From: anonymous
To: <r421@earthlink.net>
Subject: 'cephus ministries' website.
Date: Thursday, January 03, 2002 1:55 PM

[Editor's Note: We asked the sender to allow us to publish this email and he wrote back not to publish. Since letters become personal property and are not copyright material we decided to publish it without his permission and are keeping his return address off the message. The writer converted to Islam from Christianity. This information is powerful and every Christian needs to read it to understand what is at stake.]

Peace be unto you,

I recently discovered the website 'cephus ministries' and was alarmed at the huge amounts of garbage on the site. The Islamic teachings are highly distorted, and as a Muslim, i must object to your site. I don't even know if you'll read this emial, or if your site is still being monitored, so all this may be moot, but i must make a conscious attempt to stand against such propoganda against God.

I've seen other websites like this one, and i find that Christian Logic is sorely lacking, and their facts are often fictions, or distortions. Nobody is PERFECT unless they've been blessed by the Creator to be so, so unless we can prove we're perfect, we all make mistakes. I acknowledge that some of the errors on your site could be geniune mistakes.

However, there is so much anti Islamic venom on the site, it goes beyond geniune error. My biggest problem with Christians who think like you (the site) is that you often contradict your own beliefs and what is contained in the Bible.

The funny thing is ISLAM often matches up PERFECTLY with Biblical law, and its modern Christian beliefs that don't match the Bible. The Bible CLEARLY states IN SIMPLE WORDS that the Lord God is ONE.

That is the FIRST COMMANDMENT that Jesus himself recited when questioned by Jewish Pharisees. What you Christians do is take SYMBOLIC verses and twist them into meanings nobody would logically understand without being taught DOGMATICALLY.

Nowhere does it say GOD is three, it may have other symbolic verses (three bear record in heaven, the 'word' was God, etc.) but it CLEARLY states over and over that God is ONE.

That is the belief of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, etc. None of them ever said God is TRINITY. That means that Islam CONFIRMS what other Prophets said. Only modern Christianity contradicts the ANCIENT belief in ONE GOD.

The history of the development of Christianity shows that the Trinity was not the original belief and was a point of DEBATE amoungst Christian scholars and clergy for over 300 years after Jesus left the earth.

It was not GOSPEL so to speak, otherwise it would not have been such a point of contention. Tawhid or belief in the ONENESS of God is GOSPEL in Islam, and not a point of contention amoungst any legitimate Islamic sects/groups.

This shows the strength of Islam and is the real reason MORE CHRISTIANS CONVERT to ISLAM than vice versa. That is what your website proved...that ISLAM is NOT a religion of the SWORD as you try to propgandize.

It is spreading throughout America and Europe and has fast become the second largest 'religion' in both. WHY? Is is due to Muslim Armies holding swords over helpless Christians? NO!!! The purified, practical and logical message of Islam is PENETRATING the hearts and minds of Christians worldwide, so much so that a vicious propoganda campaign has ensued to 'stop the leak' before the damn breaks and the flood of Islam takes over European life.

They are converting to Islam due to studying its tennents and principles and finding them perfectly compatible with their root beliefs as taught in Christianity. The success of Islam is due to the failure of Christianity as much as its own merits. Christians have MANY UNANSWERED questions that clergy have not been able to answer, but ISLAM answers them EASILY and it makes SENSE to the questioner. That is GUIDANCE (religion).

Religion is supposed to answer the most difficult questions, and Christianity creates more questions than it answers. This is a FACT that Christian Fanatics cannot overcome. Truth ALWAYS vanquishes falsehood. You cannot explain how in a world presently DOMINATED by Christian powers that Islam is still spreading rapidly in those very countries.

Its not like when ISLAM dominated the world, where you could try to make it seem like Islam was spread by the sword, when in actuality Christianity was spread by the sword during European colonization of the 'dark' skinned nations of the earth. Regadless of the history, the fact is NOW Islam has a very negative Image (in the media) and the Muslim World is much less powerful than the Christian/Jewish world yet Islam still is the FASTEST GROWING RELIGION in the world!

The message of Islam is MORE POWERFUL than any bomb, or any form of currency. The power lies in the SHAHADA, the unequivacal statement that 'there is NO GOD, ONLY ALLAH!. This fits with what most Christians believe in their heart of hearts...and in their Bible...The Lord God is ONE.

Christian Europe used to be very backwards and savage, and superstitious. Islamic scholars and universities heavily influenced Christian Europe and inspired its 'renaisaunce'. It wasn't the Bible that inspired Europes rise to power, it was the Quran! This is HISTORY and cannot be denied.

The Quran inspired muslims to STUDY ALLAHS CREATION...and they heeded Allahs command and became the most glorious civilization in world history! The reason it was the most glorious is because it was not only scientifically and militariliy advanced...it was focused on obeying ALLAH (THE GOD)!

It was not inspired by Pagan lifestyles or irreligious heritage like other great civilizations, but by the Revelation of God. The reason the muslim world in the middle east is so screwed up is not due to Islam as much as the Christian IMPERIALIST/COLONIALIST influence in the region.

They (muslims) aren't following true Islam or lack the power to influence the muslim governements. After world war I, the Islamic Empire via the Turkish Caliphate was dismantled...and the Muslim lands were colonized by European powers and divided amoungst them.

This is how the Palestinian conflict arose and Bosnia and all the other drama in the middle east and SouthEastern Europe. The Muslims Governing structure was destabalized by the Christian West crippling their ability to govern themselves.

Add that to the fact the many of the ruling powers in Muslim countries are puppet rulers whos strings are controlled by Terroristic Christian leaders! No wonder its all screwed up. Christianity as it presently taught does not ADD UP.

Anything that dosen't add up loses its appeal to rational people. The fact is that Christians themselves DIFFER greatly about thier faith, much more than moslems differ. There are many more Christian denominations that Islamic!

As long as a Christian tries to explain to people that 3 equals 1, when NO MATHMATICS in the universe exists to justify such illogic, they will lose converts to islam. As long as Christians try to use an EGG analogy to explain the existence of God, they'll lost converts.

None of that cheap logic works with rational humans. Islam appeals to anyone, super smart or average, RICH or POOR, black or white, women and men. (more women covert to islam than men at this time although media propoganda would have you think muslim women are the most oppressed people on earth!)

The real issue is this...Jesus himself spoke of someone coming after him, and left the door open for other prophets to come. THIS IS A FACT the Bible itself vouches for. Why did he prophesies someone else but Christians aren't even looking for them, nor will they acknowledge the possibity someone else is coming...but your 'god' TOLD YOU someone else is coming!

You don't even take heed to the words of your own Savior! Why is it SO HARD for Christians like yourself to come to grips with Muhammad being a prophet? Jesus himself said judge a tree by the fruit it bears when they asked him how to spot a false prophet.

He did not say IF THEY THINK GOD IS ONE, THEY ARE FALSE, IF THEY SAY THEIR ARE A PROPHET THEY ARE FALSE, IF THEY SAY ANYTHING AGAINST WHAT THE AVERAGE CHRISTAIN BELIEVES THEY ARE FALSE! He only said judge them by the 'fruit' or results of their labor or efforts. Muhammads lifestory, the teachings he taught, the transformation of his society from idolotry to true worship of One God, and the acknowledgement of other Prophets before him, all point to a very righteous man and one blessed by God to have more success than ANY HUMAN in history!

All this fruit bore from an unlettered man from a insignificant desert people! He did not copy from the Bible or learn from others to put the Quran together, that is pure lie and propoganda! Its blasphemous because NO EVIDENCE exists ANYWHERE of such claims...pure speculation on the part of those who REFUSE to believe in his prophethood.

The point is he was one of many of Gods prophets...he never said he was saying something new or original...acknowledging the knowledge was already revealed...but Allah deemed it necessary to reveal the LAST TESTAMENT and personally guarantee its protection from change. What if he is Gods prophet, have you ever speculated from that perspective? No, of course not, because that would mean your present set of beliefs need alteration, and your not comfortable to do that. Sorry, but your comfort level means nothing to God and His message. The differences in what Christianity and Judaism teach vs. Islam is not due to Muhammad being misinformed...he said his purpose was to clear up the misconceptions and to correct the errors that crept in the faith of God...so how can you explain the differences as proof he was misinformed? That is illogical to the core.

Allah explains in the QURAN that he revealed the last book due to errors placed in His previous books AFTER that particular prophet died. THAT IS THE EXPLAINATION and no other can be cited with any credibility. The Quran was compiled BEFORE Muhammad died, and was called the Quran by ALLAH, and not by Muslims after Muhammad! Your site is full of lies or errors, but anyone who researches Islam on their own will soon find out you've been lying to them, and it will only do you a disservice, not ISLAM.

This is nothing but a brief reply, i could go on for DAYS and i'm an average muslim with basic knowledge...i grew up in the Church though, so i left Christianity and became a muslim, WITHOUT ANYONE PUTTING A SWORD UP TO MY NECK!! I have a college degree and scored very high on SAT and scored near genius level on IQ tests...so my INTELLECT accepted the teachings of Islam and rejected the confusion called Christianity...so your theory of 'spread by the sword' dosen't hold any wieght with me or the many MILLIONS of Americans who have converted based on RATIONAL analysis of both faiths and determining that Islam is more sound!

Peace be unto you (Jesus said that very same greeting! hmmmm....very interesting that Muslims are the only GROUP notorious for saying the same thing! He also referred to the Creator as ALLAH and not God...he spoke Aramaic and not Greek!!! Aramaic is a hebrew dialect...and Allah is the word for the Most High, not YHWH! Are Muslims MORE LIKE CHRIST than Christians? yes!

Look at how muslim women dress and Mother Mary...and then look at modern day Christians women in christian countries...pornographic is a nice word to describe how women dress in America and how they act! Women reveal more body in America than men do! Breast implants are an expensive American hobby! None of this is from God nor Jesus...but its prevelant in a Christian society!)

Your only hope for salvation is by taking Shahadah and becoming a muslim! This is because you've been exposed to Islam (the last revelation) and now your soul has an obligation to obey God. If you reject Muhammads prophethood than Jesus will reject you as he will testify to Muhammads prophethood! You live in the time of Muhammad, so you are required to follow him, IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO HIS TEACHINGS. If not, then you are absoved of that responsibility... but, its obvious you've been exposed to Islam... so be careful... study to show yourself approved...

lastly, i'd like to question your depiction of Jesus. He looks like a white person... a hippie from the free sex movement or something. Why is that? Why is the main image of Jesus a pale skin blue eyed long stringy haired man when the bible clearly describes him as having skin like burnt copper and hair of wool!

That is a BLACK PERSON! Even the pope knows this as there was a famous picture in Time magazine in the 60's that showed him kissing a 'black' madonna! The jesus on TV and on Churches and in Bibles looks mighty different than the discription in the Bible. Why? It dosen't matter like most Christians say, then WHY IS IT THERE AT ALL? WHY IS THE EUROPEAN VERSION OF JESUS everywhere!??! Because it does matter...to continue to project WHITE SUPREMACY into the minds of the world...Jesus is Gods son, and since he's white/european...and the Europeans have world power right now... so God must be 'white'!

Its a clear psychological weopon used against non white world when the European Christians were colonizing the world. Jesus said the TRUTH...will MAKE you free. He didn't say SOME TRUTH and FALSEHOOD...he said THE TRUTH...and the white/european version of Jesus is NOT TRUE!!!! How ironic that the one you follow says ONLY TRUTH will make you free and you welcome a FALSE image of that very same person you claim to be following!

I know one thing, if the real jesus was put in Churches and in Bible pictures MOST WHITE AMERICANS WOULD REJECT CHRISTIANITY because of their racist beliefs. Noway you can get racists whites to worship [men of color]! You want to talk about TERRORISTS? COME ON! The Christians have been the greatest terrorists in world history!!! Research the DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY and see for yourself the single most racist, terroristic, hate inspired document in world history. Guess who authored it? THE POPE... the head of all Christianity, even though Martin Luther PROTESTED... he still came from the Catholic side FIRST... showing the ORIGIN of all modern European Christainity is Catholicism. History is your worst enemy! [end of letter]

At the same time we had a request by a seventeen year old to address the subject of the true church which prompted a Scripture study and turned out to be a perfect answer to this letter:

"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. [ NOTE THIS IS THE EVENT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE TRIBULATION, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN RAPTURED PRIOR TO IT.]

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and what was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:4-8)

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day [NOTE: The "Day of the Lord" is the tribulation and Millennium combined through judgement day which means that the seven churches were it from a physical point of view. The Scripture points out why:], and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyartira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. [NOTE: Some preach that these churches compare to certain periods between 33 A.D. and now. That is not what the Bible states. I do believe that God uses these Scriptures to teach us why they strayed and wants us to learn from them what is important to God.]

"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:10-20)

The last church mentioned was the Church of Laodicea: "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 'I know thy works, and thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wast cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, and thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

After that John is given a preview of Jesus' opening the seven seals which bring in the tribulation. What does that tell us about the church that we are experiencing today. Is it any wonder we are where we are. Jesus obviously wants a personal relationship with us because that is the only way we can overcome the world. He did it for us and without that relationship we can't get there. That is why he showed us what happened to the seven churches.

The # used to describe what the word "church" means in the Greek Lexical Aids. #1577: Ekklesia; originally seems to have been derived from ekkaleo, to call out. It was a common term for a congregation of the ekkletoi, those called out or assembled in the public affairs of a free state, a body of free citizens, called together by a herald. The ekkletoi, the called people, constituted the ekklesia. In the NT the word is applied to the congregation of the people of Israel (Acts 7:38). On the other hand, sunagoge (4864) seems to have been used to designate the people from Israel in distinction from all other nations (Acts 13:43, cf. Matt. 4:23; 6:2; James 2:2; Rev. 2:9, 3:9). But when in Hebrews 10:25 the gathering of the Christians is referred to, it is not called sunagoge but episunagoge (1997), with the prep. epi (1909), upon, translated the assembling together.

The Christian community was designated for the first time as ekklesia to differentiate it from the Jewish community, sunagoge (Acts 2:47 TR). The term ekklesia denotes the NT community of the redeemed in its twofold aspect, all who were called by and who were called by and to Christ in the fellowship of His salvation, the Church worldwide of all times, and only secondary to an individual church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; 9:31; 1 Cor. 6:4; 10:32; 11:22; 12:28; 14:4; 5:12; 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil. 3:6; Col. 1:18; 24). Designated Church of God (1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; Gal. 1:13; 1Tim. 3:5, 15). the body of Christ (Eph. 5:23, 24); the entire Church exclusively (Ephesians 1:22; 3:10, 21; 5:23-25, 27, 29, 32; Heb. 12:23).

The NT churches, however, are also confined to particular places (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2; 16:19, 2 Cor. 1:1; Col. 4:15; 1 Thess. 2:14; Phile. 1:2), to single local churches (Acts 8:1; 11:22, Rom. 16:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) [source p.1712 Lexical Aids of the New Testament KJV Bible]

BISHOP: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Qualifications to be an overseer: "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil).

DEACONS: 1 Timothy 3:8- 13 Qualifications for Servants: "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul wrote the letters to Timothy to teach him. Here are more important points: 1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." [NOTE later referred to as ordination to allow him to teach, and be an apostle] "Wherefore I put thee in rememberance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6) NOTE: Paul mentions a "gift" which Timothy possessed as a result of the "putting on" of his hands on him. It is identical to the word used by Paul to describe the gifts (charismata [5486]) of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-11)... this particular gift that came upon Timothy was the outcome of his ordination to the ministry of the gospel in 1 Timothy 4:14. 2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."

Timothy was to carry on Paul's ministry.

In Titus we have the qualifications of an Elder. Paul wrote the following to Titus:

ELDERS: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. (Titus 1:5,6)

BISHOP: "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;.. (Titus 1:7.. 14)

This confirms that God meant there be a specific order to His people and laid out what the qualifications for congregations are

What is most important to God is obedience. That is why we are here on earth. If we don't learn obedience through the mechanisms that God has provided for us, we have little chance of making it. That is what Jesus's life portrayed. In the Word of God, OT and NT, it is always about obedience to the Word. That is the hard part about the Gospel and that is why Lucifer and his angels (a third of the angels) lost it.

Some believe and teach that there has been an interruption of receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are necessary for ordination of office. The laying on of hands would have had to have been practiced by original Apostles. Apostles named in the Bible all had contact with Jesus Christ even Paul on the road to Damascus. They were authentic Apostles and had the gift to ordain others who were then enabled to lay hands on others.

The Catholic Church, from which most denominations spring, changed the rules which took its authenticity out. Their hierarchy consists of many layers of authority and the priests are unmarried, celibate men. How can they, being disobedient to the Word of God, have the authority to lay hands on new candidates to teach the Gospel.

We believe that the gifts today, due to the interruption, come from Jesus Christ Himself direct. The reason for that is that one of the nine gifts is FAITH, and Jesus still HEALS and if we have access to one gift, we have access to all nine and should covet them.

Ephesians 4:1-16 Paul speaking to the church, the saints of Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some; evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Amen [ Source: KJV Hebrew Greek Kay Study Bible edited by Greek Scholar Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422, U.S.A. ]