THE AMERICAN NEW WORLD ORDER SYSTEM MUST GIVE WAY TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

January 10, 2005 by: S.R. Shearer

BABYLON THE GREAT

Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. (Jermiah 51:25) "And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14)

INTRODUCTION
The Bible says that - in the words of a popular folk song of the 1960s - there's a "NEW world coming;" a NEW kingdom HERE ON EARTH; it's the same kingdom that Jesus spoke of at the "Last Supper" when He -

"... took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN I DRINK IT NEW WITH YOU IN MY FATHER'S KINGDOM." (Matt. 26:26-29) "My Father's kingdom!" - that's what Jesus called it; a kingdom, the substance of which Jesus prayed would become as real ON EARTH as it is in heaven; this is the kingdom for which Jesus told His disciples to pray: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done IN EARTH, as it is in heaven ..." (Matt. 6:9-10) [In other words, May Your kingdom, dear Father, be as real ON EARTH as it is in heaven.]

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE COMING KINGDOM

Oh, what a marvelous thing that would be; a kingdom ON EARTH with all the attributes of the Father's kingdom in heaven - a kingdom that is grounded in SOCIAL JUSTICE for ALL mankind; a world where everyone is treated equally, where men are not divided up between the "owners of capital" on the one hand and "labor" on the other hand, and where men and women are not divided on the basis of their race or even their gender (Gal. 3:28); where the rich do not oppress the poor; where every man has equal access to the Father's love; where privileges cannot be bought by the wealthy; where there are no death squads, no poverty, no torture, no hunger, no disease, and no room for oppressors of any kind. Naturally enough, such a kingdom would be at TOTAL variance with this "present evil world" (Gal. 1:4) - AND MOST ESPECIALLY WITH GEORGE BUSH'S AMERICAN NEW WORLD ORDER SYSTEM [Please see our article, "Capitalism and Christianity;" please also see our article, "Inside the American New World Order System."] C.I. Scofield says that the "coming kingdom" will be "... HEAVENLY IN ORIGIN, principle, and authority (Dan. 2:34-35, 4445) ... (whose) ... moral characteristics ... are ... RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth ... knowledge of the Lord will be universal; beast-ferocity will be removed ..." Can you imagine? - "Beast-ferocity" will be removed! Yes! Indeed! - for I tell you, it was never I say again, NEVER - God's intention that such a thing should prevail on the earth, and it will NOT prevail in the coming kingdom. Instead, it will be a place where "They shall not hurt nor destroy (i.e., kill) in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD" (Is. 65:25); it will be a realm where -

as Isaiah says - "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid (goat); and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Is. 11:6); a domain where "The sucking child (i.e., the infant) shall play on the hole of the asp (serpent), and the weaned child (i.e., the older child) shall put his hand on the cockatrice' (scorpion's) den" (Is. 11:8); a place where "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock ..." (Is. 65:25) Can you conceive such a place? How marvelous! Scofield continues: "ABSOLUTE EQUITY WILL BE ENFORCED; and open sin (i.e., when people hurt other people) will be visited with instant judgment ... (Ps. 2:9; Is. 11:4, 6-9; 26:9; 65:20; Zech. 14:1621). (Moreover), the N.T. adds a detail of immense significance - the removal of Satan from the scene (Rev. 20:1-5). It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, the coming age of righteousness and peace." (Ps. 72:1-10; Is. 11:4-9)

THE "GOOD NEWS" OF THE KINGDOM

Yes! - brothers and sisters, there is such a kingdom conceived in the heart of God, and, as Scofield suggests, the "Good News" or "Gospel of the Kingdom" is "... THAT GOD PURPOSES TO SET UP ON EARTH (EXACTLY) SUCH A KINGDOM ..." And more than even that, the "Gospel of the Kingdom" announces that this Kingdom is close "AT HAND."

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE KINGDOM HAS BEEN "AT HAND"
This, of course, is not the first time that the Kingdom of Heaven has been announced to be close "at hand." It was announced the first time 2,000 years ago when the angels proclaimed it to the shepherds "in the field" at the time of Christ's birth in Luke 2:7-8, 10-11: "And she (i.e., Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [Can you imagine? God, the Creator of all things, Master of the Universe - Who is clothed with all glory and all power as an attribute of His very nature - chose a POOR carpenter's family in which to be born: He purposefully became conversant with poverty; He intentionally dwelt with the poor.]

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:7-8, 10-11) [Again, can you imagine? The first people to whom God announced the presence of His precious Son ON EARTH were poor shepherds "keeping watch over their flock by night" - not the rich and powerful in Jerusalem; how unlike the "natural man" is our God!] It is the kingdom of this Savior, of this King (i.e., Christ the Lord) that John the Baptist preached in the wilderness when he came saying, "Repent ye (which means, turn away from this present evil world): for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND." (Matt. 3:2) The same wonderful kingdom that Jesus preached in Capernaum at the beginning of His public ministry: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent (i.e., turn from this world): for THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND." (Matt. 4:17) And the same marvelous kingdom that he charged His disciples to preach at the start of their public ministries: "... go, preach, saying, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND." (Matt. 10:7)

THE KINGDOM WAS FIRST OFFERED TO THE JEWS ONLY

However, in all these instances, you should understand that at THAT time (2,000 years ago), this gospel (i.e., this "good news" of the kingdom) was preached only to Israel; it was offered EXCLUSIVELY to the Jewish people: "These twelve (i.e., the twelve apostles) Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye NOT: "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt. 10:5-6)

THE OFFER OF THE KINGDOM IS WITHDRAWN: THE CHURCH AGE

BUT THE KINGDOM WAS REJECTED BY THE JEWS in fulfillment of the Scripture that says that - "... they (i.e., the Jews) without us (i.e., the Gentiles) should not be made perfect" (Heb. 11:40), and in compliance and agreement with

the words of Christ when He said, "... Many shall come from the east and west (i.e., the Gentiles), and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob (i.e., the Jews), IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." (Matt. 8:11) [Please see chapter 3 of the Antipas Papers, "The Distinction Between Israel and the Church."] Consequently, the offer of the Kingdom was WITHDRAWN - until, as Paul says "... the FULNESS of the Gentiles be come in." (Rom. 11:25) [In other words, until all those foreordained by God among the Gentiles be gathered into the kingdom through the church.] Obviously, then, the Kingdom of Heaven - as it is being offered today - is no longer an exclusively Jewish phenomenon (as it was conceived to be at the time of Christ's first appearing), but a Gentile phenomenon as well. Paul explains when - paradoxically - he warns the Gentiles not to "boast against the Jews" (i.e., not to revile the Jews because they rejected Christ at His first appearing): "I say then, Have they (i.e., the Jews) stumbled that they should fall? GOD FORBID: BUT RATHER THROUGH THEIR FALL SALVATION IS COME UNTO THE GENTILES, for to provoke them to jealousy. "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: "If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? "For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. "AND IF SOME OF THE BRANCHES BE BROKEN OFF, AND THOU, BEING A WILD OLIVE TREE, WERT GRAFTED IN AMONG THEM, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; "Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD

What's Paul saying here? - he is describing the work of the Holy Spirit in grafting the Gentiles into God's "Plan and Purpose in the Ages" in this present era [the 2,000 year interval between Christ's first appearing (when the kingdom

was first announced to be "close at hand") and Christ's second appearing (when it is to be announced for a final time to be "close at hand")], making them (i.e., the Gentiles) partakers together with the Jews in the glory of the coming kingdom so that - again, as the Bible says "... they (i.e., the Jews) without us (i.e., the Gentiles) should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:40) [Again, we URGE you to see chapter 3 of the Antipas Papers, "The Distinction Between Israel and the Church."] Paul continues: "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. "And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. "For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; THAT BLINDNESS IN PART IS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL, UNTIL THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COME IN." (Rom. 11:11-25) There's that phrase again: "Until the FULNESS of the Gentiles be come in," that is, until those Gentiles who have been foreordained by God in ages past (Eph. 2:10) have come to know and comprehend "... what is THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known ... (THROUGH) THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God, "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord ..." (Eph. 3:9-11)

THE CHURCH AGE

Before the church, all men could NOT comprehend the "manifold wisdom of God" - only the Jews, and only partially so. But for the last 2,000 years, the Holy Spirit working through the agency of the church - has been grafting the Gentiles into (and making them partakers of) the "fellowship of the mystery" of God. [We URGE you to read chapter 12 of the Antipas Papers, "The Two Witnesses;" we again urge you to see chapter 3 of the Antipas Papers, "The Distinction Between Israel and the Church," and chapter 4 of the Antipas Papers, "The Great Escape: Misconceptions Concerning the Rapture."] In Matthew chapter 25, the Lord describes this long interval of time (i.e., the last 2,000 years) in the parable of a man (i.e., the Lord) "... travelling into a far country (back to heaven) ... (who) called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; AND STRAIGHTWAY TOOK HIS JOURNEY. (Matt. 25:14-15) But now the Master of those servants is returning; the work of the church is almost complete, and - as a result - THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN. And more than that - the Jews, once dispersed over the whole earth because of the rejection of their king, have been re-gathered again to the "Promised Land" in anticipation of Christ's renewed offer of the kingdom, "... for God is able to graft them in again." (Rom. 11:23) [In other words, what we have today is a kind of reversal of Heb. 11:40; that "... they (this time, the Gentiles) without us (this time, the Jews) should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:40); How wonderful is our God! Full of equity and justice to all those who call upon His name!]

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS "AT HAND" ONCE AGAIN

Plainly, what all this means is that the Kingdom of Heaven is once again "... AT HAND" (Rev. 1:3), and this fact must "... be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; AND THEN SHALL THE END COME." (Matt. 24:14) [That Christ is speaking here of His second coming is made clear by the context, and also by the fact that this Gospel is being preached to "all the world" rather than just to the Jews.] Are YOU ready for this great work? - i.e., to preach this Gospel (specifically, the "Gospel of the Kingdom") to the WHOLE earth? Think about it! - Christ is delivering up to YOU the same great work

that He delivered up to the apostles 2,000 years ago - if so be YOU have the courage and faith to accept His offer (Matt. 10:5-6).

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION

Now you must understand something here: The Gospel (or "Good News") of the Kingdom is NOT the same thing as the Gospel (or "Good News") of Salvation. The latter (i.e., the Gospel of Salvation) pertains to personal salvation (which is the UNIQUE ministry of the church); the former (i.e., the Gospel of the Kingdom) pertains to SOCIAL JUSTICE, and proclaims - in fulfillment of the "Lord's Prayer" - the coming of the Father's heavenly kingdom TO EARTH (Matt. 6:9-10) - a kingdom where there will be no more John Dimitri Negropontes, no Liamine Zerouals and no Augusto Pinochets. [Please see our articles, "Algeria: A Study of the Dreadful Two-Tiered Economic System the U.S. Is Promoting Among Its Muslim Client-States" and "The Horror of John Dimitri Negroponte and Everything He Represents;" please also see our article, "The Third World as a Model for the New World Order."] This, of course, is something much more than the "good news" of salvation, because - as we just suggested - while the "good news" of salvation promises redemption to the INDIVIDUAL, it does not promise to "make over" the world per se - and this is evidenced by the fact that from Pentecost until now there has been NO social justice and NO equity between and among men; tyranny and oppression have continued to flourish; and sickness, poverty and hunger have continued to wreak their horrible work on mankind. [Please see our article, "The Good News of the Coming Kingdom" for a more extensive explanation as to the Biblical differences between the "Gospel of Salvation," and the "Gospel of the Kingdom."] Now in saying this, we are not asserting that the Gospel (or "Good News") of the Kingdom supplants the Gospel (or "Good News") of Salvation, or takes precedence over it. By no means. But you must understand what has happened here, and why - to a very large extent - the Gospel of the Kingdom has been necessitated, and why it MUST be "... preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL nations ..." (Matt. 24:14)

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS GOD'S ANTIDOTE TO THE DECEIT OF BABYLON THE GREAT
The reason is this: A powerful COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM - "Babylon the Great" - has been raised up in these "Latter Days" - a counterfeit kingdom which claims to stand for Christ's rule on earth, but in reality serves the Prince of Darkness rather than Christ the Lord. It is PRECISELY the presence of this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM on earth in the "Latter Days"

that is the immediate cause of the "GREAT DECEPTION" of the "end of the age" - AND THAT DECEPTION WORKS IN TWO WAYS: 1. It deceives Christians into thinking that by serving this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM they are serving Christ - when, in reality, they are serving the "Prince of this world" [i.e., Satan (cf. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; and Eph. 2:2)]; and those Christians (so-called) who choose to serve this kingdom are precisely those to whom the Lord will say on THAT day: "NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? "And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:21-23) And 2. The presence of this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM brings terrible disrepute and shame on God's great Name - especially insofar as the poor of the world are concerned; it advances the horrid fraud that Christ's kingdom is a matter for the rich and powerful rather than what it really is, a place where, as Mary - the mother of Jesus - described it, He "... hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. "He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. "He hath filled the hungry with good things; and THE RICH HE HATH SENT EMPTY AWAY." (Luke 1:51-53) [THIS DESCRIPTION (i.e., Luke 1:51-53) IS HARDLY A PORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN NEW WORLD ORDER SYSTEM OF GEORGE BUSH to which Christian leaders like C. Peter Wagner, Tim LaHaye, Beverley LaHaye, Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Bob Dugan, Ron Godwin, Robert Grant, Rebecca Hagelin, Bob Jones, Alan Keyes, Peter Marshall, Sam Moore, Pat Robertson, Duane Motley, Ralph Reed, Oliver North, Phyllis Schafley, Jim Woodall, John Ankerberg, E.V. Hill, James Robison, Jay Sekulow, Larry Burkett, Reed Larson, etc., etc., etc. have pledged themselves. No wonder the Lord will declare to these leaders and those who follow them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"

(Matt, 7:23). [Please see our article, "A Woman Riding a Beast Going forth Conquering to Conquer."] Come on now! - is it that difficult to see that when the armies of this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM ravage and pillage the earth ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH - that the poor of the earth would be offended by it, and "turned-off" to Christ? What would you think if you were one of the citizens of Falujah and had had your city "liberated" IN THE NAME OF CHRIST by the American army - death squadstyle? To say nothing of seeing your neighborhood blown up by 2,000 pound bombs - once again, IN THE NAME OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE? Be honest! - what would you think? [Please see our article, "Sowing the Seeds of the Gog / Magog War."] The Gospel of the Kingdom and it's corollary Gospel, the "Eternal Gospel' - which declares the coming destruction of this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM (see below) - are the antidotes (i.e., the antitoxins) to the work (poison) of this great SHAM KINGDOM. They declare that this COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM and the APOSTATE CHURCH that supports this kingdom are none of Christ's.

EXPOSING THE AMERICAN NEW WORLD ORDER SYSTEM FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS
When we proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, we expose this sham kingdom - i.e., "Babylon the Great" - for what it really is, and it's not that hard to do; after all, all one must do is shine the light of God's word on the shameful activity of this bogus kingdom. For example, how can a kingdom that is founded on the type of murder and slaughter that forms the basis of the American New World Order System be compared to the kind of kingdom for which Mary, the mother of Jesus, prayed; or to the kingdom described in the beatitudes? - a kingdom where Christ says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matt. 5:3-12) Pretty obvious, isn't it? Where, for example, is there any room for the "poor in spirit" (v.3 above) in the American New World Order System? There is no room for them; instead, they are trampled under foot, and robbed blind of what little they do possess (which is exactly what's occurring today in Iraq, in Thailand, in the Philippines, in the Congo, in Argentina, etc. - to say nothing of the poor in the United States). Where in the American New World Order System do the meek (v. 5 above) inherit anything? - only the proud and the selfish can get anywhere in this system. And what about those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness?" (v. 6 above) - how far do you think people like that would get in the "corporate culture" of Boeing, of Exxon-Mobile, of Conaco-Phillips, of General Electric, of Union Carbide (Dow), etc.? There's no room for those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" in these corporations; they would last about as long as a snow ball in hell would last. And, moreover, where is there any room for mercy (v. 7 above) in this system of things? - is that what John Dimitri Negroponte meted out to the people of Honduras and Guatemala? Is that what he is meting out today to the people of Iraq? to the citizens of Falujah? [Please see our article, "The Horror of John Dimitri Negroponte and Everything He Represents."] All this to say nothing about where in a system like the American New World Order System - a system that is based on the concept of "perpetual war" - is there any room for peacemakers (v. 9 above)? There is none! - OR do you really think that's what Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, Abram Skulsky, William Kristol, Robert Kagan, Elliot Abrams, et. al. are after? peace? If you do, you truly are an idiot!

BABYLON THE GREAT AND THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

The question must then be asked, if these facts are indeed so plain - and they are - why is it that so many American Christians can't make this distinction? What is it about the American New World Order System that has led so many American Christians into believing that by supporting it they are helping to bring God's Kingdom to earth? - despite ALL the facts that cry out to the contrary. And, more than that, what is it that renders those American Christians who actually recognize the American New World Order System for what it really is incapable of taking any kind of meaningful action with regard to the situation they find themselves?

It's almost as if they are acting under the influence of a delirium; that they are in a state of intoxication and, as a result, are incapable of telling the difference between fact and fiction, or comprehending the danger they face. Logic and "common sense" no longer play any part in the way they consider their situation. Objectivity and rationalism have been eschewed in favor of a dependence on "intuition" and "appearance;" i.e., if it looks good, if it smells good, if it feels good, then it's good. In this kind of "ambiance," people don't "think," they "feel" - and they boast in that fact, as if "thinking" is a dangerous thing to do. "Thinking" is bad, "feeling" is good, despite the fact that these "feelings" - these mystic abstractions or whatever else you may want to call them (for example, "words of wisdom," "words of knowledge," "prophetic utterances," etc.) - might fly in the face of Scripture. There is a strange miasma - a kind of poisonous effluvium - that attaches itself to people like this and renders them insensible to logic and intelligent thought, though they seem totally unaware of the irrationalism that grips them - kind of like a drunk who is making a fool of himself while all the time thinking he is the "life of the party." What do we say about such people? - we say that they are "UNDER THE INFLUENCE?" And that's what the Bible says about those who support the American New World Order System! - that they are "under the influence" of a "... STRONG DELUSION, that they should believe a LIE ..." (2 Thess. 2:11) That's what the Bible says about those American Christians who think that by supporting the American New World Order System, they are "doing God a service." (John 16:2)

FACTS AND THE SCRIPTURES DON'T COUNT ANY LONGER IN THE AMERICAN CHURCH
THE FACTS AND THE SCRIPTURES SCREAM OUT THAT THIS IS A LIE; but facts and the Scripture don't count for anything with those who are functioning under the power of this "delusion" (2 Thess. 2:11). "Feelings," "intuition," "words of wisdom," "words of knowledge," "prophetic utterances," and the magic and "hocus-pocus" of nincompoops and dimwits like Ed Silvoso, Carlos Annacondia, Claudio Freidzon, Roger Mitchell, Ted Haggart, Paul Cain, etc. that's what counts in the lunatic world of American Christianity and the worldwide empire of greed and avarice that it supports. Black is white, up is down, tyranny is democracy, slavery is freedom. This is DECEPTION "big time" - yet so delicate and subtle is its intrigue that those who are under its influence seem hardly aware that their faith has been corrupted. "Smoke and mirrors" and "hocus-pocus" - that's what the American New World Order System and the American church that is associated with it are made up of: "smoke and mirrors" and "hocus-pocus." They're frauds and impostors - both the American New World Order System and the American Church: pretenders and fakes. There is nothing real about them. They are DECEIVERS pretending to be one thing, when in fact they are something else altogether; feigning to bring in the Kingdom of God by ending abortion, bringing prayer back to the schools, opposing gay

rights, etc. and spreading the Gospel of Christ - and who cares if all this is done death squadstyle through the barrel of a gun. Isn't this what Gary Potter, President of Catholics for Christian Political Action and a close ally of the Evangelical Right, is advocating: bringing in the Kingdom of Heaven through the barrel of a gun; isn't that what he is pushing when he says: "When the Christian majority takes over this country, there will be no satanic churches, no more free distribution of pornography, no more abortion on demand, and no more talk of rights for homosexuals. After the Christian majority takes control, pluralism (i.e., multiculturalism) will be seen as immoral and evil and the state will not permit anybody the right to practice evil." And it's not just Gary Potter; take what Bob Jones, a leader in the Vineyard Church, says: "As we see the day approaching theres going to be a cleansing ... theres going to be a purging ... coming forth ... and everyone thats living under the immorality cover ... will be brought down. And Gods new breed will come forth ..." [It sounds like something straight out of a tutorial for "proper living" in Hitler's Third Reich.] And it's not just Potter and Jones, it's all those Christian leaders who in any way support the American New World Order System - leaders like the late John Wimber, Juan Carlos Ortiz, C. Peter Wagner, Ern Baxter, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, Chuck Colson, Jack Hayford, Robert Stearns, Mike Bickle, Reuven Doron, Che Ahn, Frank Hammond, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, John Eckhardt, Bobbie Byerly, Dutch Sheets, Jim Goll, John Paul Jackson, James Ryle, Frank Damazio, Chuck Pierce, Rick Joyner, Kingsley Fletcher, Jim Laffoon, Barbara Wentroble, ad infinitum. [Please see chapter 2 of the Antipas Papers, "A Trap Is Being Set; Don't Get Caught;" please also see our articles, "Today's Church: Making Zombies out of Christians - the Prophets and Apostles Movement" and "George Bush, the Promise Keepers, and the Principles of Messianic Leadership."] What does any of this kind of thinking have to do with the Kingdom of God? All of these men - every single one of them are FRAUDS and FAKES.

BABYLON MUST BE DESTROYED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Obviously, then, if the Kingdom of Heaven is to come to earth (which is precisely what the Gospel or "Good News" of the Kingdom of Heaven declares), then the American New World Order System and the kind of fake Christianity that supports this system must give way before it (Rev. 11:15); HENCE, BABYLON THE GREAT (i.e., the American New World Order System) - WHICH REPRESENTS THE KINGDOM AND GLORY OF SATAN - MUST BE DESTROYED. (Rev. 17:1-8)

It is for this reason that concomitant with the proclamation of the "Gospel of the Kingdom" - and in conjunction with it - the "Eternal Gospel" will also be proclaimed at the end of the age. Specifically, Scofield says: "The 'Eternal Gospel' (Rev. 14:6) is described as the announcement of divine judgment upon the wicked (specifically, Babylon the Great) ... It is good news for the suffering believers as it heralds their coming deliverance and reward (cp., v. 12). In view of this those who 'live on the earth' are exhorted to fear God and worship Him (v. 7)."

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM MEANS COMING OUT OF BABYLON

The fact of the matter is, the two - i.e., Babylon the Great and the Kingdom of Heaven CANNOT co-exist together; the one excludes the other. And more than that, God's people CANNOT exist in both kingdoms simultaneously. You are either a citizen of the one, or you are a citizen of the other. There are no dual citizenships allowed. This is why God commands His people to "FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON, and deliver every man his SOUL: be not cut off in her iniquity ..." (Jer. 51:6) And why in the Book of Revelation (i.e., the Apocalypse), God commands His people to "... COME OUT OF HER , my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev. 18:4) [This verse is an EXACT parallel to Jeremiah 51:6.] We are to COME OUT of Babylon, and we are NOT to delay. The Bible says that Babylon CANNOT be healed. Specifically, Jeremiah 51:9 says: "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: FORESAKE HER ..." (Jer. 51:9) Brothers and sisters, this is an hard saying, but it's true: There is NOTHING that can be done anymore for Babylon or for her people! Now don't get angry at me for that; if you want to get angry, get angry at God. Again, that's what the Scriptures say, "We would have healed Babylon, but she is NOT healed ..." (Jer. 51:9) It's too late. The Bible says, "FORESAKE HER." To delay is to put your own soul in jeopardy which is precisely what the prophet means when he says, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul ..." (Jer. 51:6) NOTE: There are some who suggest that Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51 together with Isaiah chapters 13 and 14 and even (as strange as it might seem) Revelation 17 and 18 were fulfilled when Cyrus took Babylon in B.C. 541 - and that these verses have nothing to do with events yet future. But there is too much in these chapters which were not accomplished when Cyrus took the ancient city of Babylon. For example, both the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah, like those of the Revelation, indicate that Babylon [Prophetic Babylon] is to be destroyed suddenly and catastrophically - "in one short hour," NEVER TO BE INHABITED AGAIN!! But when

Cyrus took the city in B.C. 541, he took it so quietly and with such little commotion that some of the inhabitants did not know until the third day that Belshazzar had been slain and the city taken. Some years later, it revolted against Darius Hystaspis, and in B.C. 478 Xerxes took the city and plundered it. But he did not destroy it. In B.C. 331, Alexander the Great prepared to lay siege to the once again thriving and powerful city, but the citizens threw open the gates and received him with acclamation. During the subsequent wars of his generals, Babylon suffered much and was finally brought under the power of Seleucis. In B.C. 293 Seleucis founded Seleucia in the neighborhood of Babylon, and the rival city gradually drew off a large portion of Babylons inhabitants so that by A.D. 15, Strabo spoke of the city as being largely deserted. Nevertheless, there still existed within the city a large Jewish population left over from the "Captivity." Indeed, we find that the Apostle Peter wrote his First Epistle from Babylon in A.D. 60 (I Peter 5:13). About the middle of the Fifth Century, Theodoret spoke of Babylon as being inhabited only by Jews who still had three Jewish schools or "Yeshivas" there. In the last year of the same century, the Talmud was issued from Babylon and accepted as authoritative by Jews throughout the world. In A.D. 917 Ibu Hankel mentioned Babylon as still being in existence, and by A.D. 1100 it had again grown into a city of some importance. Shortly afterwards, it was enlarged, fortified and renamed "Hillah." In 1898, Hillah contained about 10,000 inhabitants and was surrounded by fertile lands and beautiful groves which stretched along the Euphrates River. [It should be noted in this connection, that the American army has a powerful military encampment in Hillah today, making it all the more apparent who now is the real "Master of Babylon" - both literally and figuratively.] During this entire period (B.C. 541 - A.D. 2005) it could never be said that "neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, neither shall shepherds make their fold there" (Isa. 13:20). Nor could it be said of Babylon - "Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land WHEREIN NO MAN DWELLETH, neither doeth any son of man pass thereby." (Jer. 51:43). Nor could it be said, "... and they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations, but thou shalt be desolate forever, saith the Lord" (Jer. 51:26), for many towns and cities have been built from the ruins of Babylon - Seleucia by the Greeks, Ctesiphone by the Parthians, Al Maiden by the Persians, and Kufa by the Caliphs. Indeed, in Baghdad today (the capital of modern Iraq) Babylonian stamped bricks may be frequently noticed. But Isaiah is still more specific, for he locates the time when his prophecy will be fulfilled. He calls it the "DAY OF THE LORD" (Isa. 13:9) - that is to say, at the end of the "Great Tribulation." Moreover, he says that when Babylon is destroyed, "The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine" (Isa. 13:19; see also Luke 21:25-27). Surely nothing like this happened when Cyrus took Babylon in B.C. 541.

In the description of the destruction of the city of Babylon given in Revelation 18, we are told that Babylons destruction will be accomplished in "ONE HOUR" (verse 19). Again - this is certainly not the description of events which surrounded Cyruss taking of the city. In addition, we are told in the same chapter that she is to be destroyed by fire (Rev. 18:8-9, 18) and this is in exact harmony with the words of Isaiah 13:19 and Jeremiah 50:40. Moreover, in Revelation 16:17-19, we are told that an earthquake will shake the city at the time of its destruction. No such earthquake ever shook the city when Cyrus took it in B.C. 541. Obviously, then, the Babylon that is described in Isaiah 13 and 14, Jeremiah 50 and 51 and in the Revelation is not the ancient city of Babylon, but some great "latter-day" nation which by means of its enormous military and economic might will establish its ascendancy over the world. [Please see chapter 14 of the Antipas Papers, "The Beast of Revelation 17," for a more extensive discussion of these matters.] All this should be of some importance to you! Why? - because that means when Jeremiah says, "FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON, and deliver every man his SOUL: be not cut off in her iniquity ..." (Jer. 51:6), and, again, when he says, "FORESAKE HER ..." (Jer. 51:9) he is speaking to YOU. These verses parallel Revelation 18:4, where Christ bends over the parapet of heaven (as it were) and cries out, "... COME OUT OF HER , my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:4) YOU ARE TRULY "PLAYING THE FOOL" IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THESE VERSES VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, THE PREACHING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TIED TO THEIR LEAVING BABYLON
We are to forsake Babylon (cf, Jer. 51:6, 9 and Rev. 18:4), and in doing so, we declare in DEED and not in word only that we are NONE of Babylon's; that we recognize the fact that we cannot live simultaneously in both Babylon and the Kingdom of Heaven; that we make a distinction between the two; that the American New World Order System is NONE of God's, and hence, NONE of ours; that Babylon the Great is a SHAM KINGDOM, and we want NOTHING to do with it. THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. Do you have the courage to preach it? You can't preach it merely with words - the poor won't listen to you if you do. You must preach it with your actions. Again, the Bible says, "... be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22) Come on now! - how can we have anything to do with the "Gospel of the Kingdom" if we insist on clinging to Babylon the Great which is the implacable enemy of God? If we do so, we cannot help but expose ourselves as liars. Is it that hard to see that if we say we have nothing to do with Babylon - which anyone who is called out to preach the "Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven" MUST be able to say - we can no longer live and "have our being" in this bogus kingdom?

The hard truth is, we can "scream and holler" about Babylon "until the cows come home," but so long as we live there, so long as we refuse to give up the benefits of Babylon, specifically, our split-level homes, our two cars, our green lawns, our fat bank accounts, our good careers, etc., our testimony concerning Babylon cannot help but ring hollow to the outside world. The fact of the matter is, all our preaching, all of our evangelizing, and all of our "praise and worship" when it's done behind the guns of the American military (either directly or indirectly, whether by omission or commission, no matter) - cannot hide the counterfeit nature of our testimony, especially as that testimony affects those who are suffering under the oppression of Babylon the Great. If we are to truly involve ourselves with the "Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven," we must do what Moses did, who chose to "... suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt (i.e., of this present evil world): for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. "By faith he forsook Egypt (i.e., this world), not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." (Heb. 11:25-27) NOW, THAT'S THE KIND OF TESTIMONY THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD - THE KIND OF TESTIMONY THAT WILL GET THE ATTENTION OF THE POOR OF THE EARTH. Again, however, that kind of testimony costs! Are you willing to live out that kind of testimony in your life here on earth? Not many are! - but for those who willing to do so, their words will count; their words will carry meaning, like the words of Christ; for when He taught the people, He taught them as one "... who had authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:22)

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OPENS UP THE POOR TO THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION
What Christ did (i.e., His actions) backed up (and gave authority to) what He said - and so it must be with EVERYONE who wants to involve himself with the "Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven" in these "Last Days." When Christians speak out against Babylon the Great, and shine the light of God's Word on this phony kingdom, the poor will take note of what they are saying only if they have completely disassociated themselves from it. If they have done that, then they can say honestly and sincerely that the American New World Order System is NONE of Christ's (and none of theirs); it is a bogus kingdom; that THERE IS A NEW WORLD COMING; ONE THAT HAS SUBSTANCE TO IT - a kingdom which has been hid from the poor of the earth because of the "smoke and mirrors" of Babylon the Great, and the absurd "hocus-pocus" of the Apostate Church with which Babylon is associated; AND

THAT THE POOR OF THE EARTH SHOULD PREPARE THEIR HEARTS FOR ITS COMING BY OPENING UP TO THE GOSPEL ("GOOD NEWS") OF SALVATION. If we patiently and persistently "keep on keeping on" (so to speak) in this great work - and if our lives demonstrate that we have DISASSOCIATED ourselves TOTALLY and COMPLETELY from Babylon the Great - then what we say will have substance, and what our work will ultimately produce is THE GREAT HARVEST OF THE LAMB: "Here is the PATIENCE of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Rev. 14:12, 14-15)

THE HARVEST IS GREAT, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW

The harvest is ready, but God needs laborers for this harvest. The Bible says: "... The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2) That's what is needed today: laborers to go forth into the harvest armed with the Gospel of the Kingdom; it will open up the door of the Kingdom to the poor of the earth and cause them to flood into it in such numbers that your "mind will be blown" - after all, whether rich Christians in America want to admit it or not, IT'S THE POOR FOR WHOM CHRIST CAME, not the rich. Jesus said, "... woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation." (Luke 6:24) And He went on to say, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because HE HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised ..." (Luke 4:18) That's why Jesus said, "Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God." (Luke 6:20)

COMPEL THE POOR TO COME IN

Brothers and sisters, listen! - Forget the self-satisfied middle-class of this or any other country; forget the rich - THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT OPEN TO CHRIST! These are the people about whom Jesus said, "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. "... in vain they do worship me ..." (Matt. 15:7-9) You are wasting your time on the rich! - and not only the rich, but the smug, complacent middleclass as well. Revolutions (so to speak) are made with the poor, not these conceited twits. Jesus said: "... A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. "And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. "So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, AND BRING IN HITHER THE POOR, AND THE MAIMED, AND THE HALT, AND THE BLIND (i.e., the outcasts of society)." (Luke 14:16-21) Jesus continues: "And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. "And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, AND COMPEL THEM (i.e., the poor) TO COME IN, that my house may be filled." (Luke 14:22-23)

GOD IS GOING TO FILL UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WITH THE POOR AND DOWNTRODDEN OF THE EARTH
God's desire is that His house be filled, AND HE PLANS TO FILL IT WITH THE POOR.

Believe me when I tell you, brothers and sisters, that when the Lord speaks of filling His kingdom with the poor, these are not rhetorical flourishes. Christ means it. HE IS GOING TO FILL HIS HOUSE WITH THE POOR AND DOWNTRODDEN OF THE WORLD - and if you are going to have anything to do with this great work, if you are going to reach the poor of the world - you must DISASSOCIATE yourselves from the American New World Order System, or else the poor will never listen to you. They would rather listen to the purveyors of Islam than you if you come to them preaching Christ behind the guns of the American army.

TWOFOLD MORE THE CHILD OF HELL

And more than just that, any converts you acquire in the Third World as an ambassador of the American New World Order System and the apostate church associated with it will be FALSE converts - people who think that by "accepting" Christ as savior, they can gather wealth unto themselves. This is certainly what Bennie Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, the late Kenneth Hagin, Creflow Dollar, etc. preach in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia. Well did Jesus say of such people: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." (Matt. 23:15) Again, if you are to be successful insofar as the Gospel of Salvation is concerned with the poor in the Third World (WHICH I BELIEVE THE LORD IS TURNING US IN ANTIPAS MORE AND MORE TO) you MUST couple that Gospel with the Gospel of the Kingdom - and in doing so, you must TOTALLY separate yourselves from the American New World Order System. To do anything less is to make yourself out to be a HYPOCRITE - which is precisely what countless numbers of American missionaries are doing today: for example, taking Christ to the natives of the Amazon basin in 120 foot long motor launches fitted out with all the conveniences of home, pulling up to villages along the way, singing "Jesus loves You" to the children, passing out a few Bibles and some medicine, and then moving on to the next village (and this is a real example, not a made-up one). What a wonderful adventure that would be! Heck, an unbelieving "naturalist" would gladly "accept Christ" in order to do that. And why not? - it's an adventure of a life-time, and American "yuppies" pay thousands and thousands of dollars each year to "safari" into the "wonders of nature" (i.e., the Third World) in that fashion. What a false Gospel, but that's the kind of "Gospel" that is being purveyed to the poor of the earth today by most - if not all - American missionaries.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND

There are some, of course, who say that we are being too hard on the rich, and that we act as if there is some kind of nobility in being poor; that in dwelling so much on the poor, we are being a little bizarre. But in the early years of Christianity what we have had to say about the poor vis a

vis the rich would have made perfect sense - because only the poor were Christians. It certainly made sense to the Apostle James. He wrote: "Hath not God CHOSEN THE POOR of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2:5) And Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; "And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are ..." (1 Cor. 1:26-28) The fact of the matter is, Christianity is a poor man's religion. It was "created" (so to speak) for poor people. When we try to fit the rich into the church, the church is CORRUPTED. That's a hard saying, but it's true! - and it doesn't make it any less true because we in America have lost track of this truth, and because this truth is no longer preached from the pulpits of our churches. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24) That's why Jesus told the rich young ruler that if he wanted to serve God, he had to "... sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22) Money and those who possess it corrupt the church. Dom Helder Camara of Brazil was right when he said, "I used to think, when I was a child, that Christ might have been exaggerating when He warned about the dangers of wealth. Today I know better. I know how ... (impossible) it is to be rich and still keep the milk of human kindness. Money (or the desire for money) has a dangerous way of putting scales on ones eyes, a dangerous way of freezing peoples hands, eyes, lips and hearts." Has money (and the security that money can buy for you) put scales on your eyes? Has it frozen your hands, your eyes, your lips and your hearts? Is it preventing you from doing what you know in your heart you should be doing? I hope not, though I suspect that for many of you, it is. Jesus warned His disciples:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal ..." (Matt. 6:19-20)

DON'T MISS OUT BECAUSE OF FILTHY LUCRE

Listen to me here, dear saints of God: God is offering you the Kingdom of Heaven; and not only that, He is offering you a chance to be a worker in that Kingdom - TO ANNOUNCE ITS COMING, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT HARVEST OF THE LAMB. Don't miss out on this opportunity, because once offered and rejected, it may never be offered to you again. The Apostle Paul said, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:1-2) More next time! Until then, God bless you, S.R. Shearer, Antipas Ministries