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| Byzantine Emperor Leo III ordering Iconclasm (destruction of icons, idols) |
Idolatry is rampant in the Church. From practicing Yoga (a tenant, mediation and worship of Hindu gods, Buddist and Jainism as well), to being entertained by depictions of Vishnu in Raven Mystique in the X-Men films, the blue people of James Camerson's Avatar films [by the way James Camerson did an antichrist docu for Neo Geo about Christ's Tomb), and Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and beyond. The church is tolerating idols in digital and physical form. Catholic tolerate the Queen of Heaven, whom they call Mary, but is actually Ashtoreth (Jeremiah 44). Many Protestant brother and sisters in Christ are flexing the morals of Bible, saying Homosexuality is permissible when God forbids it (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV, Romans 1:26-28). Eastern Orthodox Christians have literal idols in form of icons, images of silver and gold they worship (venerate) say they don't worship but use to worship, but in actuality they use them to teleport to that time period and enter dimensions of the supernatural, which is exactly what witches and New Ageists do; besides the LORD confronts icon making of the Orthodox Church, "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by human design and skill," (Acts 17:29), and "not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the LORD your God," (Leviticus 26:1). Artwork for pure creativity and to honor the LORD is not wrong, but Icons are mystical and made to be portals to supernatural places and to time travel (Praying with Icons, Linette Martin). I actually agree with Emperor Leo III of Byzantium, that Icons are idols and the very objects that imperil healthy spiritualty in Christ. for the Apostle Paul warned, "For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband--Christ. I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3). Worse, almost every Christian brother or sister is permitting idolatry into their homes by worshipping or trusting money, when Jesus said you must choose the LORD God or Money (Matthew 6:24), and the entertainments that many enjoy are the sympathetic show about Satan called Lucifer, Marvel's InHumanes which has actually fallen angels or gods like Medusa (see Genesis 6:4), and the Thor film saga, and Wonder Woman which turn half breeds into heroes, something mentioned in Bible, "In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times," (Genesis 6:4), and "They will reject the truth and chase after myths." (2 Timothy 4:4). Idolatry is infectin9g the Church at a rapid rate, this is direct and indirect. Directly is in form of new Ecumenism or Ecumenical Movement where Protestants and Catholics, and Orthodox are becoming close; which is flooding Protestant homes with pagan traditions that Martin Luther and other protested five hundred years ago. Another direct route of idolatry is the Hindu-Jainism-Buddhist practice of Yoga, tribalism in Zumba, and other rituals from other religions. In direct idol worship is through being entertainment by the fallen angels and sons of god (Genesis 6:4-11) through films, video games, and more. Indirect is venerating these fallen angels through enjoying their mythologies wither in the Greek, Norse, Celtic, Russian, and other legends of heroes and half breeds of gods and humans; which are in fact the demons (Genesis 6:4-11) who were giants and lost their bodies in flood, and now crave flesh (bodies).
Idolatry is serious to the LORD Jesus, to the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you think that because you are Christian our Lord Christ will tolerate your veneration of Mary, Saints, trust in money, practicing paganisms like Yoga, and more; you are gravely mistaken. Our God is a jealous God, and He expects us to be a faithful bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:6-9). The Church is seething with sacrilege and idolatry. So many brothers and sisters are content to keep in their homes idols weither digitally, literally (in objects, rosaries, books/texts of evil religions, and more), and metaphorically/spiritually in that they have adopted practices from the mystical teachings of the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholic Franciscans (who are engaging and branching into New Age now, example is The Divine Dance by Richard Rhor and Mike Morrell, both men have adopted in addition to Christian teaching, Buddhist, Hindu, and even New Age teachings; ), and other groups.
We are told this was going to happen, the Apostle Paul said, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4). This is what is happening, people are filling their itching ears with the teachings of men who have mixed the True Gospel according to the Scriptures with teachings of pagans and false religions (myths). This is contrary to how we are suppose to be as the Church, which believes, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made." (Philippians 3:8-11, 15). We are suppose to count all teachings lost but knowing Christ's Teaching, for He is our Teacher, "Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Christ The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted," (Matthew 23:7-12). Jesus Christ is our Teacher. His teachings and Way is found in the Scriptures (Holy Bible) and the Holy Spirit, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is who reminded the Apostles what to wrote down in the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:20-21); this in addition to their own eyewitness account from memory. Thus we see we are not to seek other teachers, only Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, and the Father who is One with Jesus and the Spirit (John 17:19-21, John 20:20-22, John 14:26, 1 Peter 1:1-2).
The Apostle Paul tells us clearly to destroy anything that rises up against the Truth who is Jesus (John 14:6), "We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.overthrowing arguments, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ,We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5). Those obstacles are false religions and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, New Age, Occultisms, Kabbala, Tarot, Divination, Magic, and more. We are called as Christians to tear down these falsehoods, and yet instead many brothers and sisters in Christ are knowingly or unknowingly participating in these idolatries!
We are actually told to never eat with idol worshippers!, "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11). Notice we are told not to associate with believers (Christians) who do these things; not unbelievers or else we would all have to become monks and nuns in conclaves hidden from world. This is why this post is so important. The Church is practicing idolatry, and sexual immortality; the former by doing Yoga and allow other gods into their homes via entertainment, and latter by condoning homosexuality and promiscuity and sex outside marriage. Idolatry is rampant, and so to make the point even clearing I have collected the following verses and chapters of Bible to emphasis why you can have nothing to do with any idols, other gods, other religions, and practices:
"But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." (Revelation 9:20-21)
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:21)
"So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols." (1 Corinthians 10:14)
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by human design and skill." (Acts 17:29).
" No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?" (1 Corinthians 10:20-22).
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24).
"Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing." (1 Kings 18:21).
"And you shall not bring an abominable thing (idol) into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction." (Deuteronomy 7:26)
"And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles." (Romans 1:23).
"Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood." (Acts 15:20, Council of Jerusalem)
"for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God," (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols." (Acts 17:16)
"And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver (2 Million dollars)." (Acts 19:19)
"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world." (Colossians 3:5)
"Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry,sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21 AMP)
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:14-15)
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 26:1)
"'Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:4)
"They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols." (Psalms 78:58)
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:21)
"So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols." (1 Corinthians 10:14)
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by human design and skill." (Acts 17:29).
" No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?" (1 Corinthians 10:20-22).
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24).
"Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing." (1 Kings 18:21).
"And you shall not bring an abominable thing (idol) into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction." (Deuteronomy 7:26)
"And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles." (Romans 1:23).
"Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood." (Acts 15:20, Council of Jerusalem)
"for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God," (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols." (Acts 17:16)
"And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver (2 Million dollars)." (Acts 19:19)
"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world." (Colossians 3:5)
"Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry,sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21 AMP)
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:14-15)
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 26:1)
"'Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:4)
"They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made him jealous with their idols." (Psalms 78:58)
"then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you." (Leviticus 26:30)
"They made Him jealous with strange gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger." (Deuteronomy 32:16)
"Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:4)
"But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess." (Deuteronomy 30:17-18).
We should never make alliances with unbelievers. The Ecumenical/Ecumenism/Interfaith movement propelled by Pope Francs I, Franciscan Richard Rhor, Eastern Orthodox Church in America, The Methodist Church, and more are in violation of following verse inspired by Trinity through the Apostle Paul:
"Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said:
“I will dwell among them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],
And I will be a Father to you,
And you will be My sons and daughters,”Says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
The LORD Jesus has always detested Idol worship. Here are some very lengthy but relevant passages that prove that our LORD Trinity will not tolerate idols, or the Church (in OT the Hebrews), participating in idolatries:
"But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
14 Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
16 Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me." (Isaiah 43:1-27)
"This is the message Jeremiah received concerning the Judeans living in northern Egypt in the cities of Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and in southern Egypt as well: 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: You saw the calamity I brought on Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah. They now lie deserted and in ruins. 3 They provoked my anger with all their wickedness. They burned incense and worshiped other gods—gods that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors had ever even known.
4 “Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, ‘Don’t do these horrible things that I hate so much.’ 5 But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways. They kept on burning incense to these gods. 6 And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and they are still a desolate ruin today.
7 “And now the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, asks you: Why are you destroying yourselves? For not one of you will survive—not a man, woman, or child among you who has come here from Judah, not even the babies in your arms. 8 Why provoke my anger by burning incense to the idols you have made here in Egypt? You will only destroy yourselves and make yourselves an object of cursing and mockery for all the nations of the earth. 9 Have you forgotten the sins of your ancestors, the sins of the kings and queens of Judah, and the sins you and your wives committed in Judah and Jerusalem? 10 To this very hour you have shown no remorse or reverence. No one has chosen to follow my word and the decrees I gave to you and your ancestors before you.
11 “Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to destroy every one of you! 12 I will take this remnant of Judah—those who were determined to come here and live in Egypt—and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. 13 I will punish them in Egypt just as I punished them in Jerusalem, by war, famine, and disease. 14 Of that remnant who fled to Egypt, hoping someday to return to Judah, there will be no survivors. Even though they long to return home, only a handful will do so.”
15 Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols—a great crowd of all the Judeans living in northern Egypt and southern Egypt[c]—answered Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! 17 We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like—just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! 18 But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine.”
19 “Besides,” the women added, “do you suppose that we were burning incense and pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!”
20 Then Jeremiah said to all of them, men and women alike, who had given him that answer, 21 “Do you think the Lord did not know that you and your ancestors, your kings and officials, and all the people were burning incense to idols in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 22 It was because the Lord could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing—a desolate ruin without inhabitants—as it is today. 23 All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws.”
24 Then Jeremiah said to them all, including the women, “Listen to this message from the Lord, all you citizens of Judah who live in Egypt. 25 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You and your wives have said, “We will keep our promises to burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven,” and you have proved by your actions that you meant it. So go ahead and carry out your promises and vows to her!’
26 “But listen to this message from the Lord, all you Judeans now living in Egypt: ‘I have sworn by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that my name will no longer be spoken by any of the Judeans in the land of Egypt. None of you may invoke my name or use this oath: “As surely as the Sovereign Lord lives.” 27 For I will watch over you to bring you disaster and not good. Everyone from Judah who is now living in Egypt will suffer war and famine until all of you are dead. 28 Only a small number will escape death and return to Judah from Egypt. Then all those who came to Egypt will find out whose words are true—mine or theirs!
29 “‘And this is the proof I give you,’ says the Lord, ‘that all I have threatened will happen to you and that I will punish you here.’ 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘I will turn Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies who want to kill him, just as I turned King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon." (Jeremiah 44:1-30)
Babylon is not gone:
"After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. 2 He gave a mighty shout:
“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul spirit,
a hideout for every foul vulture
and every foul and dreadful animal.
3 For all the nations have fallen
because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
the merchants of the world have grown rich.”
She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul spirit,
a hideout for every foul vulture
and every foul and dreadful animal.
3 For all the nations have fallen
because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
the merchants of the world have grown rich.”
4 Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,
“Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.
5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.
6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’
8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.
5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.
6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’
8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”
9 And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out,
“How terrible, how terrible for you,
O Babylon, you great city!
In a single moment
God’s judgment came on you.”
O Babylon, you great city!
In a single moment
God’s judgment came on you.”
11 The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. 12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. 13 She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.
14 “The fancy things you loved so much
are gone,” they cry.
“All your luxuries and splendor
are gone forever,
never to be yours again.”
are gone,” they cry.
“All your luxuries and splendor
are gone forever,
never to be yours again.”
15 The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out,
16 “How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,
decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 In a single moment
all the wealth of the city is gone!”
She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,
decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 In a single moment
all the wealth of the city is gone!”
And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. 18 They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?” 19 And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out,
“How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
The shipowners became wealthy
by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone.”
The shipowners became wealthy
by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone.”
20 Rejoice over her fate, O heaven
and people of God and apostles and prophets!
For at last God has judged her
for your sakes.
and people of God and apostles and prophets!
For at last God has judged her
for your sakes.
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted,
“Just like this, the great city Babylon
will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.” (Revelation 18:1-24)
will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.” (Revelation 18:1-24)
Ashteroth/Asherah, Ishtar, ISIS, Queen of Heaven:
"That same night the LORD said to him, "Take the second bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down." (Judges 6:25-26)
We must not fail as Jahu did, who failed to finish destroying idolatry:
"30 Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?”
32 He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33 “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
34 Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36 They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh.
37 Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”
18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
20 Jehu said, “Call an assembly in honor of Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 Then he sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from one end to the other. 22 And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them.
23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around and see that no one who serves the Lord is here with you—only servants of Baal.” 24 So they went in to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had posted eighty men outside with this warning: “If one of you lets any of the men I am placing in your hands escape, it will be your life for his life.”
25 As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: “Go in and kill them; let no one escape.” So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal. 26 They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27 They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.
28 So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 29 However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory 33 east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer by the Arnon Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.
34 As for the other events of Jehu’s reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
35 Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king. 36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years." (2 Kings 9:30-2 Kings 10:1-36).
I have often said idolatry is adultery to God. Because God is our Husband (Hosea 2:16). When you entertain idols, demons, divinations, magic, and false religions via yoga, movies, video games, books and more; you are cheating the LORD God. The LORD Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will not tolerate idolatry, and yet many have fallen into idolatries. The Church is justifying idolatries, and the result will be severe discipline to lead them to repentance, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." (Revelation 3:19). So repent O Church! Turn from idolatries, stop doing Yoga, reading mystical books, watching and being entertained by demons in films, stop wearing New Age jewelry, and cease compromising! Count all things lost so that you may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8-9), and so have eternal life (John 6:40, John 3:16), and know the One True God (John 17:3), who made all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16), and who so loved you He died for you and your sins on the cross and rose from dead! He has ascended into Heaven and shall be coming soon on the clouds (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:11-16). Do not hesitate and take time, repent of idol worship and idolatries, and instead turn to Immanuel (Jesus Christ). Amen.
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