TO BE ILLITERATE OF THE SCRIPTURES
IS TO BE ENSLAVED IN DARKNESS

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” Mk.12:24

     Deception is seen on every front these days. Let us examine the leading deception that Satan historically has used against GOD'S children to lead them to remain in sin and therefore share his fate of destruction (Eze.28:18;Rev.20:9). It always gets back to the first words of Satan recorded in the Bible: "Yea, hath God said...?" Gen.3:1.

     Nearly 2000 years ago when our “Everlasting Father” came among men the religious leaders refused His Word declaring, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mk.1:15. This inaugural moment of Christ’s ministry began the last seven years of the 490 year probation for the Jews as GOD’S “peculiar treasure” as given in the grand prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. Had the Jews been obedient to Scripture they would have known of this prophecy and received the LORD of Glory with open arms. (And yet, even today’s churches stand identical to the Jews of old in their ignorance of this prophecy, which is the only prophecy proving through simple arithmetic that Jesus is Who He says He is).

     For 1,875 years “the LORD” led and educated the Jews to recognize “his only begotten Son.” The Old Testament Scriptures provided every evidence for Christ’s acceptance. When we see how Christ lived out the Ten Commandments to their perfection; when we read His words of comfort and admonition drawing multitudes to Himself; when we read the miracles He displayed; His character of unreserved love that reached so many lives; and how all who came to Him “he healed them all,” we wonder just what was it that led to His rejection and crucifixion. Because to understand the reason for the rebellion of men against LOVE’S PERFECT DISPLAY we can then understand where we are today and where we are heading as a church and a civilization.

     History shows that whenever Scripture is abandoned, for whatever reason, harm and destruction always follows in its wake, whether of judicial matters within the Ten Commandments, or the eight laws of health that keep the mind and body strong, or the proper care for the land that its abundant harvest be continued. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom divided into Israel and Judah. The ten tribes of Israel immediately abandoned GOD’S Word to follow heathen practices. They had a semblance of virtue, elaborate ceremonies demonstrating great piety. But it was all show and no go! And as a result, every king of Israel (without exception) received the rebuke of GOD: “and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.” This points to a dreadful fact: that none among the people of Israel who followed these kings and their religious leaders received salvation. This illustrates the danger of entrusting your life and soul to anyone who stands belligerent to Scripture. Now we have to ask ourselves, Why? None who turn to sin and "despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon" (Isa.30:12) can receive GOD’S salvation. Because if they could live out their lives in sin, then Christ need not have come to die to cover our sins: to take our punishment that we might live! “Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law.” Jer.16:11.

     Judah was entering a similar fate in the days of king Josiah. But then, something wonderful happened: the book of Deuteronomy reemerged after many years of being hidden. Here is the grand passage showing true reformation:

“And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.” “And he [Josiah] brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense.” II Ki.22:8-20; 23:6-8.

     The above passage presents three key points:

1. Judah was on the brink of ruin, but reformation to the Scriptures saved their nation by removing all pagan religious practices.

2. The LORD chose a woman from among the prophets: Huldah the prophetess.

3. Josiah removed the gays and lesbians from having any influence with GOD’S work of salvation.

     The lesson is simple: whenever the disgrace of sin is consecrated in religion, this threatens the salvation of all involved. Today's Christianity has lost sight of this fact. They have become so spoiled in their religious ease that they have let their guard down. Jesus warned of the Laodicean condition and His response to those who promote its lethargy: "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev.3:17.

     Now we come once more to Christ’s day and the scholars who ruled Orthodox Judaism from the Babylonian Talmud that was written while the Jews were in exile.

Theme: Bible Illiteracy Among Bible Scholars

     In the days when Christ walked among men a group of religious scholars called Sadducees approached Jesus attempting to make a mockery of His doctrine. At the end of their discussion Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Matt.22:29. These were men who boasted their vast knowledge of the Scriptures as did the Pharisees. By this reputation of academic excellence they received the honor of men. They could recite from memory entire passages from "the law and the prophets." But Jesus said they were Biblically illiterate. How profound are the Savior’s words—then and today. A minister can know the Bible backwards and forwards, but to not know the intended lessons of GOD’S Word makes him Biblically illiterate and therefore vulnerable to his own eternal ruin along with those who are led by him. "One sinner destroyeth much good.” Eccl.9:18.

     The Bible exposes the glaring illiteracy of the world’s ruling church, the Roman Catholic Church, to the Bible’s conditions of salvation, for the rudiments of salvation were abandoned over 1700 years ago by the Church of Rome. When the pope was exalted as Supreme Ruler of the Church, adopting the titles, "Vicar of the Son of God," "the Holy Father," "the Holy See," and "His Holiness;" his sins became the sins of every man under his rule. And through the deceiving of one, Satan is able to deceive the multitudes. This has always been the danger of entrusting many lives into the hands of one sinful man. “Give us a king to judge us" (I Sam.8:6) is the cry of the whole Christian world when they look to the pope to rule in the affairs of men. Three reasons men cry for a king: 1. They don’t want to take responsibility for their own lives. 2. When they fail they have someone else to blame. But the primary reason stated by GOD: 3. "They have rejected Me that I should not reign over them" (I Sam.8:7). When you understand the contrast between GOD’S way and that of sinful men professing His service you will know why we have an atheistic dominance today ruling in the affairs of society. Our secular society has seen so much hypocrisy displayed in the church that they rightly declare, "If this is Christianity I don’t want it!" And they fight tooth-and-nail to not relinquish any control to the leaders of the church. But this is about to change, and the change will bring catastrophic consequences to the civilization of earth (Lu.21:11; Rev.13:8). In essence, our society is safer with an agnostic man in government than a power-hungry Bible-illiterate Christian.

     Lastly, let us consider the demonic influences whose miraculous displays are sweeping multitudes of Bible-illiterate Christians to their ruin as Paul warned of this contamination within the church. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils [thus abandoning Scripture’s true lessons]; Speaking lies in hypocrisy [denying their service to GOD and His Word]; having their conscience seared with a hot iron [blaspheming the Holy Ghost]; Forbidding to marry [as the vow of celibacy in the Catholic priesthood], and commanding to abstain from meats [as the Friday Abstinence], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving [those meats assigned as “clean”] of them which believe and know the truth [“as the truth is in Jesus”].” I Tim.4:1-3.

     The miracles Satan uses to deceive the churches are today's charismatic displays of “tongues,” “slain in the spirit,” and “the word of knowledge.” While there are Bible obedient displays of GOD’S “spiritual gifts” as we will see, Satan has led churchmen to ignore the Bible’s critical guidelines for these gifts. And thus, through his power Satan has seduced the religious leaders, and through them the congregations to remain unrepentant in sin. GOD would never encourage this. And we must understand how the spirit that is invited into their souls is not the Holy Ghost but that of demons! And thus, demon possession is being pawned off as the Holy Spirit.

     When it comes to today’s popular manifestation of “tongues” every major religion on earth claims the same gift: in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sorcery, Witchcraft, Voodoo, Obeah, Santeria, Juju, etc. There is no traceable difference between today’s charismatic Christians and the tongue-speaking followers of the occult. GOD will not be complicit to the sin or the eternal death of anyone (Ja.1:13). Remember, Satan determines to unite the church to himself by hardening men in their sin. But how do we verify this?

1. The distinction between the true and the false as outlined by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 14 should be obeyed: “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue… But if there be no interpreter [one who understands the foreign language being spoken (Isa.28:10-13)], let him keep silence in the church” (vss.19,28). “Turn not from it [GOD'S Word] to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” Josh.1:7.

2. There are many testimonies from people who were delivered from the occult that verify Satan’s control over today’s Christianity. When they turned to Christ and began attending a church whose members spoke in tongues they immediately recognized the identical spirit of the cult they had just left. Other testimonies include people who witnessed tongue speaking Christians curse the name of Jesus Christ in Chinese and other languages. An American Indian gave testimony of how a tongue-speaking Christian was cursing that Indian’s own mother in his native tongue! While other testimonies include feelings identical to being drunk and other forms of intoxication. Even “the spirit of laughter” and other sensual experiences such as “sexual orgasms” have been experienced and reported. But these unholy, sensual displays have no part with the Holy Spirit! Paul emphatically and repeatedly warned of this: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Rom.13:14.

3. The purpose of GOD’S gift of tongues is very plain: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall speak with new tongues.” Mk.16:15-17. The Gospel goes to every “tongue!” It was prophesied in Isaiah 28:11, and confirmed in Acts of The Apostles: "And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Acts 2:7-11; 10:45,46. This was not anything like the confusion we see today, but the languages of men: the message of "Christ and him crucified." Anything that robs this glory from Christ is not of Christ.

     Then there is “Slain in the spirit,” America’s most popular display of miraculous power. But when you search for its Scriptural support it is discovered that is must come under one of only three reasons given in Scripture for the loss of strength in the Presence of Divinity:

1. Decisive rebellion against Jesus Christ. Examples: the mob of thugs arresting Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane; and the Roman soldiers at the tomb of Christ (Jn.18:4-6; Matt.28:2-4).

2. Direct vision from GOD. Examples: Prophetic instruction to prepare for future events; or commanding an appeal be made to His children who have gone astray, warning of the consequences, but also a promise of blessing for obedience. Hab.2:2; Dan.10:8,17-19; Acts 9:4,5.

3. Demon possession. Examples: Lu.8:28; Mk.3:11.

     This popular doctrine exhibiting supernatural power in the churches must come under one of the above reasons. Which one? Demon possession is the only possible explanation, for the other two have no association with the churches display of this power. As with the gift of tongues, every major religion of earth advocates the gift of being “slain in the spirit,” including Voodoo; again with no traceable difference between today’s Christianity and the occult.

     Another example of Bible disobedient spiritualism witnessed on Trinity Broadcasting Network is found in the ministry of Rod Parsley. He led his congregation into a frenzied chaos that sounded more akin to an insane asylum than obeying the Bible’s admonition to “lead a quiet peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Tim.2:2). At the height of this display of shameless cacophony Rod Parsley then said, “Now the spirit is here!” Yes, a spirit was there, many of them.

     Lastly, there’s the “word of knowledge” doctrine used by Pat Robertson and others. This is simply the ancient witchcraft of being a middle-voice for demons (a medium) as many psychics such as Sylvia Brown and John Edward are, to illicitly gain the trust of men—even famous and powerful men. This doctrine has no Scriptural reference at all outside of GOD’S warning of the condemnation that is pending for all spiritualists (I Sam.15:23). It is used as a healing ministry, where the minister describes an ailment of some afflicted soul watching TV or sitting in the congregation. He then promises their healing, without knowing them, without seeing them, and without verification of what their saying is actually true. It should be noted that the healing ministry of Jesus never employed this method. And while there are those who have claimed to be healed through this method, the manner of these healings stands outside of GOD’S examples of healing in the Bible, therefore the source of the healing is from another spirit. The Bible is clear that Satan can heal any disease whenever it serves his purpose (Jn.5:4).

     But the proof that Satan is behind these healing ministries is seen when the ministers openly evangelize sin against GOD’S Law. GOD CANNOT EMPOWER ANYONE LIVING IN SIN, for that would make Him an accomplice to not only their destruction but also everyone who follows and trusts their minister’s example.

     The Bible warns: “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20. There is not one testimony from Christ, His Apostles, or the Prophets-of-Old that provides a single example of these demonstrations “of the flesh” as having any association with “the poor in spirit,” or “they that mourn,” or “the meek,” or “they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,” or “the merciful,” or “the pure in heart,” or “the peacemakers,” or “they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt.5:3-10). Evangelical Christianity has abandoned “the Word” to follow a miraculous display of power outside of GOD’S Word and will; and thus, are “beguiled” by Satan to remain in sin (Gen.3:13). By playing into the devil’s hand it is a natural consequence that the charismatic churches will stand opposed to those who truly “walk in the spirit” in obedience to GOD (Gal.5:25). The churches open arms to cultic practices will continue until the battle of “Armageddon” and “the LORD” comes to rescue those “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev.14:12).

     In summation, multitudes of professing Christians are being deceived to desire only the power of Jesus Christ but not His character. GOD’S true character can only be revealed by an unwavering duty to honor “the Word” (Jn.1:1). And anyone who stands outside of a heart-drawn reverence to obey its every counsel is standing on Satan’s enchanted ground. Paul’s warning goes unheard: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” [allowing Satan to work his deceptive magic before their eyes] that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” II Thess.2:11,12. And the reason for this spiritual captivity is found in the previous verse: “because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved” (II Thess.2:10).

     These displays of Satan’s power are the key to his leverage to prod today’s churches to impose through federal law the ancient sin of the sun-god, not the Law of “the Son of God.” And the Bible gives prophecies that this soon-to-come global-call-to-sin will be armored with devils impersonating Christ, His Apostles, holy angels, the Virgin Mary, the dead Catholic Saints, and even deceased family members and friends (Isa.8:19). Make no mistake: it is Satan's authority as “the prince of this world” that is paving the way for renegade Christianity to take the throne of human government (Rev.ch.13) and discard Christ’s command forbidding religious tyranny (Lu.22:25,26). And the goal of the apostates is to enshrine via federal and international law “the venerable day of the sun” in honor of “Sol Invictus,” "Attis," "Mithra," "Baal," "Osiris," etc. all the way back to Nimrod and the tower of Babel. Yes, "the tradition of man" is the great culprit of ruin throughout history.

     And the final display of religious tyranny in the continuing saga of "the tradition of man" will be spearheaded by the church who will lead the whole world to its ruin (Rev.16), which in turn will usher Christ’s 2nd Advent to rescue His Spirit-led Bible-obedient saints (Isa.25:9; Matt.7:24,25).