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SALVATION - INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

There is NOTHING in this life that is more important for you to do than to decide where you will spend eternity.

 

If you have everything that this world can offer you - an easy life, family, friends, money, and pleasures - but you decide by default to spend eternity in Hell, then your life will have been a complete failure.

 

On the other hand, if you have practically nothing in this life of esteemed value, but you choose to seek God and to spend eternity with him in Heaven, then your life will have been an enormous success.

 

The difference isn't so much in what you have or don't have; it's in what you choose and don't choose. Jesus said, "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 

List of Articles:

 

What does it mean to be "Born Again"?

 

Is Baptism part of Salvation?

 

Who is God? - Make it Simple (links to our Doctrine Article by this title)

 

A Personal Message from Our Family to You

 

 

BIBLE VERSIONS - INDEX

 

 

King James?                   New Bible Versions??

List of Articles:

 

FOUNDATIONAL ARTICLES

 

The Nature of War

 

What About the Septuagint?

 

Antioch and Alexandria

 

NIV Says to Reject Jesus

 

AN Excellent Reference for King James Bible Believers - By James L. Melton

 

NIV Quiz - by Rex L. Cobb

 

Bible Memorization Test - by Pastor James Knox

 

Personal Pronouns - Thee, Thou, Ye, Thy, Thine, etc

 

Believing God’s Word

 

Errors in the King James Bible

 

An Open Letter to Cheryl

 

DEFENDING GOD'S WORD ONLINE

 

How We Know the King James Bible is God's ONLY Word in English

 

LOST In the Confused Mind of A Pentecostal Bible College Student (A Series)

00 - LOST - Intro

01 - LOST - First Email Exchange

02 - LOST

03 - LOST

04 - LOST

05 - LOST - SUMMARY CHART

06 - LOST

Is The King James Bible Wrong About Easter at Acts 12:4?

 

Is Eugene Peterson's book "The Message" a true copy of God's Word, the Bible?

 

CONTRADICTIONS IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE

 

01 - I Sam 17:50; II Sam 21:19: WHO KILLED GOLIATH?

 

02 - Gen 1:27; Gen 2:7, 20-30: The Timing of Adam and Eve's Creation

 

03 - Judges 4:21; Judges 5:25-27: How Did Sisera Die?

 

04 - I Sam 31:4; II Sam 1:10; II Sam 21:12: WHO KILLED KING SAUL?

 

05 - Joshua 15:21-32: HOW MANY CITIES - 29 or 36 or 38?

 

06 - II Sam 24:9; I Chron 21:5-6: David Numbers How Many Men of War in Israel?

 

07 - Acts 20:35: Did Jesus Really Say This?

 

08 - Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; John 2:1-11: Was Jesus in the Wilderness or at the Wedding?

 

 

 

 

SOUND DOCTRINE - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to examine doctrines with the intent of establishing which are sound and which are false.

 

Sound doctrine unites believers in Christ, false doctrine divides people from Christ, and conflicting doctrine disrupts unity and fellowship in Christ.

 

Therefore, each of us ought to purge ourselves of false doctrine and earnestly seek sound doctrine.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(I Thess 5:21)

This is not a matter of personal opinion - nor one of one-upmanship; it is a matter of personal righteousness and of right-standing before God.  Ultimately, we must be willing to let God’s Word speak to us, and we must be willing to conform ourselves to that Word.

 

Question: How much false doctrine can one believe and still be saved? 

 

At the Berean Research Institute, we are not willing to be comfortable with any false doctrines - no matter how few they are, nor how little they may be, nor what cost we may face to rid ourselves of them.

 

For good reason, Jesus warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees:

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.  (Matt 16:6)

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matt 16:12)

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Gal 5:9)

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. (I Cor 5:7)

Therefore, as we examine various doctrines, we do so not to be confrontational or disagreeable with others, but to be obedient to these specific commandments of God and to be faithful to his scriptures, overall.

 

Let's Be Scriptural, In Determining Sound Doctrine.

 

 

List of Articles:

 

OK…. So, you’re a "CHRISTIAN"...

What’s Wrong With Being a “Christian”??

 

Who is God? - Make it Simple

OK…. So, you’re a "PENTECOSTAL" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Pentecost and the Modern Pentecostal Movement

Examining the Pentecostal Statement of Faith, “What We Believe”

 

Pentecostal Feminism

 

Why I left the Tongues Movement - Alfred H. Pohl (Opens in New Window)

 

“Slain in the Spirit”

 

“Speaking in Tongues”

 

My Pastor, the "Spiritual Hippie"

Fake Healers, Apostles & Prophets

Smith Wigglesworth - A Book Review - by Mike Wright

 

Benny Hinn - "Man of God"?? - Videos

 

Benny Hinn - Outrageous Claims

 

Benny Hinn - Politics with China

United Pentecostal Church International

Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

 

Is the UPCI Gospel True?

OK…. So, you’re a "BAPTIST" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

The Eternal Security of the Believer

The Eternal Security of the Believer

 

Eternal Security

 

The “Carnal” Christian

The Local Church

The “Local” Church - A Review of Dr. Kirkland's Book

 

Bible Verses Refuting the "Local Church" doctrine (Opens in New Window)

Calvinism and Arminianism

Calvinism and Arminianism

 

The god of the Calvinist

 

Calvinism and Modern Bible Versions

 

OK…. So, you’re a "CATHOLIC" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Salvation for Catholics

Can a “Catholic” be a “Christian”?

 

A Warning to Catholic Christians !!

 

Catholic Booklet - “Be Careful of Protestant Teachings”:  a Review

Catholic Doctrines

The Virgin Mary

 

The Mass - Transubstantiation

 

Roman Catholic Responses - Refuted

The Judgment of Rome

The Judgment of Rome - The Mother of Harlots

 

OK…. So, you’re a "JEHOVAH'S WITNESS" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Questions For Jehovah's Witnesses

Questions For Jehovah's Witnesses - Intro

 

Question For Jehovah's Witnesses

 

 

 

ENDTIME PROPHECY - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to examine  eschatological (study of endtime) teachings with the intent of determining which are true and which are not.

 

Perhaps as much as one third of the bible is prophetic, and God said (in reference to those living in the last days), that the wise shall understand (Dan 12:10).

If we knock, the door shall be opened unto us. (Matt 7:7)

It is true that Endtime prophecy has been interpreted in many different ways and by many people, but this is not a matter of personal opinion - the scriptures are not of any private interpretation.

 

We must earnestly seek to understand God’s interpretation of prophetic scripture. Despite what others say, for some, this may become a matter of salvation - a misunderstanding of this subject may result in the loss of their soul.

 

At the Berean Research Institute, we believe that God does not waste his words and that he wrote in his Word precisely what he wanted to say to us, even in this matter of prophecy.

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10)

It is equally important then, in this area of eschatology, that we study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Tim 2:15)

 

Therefore, as we examine various eschatological views, we do so not to be confrontational or disagreeable with others, but to be obedient and faithful to his Word.

 

 

List of Articles:

Bible Prophecy - Relevant Today:

Understanding the Book of Revelation

 

Where Are We Today in Bible Prophecy?

 

What Should We Expect Next?

 

Damascus Will Be Destroyed

Preterist/Historicist/Amillennial:

Our Letter to an Historicist

 

Refuting Preterism/Historicism - Conclusively - Page 1

 

Refuting Preterism/Historicism - Conclusively - Page 2

 

Refuting Amillennialism

 

Although we do not agree on some issues (in particular with his soteriology), we appreciate the work and research of Irvin Baxter of Endtime, Inc for assembling many of the pieces of our understanding of the Book of Revelation for us.

 

 

 

OTHER ISSUES - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to address several controversial subjects. As the men of Berea did, we want to receive the word with all readiness of mind and to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so. (Acts 17:11)

 

For us, this is not a matter of personal opinion nor one of one-upmanship; it is a matter of personal righteousness and of right-standing before God.

 

Ultimately, we must be willing to let God’s Word speak to us, and we must be willing to conform ourselves to that Word.

We know that we have liberty in Christ Jesus.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:17)

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. (1 Cor 8:9)

So, (at the least) we must be careful in exercising our liberty.

Further, the bible teaches us that liberty in Christ Jesus makes us free FROM sin. It does not make us free TO sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1,2)

Moreover, we are commanded to:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (John 2:15)

So, our hearts shouldn’t even desire those things in the world from which we have been saved.

 

Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. We who were dead in trespasses and sins he hath quickened.

Why then would we willingly go back into trespasses and sins?

 

Why would we wander away and become lost again?

(For those who believe in eternal security - please read the articles on OSAS, but in the meantime - why would we even ’behave’ as if we were lost again?)

The question then would be…...are the things we will discuss matters of sin, or are they legitimately matters of personal conscience?

 

Let’s find out.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (I Thess 5:21)

List of Articles

 

Issues Common to Most Fellowships:

“Church” Membership

 

"Brother" Bill and "Pastor"

 

Lisa's Thoughts on the Depravation of Literature

 

Social Drinking/Use of Alcohol

Holidays:

Christmas:

 

Questions About Christmas

 

Is Christmas Scriptural?

 

Every Green Trees to Worship False gods?

 

Explaining to Friends - What is ‘wrong’ with Christmas

 

Comparison Between the Lord Jesus Christ and Santa Claus

 

Easter:

Television and Movies:

Watching Television

 

Mel Gibson - Our “Christian” Hero?

 

Mel Gibson - Our "Christian" Hero - The Passion of the Christ - Summary

Creation vs Evolution:

Creation, Evolution and the Gap Theory

 

Evolution - Fact or Fiction by James L. Melton - (Excellent !)

 

Robert Howie - Geologist - A Book Review by Mike Wright

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding the Book of Revelation

 

1. This article examines the book of Revelation and is the concluding part of a letter we wrote, the first part being posted in a previous article on this website.

 

2. So, having briefly examined the passages for which you requested that I clarify my position, I would suggest looking into the book of Revelation now and carrying these understandings with us. I believe that the book of Revelation is far less figurative and is far more applicable to us than (I understand) you believe it to be.

 

3. Two keys to understanding the book of Revelation:

a. The Book of Revelation is divided (Rev 1:19) into:

1) "the things which thou hast seen" - events of chapter 1

 

2) "the things which are" - the seven churches that existed at that time and to which John wrote in chapters 2 & 3, (i.e.. there are not seven "church ages". Believers in every church age can learn from what was written to each of the seven churches that existed in John's day.)

 

3) "the things which shall be hereafter" - events from chapter 4 until the end of chapter 22. (Rev 4:1)

b. The Book of Revelation is in order, but is not in chronological order.

1) The Hebrew/biblical way of thinking/writing is cyclical with additional information presented in each retelling of the story. For example:

a) Was Jesus crucified one time or four times?

 

b) He was crucified once, of course, but the story is told, in total, from four perspectives: Matthew, then Mark, then Luke, then John tell us about the life of Jesus in their gospels, each looping back to commence at a previous point in the story, and each adding pieces to the puzzle or confirming (by two or three witnesses) the events that were reported to have occurred.

 

c) Genesis chapter 1 describes creation. Genesis chapter 2 loops back (not all the way to the beginning though) and provides more detail about some of the events.

2) Likewise, from chapter 4 to chapter 22, the book of Revelation loops back to a previous point in time (not all the way to the beginning nor to the beginning of the previous loop) and begins to re-tell a story with more details provided on each re-telling.

a) the seven Seals tell the long story (from just after Jesus' time on earth), and ends at Armageddon. (Rev 6)

 

b) the seven Trumpets tell the shorter story (from WW I), and ends at the battle of Armageddon. (Rev 11)

 

c) the seven Vials tell the really short story (beginning at or just prior to the battle of Armageddon, and ends at the end of the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16)

3) If you examine the Sixth seal, the Seventh trumpet and the Seventh Vial side-by-side, you will see that these are all describing exactly the same event. It is also the same event that is described as the Day of the Lord, the Day of Christ, among which some are found at: Isaiah 13:6-13, Joel 1:15 and chapters 2 and 3, Zechariah chapter 14, Matthew 24:29-31 and Acts 2:20.

4. What are the Seals, the Trumpets, the Thunders, the Vials:

a. the Seven Seals. The first four seals are four horses. We see the same four horses in Zechariah chapter 6 where we are given additional information about each. We are told that these are four "spirits" (Zech 6:5)

1) White Horse - the "Spirit" of Catholicism (Seal was opened during the teachings of the Apostles - even at that time there were many who were corrupting the Word of God. Or, it may have been opened later during the time of Origen, the Hexapla, the so-called Septuagint, the Vaticanus, etc, or at least by 325 A.D. under Constantine. Remember, Jesus had just gone into heaven because he said he had to go. That is because, in part, he was there to take the scroll from him who sat on the throne and to begin opening the seals.)

a) Pope has white robes, white car, white popemobile, white helicopter, white airplane and - if he has one - a white horse

 

b) white horse follows the black horse - (because that is where the money is - more detail below)

2) Red Horse - the "Spirit" of Communism

a) official recognized colour of Communism is Red

 

b) Red Russia, Red China

 

c) This is how we know that the final world government is a communist (/socialist - same thing) government, because the world government beast that the woman rides on is a red beast. (Rev 17:3)

 

d) The rider of this horse has a great sword (Besides all of the other communist states, Russia and China are mighty military powers and have killed many millions of people)

3) Black Horse - the "Spirit" of Capitalism

a) official recognized colour of Capitalism is Black

 

b) black horse goes into the north country (Zech 6:6). Almost all capitalist countries are in the northern hemisphere and the wealthiest of them are in the northern hemisphere - hence why the white horse follows after

 

c) rider carries a set of balances (symbol of trade and commerce)

 

d) two measures of wheat for a penny - oil and wine - appears to be a description of a stockmarket report

4) Pale Horse (Grizzled, Bay - Zech 6)

a) Death (and Hell followed)

 

b) Good probability that this is the "Spirit" of Islam:

A. official colour of Islam is a Pale Green

 

B. Pale horse is given power over 1/4 of the earth. (1.5 billion people are Muslim - 1/4 of earth)

 

C. Muslim people dress profusely in pale green clothing, scarves, use pale green flags, etc

 

D. Muslims reject Christ and therefore are unsaved. Hell would naturally follow their deaths

 

E. Islam clearly teaches a doctrine and gospel of Death F. Even name Palestinian has "Pale" in it.

5) Souls under the Alter

a) Begins the great tribulation spoken of by Jesus in Matt 24

 

b) Perfect sequencing with fourth seal - rise of Islam, beheadings and gospel of death

6) Day of the Lord

a) Armageddon

 

b) Concurrent with 7th trumpet and 7th vial

7) Silence in Heaven - end of the end

a) perhaps silence in heaven because Jesus and his saints are on earth; those in heaven are silent

 

b) perhaps silence in heaven because the wedding is in progress - the Bride of Christ and the Bridegroom

b. the Seven Trumpets

1) World War I

a) no previous wars with even 1 million deaths

 

b) WW I had 8 million deaths - makes sense that God would prophesy such a catastrophic event

 

c) first war with airplanes; hence hail and fire mingled with blood as bombs fell

 

d) first time official "scorched earth policy" was employed - burned all green grass as armies retreated

 

2) World War II

a) WW II had 52 million deaths - again makes sense that God would prophesy such a catastrophic event

 

b) approximately 105,000 ships participated in WW II; approximately 36,000 of them were sunk - one third (just as prophesied)

 

c) first employment of a nuclear bomb - makes sense that God would prophesy this

 

d) nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima would look exactly like a mountain burning with fire and Hiroshima is on a little island in the sea - Japan

3) Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster - April 1986

a) worst nuclear disaster in history - makes sense that God would prophesy such a catastrophic event

 

b) Ukrainian word "Chernobyl" means "wormwood".

 

c) Many people died because of the waters - it rained incessantly for weeks following the disaster, which spread nuclear radiation across Europe and exposed millions to threat of cancer

4) Shortening of the Days

a) Jesus spoke of the shortening of the days in Matt 24:22

 

b) Many of the scriptures referring to the Day of the Lord include the phrase "the sun shall be darkened and the moon turn to blood" or variations of those words, before the great and notable Day of the Lord.

 

c) The number of days cannot be shortened or it would throw off God's prophesied timetable in many places. Therefore in order for the days to be shortened, the length of each day must change.

 

d) Chickens working on a shortened cycle of light and darkness - to produce more eggs - eventually go nuts. (Could some of the crime and lunacy in today's world be understood by realizing that God has sped everything up in order to shorten the days?)

 

e) It's not scientific, but time just seems to be flying - it makes sense that the days have been shortened.

5) Gulf War - 1991 - the First Woe

a) Saddam set the oilfields on fire in Kuwait and the sun was not seen for three months, by reason of the smoke of the fires. At noon, it was as dark as midnight.

 

b) The "locusts" coming out of the smoke were shaped like horses going into battle (helicopters?) They had breastplates of iron, faces of men and wings that sounded like the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle (helicopters?)

 

c) The locusts had a "king" over them named Abaddon or Apollyon - the destroyer. The name Saddam means the destroyer because he caused his mother so much pain during the pregnancy that she almost died and so she called him Saddam.

 

d) "In those days" many people were tortured by Saddam's regime and they sought death, but they were kept alive to be tortured even more. ("and death shall flee from them")

6) World War III - the Second Woe

a) Possibly began on September 11, 2001

 

b) Angels bound in the Euphrates River are loosed - obviously evil angels.

A. The Euphrates River is entirely Muslim controlled. It starts in Turkey, goes through Syria and runs completely through Iraq

 

B. War on Terror presently has troops along much of the Euphrates in Iraq

 

C. War on Terror is really a war between Islam and the West

c) One third of man will die - that would be 2 billion people

 

d) Number of the army - 200 thousand thousand (200 million)

A. Mao Tse Tung boasted of being able to field an army of 200 million soldiers.

 

B. CIA factbook lists China's military strength of being just over 200 million fit for war

 

C. Muslim World (Pale Horse) can also supply 200 million militants

e) China/Taiwan threat could trigger nuclear war - with this number of deaths

 

f) North Korea threat against South Korea could trigger nuclear war - with the number of deaths

 

g) Iranian dispute over nuclear program could trigger nuclear war

 

h) Cyclical Waves of Muslim violence we have seen could swell to critical mass, enflaming the millions of Muslims who haven't yet fought for their religion. Nuclear war would likely be necessary and could result in this number of deaths.

7) Armageddon - the Third Woe

a) same as sixth seal and seventh vial

 

b) this seventh trumpet is the "last trump" (I Cor 15:52) - the gathering of the saints

 

c) end of man's government on earth and beginning of Jesus' government on earth.

c. the Seven Thunders. We don't know. God told John not to write these things.

 

d. the Seven Vials

1) A noisesome and grievous sore (Note that it says "a" sore and only on those who had the mark of the beast) - probably from exploded chip implants which are known to cause such a sore if radiated by high energy - such as a microwave oven - or, in this case, an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) device - high altitude detonation of a nuclear weapon at commencement of Armageddon

 

2) sea becomes blood (makes sense - the world is at war)

 

3) rivers and fountains become blood (makes sense - the world is at war)

 

4) sun scorches men

 

5) darkness and pain

 

6) Euphrates river dried up to make way for kings of the east to invade Israel. The Attaturk dam in Turkey was completed in 1990 and it was used to cut off the flow of the Euphrates for an entire month while the reservoir was being filled. The Euphrates can now be stopped for a couple of days with the push of button to raise that dam.

 

7) Same as sixth seal and seventh trumpet - the Day of the Lord - end of Man's government on earth and beginning of the government of Jesus on earth.

5. Just as the four horses of Revelation can be found in Zechariah, the Four beasts of Revelation 16 can be found in Daniel chapter 7. Actually, Revelation 16 speaks of ONE beast with seven heads and ten horns, but these are really the four beasts of Daniel chapter 7 brought together into a combined beast.

a. Remember that a beast represents a kingdom (and/or the ruler of that kingdom)

 

b. Therefore the Seven-headed, ten-horned combined beast of Revelation chapter 16 is a conglomerate kingdom - a super kingdom with combined characteristics

 

c. Notice how this beast is combined from the beasts of Daniel 7 - mouth of the Lion, feet of the bear, body of the leopard, ten-horns of the ten-horned beast. Count the heads - seven - (one for the lion, one for the bear, one for the ten-horned beast and four for the leopard). Count the horns - ten (all from the ten-horned beast of Daniel 7).

 

d. Notice that the beast speaks with the mouth of the Lion. The Lion is Britain. British people speak English, and the official international language today for transnational organizations, including NGO's and that of the UN itself, is ENGLISH - the mouth of the Lion.

 

e. One of the heads was wounded unto death - Hitler's third Reich (one of the leopard's heads) was wounded unto death and the Berlin wall divided Germany, as a symbol of that deadly wound. In 1989 the Berlin wall was torn down and the "New World Order" was on the lips of virtually every politician. The New World Order is global government - the conglomerate beast of Revelation 16. At that time, I remember very well, the Berlin wall was called (by TIME and NEWSWEEK magazines among others) the 29 wound that just won't heal, and other similar things.

 

f. The "healing" of Germany with the fall of the Berlin wall made the entire world "wonder" after the conglomerate beast (Rev 13:3), and we have rapidly been moving into empowering this world government ever since.

6. I trust that this gives you reasonable insight into my view of these subjects and explains my concern for having first contacted you. As always, I would welcome your views as your time permits.

 

Rejoicing that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life,

 

Mike & family

 

NOTE:  Although we do not endorse some of his other beliefs, we appreciate the faithful research of Irvin Baxter, Jr of Endtime Magazine for clarifying our understanding of many of these prophetic things.