Case Against Judas: His Name

     Every word in the scripture is there for a reason, even names. Most of the biblical names represented their purpose in life. For instance, "Jesus" means "Yahweh saves." Judas means "Yahweh is praised," and is derived from the Hebrew "Judah." Now for Iscariot; it's definition is much more complex, but is interpreted to mean "man of the city." That is a far stretch. A more detailed analysis is that it is "a man called." One of the many verbs with the same root (qurar) is the Hebrew word Quran, meaning "He who calls." (abarim-publications.com), Judas Iscariot, then is roughly, "God is praised by the Koran."
     Of course, the Quran (Koran in English), contains the religious writings of Islam -  "voluntary submission to God" (Wikipedia; "Islam"). History has demonstrated that Islam is anything but voluntary as proselytization is by the blade! According to Muslim writers, the Quran is represented by the letter Qaf (surah) and the number "666" (http://web.archive.org/web/20080118112151/http://www.66619.org/666.htm).

     According to the Quran Jesus did not die on the cross but an imposter did:

Surah 4:157 "And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain."

     There are different versions in Islam why Jesus did not die on the cross, and one of the most plausible, supported by the Gnostic Gospel of Barnabas, is that Judas Iscariot was the sacrifice (Wikipedia; "Islamic views on Jesus' death"). Of all their explanations, that one makes more sense from scripture, not that there was a substitution, but that it could easily have been misconstrued.
     There are two passages about Judas's death. Critics used them to "disprove" the inerrancy of the Bible. However, when looking at Jesus's death, do the comparison yourself:

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30).

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his (Jesus's) side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34).

Compare the death of Jesus to that of Judas Iscariot:

(Judas) Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Mat 27:4-5).

Now this man (Judas) purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (Acts 1:19).

16th-century fresco from Tarzhishte Monastery, Strupets, Bulgaria (Wikipedia)

    Jesus on the cross by Simon Bisley - Simon .

     It is obvious that Judas Iscariot and Jesus died in the same manner, but by different hands, and for much different purposes! Was that merely coincidental? Nothing in scripture is by coincidence. God's Plan was for testing His creatures for fidelity. Nothing happens without God's authorization. Just as God created Satan to test Christians, he created a Beast for the Great Testing - the Great Tribulation - described below:

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. (Rev 13:18)

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev 20:4).

     The method of testing will be by the sword, and those who fail the test will  be beheaded by the Beast. Revelation 13 identifies how Islam can be "killed": "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." (Rev 13:10). The Christian "sword" is the Word of God (Ephes 6:17), and the sword of Islam is the crescent which represents the word of Mohammad, possibly one of the "Beasts" of Revelation. Without a doubt in my mind, Islam is the end-of-time religion and Sharia Law the end-of-time government. Who then is the Antichrist?
     Well, scripture says that the dragon gave power to the beast (Rev 13:4). I am only aware of one place in scripture wherein a "dragon" gave power to a "beast": "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot" (Luke 22:2) and reinforced by "The devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him" (John 13:2). For Adam, as with David, iniquity entered in. With Iscariot, Satan himself, not demons, entered into him. Judas perhaps is the Antichrist. Will Judas be resurrected just as Jesus? As a damned person, that would not be the case. Satan surely would enter a new person, and Islam even names him - Isa - their "Jesus."

The "end times" refers to the period of time close to the end of the world. According to Islam, in this time, there will be the terrible trials of the Dajjal (Anti-Christ), many earthquakes and the emergence of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog) after which the ways of the Quran will prevail and people will extensively adhere to the values it introduces... The religion of true Christianity, which comprises the collective personality of Jesus , will emerge. That is, it will descend from the skies of Divine Mercy. Present Christianity will be purified in the face of that reality; it will cast off superstition and distortion, and unite with the truths of Islam. Christianity will in effect be transformed into a sort of Islam. Following the Quran, the collective personality of Christianity will be in the rank of follower, and Islam, in that of leader... It will be the truly pious followers of Jesus who will kill the gigantic collective personality of materialism and irreligion which the Dajjal will form - for the Dajjal will be killed by Jesus' sword - and destroy his ideas and disbelief, which are atheistic. (IslamiCity; "Jesus Will Return")

    Note that it is not Herrin's opinion that Isa will be the Antichrist, but the very own words of Muslims.  How was it that Judas Iscariot allegedly replaced Jesus Christ on the cross? Deceivers suggest that Judas even looked like Jesus. Islam propagates the notion that Allah took Jesus up without having suffered death, but that Judas died on the cross. Perhaps, what really happened is that Judas descended into Hell, as I believe that Mohammad did rather than into Heaven, and in the end perhaps Judas will ascend from Hell. 
    Given the fact that Quran means "calling" and that Iscariot means "man called," it is plausible that Judas is the Antichrist - the very misrepresentation of Christ in the apocalypse. Can a man be resurrected from Hell? I don't know about that, but Satan can be because we do know that he will be cast into Hell for a millennium, then come back. Judas was possessed by Satan. It seems as if he is the Isa who never ascended to Heaven but descended unto Hell. The Quran indicates that Isa will return with a vengeance! "Oh, Isa... Have you found out any decree of salvation from My chastisement? Or are you willfully inviting My anger? In that case I also swear by My Holy Self that I will punish you with a chastisement which will become a lesson for the coming generations" (Al-Islam.org; "An account of ‘Isa ibn Maryam").
     Satan could posses anyone but Jesus. Because of his faith, however, God did not allow Satan to enter Job nor any of the apostles with the exception of Judas. It seems that Judas is Isa - the false Christ. His very name points to that as well as the descriptions of his death. Not only that, but Islam ascribes to that. Christians should fear Islam because by their own accounts, in the Great Tribulation, they will be the "true" Christianity. Why are churches so benevolent to Muslims and Islam? Because prophecy is being fulfilled. We must not welcome Islam, but fear it. Islamaphobia is a rational-type of fear because of Holy Scripture and their own pronouncements.  When Judas calls, we must hearken. 
     I have written before of the Seven Pillars of Islam representing the seven crowns upon seven heads (Rev 12:3). They are Islam's seven holy mountains. I have also written of the pre-Hebrew tribes of Palestine, one whose name means "clay." By all indications, Islam, allied with socialism, will be the religion of the end-of-time government. After 3-1/2 years, socialist Islam will transform to communist Sharia Law. 
     Should we care? Is it possible that Christians of this era will see Judas? As a believer in the mid-tribulation, I fear that we may. What if the rapture of Christians are pre-tribulation. We too will see the advent of that tribulation, and I  can see it now! It won't come like a giant wave but trickle one day at a time until a crescendo is reached and Isa returns, not in love, but terror. What a great and terrible day when some escape and others are decapitated. 
    Islam is just a modern version of the ancient "wisdom" of Gnosticism, and is a perversion of the gospels.
     Jesus judged Judas himself when he said, "Woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" (Luke 22:22). Is Judas in Heaven or Hell? He repented did he not? However, although it finally came to him that he betrayed God Himself, he tried to save himself by his own hand. He convicted himself but rather than allowing Jesus to make the sacrifice for him, Judas sacrificed himself.
     His own blood could not propitiate for his sins. He missed the point of what Jesus said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7), and missed the point of,  "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" (John 3:14).
     Judas tried to pay for his own sin. He saw himself on the pole dying for mankind. He failed to realize that he was looking at the dead Serpent - himself - dead on that "tree" covered by the blood of Jesus. Yes, Judas's death represented the death of the Serpent just as the Word pronounced back in Genesis chapter three! Judas is coming back with a vengeance!
     

     

Case Against Judas: His Spiritual Condition

     The case against Judas has much to do with predestination. Calvinists would believe that just as Christians were predestined to be Christians, Judas was predestined to betray Jesus. Arminians would believe that God knew who would be saved, and who would not be by foreknowledge ( 1 Pet 1:2). That verse refers to the "elect" as well.
     Since God knew the hearts of each person before the world came into existence, as is written, "He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Eph 1:4-5).
     God knew in advance who would follow him, and who would not. However, there is no evidence that God did not call everyone to him. Yes, Judas was called to be a Christian as were tall the twelve. (Mat 10:1), knowing that Judas would betray him: "Who (God) hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tim 1:9).
     Jesus called Judas Isacariot for a purpose, and that was to betray him to fulfill prophecy. Luke wrote about that: "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.  For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry" (Acts 1:16-17). 
     Since Judas was called for the purpose of ministering to Jesus, his heart must have been right at that time. If he was converted, Judas could have  "fallen away?" If he did, in that case, Judas would be damned according to scripture: "If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Heb 6:6). 
    Did Judas fall away or was he not a Christ at the time of his calling. Of course, like the others, he was called, but that was to follow Jesus. Even until this day, many follow Jesus without conversion. That is the case with all the apostles. Simon Peter was the strongest of all th apostles in that Jesus requested that after he was converted, that he strengthen the others (Luke 22:32). Peter soon denied Jesus, but he later was sorrowful and became the model apostle. He had not fallen away because he had yet to be converted. Likewise, Judas had not fallen away because neither had he been converted! 
     Let me stop for a moment and make a confession: As the public defender for Judas  Iscariot, I admit that he betrayed Jesus and deserves death (Rom 6:23) because Judas's sin was grievous. I want him to pay the penalty, but here I am defending him!
     He betrayed Jesus. According to that passage, everyone deserves death because all have sinned (Rom 3:23). Jesus acknowledged that those who plotted against him committed a greater sin than Pilate: "He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin" (John 19:11). 
     Admittedly, Judas Iscariot's sin was greater than Pilates's. With that proven, the scribes and Pharisees who plotted against Jesus would receive greater punishment than even those who were not believers: "Therefore, ye shall see the greater damnation" (Mat 23:14), he told them. Apparently, there are degress of damnation just as their are degrees of reward for those in heaven (different crowns; 2 Tim 4:8). 
     Certainly, unless Judas repented, he would never receive eternal life, as it is written, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (Jas 1:12). Why not? Judas did not endure the temptation of having the thirty pieces of silver.
    Why should I want traitor Judas to not be damned?  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God loved Judas because he is part of the "world." Jesus did not want Judas to perish, and neither should we! Jesus came to the defense of those who killed him (Luke 23:34). He was speaking to those who had the same sin as Judas - gambling for gain. 
    Judas gambled that Jesus was not God. He bet his eternal life on that mistaken belief. His sin was much as Peter's who denied him three times. Peter also gambled that Jesus was not God when he said, I am not one of Jesus's disciples (Luke 22:58). Peter gambled to save his own flesh; Judas gambled for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus's actual killers gambled for his clothes, but they did not know who it was they were killing. The defense submits, Your Honor, that Judas, when he betrayed Jesus, had not yet been converted, and knew not what he did. His guiltiness, at that time, was no greater than any of the apostles, none of whom had been converted.
     Satan had to use someone. There is no evidence that any of the apostles were ever baptized. However, it seems to be implied that the apostles may have had John's Baptism of repentance, which means that their sins were washed clean. They became innocent when they were baptized by water and their sins remitted (Mark 1:4). With the soul clean, it was open to filling with the Holy Spirit or with an unholy spirit. Jesus had been the only person baptized on whom the Holy Spirit remained. (John 1:33). None of the apostles, before their conversion, had been imbued with the Holy Spirit. All were capable of grievously sinning again. As is written, two of them did: Peter and Judas. Peter could have betrayed Jesus, but did not. It was Peter who came to Jesus's defense when he cut of a soldier's ear to prevent Jesus's capture. Peter denied Jesus; Judas betrayed him. Those events are written together for comparison purposes. I believe that effectually Peter and Judas were equally guilty!
     The thirty pieces of silver seemed to be why Judas betrayed Jesus. That was the "tool" that Satan used. The Devil (Satan) got into the heart of Judas (John 13:2: Luke 22:3). Judas did not choose a new master, a new master chose him. Judas repeated the error of Adam who received the unholy spirit of Satan from the Serpent. Like Adam, Judas had been innocent, but sin entered in from Satan. Adam sinned although Satan choose him. Likewise, there is no question; Judas sinned because, as we know from the story of Job, he as Job, could have resisted Satan. Jesus knew that he could not because he also had been tempted by Satan and knew what power it took.
     Most people are inflenced by secondary charactors called "demons." Satan seems to reserve direct influence over prominant people. Satan temped Adam, Job, and Jesus; and I believe David also through Bathsheba. Jesus and Job were the only two able to resist the subtility of Satan. Adam failed, David failed, and Judas failed. Job did not, it seems, to demonstrate that it is possible to withstand temptation. Jesus did not fall to the wiles of Satan because he is God!
     Judas, like everyone but Jesus and Job before him, could not resist temptation. God would not allow Satan to lay a hand on Job (Job 1:12), but in Judas's case, God allowed Satan, not only to lay a hand on Judas, but to enter into him. In other words, Satan possessed Judas, but never was able to possess either Job nor Jesus! Neither did he possess any of the other apostles, including Peter. Jesus allowed Judas to be attacked unmercifully, perhaps later, to have mercy on him.
     While my "spirit" wants Judas to be in Heaven, my "flesh" does not! Why is that? Because Muslims believe that it was Judas who died on the cross, and not Jesus. They deny Jesus because Judas's hanging on his own tree fell into their narrative. The false gospel of the Book of Barnabas stakes that claim as well. The belief that Judas Iscariot died on the cross reinforces the secret knowledge of Gnosticism - the false gospel. For that reason, even I resent the idea, as his defender, that Judas may be in Heaven because he deserved death more than anyone; at least that is my perception.
     Jesus knew all along who would betray him. That is demonstrated in all the gospels, which is important, but Jesus, who was there in the beginninng with Adam, knew who else would betray him. He knew it was Judas. The fact that Judas was surnamed "Iscariot" indicates that knowledge; he was born the son of Simon Iscariot. 
     In scripture, names mean things. Somehow, God's plan directs that people be named for their purpose in life. As an example, Jesus Barabbas's name means "Jesus, the son of the father" sharing Jesus's (Christ's) name and purpose. He was the scapegoat released in place of Jesus. 
     Another example is Saul. That name means "questioning" and obviously the persecutor Saul questioned the nature of Jesus. Later, Jesus renamed him "Paul" which is "humbled." My point, jury, is that in scritpure names mean things, and "Iscariot" is no less important. It is imperative to know who Judas was to understand that he was pre-ordained to betray Jesus. Not that he had no choice, but that God knew in advance who Satan would imbue with that sin.
     Tomorrow, Judas's surname will be discussed. 
     

Case Against Judas - Opening Arguments

     Today, as the attorney for the defendant, I will present an opening argument. As an honest attorney, everything will be truthful. Consider, now, the case, The World Vs. Judas.

    My client, if he was here, would not defend himself or even appear on the witness stand. The accusations against him have humbled him. He does not deny his guilt. Judas was well acquainted with the deceased. He knows that he caused an innocent man to die.
    Judas did not persecute Jesus nor drive the nails. Neither did he draw blood on the accused. He knew that the officials would murder Jesus anyway, so why should be not extort a sum for the benefit of his sect? He knew that Jesus had committed no sin, but failed to realize that Jesus was and still is God in the Flesh. If only he really knew in truth that he was killing God, I propose that Judas would not have betrayed him.
    I want to note that my client made no excuses; he blamed himself. Even Adam and Eve placed blame; Eve on the Serpent, and Adam on Eve, but yet God covered their sins with a coat fashioned from an animal, likely a lamb, who died for that reason. The Judge, Your Honor, (looking toward Heaven), was just but gracious at the same time. They suffered the consequences of their sin, but were still granted a reprieve. The shed blood of the animal was the propitiation for their sin. I admonish the Court to offer the same reprieve to Judas as Your Highness did to the first man and the first woman.
    "I object!" screamed the prosecutor. "Adam and Eve merely ate of forbidden fruit; they did not kill God!"
    "Objection sustained," an angel of God messaged. "Admittedly, Adam and Eve did not kill anyone; they, however, did diminish God."
     "Let me rephrase, then," I said for the defense. "Did not Adam and Eve aid and abet the Serpent whose intent was to eliminate God and take his throne?"
     "Where is your evidence for that?" queried the prosecution.
     "The evidence is in God's Word," I replied. "This case is much like Adam vs. God back in the Garden. I submit that Adam and Eve was colluding - unwittingly - with the Serpent to steal God's identity, and by doing so, spiritually to kill God. They may as well have crucified God back in the beginning!"
     "Please submit the evidence," God's angel relayed.
     I walked forward to the altar, and opened Holy Scripture to this passage: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isa 14:11-14).
     "The facts are that the angel, Lucifer, was punished by God for disobedience, and had hatred for God in his heart. As a hater, Lucifer had no qualms about God abdicating His throne to him, but knowing that He would not, Lucifer sought to kill God. He was so intent on diminishing God that he took a royal title - Satan - Prince of the Power of the Air."
     "I object!" screamed the prosecutor with impatience. "Lucifer, aka Satan or the Serpent, never laid a hand on God That was his constraint. We find that God forbade that type of recourse in Job chapter one." 
     The Judge (from His throne), frowns on deception. He didn't like this narrative or where it was going. He, the most fair of the fair, said, "Continue; let's see where this is going."
     I responded to the Judge. "I will use your own Word, Your Honor." 
     "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15). Also, consider another Word from Scripture: "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44). The former passage refers to whosoever and that inlcudes Lucifer. The latter correctly and directly identifies the Devil, another alias of Lucifer. 
     "The Serpent was trying to kill God by using God's creatures to do the killing. Adam and Eve wounded God, but it was emotional. The two died physically, but you, Judge, was lenient; they did not die spirtually since you physically died so that they would not perish forever."
     "That is true!" nodded the Judge in agreement. "Do you know why I did that?"
     I knew well why! "For you, God, so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!" (John 3:16). 
     "I implore you, God, to have the same mercy on Judas Iscariot that you had for Adam and Eve. He is also one of the whosoever."
     Again, the prosecution objected: "But God was not killed back then but was on Calvary!" 
     This time, the Judge called for quiet in the Courtroom, and all the Earth was silent; just for a moment, but for a short period of silence. Those few seconds seemed like 400 years of silence to the world. 
    The Judge spoke truthfully; "I was severly wounded when Eve ate, but she was deceived. What hurt the most was when Adam knowingly and willingly ate. It was as if I had been entirely forsaken. I did not die, but suffered death. That's what happened to Me in the Flesh on the Cross. The defense is correct; death was commenced in the midst of the Garden, and finalized on Calvary - the very same place! Judas's sin was very much like Adam's, but he didn't know what he was doing; he doubted that I was truly God until it was too late. His sin was more like Eve's since Satan beguiled him."
    "Your Honor, I ask for a recess until tomorrow to study the Word more so as better to prosecute Mr. Iscariot," implored the prosecutor. 
     "I will give you one more day, and beware, tomorrow is not guaranteed," the Judge warned. 
     "Court dismissed until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow unless I decide to come now."

The Case Against Judas

     Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Does the story end there? I have assembled all the passages pertinent to Judas excepting the Old Testament prophecies. Judas fulfilled those prophecies. Someone had to betray, and Judas was selected from the beginning. Interwoven in those events are Simon Peter's attitude. As you study Judas, Peter's attitude cannot be dismissed, nor can the condition of the other disciples or even the Jewish leaders and Pilate. Consider everything in your verdict. Is Judas guilty of killing God? Who were his accomplices? Did Judas willingly cause Jesus to die? Today, just read the scriptures and think on them. Consider yourself; as you judge Judas, use the same metrics as you would be judged.  Let's examine this controversial man - Judas; guilty or not guilty? Remember the story of David and Nathan. David unknowingly judged himself. Beware of using a different standard for Judas than for any others.

• "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Mat 10:1) "Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him" (Mat 10:4)
• ^"And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude" (Luke 22:2-6).
• "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him" (John 13:2). 
• "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13:8).
• "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean" (John 13:10-11).
• "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." (John 13:18-19).
• "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him" (Mat 26:3-4).
• "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor" (Mat 26:7:9)
• "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" (John 12:4-5).
• "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him" (Mat 26:14-16).
• "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said" (Mat 26:21-25).
• "Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! (Luke 22:21-22).
• "Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him" (John 13:26-28).
• "He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him." (John 13:30-32).
• "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:22-23).
• "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night" (Mat 26:31).
• "Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." (Mat 26:33-34).
• "And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing" (Luke 22:23) "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat" (Luke 22:31). "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32).
• "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me" (Luke 22:36-37).
• " And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mat 26:40-41).
• "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Mat 26:45).
• "Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him" (Mat 26:46-49).
• "And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him" (Mat 26:50).
• "Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none" (John 18:8-9).
• "And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear" (Mat 26:51).
• "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled" (Mat 26:56).
• "But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end" (Mat 26:58).
• "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Mat 26:68-75).
• "And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Mat 27:2-5).
• "Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued" (Mat 27:8-9).
• "The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified" (Mat 27:21-23).
• "Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children" (Mat 27:25).

Marriage Vows: My First Marriage Dedication

 (The marriage procession enters.)

(All facing the audience – pair’s hands not joined)


Today, we come to together join together in marriage Her Full Name to His Full Name.

Who gives away the bride?


(Father and mother say they do; father prays and they seat themselves)

(Personal comments)


There are two kinds of marriage: matrimony – without God, and Holy Matrimony – under God.

 The Holy part in marriage makes a special event, even more special. Scripture says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ ”  ( 1 Peter 1:15-17).


Holy matrimony is for peculiar people; it is reserved for children of God. I have counseled with Her Name and His Name, and it is their decision, not only to be married, but joined together in Holy Matrimony.


“Holy” is being worthy of complete devotion. As you both enter into this union, enter it as worthy of your complete devotion to each other… and to God. Marriage under God is a holy triangulation – two dependent people under One Almighty God.


Holy matrimony is intended to be an everlasting union. Jesus told the people: “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-5).


Part of the ceremony of marriage is the separation from the parents. His Name and Her Name, your gain is their loss. Let us take a moment to honor the parents: (Mention them by name.)  In a way, we join together two families here today, and as they multiply you two families will become more and more one!


(Face me)

Please join hands.  (Holding hands)

Each of you were separate yesterday, but with this bond, you become one today. You are no longer to think as two because shortly you will be in unity.


Remember from scripture: “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:21-22).


Woman was taken from the side of man, and Holy Matrimony returns her to his side. You, Her Name, belong at the side of your own Adam. Holy matrimony is taking two people which God created, and making them one again.  His Name, you are her Adam. Always be there for her. Her Name, you are his Eve. Be at his side.


The purpose of marriage is three-fold. Let us examine them:


“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’ ”  (Gen 2:18).

 Remember His Name, she is for you; to be your companion, not your servant. Her Name, you are to honor him.


You are to be friends, and friends are forever! Companionship, love, and multiplication is oneness:

Also, be one in your love for God: Be faithful to Him and God will be faithful to you.

Be one in your time: Do things together, and your love will grow.

Spend your time wisely: in devotion to God, to each other, and no other. Marriage is a partnership of two. Let no third person share the unity reserved for the two.

Pray together: Pray that your worlds won’t collide, and they won’t. You each bring a world into this marriage. You have individual interests, beliefs, hobbies, skills, doctrines, families, likes and dislikes.  Pray that your differences are never a source of contention, but that where you are alike will overcome the differences.


Marriage is much like a rose bush. What you see now are the roses. (Hold up roses). Someday, although the roses are still there, the thorns will reveal themselves. Good marriages avoid the thorns but some will still prick both of you as the roses become less obvious (Hold up rose bush). Marriage vows are for your protection; as you view and smell the aroma of the roses, the wedding vows – promises – are like gloves which make the thorns less thorny. Never let the roses fade, and never handle the thorns without remembering the vows. (Hold up the roses again.)


Love together: Love each other and God. Do you Her Name profess your love for His Name? (wait for affirmation). His Name, do you profess your love for Her Name? (wait for affirmation)

Love God by respecting Him for your life, your happiness, and your salvation. Marriage becomes your life, your joy, and in those elderly years – your salvation.


At this moment, you both testify to your love. What you are experiencing is emotional love. In times of conflict, those emotions will change in the heat of the moment. During those trying times, always remember – love is also a command.  Work hard to maintain your love, and you will endure. Scripture speaks of love:


“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).


That’s how we are to love God, and how you are to love each other.


You see, Holy Matrimony is a picture of our marriage to God. When you joined together with Jesus, you both – Her Name and His Name - are the bride, and Jesus is the bridegroom.  As brides to Jesus, He expects two things: love and fidelity. God is a jealous God. Those who fornicate with other gods hurt Him deeply. Jesus expects fidelity when Christians unite with Him. Likewise, because marriage is a picture of our relationship with Christ, each of you must remain true to each other.  When Jesus was taken to the cross by the unfaithful, He collided with the world, and it darkened. Never let your worlds collide!


As Jesus desires our time with Him, honor each other with your time. Treat each other as if each day is your last. Marriage is a commitment to work hard because marriage is indeed hard work.  Love hard in good times, and work hard in tough times.


Be one together: Play together, fellowship together, go to church together, take care of you finances together, and even vote together. Being one requires sacrifice. Sacrifice together!


Marriage is a combination of erotic love, brotherly love, familial love and the love of God.  Your love will be easier when there is love for God.  Love of the flesh is for the special moments. The others are to endure forever.

When Jesus was born, wise men from the East brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were gifts the Father sent to the Church to present His bride – Jesus Christ.  Long before, ancient writings tell us the story of the first wedding:

… God sent His angel who had brought gold, and the angel who had brought incense, and the angel who had brought myrrh to Adam, that they should inform him respecting his wedding to Eve. 4 Then those angels said to Adam, "Take the gold and give it to Eve as a wedding gift, and betroth her; then give her some incense and myrrh as a present; and be ye, thou and she, one flesh."  Adam hearkened to the angels, and took the gold and put it into Eve's bosom in her garment; and betrothed her with his hand. (1Bk of Adam & Eve: 73:3-50).

What did the three gifts mean? 

AFTER these things God said unto Adam, "Thou didst ask of Me something from the garden, to be comforted therewith, and I have given thee these three tokens as a consolation to thee; that thou trust in Me and in My covenant with thee.  "For I will come and save thee; and kings shall bring me when in the flesh, gold, incense and myrrh; gold as a token of My kingdom; incense as a token of My divinity; and myrrh as a token of My suffering and of My death. "But, O Adam, put these by thee in the cave; the gold that it may shed light over thee by night; the incense, that thou smell its sweet savour; and the myrrh, to comfort thee in thy sorrow." (1 Adam & Eve 31:1-3)


These are God’s gift for your own marriage – a marriage as in the image of God to the Church.

Firstly, we present the gold. As gold represents God’s Kingdom, let it also represent your marriage in His Kingdom. The wedding ring is a symbol of enduring love. Marriage is meant forever. Today, you pledge with the rings to be eternally joined.


The wedding ring is an emblem of love through time, a symbol of devotion, and an agreement between two parties to love and cherish each other for the rest of their days. Wedding rings are circular in shape, and this in itself carries a symbolic meaning for the couple getting married. A circle has no beginning or end, and is therefore a symbol of infinity.  It is endless and eternal - just the way love should be. For many, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This is because the vein in this finger was believed to lead directly to the wearer's heart. When these rings are placed on your fingers, Her Name and His Name, it is a symbol of your endless, heartfelt love.


Who bears these rings?

(The rings are presented - groom’s to bride and brides to groom).

(Bride places the ring on the groom’s finger).


His Name; Repeat after me (one phrase at a time):

"I, His Full Name, take you, Her Full Name, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."

Her Name, repeat after me (one phrase at a time):

(Groom places the ring on the bride's finger).

"I, Her Full Name, take you, , His Full Name, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth." 


Let us anoint this marriage. First, I take this frankincense. It represents Jesus’s Divinity. Let this marriage have divine protection (apply oil to the palm below the ring finger on first the groom, then the bride).


Now I take this myrrh in hand. It represents God’s suffering and death. Let this marriage endure unto death for that is God’s joy. (apply the myrrh in the same manner to the groom then the bride).


(face the audience)

His Name’s help-mate is now at his side. They are in unity. The thoughts, emotions, and ambitions of each are to be one. They have pledged themselves to each other until death.  They have been anointed so God can Comfort them in their trying times. Reilly and Jesse, I now pronounce you man and wife.


His name, you may kiss the bride.

Let me present to you Mr. and Mrs. His Full Name.

(Bride and groom hold hands and march out followed by the bridesmaids and grooms as before.)

Propaganda - Misleading the Naive

     What the National Socialists were noted for is slanted news. They not only misrepresented but actually created news. News with integrity and straightforwardness is a good thing but unfortunately most people have biases. News with biasness intentention is to deceive. It is called "propaganda." The Third Reich had a Minister of Propaganda whose job was to remold the minds of the German populace.
     Propaganda is, "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." (Merriam-Webster Dict.)
     The first recorded case of propaganda was about death. God told Adam, eat and you will die (Gen 2:17). That was truthful which is a basic characteristic of God.
     The Serpent said, No you won't, God fears that if you eat, you'll be as wise as Him (Gen 3:4-5). That statement was cunningness (Gen 3:1) because the subtil Serpent provided misleading information.
     First off, neither Adam nor Eve had ever seen death. Although they were intelligent and very good people, they were naïve because they were innocent. We all know of people who are ignorant of certain things. "Good girls" in my youth were ignorant of sexual matters and made themselves vulnerable to creeps who would take advantage of their naivete.
     God is nice about naïve people. He calls them foolish: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (1 Cor 1:27). The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the source of foolishness. God made it to test the wisdom of His children. They failed, and continue to fail to this day!
     The leftists call the foolish, "stupid" (Jonathan Gruber; "stupidity of the American voter"). Adam and Eve were not stupid; they were entirely innocent until they gained the knowledge of evil in addition to their knowledge of only "good" before that. (Gen 1:31). The forbidden tree didn't make them stupid, but it did make them foolish. Satan depends on the foolishness of the people of the world to advance his cause.
     Just what is Satan's motive? "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isa 14:13-14). Satan wanted power, and for his own power he deceived Eve. Adam's problem was not deception, but he willingly transgressed God (Gen 3:6), and the first sin was counted to Adam because he ought to have known better (Rom 5:12).
     Propaganda was used to persuade Eve, and it worked. When she was persuaded, then Adam was swayed. He saw Eve eat and not die, or so he thought, so he ate as well although God said they would! Adam chose to believe the lie because that is an easier route and seems to provide more pleasure. 
     About all "isms" use that technique. For instance, socialism has historically led to massive deaths. God wants people dependent on Him. Socialism wants people dependent on the government. Why is that? Like Satan, they think, " I will be like the most High." It is for ultiately for power!
     Fair warning to naive people: partake of socialism and you will surely die. Some in the western world ate and haven't died yet, so "stupid American voters" (Gruber) depend on the naivete of Americans to buy into their propaganda. They have eaten part of the fruit, and have not yet died, but fail to understand that someday they will die. Socialism minimizes, even trivilizes, God. Eating of the fruit of "godless socialism" causes spiritual death.
     Those who eat of the forbidden tree are skeptical. They see the good things on the tree, obtain a small piece of the fruit, then hope all the fruits of the tree will be theirs for the having: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" - the slogan of socialism. The problem is not with that intention, but its abuse. Marx's intention was never for the good of the people, but for the power of the leadership. His desire was to force (communism/Nazism) his type of "goodness" on people who may see it for what it is - bad fruit! 
     The Serpent didnt have to force the two foolish people to eat; he just merely spinned the truth. Satan, although the "father of lies" (John 8:44), uses mostly truth to deceive. He didn't condemn God, he merely twisted why God made the rule. That method is propaganda, called "narratives" in the modern world. Propaganda is information; both correct and false (good and evil). However, it is presented in such a way to mislead. Why would anyone want to do that? Webster provided a reason as well: to promote a particular viewpoint. Obviously, people would not mislead to persent factual information. Therefore, their particular viewpoint is evil-doing.
     Have you ever noticed that those on the media use the same arguments and accusations? On certain days, those in the news say things coordinated things like, today there was a bombshell or the president (or whomever) was caught in a lie. They make their coordination so obvious that only a fool would believe their deception. The media depends on that, and their tool is propaganda. The left knows that it works, and depend on the"stupidity" of the listener.
    When the Serpent presented his distorted perversion of the truth (not version), he had to belittle God to make himself credible. He said, God just doesn't want you to be wise like Him (Gen 3:5). In politics, the method is to undermine the credibility of those the liars want to destroy. They don't use arguments, but resort to name-calling: fascist, hater, intolerant, bigoted, antisemitic, inhumane, and such. Those are not facts, they are meant to mislead because the arguments are weak and unfruitful. 
     In the old television series, Dragnet, Sgt. Joe Friday, when interrogating witnesses, often said, "Just, the facts, ma'am; just the facts." The Serpent failed to mention one fact: you won't die this instant, but you will begin to die once you eat. Neither did he say, God meant spiritual death! The Serpent neglected the whole truth. 
     Socialism, which the media propagates, never tells the whole truth. Seldom does anyone hear from the newsmedia that socialists have a history of killing people just because motivated people want to keep what belongs to them! They never mention that socialists have little desire to give of their ability but for you to give from your hard work. Why are so many socialists millionaries, stupid people? Because your satsfaction with a little bite of the fruit allows them to own the whole tree! Socialism makes powerful socialists rich off the hard work of their serfs. It is a return to serfdom, and people do so voluntarily! They walk to their deaths and think it's to paradise. 
     The National Socialists used propaganda; you are merely being resettled; get in the rail car. The Jews voluntarily went to their death. If Himmler had said the whole truth - resettled for awhile until we decide to kill you - how many would have got on the train? Not many; they would have chose death in freedom to death in bondage.
     I fight death under socialism to remain free. There is a great cost to socialism - people must do, say, aned even think what the PC Police demand! I would rather die in freedom than to lose my freedom, life, and soul to the socialist "gods."
     Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death!"  Adam chose death. I choose to live free of the deception of socialism. Socialists are as "good as dead" because, like Faust, they trade their souls for the promise of good things. In the end, only one thing matters, and that is eternal life. Socialism does not even try to offer that; there is no hope in socialism. 
     
   

Anne Frank; Frankly Speaking

     My commentary is a blog on Google. My readership has exceeded 700 views per day, but whenever Google develops a new algorithm, the number of views are curtailed immensely, and likely for two reasons: (1) I do not advertise, and (2) my perception is that Christian doctrine is minimized. At this time, I am approaching 200,000 views since I started writing on this blog.
     When the views lessen, I get dismayed. I want to share God's Word, and when it is not read, I feel slighted because God seems to be. Then I think: God is always slighted; He gets used to that. On the other hand, I'm not God and don't like feeling diminished. I must always write for right reasons. For my own esteem is not right!
     Sometimes, the thought occurs to me that I can write for myself. Writing increases my communion with God. If others don't want to understand the Doctrine of God, that is to their disadvantage. I like to understand God, His Will, and His plans for me (Jer 29:11). That God plans for me, makes God a personal one. My study and writing is more for me and communion with God than others.
     I recently finished reading The Diary of Anne Frank. The diary was 2-1/2 years at the end of the life of a then thirteen years-old Jewish girl who was hiding from the Nazis. She never knew if she would live another day, and her living conditions - in hiding - was living in fear. She wrote a diary with honest appraisal of all her thoughts. She never fretted about dying, but lived the best that she could in her isolation. As a Jewish girl, she never knew Jesus, but she was trying to - even celebrating Christmas and Easter.
    Anne seldom shared anything which she wrote. She believed that she was only writing for herself to herself. She named her diary friend "Kitty." Anne wrote the following about her diary: "If I haven't any talent for writing books or newspaper articles, well then, I can always write for myself." Then Anne wrote for her own self - to exist in those perilous times. Anne and her family were discovered by the Nazis, she spent her last days separated from her family, and died not yet sixteen in a Nazi concentration camp. When her family was arrested, her diary was thrown aside as trash by the Nazi commander, but it was retrieved by a friend. Her father allowed it to be published.
     Anne wrote if for herself. However, according to annefrankguide.com, "Since then the diary had been translated into 70 languages, and published in over 60 countries. More than 30 million copies have been sold." Anne wrote for herself but was read by the world!
     Now back to me. I am not Anne Frank and neither do I hide from those who may kill me. Someday, Christians will hide and an evil government will kill them. Jews were killed mostly by shot and gas, but Christians will die by the socialist/Islamic method - beheading (Rev 20:4). My hope is that I will escape that tribulation which Anne did not. I write so that others can escape the Great Tribulation coming, and the eternal tribulation in Hell.
     Perhaps few will read what I write at the present because they feel secure and safe. The Jews did not! The time will come when people wish that they knew God but don't know enough about Him to comprehend how magnificent and loving He is.
     In this blog, like Anne, I write for myself. I want to escape the "Nazi" types during the tribulation, and the best way to avoid beheading is to miss the train to the persecution. Anne didn't. She was on that train, and I my hope is to avoid that at all costs. Anne worried about those on the trains to their death but she could do little about it. I believe that I can. I write for those who face persecution in the last days. I write for those who at the present, don't believe it is coming! The Jews never thought that Germans could ever be that cruel. In the last days, Hitler will live again, only in the Antichrist's manifestation. He will embody every murderous dictator who ever lived.
     In the end, 30 million people will never get to read what I write today, but perhaps a mere 144,000 will discover my warnings and heed them. If not mine, then others' commentary like mine. Bibles may not be allowed in the apocalypse; perhaps commentary from then "ancient times" will suffice.
     I want to leave a legacy; not for the memory of me, but in remembrance of God who died for spiritual criminals as myself. I love God because He so loved the me. (John 3:16). I so love others that neither do I want that they should perish. That's why I write.
     Anne got excited when she wrote about the joys of living. I get excited when I write about living forever. Anne was dismayed when she was slighted. I am dismayed when God is slighted. Read about Anne and her face-off with death, then, consider your own face off. She didn't know Jesus, and you have that opportunity. Jesus fends for everyone; no one fended for Anne.
     The second birth is the enlightenment, that like Anne, you can't save yourself. But unlike Anne who died, and I hope not eternally, that those who depend on Jesus will never die.