faith,” examining such factors as people’s spiritual activity, faith identity, commitment, and religious perspective. This year’s poll of more than 1,000 adults (conducted in January) indicates that while Americans are remaining spiritually active, the percentage of those who hold orthodox biblical views has fallen to its lowest level in decades.

“They’ve actually become less orthodox, less traditional,” Barna’s David Kinnaman tells Associated Press. “[M]any of their core biblical perspectives have changed.”

A report released by Barna summarizes this year’s findings. Among them — two-thirds (66%) of Americans believe that God is best described as “the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe who rules the world today.” That is down five percent from one year ago and represents the lowest percentage in more than 20 years of similar surveys, notes the report.

In addition, says Kinnaman, “they are less likely to reject the notion that Jesus sinned (37%), and they’re less likely to believe that Satan is a real spiritual entity (24%).” Both of those percentages are lower than last year and are among the lowest during the two decades Barna has tracked Americans’ views in those areas. The research organization observes that such revelations call into question the sincerity of people’s commitment to orthodox biblical perspectives.

Kinnaman puts it this way: while millions of Americans feel personally committed to God, they are apparently “renegotiating” the definition of God.

“They lack a consistent and holistic understanding of their faith,” he says in the Barna report. “[They] say they are personally committed to Jesus Christ, but they believe he sinned while on Earth. Many believers claim to trust what the Bible teaches, but they reject the notion of a real spiritual adversary ….”

The survey director says most Americans seem to have one foot in the “biblical camp” and one foot outside it — placing themselves in what Kinnaman refers to as a “squishy middle.”

“They say they are committed, but to what?” he asks. “They are spiritually active, but to what end? The spiritual profile of American Christianity is not unlike a lukewarm church that the Bible warns about.” (Revelation 3:14-22)

It is evident, Kinnaman observes, that most Americans — including those who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ — do not hold strong and clear beliefs. He notes that “as they go from year to year, as they watch movies, as they interact with people, as they rethink their lives, religious perspectives sometimes get put on the shelf.”

The ultimate result, he fears, is that the shift away from biblical perspectives will cause America’s youth to conclude that the Christian faith does not represent “deep, consistent truths about the spiritual and natural world.”

All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network – All Rights Reserved

Secrets of the universe. What is it about secrets that get us humans so titillated? Is the God who made the universe so powerless that He cannot impart His requirements and communicate His love to His creation that we need to go digging for secrets? Is the truth hidden? Of course not, the Bible records for us that Jesus is HIMSELF the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no truth outside of the person of Christ, and it is surely no secret. But if a person were not interested in the truth as revealed by Jesus, well, then it’s time to find something that suits our ego and THE SECRET surely falls into that category.

It amazes me that people are so narcissistic that they think the world and its secrets exist to meet their felt needs. But such is our generation, and they want it all NOW (see my previous article, “In Demand”.) It amazes me that they think they can claim to be anything or anyone and it will magically become so. How arrogant! It also amazes me that people are so gullible that they will fall for this and not recognize the charlatans who prey on them, their needs, their fears and their hard-earned money. If The Secret blows through the church with any force, (and in reality it has been with us for decades in the disguise of the name-it-and-claim-it prosperity teachings) it will have one outstanding feature, and that will be a denial of the existence of sin and the human’s sin nature. The idea of sin is too negative for this movement, and would only serve to derail the entire concept of the power of our thoughts and speech. But it has already affected the church, and will continue to deflect from the gospel as all false teaching does, as it is designed to confuse and detour the unsaved from the finished and atoning work of Christ. Gee, doesn’t anyone remember the Jabez fiasco? Oh, I guess that was about 40 days of purpose ago…

When I read about the latest deceptions blowing around the globe, both in and out of the church, I tend to think to myself, ‘how can people believe in this?’ My thinking is that some of them are so silly and patently false that surely they must have a shelf life, or an expiration date at least. But the closer we get to the coming of Jesus the more I need to remind myself that we are in an age of rampant deception, and that God will allow this judgment-ready planet to be given over to all sorts of vile practices and teachings that defy spiritual and common sense both. People are spiritual beings, and no one lives in a spiritual vacuum so try as they may to claim they are atheists or that just because they believe or don’t believe something, that somehow the heavens are moved to comply with their subjective truths– but the real truth is that everyone believes in something. Let God be true and every man a liar on the day that people have to give an account for what they did with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Below I am posting an excellent article by Berit Kjos regarding the latest ridiculous deception blowing around the world. She has really done her homework and I think she covers the subject well.

A NEW MASK FOR AN ANCIENT SECRET

By Berit Kjos

February 4, 2007

NewsWithViews.com

As above, so below!’ The Emerald Tablet, circa 3000 BC.”[1] Starting page of “The Secret.”

“This phrase [above] … embraces the entire system of traditional and modern magic which was inscribed upon the tablet in cryptic wording by Hermes Trismegistus. The significance of this phrase is that it is believed to hold the key to all mysteries. All systems of magic are claimed to function by this formula. ‘That which is above is the same as that which is below.’”[2]

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Cheered by Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, an enticing book and corresponding DVD have stirred widespread enthusiasm. “It’s making headlines around the world,” announced Oprah’s website, “and buzz just keeps building. Some say it’s the secret to creating the life you truly want—losing weight, making money, finding love.”[3]

Yes, “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne teems with tempting promises and positive affirmations. But it omits all facts that could sound negative, since “summoning what you want” demands an intentional focus on what’s positive. “The law of attraction doesn’t compute ‘don’t’ or ‘not’ or ‘no,’ or any other words of negation.”[1]

So while the next quote mentions the historical roots of this Secret, it doesn’t tell us that those roots include the ancient Egyptian mystery religions, the occult Kabbalah, Gnosticism, Rosicrucianism, and Hermetic magic. Nor does it warn us that its more recent branches include Unity,” Science of Mind, and the “New Thought” movement that swept through the Christianized world over a century ago.[4]

“Fragments of a great secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life.”[5]

What does that imply? That our God is obsolete? That real spiritual empowerment means replacing the Bible with The Secret? As Byrne tells us, she unlocked a secret that has captivated aspiring occultists, conjurers and magicians for thousands of years.

“I’d been given a glimpse of a Great Secret,” she tells us in the foreword. “Why doesn’t everyone know this?”

The answer is simple. When Christianity spread, the forbidden forces behind magical arts went underground. Rarely mentioned in public, they were hidden in secret societies until the 20th century, when books, movies, television and universities re-introduced them to a thrill-seeking, Biblically illiterate nation ready and eager to revive the mystical powers of the past. Byrne herself illustrates this fascination:

“A burning desire to share The Secret with the world consumed me, and I began searching for people alive today who knew The Secret. One by one they began to emerge. I became a magnet as I began to search, one great living master after another was drawn to me.”[1]

Her inspiring “masters” — living or dead — included mythologist Joseph Campbell, Wallace Wattles (The Science of Getting Rich), Jack Canfield, Neale Donald Walsch (who published his occult messages from a counterfeit “god” in Conversations with God), and Jerry and Esther Hicks. The Hicks’ website introduces us to a cluster of demonic spirit guides called “Abraham:”

“Abraham, a group of obviously evolved teachers, speak their broader non-physical perspective through the physical body of Esther [Hicks]. Speaking to our level of comprehension… they guide us to a clear connection with our Inner Being….”[6]

NEW THOUGHT AND ANCIENT MYSTERIES

Byrne introduces Prentice Mulford (1834-1891) as “one of the earliest writers and founders of the New Thought movement… [who] has influenced countless writers and teachers.”[1] This quote from Thoughts are Things summarizes his “mental and spiritual laws:”

“There is no limit to the power of the thought current you can attract to you…. In the future some people will draw so much of the higher quality of thought to them, that by it they will accomplish what some would call miracles. In this capacity… lies the secret of what has been called ‘magic.”[7]

During the last century, such thinking inspired “positive thinking” gurus like Norman Vincent Peale who, in turn, converted Robert Schuller and countless other leaders who are now pastoring churches or marketing the deception through church-related programs around the world. John Maxwell and other global change agents demonstrate the subtle influence of this feel-good, self-empowering ideology.

“Nothing,” Byrne assures us, “can come into your experience unless you summon it through persistent thoughts.” [p.43]

Our sovereign Biblical God has no place in this man-centered philosophy. But other religions are acceptable — including a compatible distortion of Christianity:

“Religions, such as Hinduism, Hermetic traditions, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and civilizations, such as the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians, delivered it through their writings and stories. Recorded throughout the ages in all its forms, the law can be found in ancient writings through all the centuries. It was recorded in stone in 3000 BC.” [p.4-5]

The last reference points back to ancient mystery religions and to the words inscribed on the fabled Emerald Tablet. Remember, Byrne used those words, “As above, so below,” to set the stage for her book. An occult website decodes their meaning:

“The universe is the same as God, God is the same as man…. [M]an is the counterpart of God on earth; as God is man’s counterpart in heaven. Therefore… man’s actions on earth parallel the actions of God in heaven…. The purpose of all rituals in ceremonial magic is to unite the microcosm with the macrocosm to join God… with the human consciousness…. Aleister Crowley claimed that when the magician reaches this ultimate peak of altered consciousness the miracles are no longer important, the extreme goal becomes the direct union with God.”[2]

Now as then, those dark teachings have become shining lights to cultures inspired by “false apostles and deceitful workers” — servants of Satan, the “evil one” who masquerades as “an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14) After all, The Secret offers gullible seekers everything under the sun. Consider these examples:

“There isn’t a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want.”[xi]

“The law of attraction is the law of creation….You create your life through your thoughts.”[p.15]

“With this powerful knowledge, you can completely change every circumstance and event in your entire life…”[p.7]

Do those affirmations remind you of Lucifer’s attempted bargain with Jesus in the wilderness? Now, compare them with the next tempting promise. Notice the cost, which Byrne never mentions:

“…the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You. … if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Luke 4:5-8

RISKY ATTRACTIONS

“The Secret is the law of attraction!” declares Byrne. “Everything that’s coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it’s attracted to you by virtue of the images you’re holding in your mind. It’s what you’re thinking….”[p. 4]

This “secret of attraction” has a simple explanation. When we seek forbidden thrills and forces, Satan stands ready to answer. In Old Testament days, God protected His people from the full onslaught of such forces as long as the nation followed Him and His loving guidelines. But when they rejected His guidelines and sought the occult thrills of pagan neighbors, He withdrew His protection.[8] Left to their own meager resources, the nation was destroyed by Babylonian armies.

Would God ever withdraw His protection over America?

Back in the nineties, I received a phone call from a Canadian psychologist. He had read A Twist of Faith and wanted to discuss the swelling tide of seekers visiting his scenic community. Hoping to find their personal spirit guide, they would participate in Indian sweat lodge ceremonies and spirit quests. In former decades, few “succeeded,” but recently something had changed. Now almost everyone “meets” their demonic guide. Some therapists had expressed their surprise, he said, by the current explosion of what they only knew as multiple personality disorders. Many seekers were terrorized by strange voices and felt they had lost control of their own minds to entrenched foreign personalities.

The demonic realm, which used to be distant and non-threatening, now crouches near. Occult books, games and movies show children how to empower themselves by summoning demons. Yet we shouldn’t be surprised. America has silenced God’s warnings and compromised His truth. The consequences could bring unthinkable heartbreak. But God warned us!

“…when you have eaten and are full… [when] your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God. … you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’… If you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods… you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 8:10-20

MIRACLES HAPPEN — BUT WHAT’S THE SOURCE

In response to the DVD version of The Secret, “stories of miracles began to flood in,” wrote Byrne. Her fans “wrote about healing from chronic pain, depression, and disease…. Some of the most magnificent stories we have received have come from children using The Secret to attract what they want…. There are Secret parties being held in homes around the world, as people share the knowledge with loved ones and families…..”[1, p. x-xi]

Many forget that “the angel of light” is a shrewd deceiver, not a kind giver. God has allowed Satan a measure of authority for a season of time, but his power is limited to that which serves God’s overall purposes. Our loving Father allows trials in our lives to train us to rely on His strength and wisdom, not our own.[9] That’s the exact opposite of Byrne’s New Thought message. She may boast of miracles from the hand of the deceiver, but there’s a cost. And the devil never fails to claim his due.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

 

 

 

You’ve all probably heard of what are referred to as ‘Dummy’ Books…those yellow and black books you can find at any bookstore:
DOS for Dummies was the first, I think, followed by Windows for Dummies, Taxes for Dummies, Yoga for Dummies,
Flipping Houses for Dummies – even “The Bible for Dummies”, which unless it comes with a free Holy Spirit patch, will be utterly useless. But that’s a different and more doctrinal treatise than I can go into here. Nevertheless, they are simply meant to be a simplified guide to mastering some technology or technique for the most part.

Well, what were once just dummies are now complete idiots: we now have “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Middle East”. I found the book very interesting, and rich with statistics and history. It is a secular book but is surprisingly pro-Israel. So all things considered, I will try not to take the title personally, but I would consider using it for nuts and bolts info on the Middle East.

There is a little anecdote found at the beginning of the book that anyone who has tried to make sense of the Middle East political mess will understand, and it goes like this:

A scorpion emerged from the desert onto the banks of the Nile, whereupon he accosted a crocodile. “My dear chap,” he said to the crocodile, “could we form an alliance to get to the other side of the river?”
The crocodile answered, “do you think I am stupid? I would be at your complete mercy, You could sting me and kill me at any time during the crossing.”
“Of course not,” said the scorpion. “I promise not to sting you, because if I did, I would drown.”
The crocodile thought about this for a second, and then agreed this made sense and took the scorpion on his back. About midstream, the scorpion became agitated for no apparent reason and stung the crocodile.
As the two were about to go under, the crocodile turned to the scorpion and said, “Now we will both die. What possible explanation or logic is there for such an act?”
“There is none,” said the scorpion, “this is the Middle East.” Continue Reading »

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1Kings 19:11-12

There is something going on in our culture that genuinely makes me feel anxious. Well, I’m not sure if ‘anxious’ is the proper word, because it is not in the sense of worry, but I don’t really know how else to describe it. I know it makes me ill at ease, it makes me feel strangely disquieted in my spirit. Maybe you have felt this too, let me know what you think. And I am not just speaking of the world, either. I think the church is in “hyper-drive” too.

There is a cultural uproar going on. It invades every nook and cranny of life, and it jangles the nerves and hijacks the senses. I guess it might be similar in concept biblically to the ‘tossing of the waves’. People seem to be wound pretty tightly, particularly the generation just following mine, and they seem so immune to the rumble and roar around them I wonder if there is an attention deficit disorder pandemic going on.

I am a baby boomer, and while we have our share of flaws, and for all the attention we garnered during the rebellious hippie movement, I think all in all, having been raised by the World War II generation with their sort of reserved sense of dignity, their gentility and respect for God and country, we got a pretty good start in life. They had a very unique collective personality that we have not seen since nor will we ever see the likes of again because of the times in which we live.

I was privy to a time, albeit rather short, when people had manners, common sense, knew when to be quiet, and had a sense of propriety about issues that do not belong in the public forum. And right in the middle of their prime, when they were raising their kids, the waves began being tossed – in the ‘60s, when normal societal barriers that they were accustomed to started to come down. With the advent of the common experiences of television and mass-produced music, sinful and unregenerate souls at the forefront of the media frontier began to push the envelope in areas of modesty and propriety. Shame went out the window and things that were only spoken of behind closed doors were now flaunted for all to hear and see as though public approval was being sought for any wicked thing imaginable. With each passing year since, I continue to be offended on a daily basis by the endless litany of sin and man’s inhumanity to man that assaults my senses. Those of us who were raised by the generation that lived through the depression and at least one world war are now leading the free world and in spite of the fact that we tend toward narcissism, our rebellion at it’s zenith doesn’t hold a candle to today’s judgment-ready generation. Somebody please press ‘start’.

Now, in every generation, despite those who plumb new depths of depravity and lead the culture in lowering the bar for wickedness, there are those who ‘walk in truth’ because God is a God of grace and promises kept. I have made every effort to raise my child to reflect her parents’ own sensibilities and by God’s grace she has picked up the good and tossed out the flawed of my own generation and maturity level. She truly is a testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit in her generation, as are other uncompromising Christian youth. The Bible says that ‘I have no greater joy than that my children walk in truth’ – and let me tell you there is no truer Scripture. NO greater joy? You betcha. But let me say that there is something else going on with the younger set at large that truly disturbs me. Not just the heathen, I expect them to act out their cultural markers. So be it. But there is an air of intensity that borders on ‘in your face’ that permeates all of this culture and for someone like myself who is a private person, who respects others’ privacy and is not interested in the olympic sport of ‘sin-sniffing’, it is tough for me to watch. Very tough. Forget putting a letter of the alphabet after the word “Generation” to describe this. We have run out of letters, so I call them ‘Generation On Demand’. And they are demanding. Even those who proclaim faith in Christ are reaping things other than the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. Why? Continue Reading »

Friday, May 18, 2007

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

A controversy is raging in Israel, in evangelical circles in the U.S. and on kabbalah web forums worldwide following the posthumous release of what a revered Sephardic rabbi claimed to be the name of the Messiah.

When Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri died in February 2006, somewhere between the age of 106 to possibly 117, 300,000 attended his funeral in Jerusalem.

The Baghdad-born kabbalist had gained notoriety around the world for issuing apocalyptic warnings and for saying he personally met the long-awaited Jewish Messiah in November 2003.

Before Kaduri died, he reportedly wrote the name of the Messiah on a small note, requesting it remained sealed for one year after his death. The note revealed the name of the Messiah as “Yehoshua” or “Yeshua” – or the Hebrew name Jesus.

However, complicating the story further, the note is being challenged as a forgery by his 80-year-old son Rabbi David Kaduri.

“It’s not his writing,” he is quoted as telling Israel Today.

The note, written in Hebrew and signed in the rabbi’s name, said: “Concerning the letter abbreviation of the Messiah’s name, He will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid. This I have signed in the month of mercy.”

The Hebrew sentence consists of six words. The first letter of each of those words spells out the Hebrew name Yehoshua or Yeshua.

The finding has raised a combination of excitement and controversy in both Jewish and Christian circles – but scarcely any media attention. Jewish blogs and web forums are filled with skeptical analysis and puzzlement.

“So this means Rabbi Kaduri was a Christian?” asked one poster rhetorically.

Another wrote: “The Christians are dancing and celebrating.”

Not exactly.

(Story continues below)

In fact, many Christian discussion boards say Kaduri’s description of the Messiah – no matter what his name – doesn’t fit the biblical account of a returned Jesus of Nazareth, who, they believe, will rule and reign on Earth from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.

About his encounter with the Messiah Kaduri claimed is alive in Israel today, he reportedly told close relatives: “He is not saying, ‘I am the Messiah, give me the leadership.’ Rather the nation is pushing him to lead them, after they find [in my words] signs showing that he has the status of Messiah.”

Kaduri was also quoted as saying the imminent arrival of the Messiah will “save Jerusalem from Islam and Christianity that wish to take Jerusalem from the Jewish Nation – but they will not succeed, and they will fight each other.”

Statements like that have some Christians wondering if Kaduri might be talking about another Yeshua – perhaps even a miracle-performing “false Christ” many evangelicals believe will precede the return of Jesus.

“It is hard for many good people in society to understand the person of the Messiah,” Kaduri wrote before his death. “The leadership and order of a Messiah of flesh and blood is hard to accept for many in the nation. As leader, the Messiah will not hold any office, but will be among the people and use the media to communicate. His reign will be pure and without personal or political desire. During his dominion, only righteousness and truth will reign.”

Kaduri wrote that not all will believe in the Messiah – and that it will often be easier for non-religious people to accept him. He also describes a Messiah who is, at first, not aware of his position.

Kaduri’s funeral

A few months before his death, Kaduri gave a Yom Kippur address in which he gave clues as to how to recognize the Messiah. He told those gathered for the Day of Atonement in his synagogue the Messiah would not come until former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dies.

Sharon was stricken while in office Jan. 4, 2006. He remained in a coma until replaced by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. While many expected the imminent passing of Sharon, he has remained alive but unconscious ever since his attack.

Shortly after what Kaduri characterized as his Nov. 4, 2003, encounter with the Messiah, in which he said he learned his name, the rabbi began warning of impending disasters worldwide.

In September 2005 in a class at his Jerusalem yeshiva seminary, Kaduri called for Jews all over the world to return to Israel because of the calamities about to befall the Earth and for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.

“In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will bring about great disasters in the countries of the world to sweeten the judgments of the land of Israel,” he said.

In 1990, the late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Schneerson told Kaduri that he would live to see the coming of the Messiah.

Also in September 2005, Kaduri said: “The Messiah is already in Israel. Whatever people are sure will not happen is liable to happen, and whatever we are certain will happen may disappoint us. But in the end, there will be peace throughout the world.”

As a lifelong student and teacher of kabbalah, Kaduri rejected a meeting requested by pop superstar Madonna, who dabbled in the ancient art of Jewish mysticism. He reportedly said at the time: “It is forbidden to teach a non-Jew kabbalah, not even Talmud, not even simple Torah.”

Kaduri is said to have been one of the few known living practitioners who used his knowledge of kabbalah to affect change in the world. He would often distribute amulets intended to heal, enhance fertility and bring success. He was also believed to have been involved in the removal of 20 dybbuks, or lost souls that strayed into the hapless bodies of living people to torment them.

Aviel Schneider, the author of the Israel Today story, said the worldwide reaction to news of Kaduri’s note has been “crazy.” He said he has never received so many emails and calls from around the globe.

He said he was urged not to publish the story by the rabbi’s yeshiva, where officials said it was “impossible” that the note was actually written by Kaduri.

But Schneider was given access to many of the rabbi’s manuscripts, written in his own hand for the exclusive use of his students. He was struck by symbols painted by Kaduri all over the pages.

“They were crosses,” said Schneider. “In the Jewish tradition, you don’t use crosses. You don’t even use plus signs because they might be mistaken for crosses. But there they were, painted in his own hand.”

Asked what those symbols meant, Kaduri’s family said they were “signs of the angel.”

This article is loaded with prophetic significance, thought I should post it and let you meditate on the times. Jesus is coming! Let me know what you think.

The Sanhedrin’s Peace Initiative

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been gearing up for an Israeli offensive in recent months, is bound to be surprised by the peace feelers he is set to receive from Jerusalem soon. Without Saudi mediation or diplomatic procedures, the Iranian president will get a “Letter of Love and Peace,” accompanied by a historic invitation to visit Jerusalem from the Supreme Judicial Court of the Jewish People, better known as the Sanhedrin.

After having tried their luck with the High Court of Justice and the government, the members of the Jewish group have set out on a new track in their struggle for the Temple Mount, aimed at rebuilding the Temple in the Jewish capital. In recent days, the group members have drafted a letter that will be translated into 70 languages and sent to all government institutions in the world, including “the sons of Esau and Ishmael,” who do not have diplomatic ties with Israel.

In the letter, the rabbis of the self-proclaimed Sanhedrin warn that the world is nearing a catastrophe and write that the only way to bring peace among nations, states, and religions is by building a house for God, where Jews will worship, pray, and offer up sacrifice, according to the vision of the prophets.

The rabbis also call on non-Jews to help the people of Israel fulfill their destiny and build the Temple, in order to prevent bloodshed across the globe. The letter will initially be translated into English, Spanish, Arabic, French, and Farsi, and later also into Russian, Chinese, and Japanese, and will include an invitation to world leaders to attend a conference dedicated to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem five months from now, during Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles].

Professor Hillel Weiss of the Sanhedrin explained that the Torah [Gen.–Deut.] and the prophets have tasked the Jewish people with the responsibility for world peace. He stressed that the group’s project was to rebuild the Temple, not a “church for all nations,” but added, “We have all descended from the same father. This is not another primitive and racist approach.”

(By Kobi Nahshoni, Ynetnews.com, May 1, 2007)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3394231,00.html