STAND & COMFORT Newsletter
Email NEWSLETTER #13
By Ed Tarkowski

December 05, 2001

 

#1 Some Thoughts On Big Brother

I received the following from John Beardsley. He brings out some good points and I thought my
comments might expand them in relation to what is now, and what will be. I don't know if John
will agree with all I say, but here are my thoughts on his email.

[Begin]

To get on the soap box for a minute,

I am sure some conspiracy theorists will say big brother has arrived. I can tell you the FBI
and other law enforcement agencies have more than enough real criminals taking up their time.
For instance a child porn case, can take days to research one hard drive! Technology has
advanced beyond the capabilities of many areas in law enforcement to keep up, the manpower
needs have greatly increased because of cases like this example.

When we take a step back and look, it becomes clear it is the criminals and terrorists that
make the need for these Cyber monitors, face recognition, better wire taps and etc. Now with
that said, yes, I believe these tools will be used by persons with no ethics or conscience.
The conspiracy theorists will have us believe that chasing down Bible believing Christians is
the sole purpose of these devices and that is utter nonsense.

I would be more concerned with laws protecting our freedoms being lifted than tools that
assist legitimate law enforcement needs. Most areas cannot keep enough qualified officers to
protect their citizens, so why would we not want to give them more tools to help them catch
bad guys? After being a victim of an unsolved crime, I bet you find yourself wishing they had
more tools to help!

Enough said.

John

[End]

First off, I agree with John in that I don't think big brother has totally arrived, but I do
believe he's certainly on the way. And as in so many things today, big brother's riding in on
good things being done against evil things. For the moment, the purpose for these devices
isn't chasing down Christians, but it is against Biblical common sense to think that it will
not be a major aspect of this some day, probably someday soon. I think John would agree with
that. The push towards intolerance within the religious arena tells us that. The world will
put up with tolerance of the Christian gospel for only so long.

But concerning New York and Washington and the anthrax episodes, the world has no other way to
deal with such things except as it has. Those events were and are evil, and I don't believe
any nation would endure such things and not make a vital effort to improve security and take
steps to protect its people against such men and events in the future. A nation would be crazy
not to gird up its security and bring in better measures to track terrorists. You would think
law enforcement has to be tired at this point - who knows - and there is no doubt that the
devices John mentioned are going to help them.

We cannot, though, look at these things without acknowledging the Biblical fact that there is
one whom the world cannot wiretap, one who uses the battle between good and evil to further
what he wants. I am talking about the evil one, Satan, and he easily manipulates the world and
fallen humanity. The world is already his because it trusts in a system based on good and
evil, the good and evil being determined by man-made laws. Scripture says,

1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

In view of this, we must remember that the antichrist will arise because he is a law-
manipulator, a changer of the times and the seasons. I don't believe it is far-fetched to say
that if he is bold enough to change the times and seasons of the law of God, he certainly has
no problem with manipulating the legislators of the countries of the world to bring in a one-
world system.

The problem comes in when the world believes it is doing something good when it is actually
something evil, or at the least will be manipulated to an evil end. I've spoken of an example
of this in the past: how children are manipulated by the evil one through the Super-Hero
phenomena. Remember He-Man? He had super powers and fought for good, and his enemy The Skull
used occult powers and was depicted as evil. The kids, of course, shoulted their hoorays for
He-Man, and their motto was, "I've got the Power!" The manipulation had already taken effect
at this point because He-Man's powers were occultic as well, yet seen as good. The old saying
applies here, "Damned if you do, and damned if you don't" and its all part of the working of
the mystery of iniquity. Paul wrote:

2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: . . .

If iniquity is working within the Church, how much more power does it have to work in the
world against God and his people? The United States' increasing surveillance in this country,
freeing Afghanistan from terrorists overseas, etc. are good things, but these events do draw
the world closer to a new world order. It's a natural outcome because that is the way the
world has to head according to the word of God. I believe that because fallen humanity has to
deal with its troublesome situations by legislating good against evil, the evil one is given
an open door to manipulate the world into the global oneness that will supposedly bring peace
and security. Why do I believe that? Because the world does not know what good and evil really
is from a Biblical perspective, and it has no discernment to tell when it is being deceived
and manipulated by evil spirits in the overall scheme of things. The good that it does have
can be dangerous because it doesn't have the knowledge of the spiritual realm that will keep
its good from being manipulated into evil. The result is described in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 8:11 . . . Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

God does say such a manipulation will occur and that it will be worldwide.

This principle still applies today: "the woman saw that the tree was good for food" (Gen 3:6).
To a great extent, I think the world is trapped into creating its own crises because of sin
while at the same time trying to legislate evil out of the world so there will be unity and
peace. Don't get me wrong. I think civil laws are good when they are used properly, but I
wonder how much an increase in law increases the manifestation of sin in sinful humanity? God
gave Israel His law to increase transgressions so they would see their need for a Savior. Does
the same apply to the world making its laws, that those laws given for the good of society
actually increase their transgression? I believe there is some truth to that, yet what
alternative does the world have? It's trapped in an endless cycle of laws, the breaking of
laws, and the punishing of those who break them.

While pursuing cleansing the earth of the Taliban, our government has treated Muslims with
respect as people, and that's right. Muslims who are not in the terrorist business deserve to
be helped and fed and respected as any human being should be. That's merciful and a good
thing, and is seen as such by both the world and the Christian.

The problems start when the religious or spiritual aspect is added. God says there can be no
fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor 6:15-16), while the world praises the unity shown
by the world's religions in praying for God's blessings. Suddenly we have problems; suddenly
Christianity sticks out as a hindrance to what the world wants: unity resulting in peace and
harmony. Suddenly, the evil one has a tremendous opportunity to manipulate the masses sitting
on the edge of possible further disaster and ready to soak up the message of unity against
evil at all levels at all costs. More and more, the Christian is seen as evil in the eyes of
some, because he cannot cross the line to stand in the world and honor what the world wants.
Already we have heard stories of people, even in the pulpits, saying who we can and can't
preach the gospel to. Why? Because the gospel is offensive and its message does not promote
spiritual unity and harmony outside of Christ: Believe on Christ as the only way, the truth
and the only life of salvation.

I don't have it recorded and so can't quote them, but on one day, Fox interviewers pushed at
this one question while interviewing Jerry Falwell and a member of the Southern Baptist
Convention. The first time around, Falwell answered briefly but not satisfactorily. The
interviewer came right back and pushed the question back at him: If one does not believe in
Jesus Christ, will they go to hell? Falwell stood his ground and said who Jesus is and what He
said. I am not a supporter of Jerry Falwell, but good for him this time.

Scripture says that the devil will not go on with his manipulations to bring about a united,
global religious coalition without dealing with his main hindrance, Christianity:

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped
the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? . . . 7 And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given
him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

I think "conspiracy theorists" range from the fringe to the sensible and cautious, and I also
think that one day security measures and other laws will be extremely, negatively detrimental
to the Christian's existence. But that is how the world has to deal with what it sees to be
evil because the world:

1. does not believe on Christ as the only way to salvation and peace

2. does not see things through the eyes of God and His word

3. does not have discernment to know when it is being deceived

4. does not have discernment to see good as potential evil or changing from good to evil

 

#2 A Little Encouragement From Noah And The Ark

The other night I was watching a movie, the content of which was seven episodes from the book
of Genesis. The scenes from Noah and the Ark were pretty tremendous, especially the
interaction between Noah's family and the animals, as they fed and cared for them while they
listened in awe at the sounds coming from outside the Ark. The movie finally progressed to the
point where the Ark lifted from the ground and floated on the water. As I watched it, I
thought, "The Ark had no visible oars or rudder." It just floated aimlessly over the waters
with no place to dock.

How often have you felt that way, being swept here and there with no way to stop the battering
winds and tossing seas of life? "My, Ed, such poetic rhetoric?" No, life does have its winds
and tossing seas, and our flesh wants something to hold onto so control can be maintained and
life doesn't go out of control. We often feel that we have lost the oars and that our lives
don't seem to have a rudder to guide us through the floods and storms.

Noah had no control over the winds that blew the Ark here and there, but he didn't go looking
for oars. He had no control over the rains and torrents of the sea bashing the Ark from one
side and then the other, but he didn't say to himself, "Oh, my, I forgot to put a rudder on
this thing."

What did he do? He took care of his family and the animals and rested in the safety of the Ark
knowing there was one who could guide him through the storm. They ate and kept nourished, they
rested, and they did what had been given them to do. Through it all, Noah trusted in one who
knew every angle and velocity of the winds and every degree of power of the waves and exactly
where that Ark would end up:

Gen 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon
the mountains of Ararat.

The winds of persecution and waves of adversity against true Christianity are increasing and
one can smell the aroma of tribulation ahead. God knows where these things will take us, but
let us be reminded that we are to eat of Him through His word, rest in Him and his promised
salvation and return, and do what He has given and gives us to do. Out of a fear of and love
for our God wrapped in true hope, God would have us rest in His salvation, His faithfulness
and His promise to return, because He knows that His Ark will arrive at its proper destination
in His time:

Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner
as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before
Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the
east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain
shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him
a thousand years.

==============

This newsletter will be sent out whenever I think there is something the body of Christ needs
to consider, to build it up, to give it encouragement or comfort in hard times.

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