Deuteronomy 18-19, Levitical Priests and Levites; Detestable Things; Yoga, Witchcraft, False prophets; A Prophet Like Me, Cities Of Refuge

Deuteronomy 18-19The Levitical Priests and Levites; The Detestable Things; Yoga, Witchcraft, False prophets;A Prophet Like MeCities Of RefugeSunrise photo by Gina Pardini.

Sunrise photo by Gina Pardini.

BIBLE IN FIVEPastor Dave KooyersValley Bible FellowshipBox 433Boonville CA 95415http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org

(707) 895-2325God bless you as you examine His Word,Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge. Matthew 10:8 Freely you received, freely give.

http://www.amazon.com/Pastors-Manual-Doing-Church-Growth/dp/097170094X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-2&keywords=a+pastor%27s+manual+on+doing

Deuteronomy 18Priests and Levites, Yoga, Witchcraft, False prophets,


Lets read Deuteronomy 18:1-8The Levitical Priests


Deuteronomy 18:1-8, The Levitical PriestsNAU Deuteronomy 18:1 "The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD'S offerings by fire and His portion.Numbers 35:1-33 gives us more info about the Levites and their cities. They did not get a land grant (a portion), like our states, instead they got cities including the pastures around the cities. These cities were scattered though out all the tribes lands. Six were cities of refuge, 48 total cities.NAU Numbers 35:2 "Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities 6 "The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8, The Levitical PriestsNAU Deuteronomy 18:1 "The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of LeviWho are these Levitical priests?They are the whole tribe of LeviJoshua 21 tells us of the distribution of the cities. NAU Joshua 21:4 Then the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the sons of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, received thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah and from the tribe of the Simeonites and from the tribe of Benjamin.So, the Kohathites, (sons of Aaron the priest) received cities in the southern 2 tribes, including Jerusalem. The Levites serve the priests; Numbers 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8, The Levitical PriestsWhile it is true that the the Levitical priests, come from and are the whole tribe of Levi, there is a distinction made between priests and Levites;1 Kings 8:4 the priests and the Levites NAU 1 Chronicles 9:2the priests, the Levites and the temple servantsNAU John 1:19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

Deuteronomy 18:1-8, The Levitical PriestsNAU Deuteronomy 18:5 "For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.How long will the priesthood last?Ezekiel 40-48 describes a temple which has never been built but will be built in the future. The Levites will serve their also.NAU Ezekiel 45:5shall be for the Levites, the ministers of the house, and for their possession cities to dwell in. Ezekiel 48:11-22

Deuteronomy 18:1-8, The Future Priests, the sons of Zadok"Ezekiel 40-48 describes a temple which has never been built but will be built in the future. The Levites will serve their also;NAU Ezekiel 44:15 "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood," declares the Lord GOD.NAU Ezekiel 45:5shall be for the Levites, the ministers of the house, and for their possession cities to dwell in. Ezekiel 48:11-22

Deuteronomy 18:6-8, The Levitical PriestsLevites could choose to serve the LORD as priests;NAU Deuteronomy 18:6 "Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he desires to the place which the LORD chooses,Judges 17:8-13 records the account of a freelance Levitical priest hiring himself out. NAU Judges 17:10 Micah then said to him, "Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance." So the Levite went in.

Lets read Deuteronomy 18:9-22Detestable Things


Deuteronomy 18:9The Detestable ThingsNAU Deuteronomy 18:9 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.What are these detestable things? NAS NAU detestable thingsYLT NKJ KJV the abominations of those nations.NET the abhorrent practices of those nations.NIVO the detestable ways of the nations there.

Deuteronomy 18:9The Detestable ThingsNAU Deuteronomy 18:9 the detestable things of those nations.What were these detestable things then?Surely it included;Divination, witchcraft, omens, sorcerers, witches, mediums, spiritists, idolatry, child sacrifice Now we should be concerned about; The New Age, reincarnation and eastern religions (yoga, martial arts), mystics, psychic hotlines, fortunetellers, tarot cards, gurus, those that claim to be speaking to the dead, Ouija boards, channelers, etc..

Deuteronomy 18:10, WitchcraftDeuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,These are largely religious practices, but not worshiping the God who created this world, LORD, YHWH, but instead worshiping the god of this world the Devil ( 2 Corinthians 4:4).

Apostasy in Merging ReligionsDr. Ron Rhodes says, Let's talk about the apostasy of merging other religions into Christianity.Look at Christian Wicca. We are witnessing this merger primarily among our teens today. This involves a blending of witchcraft and Christianity. One young Christian Wiccan teenage girl said, "I started studying the bookEarth Powerwhich is by Witch Scott Cunningham, and I started to dabble in some of its practices and a few others. I purchasedThe Craftby Dorothy Morrison andWicca a Guide for the Solitary Practitionerby Cunningham. I found myself in a faith that I could truly hold dear to my heart." How deceived!She did say, "I did however feel somewhat empty still. Jesus had been a part of my life for almost three years and has

The Sign of Apostasy: Merging Religions, The Christ in Prophecy JournalApostasy in Merging ReligionsDr. Ron Rhodes says, Let's talk about the apostasy of merging other religions into Christianity.

Apostasy in Merging ReligionsDr. Ron Rhodes says, Let's talk about the apostasy of merging other religions into Christianity.helped me become who I am today. I started looking into Christian Wicca then." Then she says, "I followed the Wiccan Rede." That's their ethical principle that says you shouldn't harm anybody, "but also take the Ten Commandments to heart greatly. 'You shall not hold any gods before me.' This is one that people really don't get when it comes to my beliefs. I believe that there is only one true God, and that all other gods are part of the one. The Christian Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is also somewhat a reflection of this. I view it as god, goddess (or the feminine quality of God) and Jesus as all still being part of one being."Can you now see that we've got a big problem among our teens today?...The Sign of Apostasy: Merging Religions, The Christ in Prophecy Journal


False Prophets, Revival or Apostasy? Dave HuntFirst published in October 1997, To summarize, the scriptural warnings foretell the very delusion we find in our day: 1) a false signs and wonders movement led by many false prophets; 2) many being deceived through these seeming miracles; 3) the rejection of the biblical teaching concerning apostasy, and the insistence that we are in the midst of, or at least building up to, the "greatest revival in the history of the church." The promise of revival will be part of the last-days deception, Paul warns, so beware! Instead, in the days preceding the Rapture there will be a great apostasy, a falling away from the faith. Don't be part of it!

http://www.thebereancall.org/

Matthew 24:11, Many False Prophets NAU Matthew 24:11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.BGT Matthew 24:11 [ egeiro, to waken, to raise up] [4105, planao] 4105, planao, to cause to wanderdeceive leadsastraymislead

International Yoga Day Supported by 177 CountriesPrime Minister Narendra Modi might not be making history as the first Indian premier to visit Israel until the end of the year, but one of his passions will be saluted and highlighted in the countryyoga. The Indian Embassy is sponsoring a day of yoga on the first International Yoga Day, a day Modi pushed for when he delivered his maiden speech to the UN last September. For us in India, respect for nature is an integral part of spiritualism, he said. We treat natures bounties as sacred. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. Israel was one of 177 countries that supported the adoption of International Yoga Day. -www.jpost.com, 10 June 2015

Midnight Call, Inc.PO Box 84309 Lexington, SC 2907360481-800-845-2420

International Yoga Day Supported by 177 CountriesMidnight Call, The physical exercise, based on spiritualism, is marching victoriously over planet Earth. It is not unusual to see yoga classes advertised in church bulletins. In most cases, it is sold as a helpful, physical exercise. But is it really? As a source for additional insight on this practice, we offer Dave Hunts book Yoga and the Body of Christ (Item 2224). Whats interesting is that the opposition to yoga does not come from Christians, but from Muslims, While Modi, a daily yoga practitioner, had obviously hoped that this day would promote harmony, there has been push-back to some of the planned activities in India by segments of the countrys Muslim population, which sees it as an affront to its religious beliefs.


Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking, April 1, 2012, The Berean Call, thebereancall.orgQ&A, Question: Recently I joined a yoga class for fitness and relaxation. During the class, mantras are used. The teacher explained the meanings such as "all is truth." Is it wrong to participate in these mantras? Can I just substitute Christian words such as "Jesus"? Or should I not participate in the class at all? Everyone I have asked seems to think there is no problem with this but I feel uncomfortable and do not know why.Response:I am glad that you feel uncomfortable about being involved in yoga. Drop the class immediately! Yoga is the very heart of Hinduism. It is sold in the West as science but in fact is religion. It is promoted in the West as beneficial to health, but in the East it is a technique for dying. The goal is to reachmoksha, allegedly escaping the world of illusion (maya) of time and sense into liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth through reincarnationYoga is a sanskrit word that means "yoking" and refers to union with Brahman, the ultimate god in Hinduism. The goal of yoga is "self-realization," to realize thatatman, the individual soul, is identical with Brahman, the universal soul, i.e., that you and god are one; indeed, that you are god but just don't know it and need, through yoga, to discover this great "truth."Your yoga teacher will probably deny all of this, but he (or she) cannot deny that this practice comes from Hinduism. It was not invented in the West. Yoga was introduced by

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/august-1998-q-and-a-2 Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pages

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pagesLord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as the sure way to the Hindu heaven. Shiva, one of the most feared Hindu deities, known as The Destroyer, is addressed as Yogeshwara, which means "Lord of Yoga."

Hatha yoga, known as physical yoga, is alleged to be devoid of the mysticism in other forms. Not so. One of the most authoritative hatha yoga texts, the fifteenth-centuryHathayoga-Pradipika,declares that Lord Shiva was the first hatha yoga teacher. As for the mantras, if one of them means "all is truth," that should give you the pantheistic Hindu connection. You know that all is not truth; indeed, this very idea is a satanic lie!Substitute "Jesus" as your "Christian mantra"? No! Any mantra (like the Catholic rosary) violates Christ's command to "use not vain repetitions as the heathen" (Mt 6:7). I don't know what mantras you have been taught, but the fact is that true yoga mantras are all the names of Hindu gods. Furthermore, the greatest yoga teachers all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call to that god (i.e., the demon it represents) to come and possess the meditator. I have interviewed people who became demon possessed through yoga. The great yogis all warn of the grave dangers involved, even though at the same time they promote the alleged benefits.Yes, you could benefit physically from stretching your muscles, etc. However, the spiritual price you pay is not worth it. If you are interested in physical fitness, then practice exercises designed for that, not those designed specifically for achieving union with Brahman! [see alsoYoga and the Body of Christ]. http://www.thebereancall.org/content/august-1998-q-and-a-2

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/august-1998-q-and-a-2 Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pages

Yoga, compass.orgQUESTION FOR THE DAY Today is April 5, 2012Dear Compass, Is it wrong for a Christian to participate in Yoga classes? I've heard it both ways. Some say that it is participating in Eastern Mysticism. Some say that it is as harmless as eating Italian food and not becoming an Italian. I have never partaken, so I don't know what it is about, although I know that visualization is part of it. Couldn't someone just visualize about Jesus and heaven?ANSWER:Doing Yoga and visualizing Jesus is no different than accepting an invitation from Satan to an art class just because you wanted to learn how to draw. Christians shouldn't go near Yoga. Yoga is a form of meditation/prayer from Eastern Mysticism. It is one of the six major Hindu philosophical systems to be followed in order to obtain union (or Yoga) with the ultimate, the "Great," all-pervading "Soul." Practicing disciplined Yoga is believed to be the path to the realization of the good within, the "true self." The scriptural violations of Yoga are too

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pages

Yoga, compass.orgnumerous to list. In summary, Yoga is self-centered, not Christ-centered. Satan never says "Hey, you, worship this idol." Rather, he uses disguises, so as not to scare off those who are less mature in the Word of God. . . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. 2Corinthians 11:14-15 Some people claim they are just "stretching" and doing "breathing exercises." If this is what you are looking for, you should just take a stretch class. Too many non-Christians and immature Christians are sucked into full-blown Yoga under these same auspices. Their compromises may eventually cause them harm, or worse, lead them into a false faith. Keeping faith . . . which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 1Timothy 1:19 , [Matthew 12:43]

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pages

Deuteronomy 18:15A Prophet Like MeNAU Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.Who could that possibly be referring to?Not John the Baptist; NAU John 1:21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, No."NAU John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!NAU John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.NAU John 7:40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet."

Deuteronomy 18:15A Prophet Like MeUngers Commentary on the Old Testament, pg 257, lists seven ways that Moses was a type of Christ as Prophet;(1) His life was spared in infancy (Exodus 2:1 10; Matthew 2:1 23, (2) He emptied himself (Philippians 2:5 9), for he renounced a royal court to identify himself with his enslaved brothers, becoming a deliver and a savior (Ex. 2:1 15; 3:10 12). (3) He was faithful (Heb. 3:2), and full of compassion and love (Num. 27:17; Matt. 9:36)

Deuteronomy 18:15A Prophet Like Me(4) he spoke with God face-to-face, reflecting the divine glory (Exod. 34:33 34; Num. 12:8; 2 Cor. 3:7). (5) He was a mighty prophet in word and deed (Cf. Luke 24:19), a revealer of Gods will and purpose (6:1; Rev. 1:1). (6) He was a mediator of the covenant (29:1; Heb. 8:6-7). (7) he was the leader of the people (cf. Isa. 55:4)

Deuteronomy 18:20, False Prophets Would Die ThenNAU Deuteronomy 18:20 'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.If the theocratic Kingdom existed now, much of the religious broadcasting would not have speakers. Almost all of the cults and false religions would be without leaders.

Deuteronomy 18:22, Do Not Fear False ProphetsNAU Deuteronomy 18:22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.Turn on your TV and you can hear many false prophets.The biggest lie out there is evolution

Deuteronomy 18:22, Evolutionary Prediction Failshttp://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1You and I should be able to leap tall buildings or lift them.

Photo: Hero shrew. Courtesy of J.A. Allen, Herbet Lang, James Paul Chapin. (PD)

EVOLUTIONARY PREDICTION FAILS "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:22).

Deuteronomy 18:22, Evolutionary Prediction FailsIf man is the result of billions of years of evolution from the simplest of creatures, evolution predicts that man should have retained most, if not all, of the best abilities of those other creatures in his heritage. According to evolution, our ape-like ancestors had opposing toes, just as we have opposing thumbs. If we had retained those opposing toes, we could pick things up without bending over. The female chimp can pull 1,260 pounds with one arm. That would be a pretty handy facility. And then, there is the hero shrew of Uganda, just six inches long, but it can support the weight of a one hundred and sixty pound man on its back! Even the lowly snail can pull up to 200 times its own weight, and lift ten times its weight. Then what about the trilobite, right at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder and supposedly extinct for 300 million years? This little fellow had the most sophisticated eye lenses, actually double lenses, ever found in nature! Since all of these abilities would be greatly beneficial for us, why didn't evolution let us keep or develop these abilities as we evolved? The answer is simple. We have not evolved. Rather, we have been made by a Creator Who made us for the purpose of a relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1


Deuteronomy 19


Lets read Deuteronomy 19:1-13Cities Of Refuge, God lovingly provides for six cities of refuge.


Deuteronomy 19:1-13Cities Of RefugeGod is just, and so He provides for six cities of refuge where someone who unintentionally killed another could be safe, however they would no longer have peaceful possession of the land of their inheritance. For the NT Jews this provided an escape for them. Peter announced this refuge to them in Jesus Christ; NAU Acts 3:15-17 put to death the Prince of life,And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.For we gentiles this provides an escape for us also in God our refuge, Jesus Christ; NAU Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. [Acts 4:27]

Deuteronomy 19:1-13God is our City Of RefugeNAU Hebrews 6:18Godwe who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.NAU 2 Samuel 22:3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. [Isa 43:10-11, 1Cor. 10:4that Rock was Christ]NAU Psalm 18:2My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.NAU Zephaniah 3:12they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 19:11, MurderNAU Deuteronomy 19:11 "But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21Our Judicial System And LawsNAU Deuteronomy 19:15 "A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.Much of our judicial system and laws of evidence comes directly out of the book of Deuteronomy.The reason for capital punishment is given in; NAU Deuteronomy 19:20 "The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.

In conclusion

THEEND

Apostasy in Merging ReligionsDr. Ron Rhodes says, Let's talk about the apostasy of merging other religions into Christianity.Look at Christian Wicca. We are witnessing this merger primarily among our teens today. This involves a blending of witchcraft and Christianity. One young Christian Wiccan teenage girl said, "I started studying the bookEarth Powerwhich is by Witch Scott Cunningham, and I started to dabble in some of its practices and a few others. I purchasedThe Craftby Dorothy Morrison andWicca a Guide for the Solitary Practitionerby Cunningham. I found myself in a faith that I could truly hold dear to my heart." How deceived!She did say, "I did however feel somewhat empty still. Jesus had been a part of my life for almost three years and has helped me become who I am today. I started looking into Christian Wicca then." Then she says, "I followed the Wiccan Rede." That's their ethical principle that says you shouldn't harm anybody, "but also take the Ten Commandments to heart greatly. 'You shall not hold any gods before me.' This is one that people really don't get when it comes to my beliefs. I believe that there is only one true God, and that all other gods are part of the one. The Christian Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is also somewhat a reflection of this. I view it as god, goddess (or the feminine quality of God) and Jesus as all still being part of one being."Can you now see that we've got a big problem among our teens today?...The Sign of Apostasy: Merging Religions, The Christ in Prophecy Journal


Deuteronomy 18:22, Evolutionary Prediction FailsIf man is the result of billions of years of evolution from the simplest of creatures, evolution predicts that man should have retained most, if not all, of the best abilities of those other creatures in his heritage. According to evolution, our ape-like ancestors had opposing toes, just as we have opposing thumbs. If we had retained those opposing toes, we could pick things up without bending over. The female chimp can pull 1,260 pounds with one arm. That would be a pretty handy facility. And then, there is the hero shrew of Uganda, just six inches long, but it can support the weight of a one hundred and sixty pound man on its back! Even the lowly snail can pull up to 200 times its own weight, and lift ten times its weight. Then what about the trilobite, right at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder and supposedly extinct for 300 million years? This little fellow had the most sophisticated eye lenses, actually double lenses, ever found in nature! Since all of these abilities would be greatly beneficial for us, why didn't evolution let us keep or develop these abilities as we evolved? The answer is simple. We have not evolved. Rather, we have been made by a Creator Who made us for the purpose of a relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.

http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/evolutionary-prediction-fails-1


False Prophets, Revival or Apostasy? Dave HuntFeature Article - Dave HuntRevival or Apostasy?Knowing that we are in the last of the last days, with an imminent Rapture a very real hope, our thoughts often (and indeed should) turn to the signs that Christ said would herald the nearness of His return. The signs that are most widely cited include "wars and rumours of wars...[when] nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...and...famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes...these are the beginning of sorrows" (Mt 24:6-8). Unquestionably, these specific "sorrows" have been both prominent and accelerating since Israel again became a nation in 1948. Since that time, the intensity and frequency of these signs have increased like the birth pangs of a woman approaching her time of delivery, exactly as Christ foretold. However, the first sign that Christ gave has been largely overlooked and His solemn warning neglected: And Jesus answered and said...Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many....And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many....For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Mt 24:4,5,11,24) [Emphasis added.] Concern for this prophesied deception has marked this ministry. Let us take a closer look at the religious deception that Christ foretold. He issued a warning: "Take heed [beware] that no man deceive you." Its seriousness is emphasized by being thrice stated. Its nature is specified: false Christs, false prophets, and false signs and wonders. His repetition four times of the word "many" indicates a worldwide deception of multitudes. Paul issued a similar warning: "Let no man deceive you by any means...." He explains that the spiritual deception to which Christ referred will infect the professing church. That is evident from his words "falling away," or apostasy: For that day [of the Lord] shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin [Antichrist] be revealed, the son of perdition." (2 Thes 2:3) Although a true Christian cannot fall away, a false Christian can. Fall away from what? From the faith in Christ that he or she has outwardly professed without inward reality. Those few apostates who announce themselves as atheists or convert to Buddhism or Hinduism are not the concern of Christ and Paul in this verse. They are warning of a turning from the truth within the professing church. Other scriptures confirm this, as we shall see. Paul warns us not to be deceived into thinking that the apostasy won't come. It must. Such a warning can mean only that in the last days many will reject the biblical teaching that apostasy is inevitable. The false prophets to whom Christ refers will use their signs and wonders to support their false teaching that revival, not apostasy, is underway. Paul therefore warns us not to be deceived with talk about revival: the apostasy must come, or Christ will not return! False signs and wonders will be an integral part of the apostasy. The departure from the truth will be spearheaded by apparent miracle workers, and the delusion will be made possible by a prevailing emphasis upon experience over doctrine: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Tm 4:3). Christ declares, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mt 7:22-23) These apostates of whom Christ speaks do not lose their salvation; they were never saved ("I never knew you"). Yet they are high-profile Christian leaders apparently performing signs and wonders in the name of Christ. Tragically, they seem to think that their ability to prophesy and to perform wonders proves that they belong to Him. The signs and wonders are so impressive that doctrine no longer matters - exactly what we see today! Surely these of whom Christ speaks in Matthew 7 must be the same "false Christs and false prophets" to whom He refers in Matthew 24. Moreover, the signs and wonders they are able to perform are apparently so impressive that without discernment by the Holy Spirit even the very elect would be deceived by them. Obviously, something more than mere trickery is involved. These miracle workers are backed by the power of Satan, whom they unwittingly serve in the name of the Lord. The Bible clearly predicts a last-days signs and wonders movement - but it will be of Satan, and thus a delusion that will deceive many. After a solemn warning that in the last days "perilous times [not revival!] shall come," Paul makes this remarkable statement: Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these [apostates] also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Tm 3:8) Jannes and Jambres were the magicians in Pharaoh's court who, through the power of Satan, duplicated (up to a point) the miracles that God did through Moses and Aaron. Paul thus declares that the last-days opposition to the truth will not come so much from outside the church but from those within who are reprobate concerning the faith: depraved men who corrupt the truth. And they do so by performing apparent miracles in Christ's name some of which (when more than mere trickery) are actually of Satan. In that way, they deceive and lead many astray - not out of the church but into false doctrine and thus a false hope within the church. Satan has no more effective tactic to damn souls! Such [deception] involving the whole gamut of today's revival scene must be seriously faced! Videos of the services show people crawling on the floor, howling like wolves, barking like dogs, roaring like lions, going through bodily contortions impossible without the aid of some spiritual power, unable to speak or even remember their names when they try to give a testimony - and worse. Many of those being baptized seem to lose consciousness or shake so violently that they must be carried out of the baptismal tank or they would drown. Others flail about so wildly as to require several men to handle them. That such things could now be widely accepted as evidence of the Holy Spirit can only testify to the depths of the delusion! Jude exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Contend against whom? Surely not primarily against godless enemies outside the church. The warning concerns those within: "For there are certain men crept in unawares" (v. 4). Crept in can only mean inside the church. Paul confirms Jude in addressing the Ephesian elders: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). The spiritual deception of which Christ warned would be rampant within the church. In further confirmation, Christ warned His disciples that "the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (Jn 16:2) - a most remarkable prophecy. He can't be referring to the slaughter of Christians by the Caesars or by Mao or Stalin or Hitler, for they did not believe they were thereby serving God. Yes, when the Jews of Jesus' day killed the early Christians, they thought they were serving God; so did the Roman Catholics when they slaughtered the true Christians before and after the Reformation; and so it was when Muslims killed Christians. But none of this was the complete fulfillment of Christ's prophecy. "Whosoever" is the key. Neither the Pharisees, the popes, nor the Muslims were alone in killing Christians. Others pursued them to the death at the same time. But Christ is saying that a time is coming when whosoever (in other words, everyone) who kills Christians will think he is serving God thereby. That can only mean that a world religion to which everyone must belong is coming, a religion that will seek to exterminate true Christians in the name of God. John saw the same scene in the future: And it was given unto him [Antichrist] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them....And I beheld another beast...he exerciseth all the power of the first beast...and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast....And he had power to...cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Rv 13:7-15) To summarize, the scriptural warnings foretell the very delusion we find in our day: 1) a false signs and wonders movement led by many false prophets; 2) many being deceived through these seeming miracles; 3) the rejection of the biblical teaching concerning apostasy, and the insistence that we are in the midst of, or at least building up to, the "greatest revival in the history of the church." The promise of revival will be part of the last-days deception, Paul warns, so beware! Instead, in the days preceding the Rapture there will be a great apostasy, a falling away from the faith. Don't be part of it! That we must earnestly contend for the faith against those who have crept into the church implies that the battle is not so much one of faith against unbelief, but rather of true faith against false faith. And that, too, is precisely what we see today. Articles in leading medical journals cite studies showing that those who have any "religious faith" are more likely to recover from illness. Christianity Today ran a major article navely promoting these studies as though they were supportive of the truth.1 Thus God has been reduced to a placebo that can come in any shape, size, or color. Multitudes of Christians imagine that faith is believing that what they are praying for will happen and that if they truly believe, they will have whatever they ask. Obviously, if things happen because one believes they will, then one doesnt need God. This is mind power, not the faith in God that Christ taught (Mk 11:22).... The topic on everyone's lips and mind today is revival. Christian TV and radio and best-selling books persuasively argue that we are in the midst of the greatest revival of Christianity in the history of the world....It comes as a shock to many to learn that the word "revival" does not appear even once in the entire King James Bible. The hope of revival, which excites so many today, is not even a biblical concept. Ask yourself a few questions: Is Christ not indwelling us? Is He not in our midst each time we meet? Are we not to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times? Is not the Word of God sufficient? Why, then, run after signs and wonders as though unusual manifestations prove that God is at work while neglecting what God has already given us? In the meantime, undertake a study to see what the Bible says. Check every source (including TBC) against Scripture! Be a Berean. TBC First published in October 1997 ENDNOTESChristianity Today (Jan. 6, 1997), 20-30.An Afterword from T. A. McMahonIn the eighteen years since Dave wrote the above article, the apostasy has intensified in ways that are mind numbing. I write this from the perspective of one who worked with Dave for more than three decades and learned from him how to discern trends that are taking hold in the church, drawing both professing and even true Christians away from the Word of God. I remember that just three years following our book The Seduction of Christianity: Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days (1985) we were astonished by how much worse things had become, spiritually, during that short time. But that was then. Today seems like light years (or "dark years") away. At that time, the New Age was dawning. Today we have "Christian" yoga practiced in church sanctuaries. Back then, evangelical leaders were dialoguing with Roman Catholic leaders; today Lent, Ash Wednesday, and the sacred Catholic ritual of the Stations of the Cross have become popular among "Protestants." In those days, Christian youth were mostly being entertained in their fellowships; now they are being led into emergent contemplative and social gospel ideas. Then, the cults were making headway; today cultic teachings abound throughout Christendom. Then, "Christian" psychology was infecting the church; now, that pseudo-science has contaminated "biblical" counseling. Bible studies (where the Bible was actually studied) and prayer meetings were then rare; currently, books by popular Christian authors have displaced Scripture completely, and prayer has turned into "Lord, give me..." sessions. Back then, faith was being turned into a "force"; today, rare is the Christian who can tell you what biblical faith even is. False prophets used to be found primarily on "Christian" TV; now they proliferate on bestseller lists and head up prosperous "non-profit" organizations. We used to see TV preachers encouraging greed; currently, they sell survival food that they promote through fear-mongering techniques. We are in those days characterized by Scripture as ones in which the church "will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Tm 4:3). Discernment has all but disappeared. The only antidote lies in the Word - diligence in studying it, reading it, and obeying it by the Spirit. The most common request we receive here at TBC is: "Please help me to find a biblically sound church in my area." Sadly, we can't help them. Not because there are no such churches but because we don't know where any church will stand doctrinally even tomorrow. It grieves us to see what we once believed to be solid churches become "purpose driven" or Calvinist almost overnight. We counsel believers to be Bereans when looking for a place to fellowship. Seek out leaders, however imperfect, who truly want to feed God's sheep according to His Word.QuotableI am only an ordinary man. I have no special gifts. I am no orator, no scholar, no profound thinker. If I have done anything for Christ and my generation, it is because I have given myself entirely to Christ Jesus, and then tried to do whatever He wanted me to do. - F. B. Meyer

http://www.thebereancall.org/

YogaInternational Yoga Day Supported by 177 Countries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi might not be making history as the first Indian premier to visit Israel until the end of the year, but one of his passions will be saluted and highlighted in the countryyoga. The Indian Embassy is sponsoring a day of yoga on the first International Yoga Day, a day Modi pushed for when he delivered his maiden speech to the UN last September. For us in India, respect for nature is an integral part of spiritualism, he said. We treat natures bounties as sacred. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. Israel was one of 177 countries that supported the adoption of International Yoga Day.-www.jpost.com, 10 June 2015

The physical exercise, based on spiritualism, is marching victoriously over planet Earth. It is not unusual to see yoga classes advertised in church bulletins. In most cases, it is sold as a helpful, physical exercise. But is it really? As a source for additional insight on this practice, we offer Dave Hunts book Yoga and the Body of Christ (Item 2224). Whats interesting is that the opposition to yoga does not come from Christians, but from Muslims, While Modi, a daily yoga practitioner, had obviously hoped that this day would promote harmony, there has been push-back to some of the planned activities in India by segments of the countrys Muslim population, which sees it as an affront to its religious beliefs.6048


Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pagesApril 1, 2012, The Berean Call [email protected] viathebereancall.ccsenQ&AQuestion: Recently I joined a yoga class for fitness and relaxation. During the class, mantras are used. The teacher explained the meanings such as "all is truth." Is it wrong to participate in these mantras? Can I just substitute Christian words such as "Jesus"? Or should I not participate in the class at all? Everyone I have asked seems to think there is no problem with this but I feel uncomfortable and do not know why.Response:I am glad that you feel uncomfortable about being involved in yoga. Drop the class immediately! Yoga is the very heart of Hinduism. It is sold in the West as science but in fact is religion. It is promoted in the West as beneficial to health, but in the East it is a technique for dying. The goal is to reachmoksha, allegedly escaping the world of illusion (maya) of time and sense into liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth through reincarnation.The latter is another of Satan's appealing lies that offers endless chances by denying God's declaration that it is "appointed unto man once to die" (Heb 9:27). Many Roman Catholic priests and nuns practice yoga, and some who have become deeply involved in Eastern mysticism of various kinds, such as Thomas Merton, are highly honored among Catholics.Yoga is a sanskrit word that means "yoking" and refers to union with Brahman, the ultimate god in Hinduism. The goal of yoga is "self-realization," to realize thatatman, the individual soul, is identical with Brahman, the universal soul, i.e., that you and god are one; indeed, that you are god but just don't know it and need, through yoga, to discover this great "truth."Your yoga teacher will probably deny all of this, but he (or she) cannot deny that this practice comes from Hinduism. It was not invented in the West. Yoga was introduced by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as the sure way to the Hindu heaven. Shiva, one of the most feared Hindu deities, known as The Destroyer, is addressed as Yogeshwara, which means "Lord of Yoga."Hatha yoga, known as physical yoga, is alleged to be devoid of the mysticism in other forms. Not so. One of the most authoritative hatha yoga texts, the fifteenth-centuryHathayoga-Pradipika,declares that Lord Shiva was the first hatha yoga teacher. As for the mantras, if one of them means "all is truth," that should give you the pantheistic Hindu connection. You know that all is not truth; indeed, this very idea is a satanic lie!Substitute "Jesus" as your "Christian mantra"? No! Any mantra (like the Catholic rosary) violates Christ's command to "use not vain repetitions as the heathen" (Mt 6:7). I don't know what mantras you have been taught, but the fact is that true yoga mantras are all the names of Hindu gods. Furthermore, the greatest yoga teachers all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call to that god (i.e., the demon it represents) to come and possess the meditator. I have interviewed people who became demon possessed through yoga. The great yogis all warn of the grave dangers involved, even though at the same time they promote the alleged benefits.Yes, you could benefit physically from stretching your muscles, etc. However, the spiritual price you pay is not worth it. If you are interested in physical fitness, then practice exercises designed for that, not those designed specifically for achieving union with Brahman!One of the most popular forms of yoga in the West is Transcendental Meditation (TM). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at first introduced TM to the West as a Hindu religious practice. He openly taught that its purpose was to produce in the meditators' bodies "soma," a legendary substance that would allegedly feed and awaken the pantheon of Hindu gods. But when TM was excluded from public schools and government funding, Maharishi quickly and dishonestly deleted all reference to religion and began presenting TM as pure science. Such deliberate deceit says much about Maharishi's integrity. Nothing was changed except the labels.Former TMers have filed lawsuits asking millions of dollars in damages because of the traumas they suffered through the practice of TM. More recently, TM has practically taken over the town of Fairfield, Iowa, where Maharishi University of Management is located.The latest push in the promotion of TM comes from television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz. This protg of Oprah Winfrey is a national spokesman for Transcendental Meditation, as well as being a medical advisor/teacher in Rick Warren's "Daniel Plan," an alleged biblical health and fitness program begun at Saddleback Church. The curriculum features occult meditation advocated by Oz and two other medical consultants [see alsoYoga and the Body of Christ].

QUESTION FOR THE DAY Today is April 5, 2012Dear Compass, Is it wrong for a Christian to participate in Yoga classes? I've heard it both ways. Some say that it is participating in Eastern Mysticism. Some say that it is as harmless as eating Italian food and not becoming an Italian. I have never partaken, so I don't know what it is about, although I know that visualization is part of it. Couldn't someone just visualize about Jesus and heaven?

ANSWER:Doing Yoga and visualizing Jesus is no different than accepting an invitation from Satan to an art class just because you wanted to learn how to draw. Christians shouldn't go near Yoga. Yoga is a form of meditation/prayer from Eastern Mysticism. It is one of the six major Hindu philosophical systems to be followed in order to obtain union (or Yoga) with the ultimate, the "Great," all-pervading "Soul." Practicing disciplined Yoga is believed to be the path to the realization of the good within, the "true self." The scriptural violations of Yoga are too numerous to list. In summary, Yoga is self-centered, not Christ-centered. Satan never says "Hey, you, worship this idol." Rather, he uses disguises, so as not to scare off those who are less mature in the Word of God. . . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. 2Corinthians 11:14-15 Why look to Satan for your answer when God has already given you the answer? . . . whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 God wants you to ask Him for help in every area. You have, incredibly, direct access to the God of the universewhy go anywhere else? . . . let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 . . . casting all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you. 1Peter 5:7 Some people claim they are just "stretching" and doing "breathing exercises." If this is what you are looking for, you should just take a stretch class. Too many non-Christians and immature Christians are sucked into full-blown Yoga under these same auspices. Their compromises may eventually cause them harm, or worse, lead them into a false faith. Keeping faith . . . which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 1Timothy 1:19 *********************** Additional thoughts on yoga: My pastor took a side-journey during his message a couple of weeks ago with a piece of commentary on yoga that I thought was worth passing on. He mentioned that one of the first things they teach you in yoga is to empty your mind and he tied that to the following scripture in Matthew 12 (I bolded and underlined the key word empty 43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.

About Compass...

David L. Kooyers, Yoga is a sanskrit word that means yoking.pages

When the Lord your God will enlarge your borders, as He has sworn to your forefathers, and will give you theentireland which He has promised to give to your ancestors.DEUTERONOMY (19:8)Shabbat InspirationIn this week's Bible portion, Deut. 16-21, we read Parshat Shoftim which discusses the restrictions placed by the Torah on a king of Israel. The restrictions are all meant to remind the leadership of the true source of Israels strength - God above. Our political leaders would do well to follow the guidelines for the kings of Israel, to ensure their righteousness and the absence of corruption in their kingdom.Today's JerusalemPhotoToday's photo by Yehuda Poch shows a great shot of the Israeli Knesset taken from the Jerusalem Rose Graden. Therein many laws are decided upon

Deuteronomy 19:21 Leviticus 24 Exodus 21 tooth for toothhttp://www.lonang.com/curriculum/4/s42.htmDeuteronomy 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.Exodus 21:24 tooth for tooth, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

http://www.lonang.com/curriculum/4/s42.htm

Leviticus 2:1-8, Astonishing: Oldest Biblical Text Since Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered in IsraelJERUSALEM American and Israeli archaeologists and researchers have announced that they have deciphered what they believe is the oldest biblical text discovered since the finding of the Dead Sea scrolls.This is a really big discovery, Pnina Shor, curator at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said during a press conference on Monday.The charred 1,500 year-old parchment had been discovered in 1970 among the remains of the ancient Ein Gedi synogogue, located on the shore of the Dead Sea. David had once sought refuge in the caves of Ein Gedi when he was being hunted by King Saul.However, at the time, forensics could not decipher script on the scroll. But now, through the use of medical and digital technology, it has been found that the parchment contains the first eight verses of the second chapter of the Book of Leviticus.The most advanced technologies allowed us to virtually unroll a scroll, part of a bible, from about 1,500 years ago, Shor said.According to reports, the Israeli medical company Merkel Technologies had volunteered to use its micro-CT scanner to obtain 3D scans of the parchment. The scans were then sent to the University of Kentucky, where professor Brent Seales assisted with providing further images using the universitys digital imaging software.The Israel Antiquities Authoritys Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem then worked to decipher the text on the parchment fragment, and noted that it contained biblical text.Connect with Christian NewsWe need to compare this material with on the one hand the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is few centuries younger and the Aleppo codex which is four centuries later, Shor stated. So in that sense, its unbelievable. And this is why I said with all the excitement of working with these Dead Sea scrolls that was astonishing.The entire Ein Gedi settlement is believed to have been destroyed by fire during the Byzantine Period, and none of those who fled returned to salvage any items that might have been buried in the rubble. In addition to the parchment, a bronze menorah and over 3,000 coins were found in the remains of the city 40 years ago.

The fragment was stated to have been found inside of an ark, which was one of the most holy places inside of the synagogue. Shor believes that the scroll likely consisted of the entire Torah at one time.

The discovery absolutely astonished us. We were certain it was just a shot in the dark, but decided to try and scan the burnt scroll anyway, she said during the press conference. Now, not only can we bequeath the Dead Sea Scrolls to future generations, but also a part of the Bible from a Holy Ark of a 1,500-year-old synagogue.

Reports state that the translation of the text on the scroll did not differ from the Book of Leviticus found in Bibles today.

Astonishing': Oldest Biblical Text Since Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered in IsraelJuly 23, 2015 | Filed under: Science,Top Stories,World | By: Heather Clark 8233 63 10 8369 Scrollhttp://christiannews.net/2015/07/23/oldest-biblical-text-since-dead-sea-scrolls-discovered-in-israel/