I have received numerous e-mails over the years from grateful people around the world in support of the information posted on my web site. I have also received some critical comments, mainly from people who, for one reason or another, were offended by an article or other material on my site that they might not have agreed with. We could spend a lifetime arguing trying to convince people to either accept or reject a specific position regarding a certain teaching; but only the Lord himself can open a person's understanding and give us eyes to see and ears to hear, as “Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding” (I Chron. 22:12), and then only after certain conditions are met, i.e., “a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart” (Psa. 25:9; 51:17; 66:2), “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;” (Psa. 94:12), “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). It is not what I say, or what you say, or what others say, but “what the scripture saith” (Rom. 4:3; 11:2; Gal. 4:30), “let God be true, but every man a liar;” (Rom. 3:4). All too often disagreement among God's people over bible issues cause division and sometimes even resentment (I Cor. 1:10). Division among hearers of the word is sometimes inevitable because “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Matt. 10:34-41; Luke 12:51-53). The Holy Bible has a way of dividing the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats, the humble from the proud, the godly from the worldly, the true from the false. Resentment among brethren, however, is usually caused “by pride” and “bitter envying and strife in your hearts” (Prov. 13:10; James 3:14). My brethren, these things ought not so to be (James 3:10).

       I believe that most people genuinely want to do the right thing by trying to do what they believe is morally good. Unfortunately, when confronted with truth that contradicts what we have been taught, many people will simply reject the truth rather than revise their opinion or belief. In order to get to the full truth one must have the honesty, humility and integrity to confront the facts, be willing to consider the writings and the views of those who lie outside of his/her circle of associates, research all of the material, sort it out, keep what holds true and discard what does not: “for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (James 4:5-10). Always check the context of the subject and consider all of the circumstances surrounding an issue. When reading the Bible, for instance, check the context of the scripture and not just the verse or phrase. In the words of Bible translator Myles Coverdale, “Again, it shall greatly help ye to understand scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and unto whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstance, considering what goeth before, and what followeth after.” (The Bible that is, the holy Scripture, A Prologe, Myles Coverdale Unto The Christian Reader, 1535). Truth can be as obvious and as plain as the nose on your face, but pride in our heart will not allow us to accept the truth. Some people confuse sincerity with humility. Some people are truly sincere, but they lack genuine humility. Some people believe that sincerity equals truth. Over the years I have known some very sincere people with misplaced faith, people who were sincere in their philosophies, theologies and beliefs who were, nonetheless, misled and deceived. If we lack the humility to accept the truth and admit when we are wrong, then we can go to church and read the Bible every day, and it will all be for naught. “Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” (Psa. 138:6). “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Prov. 8:13). “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” (Prov. 15:33).

       What is it that makes it so difficult for some people to “hate every false way” and admit their own culpability (Psa. 119:128)? The answer is p-r-i-d-e. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” (Prov. 18:12). Hezekiah, the proud king of Judah, “humbled himself for the pride of his heart” (II Chron. 32:26). Jesus said that “out of the heart of men, proceed... pride” (Mark 7:21,22). “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9). The prophet Obadiah said, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee” (Obad. 1:3). Remember the proud self-righteous Pharisee proclaiming his own goodness (Luke 18:9,14)? Having pride in the heart, so as to “outwardly appear righteous unto men”, and fearing what others might think of us if we confess our faults, are two of the biggest obstacles preventing us from facing the truth and admitting our errors (Matt. 23:28; Prov. 20:6; 28:13; Jam. 5:16). Understandably, most people don't want to be wrong. What is more difficult than admitting that we were wrong is admitting that we are wrong! There is no shame in being wrong. But it is a shame to be wrong and lack the necessary humility to admit it. We would do well to follow king Hezekiah's example of humitity (II Chron. 32:26). “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” “Open rebuke is better than secret love.” (Prov. 9:8; 27:5). Sometimes it is easier to take a physical beating than it is to receive a rebuke from the Lord via the scriptures and admit that we are wrong (II Tim. 3:16; Deut. 8:5; Rev. 3:19). This is the type of attitude that inhibits a person's ability to learn. Having a true spirit of humility, however, should cause any sincere Christian to examine themselves and be willing to change their opinion or position should the facts contradict their beliefs: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (II Cor. 13:5): “reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.” (Prov. 19:25): “but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isa. 66:2)

       After earnestly seeking the Lord for humility, grace and understanding, and prayerfully searching the Scriptures daily, and after decades of participation in or examination of the major religions of the world and studying diverse philosophies, and after researching Bible manuscript evidence and studying the history of variant bible versions and their contents for many years, I had to humble my heart and repent and acknowledge the fact that I was being deceived by Satan through man and his diverse theologies and spurious ‘Christian’ doctrines, “by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”. I also had to repent and admit that the pride of my own heart was deceiving me. And as a result of the Lord allowing me to see my own deceitful heart and the numerous devices that Satan uses to deceive us, I had to up-date some of the material on my web site from time to time and will continue to do so, if the Lord will, if and when additional reliable information is available (Jam. 4:15; Eph. 4:14). Aside from the Holy Bible, I make no claims of infallibility regarding any article or link or any other material on my website. I would caution and advise everyone to use the scriptures as the final authority. Jesus Christ “hath made us kings and priests unto God” (Rev. 1:6). Proverbs tells us “the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov. 25:2). As “kings and priests unto God” we are instructed to “Search the scriptures” (John 5:39), to “Study” (II Tim. 2:15), to “search out a matter” (Prov. 25:2), and to “Prove all things” (I Thess. 5:21). Job said, “the cause which I knew not I searched out.” (Job 29:16).

      The holy scriptures of God are the prime object of Satan's attack. The devil's modus operandi, or habitual methods, are basically unchanged from Genesis chapter 3, “Yea, hath God said,..?” causing doubt in man's mind by corrupting the words of God (Gen. 3:1), e.g., “a more accurate translation of the word is...”, “a better translation of the word is...”, “the original Greek says...”, “the original Hebrew says...”, “an easier to understand translation of the word is...”, etc., etc. This is why much of the information on this web site will be dealing with the subject of the preservation of the words of the Lord as well as their corruption. (See Greek Nuggets or Fools Gold? and Scripture Preservation & Scripture Corruption)

       The preserved Old Testament scriptures have been with God's people from the time of the prophets to the present-day. The preserved New Testament scriptures have been with God's people from the time of the apostles to the present-day. “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa. 59:21). Information confirming these facts has been in existence from the earliest of times, but has seldom been researched by most people. If Christians are too busy, or too lazy, to take the time to research such important matters as scripture preservation and scripture corruption, we have no one to blame but ourselves “for lack of knowledge”, because “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Hosea 4:6; Rom. 14:12). Jesus said “That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36,37). In biblical times when God's people were tried they often leaned unto their “own understanding” and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Psa. 105:19; Prov. 3:5; Hosea 13:2; Judges 21:25). The Bible tells us that “they believed not his word” (Psa. 106:24). It is not difficult to find people today who don't really believe everything that they read in the Bible. Most people today don't believe what they read; they read what they believe. Most people tend to read and believe only those things that agree with their own personal philosophies or theologies.

       The prophet Isaiah said, “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read”, and “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word [the scriptures], it is because there is no light in them.” (Is. 34:16; 8:20). The apostle Paul said to “let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Rom. 3:4). King David said, “The words of the LORD are pure words:” (Psa. 12:6). History itself reveals that the Holy Bible, the scriptures that were written by the prophets and apostles, is in fact God's perfect, inerrant, inspired, infallible, preserved word to mankind. “Thy word is very pure:” said King David, “therefore thy servant loveth it.” (Psa. 119:140). “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (Psa. 119:160). “Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.” (Psa. 119:152). Ecclesiastes says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” (Ecc. 3:14). The Lord said, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2). “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words [the small w-o-r-d-s] of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life”(Rev. 22:18,19). The Lord's warnings concerning tampering with his words are just as relevant today as at any other time in history. It is no coincident that, over the last one-hundred years, more and more people have come to doubt the accuracy and purity of the words of the Holy Bible, the KJV, as we are witnessing the fulfillment of scripture regarding the great deceptions and the strong delusion that Jesus and his apostles spoke about, “a falling away” from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”(II Thess. 2:3; Jude 1:3)

       We are not to “add unto the word” of God, neither are we to “diminish ought from it”(Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19). “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov. 30:5,6). Sadly, there are those today who believe that we can “add unto the word”, “diminish ought from it”, or use a substitute word at our convenience, “every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes”; hence, the multitude of changes in modern bible versions (Deut. 12:8). There are those who do not believe that God preserved, as promised, a 100% “pure” Holy Bible. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou [meaning God himself] shalt preserve them [meaning the words of the LORD] from this generation for ever.” (Psa. 12:6,7). On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus Christ “were all with one accord in one place.... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” And there were dwelling at Jerusalem “devout men, out of every nation under heaven” and “every man heard them speak in his own language.” (Acts 2:1-6). Note that “every man heard them speak in his own language”. The “pure words” of the Holy Ghost are not limited to one or two ancient languages. Bibles were written in several languages (Greek, Syriac, Latin, Gothic, et al) within a few years of the New Testament's creation, as the word of God “grew” “mightily” and “multiplied” and “prevailed” (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:49; 19:20). There are more than 5,000 authentic Greek New Testament manuscripts alone, some dating back to the first century A.D., still in existence today in museums around the world, the overwhelming majority of which are in agreement with the text of the English Authorized Version (KJV) Holy Bible.

       The English language developed over a period of several centuries. Gothic, the great great grandfather of English, was a major world language at the time of Christ and the apostles. The words of English are much older than most people think. The earliest English sentence to be discovered appears on an old coin dated around A.D. 450. It is a myth that few people had scriptures or could read during the middle ages. The Cambridge History of the Bible identifies numerous copies of the English New Testament which existed before Wycliffe's translation of the late 1300s (vol. 2, pp. 389-390 et al.). “The myth, that the English people had only scraps of scriptures before Wycliffe, is perpetuated to degrade God’s promise of “the word which he commanded to a thousand generations” and “to all nations” (I Chron. 16:15, Rom. 16:26). Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (A.D. 1563) traces Christianity from the first century to the 1500s. A thorough reading of all eight of its large volumes makes it abundantly clear that all who wanted scriptures, had them, in hand or in heart, as much or as little as they wanted.” (In Awe Of Thy Word, pp. 774,778). By the year 1611 English had coalesced into what we know today as the English language. And God knows the English language as well as he knows ancient Koine Greek and Hebrew. To those who charge that inspiration is lost with translation, John Wycliffe says that “such a charge is a condemnation of the Holy Ghost, who first gave the Scriptures in tongues to the Apostles of Christ, to speak that word in all languages that were ordained of God under heaven.” (The English Bible: An External and Critical History of the Various English Translations of Scripture, Vol. I, 1876, p. 81 et al.). “This is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed‘s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa. 59:21).

       The KJV Bible was translated at a time when the English language was “at its height”, and English writers such as William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and Francis Bacon (1561-1626) were producing their famous works. Many people are unaware of the fact that the 1611 KJV Bible and Shakespeare's works were written in Modern English. “It may come as a surprise to learn that Shakespeare wrote in Modern English, since the language of the Elizabethan Age often seems antiquated and quite ‘unmodern’ to twentieth-century readers. Nevertheless, Shakespeare's speech and our own have enough in common so that language historians consider that they both belong to the same stage in the history of English. If a group of twentieth-century Americans could be transported through time and space to the London of Shakespeare's day, they would find that they could communicate fairly easily with the people they would meet. They would feel that these people were speaking English with an unfamiliar accent, it is true, but their accent would not be much harder for Americans to understand than some of the present-day accents of the British Isles. (Indeed, in some ways, American English is more like that of Shakespeare than is present-day British English.) The major reason for the similarity is the Great Vowel Shift, which occurred sometime in the fifteenth century. The vowel shift gave Modern English a new set of long vowel sounds--sounds that have persisted up to the present.... a standard written form of English came into use during the fifteenth century.” (Adventures in English Literature, 1989, p. 261). In his 1922 book, Human Nature in The Bible, Professor of English Literature at Yale University, William L. Phelps (1865 - 1943), commented on the KJV Bible,

“The Elizabethan period—a term loosely applied to the years between 1558 and 1642—is properly regarded as the most important era in English literature.... the crowning achievement of those spacious times was the Authorised Translation of the Bible, which appeared in 1611.... the art of English composition reached its climax in the pages of the [KJV] Bible.
We Anglo-Saxons have a better Bible than the French or the Germans or the Italians or the Spanish; our English translation is even better than the original Hebrew and Greek. There is only one way to explain this;.. the Authorised Version was inspired.” (Human Nature in The Bible, William Lyon Phelps, 1922, pp. 10, 11)

       God's choice of Greek as the early language of the New Testament was obvious in that it was the predominant language of the civilized world at the time. As English would in time become the predominate language of the world, God's choice of English as “a pure language” of his word is obvious (Zeph. 3:9). At the beginning of the twenty-first century the English language “is more widely scattered, more widely spoken and written, than any other language has ever been. It has become the language of the planet, the first truly global language.” Some two billion people, approximately one-third of the world's population, can speak English. German philologist Jakob Grimm wrote, “In wealth, wisdom and strict economy, none of the other living languages can vie with it.” Of all the world's languages English is the richest in vocabulary. Don't let anyone fool you into believing that Greek is generally ‘more exact’. “English has a few rivals, but no equals.” The statistics of English are truly astonishing. Three-fourths of the world's mail is written in English. “English is the medium for 80 percent of the information stored in the world's computers.” “English is the official voice of the air, of the sea, and of Christianity.” American English today is “very much like the English of Shakespeare's time”. “British or American, the language is basically the same.” “Above all, the great quality of English is its teeming vocabulary, 80 percent of which is foreign born.... its roots are so varied... it has words in common with virtually every language in Europe.” As the English language was destined to become “the first world language in human history”, the 1611 Authorized Version Bible “was destined to reach ten times as many people as the ‘originals’ could reach, and it would be responsible for results a hundred times more effective than the ‘originals’ could produce....”. “” (The Story of English, 1986, pp. 19,20,28,38,46,47; The "Errors" In The King James Bible, p. 10)

       In 1857 The American Bible Society said of the King James Bible that “it had the effect at once to develope and fix the structure and character of the English language; and with that language it has since been borne abroad even to the ends of the earth. And now, during the lapse of almost two and a half centuries, it has gladdened the hearts, and still gladdens the hearts, of millions upon millions, not only in Great Britain, but throughout North America and India, in portions of Africa, and in Australia. At the present day, the English is probably the vernacular tongue of more millions than any other one language under heaven; and the English Bible has brought and still brings home the knowledge of God's revealed truth to myriads more of minds, than ever received it through the original tongues.” (Report On The History And Recent Collation Of The English Version Of The Bible, 1857, p. 7).

       Even secular sources readily attest to the preeminence of the King James Version. “Often referred to as ‘the only classic ever created by a committee,’ its uniform excellence and beauty caused it from the start to be acknowledged as a masterpiece, an outstanding literary work whose great popularity persists to the present day.” “Produced with exacting care by the most distinguished scholars, written at a time when the English language was at its height, it has communicated eloquently with every age. Its beauty and vigor of language, its sheer poetry, has influenced both English and American literature immeasurably. As generations of readers have memorized it, quoted it, and woven its phrases into their speech, the King James Version has continued, after more than three centuries, to have a tremendous effect upon our language.” (Adventures in English Literature, 1989, pp. 294, 295)

       The late President Ronald Reagan commented on the King James Bible in one of his famous radio addresses. In his September 6, 1977 radio address Reagan praised the Authorized Version KJV Bible and criticized the God News Bible. Reagan said, “Now another attempt has been made to improve it. I say another because there have been several fairly recent efforts to—quote ‘make the Bible more readable & understandable’—unquote. But as Mr. Hanser so eloquently says, ‘For more than 3 1/2 centuries its language and its images have penetrated more deeply into the general culture of the English speaking world, and been more dearly treasured, than anything else ever put on paper.’... The sponsors of the ‘Good News’ version boast that their bible is as readable as the daily paper—and so it is. But do readers of the daily news find themselves moved to wonder, ‘at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth’? Mr. Hanser suggests that sadly the "tinkering & general horsing around with the sacred texts will no doubt continue" as pious drudges try to get it right. ‘It will not dawn on them that it has already been gotten right.’” (see Ronald Reagan and the King James Bible). William L. Phelps wrote,

“Now as the English-speaking people have the best Bible in the world, and as it is the most beautiful monument ever erected with the English alphabet, we ought to make the most of it, for it is an incomparably rich inheritance, free to all who can read. This means that we ought invariably in the church and on public occasions to use the Authorised Version; all others are inferior.” (Human Nature in The Bible, William Lyon Phelps, 1922, p. 11)

       Reporting on the subject of religious exercises and the use of the Bible in America's public schools in 1838, Daniel D. Barnard said, “The faithful and critical study of the English language, in its purity, by the youth of our country, is immensely important; and it is confidently believed, that no where can there be found, in the same compass, half as many specimens of beautiful and pure Anglo-Saxon language, as in the Bible. And we think it may be safely said that, since the publication of the present English Bible, as translated under the orders of king James, no writer or speaker in that language, can be named, who has acquired any just celebrity for the simplicity, strength and beauty of his diction, who has not been mainly indebted to that book for his excellence in that particular.” (Speeches and Reports in the Assembly of New York, at the Annual Session of 1838, Daniel Dewey Barnard, pp. 62,63)

       Jesus said, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”, and, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Mat. 5:18; 24:35). Still many doubt the preservation of the words of the Lord and proudly proclaim their unbelief via articles and sermons. Despite what Jesus said in the Bible, many people today will believe what men write and say about the Bible, before they will believe the Bible itself. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psa. 118:8). “There are no Bible verses which indicate that vernacular translations [vernacular: belonging to a particular country or language], like the KJV, will be inferior to those of ancient languages. There are no Bible verses that state that Bible study should be done in those ancient languages [Greek, Hebrew, et al]. If such were a benefit to our understanding, one would think that at least one verse would mention it. There are no Bible examples of Jesus Christ or the apostles correcting the Bible of their day or refusing to communicate to the common man in his own vernacular tongue. Paul's captors chided, ‘Canst thou speak Greek?’ Paul ignored them and continued to speak to the people in their own language (Acts 21:37, 40).” (In Awe Of Thy Word, p. 498). “For our exhortation was not of deceit,” exclaimed Paul, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” (I Thess. 2:3): “for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10). “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know... Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others” (I Thess. 2:4-6). John Wycliffe said that to peel a thread from any word is to begin unraveling the entire holy garment of scripture (On the Truth, p. 2). Other faithful Bible translators agreed, and many of them paid with their lives, having suffered great persecution for their unshakable faith in the scriptures. A great number of believers became martyrs for their faith in the Bible – Christians who died rather than corrupt one word (Mark 8:35; 10:29; Rev. 6:9).

       “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God:” said Paul, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully” (II Cor. 2:17; 4:2). “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Tim. 2:15): “not in the words which man‘s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (I Cor. 2:13) (Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit” (John 6:63): comparing the word with the word, spiritual things with spiritual, scripture with scripture. We are exhorted to “Study” “the word of truth” “rightly dividing” the scriptures using nonsubjective biblical examples such as that found in chapter twelve of Ecclesiastes: “And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.” (Eccl. 12:9). Note that the preacher “set in order” many proverbs, comparing “the word” with “the word”; he did not replace or “add unto the word” using lexicons or study aids, nor did he dissect and pick apart the “holy scriptures” to discard what he disagreed with or didn't understand. As the very next verse explains, “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.” (Eccl. 12:10; Prov. 22:20,21; Matt. 4:4-10). “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9). “I am the door”, exclaimed Jesus (John 10:9). “He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1). “Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding” (I Chron. 22:12). “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

       It is important to understand that Jesus opened to his disciples the scriptures; he did not open their understanding to a lexicon definition or a hieroglyphic code or some secret revelation: “he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27); “and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” (John 2:22). To confirm the truth of the scriptures Jesus did not give his disciples a good feeling in their heart; Jesus used the written scriptures, “that which was written... even words of truth”, to substantiate the authenticity of the scriptures: “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Ecc. 12:10; Luke 24:45). The disciples did not trust in their sincere hearts or their good intentions; “they believed the scripture”. Paul spent “three sabbath days” teaching the Jews “reasoned with them out of the scriptures” (Acts 17:2). A disciple named Apollos “mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:28). The disciples of Berea “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11).

       The “word of truth”, the “word of God”, the “holy scriptures”, the Holy Bible, is supposed to be a Christian's final authority in all matters of faith and practice. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5). Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”(John 17:17). Sadly, many in the church world today are leaning unto their “own understanding” placing their own heart's desires above the scriptures by following their own feelings and emotions instead of God's word in the Bible (Prov. 3:5; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:14). Of course, our feelings and emotions are touched with “joy and gladness”(Psa. 51:8) when Jesus Christ, who is the living Word, comes into our hearts by faith in his word (Eph. 1:13) and gives us “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7). However, any spiritual or emotional experience that will either contradict or not conform to the Holy Bible is not of God. The Lord warned us not to trust in the emotional feelings of our own hearts: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:26). Having a sincere heart will not make you free from error. Some people are sincerely wrong. Some people have misplaced faith. Spiritual experiences will not make you free. Jesus said, “my word . . . the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:31,32). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph. 1:13). God warns us in Jeremiah that the “heart is deceitful above all things”; and God warns “of the prophets that prophesy... of the deceit of their own heart”(Jer. 14:14; 17:9; 23:26;): which is why we should never leave the safety of the scriptures. Paul said, “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”(Philip. 3:1). In matters of faith the Holy Bible is a Christian's only safety net, and is the authority by which we should “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24), because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16). Regardless of who the messengers are, whether they be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers or “an angel from heaven”, the Holy Bible is the only ruler by which we should measure their words and deeds (II Cor. 11:14,15; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 4:12; II Tim. 2:15).

       It seems as though I may have offended some people by my strong support of the Authorized KJV Bible; and in particular by my firm opposition to new and alternative bible versions. I would urge anyone, especially Christians, to take a closer look at where these other bible versions came from. And just as important, look at where they are leading people — into a neo-Christian philosophy of occult mysticism after the tradition of men — our young people in particular who's hearts are not deeply rooted in and who's feet are not firmly planted upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets doctrine of the KJV Bible (Col. 2:8). The Bible says that there is “one faith,” by which we “all speak the same thing” with “one mouth” “that there be no divisions among you” (I Cor. 1:10; 10:3,4; Gal. 5:14; Eph. 4:5; Rom. 15:6). “God is not the author of confusion” (I Cor. 14:33). Therefore, the various conflicting/confusing bible versions and translations can not be from God, because that divides the body of Christ, as divisions are caused when we do not “all speak the same thing” (I Cor. 1:10). But someone might say, “My pastor uses different bible versions, and people are getting saved in his church.“ The Old Testament records many times when the nation of Israel was just one generation away from total apostasy. King James verses are still widely quoted by a generation of pastors and teachers who have memorized its passages. Many salvations are resulting from this, as the new birth occurs from the KJV seed (I Pet. 1:23). When pastors unwisely give new converts alternative bible versions, though the spirit has been reborn, the spiritual growth will eventually be aborted, because “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” has been corrupted(James 1:21).

       The apostle Paul warned about “another Jesus... another spirit... another gospel” (II Cor. 11:3,4). Paul said, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed... unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that... would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”(Gal. 1:6-9). The Bible says “there are certain men crept in unawares” (Jude 1:4). Many great men in the Bible were deceived by others at one time or another (David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (II Sam. 16-17; Gen. 16; 27; 29). Even Peter himself was wrong at least twice (Matt. 16:23; Gal. 2:14). Peter was so anointed that his shadow healed people (Acts 5:15,16). Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; yet, both he and Peter were wrong: “They walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” (Acts 11:24; Gal. 2:14). God used the apostle Paul to set straight Peter and Barnabas and they received that rebuke.

       Notice that Paul did not say, “Well, since Peter became an apostle before me, I shouldn't touch my brother's calling or anointing”. In fact, Paul did not hesitate to openly rebuke Peter. God told us to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (II Tim. 4:2-4). Instead of hearing preachers preach, “Repent and believe the gospel (the Bible)”, we are hearing, “Touch not thy brothers calling” and “Believe the signs and wonders of silver and gold dust, and the spontaneous exuding of holy oil from human flesh, and the appearance of blood and other paranormal marks on the body”. Brothers and sisters in Christ, these teachings are simply un-biblical. There is not a single New Testament verse supporting the type of teaching that is being propagated by some preachers and evangelists and revivalists. The Bible talks about “strong delusion”, “great signs” “and lying wonders” “that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (II Thess. 2:9,11; Matt. 24:24). Jesus said, “believe it not”, “go not after them, nor follow them” (Matt. 24:23; Luke 17:2).

       While true miracles are indeed a legitimate part of the ministry of the gospel of Christ, an over emphasis on signs and wonders can lead to confusion and delusion. Jesus said that a “wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”, and “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” “And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.” (Matt. 16:4; John 4:48; Mark 8:12). Jesus' apostles did not follow him because of the signs and wonders; they followed him because he faithfully preached the scriptuers: “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67,68). “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” (Prov. 16:16). Peter said unto the lame man, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6). The lame man did not receive a platinum prosthesis, a silver nugget or a golden tooth; “he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God”. The lame man was not healed “with corruptible things, as silver and gold” (I Pet. 1:18), he was healed with the “incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (I Pet. 1:23).

       The Spirit and the word will always be in agreement. To be “led by the Spirit of God” which is the “Spirit of truth” means essentially to be led by the scriptures (Rom. 8:14; John 16:13). English physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867), who's inventions formed the foundation of electric motor technology, said, “[T]he Christian who is taught by God (by His Word and the Holy Spirit).... finds his guide in the Word of God, and commits the keeping of his soul into the hands of God. He looks for no assurance beyond what the Word can give him.... The Christian religion is a revelation, and that revelation is in the Word of God. According to the promise of God, that Word is sent into all the world. Every call and every promise is made freely to every man to whom that Word cometh. No revival and no temporal teaching comes between it and him. He who is taught of the Holy Spirit needs no crowd and no revival to teach him; if he stand alone he is fully taught, for the Comforter (the Spirit) taketh of the things of Christ and showeth them to His people. And if in the mercy of God it should please Him that one seeing the commotion about him should be led to examine his ways, it will only be in the Word of the testimony, the Word of God, that he will find the revelation of the new and living way by which he may rejoice in hope of entering the Kingdom of Christ.” (The Life and Letters of Faraday, Vol. 2, 1870, pp. 431,432,433).

   Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words [the small w-o-r-d-s] that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”; “thy word is truth”; “I am... the truth” (John 6:63; 14:6; 17:17) The apostle John said, “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:6,7). “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” (Philip. 2:9,10): “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:” (Eph. 1:21): “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word [small w-o-r-d] above all thy name.” (Psa. 138:2). Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word [small w-o-r-d], then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32).

       Neither Jesus nor his apostles instructed us to seek a “visitation” from the Lord. When Thomas acknowledged Jesus as “My Lord and my God.”, Jesus said, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:28,29). “Neither pray I for these alone,” said Jesus, “but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). Peter said, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:8,9). When Saul (Paul) received a visit from Jesus Christ, and when Ananias heard from “the Lord in a vision”, neither were exactly seeking a visitation (Acts 9:1-10). In fact, Saul was “yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” and was on his way to further persecute them when Jesus appeared to him in a “heavenly vision” (Acts 9:1; 26:19). While there are some accounts of heavenly visitations in the New Testament, none of those visitations were of the occult type experienced by most prophets and their followers in the healing and charismatic revivals of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. And just as most people are unaware of the people and organizations who's satanic agenda is to bring about a new age or new world order of social, political and religious change, most people are shocked to learn of the occult origins of the healing and charismatic movements of the late 1800s and 1900s.

       By the late 1800s many occult members believed that the best way to bring their satanic teachings to large masses of people was to come in through the Christian churches. The 1904 annual report of the Theosophical Society stated: “I believe it is through the Churches and not through the Theosophical Society that Theosophy [the worship of Lucifer]... must and should come to large bodies of people in the West.” (Transactions of the Theosophical Society, H. P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant, 1904, p. 377). And then just eight years later the 1912 report of the Theosophical Society stated: “Our Lodges continue their propaganda work....Outside the Lodges many of the members engage in what is really Theosophical work such as lecturing, talking on the principles we are trying to put forward, preaching and other activities in connection with the Christian Churches and other organizations....” (Theosophist Magazine, Annie Besant, 1912, p. 88). A nineteenth century occult mystic who worked on the corrupt bible revision committee of 1881, Fenton Hort of Dublin, wrote, “At present very many orthodox but rational men are being unawares acted upon by influences which will assuredly bear good fruit in due time, if the process is allowed to go on quietly;” (Life and letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort, Vol. 1, 1896, p. 400). The “influences” that Hort was referring to were the occult influences in the church via corrupt bible versions (the English Revised Version of 1881 and the 16th century Douay-Rheims version whose texts were based on the corrupt Alexandrian Eusebio-Origen text types) and spiritual forces that “acted upon” many people “unawares”. Jeremiah said that “their course is evil, and their force is not right.” (Jer. 23:10). The apostle Paul warned, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (II Cor. 11:14,15). In 1885 a Divine Healing Conference was held in London, England which drew supporters from all over the world. In the 1904 edition of his book, Old Diary Leaves, Theosophist Henry Steel Olcott commenting on the occult groups and their alleged “healings” in the late 1800's, stated that the following activity was occurring in various nations of the world, “the formation of Branches, the giving of lectures, healings of the sick by hundreds, occult phenomena produced by H. P. B., etc.” (Old Diary Leaves, Henry Olcott, 1904, p. 5).

       In 1896 Alexander Dowie, whom many refer to as the father of healing revivalism in America, formed the Christian Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois and began preaching divine healing messages laced with Luciferian doctrine, phraseology and terms that many who were unfamiliar with the occult did not recognize as being satanic. Dowie purchased 6,000 acres of land near Chicago where he intended to build the city of Zion, a paradise for the righteous. Within two years several thousand people had moved to his new city of God. He ruled Zion with an iron hand, and his magazine, Leaves of Healing, was circulated all over the world. Dowie's claims to repeated divine revelations exalted his personal status, and in 1901 he announced that he was “Elijah the Prophet”. Dowie claimed that he was “the Messenger of the Covenant”, “the Prophet foretold by Moses”, and “Elijah the Restorer”. “Dowie announced himself First Apostle in September, 1904.” (John Alexander Dowie and the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church in Zion, 1906)

       There are many indirect ties linking the modern healing revival to Alexander Dowie. Gordon Lindsay, an admirer of Dowie, wrote of his influence: “Out of Zion came F. F. Bosworth, and his brother B. B. Bosworth.... John G. Lake.... Raymond T. Richey.... From the ministry of these men and others we might mention, there has arisen a host of men of faith who have had powerful ministries. The Full Gospel movement which sprang into existence... owes Zion a debt that it perhaps little realizes.” A common theme among many of the healing Evangelists was their public proclamation that God had personally chosen them to bring about the fulfillment of scripture. Scores of preachers believed that they were the “Last Day Prophet” or “Elijah the Prophet”. Another commonality among many of those who were “chosen” was their claim that, while other churches and ministries were given “part truths”, God was giving them the “whole truth”. A common characteristic among all false religions is their tendency to either explicitly or subtly move authority away from the Bible to another source (a man, a vision, a lexicon or some other book) in order to supersede the authority of the Holy Bible. From Genesis 3:1 in the garden of Eden where the serpent said, “Yea, hath God said . . ?”, to the present day cults whose leader's words overrule the written word of God, Satan's methods of deception – to cast doubt on the scriptures – have not changed. One of the many New Age Evangelists in the twentieth century, Homer Richard Hall, believed that God had spoken to him on a number of occasions. A “deep religious mystic” and “ardent admirer of William Branham”, Hall “made periodic journeys to what he called a secret place in the desert where he received ‘a visitation of His presence.’” Hall believed that the world, the younger generation in particular, “are waiting for this special supernatural or charismatic move, mysticism, and we have it.” Hall admitted that "if the speaker of the hour [the preacher or prophet] accepts it, usually the congregation will.” (All Things Are Possible, The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern America, pp.13,14,209,211).

       This is not to say that any of the ministers of the healing revivals were openly practicing Satanism perse. If fact, most of the ministers, being familiar with the Bible, are, or were, sincere in their beliefs and convictions; and most of them have, or had, good intentions. But having good intentions and being sincere is not an insurance policy protecting us against delusion. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [from the Greek word christos meaning Anointed]; and shall deceive many.... For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:4,5,24). “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things” (Luke 21:36). “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:37). Lucifer (Satan, the Devil) boasted and said in his heart, “I will be like the most High” (Isa. 14:14). And, unfortunately, Satan's ambitions will be realized as the book of Revelation reveals: “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.” (Rev. 13:8). Those in the Christian churches today need to take heed and beware of what is being taught, and those in the Charismatic healing movement need to “awake out of sleep” “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (Rom. 13:11; II Cor. 2:11; II Tim. 2:26). The dangers in seeking spiritual visitations are all too real: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (II Cor. 11:14). To be “led by the Spirit” the apostles did not give themselves continually to “fasting and seeking heavenly visitations”. The apostles said, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4). There is only one verse in the New Testament instructing us on fasting (I Cor. 7:5). If done wisely, fasting can be beneficial (Matt. 17:21; Mark 9:29; Acts 10:30; II Cor. 6:5; 11:27). Fasting is important in a Christian's life, but not nearly as important as praying and reading the Bible; “Holding fast the faithful word” to keep us from “being led away with the error of the wicked” (Luke 18:1; 21:36; 22:46; John 8:31,32; I Tim. 1:3; 4:16; II Tim. 4:1-4; Titus 1:9; II Pet. 3:16).

       The scriptures are given to us “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” to keep the Lord's people from wondering off course and to “keep the feet of his saints” firmly planted upon a solid foundation (II Tim. 3:16; I Sam. 2:9). “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:11). The apostle Paul said that we “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). The Old Testament scriptures of the prophets and the New Testament scriptures of the apostles are our foundation. Sometimes the devil will send us off on a wild goose chase seeking the word of the Lord, when all the while we have it right in front of our faces in the Holy Bible (Amos 8:12; Deut. 30:11-14). Hilkiah the high priest said, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” (II Kings 22:8). Satan is out to destroy our faith in the scriptures. King David said, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa. 11:3). Isaiah said that “if they speak not according to this word [the scriptures, the Bible], it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20). Paul commanded us to “hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle”, and to “withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh... not after the tradition which he received of us.” (II Thess. 2:15; 3:6). When some in the early church “walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel”, Paul did not hold his peace, and neither should we. God said to “shew my people their transgression” (Isa. 58:1).

       I believe that Jesus Christ is “the Word” and the Word is God, and “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost ... are one”, and that his words “change not” and “shall not pass away”, and are “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Mal. 3:6; John 1:1,14; Matt. 24:35; Heb. 13:8; I John 5:7). I believe in “the power of the Spirit of God” to save lost souls, to heal “the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils” and set the captives of Satan free: “the gospel of Christ ... is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”, and “these signs shall follow them that believe” (Matt. 10:8; Mark 16:18; John 14:12; Rom. 1:16; 15:19; James 5:14-16). I also believe in heeding the Bible's warnings. The apostle John warned us to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”, and “many deceivers are entered into the world” (I John 4:1; II John 1:7). Jesus warned us that “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24). Paul warned that “of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). Even today some have “crept in unawares” into “this Jesus” ministry who are “privily” bringing in “damnable heresies” “teaching things which they ought not” by adding unto the word of God or by taking away from it (Acts 17:3; II Pet. 2:1; Titus 1:11; Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19). God said that “there shall come up briers and thorns”, and “thorns shall be in their tabernacles”, and “the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars” (Isa. 5:6; Hos. 9:6; 10:8). It is clear that the god of this world, Lucifer that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world has used mis-information, cunningly devised fables and emotional/spiritual “experiences” to influence some great men of God today into accepting these new bible versions, lexicons and other un-inspired “authorities” (Isa. 14:12-14; II Cor. 4:1-7; I Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Tit. 1:7-14; II Pet. 1:16-21; Rev. 12:9).

       The history of the transmission of the Holy Scriptures from the very earliest of times down through the centuries should be of great interest to the Christian church. Unfortunately, many members of the body of Christ today have a very limited knowledge of the true history of the Holy Bible. This is due, in part, to the many so called scholars and researchers who have written books and have not done a very good job investigating for themselves, and as a result have based all or part of their work on others' faulty foundations. By relying on the work done and the information provided by others, many ‘researchers’ are simply repeating what a few others have said; and misinformation is then promoted as facts. The Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). As Christians, we are responsible for acquiring knowledge for ourselves, and it is our responsibility to “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read” (Isa. 34:16), and to “set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God”(Dan. 10:12), because “every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom. 14:12). And each of us is also responsible for our own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Deut. 24:16; Jer. 31:30; Heb. 8:11; I John 2:27). Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.... But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ”(I Cor. 11:1-3). Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [I am anointed]; and shall deceive many.” (Matt. 24:4,5). Paul said, “Let no man deceive you by any means” (Rom. 14:12). “Judge not according to the appearance,” “but try the spirits”, discern the sources and corroborate the information (John 7:24; I John 4:1).

       There are very few good examples of true Christian leaders today; those who truly believe that God said what he meant and meant what he said and gave it to us in writing: “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Prov. 22:20,21). Good leaders, men like the apostle Paul, are beneficial for the body of Christ. Young Christians in particular need to have good role models. But we must also “Beware” and “Take heed” that we do not put our faith in man, because even good men will make mistakes: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not”, “for there is no man that sinneth not” (Col. 2:8; Mark 13:5; Eccl. 7:20; I Kings 8:46; I John 1:8). It is un-biblical and dangerous to believe that anyone is immune to deception. Paul said, “Let no man deceive himself.” (I Cor. 3:18). Even true prophets and true apostles can be misled by deceiving spirits. For example, when the revelation of Jesus Christ was given to the apostle Peter, Jesus told him, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:23). A few verses later Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” (Matt. 16:16-17). The Holy Ghost can reveal something to someone, and then five sentences later Satan can use them for something else. It is not always a good idea to follow brother so-and-so as he follows Christ, because it is all too easy to get our eyes on man and off of Jesus Christ. “The crowds will always be ready to idolize [the ‘gifted’ preacher], but the spiritual dangers are tremendous.” (All Things Are Possible, The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern America, p.138).

       It was not the apostles' “holy presence” or their “divine anointing” that converted people to Christ in the New Testament and set them free from sin. It was the apostles' words, “the scriptures”, the “pure words” of the Lord, that convicted sinners' hearts and set them free from sin, “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls”, “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”, “the word of God” which “is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,.. and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (James 1:21; Eph. 1:13; Heb. 4:12). It was the apostles' preaching the “sound doctrine” of the “everlasting gospel” that converted people to Christ and set them free from the commandments and doctrines of men “whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). The Bible says, “many of them which heard the word believed”; “the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word”; “after that ye heard the word of truth” and “believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Acts 4:4; 10:44; Eph. 1:13). The true anointing of “the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” is not a mysterious presence that comes and goes. Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” And as to leave no doubt in the disciples' minds, Jesus continued, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:9-13). “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:17,18); and “I am with you alway,” said Jesus, “even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).

       The apostle John said, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (I John 2:24). “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (I John 5:10). “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”, exclaimed John, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (Eph. 4:30; I John 2:26,27). Jesus said that “the Spirit of truth”, “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost... shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:17,26). While the scriptures tell us that “the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”, it is not the anointing that produces “the word of God”, it is “the word of God” that produces the anointing —“the words that I speak unto you”, said Jesus, “they are spirit” (Isa. 10:27; John 6:6; 8:31,32).

       Jesus said that it is the scriptures, “the words that I speak unto you”, that brings to light the hidden things of dishonesty and breaks the yoke of false anointings, seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. It is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that discerns the thoughts and intents of men's hearts, pulling down the strong holds of Satan, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (Heb. 4:12; II Cor. 4:2; 10:4,5). Many people today have lost sight of this very important scriptural fact. Instead of hearing, “what saith the scripture?” (Rom. 4:3) and “Search the scriptures” (John 5:39), we are hearing “What saith the man of God?” and “Search his latest book.” Hierarchal rule is not found anywhere in the New Testament. God has set an order in the church, but not an order of superiority, as in a superior class of Christians and a subordinate class of Christians. (I Cor. 12:7-11; Rom. 12:3-16; I Pet. 5:2,3). Jesus said that “all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). An elder in Christ may be older and possibly wiser, but he is in no way superior to his fellow Christian. Jesus said that “the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-27). Furthermore, according to the Bible every “born again” believer is a “man of God”, not just pastors, prophets and apostles. Paul writing to Timothy said, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (I Tim. 6:11). Paul again writing to Timothy said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16,17).

       Jesus Christ and the apostles are our pattern and our example of the true New Testament church, for “us not to think of men above that which is written” (I Cor. 4:6). And the New Testament, “that which is written”, is the revelation of Jesus Christ. But this simple truth of scripture is hidden from “them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isa. 5:21). Jesus said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matt. 11:25), babes in Christ. Instead of trusting the Holy Bible and searching the “holy scriptures”, many are turning to man and leaning unto their “own understanding” (II Tim. 3:15; Prov. 3:5). The phrase, “it is written”, referring to the scriptures, occurs sixty-three times in the New Testament. But instead of hearing, “It is written”, “It is written again”, “it is written in the book” (Matt. 4:4,7; Acts 1:20; 7:42), we are hearing “Thus saith the LORD, etc., etc.” Many people are apparently unaware of the fact that the phrase, “Thus saith the LORD”, does not even exist in the New Testament. (See Follow The Lamb Or Follow The Man)

       “A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that the Early Church NEVER placed utterances through their prophets on a level with the Scriptures. Note carefully the distinctive phrase used in 2 Peter 1:21 to describe the latter—‘prophecy of the Scripture.’ See again the decision of Acts xv.28, where the difficulty was NOT solved by reference to the accredited prophets present (Barnabas, Judas, Silas, etc.), but by reference to the Old Testament Scriptures. The infallibility of prophets in the Early Church is strictly denied (I Cor. xiv. 20). Does this emaciate our conception of the nature of Spiritual Gifts so as to make them of no more worth than ordinary natural endowments? Not in the least. They are still supernatural. They remain to this day the Divine-appointed manifestation of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church (see I Cor. xii. 7-11). They have their basis in a genuine inspiration, but that inspiration is not on a level with the inspiration of the Scriptures.” (Montanism, Donald Gee, 1928). Rather than following “the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” (Rev. 14:4) and “the doctrine of God our Saviour” (Tit 2:10), “the doctrine which is according to godliness” (I Tim. 6:3), and “Holding fast the faithful word... sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9), some people are following their leader's “private interpretation” (II Peter 1:20) or their church's “wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14) usually “received by tradition from your fathers” (I Pet. 1:18). Isaiah said, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” (Isa. 28:9). The reference materials listed below (Recommended Reading, et al) are very informative and highly recommend to all.

       Most of the churches in Revelation received both a commendation and a rebuke from the Lord. “Unto the angel [messenger, minister, prophet] of the church... write.... Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love [the Holy Bible, the “pure words” of the Lord, “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” of the scriptures, the Biblical example of the church (Psa. 12:6,7; Prov. 30:5; Eph. 2:20)]. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” [“repent ye, and believe the gospel” — this was and still is Jesus' first message (Mark 1:15)] (Rev. 2:1-5). Some people talk about ‘finding’ the “will of God” for ‘your life’. The “will of God” is not a mystery to the simple humble believer of the scriptures. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). Of course, not all the members of the body of Christ (the church) have the same function, as the following scripture references confirm: Jer. 23:28; Rom. 10:17; 12:3-7; I Cor. 7:17-24; 12:7-30; Gal. 3:2; I Pet. 4:10. “But I fear,” exclaimed Paul, “lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (II Cor. 11:3). By trying to read between the lines, some people are overlooking the plain scriptures written on the lines (Mal. 2:12; Matt. 23:24). “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”: that “all should come to repentance” “and believe” “the everlasting gospel” “of your salvation”, “the holy scriptures”, “the word of the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 5:17; II Pet. 3:9; Mark 1:15; Rev. 14:6; Eph. 1:13; II Tim. 3:15; Acts 19:10; I Pet. 1:25).

       The simple plan of salvation, the “will of God” for man, “that all should come to repentance”; “that men ought always to pray” and “Study... the word of truth” and “hear the word of the gospel, and believe”, and receive “the Spirit” “by the hearing of faith”; “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called”; “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls”; IS “that good, and acceptable, and perfect” “will of God” for every person's life and is summed up in the first message that Jesus Christ preached (II Pet. 3:9; Luke 18:1; Acts 15:7; Rom. 12:2; Gal. 3:2; II Tim. 2:15; I Pet. 1:9; Jude 1:1) —“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee:” (Luke 4:14), “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying... The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up [“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”(Psa. 119:130)]. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say” (Matt. 4:14-17), “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). To “repent” simply means to “confesseth” your “sins” with sincere remorse and “forsaketh” them (Prov. 28:13); and to “believe the gospel” simply means to believe the Holy Bible, “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”, “sound doctrine”, the “plain” “pure words” of the Lord, “the old paths”, “the word which he commanded to a thousand generations” and “made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Jer. 6:16; Prov. 8:8; Psa. 12:6; Eph. 1:13; I Chron. 16:15; Rom. 16:26) (Luke 8:21; 11:28; Acts 6:4,7; 12:24; 19:20; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 6:6,17; Col. 4:12; I Thess. 4:3; 5:16-18; I Tim. 4:16; II Tim. 2:9; 4:2,3; Titus 1:9; Heb. 4:12; 10:36; I Pet. 1:23; 2:15; 4:19; I John 2:27; Rev. 6:9).

       The Lord said, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth”; “I have not spoken in secret from the beginning” (Isa. 45:19; 48:16). The apostle Paul said that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.... Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”(Rom. 10:17,18). The apostle James said, “and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21). “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Pet. 1:25), exclaimed the apostle Peter, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:9). Paul said, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph. 1:13; 4:30); “the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Rom. 8:23-25) “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (II Cor. 5:7); “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philip. 3:20,21); “Immediately after” the “great tribulation” when “every eye” “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt.24:21,29-31; Rev. 1:7); “at the last trump” when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.... when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,” (I Cor. 15:52-54). “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” (Col. 1:5,6).

       The apostle Paul said that “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Gal. 5:4,5). “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.... But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:4,8-10). Paul said, “For they [the “holier than thou” (Isa. 65:5] being ignorant of God‘s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Rom. 10:3). Jesus told us to be “perfect” (Matt. 5:48): “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Lev. 11:45; I Pet. 1:16). But living a clean and holy life does not bring salvation: because “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6): “for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal. 2:21). While it is true that God has given us a “highway” to travel, “The way of holiness” that “the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isa. 35:8,9), and without holiness “no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14), it is also true that this holiness is not of the flesh (I Kings 11:4; I Chron. 28:9; Psa. 101:2), “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16), “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (Rom. 3:20). Paul said, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philip. 3:3). Jesus said that “hypocrites” “make clean the outside” as to “outwardly appear righteous unto men”, “but within ye are full of hypocrisy”, “iniquity”, “excess” and “wickedness” (Matt. 23:25,28; Luke 11:39,40). He said to “cleanse first that which is within [the heart]... that the outside... may be clean also” (Matt. 23:26). “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you.... and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses” (Ezek. 36:26-29). Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3). It is salvation that brings a clean heart and in turn a clean and holy life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8,9). (see WHAT LAW WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS?)

       “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Rom. 6:1-6). Paul, continuing on this theme, said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20). The apostle John said, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 2:1,2; 1:9). “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow [“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken” (John 15:3)].... Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.... For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psa. 51:2,3,7,10,16,17). “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” (Psa. 38:18). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13). “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” (Psa. 147:6). “Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:6,10). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” (Psa. 37:23,24; 145:14) “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” (Prov. 24:16); “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,” (Isaiah 57:20).

       King David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psa. 119:11). Jesus said, “The seed is the word of God” which is “the Word of life” (Luke 8:11; I John 1:1). Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;” (Col. 3:16). Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jer. 15:16). Jesus said, “I am that bread of life.”, and “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:48,53,54). “This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:20). This is “the grace of God in truth”, the “pure words” of “the Lord” by which every “born again” believer is “sanctified”, “cleansed”, “sealed” and “preserved” “with the washing of water by the word.... For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones”; “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith”; “Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” (Psa. 12:6,7; I Pet. 1:23; Col. 1:5,6,27,28; Eph. 3:17; 5:26,30): “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5): “and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isa. 54:17). Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) —“their righteousness is of me” (Isa. 54:17). This is the finished work of Jesus Christ, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” (II Tim. 1:9,10). This is the finished work of Jesus Christ, which no man, past, present or future can ever substitute: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth”, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (Rom. 10:4; Heb. 12:2; I Pet. 1:9).

       Note that we are saved, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done”, and “not according to our works”, but “according to his own purpose and grace” and “according to his mercy he saved us”, and has made the “royal priesthood” of all believers “the righteousness of God” “in Christ” “by the sacrifice of himself” “with his own blood” “for his own name's sake” (Psa. 23:3; Acts 20:28; II Cor. 5:2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12; I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5). “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:10). “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.... this man [the Lord Jesus Christ],.. offered one sacrifice for sins for ever.... For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Heb. 10:10-18). “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7). “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. 2:16). “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” This is the elect of faith (Gal. 3:22,26). Peter said that the Lord “is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(II Peter 3:9). Paul said, “but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”(I Tim. 1:13). Some sincere folks with good intentions are simply unaware of the true source of the so called ‘eye-opening’ materials being promoted by some main-stream ‘Christian’ organizations and teachers. Exhorting those who “ignorantly worship” God, the apostle Paul said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”(Acts 17:23,30).

       There is a very good reason why Jesus Christ did not quote from or even mention in any of the four gospels extra-biblical books (books outside of those in the Bible). Extra-biblical books mentioned in the Bible (Jasher, Shemaiah, et al), and other writings, like the works of Flavius Josephus and the Dead Sea Scrolls (which contains copies of the scriptures and apocryphal writings), are, for the most part, a collection of selected literary passages: that is, writings or articles commenting on certain events, practices, beliefs or superstitions of the people of that time period. Furthermore, the so-called ‘Lost Books of the Bible’ (Gospel of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Book of Enoch, et al) and similar writings were frauds perpetrated by gnostics, false teachers, deceitful workers and other enemies of the true gospel of Christ (Acts 20:28-31; II Cor. 4:4; Gal. 1:7; Phil. 3:18-21; I Tim. 4:1-3; II Pet. 2:1; Jude 1:4). The ‘Gospel of Barnabas’, for instance, quotes Jesus Christ as saying, "I am not the Messiah" (Chap. 42). The ‘Epistle of Barnabas’ is interspersed with Roman Catholic theology. The ‘Book of Enoch’ contradicts the Bible in numerous places. The Book of Enoch states, “the earth which the angels have corrupted”(Chap. 10); whereas the Bible teaches us that the earth “is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they [man, not angels] have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”(Isa. 24:5). The Book of Enoch states, “the whole earth has been corrupted through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin.”(Chap. 10); whereas the Bible teaches us that “by one man [Adam, not Azazel] sin entered into the world.... by one man's offence death reigned... by the offence of one judgment came upon all men.... by one man's disobedience many were made sinners”(Rom. 5:12-19); and it was “Lucifer [Satan himself, not Azazel].... That made the world as a wilderness” (Isa. 14:9-17). The Book of Enoch states, “the angels... saw and lusted after” “the daughters of men upon the earth, and have slept with the women” “and have done as the children of earth do” and taken “wives” and “they became pregnant, and they bare great giants”(Chap. 6,7,9,12,15); whereas the Bible teaches us that the angels “neither marry, nor are given in marriage”(Matt. 22:29,30; Mark 12:24,25). Nowhere in the Bible does it say that angels, even fallen ones, ever had or ever will have the power to procreate. Paul said that Jesus “took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham”, giving further testimony to the fact that angels do not reproduce nor did they ever possess such abilities (Heb. 2:16). Moreover, the angels that “sinned” and “kept not their first estate” were cast “down to hell” and “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day”(II Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6).

       Throughout history, man has tried to place the blame and burden of sin on whoever or whatever he can in his attempts to exonerate and exalt himself. The Book of Enoch says that “spirits...[angels] have wronged mankind”(Chap. 10); whereas the Bible makes it clear that it was man who wronged God and “spit in his face”, the face of their creator (Matt. 26:67; Eph. 3:9). Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:” (Jer. 17:9). Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within,” (Mark 7:21-23): “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” [wicked, vile, wretched] (John 3:6; Jer. 17:9; Job 40:4; Rom. 7:24). David said, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psa. 51:5). Paul said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). Job said, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” “Behold, I am vile” “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 14:4; 40:4; 42:6).

       The apostle Paul wrote about “handling the word of God deceitfully” (II Cor.4:2). The apostle John said that “many deceivers are entered into the world” (II John 1:7), and “even now are there many antichrists” (I John 2:18). It is no great thing if some ancient book (like those mentioned above) claims to divulge some wonderful revelation of scripture (Gen. 3:5; II Cor. 11:15). In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve knew God's words and so did the serpent: and the serpent, ever so subtle, twisted and used God's words to entice and deceive man. Throughout the Bible, we are warned that the devil will use these same methods to deceive man and “to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:22). Just because the so called ‘Epistle of Barnabas’ quotes the so called ‘Book of Enoch’ is no reason to believe that either were ever a part of the true scriptures. The false prophet Charles Taze Russell's (“Jehovah's Witnesses”) New World Translation, the false prophet Joseph Smith's (“Latter Day Saints”) Book of Mormon, the false prophetess Mary Baker G. Eddy's (“Christian Science”, or “Scientology”) Key To The Scriptures and the Roman Catholic bible's false doctrines all contain some portion or resemblance of true scripture which they “wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (II Pet. 3:16). Granted, you might see some intriguing things in some of these writings and books, even things that appear “good for [spiritual] food, and... pleasant to the [spiritual] eyes, and... to be desired to make one [spiritually] wise” (Gen. 3:6): nevertheless, by placing these types of writings on the same level with the true scriptures, we are allowing ourselves to be lead away from the truth unto “another gospel”, “another spirit”, “another Jesus” (Gen. 3:6; Gal. 1:6-8; II Cor. 11:4; I John 2:18). These gnostic writings are not now, nor were they ever throughout the history of the Church, viewed as Scripture by the faithful in Christ Jesus. Only the Roman church and those of similar occult beliefs accepted these types of books and writings as being equal to Scripture. (See Gnosticism and Christianity.)

       Most Christians have never seen all of the information on my web site regarding bible versions, manuscript evidence and the new age occult movement's influence in the Church. Many good men and women of God are unaware of some of the material on my web site because much of it has only recently been made widely available. By making this data more easily accessible, I would hope that they would view me as a helper and not a hinderance, as a fellowservant and not a rival. Please examine all of the material presented on my web site and confirm the facts for yourself. This is not to say that every word or every sentence or every book on my web site is one-hundred percent accurate. Some of the authors of these articles might not have the same understanding as we have of certain Bible passages, but it should not preclude us from learning from one another (Eph. 4:11-16). And some may even be less knowledgeable than we are in some of the deeper things of God; nevertheless, their extensive research on manuscript evidence and the occult is often invaluable. Seek out and re-search as much material on this subject as possible, while searching the Scriptures daily and praying for humility, understanding, wisdom and guidance. You may already be familiar with much of this data. However, some of the information on my web site will no doubt be new to some readers. And I pray that God will touch the heart of every brother and sister in Christ, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened” (Eph. 1:17), “that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9).

       Sincerely, in the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,