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SHARON TURNER. Turner cites an Arabic poem which proves that a female sun and a masculine moon were recognised in Arabia as well as by the Anglo-Saxons.
It must have been the birth-day of the Lord Moon, therefore, and not of the Sun, that was celebrated by them on the 25th of December, even as the birth-day of the same Lord Moon was observed by the Arabians on the 24th of December. The name of the Lord Moon in the East seems to have been Meni, for this appears the most natural interpretation of the Divine statement in Isaiah lxv. 11, "But ye are they that forsake my holy mountain, that prepare a temple for Gad, and that furnish the drink-offering unto Meni." There is reason to believe that Gad refers to the sun-god, and that Meni in like manner designates the moon-divinity. *

*See KITTO, vol. iv. p. 66, end of Note. The name Gad evidently refers, in the first instance, to the war-god, for it signifies to assault; but it also signifies "the assembler"; and under both ideas it is applicable to Nimrod, whose general character was that of the sun-god, for he was the first grand warrior; and, under the name Phoroneus, he was celebrated for having first gathered mankind into social communities. The name Meni, "the numberer," on the other hand, seems just a synonym for the name of Cush or Chus, which, while it signifies "to cover" or "hide," signifies also "to count or number." The true proper meaning of the name Cush is, I have no doubt, "The numberer" or "Arithmetician"; for while Nimrod his son, as the "mighty" one, was the grand propagator of the Babylonian system of idolatry, by force and power, he, as Hermes, was the real concocter of that system, for he is said to have "taught men the proper mode of approaching the Deity with prayers and sacrifice" (WILKINSON); and seeing idolatry and astronomy were intimately combined, to enable him to do so with effect, it was indispensable that he should be pre-eminently skilled in the science of numbers. Now, Hermes (that is Cush) is said to have "first discovered numbers, and the art of reckoning, geometry, and astronomy, the games of chess and hazard" (Ibid.); and it is in all probability from reference to the meaning of the name of Cush, that some called "NUMBER the father of gods and men" (Ibid.). The name Meni is just the Chaldee form of the Hebrew "Mene," the "numberer" for in Chaldee i often takes the place of the final e. As we have seen reason to conclude with Gesenius, that Nebo, the great prophetic god of Babylon, was just the same god as Hermes, this shows the peculiar emphasis of the first words in the Divine sentence that sealed the doom of Belshazzar, as representing the primeval god--"MENE, MENE, Tekel, Upharsin," which is as much as covertly to say, "The numberer is numbered." As the cup was peculiarly the symbol of Cush, hence the pouring out of the drink-offering to him as the god of the cup; and as he was the great Diviner, hence the divinations as to the future year, which Jerome connects with the divinity referred to by Isaiah. Now Hermes, in Egypt as the "numberer," was identified with the moon that numbers the months. He was called "Lord of the moon" (BUNSEN); and as the "dispenser of time" (WILKINSON), he held a "palm branch, emblematic of a year" (Ibid.). Thus, then, if Gad was the "sun-divinity," Meni was very naturally regarded as "The Lord Moon."

Meni, or Manai, signifies "The Numberer." And it is by the changes of the moon that the months are numbered: Psalm civ. 19, "He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth the time of its going down." The name of the "Man of the Moon," or the god who presided over that luminary among the Saxons, was Mane, as given in the "Edda," and Mani, in the "Voluspa." That it was the birth of the "Lord Moon" that was celebrated among our ancestors at Christmas, we have remarkable evidence in the name that is still given in the lowlands of Scotland to the feast on the last day of the year, which seems to be a remnant of the old birth festival for the cakes then made are called Nur-Cakes, or Birth-cakes. That name is Hogmanay. Now, "Hog-Manai" in Chaldee signifies "The feast of the Numberer"; in other words, the festival of Deus Lunus, or of the Man of the Moon. To show the connection between country and country, and the inveterate endurance of old customs, it is worthy of remark, that Jerome, commenting on the very words of Isaiah already quoted, about spreading "a table for Gad," and "pouring out a drink-offering to Meni," observes that it "was the custom so late as his time [in the fourth century], in all cities especially in Egypt and at Alexandria, to set tables, and furnish them with various luxurious articles of food, and with goblets containing a mixture of new wine, on the last day of the month and the year, and that the people drew omens from them in respect of the fruitfulness of the year." The Egyptian year began at a different time from ours; but this is a near as possible (only substituting whisky for wine), the way in which Hogmanay is still observed on the last day of the last month of our year in Scotland. I do not know that any omens are drawn from anything that takes place at that time, but everybody in the south of Scotland is personally cognisant of the fact, that, on Hogmanay, or the evening before New Year's day, among those who observe old customs, a table is spread, and that while buns and other dainties are provided by those who can afford them, oat cakes and cheese are brought forth among those who never see oat cakes but on this occasion, and that strong drink forms an essential article of the provision.

Even where the sun was the favourite object of worship, as in Babylon itself and elsewhere, at this festival he was worshipped not merely as the orb of day, but as God incarnate. It was an essential principle of the Babylonian system, that the Sun or Baal was the one only God. When, therefore, Tammuz was worshipped as God incarnate, that implied also that he was an incarnation of the Sun. In the Hindoo Mythology, which is admitted to be essentially Babylonian, this comes out very distinctly. There, Surya, or the sun, is represented as being incarnate, and born for the purpose of subduing the enemies of the gods, who, without such a birth, could not have been subdued. *
See the Sanscrit Researches of Col. VANS KENNEDY. Col. K., a most distinguished Sanscrit scholar, brings the Brahmins from Babylon (Ibid.). Be it observed the very name Surya, given to the sun over all India, is connected with this birth. Though the word had originally a different meaning, it was evidently identified by the priests with the Chaldee "Zero," and made to countenance the idea of the birth of the "Sun-god." The Pracrit name is still nearer the Scriptural name of the promised "seed." It is "Suro." It has been seen, in a previous chapter, that in Egypt also the Sun was represented as born of a goddess.

It was no mere astronomic festival, then, that the Pagans celebrated at the winter solstice. That festival at Rome was called the feast of Saturn, and the mode in which it was celebrated there, showed whence it had been derived. The feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; * loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry, slaves had a temporary emancipation, ** and used all manner of freedoms with their masters.

Subsequently the number of the days of the Saturnalia was increased to seven.
** If Saturn, or Kronos, was, as we have seen reason to believe, Phoroneus, "The emancipator," the "temporary emancipation" of the slaves at his festival was exactly in keeping with his supposed character.
[source - The Two Babylon's," by Reverend Alexander Hilsop, Chapter III, which you can read for yourself at philologos.org/__eb-ttb/sect31.htm ]"

CONCLUSION:

Here is something more to think about. True (genuine) Christians are absolute monotheist and reject ALL polytheist tendencies and/or ideas. Here are some articles by others whom I do NOT completely agree with, but contain valuable information you can learn from:

"Monotheism:
The simplest and purest belief that YHVH is one G_d. Not G_d in three or two persons, and not two or three persons in one G_d. Just simply one G_d as one supreme "Self-existent" entity. This is not to say that YHVH cannot Spiritually (mentally) exist in us as a righteous mental attitude or "Mind Set." This is exactly what is meant as having the "Holy Spirit" of YHVH OR being remade "In the Image" of YHVH. While it is true that YHVH is procreating Himself Spiritually; He is only doing so in Righteous Character and not through having sex with a human woman, such as Mary (Miriam). Sex between gods and humans is a totally pagan concept and belief.

In order to be a True G_d, one MUST be "Self-existent," and not be created or born from a mother. Only YHVH is "Self-existent."[source - www.sabbatarian.com/Discl...aimer.html ]"

Obviously, many are ignorant of what the apostate counterfeit Christians did to the true (genuine) Christians as previously shown or they would readily realize that they are two different groups who took entirely different paths.   One group which commits atrocities against the other; whereas, the other NEVER commits atrocities.   This is clearly revealed in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.   We have seen some of these atrocities committed by the apostate counterfeit Christians against those who sought to be true followers of Christ, but of course this is only the 'tip-of-the-iceberg.'

It is high time that you recognize that the Christianity, both genuine and counterfeit (apostate) developed along different lines than Hinduism and many other religions. To wit, as follows:

[1] Counterfeit (apostate) Christianity sold out to paganism to win the favor of a pagan Roman emperor, a worshipper of the Unconquered Sun at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Let's look at the facts in brief,
Quote:

Held in 325, this first ecumenical council was convened by Constantine the Great, emperor of Rome, to settle the Arian dispute concerning the nature of Jesus Christ. Of the 1800 bishops in the Roman Empire, 318 attended the council. The Nicene Creed, which defined the Son as consubstantial with the Father, was adopted as the official position of the church regarding the divinity of Christ. The council also fixed the celebration of Easter on the Sunday after the Jewish Pesach, or Passover, and granted to the bishop of Alexandria, Egypt authority in the East in the fashion of Rome's quasi-patriarchal authority, which was not, as sometimes erroneously stated, the same as that of the pope. In this granting of authority lay the origin of the patriarchates throughout the church.[source - Nicaea, Councils of, encarta.msn.com/encyclope...icaea.html ]

This group, as previously shown, has committed many atrocities against the genuine Christians, the true foot step followers of Jesus (Yeshua), and almost everyone else with vicious inquisitions, Crusades, false accusations, burnings at the stake, the rape of Goa, and other wicked forms of persecution.

[2] The genuine Christians who refused to go apostate to win the favor of a pagan Roman emperor, and who are foot step followers of Jesus (Yeshua) who openly recognize what he said at Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (AV). These have committed NO acts of wickedness against others.

Another distinguishing feature of true footstep followers of Christ, genuine Christians is are interested in truly assisting others in knowing more about our savior Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and are NOT always asking money to build ever bigger edifices and paying ever larger salaries to their ministers. They recognize that the Bible said freely give at Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give." (ASV).

Apostate (counterfeit) so called Christians, on the other hand, their leaders are always asking for more money and many of them live in great luxury.  We can see them in action every Sunday on the radio and the television and their message is always the same, they need more money for God (YHWH).  In between this pitch, they superficially discuss some Biblical subject as a cover-up for their money grabbing; who has not for example heard of Praise the Lord Group and Jimmy and Tammy?

But it is not only the so called TV evangelist, the brick and motor churches of the creeds do also. I had one Catholic tell me that he gets pitched for money several times during a service; this is not the exception, but the general rule in all religious services of the mainstream religions (creeds) and in most of the others also. Most pass a contribution plate where everyone can see what they gave so as to 'shame' more money out of everyone, and most never give an accounting for it.

A clear difference, True Christian groups on the other hand never pass a contribution plates and always give an accounting for where or what the money is used for. Also, they do not pay salaries to their ministers as do the creeds.

Genuine Christians, as previously mentioned, serve as ministers and in other functions on an entirely voluntary basis and do NOT draw a salary as they are mindful of what Jesus (Yeshua) Christ said at Matthew 10:8 quoted above and of Revelations 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely" (American Standard Version; ASV) shows that the waters of life should be free.
.
Whereas, apostate (counterfeit), on the other hand, their ministers and clergy serve for the salaries they draw clearly overlooking what the Apostle Paul said at 2 Corinthians 11:9, "and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself]." (ASV); and 2 Thessalonians 3:7, "For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:" (ASV).

A clear difference, Thus can be seen, one group gives freely and assist others to learn about our savior, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, without burdening those being taught; whereas, the counterfeit Christians have leaders that are in effect teachers for hire. Remember 2 Peter 2:15, "forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;" (ASV) and Jude 11, "Woe unto them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah." (ASV).

Genuine Christians do not participate in traditions that transgress the word of God (YHWH) such as many of the traditions and celebrations of this ungodly world. They are aware of what Jesus (Yeshua) Christ said at Matthew 15:1-9, "Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given [to God]; 6 he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men." (ASV), and are careful NOT to follow traditions that transgress the word of God (YHWH).

However, apostate (counterfeit) Go along with the spirit of the world and keep the traditions and celebrations of the world that transgress the word of God (YHWH) such as the celebration of the birth of the Unconquered Sun masquerading as a Christian holiday which it is not. Well does Jesus' (Yeshua's) parable at Matthew 13:13-23 apply to these, "Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. 18 Hear then ye the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. 20 And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; 21 yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth. 22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (ASV).

A clear difference, True Christians keep the word of God (YHWH); to wit, the Bible as their standard; whereas, the counterfeit Christians strive after the things of the world and keep the traditions of the world and participate in its celebrations and their deceitfulness is shown to be just that at Mark 4:19, "and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." (ASV).

Genuine Christians only follow the Bible all the way, not halfway or not at all as the various creeds with their false doctrines do. True Christians have no creed and/or church doctrine, but accept and comprehend that the Bible is entirely consistent - both New Testament and Old Testament - and practical for guidance in the way of our lord for our day.

Apostate (counterfeit) Christians on the other hand have their many creeds and false doctrines and often venerate that which is no god at all. They run after the false things of the world and have the teachings of men instead of the teachings of God (YHWH) and his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) for their guidance as shown by 2 Corinthians 4:4, "in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]." (ASV). They teach such doctrines of mankind as the Trinity and Apostolic Succession thus venerating the lie instead of God (YHWH). They willfully over look 1 John 2:15-17, " Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (ASV).

A clear difference, True Christians follow the Bible and accept the Bible as the Standard God (YHWH) has provided to live by; Whereas, counterfeit Christians do NOT truly accept the Bible and definitely do NOT live by it. They seek after that which belongs to the world and their creeds and false doctrines they love, but make for themselves false prophets and teachers as warned about in 2 Peter 2:1, "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." (ASV).


Genuine Christians clearly set themselves apart from the world knowing that the entire world lies in the hands of the Devil as revealed at 1 John 5:19-21, "19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 [My] little children, guard yourselves from idols." (ASV); and are ever mindful of Ephesians 2:2, "And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:--" (ASV).


Apostate (counterfeit), However, seek to be a part of the world and its friend in direct violation of the counsel given at James 4:4, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." (ASV); and 1 John 2:15-16, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (ASV). False Christians do not keep their form of worship free from the world in keeping with James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (ASV).

A clear difference, The true Christian recognizes that the entire world lies in the power of the Devil and they do NOT seek its association socially as revealed by 1 Peter 4:3-4, "For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: 4 wherein they think strange that ye run not with [them] into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [of]:" (ASV); and KEEP the clear admonition given at 1 John 2:15, " Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. " (ASV). Whereas, the counterfeit Christian seek the things of the world and DISREGARD the admonition given at Matthew 6:19-33, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  25 Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (ASV).

So as can readily be seen the two groups who took different paths are very different and should NOT BE CONFUSED, one with the other.

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell."   Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today!

Discourse On Determining True Christians from Counterfeit Ones:

Today many claim to be followers of Christ, but many individuals and groups that make that claim are really not his followers as they are not doing righteous works but evil ones.
One Hindu who writes under the pseudonym succinctly noted this fact by saying, "he difference is that the bible alone has caused the deaths of millions of people in the last 2000 years from pogroms, inquisitions and so on. The hundreds of Hindu religious texts put together have not caused any deaths worth mentioning. [source - a Hindu writing under the pseudonym of The Armchair Analyst]. Now remember, the Bible at Isaiah 9:6-7 calls Jesus (Yeshua), "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this." (American Standard Version: ASV); and this Prince of Peace said at Matthew 22:36-40, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." (ASV).

Thus, clearly to be a true follower of Christ an individual or an organization must be seeking after peace and living their neighbors, and starting wars against them and/or murdering them would definitely show they were NOT true Christians:

Let's look at five principle features that distinguish between True and Counterfeit Christians:

(1) TRUE CHRISTIANS, Are peaceable as Mark 9:50 put it, "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another."(ASV). True Christians would seek to be at peace one with another. However John 16:33 says, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (ASV), clearly showing that the world causes tribulation and not peace.

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS would however be causing much tribulation of the earth and bringing disparagement on God's (YHWH's) word, the Bible, by their actions that prove them no followers of Christ no matter that they claim to be his followers. These have started many bloody Crusades and genocides clearly showing they are NOT of Christ. Some examples are as follows:

"To this end he sent Cardinal Alexandrino, a man of very violent temper and a furious bigot, together with two monks, to Calabria, where they were to act as inquisitors. These authorized persons came to St. Xist, one of the towns built by the Waldenses, and having assembled the people, told them that they should receive no injury, if they would accept of preachers appointed by the pope; but if they would not, they should be deprived both of their properties and lives; and that their intentions might be known, Mass should be publicly said that afternoon, at which they were ordered to attend.

The people of St. Xist, instead of attending Mass, fled into the woods, with their families, and thus disappointed the cardinal and his coadjutors. The cardinal then proceeded to La Garde, the other town belonging to the Waldenses, where, not to be served as he had been at St. Xist, he ordered the gates to be locked, and all avenues guarded. The same proposals were then made to the inhabitants of La Garde, as had previously been offered to those of St. Xist, but with this additional piece of artifice: the cardinal assured them that the inhabitants of St. Xist had immediately come into his proposals, and agreed that the pope should appoint them preachers. This falsehood succeeded; for the people of La Garde, thinking what the cardinal had told them to be the truth, said they would exactly follow the example of their brethren at St. Xist.

The cardinal, having gained his point by deluding the people of one town, sent for troops of soldiers, with a view to murder those of the other. He, accordingly, despatched the soldiers into the woods, to hunt down the inhabitants of St. Xist like wild beasts, and gave them strict orders to spare neither age nor sex, but to kill all they came near. The troops entered the woods, and many fell a prey to their ferocity, before the Waldenses were properly apprised of their design. At length, however, they determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, when several conflicts happened, in which the half-armed Waldenses performed prodigies of valor, and many were slain on both sides. The greatest part of the troops being killed in the different rencontres, the rest were compelled to retreat, which so enraged the cardinal that he wrote to the viceroy of Naples for reinforcements." [source - Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Chapter 6].

"Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) was concerned with the growing influence of Catharism, and saw that it threatened the authority of the Church. He saw the movement as a heresy that needed to be eliminated, as were Arianism and Manichaenism in earlier times. In 1204, Innocent III tasked Abbot Arnaud-Amaury [Arnold-Amalric], head of the Cistercian Order, to be a special legate to investigate Catharism in Languedoc. The papal legate used the cloister in the monstery of Fontfroide as his main outpost. Some regular clerics were also sent by the pope. One from Spain was Domingo de Guzmán, the future St. Dominic and founder of the Dominican Order. Domingo attempted to apply the Cathar's austere methods in his promotion of orthodox Christanity, and he had some success in converting a few Cathars. The progress was inadequate, and the Church decided to use force to either convert or to eliminate the declared heretic followers of Catharism.

The pope asked Philippe II Auguste, the French king (and a cousin to comte Raymond VI de Toulouse), to take action against high nobles in southern France who permitted Cathars to openly practice their faith. Philippe II did not comply, as he was facing a more direct threat from an alliance of the English king, Flemish nobles and the German Emperor. [See link to Bouvines War at the end of this webpage.]
In 1206, the pope's legate, Amaury, sent his assistant, another Cistercian monk, Pierre de Castelnau, to Provence to form a league of knights to fight Catharism. Castelnau invited comte Raymond VI of Toulouse to lead this host. Raymond saw no value in such a campaign against this community that was widely spread and well ingranied in his lands. He rejected the "idea of waging war on his own subjects," and Castelnau called for Raymond VI's excommunication. The pope ratified the excommunication of Raymond in May 1207. On 13 January 1208, Raymond met with Pierre de Castelnau at Saint-Gilles, in Provence. The monk and Raymond argued and exchanged threats.

The next morning (14 January), Pierre de Castelnau was assassinated as he was departing the town. His assassin was believed to have been an agent of comte Raymond VI. Pope Innocent III reacted by proclaiming a crusade against the 'sinister race' of Languedoc. His Bull offered indulgences for combatants declared that the heretics' lands were open to be taken. This latter offer enticed many knights from far who needed, or merely sought more land." [source - The albigensian Crusades - 1209-1255, by Société de l'Oriflamme][for more information, read, "La Croisade contre les Albigeois 1209-1249, Pierre Belperron. Librairie Plon, Paris, 1942; and Librairie académique Perrin, 1967 and Pierre des Vaux-de-Cerny. Edited by P. Guébin and E. Lyon, 3 vols., 1926-39. A young monk who was eyewitness to much of the crusade until 1219. An English tranlstion, with notes, by W.A. and M.D. Sibly has recently been published: The History of the Albigensian Crusades (Boydell, Suffolk, 1999)].


A CLEAR DIFFERENCE, thus as can be seen, True Christians, individuals and groups, would be seeking peace with their neighbors; whereas, Counterfeit Christians, individuals and groups, would be seeking to make war on their neighbors. Therefore, many none Christians consider Christianity and the Bible responsible for much tribulation since they fail to realize that those doing these evil things may think they are followers of Christ, but in reality they are followers of the arch enemy of his Father, God (YHWH). This opinion of none Christians was shown by one Hindu in the introduction.

(2) TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE TOLERANT of their neighbors who many not believe and/or think as they do. This point is made in James 3:13-18, "Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace." (ASV).

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS ARE IN-TOLERANT, and this in-tolerance was manifest in many wicked acts such as the well known Crusades and many other lesson evil acts. Let's look in brief at a few examples:

The Christian persecution and extermination of Jews, from the late 4th century in the Roman Empire to 1917 CE in the Ukraine.

The Nazi Holocaust which systematically killed about 6 million Jews, 400,000 Roma (Gypsies), an unknown number of Jehovah's Witnesses and others on religious grounds.

The Sudan government's current war of extermination against Christians and Animists in the southern part of that country.[example of Muslim intolerance].

Intolerance promoted on a grand scale by Counterfeit Christians in the name of Christianity by a so called Christian leader who claimed to be the Vicar of Christ on earth, a false claim as clearly revealed by his and his groups actions. "When the reformed religion began to diffuse the Gospel light throughout Europe, Pope Innocent III entertained great fear for the Romish Church. He accordingly instituted a number of inquisitors, or persons who were to make inquiry after, apprehend, and punish, heretics, as the reformed were called by the papists.

At the head of these inquisitors was one Dominic, who had been canonized by the pope, in order to render his authority the more respectable. Dominic, and the other inquisitors, spread themselves into various Roman Catholic countries, and treated the Protestants with the utmost severity. In process of time, the pope, not finding these roving inquisitors so useful as he had imagined, resolved upon the establishment of fixed and regular courts of Inquisition. After the order for these regular courts, the first office of Inquisition was established in the city of Toulouse, and Dominic became the first regular inquisitor, as he had before been the first roving inquisitor.

Courts of Inquisition were now erected in several countries; but the Spanish Inquisition became the most powerful, and the most dreaded of any. Even the kings of Spain themselves, though arbitrary in all other respects, were taught to dread the power of the lords of the Inquisition; and the horrid cruelties they exercised compelled multitudes, who differed in opinion from the Roman Catholics, carefully to conceal their sentiments.
The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly obeyed the Church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans: these, therefore, the pope thought proper to invest with an exclusive right of presiding over the different courts of Inquisition, and gave them the most unlimited powers, as judges delegated by him, and immediately representing his person: they were permitted to excommunicate, or sentence to death whom they thought proper, upon the most slight information of heresy. They were allowed to publish crusades against all whom they deemed heretics, and enter into leagues with sovereign princes, to join their crusades with their forces.

In 1244, their power was further increased by the emperor Frederic II, who declared himself the protector and friend of all the inquisitors, and published the cruel edicts, viz., 1. That all heretics who continue obstinate, should be burnt. 2. That all heretics who repented, should be imprisoned for life. [source - Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Chapter V].

A CLEAR DIFFERENCE between True Christians who are tolerant and Counterfeit Christians who are in-tolerant as clearly shown by the actions of both groups. However, there is sometimes a fine line between religious in-tolerance, and the legitimate criticism of wrong religious practices; therefore one can be tolerant of those of other beliefs, but can denounce wrong practices and doctrine.

(3) TRUE CHRISTIANS DO NOT PERSECUTE TRUE SCIENCE. True followers of Christ knew long before the development of modern science that the earth did not ride on the back of a giant sea turtle as some ancient people believed since at Job 26:7 it says, "He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing. " (ASV), and yet they never persecuted and/or murdered those who believed the giant turtle theory although sometimes the believers in the giant turtle theory caused them much tribulation.

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS, on the other hand, caused great tribulation and even burnt some not believing their pseudo-science foolishness at the stake. Let's look at one account of such activity where they burnt Giordano Bruno at the stake for saying the earth revolved around the sun and not what they believed, that the sun revolved around the earth.

"Four centuries ago today, on February 16, 1600, the Roman Catholic Church executed Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher and scientist, for the crime of heresy. He was taken from his cell in the early hours of the morning to the Piazza dei Fiori in Rome and burnt alive at the stake. To the last, the Church authorities were fearful of the ideas of a man who was known throughout Europe as a bold and brilliant thinker. In a peculiar twist to the gruesome affair, the executioners were ordered to tie his tongue so that he would be unable to address those gathered.

Throughout his life Bruno championed the Copernican system of astronomy which placed the sun, not the Earth, at the centre of the solar system. He opposed the stultifying authority of the Church and refused to recant his philosophical beliefs throughout his eight years of imprisonment by the Venetian and Roman Inquisitions. His life stands as a testimony to the drive for knowledge and truth that marked the astonishing period of history known as the Renaissance-from which so much in modern art, thought and science derives.

In 1992, after 12 years of deliberations, the Roman Catholic Church grudgingly admitted that Galileo Galilei had been right in supporting the theories of Copernicus. The Holy Inquisition had forced an aged Galileo to recant his ideas under threat of torture in 1633. But no such admission has been made in the case of Bruno. His writings are still on the Vatican's list of forbidden texts." [source - The Infinite Worlds of Giordano Bruno by Antoinette Mann Paterson, 1970].

A CLEAR DIFFERENCE between True Christians who have never persecuted and/or murdered scientist for their scientific holdings, and Counterfeit Christians who have.
So any individual or group who calls themselves Christian, yet persecutes and murders scientist is Counterfeit Christian.

(4) TRUE CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZE THAT SATURDAY IS THE SABBATH DAY, as mentioned at Exodus 20:8-11, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (ASV). Now, the Sabbath day here spoken of was Saturday, not Sunday, as clearly shown by the word for Saturday in Spanish and several other languages derived from Latin, 'Sabado.' it was the seventh-day Sabbath (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) that was kept by all of God's faithful servants in both Old and New Testament times. So clearly the Sabbath day is Saturday, not Sunday, and all True Christians recognize this even though they may hold their meetings on other days for convenience sake.

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS, on the other hand, maintain that Sunday is the Sabbath day. Why? "The reason was the Pagan emperor Constantine needed Christians to salvage his shaky empire. Constantine embraced; howbeit only on his deathbed. However, he saw Christianity as a tool he could use to firm up his shaky empire. To this opportunity for political intrigue, and happy blend of politics and people was the chief triumvirate of Roman gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Jupiter was the principal deity of Roman mythology and Juno was the next highest divinity. Minerva, the "offspring of the brain of Jupiter" was regarded as the "personification of divine thought, the plan of the material universe of which Jupiter was the creator and Juno the representative" (*1). Many Pagan ideas, in fact, were incorporated into Christianity. "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it" (*2).

Roman Emperor Constantine needed to make his subjects feel secure if he were to maintain control of the empire; he wanted to rule a unified empire, be it pagan and/or Christian. But first he would have to find a way to end the dispute over the divinity of Jesus-was he a man or God? So he ordered his Christian bishops to meet at Nicaea in 325 A.D. to settle the matter once and for all. To do this, "he made himself the head of the church, and thus the problems of the church became his responsibilities. As a whole the Western Empire with its Roman influence, with some exceptions, had accepted Tertullian and his new theory of the Trinity in the early part of the previous century, but in the East the church adhered more closely to the older formula of baptism in the name of Jesus, or Jesus the Christ. Especially was this true with the Armenians, who specified that baptism "into the death of Christ" was that which alone was essential (*3).

This council went on for a very long time and the emperor worked behind the scene to get support for a Trinity or a Duality and to have the pagan holy day of the Unconquered Sun declared the Sabbath. This effort was not completely successful, but finally he got a majority and declared under imperial degree that this hence forth would be the central doctrinal pillar of the Christian church, which by this time was apostate. Even with this declaration by the emperor himself not all bishops signed the creed. (*4).

So is was the political product of an apostate church, an apostate church that allowed a pagan Roman Emporer, Constantine, to tell it which dogma to accept at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., and then have it rammed down their throats as blessed dogma by another Roman Emporer, Theodosius, at the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. This in direct violation of God's (YHWH's) word found in the Bible " Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4, Authorized King James Bible; AV), " If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19 AV).

The Roman Catholic church even admits that it alone authorized the change. Note: "Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the church [Roman Catholic] outside the Bible" (*5). Also, the proceedings of the Council of Nicea of 325 AD openly declare that they have changed the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday. (*6). Also, Dr. Edward Hiscox, the author of 'The Baptist Manual, states, "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was NOT Sunday.....It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week...where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament." So we can clearly see from a Protestant source that they know the correct day of the week for the true Sabbath, but have accepted the day assigned by an apostate church, while knowing of the wrong, hook-line-and-sinker; thereby, joining and accepting the products of apostasy.

Of course, we can not earn salvation through any special day. Salvation is a gift from God (YHWH) and the Son of God (YHWH), Jesus (Yeshua). He does, however, give this gift to whom he considers worthy due to their obedience, and denies it to the disobedient. The Apostle Paul brought this fact out at Hebrews 5:9, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (AV); On the other hand, he wrote, 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulteres, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind." (AV)."[source - The Sabbath and Apostacy:, by Iris the Preacher, 2004]

"As can readily be seen, the apostate church on their own switched the Sabbath from the God (YHWH) appointed day of Saturday (which actually means Sabbath as can readily be ascertained if you look at that day in the Spanish language, Sabado) to Sunday (the Day of the Sun) without any authority from God (YHWH) to do so. In other words they usurped God's (YHWH's) exclusive prerogative in an extreme act of defiance and disobedience; And most of the Protestants went along with this brazen act of defiance against the rights of Almighty God (YHWH) and adopted the fruits of this defiant, disobedient act by the apostate church they claim to rail against for themselves. This shows disobedience on the part of all who accept this lie and act of defiance and disobedience.

REFERENCES:
*1 - McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, Vol. 6
*2 - Lamson, Newton & Durant, Will, "Caesar and Christ," cited from Charles Redeker Caesar and Christ, W. Duran (page 595).
*3 - ENCYLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, 11th Edition, Vol. 3, (page 366).
*4 - Payne, Robert, "The Holy Fire: The Story of the Early Centuries of the Christian Churches in the Near East" (1957); BETHUNE-BAKER, J,F. "An Introduction to the Early History of Christian Doctrine". Methuen; 5th Ed., 1933 and ENCYLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, 11th Edition, Vol. 3, (page 366); David, Francis and Blandrata, Georgio, "De falsa et vera unius Dei Patris, Filii, et Spiritus Sancti cognitone" [Latin](The False and True Knowledge of the Unity of God the Father, Son, and Holy spirit), 1566 A.D.; Eklof, Todd F., "David's Francis Tower, Strength through Peace," (06-16-02); The New Encyclopedia Britannica: " Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126. (1976); Parkes, James, "The Foundation of Judaism and Christianity," 1960; Durant, Will. "Caesar and Christ." New York: Simon. 1944. Vol. 3 of The Story of Civilization. 11 vols. 1935-75.
*5 - Catholic Verginian, October 3, 1947.
*6 - Proceedings of the First Great Church Council at Nicea in 325 AD." )."[source - The Sabbath and Apostacy:, by Iris the Preacher, 2004]

A CLEAR DIFFERENCE then is that True Christians accept Saturday as the Sabbath day and do NOT seek to usurp God's (YHWH's) authority; whereas, Counterfeit Christians challenged God's (YHWH's) authority and declared Sunday to be the Sabbath in direct opposition to the word of God (YHWH).

(5) TRUE CHRISTIANS show love seven days a week in keeping with what Jesus (Yeshua) said at Matthew 22:36-40, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." (ASV). This in realization of God's (YHWH's) as shown at 1 John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (ASV).

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS, often referred to as Sunday Christians as they go to church on that day and put on a façade of righteousness and love as a show to the world that they are pious, but on Monday they are just as likely to 'stab you in the back' as not to if they feel it is to their advantage to do so. They do not in most cases know true Christian love as taught by whom they claim is their leader. The Bible correctly spoke of them when Jesus (Yeshua) said to this type in his day at Matthew 23:27-33, " Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?" (ASV).

Today many of their leaders, like the Pharisees of old as Jesus (Yeshua) stated at Matthew 23:1-5, "Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat: 3 all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, [these] do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. 4 Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders [of their garments]," (ASV); and at Mark 12:38-40, "And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and [to have] salutations in the marketplaces, 39 and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts: 40 they that devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation" (ASV)

A CLEAR DIFFERENCE then is shown by the fact that True Christians show genuine love; whereas, the Counterfeit Christians only show an outward expression of love, but really do not love . They want the adoration of others and their attitude was warned against Jesus (Yeshua) himself at Luke 20:46, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;(ASV).

In fact, this was specifically warned against at 1 Timothy 4:1-3, "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth." (ASV).

CONCLUSION:

Jesus (Yeshua) spoke in a parable about the True Christians which he likened to wheat and the Counterfeit Christians which he likened to tares at Matthew 13:24-30, " Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? 28 And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn." (ASV) .

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell."   Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today!