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 The
purpose of this Web site is to share the Truth
that is found solely in the Good News of Jesus
Christ. It has been said, "If you want to
know the counterfeit, get to know the real thing."
Cashiers in banks are taught how real money feels,
not how counterfeit money feels. As they get to
know the feel of the real bill, it is easy to
spot the counterfeit when it comes along.
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is
the real thing. As we get to know Him through
the pages of the Holy Bible, we can easily spot
the counterfeit when it comes along. The Gospel
of John says, "You are truly my disciples
if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free"
(John 8:31,32 NLT).
Those of us who are past members of the Manson
family didn't know the truth found in the Holy
Bible. We didn't know the Jesus Christ of the
Bible. Those at Jonestown following Jim Jones,
at Waco with Koresh, and the recent Heaven's Gate
(Higher Source) didn't know the real Jesus Christ
of the Bible (who millions of believers follow
today). This Jesus is not only a man whom we follow,
but the Holy Scriptures bear out that He is God,
all God and all man, coming to the Earth to die
for the sins of all mankind. This is the God of
the Bible.
How Ignorant Can We Be?
It takes much more faith to believe in a demonic
cult, following some man and his philosophy, than
it does to have a simple faith in the Jesus Christ
of the Bible. As a former Manson follower, following
him for a year, I believed that he was God, that
a black and white race war was coming, that we
would start this war with our murders, and escape
to a bottomless pit in Death Valley. (This can
all be read about in my book, Will You Die For
Me?)
Deceptive cults have beliefs that take much more
faith to believe than the simplicity of faith
in Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross for us,
and bodily resurrection. For instance, David Koresh
convinced his people that a Holy War was coming,
that an enemy was out there, that he was the Messiah,
and he was spouting a strange false teaching of
the book of Revelation 80 people died.
Koresh was similar to Manson in many ways, but
Manson was no teacher of the Bible. I never saw
Manson pick up a Bible, but he did have some crazy
ideas about Revelation 9 from the Beatles.
How about Jim Jones? I don't recall a lot of
his teachings, but he followed the Bible closely
and was much more deceptive. How ignorant could
you be to follow a man thousands of miles away
from home into a mosquito infested jungle? This
took much more faith than simply going to the
local church to worship on Sunday. And what a
communion service Jim Jones had, serving cyanidespiked
grape punch where 912 people died. The Prophet
Hosea said, "My people are destroyed because
of lack of knowledge" (4:6). This was the
lack of knowledge of the truth, the Word of God.
Then there was Marshall Applewhite and the 'Heavens
Gate' cult that we've heard so much about lately.
Can you imagine how much faith it must take to
believe he (Applewhite, also known as 'Do') was
an alien in a human body and that the Earth was
about to be recycled? Can you imagine believing
Applewhite's teaching that the only chance to
depart Earth before this catastrophe was to evacuate
with him by committing suicide? On top of all
this, Applewhite taught that this suicide pact
was necessary to get to the next level of consciousness
and that they were going to get there by a rendezvous
with a spacecraft (U.F.O.) that was apparently
following the Hale-Bopp comet. Tragically, 39
people died believing a foolish tale like this.
Yet, several things are always the same with
a cult. Their story is made up by a man, sometimes
people die and through close examination, a cult
is very bizarre and unreliable. The philosophy
never lines up with the mainstream belief of Jesus
Christ, the God of the Holy Bible. For instance,
UFO's and committing suicide are not the truth
taught in the Bible and are not accepted as part
of Christianity.
The Scripture says, "Satan, the god of this
evil world, has blinded the minds of those who
don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious
light of the Good News that is shining upon them.
They don't understand the message we preach about
the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness
of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Why Would Anyone Join a Cult?
There is no sane or rational reason for someone
to completely yield control to another individual
or group. To do so is actually quite insane. Our
hearts and prayers go out to the many victims
of the cults, together with their families and
friends.
These are some of my reasons, from experience:
1) Lack of Identity a strong Spiritual identity,
and solid goals were missing in my life, 2) Lack
of Direction idealistic (behavior and thoughts
based on a conception of things as one thinks
they should be, and a striving to achieve ones
ideas), but no meaning in life without Christ,
3) Lack of Spiritual Meaning a need to fill
the void only God can fill, 4) Lack of Acceptance
a feeling of unconditional love was missing,
not knowing God's love, and 5) Lack of Love
anger and rebellion against the authority of God
and parents, stemming from fear and frustration.
These are only a few of my personal reasons for
once joining the Manson family,which by no means
excuses my actions. My choice to join a cult caused
me to no longer be part of greater society. Complete
isolation resulted as I exchanged my wonderful
blood family for a lie. Brainwashing took place
as my thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs changed
to those of Manson. Complete control was given
over to him so we could reach his higher plane,
all the time being controlled by his thinking.
As a result, seven innocent people lie dead, and
for me, life in prison because of my sin.
Today, there are still those who follow Manson
even after seeing the deadly results and even
though most of his faithful disciples of old,
like myself, denounced his beliefs years ago.
There are Branch Davidians, who hold Koresh as
a martyr for the cause, still believing his false
teachings, even after the fiery death of he and
his followers. It has been reported that dozens
of Marshall Applewhite's followers remain even
after his predictions didn't come true.
Behind every cult leader is demonic thinking.
We can either agree with the thoughts of the God
of Creation found in the Bible, or we can believe
in thoughts contrary. Where do these contrary
thoughts come from, those that are not inspired
by God, those that bring death and cause much
destruction?
As Christians, we believe these thoughts come
from a rebellious fallen archangel named Lucifer,
some people call him Satan. He brought his rebellious
thoughts upon all mankind through what we call
the fall of man. In Genesis 3 of the Bible, we
are told that the serpent (Lucifer/Satan) deceived
Adam and Eve, and as a result, spiritual death
passed upon all mankind.
The only way to be rescued from spiritual death
is to place your faith in Jesus Christ, His death
for us on the Cross of Calvary, and His bodily
resurrection. He is the way, the truth, and the
life. He is the way to this higher plane, and
not by UFO, or some other lie. This is the way
to eternal life, living with the Lord forever.
This is the simple Gospel of the Bible, the real
thing. This is the true heaven's gate, not one
that is opened by a comet, but by Jesus Christ
dying on the Cross of Calvary for you and me.
We don't have to believe some strange tale, just
the simple Good News of the Bible. Won't you receive
Him today?
Characteristices of All Cults
A. EXTRA-BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
Cults usually claim the Bible as authoritative.
However, they always give equal or greater authority
to another book or another person's revelations.
The Bible teaches that it alone is the only verbally
inspired and infallible revelation.
B. DENIAL OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE ALONE
Cults make salvation to some degree dependent
on the works of man.
The heart of the Christian Gospel is that Christ
paid for sin (called the blood atonement). Therefore,
man cannot contribute anything to his salvation.
C. DEVALUATION OF CHRIST
Cults do not make Jesus equal with the Father
and Holy Spirit.
Every Christian group exalts Jesus Christ as
the God-man Savior.
D. THEIR GROUP IS THE EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
OF THE SAVED
Only the cult's members are the "inner group."
Cults generally believe their group is the fulfillment
of prophecy concerning end times.
The Christian view is that the saved are the
"body of Christ," i.e. all who believe
in Christ with a true faith.
An Exhortation
"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that
in the last times some will turn away from what
we believe; they will follow lying spirits and
teachings that come from demons" (1 Timothy
4:1 ,2).
The chief evil spirit, a supernatural being subordinate
to, and the foe of, God, and the tempter of human
beings is Satan. He is falsely depicted as a man
with horns, a tail, and cloven feet, but in fact,
Satan is a very wicked and vicious supernatural
person out to steal, to kill, and to destroy us
through the lies of his minions--the demons.
His destruction is being carried out in the lives
of millions, not only through the many cults,
but today, there are almost two hundred occultic
rock groups serving Satan and mocking the Cross.
These groups have increased fourfold since the
'80s, due to the demand of the youth. We are seeing
the largest Satanic cult movement in the history
of mankind rise up right before our eyes.
The search for spiritual things is increasing
as the world grows progressively less stable.
It's time to rise up, match, and surpass this
movement by our fervor for Christ by shining forth
God's love. People are looking for the spiritual
answer, and we're responsible to have the answer
upon our lips.
Let our voices ring forth that deliverance comes
by the blood of the Cross. We overcome the Devil
by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony,
not being afraid to give our lives. There is a
world out there dying while we selfishly gratify
our flesh. It's time to sharpen our voices into
a bold and powerful testimony of Jesus Christ.
Time is short, and the harvest fields are white,
but the laborers are few. Won't you labor with
us!
Christ Is Coming "Very Soon"
The evidence for the soon return of Jesus Christ
is overwhelming. It could be any moment. One scholar
lists 167 converging clues just in the last few
years of this millennium. The following are eight:
1. Israel's rebirth.
As Jesus prophesied, the Jews were scattered
during the Jewish-Roman war in A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24).
Also prophesied to occur before Christ's return,
the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn on
May 14, 1948. Israel is called "God's time
clock."
2. Plummeting morality.
Studies show a shocking breakdown just since
mid-century (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
3. Famine, violence and wars.
Like birth pangs that intensify, Jesus said that
the days just before His coming would see increase
famines, violence, and ethnic wars, a clear picture
of our planet (Matthew 24:6-8). One of six people
on earth suffer from hunger. Violence is epidemic,
and a study of wars since 500 B.C. shows a recent,
dramatic increase. Of 82 world conflicts since
just 1990, all but three have been civil or ethnic.
4. Increase in earthquakes.
A recent study shows a dramatic increase in worldwide
earthquakes, just since the decade of Israel's
rebirth. Like increasing birth pangs, in the 1940s
there were 51 above Richter 6.0; the 1950s, 475;
the 1980s, 1,085; and in the 1990s at the current
rate, a projected 1,540 (Matthew 24:7).
5. Explosion of travel and education.
Two key conditions described about 2,500 years
ago for the Second Coming are that "travel
and education shall be vastly increased"
(Daniel 12:4, Living Bible). In all of history,
the vast increase in travel has come just since
mid-century with the explosion of both ground
and air transportation; in education, with the
advance of science and computers.
6. Explosion of cults and the occult.
Counterfeit spirituality is everywhere with cults
and false Christs (Matthew 24:24), psychic phenomena,
spiritism, Satan worship, witchcraft, nature worship,
and the New Age movement (1 Timothy 4:1).
7. The New World Order.
Increase centralization of world financial and
political power is prelude to the soon coming
world power system in the hands of "Antichrist,"
who will be the incarnation of Satan and who will
deceive most of the world (Daniel 7-12, Matthew
24:15, Revelation 13).
8. Increase in both apostasy and faith.
The Bible predicts in the last days, "A
form of godliness, although they have denied its
power" (2 Timothy 3:5). Today many churches
deny the eternal truths of Scripture and power
of the Holy Spirit, replacing them with ungodly,
temporal, and "politically correct"
values. But also, a prophesied outpouring of God's
Spirit is causing hundreds of millions worldwide
to come to true faith in Christ in record numbers,
virtually unnoticed by the media.
The Escape Plan
Christ will soon come and rescue His people from
the approaching "Great Tribulation"
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). He will later rule
and bring peace on earth--after He judges the
world and every person (Matthew 25:31-46).
God's judgment is, indeed, coming on a world
in rebellion. He cannot deny His nature. His attributes
of perfect holiness and justice demand judgment
for sin, of which we are all guilty. "For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23 ).
The result of sin is death, or separation from
God. "For the wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23). Wages are something we earn, or
deserve.
But "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Is
"love" in conflict with "judgment"?
Answer: God's wisdom reconciled the dilemma--The
Son of God would take all our judgment upon Himself!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us" (Romans 5:8).
To escape God's judgment, we each must receive
His free gift of forgiveness and love, "But
the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord " (Romans 6:23). A gift is
something we do not earn, or deserve.
How to Receive Him
In any gift exchange, there has to be giver and
receiver. God has already given us the gift, His
Son; now we must receive Him. "But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God" (John 1:12).
We receive Him by faith. "For by grace you
have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result
of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians
2:8,9).
We receive Him by personal invitation. (Christ
speaking) "Behold, I stand at the door and
knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him" (Revelation
3:20). Do you hear His voice?
The following is a suggested prayer: "Lord
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that
you died on the cross for my sins to save me from
eternal death. I open the door of my life and
receive you as my Savior and Lord. I give you
my life. Help me to be what you want me to be.
Amen. "
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