The False "Church System" Deception

President Trump, current events and the BIble

Why the 7 Year Tribulation Didn't Begin

When Many Said It Would, and

What This Most Likely Means for Us

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

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It's been all over the propaganda-spewing TV, dish and cable networks on a continuous basis ever since Donald Trump took office. Allegations of Russian collusion to allegedly hack the 2016 presidential election, accusations of incompetence on Trump's part, not to mention allegedly crooked or unethical business dealings and even being “nothing short of treasonous”, as CIA senior official John Brennan said recently. The thing I'm seeing about president Trump is what numerous others are overlooking, or probably ignoring in some of those cases. When he met Kim Jung Un at Singapore, some predicted it would lead to world war 3. No such thing has happened, at least not so far. When Trump met Russian president Putin at Helsinki, Finland, the peaceful and pragmatic outcome of their meeting enraged the military and intelligence communities and deeply offended the US military-industrial complex. So now everybody knows that there are some at the Pentagon and the CIA who consider making peace with Russia, and by extension North Korea and China, “treasonous”! It presents an existential threat to their livelihoods – waging war and mass killing!

So now let's juxtapose president Trump's peaceful overtures to communist countries with Biblical prophecy. Haven't you noticed, over the past few years, things getting a little hotter, a little heavier? Now, add to that the rate at which events are increasing, just like the pains of a woman in labor. Haven’t we all heard or read that somewhere before? 1st Thessalonians 5 verse 3 says, “While people are saying, 'Peace and safety', sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape”. Are you among those who believe we have years left before the return of Christ? Or, are you watching the events escalate with anticipation, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that the hour for His return is getting closer than ever? 

 

But wait! Before anyone starts quoting scripture to me regarding “no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven…” (Matt. 24: 36), let me say that I don't believe there is day or hour recorded here or even mentioned. The keys are the number ‘seven’, the Shemitah, and the Four Blood Moons, the last two of which have already occurred without incident. So all of those “predictions” were wrong. Remember what Jesus said about false prophets like that. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matt. 7: 17) All we have to do is examine Biblical End Times Prophecy (sometimes called 'eschatology') and you will understand why all of the prophets are wrong, just like president Trump's haters are wrong for calling him “treasonous”.

Here are some examples of God's numerology. As you can see from these first examples, the number seven figures very prominently in God's kingdom all throughout the Bible. Leviticus 25: 8-13 says, “Count off seven groups of seven years, or forty-nine years. During that time there will be seven years of rest for the land. On the Day of Cleansing, you must blow the horn of a male sheep; this will be on the tenth day of the seventh month. You must blow the horn through the whole country. Make the fiftieth year a special year, and announce freedom for all the people living in your country. This time will be called Jubilee. You will each go back to your own property, each to your own family and family group. The fiftieth year will be a special time for you to celebrate. Don’t plant seeds, or harvest the crops that grow by themselves, or gather grapes from the vines that are not trimmed. That year is Jubilee; it will be a holy time for you. You may eat only the crops that come from the field. In the year of Jubilee you each must go back to your own property.” (Leviticus 25:3-4) says, “Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard”.

As you will now see from the verses below, God always makes allowance and provision for those who obey all His commandments. I offer two quotes as examples: Leviticus 25: 20-22; “And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store”. And, Deuteronomy 15: 1-2 says, “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord’s release”.

God held his entire nation of Israel accountable to follow these and all other laws and precepts which God has made, all of which is for our benefit. Deuteronomy 31 verses 10-12 says regarding this, “And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law”. Today in America we have exactly the opposite – our children can't even pray in school, not even to themselves, because it's illegal. Now you know why our schools are being turned into shooting galleries.

God has warned us in the past of what could happen to us all if we fail to obey, or if we ignore, his commandments. There are numerous examples throughout the Bible of this, and many more that predict this evil to continue ever more as we get close to the end of all things as we have known them. But more basic than that, does the Bible give humankind any advance warning about what could actually occur if we ignore God and do only as we please? I can cite several examples that coincide with Biblical prophecy. It is likely, for example, that these verses predict WW3:

Revelation 6 verse 8: “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill people by war, by starvation, by disease, and by the wild animals of the earth”. Rev. 9, verses 13-16. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates'. And the four angels who had been kept for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill one third of mankind. The number of their mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.”

There is only one country in the world that can muster an army that huge, and that would be Red China. At some point in the future, the Chinese military will march, transport or fly over the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq, presumably in a march to the Mediterranean Sea and conquering large swaths of Asia and the Middle East. But these events do not look likely for at least the near future. The quote above from the Book of Revelation refers to the battle of Armageddon, the last battle before Christ's return. But for now, it appears that Donald Trump has done what no other US president has, which is to make peace with Russia and on the Korean peninsula. In effect, president Trump has bought the world some time to straighten out its problems with militarism and economic inequality. Whether it will be sufficient time or not remains to be seen.

The Bible tells us quite plainly what the aftermath of WW3 is going to be, and it will be devastating to say the least! For example, Acts 2: 20-21 says; “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord comes: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. But God commanded the prophet Daniel to explain absolutely nothing about the details of these prophecies until the End Times arrive. Daniel 12:4 says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Well, people, it looks to me like the End Times have arrived, and with a vengeance.

 

The prophet Amos says yet again in Amos 8:11, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord”. And what, you are probably asking right about now, is the greatest sin of humankind as the end of days approaches? I can sum it up in one word: Greed! 1st Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. But, there is a way out of all of this which is spelled out in 2^nd Chronicles 7: 14; “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

There is still time to seek God's face, his mind and his will. But we are running short of time. As I said at the beginning of this week's message, the four blood moons forecast to occur in the Bible have already happened. “No man knows the day or the hour, not even the Son of Man, but only the Father who lives in heaven” (Mark 13: 32). Since this didn't happen back in September of 2015 as “predicted”, then that means we have at least seven more years to go before the beginning of the Tribulation. That works out to the summer or fall of 2022. Then again, all this could be over with in a week from now. So get ready, because “the hour of our redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21: 28). Moreover, “the Son of Man will arrive at a time when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12: 40) Never stop being thankful for the peace we currently enjoy with Russia and North Korea. It could end within days of this writing. Besides, I am put off by some things president Trump has done in the past just like some of you. But we still should be praying for him whether we agree with him or not. Let's not forget that the Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. Until next week, then....

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 2 of Acts chapter 10

The Lord Brings Cornelius and Peter Together

[Acts chapter 10, verses 17-33]

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Last week when we left off at verse 16 of Acts chapter 10, the apostle Peter was having a vision while he was in prayer, and I made the point that his vision would not have occurred had he not been in a state of deep and reverent prayer. Using that as part of my closing remarks, I recall challenging all of you to bring your prayer lives up to Peter's level. I will not hold it against anyone if they are not at that level as of yet, nor against those who have tried and have fallen short. This is common to everyone, so let's not be discouraged when we miss the mark. We're only human, so this is bound to happen from time to time. The main thing is to never give up, and to keep on trying no matter what! Because some day we will all achieve this Spiritual goal together!

This week as we move on to part two of Acts chapter 10, Cornelius of Caesaria is arriving at the home of Simon the tanner where Peter is staying just as Peter has come out of his trance (see verse 10 of chapter 10 from last week's study). So let's take up where we left off beginning at verse 17: “While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.' Peter went downstairs and said to the men, 'I'm the one you are looking for. Why have you come?' The men replied, 'We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.' Then Peter invited the men into his house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.” (Acts 10, verses 17-23)

Let's remember once again our lesson from last week, when Peter was told in his vision to “not call anything impure that God has made clean” (see verse 15 from last week's study). In the context of Peter's vision, 'anything' apparently referred to certain animals that were forbidden to be eaten by Jewish custom. This has its origins in Leviticus chapter 11, which you should research on your own – it's only a 5-minute read. It also applies to all other things, since “the earth is the Lord's and everything in it” (Psalm 24: 1). So this would include, for example, the marijuana plant, which is constantly demonstrating remarkable medical properties for literally dozens of diseases, including some psychiatric disorders. In so doing, medical cannabis has exposed the fraudulent nature of some mainstream psychiatric “medications”. That's the real reason marijuana is still criminalized. If it were legal, that would present an existential threat to Big Pharma. You can get the full story from my 2016 book, “Cannabis Legalization and the Bible: Compatible or Not?”, which you can order from this link. But let me get back to this week's study.

“Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.' Peter went downstairs and said to the men, 'I'm the one you are looking for.” Notice Peter's immediate obedience. Let's all make sure our obedience to the Lord is on the same level. Next, he is invited to Cornelius' house even while still staying with Simon the tanner. It seems that Peter, along with the rest of the Twelve, nearly always had a place to stay in the homes of those he ministered to. These were perceptive people who knew the Gospel was of more value than any precious metals or jewelry, nor is it something that can be purchased. They saw their hospitality as a form of repayment to Peter and the others, and they were happy to have an opportunity to serve – just as we should.

“We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” This is confirmation in the Spirit for Peter, who was already expecting the detachment sent by Cornelius by way of his vision. Cornelius is clearly wanting to hear the Gospel from Peter, especially since he was relatively close to him (only about a day's walk). “The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.” And so off to Caesaria they went, traveling by foot as usual. And now let's move on to the second half of this week's lesson, starting at verse 24.

“The following day he arrived in Caesaria. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him stand up. 'Stand up', he said, 'I am only a man myself.' Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: 'You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?'” (Acts 10, verses 24-29)

Let's not forget who Cornelius is. Cornelius is a complex individual. He's a Roman centurion who also happens to be a Christian sympathizer. Along the way he became a man of real faith, a man who wanted to know more about his newfound faith, maybe even a whole lot more. Cornelius may not have been entirely sure himself about how much of his new faith he could process, and so he had practically jumped at the chance to hear the Gospel first-hand from Peter. Let's also not forget the character and integrity of Peter, who never allowed his status as the lead apostle (“thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”) to go to his head. He remained a humble individual throughout his life, as it has been documented: “Stand up', he said, 'I am only a man myself.”

Peter then goes on to reveal the meaning of his vision as it applied to himself and all the others present. “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” So in this context, the Spirit of the Lord in Peter's vision was telling Peter to end the period of dissociation with Gentiles in his own life. This was a personal command from God to Peter, the military equivalent of a direct order. This also applies to racism the world over, and particularly here in America. Nobody can profess their love for God, no matter how loud or emotional, while at the same time despising anyone He has created. The Bible is clear in its stance against racism and bigotry in all its forms, no matter how harmless it may seem to a small minority who may consider themselves greater than others. The whole idea that one human being can be any better than another is a lie straight out of the deepest pits of Hell!

“Cornelius answered, 'Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good for you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” (Acts 10, verses 30-33)

Cornelius had a burning faith so intense that he used all the available resources he had to arrange things so that he might hear a Word from God through Christ, who Peter represented by deed and reputation because he was so incorruptible. If only we had a lot more politicians like Peter, America would be in much better shape! And so as we close out this week's study, Peter and Cornelius have been united in person and in spirit with the Lord as he presided over the home of Cornelius and everyone in it. Cornelius encourages Peter to go ahead and tell all he knows about Christ and his Gospel. As we will see next week when we move on to part 3, Peter eagerly shares all that Jesus taught him and the other apostles, and he does so with the greatest enthusiasm! So be sure and return next week for the third and final part of our study of Acts chapter 10. Shalom!

Russia on Israel’s Border - What Does it Mean To Bible Student's?

A little comic relief for when things go wrong

Due to an unforeseen incident with my computer that resulted in the loss of this week's commentary, I've prepared a guest post for you all, along with a little comic relief. This week's Bible study will be posted at its usual time this coming Wednesday evening. Thank you all very much for your continued readership, I appreciate each and every one of you! :-)

The late, great comic Bill Hicks once observed that if Jesus Christ did return to the contemporary world, he’d probably be mortified to see crosses everywhere. He likened it to people wearing sniper rifle pins to remember JFK. Every day, I find myself thinking about that bit of his. And on more than one occasion, I’ve found myself thinking about something else, too: how conservatives would treat Jesus Christ if he returned today. If that did happen, I’d love to be a fly on the wall for the ensuing conversation. But unfortunately, I wouldn’t get to witness that if it really did happen. So instead, I’m going to imagine a conversation between a freshly-resurrected Jesus and a gaggle of famous conservatives. And naturally I’m going to take you along for the ride, of course.

A Conversation Between Jesus Christ And A Group Of Famous Conservative Figures

(Jesus Christ appears in a flash of light and a puff of smoke. For some reason, his Dad sent him to the United States. And just as mysteriously, Jesus arrives at a meeting involving several famous conservative figures)

Jesus: Hey guys! I’m back!
Donald Trump: Huh? Who the Hell is this guy? SECURITY!
Paul Ryan: Oh my! It’s the King of Kings! The Lamb of God! The Son Of David! It’s…

Trump: We’ve already met, Paul. I’m talking about this other guy who just appeared out of nowhere. And hey, my Dad’s name was Fred, not…

Jesus: I think he meant me. Jesus. Jesus Christ. Maybe you’ve heard of me?
Trump: Oh. Cool, I guess.
Ryan: Cool? Donald, we’re meeting Jesus Christ! He has returned!

Jesus: Yes, my son, I have returned! And I am here to spread… uh… Mr. Trump? What are you… can you put down your phone?

Trump: Sorry, just had to Tweet about this. ‘Just met Jesus. Very poor. Doesn’t have shoes. Low energy. Heaven isn’t sending their best people. SAD.’

Jesus: Uh… okay… so anyway, I’m here to spread my message unto the world! A message of peace on Earth! A message of loving thy neighbors, of loving the poor, of healing the sick and…

Mike Pence: ELECTROCUTING THE GAYS!
Conservatives In Chorus: YES!

Jesus: NO! That’s not at all what I was about to say! Have you ever actually read the New Testament? I don’t have any problem with people being gay! People should love whoever they want to love! I was going to say… wait… Mr. Ryan, did you just… did you just squirt something on me?

Ryan: Yes, Jesus. It’s called hand sanitizer. You look… muddy? Is that the word? Your skin’s all brown.

Jesus: What? Mr. Ryan, I am clean. This is my skin’s natural tone. For I hail from Nazareth, in present-day Israel. Our skin is naturally…

Trump: Hang on, I have to tweet this. ‘Jesus looks Arab. Talks like Bernie Sanders. Probably a terrorist. ISIS must be stopped.’

Jesus: Mr. Trump, please! I’m here with a message! My Father’s message!

Pence: Your father wants us to torture gays, doesn’t he? Corinthians makes that pretty clear.

Trump: Oh man, I love that book. Very classy! But I liked the sequel better though. Corinthians 2 was better. I haven’t read Corinthians 3 yet but I hear it’s fantastic.

Jesus: Listen… it has nothing to do with gay people, okay? We need to talk about loving the poor and treating them with respect. Of giving to the poor rather than hoarding wealth. Of healing the sick not because there’s profit to be made, but because they are sick, and we can help them.

Ted Cruz: So… you’re a socialist?
Jesus: What?
Cruz: You sound like a socialist.
Pence: Yeah… definitely a socialist.
Trump: I was thinking the same thing.
Ryan: Yup.
Jesus: I’m not a socialist, guys.

Pence: The REAL Jesus wants the poor to take care of themselves! The REAL Jesus would believe doctors deserve a comfortable lifestyle for the services they provide. The REAL Jesus would let me strap a car battery to a gay guy’s testes and zap him until he’s straight!

Jesus: For my Father's sake!!! Will you people let me… Dad damn it, now I’m using my own name in vain! Listen, I’m the real Jesus, okay? There’s only one version of me! And I’m here to spread a message of loving the poor, caring for the sick, and peace on Earth!

Trump: Peace on Earth, huh? You sound like Obama. Obamacare is a failure, okay? It’s terrible. And we can’t beat our enemies if all we’re ever doing is giving them handouts and negotiating with them, okay? The Iran nuclear deal is terrible. Sad.

Cruz: The real Jesus wouldn’t be a defeatist libtard snowflake! The real Jesus would use his magic powers to destroy ISIS in one shot!

Ryan: Yeah! Why haven’t you done anything about ISIS yet, Jesus? If that is your real name?

Jesus: Look… I’m starting to lose my cool with you guys. Just listen to what I’m saying, okay? You need to care about the sick. Profiting from the sick is wrong. You need to care for the poor, and if you’re rich, you need to help the poor with those riches…

Cruz: So like, redistribute our wealth?
Jesus: Yes! Exactly!
Conservatives in Unison: COMMUNIST!
Cruz: Take your hippy left-wing bullshit over to Bernie Sanders!
Ryan: Jesus would never say such a thing!

Trump: I worked hard for my wealth, okay? I started out with nothing, and now I’m a billionaire. Well, I had that tiny, insignificant loan of $6 million my Dad gave me, but still… there’s no reason a poor person can’t do what I did, okay? They can just ask their parents to give them loans of $6 million too!

Jesus: You know what? Screw it! Screw all of you people! I’m done! I can’t take this anymore!

Trump: Oh man, tweeting this! ‘Jesus is having a total meltdown. Thinks America should go socialist. SAD. We should investigate him. I don’t think he’s here legally.’

Jesus: Yeah… done… beam me back up, Dad!
(Jesus disappears the same way he appeared, his scowl fading away as he vanishes)
Trump: Man, what a jerk!
Ryan: Seriously. Loving the poor? Caring for the sick? Peace on Earth? What kind of nonsense is that?
Cruz: Well, I’m definitely in the market for a new religion after that.
Trump: Shut up, Ted.

This week's Bible study will be part 1 of Acts chapter 10

The Lord Sends Cornelius to Peter

[Acts chapter 10, verses 1-16]

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Last week when we concluded chapter 9, Peter had just raised Tabitha from the dead after being summoned through the Lord by Aeneas. Today as we move on together to chapter 10, we find the Lord once again moving his servants like chess icons on a chess board. This time the servant's name is Cornelius, and he is being commissioned to send 2 men to Joppa, where the apostle Peter was staying at that time with Simon the Tanner, to bring him to his house for yet another assignment. Cornelius himself was a man of no small reputation. Although he was a Roman centurion, he was evidently a secret convert of sorts who was well respected by the early Church. So let's move on together to chapter 10 of the Book of Acts, beginning at verse 1.

“At Caesaria there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!'. Cornelius stared at him in fear. 'What is it, Lord?', he asked. The angel answered, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is by the sea.' When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.” (Acts 10, verses 1-8)

The first thing that needs pointing out here is that Cornelius had what we now call a personal relationship with Christ. He prayed regularly on a daily basis, keeping his lines of communication with his Savior open at all times. He prioritized helping the less fortunate while balancing that with his own priorities and that of his family. This was and still is a particularly rare breed of human being – someone determined to use the mind God gave him to the best of his or her ability, while giving all the credit for his/her success right back to God again. Cornelius was a man who had life and how to live it worked out sufficiently in his own mind that he was a good example to others and loved being so. That is the very definition of righteous living and of a righteous man in a Biblical context.

“One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!' Cornelius stared at him in fear. 'What is it, Lord?', he asked. The angel answered, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” See what I mean? You know what this also means, right? It means if we're not operating on Cornelius' level in our faith and our walk with Christ, we're falling short of the mark! The time is getting short, people. It's time to pick up the pace! This is more applicable to some people than to others, depending on who we are in our walk with the Lord (Those reading this to whom this applies, you know who you are). And so Cornelius obeyed the angel and sent his two servants to Joppa to fetch Peter and return with him personally to Cornelius. So now let's move on to the second half of this week's lesson, beginning at verse nine.

“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 'Surely not, Lord!', Peter replied. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.” (Acts 10, verses 9-16)

So while the two servants of Cornelius, together with an armed soldier to watch over them, were approaching Joppa where Peter was staying, all these other things were taking place on the roof where Peter was praying. “....while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.” The word 'trance' in this context simply means Peter was in a semi-conscious state (see http://www.dictionary.com/browse/trance). The sheet likely represents the four corners of the earth – north, south, east and west. The various kinds of animals that were on this sheet-like substance represent all the edible creations of the earth, some of which were specified in the Law of Moses as not to be eaten (see Leviticus chapter 11 for a detailed explanation).

This explains Peter's response when he says, “Surely not, Lord!', Peter replied. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.'” My NLT Bible translates verse 14 a little better, and I quote: “I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws.” I don't think this was Peter refusing to obey or even questioning the Holy Spirit. It appears that Peter thought he was being tested, a likely byproduct of his being in a trance induced by the Spirit. But that was not the case this time around, as we find out in the next verse: “The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.” No creation of Almighty God's can be called impure or unclean. For anything on earth created by God to be called impure is to challenge the purity and goodness of God. I, for one, question the 'wisdom' of making such a rash and ill-advised judgment about our Creator.

In the beginning of the Bible in Genesis chapter one, we have the story of creation, which is capped off in verse 18, as it is written: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.” From this we can deduce that there is no such thing as an illegal human being, neither is there any such thing as an illegal plant. Meaning, our war on immigrants – who are actually economic or war refugees – and our criminalization of marijuana and a certain species of mushroom, are all sins against Almighty God! (For the full story regarding this topic, check out my 2016 book, “Cannabis Legalization and the Bible: Compatible or Not?”, available on Amazon or from my website) There isn't a man or woman alive who has any such authority!

One final thing that is noteworthy about the conversation between the angel and Peter – it took three times for all these things to occur before Peter finally got the message that everything made by God is a good thing, serving a useful and even a noble purpose. One example would be cannabis oil derived from the marijuana plant that is now being used to cure all kinds of illnesses, from seizures to mental illness to cancer patients who are in chemotherapy. This also applies to all the people in God's creation. Under no circumstances may we ever express hatred, contempt, or prejudice – which mainly happens for racial, religious or nationality differences – towards our fellow human beings. Because, at the end of the day, we all have the same Creator in common. Having said and written all these things, be sure and return next week for part 2 of Acts chapter 10.

A few words about the real, authentic Bible

Those Who Sugarcoat the Bible's Truths

Dilute Its Message and Cheat Their Congregations

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

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The Bible is a gritty book. It's very raw and very real. It deals with people just like us, just as needy and screwed up as we are, encountering a God who would rather die (which He already has, only to rise again) than spend eternity without us. Yet despite that, it seems like some Christians are uncomfortable with how earthy the Bible really can be. Although the Spirituality of the Bible through the belief in the Holy Spirit is the foundation of all the Scriptures (with Jesus Christ being the cornerstone), the Bible has a way of being just as earthy as a day of doing yard work around the house (if you're lucky enough to still own one of those). But there are others who feel the need to sanitize God by making his Word 'politically correct'. God has already instilled true correctness within each of us because He alone is our source and our strength.

For example, look in any modern translation of Isaiah 64:6, and you’ll find that, to a holy God, even our most righteous acts are like “filthy rags”, as the sanitized King James says. But the original Greek and Hebrew didn’t say “filthy rags”, it said “menstrual rags.” That sounded a little too crass to the Bible's 17^th century English translators, so they just relabeled it 'filthy' instead to sugar-coat it. Jesus was naked when He was hanging on that cross, he wasn't wearing an adult diaper like some denominations portray him. The apostle Paul said that he considered his good deeds “a pile of garbage” in Philippians 3:8 rather than human waste, as the original Hebrew and Greek were more accurately translated. Oh yeah, and let’s definitely not mention the ten commandments in the Old Testament. That might be unpopular. Never mind that between the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy there are a total of 630 of them. That could expose people as being the sinners that we all truly are. God forbid!

The point? God’s message was not meant to be run through some arbitrary, holier-than-thou politeness filter. God couldn't care less about political correctness, and I feel the same way. When I open my mouth, I don't care if anybody 'likes' me or not. While I care a great deal about keeping my readers supplied with the very best posts I can produce, it's more important to earn respect than to be simply admired. And so it is with God. He intended the Bible to speak to people where they’re at, caught up in the stark reality of life on a fractured and slowly dying planet.

There are dozens of Psalms that are complaints and heart-wrenching cries of despair to God, not holy-sounding, reverently worded soliloquies. Take Psalm 77:1-3: “I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help”. Psalm 4 verse 1 says, “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

Rather than shy away from difficult and painful topics, the Old Testament includes vivid descriptions of murder, cannibalism, witchcraft, dismemberment, torture, rape, idolatry, deviant sex practices, plus human and animal sacrifices. According to the apostle Paul, those stories were written as examples and warnings for us, as he wrote: “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.” (1st Corinthians 10, verses 11-13).

So obviously these graphic stories were meant to be retold without editing out all the things we don’t consider nice or agreeable. I have gradually arrived at the conclusion over time that the Scriptures include such graphic material to show how far we as the sum of humanity have fallen and how far God was willing to come to rescue us from ourselves. God is much more interested in honesty than piety, and in our Spirituality rather than religiosity. And that’s what He gives us throughout Scripture by telling the stories of people who struggled with the same issues, questions and temptations we face today. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3, verses 10-12)

Peter struggled with doubt and with a bad temper, and we read all about it when Jesus is arrested at Gethsemane (see John 18: 10-11). Elijah dealt with depression; Naomi raged with bitterness against God; Hannah struggled for years under the burden of her unanswered prayers. David had an affair and then arranged to have his lover’s husband killed in battle. Noah was a drunk, and Moses was on the run from a murder charge when God called him. Even Job came to a place where he found it necessary to make a covenant with his eyes not to lust after young girls (Job 31:1).

Was it not Jesus who said, “I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”? It's all a matter of priorities. “I desire mercy”, Jesus said, “not sacrifice” (Matt. 9: 12-13). Don't boast to God about how often you attend church, or how much you “tithe” each week. Never mind your rituals, Jesus was saying. Tell me about how much you did for others whether they deserved it or not. I want to know how well you treated others, and I want to know what you did to make a positive difference in their lives. That's all that matters in the end.

It’s easy to make “Bible heroes” (as Protestants might say) or “saints” (as Catholics might refer to them) out to be bigger than life, immune from the temptations that everyone else faces. I find it encouraging that Jesus never came across as being pious or condescending. In fact, he was never accused of being too religious; instead he partied so much that he was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton because he was perceived as associating with “sinners” (Matthew 11:19). His first miracle was changing water into wine, and it is documented in all four gospels that wine was served and consumed at the Last Supper. So, people who insist that one must be a teetotaler to go to heaven when they die are not only incorrect, they are judging people they don't even know.

Jesus never said, “The Kingdom of God is like a church service that goes on and on forever and never ends.” Our church services can't hold a candle to what heaven will be like. Jesus promised us that heaven would be like a homecoming celebration, an enormous block party, and a wedding feast to which all are invited, all at the same time! This idea was too radical for the religious leaders during the time of Christ, and in some cases it still is. There are too many churches today who are more concerned about vain traditions and pompous religious rituals that aren't even in the Bible than they are about partying with Jesus. And that’s why they missed out. That’s why many of us still miss out today.

Pardon me, pastor, but did you say 'party with Jesus'? Yeah, I sure did. By the same token, I am well aware that there are some individuals who simply cannot touch alcoholic beverages at all, and I understand that completely. There are others who abstain by choice, and I have no problem with that whatsoever. I'm only saying that I don't think it's a sin to drink unless it is done to excess. Following Jesus is far more than just being dutiful or subservient, it is richly rewarding and exhilarating. Plus, the feeling we will get once we arrive in heaven is far superior to any man-made beverage!

According to Jesus, the truly spiritual life is one marked by freedom rather than compulsion (“So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed”. John 8: 36), and by love rather than ritual (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. 'Well said, teacher' the man replied. 'You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices'.” (Mark 12: 30-33). 

 

Another hallmark of a Christ follower is a truly Spiritual life focused on peace rather than guilt (“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14: 27). Jesus saves us from the dry, dusty duties of religion and frees us to cut loose and celebrate. I don’t believe we’ll ever recognize our need for the light until we’ve seen the depth of the darkness. God himself wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty with us about life and temptation and forgiveness and grace. Only when the Bible seems relevant to us (which is essential), only when the characters seem real to us (and they certainly were); only then will the message of redemption become personal for us as it was always meant to be.

We don’t need to edit God. It's our brains and our hearts that need a good editing. We need to let Him be the author and the editor of our new lives and the construction superintendent for our (hopefully rapidly) growing and expanding faith. The time is getting short, people, very short indeed. It's time for all of us to lead more Spiritual lives, because Jesus will be returning soon, and at a time when you least expect him. The stakes are where we will spend eternity, and there is no more serious subject than that.

This week's Bible study will be part 3 of Acts chapter 9

The Apostle Peter's Healing Ministry

[Acts chapter 9, verses 32-43]

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Last week as we finished part 2 of our in-depth study of Acts chapter 9, Saul had begun his ministry after having his sight restored, and after being baptized. But his conversion had been very controversial owing to the fact that he had actively participated in the martyrdom of dozens – or possibly hundreds – of early Christians. Saul's conversion had been so controversial and divisive that the early Church leaders had ultimately sent him home to Tarsus. This week as we conclude Acts chapter 9, we find the focus shifting away from Saul, Barnabas and Ananias and onto the apostle Peter and his ministry. So let's take up where we left off beginning at verse 32.

“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 'Aeneas', Peter said to him, 'Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.' Immediately he got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated {into Greek; PJB}, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, 'Please come at once!'” (Acts 9, verses 32-38)

When we look closely at Peter's activities, we notice his ministry is radically different from most churches today. He had no mode of transportation, and so like most people back then he walked wherever he needed to go. But this is only the beginning of the differences between Peter's ministry and the churches of today. He likely wore the same clothes everywhere he went, and when they needed washing he went to the nearest river bank to wash them – and himself – in the river just like everyone else. There were no dry cleaners or laundromats back then. The $1,000.00 suits worn by prosperity preachers today would have been considered an obscenity by the Twelve.

And then there's the issue of finances. It is quite evident that Peter's ministry was healing as well as preaching. But he never asked for money in exchange for his services, nor did he ask for a tithe of ten percent when he preached. While all these things are in the Bible, they are all from the Old Testament, which has been fulfilled by the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Jesus said as much as he taught at the Sermon on the Mount (see Matt. 5, verses 17-20). Peter understood that he needed no pulpit in order to perform his ministry and ask for financial support. That's because people invited him into their homes voluntarily. They wanted to hear more about The Way because they were excited about their newfound faith! They happily gave food and lodging to Peter! Like people today, they were hungry and thirsty for Truth and the way to live their lives for the Lord instead of themselves.

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.” Tabitha was always doing good, always help those less fortunate, and apparently without any complaints. Here was a lady who had her priorities straight, serving others first and herself last. Like Peter and the other apostles, she understood that if she served God first by serving those He has created, she would always be taken care of herself.

And yet in spite of all this, she got sick and died, probably well before her time. This is Scriptural proof that good things can and do happen to good people. But the believers at Joppa had faith and lots of it. So much so that when they found out that Peter was just down the road from their location, they sent their two fastest runners to Peter to convince him to please come and save Tabitha, who had just died (or was about to). And so now let's move on to part 2 of this week's study.

“Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his needs and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, 'Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.” (Acts 9, verses 39-43)

Like the other apostles, Peter traveled alone for the most part. Yet he was never alone since the Lord was with him. He needed no security detail despite the fact that human predators were prevalent on the roads he traveled, and no harm ever came to him until the very end when he was martyred. It is a documented fact, however, that he carried a sword (see Luke 22: 49-51). It turns out the basis for our Second Amendment to the Constitution to “the right to keep and bear arms” dates back to far, far before its ratification in 1789. If carrying a lethal weapon for personal protection was good enough for Peter, then it's good enough for me! That the original reason for the Second Amendment's existence.

“.....when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room..... Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his needs and prayed.” Why did Peter make everyone leave the room? Shouldn't he have been proud to show off his healing skills for all to see and remark about? Actually, no he shouldn't and neither should we. He was obeying what Christ had taught him: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to the Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matt. 6, verses 5-6) Peter knew, then, that if he prayed publicly, his prayer may not have been answered. That's why he saw the necessity to pray privately.

“....he said, 'Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.” Only after she rose from the dead did Peter allow the relatives and widows back into the room. I believe this signifies a great deal of Spiritual discernment on Peter's part. Perhaps one or more of the mourners had a Spiritual issue that would have inhibited the Divine healing from the Lord as it was bestowed through Peter. We'll probably never know for sure, but we can make a point of praying privately daily, and often multiple times per day as circumstances dictate. We can and should emulate Peter's example in our daily prayers. After all, how can we have a relationship with Christ if we never talk to him? That would be like trying to maintain a marriage without any communication. So now you all know how important our daily prayers are, as well as how to pray. And next week we'll move on to Acts chapter 10.

Free book excerpt #27 from Blogger and Web Pastor Paul J. Bern

Fall of the American Empire: Part One

(Excerpt from chapter 6 of “The Middle and Working Class Manifesto” by Rev. Paul J. Bern)

The fourth updated edition of this book will be available this fall

In my previous postings I have outlined the problems of the US middle class, and how it is slowly being obliterated by the top 1% of the financial pecking order. The end result of this is that the country is being ruined, literally from the inside out. Our only hope remaining is to protest, boycott, strike against and Occupy America every way we can. Not with an armed revolt, but a rather massive amount of organized passive resistance.

The plight of the American people is that we are experiencing the systematic confiscation of our wealth and prosperity, and with it our way of life. Many of our jobs, our savings and pensions, our housing and transportation, and our access to higher education and preventative health care, are evaporating before our eyes, and this social injustice will continue unabated until we as a united people rise up as one in a chorus of peaceful revolution. I am convinced that if we do not, the next battle front being entrenched by the top 1% will be against our very freedom. In fact, this latest round of class warfare being thrust against us has already begun, and it has become known as the 'prison-industrial complex'. Record numbers of people, many of whom are either wrongfully convicted or are harmless substance abusers in need of professional help, are being locked up systematically, and the process is slowly getting worse.

The United States, according to the New York Times, has 5% of the World's population and 25% of all people incarcerated on the planet! Currently in the United States, one in every hundred people are in some kind of incarceration. Incarceration is very big business in the United States. Private corrections companies such as Wackenhut, CCA and others charge either the States or the federal government from $65 to $160 a bed per night to warehouse all these people. In 2007, according to the National Association of State Budgeting Officers, states spent $44 billion in tax dollars on corrections. That is up from $10.6 billion in 1987, a 127 increase adjusted for inflation. With money from bonds and the federal government included, total state spending on corrections last year was $49 billion. By the end of 2018, the report said, states are on track to spend an additional $65 billion.

The United States ranks first in prison population. Where did we get all of these criminals? Well the answer comes from the reckless and costly War on Drugs, the new prohibition that makes convicts and criminals of those who are classified in more enlightened countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands as having a medical problem. In 2000 there were 74,276 drug related prisoners. In 2008 it was 95,079. In 2010 it was 99,205. As of 2017 that number is estimated at 56% and it continues rising unabated). We house those with substance abuse problems with professional criminals. What will we get when these people are released after serving an average 55 months in prison?

This is what capitalism has done. People are now profiting by locking up other human beings. And the longer people are are locked up, the more profitable the industry is. Should we be proud that we imprison more people than any nation on Earth? Have we outsourced so many industries along with their factories that we need a giant prison system to keep people employed (or locked out of the job market – literally!)? If we continue to allow such a disproportionate number of poor and minority citizens to be locked up, released without rehabilitation, and locked up again, modern slavery will continue to thrive. We are supporting a modern form of slavery if we do not, at the very least, lessen the punishment for drug offenses, do away with the unconstitutional "three strikes" laws and offer education and rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration. If we retrain prisoners by paying for their vocational education, we give them a trade. If we simply incarcerate them and release them, all we get are more prisoners.

Remember, this “prison-industrial complex” is bought and paid for, and brought to you by the same "government" that has brought you: The FBI, the DEA, the BATFE, the only Atomic Bombs ever used in War, Three mile Island, Area 51, the Bay of Pigs invasion, Vietnam, Watergate, Iran Contra, Ruby Ridge, ID., Waco, TX., Grenada, Nicaragua, Somalia, FEMA disasters and the Patriot Act. Oh, and let's not forget the wars in Iraq I and II, and now Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya. All of this has been and will be done in the name of “National Security”. When the American war machine finishes its conquests overseas to “acquire” Middle Eastern oil, the final step will be to bring the troops home so the “new world order” can turn their weapons on its own people. The final step, you see, will be the conquest of the Untied States. Only then will the domination and control over everything and everybody by the top 1% be secured by the Shadow Government and the New World Order.

American citizens have a patriotic duty to dissent and to speak out when it is apparent their government is creating policies and taking actions that are in conflict with the best interests of the people and the laws of the land. The right of patriotic dissent has been a part of America since those days that brought us our independence. Yes, anyone can and should exercise the right to dissent when the situation requires it. We find ourselves living in a world where the next terrorist attack could kill everyone in your city or town, where the cost of fuel could skyrocket into the stratosphere with the next conflagration in the Middle East or the next natural disaster, and where you can become the next crime statistic on less than a moments notice.

And as all these things are taking place, the solution being offered by your government, your political and economic system, your media outlets and even your churches are for more security by way of less individual freedom and personal liberty. I think it is high time that “we the people” rose up to challenge this erroneous notion that security is preferable to freedom. And I think it's high damn time to correct the perception of the top 1%, making them understand that people are not expendable, nor are we a commodity to be exploited. We need to take matters into our own hands if we hope to get anything done, and we need to directly confront our terrible economic situation if we hope to get things moving back in our favor. The system is broken, and it's up to us to either fix it, bypass it, or replace it altogether. Anything less amounts to slavery.

The end result of the hijacking of our political and economic system by the top 1% is that the country has been run into the ground. In my opinion, and based on quite a bit of on-line research and a library of saved Internet postings and articles, it is severely damaged but it may be repairable. In the meantime, here is what America is faced with in the short term.
Seven Reasons Why Capitalism Can't Recover Anytime Soon

1. Central Banks are Dumbfounded. The usual tricks that U.S. and European central banks use to avoid recessions are long-exhausted.
2. Trade War. For a global economy to grow, global cooperation is needed. President Trump is doing exactly the opposite – imposing tariffs without negotiation.
3. Military War. Foreign war is a good symptom of economic decay. $57,000 a minute – that's how much the United States spends on military adventures overseas, and that's just the ones we know about.
4. U.S. Economy at a Standstill. The most important consumer market in the world, the U.S. is a nation of nearly bankrupt consumers. Over twenty million Americans are unemployed or underemployed.
5. Bailout Capitalism. First it was the banks and other corporations that needed bailing out, and now whole nations. Western nations bailed out their banks by falling into the massive debt that they are now drowning in.
6. Bailout Repercussions. All western nations -- including the U.S. and England -- are grappling with their national debts. Rich bond investors are demanding that these countries drastically reduce their deficits, while also demanding that the deficits be reduced through hidden taxes on working families, instead of rich investors.
7. The Far Right Emerges. To deal with working people more ruthlessly, the radical right is being unleashed. In normal times these bigots yell furiously but no one listens. But in times of economic crisis they're given endless airtime on all major media outlets.

Six more startling facts about the decline of the USA.

[1] In 2000, USA was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. In 2017, USA fell to seventeenth.

[2] USA has lost approximately 42,400 factories and 32 percent of manufacturing jobs since 2000. In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of economic output. In 2018, it represents 11 percent.

[3] Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is lower in 2018 than it was in 1985.

[4] America's trade deficit with China increased 300 percent in last ten years,which could eventually cost half a million jobs this year alone. Half a trillion dollars yearly leave America due to trade deficit.

[5] US 15-year-olds do not rank in the top half of all advanced nations in math or science literacy.

[6] The United States has the third worst poverty rate among all the advanced nations.
So where are US resources being directed? Towards war, of course!




QUICK FACTS ON WARS AND DEFENSE SPENDING

• The National Security Adviser says there are less than 100 Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan and we have over 100,000 troops and probably as many mercenaries chasing them.
  
• Maintaining one American soldier in Afghanistan for one year costs one million dollars. This expenditure could be for twenty jobs at home with a salary of $50,000 each.
  
• There are now over 90,000 battlefield casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Over 500,000 veterans patients from the two wars have flooded into VA hospitals and clinics. That's one new war casualty walking into a VA medical facility every five minutes of every day---about 9,000 new patients every month with no end in sight. Also, one third of all returning veterans from these illegal wars wind up on psychiatric disability. They will never work again. That's what war does to people, so why do we continue?
  
• The Iraqis still don't have a government and Christians are being ethnically cleansed.
  
• The cost of the Iraq war alone was more than three trillion dollars according to Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel winning economist.
  
• 190,000 AK-47s handed out by the US Army to Iraqi security force recruits vanished and wound up in the hands of ISIS militants.
  
• The total DOD budget for the current fiscal year is over $700 billion. It is an amount just under what the entire rest of the world spends for defense and most of them are allies.
  
• The Defense Department spends in a few hours more than al Qaeda spends in an entire year.
  
• According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 36 million Americans, including one out of every four children, are currently on food stamps. In the richest country in the world, this is inexcusable.
  

Some people think the Federal Reserve banks are United States Government institutions. They are not Government institutions. They are private credit monopolies which prey upon the people of the United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers; foreign and domestic speculators and swindlers; and rich and predatory money lenders..... But I don't believe for one instant that this will be the end of the line for the USA. The country itself, the land and its people, its infrastructure, the commercial structures and all the houses, most of the businesses and everything related to them, will all still be here. It will be up to us, the working people of this country (employed or not) who keep things going, to change the system from the bottom up.....

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