Bible Believers' Newsletter #082
"We focus on the PRESENT Truth -- what Jesus is doing NOW . . ."
Once again whilst grace abounds, we greet you in the wonderful Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and appreciate your fellowship.
This newsletter serves those of like precious faith. "Whomsoever will receive the truth" is welcome to feed their soul from the waters of the River of Life. Everything presented should be confirmed personally in your own Bible.
An especial welcome to our new Subscribers . . . Brother Anthony
Collection of "Jesus Coins" Found
JERUSALEM (AP) -- A trove of rare, thousand-year-old coins bearing the likeness of Jesus has been discovered in an area of the Holy Land that was predominantly Muslim at the time.
The 58 "Jesus coins'' -- the largest such collection uncovered to date -- were among thousands of bronze items discovered last October at an archaeological site near the Sea of Galilee, Hebrew University professor Yizhar Hirschfeld said Wednesday.
"It's a treasure, there's nothing like it in the whole world," said Gila Hurvitz, the curator and designer of the exhibit, now on display at the university's archaeological school. "He hit the jackpot."
Some of the uneven, blue-green coins show Jesus standing with a cross behind him, others have him sitting on a throne; another is a depiction of Jesus' face. The Greek inscriptions read "Jesus the Messiah, the King of Kings," or "Jesus, the Messiah, the Victor.''
Another 24 coins from the Byzantine period depict Emperor Constantine X and Michael VII.
Together, the 82 coins are the only items among the thousands that are inscribed in Greek; others bear blessings written in the ancient square-like Kufic Arabic script.
Three large jugs were discovered in Tiberias, filled to the hilt with treasures -- coins, broken pottery, oil lamps, candelabras, tweezers, half a pair of scissors and a single blue glass vase -- dating to between the 10th and 11th centuries, when the Fatimid empire ruled Palestine.
They were hidden underground, untouched for a thousand years until October 1998, when Hirschfeld directed a 'rescue' excavation -- a dig required by law before major construction takes place. He never dreamed that he would unearth the largest cache of Islamic period objects ever uncovered in Israel.
"It was an excavation without any expectations," Hirschfeld said.
Workers on the dig applauded and cheered when the jugs were uncovered.
The owner, likely a collector or a dealer, may have buried two of the vases for fear of theft or invasion from Christian Crusaders, Hirschfeld said. The third and largest vase was used as a safe, Hirschfeld said, because it was hidden from view, but was easily accessed through a hole in the wall.
The Crusaders, on a bloody mission to claim the Holy Land for the pope, invaded and destroyed ancient Tiberias at the end of the 11th century.
"So among all this Muslim-Arabic atmosphere, here they are, a Christian holy of holiness, Jesus," Hurvitz said.
The only other "Jesus coins'' ever found were located through dealers.
Researchers believe the coins were used as currency during the Fatimid period by Christians seeking to evangelize Muslims. (SALAM ABUMARAQ Associated Press Writer)
Signs: "As it Was in The Days of Lot"
It was announced this week that the Anglican Church in England have lifted their ban on homosexuals adopting children.
WHO'S AFTER GOLD NOW?
There has been enormous speculation why Central Banks such as the Bank of England are suddenly dumping hundreds of tonnes of gold onto the open market, artificially depressing gold prices. As one writer to The Australian Financial Review (July 1, 1999) pointed out, current demand for gold world-wide is running at 4,000 tonnes annually, while production is 2,500 tonnes.
Tongue-in-cheek but without comment we reprint this article by Ohad Gozani in Tel Aviv from the London Daily Telegraph (July 21, 1999).
EXTREMISTS RAISE FUNDS TO REBUILD TEMPLE
"Jewish extremists are raising funds to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, replacing the al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques, it was reported yesterday."
"The fund-raising plan called the 'Temple Treasure Trove' was launched at a secret meeting at a Jerusalem hotel several weeks ago," the Haaretz newspaper said.
"The al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock on Jerusalem's Temple Mount rank among Islam's three most important shrines. Two Jewish temples stood at the site. It is believed that the first was destroyed by Babylonians and the second by the Romans."
"The last vestige of the Temple, the Western Wall on the Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism."
"Several Jewish groups in Israel, some backed by Christian evangelists, have studied the possibility of rebuilding the Temple at the traditional site, preparing detailed construction plans."
"Using biblical accounts, they also reconstructed holy vessels and garments to be worn during renewed services in the building."
"Yehuda Etzion, a key activist, said: 'It is incumbent on the people of Israel to re-establish the Temple."
" All the monies and property turned over to the Treasure will be used to buy gold bullion, which will be used for rebuilding the Temple in all its aspects'." (J.L.)
Shopping for Religion
The Law delivered through Moses was a shadow cast from the future reality of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17, "Let no man criticize you for what you eat or drink, for not celebrating Jewish holidays and feasts, new moons and Sabbath days: which foreshadowed things to come; whereas the reality that cast the shadow is found in Christ."
The gnostic peril (intellectualism) that threatened the Colossians had a Judaistic complexion and Paul found it necessary to repel efforts being made to bring Christians under the dominion of Jewish ceremonies. God's grace and man's faith are the supreme requirements for salvation and new birth. Paul's specific warning is against becoming involved in a series of ceremonies as a means of completing the work of Christ.
This warning needs to be sounded once again, because I see men who claim to be Christians and following this end-time Message, which IS Christ, inviting Jewish Rabbis to address their congregations. Can you imagine a Christian inviting a pantheistic Talmudic Jew before his congregation? A man who believes all manner of immoral filth and whose own writings are gross carnality and anti-Christ? These Rabbis are almost certainly self-styled Khazar Jews, not related to Abraham, Isaac and/or Jacob, with no claim to the Covenants God made with Moses and Abraham, possibly even physical Serpent's seed and not redeemable.
Jesus told Peter, "Wait until AFTER you are converted before you start teaching" (Luke 22:32). "I will send you only when you are full of the Spirit as the Father sent Me when I was full of the Spirit" (John 20:21). Brother Branham taught us, "No man has any right to preach until he has met the Pillar of Fire' or been born-again, and is an elder.
Paul spoke regarding the end-time, likening certain ministers to Jannes and Jambres who impersonated Moses' ministry, calling them seducers, ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth of Brother Branham's Message. But he said "their folly shall be manifest unto all men" (II Timothy 3:1-13).
Why would Christian ministers want to identify with apostate Jews? Have they run out of revelation to share with their people? What is this speculation about the Ark of the Covenant being discovered? It was only a shadow of Christ Who is the Oracle of God, the bread from heaven, and Aaron's rod that was dead and returned to life, bringing forth abundant fruit. When Israel is restored they won't care a jot about the Ark of the Covenant or the Temple. They won't visit it; neither give it a thought (Jeremiah 3:16).
There is talk about water flowing from beneath the Temple mount. I don't know, maybe it is. A certain Jew quoting Ezekiel, tied this to the restoration of the Temple. He has his Temples confused, and true to form, has his hand out for Gentile money. But Ezekiel's Temple is not situated in Jerusalem but in Shiloh, and will not be on earth until the Millennium.
Other folk are entranced by red heifers, collecting gold for the manufacture of a manorah and utensils for the Temple, training boys as priests, even raising "holy" children untouched by human hands since delivery from the womb. Why? Brother Branham said NO Israelite knows to which Tribe he belongs. Jewish encyclopaedias and Encyclopaedia Britannica declare most Jews wholly unrelated to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, being Ashkenazim (Khazars) or Sephardim (Canaanites). And according to the Talmud and the Bible, unrelated even to Adam.
If God told Brother Branham "Stay away from Israel", and he was a prophet, He's not going to give us a ministry to Israel. Paul and Hosea, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Moses and the rest of them said "Israel is BLINDED until the Gentile dispensation is FULFILLED". Then God will send two Hebrew prophets to deal with them IN the Promised Land.
Oh, and there have been some British Israelite discerners around, impersonating Israel. Trying to steal Jacob's birthright like the Khazar and Edomite Jews. Brothers, God doesn't deal with Israel outside their place of rest, the Promised Land. Any Israelite outside Palestine is outside the Covenant he claims. He's an hypocrite who can't even celebrate his Sabbath day. Likewise, any one claiming Christianity but living outside the Word for THIS day has never entered his Place of his rest, Christ. He is an hypocrite and outside the Covenant he claims. Brother Branham who was a vindicated prophet said, "There is nothing to British Israel theology". Their folly is also made manifest to men.
Millions of dollars and many missionaries are in the field working to convert the non-Jewish people of Cain's lineage to the Gospel, undergoing persecutions and being imprisoned because of their lack of faith and disobedience to God's Word. God set enmity, that's "hatred" between Cain's people and Adam's race. Jesus said "In the days of the Voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God should be finished". If It IS finished, why is the so-called Bride trying to convert the children of this world? It's impossible. They have NO acceptable kinsman to redeem them. Jesus Christ is the Last Adam, NOT the second Cain!
Furthermore, the end-time evangelism is NOT "Go into heathendom and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), but to call those who THINK they are Christians already out of heathenism -- Babylon and her harlot daughters, Protestantism (so-called) (Revelation 18:4).
Brother Branham said, "If one can't receive the revelation of the true ONENESS of the Godhead -- NOT Trinitarianism, Unitarianism or "Jesus Only", Scriptural water baptism, and the Original Sin (that caused Eve's adultery with the incarnate Serpent) -- just walk away from them. The election is off".
If you claim you have the revelation of the Serpent's seed you'll who they are. If you don't know, how can you have the revelation? If you can't receive that revelation, get out of the pulpit! Leave the mission field! Without faith it is impossible to serve God. Your folly is made manifest!
It is time to remind ourselves of Paul's warning against becoming involved in a series of ceremonies as a means of completing the work of Christ. Cutting corner stones for Temples, collecting gold and sending preachers to Israel. These are self-works contrary to the Word!
What have all these carnal WORKS to do with Christianity, or even Scripture? If they show one thing, they manifest the folly of many in Message circles who are not born-again. The revelation is not in the hearts of these well-intentioned people. To be a minister with a big congregation is NOT altogether a good sign. And by the evidence of their fruit they are not born-again. Neither are their people who write foolish letters of gratitude to apostate Rabbis and support mission work among the children of Cain. If they had an ounce of Holy Spirit they'd be run for their eternal Life.
Instead of laws on stone and paper, the anointed Word is engraved in the heart of Christ's Body, the Church. The substance that cast the shadow seen in the Law and declared by the prophets, is Christ, and that substance or reality is being made manifest in His Bride or saints in this end-time. Brother Branham called this phenomenon "the Token or evidence of the Life of Christ on display in you". Paul said "It is Christ IN you, the hope of resurrection in a glorified body".
Unfortunately the carnal works outlined above demonstrate very few among us have the mind of Christ. Their lives are not "written epistles of His mind in them", but expressions of their own ideas. Come the end of the dispensation when the Sons of God will be made manifest, they'll find their ideas are earthbound and will not fly away with the saints.
On the positive side, let each of us take this warning to make our election and calling sure while grace still abounds.
God is only redeeming His Own Word. The Body of Christ is His Word made manifest in the living saints. "For we are dead and our Life is hid with Christ in God. So when Christ Who is our Life is made manifest in us by the Token (or His Life) on display, then we know we are born-again and already seated in heavenly places" (the Word for THIS hour) (Colossians 3:3-4). We must BECOME God's Word for OUR day living what It says through OUR flesh. Only then will He take us Home.
Paul expressed himself a little differently in Romans 8:30. "All whom God predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son (the Word or Logos), He also called: and whom He called, He also justified: and those whom He justified He sees already glorified". Nothing can prevent God's elect from fulfilling His foreknowledge of how they should choose to exercise their own free moral agency. It must come to pass. As we are already dead to sin, we cannot go back to living our own life. It is NO more. We must now live a new Life which is eternally hidden or concealed with Christ in God.
This brings us to the exciting part. We see the visions of Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7 and Revelation 4 and 5 all describe the same revelation at different stages of its unfolding. Moses also saw It on Mount Sinai. It portrayed God's foreknowledge of all of His redeemed, and symbolised the way back into His Presence which Moses and Solomon represented in the construction, furniture and ritual of the Tabernacle and Temple. Around the throne sat twenty four elders, and before Christ the multitude of the Bride or true Church of all Ages ministered as they prepared to judge the world: the ten thousand times ten thousand (I Corinthians 6:2). Each vision expresses the same scene of the final judgment.
"So when Christ who is OUR eternal Life (Gk. Zoe) shall appear or manifest His true character IN us (Gk. phaneroo), which is our new birth, or "the Token on display, you shall also become known or recognized (Gk. phaneroo -- NOT kangaroo, or Jap. "kangaloo") in the magnificent blessings of the Kingdom (Gk. doxa) at that time" (Colossians 3:4). In other words, you will see YOUR part in the vision God revealed to the prophets. It's a consolation you will manifest the Sons of God and be in the translation.
At the present time our union with Christ in God is an inner experience; soon it will come to full and open manifestation. But not a public display as the Supernatural was manifested to the Laodicean Church Age (1906-1993). That was only to attract their attention and gather a mixed multitude of "believers" to witness a Message God would declare through His Prophet. Sadly, the folly of the Pentecostals was made manifest when they took the Gifts but rejected the Giver and shut Him outside their churches (Revelation 3:20).
The open manifestation of our union with Christ will be expressed in order to furnish all of our necessities when we declare them in the manifestation of the Sons of God. It will not be done before the world: their time of repentance will have passed. It will be to build faith in the Bride to change in the atoms and step from this physical dimension into the unseen.
This is the end of man's day when the saints are preparing to pass from the shadow of this sad world without physical death into the reality of glorification and the eternal Land of the Millennium. nl082.htm
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Brother Anthony Grigor-Scott is a non-denominational minister. He has ministered full-time since 1981, primarily to other ministers and their congregations in various countries. He pastors Bible Believers' tiny congregation, and is available to minister in your church.
For Further Information Contact:
Bible Believers' Church
Currabubula, NSW 2342, Australia
e-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/