Throughout church history, several heresies have been instigated about the person of Christ:

1. Docetism denies the humanity of Christ, while accepting his deity.
2. Ebionism accepts the humanity of Christ, while rejecting his deity.
3. Arianism accepts the humanity of Christ, while rejecting his deity.
4. Apollinarism reduces the humanity of Christ so that the only thing that is human is a human body,  while accepting his deity.
5. Nestorism accepts the humanity and the deity of Christ, but concludes that Christ is two persons,  and not one.
6. Eutychism reduces both the humanity and the deity of Christ.  How?  Eutychism sees Christ as one person, with only one nature that is partly human and partly divine instead of one person with two  natures.
7. Gnosticism rejects both the humanity and deity of Christ.
8. Neo-Platonism rejects both the humanity and deity of Christ.
9. Neo-Philoism rejects both the humanity and deity of Christ.
10. Cerinthianism accepts the humanity of Christ, while rejecting his deity.

The PROOF and the POWER of the RESURRECTION

by Eric Barger

This article is taken from Eric Barger’s live seminar teaching and video presentation
“The PROOF and the POWER of the RESURRECTION.”

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins…If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
I Corinthians 15:12, 17, 19

Today, the life and deeds of Jesus Christ are perhaps under more skeptical scrutiny than at any time since His earthly life some 2000 years ago. Along with the virgin birth, the nature of the miraculous in His ministry and of course His very deity have long been the target of many skeptical claims and theories. However, no facet of Jesus’ life is as contested as is His bodily resurrection from the dead.

The resurrection is certainly one of the most debated and perhaps the most critical of the major doctrines that comprise the bedrock of Christianity itself. Though each of the so-called “central” or “essential” doctrines relating to Jesus’ godhood are equally important, the physical resurrection from the tomb stands as the very lynchpin of the Christian faith. That is, all other claims about Jesus find overwhelming validation and completion in His triumph over the grave. It proved His deity as the Son of God whom the Scriptures foretold and it gave those who would place their trust in Him the greatest hope of all – the assurance of eternal life (I Corinthians 15: 12-19, 51-57). My hope is that in this reading your faith will increase and that you will gain more awareness of the utter necessity for Christians to be ready “to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” (I Peter 3:15).

24 / 7 / 365

I hope it is evident that the resurrection of the Lord is a pivotal event, the scope of which goes far beyond the yearly commemoration of Passion Week. In fact, it is no overstatement to conclude that the resurrection of Jesus is an event on which the very existence of the Church depends. I often comment that if the events ofJesus’ earthly life accomplished the fulfillment of the other 323 Messianic prophecies concerning the Jewish Messiah – yet had He remained lifeless in the grave – then, regardless of the sum of His great works, example and teaching, He was NOT the Savior. Thus, without a physical resurrection from death, He couldNOT have been the Messiah and we are then still hopelessly lost in our sins and destined for eternal separation from God.

In our day, when doctrine is undermined, ignored and replaced by feelings, flesh and sloppy exegesis, I find myself often embroiled in discussions with those who want to claim the title of “Christian” yet do not hold to the essential teaching that actually allows one to use the term. Bluntly put, one cannot be an authentic “Christian” and at the same time deny essential doctrines such as the virgin birth, sinless life, deity and resurrection of Jesus. While they may be sincere, devout and very religious, those who deny these and other essentials (see The Apostles Creed) are also sincerely deceived, horribly mistaken and lost.

RESURRECTION FACT? – THREE SOURCES

There are three sources to consider when examining the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.

1 - Eyewitness Accounts

2 - Scriptural Evidence

3 - Statistical Evidence

So with that, let’s examine the evidence for the resurrection.

1 - Eyewitness Accounts

After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
The Apostle Paul, 55 AD (I Corinthians 15:6)

Skeptics enjoy pointing out that the only known eyewitnesses that lend credence to Christ’s resurrection are those mentioned in the New Testament. While this is true, when one understands the reliability of the Bible as a history book it actually adds to our contention that Jesus came out of the tomb alive. We only have miniscule recorded data from ancient times as opposed to the veritable overflow of information being created today…not everyone blogged on the Internet or surfed through hundreds of cable channels back then!

The above statement by Paul holds tremendous weight. Five Hundred Eyewitnesses? Think of that. Paul is chiding the Corinthians, rebuking them for entertaining any thought that Jesus could still be in the tomb. If five hundred people witnessed any event today we can rest assured that it would be recorded as a bonafide historical event! The fact that this account is found in the Bible should be of no controversy to us either.

The Bible is the best kept record in the history of mankind. No other book (actually 66 different unique letters and accounts) has been so well guarded. The Old Testament stands as the longest kept record in the history of mankind. It is a common argument of the skeptics that the text is inaccurate because of language translations and the passing of time itself. This idea is dismissed for several reasons but becomes nearly laughable when one examines the fact that we have manuscripts dating back thousands of years that were copied meticulously by scribes who knew that if they changed anything (i.e. “one jot or tittle”) from one copy to another it would cost them their very lives. The New Testament was carefully recorded and maintained with the same standards as was the Old Testament.

So, when the New Testament speaks of or records information concerning the direct encounters people had with the risen, glorified Christ, can it not be trusted for pure historical content? Of course – providing one’s skepticism doesn’t outweigh one’s quest for truth.

2 - Scriptural Evidence

Obviously, we have plenty of biblical evidence for the resurrection. Here are just a few instances:

- The resurrected Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-18).

- He appeared to other women (Matthew 28:8-10).

- The longest such event took place as Jesus walked up to seven miles with Cleopas and his unnamed companion (perhaps his wife?) on the road to Emmaus. As they walked, Jesus unfolded a “prophetic apologetic” concerning Himself (Luke 24:13-32).

- Jesus appeared to eleven disciples as well as others (Luke 24:33-49).

- He appeared to ten of the apostles and others (John 20:19-23).

- The famous “He is Lord and God” encounter with Thomas and the other apostles (John 20:26-30).

- He appeared to the apostles several more times (John 21:1-14, Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:4-9).

- Saul (soon to be Paul) encountered the risen Lord in Acts 9:3-9 as well.

3 - Statistical Evidence

There is no doubt that to reach the most intellectual around us a statistic or two may get their attention. As a good friend of mine says, “Bait the hook with what the fish are biting on.” So let’s examine a couple of interesting, make that mind-blowing, facts.

In the 1950’s a statistician named Peter Stoner wrote a book entitled Science Speaks. In the book he examined the mathematical odds for any person perfectly fulfilling just 8 of the 324 Messianic prophecies and yet not being the Messiah.

Prophecies such as: Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1), Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), Messiah is to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7) and four other documented events prophesied in the Old Testament and completely fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.

Stoner states that the statistical probability of any man fulfilling just these eight prophecies as Jesus did and yet not have been the Messiah is 1 in 10 to the 17^thpower. Friend, that’s 100,000,000,000,000,000 to 1 !!!

Stoner illustrates this number by supposing that we take 10 to the 17th power the amount of silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover theentire state of Texas in stacks two feet deep. He then says, to take one silver dollar and mark it and stir the whole mass thoroughly.

Now blindfold a man and tell him he can travel the entire state – roughly 850 miles east to west and 900 miles north to south – but instruct the man that he must then pick up one silver dollar on the first try and show that it is the right one, which has been marked. What are his chances? 1 in 10 to the 17th power.

If one investigates just 48 of the O.T. prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ life, the number is 1 in 10 to the 152^nd power, or roughly double the amount of electrons in the entire Universe! Truly, if a person is honest, statistical probability of fulfilled prophesy destroys skepticism!

SO WHY DOESN’T EVERYBODY BELIEVE?

To allow themselves to feel better about sin and to remain firmly planted as their own “god,” men have devised many theories concerning the resurrection. After all, if He didn’t rise from the dead, then all bets on Christianity are off and we’re free to live any old way that we so choose.

Concerning theories, my vicarious mentor, the late Dr. Walter Martin, said: “A theory is a magnificently developed idea ganged up on by a brutal bunch of facts.”How true. In my seminar presentation we examine each of these theories and several others to see if there is any possibility of truth lurking about in them. Limited space allows just a mention of them here.

The Wrong Tomb Theory – The women went to the wrong tomb and thus led Peter and the others there as well and nobody figured it out. Hummm, I can think of one group who would have corrected such as error – the Pharisees! As soon as Peter began raising havoc by proclaiming the Gospel they would have directed everyone to the “right” tomb – if Jesus had still been there!

The Swoon Theory - This theory espouses that Jesus never died on the cross but merely passed out and was mistakenly considered dead. Then, after three days He revived, muscled his way out of the grave clothes, rolled away a stone weighing approximately 2000 lbs, exited the tomb and overwhelmed a group of Roman soldiers single-handedly and appeared to His disciples unscathed who believed He had risen from the dead.

Dr. Hugh J. Sconfield’s book The Passover Plot taught this. German apostate Frederick Schlermocher did also. If you believe this could be true, may I suggest that, regardless of any theological disagreements you may have with Mel Gibson, you see the movie “The Passion of the Christ” and tell me if you believe that a man could survive without food, water and medical attention for three days and then come strolling out of the tomb ready to assume His duties as the Savior of the world! This theory also makes Jesus into a LIAR.

The Replacement Theory -Taught by Islam in the Koran and believed by many non-Muslims, the replacement theory suggests that someone took Jesus’ place at the foot of the Cross and died in His place allowing Him to slip away without anyone noticing!!?

The Stolen Body Theory – Depending on who is espousing this theory, the ideas are in direct conflict. First, one theory states that the Jews/Romans removed the body for “safe keeping.” If the Romans or Jews had the body, they could have brought it out and, as Dr. Martin taught, “paraded the rotting corpse down the streets of Jerusalem” and simply destroyed Christianity on the spot.

This theory goes up in smoke because of the Biblical record and because of logic as well.

This particular Stolen Body theory is in direct conflict with the one mentioned in Matthew 28. If the Jews or Romans had the body, why did they need to accuse the disciples of stealing it and in doing so give healthy bribes to the soldiers who were standing watch at the tomb? (Matt. 28:11-15 records this.) This leads us to the other “stolen body” theory.

If the disciples had the body and were merely attempting to fake Christ’s resurrection, then we’re faced with accusing the disciples of being completely lunatic.

Wouldn’t the idea of the disciples possessing the non-resurrected body of Jesus put a damper on every one of them preaching a bold faced lie that would eventually cost them their own lives and also the lives of dozens, if not hundreds of their family and friends?

Somebody would have cracked and eventually admitted that the resurrection was actually a hoax. Considering that all of the disciples except John died of martyrdom (and John’s exile to the island of Patmos wasn’t a vacation!), the supposition that they stole the body of Jesus is so far out that no further comment is needed. (Matthew didn’t comment on it either in Matthew 28.)

So if the body of Jesus wasn’t taken from the tomb by the Jews, the Romans or the disciples as the soldiers watched, our next theory needs examination…it is“The Sleeping Soldiers Theory.”

The Sleeping Soldier Theory – First, Roman guards were not likely to fall asleep with such an important duty. But if the soldiers were sleeping, how did they “know” it was the disciples who stole the body? It could have been someone else!

Second, it seems physically impossible for the disciples to sneak past the sleeping soldiers and then move a two-ton stone up an incline in absolute silence, unwrap the body, rewrap it in grave clothes they brought with them, and finish by carefully folding the head piece neatly next to the linen? PLEASE…give it a rest!!! Certainly the guards would have heard something.

Third, the tomb was secured with a Roman seal. Anyone who moved the stone would break the seal, an offense punishable by death. Do you think the disciples were ready for that after watching their leader’s horrible death? Not yet…not without RESURRECTION POWER!

RESURRECTION POWER !!!

You see, the world can have their theories as to why they think Christ didn’tresurrect and we Christians can have our evidences as to why we know that Hedid. But when it comes down to it, the real proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is in the fact that after 2000 years that same power that brought forth the King of Kings from the dead is still rescuing sinners from spiritual death; still healing sickness and disease and still setting captives free from the bondage of Satan’s grip!

What could have possibly motivated Peter to boldly preach “Christ and Him crucified” just 40 days after denying that he even knew Him? It was RESURRECTION POWER!

It is this same power that has driven Christians worldwide to proclaim “He is Risen” for 2000 years – even if in doing so it meant torture or death.

I encourage you to use the facts surrounding His resurrection as you dialog with the lost following the biblical command to “defend the faith” (Jude 3) and give men answers for the hope that lies within you” (I Peter 3:15). But I encourage you to celebrate, walk in and magnify the power of the resurrected Christ in every facet of your life. There is an unspeakable reward for those who will diligently seek Him on “resurrection day” and also the subsequent 364 days of the year.

by Eric Barger

It is no secret that over the past decade there has been an explosion of tattoos and body piercings in our culture. While the information here is intended to help Christians make sound decisions from a biblical worldview, hopefully these words might also help lead others away from tattoo parlors and toward the Lord. Also, I have written and re-written to edit this down to fit printable page size for one 8.5×11 sheet, so be aware that there is much more to be said on this subject than space here allows.

In times past, tattoos were reserved for a very small number of people. The word tattoo represents the Samoan word meaning “open wound.” The ancient origins of this practice could go back before the seventh century b.c. and are related to religious ceremonies and traditional rites of passage. Through the centuries, tattooing has been the most common way of marking prisoners. The British tattooed deserters and Hitler’s thugs so marked those interned in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Always accompanied with negative connotations, tattoos were seen primarily on sailors, homosexuals, Hell’s Angel biker-types, gangs, and assorted criminals.

But now, that has all changed. The stigma has faded and what was once clearly disdained by many cultures has become fashionable. Tattoo artists have sprung up in communities large and small to keep up with the demand. Tattoo and body piercing parlors are indeed everywhere and, according to a 2006 survey taken by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology an estimated 36% of Americans aged 18-29 now sport tattoos.¹ A Harris Interactive poll conducted in January 2008 concluded that 14% of all adults in the United States have a tattoo, with the highest incidence (25%) found among gays, lesbians and bisexuals.²

Tattooing is a craze, to say the least, and the demographics of those currently craving tattoos seem to have no bounds. Though most states have age limit laws concerning tattoos, now pre-teen girls across America are either begging to be tattooed or just going behind their parents’ backs to attempt acquiring “body art.” Aiding the craze is the fact that a majority of sports, music, and movie stars have them. It is unquestionably the trendy mark of being “cool” and is accepted in many circles today. Often accompanied by body piercings, tattoos have become status symbols, and even the identifiers of a new generation.

So Christians think . . . ?

Don’t suppose that everybody in the church is on the same page concerning tattoos and piercings. The Internet is replete with sites defending tattooing as not only acceptable but preferable for Christians. Some justify tattooing for believers by discounting Old Testament passages such as Leviticus 19:28 (“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord“). These people would claim that simply because the passage is Old Testament “law” it has no application or bearing whatsoever in the life of the Christian today! While we do not live under the Mosaic law, biblically-minded Christians indeed should glean information and godly insight on how to live life as we examine the Old Covenant. There are also some Christians who are making stands completely against the growing tattoo/piercings culture, but are doing so in such a way as to never come close to effectively communicating with tattoo advocates. As well-intentioned (and even right) as some in opposition may be, heavy-handed legalism such as “a tattoo is a ticket to Hell” is likely to do little in making substantial progress in communicating truth on this highly charged issue. Regardless, make no mistake that there is a sizeable faction of folks claiming to be Christians who are lobbying in favor of tattoos today, including some who may even claim that tattoos are witnessing tools. Though I haven’t personally seen it yet, it is not outside the realm of possibility that some church somewhere may at some time elect to offer discount coupons for “Christian” tattoos in their Sunday bulletins!

So, with such a shift in the supposed public perception and accessibility of tattoos and with such completely differing opinions in the church, what position should the Christian take? While I am not intimating that merely having a tattoo is a sure sign of eternal destruction, please carefully consider the following points.

Everybody’s Doin’ It . . .

Though I do not want my words here to be divisive in themselves, I know that this topic is itself polarizing – especially if you have a tattoo. It’s either love ‘em or hate ‘em, and I don’t want to fail to point out that what is said here is in no way intended to inflict guilt on someone who has already marked his or her body in this way. Once you’ve done it – it’s done and cannot be undone without considerable doing! We all make bad decisions, and though many may want to justify something like this, one common statement kept coming up while I was researching this. Over and over, again and again, people said, “I wish I hadn’t done it.” Though tattoo removal is possible, it is expensive, painful, and sometimes not completely successful. What I am trying to get across here is that before anyone allows a tattoo to be inscribed on his or her body, they need to weigh the decision carefully and possibly go against the culture and peer pressure that factor into this issue.

Studies and surveys also show that a person who tattoos himself is immediately handicapped for employment. While an NBA star or #1 NFL draft pick can probably tattoo themselves all he likes, the person looking for an accounting career may find that his or her position at the office may be hamstrung by tattoos – if indeed they are even able to land the job they are seeking.

A 2007 survey by Vault, a company that publishes career information, states that 85% of employees say tattoos and body piercings impede a person’s chances of finding a job, let alone a career.

The Vault survey discovered that workers with tattoos can expect over 42% of co-workers to have lowered opinions of them. Additionally, while only 18% of those with tattoos believe that body art has hindered their careers (with .06% saying it helped), the Vault survey indicated that 66.9% of persons with tattoos conceal them while at work.³

A Real “Stand-Out . . .”

Many argue that a tattoo is a way of making a statement or being an “individual.” No, not really. Those of us in the original 1960s hippie movement (such as myself) made those same rebellious and lame statements about long hair, bell bottoms, and marijuana. The fact is that marking and piercing one’s body surely doesn’t separate anybody from the crowd. But it goes a long way toward identifying a person in some negative ways. Regardless of how popular sporting a tattoo may be in some circles, just having them can include some very detrimental consequences.

Being tattooed or piercing a body part doesn’t mark you as a leader, either. Instead, it merely identifies you as yet another follower. The cold fact is that the majority of those who make the decision to be tattooed before maturing and giving long and calculated thought to doing so will sooner or later likely regret it. But again, please hear my heart. If you have a tattoo – and what I have said already rings true to you – these words aren’t intended to rub salt in the wound (no pun intended) or to somehow pronounce eternal judgment on you.

If you don’t already have one, I suggest that before you follow others in this fad you stop and carefully examine this craze in context of the prophetic end-days in which we live. A tattoo from a tattoo parlor will not send you to Hell, but one in the future just might. More on that later.

Consider the following, as even the pro-tattoo website SacredInk.net sounds this warning:

Tattoo is a significant life-choice and should be only entered into with a great deal of forethought. Some questions to ask if you are young and considering a tattoo are:

* Am I legally of an age to get a tattoo?

* If I live with my parents, would my parents support my decision?

* Would I be defying the authority God gave my parents over me at my current age?

* Would I still want this particular image when I get older?

* What if my future mate wouldn’t like having to see this image for a lifetime?

* Would this tattoo be in an area of my body that would be plainly visible? – Many people do unfairly judge people with tattoos as being “second-class.”

* Would this image bring God glory?

* Do I feel fully convinced that tattoos are allowable for Christians?”⁴

The underlying issues raised here need to be considered:

·         - Are we not the Temple of the Holy Spirit? (I Cor. 3:16, 6:19)

·         - Is there something wrong with the way God created us without tattoos/piercings?

·         – Would tattooing affect or influence your future spouse or even your children?

·         - Is getting a tattoo actually more about defying authority (spirit of rebellion) than about having the actual tattoo itself?

·        - Are Christians who defend and promote tattooing coming from a truly biblical viewpoint, or are some defending tattoos because they have marked their own bodies and want others to join them in their often rebellion-laced decision?

God did not originate tattoos. When one thinks of things being done “on earth as they are in heaven” (Matt 6:10), it is hard to imagine a tattoo parlor behind the pearly gates! I feel confidant that there will be no tattoos in Heaven.

Christians who advocate for tattooing need to look around at not only who they are identifying with, but also at the associated health risks. In 2001, research done by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center indicated that those who received a tattoo in a commercial tattoo parlor were nine times more likely to contact hepatitis C than people who did not mark their bodies.⁵

Many in our culture live only for the pleasure of the moment, and just as I once thought nothing about the future, having one’s body inscribed with permanent ink is a decision that will, in many cases, last a lifetime. Without even discussing what a particular tattoo may represent (i.e. occult symbols, naked bodies, etc.), just having one may sooner or later turn from exhilaration to despair. It did so for All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.

Hamilton’s story is one of mountaintops and valleys. From the number-one pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft with a four million dollar signing bonus, to hopeless drug addict, estranged from his wife and family, Hamilton marks the beginning of his downward spiral by “hanging out with the wrong people in tattoo parlors” where he was first introduced to cocaine. During a recent interview, Hamilton repeatedly reiterated the price of the fateful decision he made to have himself tattooed.⁶ He related that associating with the wrong people and being in the wrong place was completely influential in his fall into drugs and then out of baseball for three years in 2003. Finally, at his lowest point, Hamilton showed up on his grandmother’s porch asking for a place to stay. Though at first glance she didn’t even recognize that it was Josh, she took him in, helped him clean up, and began presenting the gospel to him. Accepting Christ as Savior, Hamilton successfully battled through the demonic dreams and night sweats brought on from drug withdrawal, and fought his way back to baseball – and his wife. Victoriously, in 2007 he was elected to the American League All-Star team and amazed fans during the All-Star Home Run Derby.

Josh Hamilton has become a walking testimony of God’s great delivering power. He is also a billboard for what can happen to even the most talented and gifted who innocently start “hanging out” in tattoo parlors. One lingering reminder of just how low he had gone are the 26 tattoos that cover Hamilton’s arms, torso, and neck, including one of Satan on his left elbow. Regardless of the Texas heat, when Josh takes the field he now goes out of his way to cover as much of his skin as possible to hide the hideous nature of the tattoos he acquired while heading toward the bottom. He now regrets getting every one of them.⁷

Why Now? – Preparing for “The Mark”

Why has there been such an increase in both the acceptance of and the acquiring of tattoos during our day? When considered in the light of Bible prophecy, the explosion of tattooing and the exponential increase of thirst for demonic supernaturalism are, I believe, no accident. This is a calculated, demonic, end-time phenomena, the purpose of which is to desensitize as many as possible concerning markings on their bodies.

Just hours before finalizing this piece, I decided to have dinner and then give this article one last read-through. While out of the office, I received a question emailed from a gentleman named Mike whom I’ve known for several years. He has never before communicated anything to me on the subject of tattoos – until tonight. If circumstances had been slightly different, this article would have been finished before receiving Mike’s email. However, as I answered Mike’s note (which shared his concern about a kid’s tattoo machine his granddaughter had received as a gift) I realized that I was writing the finishing lines of the article as well. I wrote:

“Your timing is uncanny, Brother Mike. Tonight I am finishing the final edit of a article I’m writing for Southwest Radio Ministries. They want to format and print the first run of it this week. In three weeks they are airing a program that Brother Noah Hutchings and I pre-recorded some time ago on tattoos.

“Though there is very little in Scripture dealing directly with tattoos, there is one somewhat controversial passage in Leviticus 19, the context about which both liberals and conservatives completely disagree. (Most of the arguments revolve around accepting an admonition not to mark oneself that comes from the law, in particular, Leviticus.) However, though the New Testament seems to be mute on directly addressing tattoos and piercings, you are exactly right in mentioning the rebellion factor involved. We also have the strong admonition to abstain from any appearances of evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22). (Think about some of the demonic, gang related, and just plain sick stuff that has been called ‘body art.’)

“But as important as issues like overt rebellion and demonic art may be, I believe an even bigger concern is the fact that the entire tattoo craze is methodically conditioning and preparing the mindset of many in our world concerning the acceptance of a future mandated mark on their body. Now that a growing percentage of people have undertaken having themselves tattooed, would it be any stretch to imagine how much more readily these people might accept a similar mark which would provide them the ability to buy, sell and sustain life?

“Mike, for twenty years I have been saying that Satan’s predicted Mark of the Beast could be a tattoo. Whether it’s an implanted i.c. (integrated circuit) chip, a tattoo, or something we don’t even know of at this point, it WILL be some sort of mark on the hand or forehead, and accepting it will doom untold millions to an eternity in Hell at the hands and direction of Antichrist.

For anyone who studies the end-times and biblical prophecy, I think it is a near certainty that tattooing is not some harmless, meaningless fad. To me, there is little doubt that the skyrocketing acceptance and popularity of tattoos and body piercing in these end-days is leading to a climax found in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation.”
 

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

– Revelation 13:15-18

1.?http://www.aad.org/

2. ?http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

3. ?http://www.vault.com/surveys/tattoo/tattoo.jsp

4. ?http://www.sacredink.net/tattoo_and_the_bible/

5. ?http://www.pentecostalevangel.ag.org/News2002/4514_tattoos.cfm

6. ?Interview on Hannity’s America, Fox News Channel, Jan. 2, 2009

7. ?http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/albert_chen/05/27/hamilton0602/ 

In a recent church gathering a well-known evangelical pastor led his congregation in a “breathing” exercise in which they were exhorted to take “nice, big, deep breaths.” He went on to explain that such breathing exercises, along with meditation, reflection, and silence, have been central to the Christian tradition for thousands of years. He then sought to buttress his argument by pointing out that, “In Yoga, one of the central tenets of Yoga is your breath needs to remain the same regardless of pose. And the Yoga Masters say this is how it is when you follow Jesus and surrender to God.”

Pastor Rob Bell is typical of many today who are looking to the medieval mystics (and to Eastern forms of mysticism) in their  search for spiritual reality. But while many of the medieval mystics can be admired for their passion and devotion, they cannot be followed in many of their doctrines and experiences. Being loyal to the medieval church and sharing in its lax (and sometimes hostile) attitude toward Scripture, they often exhibit a glaring lack of  discernment and common sense. So while some of their experiences are, no doubt, genuine, many are obviously psychic and some are probably demonic.

Commenting on medieval mysticism and its neglect of Scripture, Dr. Hans Kung, the most widely read Catholic theologian in the world today, says,

These new revelations not only overshadowed the Bible and the Gospel, but also Him whom the Gospel proclaims and to whom the Bible bears witness. It is striking how rarely Christ appeared in all these “revelations,” “apparitions,” and “wonders.” Catholics who followed in the wake of every new “revelation,” which often turned out to be fantasy or deceit, and indulged their desire for sensation by looking for the latest reports of miracles-and yet who had never once in their whole lives read the Scriptures from cover to cover.

The Origins of Mysticism

Medieval mysticism arose in reaction to the lifeless, outward forms of the medieval church. During the same period evangelical revival groups also emerged for similar reasons. But whereas the revival groups, such as the Waldenses and Albigneses, gave their loyalties to the Scriptures, and looked there for models of faith and spirituality,
the mystics tended to give their allegiance to the pope and the institutional church. This meant that the mystics were more susceptible to non-Biblical approaches to spirituality and this resulted in their adoption of many beliefs and practices that were rooted in pagan, mystical thought, particularly Neoplatonism.

As with Adam and Eve, the quest for godhood and spiritual enlightenment has sparked the curiosity of many throughout the ages. These spiritual seekers have come to be known as ‘gnostics’, and their belief system as ‘gnosticism’.

Today, gnosticism is known by many names, such as Theosophy, and the New Age Movement. But ‘New Age’ thinking is not so new. Its spiritual roots are in the Garden.
Gnostics seek a higher spiritual plane, and find it, through the ‘divine spark’ that they believe lies inherent in themselves and in every human being. The problem, they believe, is not a sinful humanity, but a slumbering humanity, who are totally unaware of who they really are, gods. Once ‘awakened’ to their own divinity, gnostics actively pursue the perfection of their souls through a smorgasbord of ’spiritual’ foods readily available today in the marketplaces of our ‘global village’. Gnostics are ever-evolving and ascending into the perfection of godhood. It does not matter where gnostics are in their spiritual journey, for once they have been gloriously ‘awakened’, they become spiritual giants, who walk amongst the common masses of humanity.

Gnosticism’s appeal is timeless, playing to our human nature in two very important ways: by enticing our curiosity and inflating our pride. First, gnosticism promises the revelation of deeper spiritual knowledge that is hidden from the common, “less spiritual” masses. Then gnosticism promises spiritual perfection, even personal divinity, to those willing to follow its teachings. In this way, the gnostic can enjoy a spiritual ‘elitism’, gained by his willingness to open himself up to hidden knowledge and his willingness to turn from old, ’simplistic’ spiritual beliefs, what ever they may be.

Historically and Grammatically (Greek Grammar), there are recognized to be two ways  of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  The person must know what she or he is doing.  This cannot be done ignorantly.  It has to be done intentionally and willingly.  

 

1. Historically, the early church believed that if a person witnessed personally the movings and manifestations of the Holy Spirit in healings, miracles, and the like and then denied them, then that person has committed the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  If the person witnesses the gifts in operation, sees the Holy Spirit working and doing as He will, and later on denies all of these things, he or she has committed this sin.  A person would have to be in a backslidden condition.  Key:  this person must be used by the Holy Spirit in such manners and then later deny it.
2.   Grammatically, if a person knowingly, intentionally, and willingly denies the person of the Holy Spirit after knowing that the Holy Spirit is a person, that person has committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not a thing, but a real person.

According to the Early Church, Satan created mythology to deceive, destroy, and pervert. Cyril, one of the leaders of the Church, wrote from his Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XV:

 10. The true Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, comes no more from the earth. If any come making false shows in the wilderness, go not forth; if they say, Lo, here is the Christ, Lo, there, believe it not? . Look no longer downwards and to the earth; for the Lord descends from heaven; not alone as before, but with many, escorted by tens of thousands of Angels; nor secretly as the dew on the fleece?; but shining forth openly as the lightning. For He hath said Himself, As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be ; and again, And they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds with power and great glory, and He shall send forth His Angels with a great trumpet? ; and the rest.

11. But as, when formerly He was to take man’s nature, and God was expected to be born of a Virgin, the devil created prejudice against this, by craftily preparing among idol-worshippers? fables of false gods, begetting and begotten of women, that, the falsehood having come first, the truth, as he supposed, might be disbelieved; so now, since the true Christ is to come a second time, the adversary, taking occasion by the expectation of the simple, and especially of them of the circumcision, brings in a certain man who is a magician , and most expert in sorceries and enchantments of beguiling craftiness; who shall seize for himself the power of the Roman empire, and shall falsely style himself Christ; by this name of Christ deceiving the Jews, who are looking for the Anointed? , and seducing those of the Gentiles by his magical illusions.

What was and is Ebionism? Ebionism was an ancient heresy that was present in the early church and almost destroyed it. It was one of the chief heresies that Paul fought against in Galatians. What is it? It is an attempt to make all the saints of God to go back under the law. It is, in essence, judaizing the Gentile saints.
Ebionism demands that all the saints go and live under the Levitical Laws, not just the Sabbath. It is formalism to its highest form. It kills the spirit of the saints while demanding that they live by something that Christ Himself did away with at the cross. It was not the moral law, but the Levitical Laws which were done away with.

We see the reappearance of this heresy by the push that all celebrate the Jewish Holidays and especially the Passover.