Pro and Con 680

Posted 1-30-01

I have just received permission to post Jeremy Tittmann's article printed in the Rio Hondo College newspaper, El Paisano, 10-24-00. My granddaughter, Teri Cook, was Editor-In-Chief at the time, and Jeremy was the Opinion Editor. Teri brought me a copy at our Christmas family gathering. For this semester, Jeremy is Editor-In-Chief, and Teri is Opinion Editor. Jeremy's article shows dramatically that demons are as real today as when Jesus cast them out in 30 AD. The information he has shared should be a wake-up call for people to live their faith. The forces against us are formidable. We need God on our side.

Spiritual enlightenment
by Jeremy Tittman

I have had the longest and toughest weekend of my life. The experiences I have had have opened my eyes wide to my religion of Christianity. I have experienced things that are so frightening and spiritual that it has totally changed my life and they way I will live from now on.

I have always considered myself a Christian, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that when I ask for forgiveness He forgives me. The thing is that I never really lived my life according to how the Bible says that I should. You know I have had sex with different girls, I had a collection of pornography, and I have owned things that I now at this time consider to be evil, but before they were just things. I have also owned music albums that I also now consider to be satanic.

It all started about two years ago, but it finally came to a head last Friday. My mom has always been sick, she has bad asthma, heart conditions, and other medical conditions. The one thing that I think was worst was she suffered from minor seizures.

Last week these seizures became major and extreme ones. I mean they were so bad that she actually flew out of bed. When I looked at her more as she had these seizures it actually looked like she was being thrown out of bed, like something stronger then her was taking her and just tossing her out of bed. Then she would bang her head against the ground, but when I saw her it seemed as if something was actually banging her head against the ground.

I just want to say that what I am telling is the complete and honest truth, I gain nothing from lying. Plus, I don't lie because when you get caught it's so embarrassing.

Anyway last Thursday my dad yelled my name at about two in the morning. I ran into my parents bedroom and my mom was on the floor having this extreme seizure, my dad was down there also, and he was just praying to God that the seizure would stop.

Now, my dad is a way better Christian then I will ever be, he is very strong in the Lord, and lives his life as much as he can to what the Bible says.

So, I got down on the floor and started praying that this would end, that she would stop shaking and just be calm, and finally after about 15 minutes she stopped. We got her back into bed, and made sure she was comfortable, then me and my dad talked.

He told me that he believed that a demon was causing this, that it was inside of her, and it was the one responsible for causing all this. At first I didn't believe it, I was shocked, and just could not grasp it. I mean I have always considered our home to be a Godly home.

So, Friday came and my dad asked if I could stay with my mom the whole day while he went to work. That Friday morning she had this really violent seizure, and I took what my dad said into consideration. Now I have read in the Bible that if you talk to a demon it will talk back to you.

I yelled, "If their is something in there causing this speak to me now!" At that moment the most deep growling voice came from my mom, and their was no way that this was my moms voice. Her teeth were clenched and her lips were open, but her mouth was not moving. At that moment I was freaked out, and could not believe what I just heard. I started praying to God and asking him for help and for him to send angels to help me. While I was praying out loud this thing was just screaming at me to stop, but for some reason I was not scared.

Finally, she stopped and I woke her up, but said nothing about what had happened. I waited for my dad to call so I could tell him, but it happened that my brother came home first, and right when he unlocked the door, she went into another seizure.

I told my brother watch this, and I told it to speak to me, and it did. My brother just froze in fear, he could not believe what he was witnessing. We prayed and she came out of it, my brother asked me if I had told dad, I told him, "Not yet."

When my dad called I told him what had happened and he said he was not surprised.

I had to leave my brother alone with my mom because I had a lot of things to do that day. My brother really did not want me to leave but I had to do these things.

That night I went to my bowling league, and went to my friends house afterwards. I came home about one in the morning and my dad was sitting on the floor with my mom.

That moment something told me to sit down and listen, I dropped all my stuff and asked my dad if he had talked to the demon. He said that he had talked to all three. I said, "All three, what are you talking about?" He told me that three demons were in her and one wanted to take her life. At that moment she started a major seizure and my dad yelled and demanded it to speak.

It spoke and it told us that it was going to kill her in the night while we were sleeping. My dad told it no way, that we were going to stay awake that night. We tried to cast the demon out but it went away, and she stopped shaking. Well it happened, we started to doze off until we heard gasping, we awoke to find my mom in another seizure, but this time her hands were wrapped around her neck and it was choking her.

We pulled her hands off of her neck and started praying, I prayed the hardest that night then I have ever prayed before. I started crying so hard I started shaking and nearly fainted.

I have to finish this story because it is so long, that I could fill up two pages, with what I experienced this weekend.

But let me get to the ending, we finally cast out all eight demons, yes, eight demons. It took the whole weekend, and a lot of faith and praying.

But I tell you this I have opened my eyes wide to Lord, I no now I owe Him so much. I have started change my life drastically, no cussing for me, no porn, no more sex until I am married. If you do not believe God I hope this changes your mind, because their is a God, He is my Father, and I am changing my life to better serve Him. That weekend He was with me and He has changed my life. Through Jesus my mom was healed.

If you have any questions or you want to ask me anything about this feel free I will totally talk about it with you. Because hopefully it will change your life and make you believe their is a God and He is always with us no matter who you are.

Incoming email

I thought you'd be interested in this. I have a few more somewhere if you are. They are saying this man is Elijah. Blessings to you

My reply

Re: FWD file
> > As opposed to "denominational ad nausium bible school theology and eschatology," Al Cuppett and Jim Searcy advise "all the daughters and non bible studiers" that we are at the END of the Tribulation rather than its onset.

That makes no sense at all. Jim Searcy and I corresponded, and I posted those e-mails in early Pro and Cons. I do not agree with him at all. I think the Rapture has to take place before the Tribulation and the coming of Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah both have to appear at the beginning of the Tribulation. I think the 7-year peace covenant has to be confirmed as the Tribulation begins. Dan. 9:27 says, "he (the False Prophet) shall CONFIRM the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week (Mid-Trib) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations (idols) he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation (on the 1st day of the millennial Day of the Lord, 2300th day of the Tribulation), and that determined (7 trumpet judgments, including the 2 asteroid impacts of Rev. 8:8,10) shall be poured upon the desolate (desolator)."

Dan. 8:13,14 says, "How long shall be the vision concerning the DAILY SACRIFICE, and the TRANSGRESSION OF DESOLATION, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

The Jews are able to SACRIFICE during the first half of the Tribulation. That has not yet come to pass. At Mid-Trib, the False Prophet will become Satan-possessed when Satan is cast out of Heaven and down to Earth. The False Prophet will then sit "in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (II Thess. 2:4). That has not yet happened. At that time, sacrificing will cease. That has not yet taken place. At that time, Moses and Elijah will evidently refuse to bow down before the False Prophet's idol, so the False Prophet will kill them. It will not be a secret event. Their bodies will lay in the streets of Jerusalem 3.5 days, be resurrected and raptured to Heaven (Rev. 11:12). This has not come to pass. Searcy can't be right about this being the END of the Tribulation.

The time that the Jews can sacrifice will be the 1260 days of Moses and Elijah's prophesying (Rev. 11:3). The time when they cannot sacrifice will be 1040 days, making the total of the shortened Tribulation 2300 days. Since the Jews have not begun sacrificing, the Tribulation has not begun. When it does begin, the Beast (Tribulation Pope, man with a bow of simple fabric showing that he is a man of the cloth, a religious leader) will ride forth as a prince of peace on a white horse. He will be given power over all "nations" and all false religions (Rev. 13:7,8), i.e., be head of the United Nations and United Religions. That has not yet happened. We are still Pre-Trib, but not by much. It is drawing near. Watch the work being done on the peace covenant. Agape

Incoming email

I was wondering, if we are to confess all our sin to Jesus since receiving Him....How can we be sure to remember them all? I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1972 and had not been aware of the need of continual confession of all specific sin. When I prayed for forgiveness, I guess I generalized my sin by asking that He forgive me of theft, lust, covetous, meanspiritedness, lying, jealousy etc. I have been confessing the fact that I continue to commit sin but tried not to practice sin. Am I wrong in this practice. I figured that being God, He would know my heart as well or better than me. How is it possible to remember all our sins, even daily? I also was assured that His blood covered all my sin and that when I was to stand in His presence He would not see my sin because His shed blood would be covering them, not only covering them but would remove them as far as the East is from the West and even put them in the deepest part of the oceans. Please explain what I should do in this case.

My reply

I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I take this to mean that if we confess known sins, he will cleanse us also of unknown sins. It is the Holy Spirit's duty to convict us of sin, so specific things that need to be confessed will probably come to mind. Once confessed, forget them. Humans tend to hang on to them even after God has forgiven us. That is not helpful. Get them out of the way and forget them. We should then do our best to live right from here on in.

Our faith in Christ wipes out all "OLD SINS" committed before that day of salvation. That new birth assures us a place in Heaven. It does not assure us of rewards, of which the Pre-Trib Rapture is the prize one. We need to be wise virgins with enough oil of the Holy Spirit to be in the Bride group that goes with the Bridegroom when he comes

In II Peter 1:5-7, Peter gave us a list of things to add to our faith "that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature" (Holy Spirit). They are virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and agape love. Then in II Peter 1:9-11, he said, "he that lacketh these things is blind (like the Laodiceans, Rev. 3:17), and cannot see afar off (Heaven), and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins (committed before Salvation). Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance (the Pre-Trib Rapture) shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Agape

Incoming email

My pastor has been saying that God is going to work a revival soon and other things. Does God allow us to prophesy about the future if He knows the rapture will be soon? Why not have all prophecies be short term, if you get my point? Thanks

My reply

I don't think there are any true prophets in the world until Moses and Elijah come. Therefore, when I hear people say this and that is going to happen, I have to have Scripture to back it up before I believe it. Agape

Incoming email

In PC 677, you state that the "restrainer" in 2 Thes. 2:7 is the Holy Spirit. In quoting the verse you note...

> > For already the secret power of wickedness is at work, secret only for the present until the Restrainer (Holy Spirit) disappears from the scene (as he takes us to Heaven).

I respectfully disagree. The Holy Spirit, as part of the God head, will never disappear from the earth, being omnipresent. The restrainer, in my view, is the Bride, who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is the Bride that will disappear from the scene. It is of the Bride that are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit that Luke 10:19 says, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy (all includes the anti-christ, that is why He cannot appear): and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Matthew 18:18 says, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven . . ." It does not say "except the anti-christ". 1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the spirits of anti-christ referred to in verse 3): because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (does not say except the anti-christ)."

The Holy Spirit will be working in the hearts of men during the shortened tribulation. As the gospel goes forth (Matthew 24:14) throughout the world in the time before the end of the age (that ends on the day of the Lord), the Holy Spirit will continue to lead the tribulation saints into all truth (John 16:13). I won't get into it now, but indeed the latter rain harvest, the greatest ingathering of souls into the kingdom in history will occur during the shortened tribulation. I will be spending a whole chapter in "Be the Bride- volume three", that I am presently working on, going through the scriptural evidence that this massive harvest will occur in the upcoming shortened tribulation.

Evidently, this authority that we, the Bride, now have over the spirit of anti-christ, that restrains him, will not be available to the tribulation saints, for Revelation 13:7 says, "And it was given unto him (the first beast) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." These tribulation saints, unlike the Bride who was previously raptured, cannot restrain the anti-christ. To restate...I believe the "restrainer" is the Holy Spirit empowered Bride of Christ (not the Holy Spirit), who as the translation you quoted says...will disappear from the scene. Your Brother in Jesus

My reply

> > I believe the "restrainer" is the Holy Spirit empowered Bride of Christ (not the Holy Spirit), who as the translation you quoted says . . . will disappear from the scene.

I agree. The restrainer is the Holy Spirit in us. Lots of times, in connection with this passage, I have said that we are the salt of the Earth that is restraining evil. Salt in breadmaking retards the growth of leaven. It is the most critical ingredient and must be measured very carefully. Too much and the loaf won't rise. Too little and the loaf will overproof. What is in us doing the restraining is the Holy Spirit. I should have been more explicit this time.

As you say, God is actually omnipresent. It is just that he will quit restraining the revealing of the False Prophet at the Rapture. When Christ ascended, the Spirit of God was still on Earth, because he is omnipresent. Yet in a special way, he descended on the church on Pentecost to empower them for their ministry. I won't be surprised if the Holy Spirit does the same thing on the Pentecost when Moses and Elijah need to be empowered to prophesy during the 1st 1260 days of the Tribulation.

The KJV indicates that he will restrain "until HE be TAKEN out of the way." The word "taken" is Strong's 1096, ginomai, ARISE, be taken. This is the Rapture of the Bride of Christ before the revealing of the False Prophet. When the Rapture happens, the omnipresent Holy Spirit that specially indwells us will take us to Heaven and quit restraining the appearance of the False Prophet on Earth. That does not limit what the Spirit of God can do on Earth. He decided to not restrain the appearance of the False Prophet after the Rapture. Agape

Incoming email

I heard today that the two sides are closer than ever to an agreement. They will be meeting in Stockholm next week under EU and UN auspices in order to attempt to make more progress.

Also, Arafat has said he wants a referendum on any agreement reached. Perhaps Dan. 9:27 , when it talks about confirming the agreement with many, is talking about this Palestinian referendum--many is a good way to refer to the Palestinains since they cannot be referred to as a nation. Sincerely

My reply

The reason I think the False Prophet "shall confirm the covenant with MANY" means the United Nations is because another man that will be in on this will be the Beast. On that day, power is "given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and NATIONS" (Rev. 13:7). He will preside over the One World Government for the 1st 1260 days of the Tribulation (v. 5).

I think the Beast will be the Tribulation Pope. When he rides in seated on a white horse as a symbol of a prince of peace, he already has a "bow" (toxon, simple fabric, symbol of a man of the cloth, a religious leader) and is given a "crown."

This "toxon," fabric, has been a symbol of a religious leader since the Zodiac was first drawn, probably by Seth under the inspiration of God. Cepheus, the crowned King seated on his throne at the highest point of the sky, with his L foot on Polaris, has in his R hand a fistful of flowing fabric ribbons. This designates him as a religious leader, and he represents Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. His crown has 7 points. Seven means all, so this shows that he is all powerful, or omnipotent. (See picture on p. 85 in Seiss' Gospel in the Stars.) Agape

Incoming email

And you are a dear!! I have written you once, although it has been a long time. I read your p & c's religiously, and although there are little tidbits here and there that I do not agree with, I know in my heart of hearts that you are right about the major things and I will see you in heaven. I just finished reading the letter from the 30 year old ex-mormon and I was touched by something he said. He mentioned that he and his brother have known since they were 10 years old that something would happen in their 30th year. Marilyn, since I was 16, I have felt I would not make my 47th birthday. Now I used to believe that I was going to die a physical death before that time, but after following your thoughts on the endtimes and my own on and off again study of prophecy over the last 25 years, I now believe I know why I won't see my 47th birthday. I'LL BE IN HEAVEN!! (Just for the record, I am 46 years old, and my birthday is on June 20,2001. If the rapture is on May 28, 2001(and I pray it is) I truly will not see my 47th birthday, because they don't have birthdays in Heaven.) I want to join all the other spirit-filled believers out there that I know are praying for this young man and his family. I would like to request prayer for my wife who believes Jesus is coming back someday (but , of course, not now). She wants to retire in 15 0r 20 years, and doesn't care to pay any attention to the obvious signs all around us. I have tried to show her all the news about Israel(according to Jeremiah, Jerusalem would become a burdensome stone- Has it not?),earthquakes in diverse places(look at central america and india), famine, diseases (that we thought were long gone have come back), violence and homosexuality are at unprecedented levels now, and we continue to murder unborn children(even though Jesus said,"Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.) I am willing to be thought a fool by some, if it means helping to bring those who were chosen from the foundation of the world into Christ. I,too, believe we must confess our sins and attempt to live a life of holiness. Paul called it "running the race". You can't run the race unless you're on the track(the way). Jesus said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. John 14:6. So many people today are living something called "cheap grace".(i.e., I prayed the sinners' prayer so I'm saved) But, instead of letting God have a true effect in their lives, they, like dogs, return to the vomit and, like pigs, return to the mud. Your faith in Christ must be followed by works(attempting to live a holy life- I REPEAT- ATTEMPTING) We are not called to be perfect, but we do have to try. Please take a moment and take God at his word. He loves you and wants you to come with Him to Heaven.

And to you who are asleep, WAKE UP, PEOPLE!! "THESE THINGS"(MATT. 24) ARE BEGINNING TO HAPPEN AND OUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR!! HALLELUJAH!!

My reply

Thanks for sharing this with me, and for all your nice words. As for disagreeing on some things, I don't think any two people in this world at this time would ever see everything the same. The Bible is too deep and we are all too human. I'm not perfect. I just try hard to keep learning as much as I can and correct my mistakes as I go.

I prayed for your wife. I hope this is the year of the Rapture. With what I know now, I can't see how it can be otherwise. It is an exciting time in which to live. The covenant may be signed before it is confirmed too. That could be a good sign if it came 7 days before the Rapture. If that happened, more might heed it as a wake-up call.

I have a feeling that more goes on in secret meetings than we are told too. There is an undertow that is sweeping things on to a climax. It is a good thing that God has it all in his control. The prophecies will come true right down to the jot and tittle.

In Pastor Riley's latest newsletter, he said, "Then came the Camp David talks between Barak, Arafat, and Clinton. Many of our readers are not yet aware that Barak offered Arafat ninety-five percent of the West Bank and partial sovereignty over Jerusalem in return for a guaranteed "peace" for Israel. But what happened?

"Arafat, just as God's Word prophesied long ago, had "the prize" right in his teeth. All he had to do was accept Barak's offer and the Palestinians would have had a unified base on the West Bank and a presence in Jerusalem, from which they could have invaded Israel and seized Jerusalem. But did he? No! The poor, ignorant, hate filled man refused Barak's offer. He had the "blood" of Israel right between his teeth, and lost it all because of his stupidity, greed, and hatred for the Jews. Zechariah 9:5-7. Instead, he ordered another Palestinian uprising against Israel. Now "his people" have nothing but fighting, bloodshed, poverty, and death." Agape

Incoming email

Subject: Fwd: The Bible and How Unique

Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? (Answer = Psalms 118)
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? (Answer = Psalms 117)
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? (Answer = Psalms 119)
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118.
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
Add these numbers up and you get 1188

What is the center verse in the Bible? (Answer = Psalms 118:8) Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!

Psalms 118:8 (KJV) "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."

Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was it God)?

My reply

Thanks. Makes you wonder if chapters and verses were pre-planned after all. Agape

Interesting article

http://www.cosmiverse.com/science01170103.html
1-17-01 - Scientists Challenge Theory of Evolution

DNA from remains found in 1974 at Lake Mungo in the state of New South Wales were recently studied by researchers at Australian National University (ANU), who found that the results of the testing challenge the theory that humans evolved from African ancestors alone.

"Mungo Man's" skeletal remains were dated in 199 (siq) and discovered to be between 56,000 and 68,000 years old. Alan Thorne, an anthropologist at ANU, said that neither the wholly modern skeleton nor its DNA could be linked to human ancestors from Africa found in other parts of the world.

"Neither of them [the skeleton or DNA] show any evidence that they ever were in Africa," Thorne told Reuters. "There's modern humans in Australia that have nothing to do with Africa at all."

The findings were published in The Australian newspaper on Monday. Now, the "out of Africa" theory of evolution is being challenged. That theory states that modern humans evolved from a common homo erectus ancestor in Africa. It is now in dispute because Mungo Man comes from a vanished genetic line, even though his skeleton is completely modern....

Before this, the oldest human DNA tested came from Neanderthal remains -- a 45,000-year-old specimen in western Germany and 28,000-year-old remains from Croatia. Although the genetic footprint was different, ANU evolutionary geneticist Simon Easteal said Mungo Man would have looked very much like modern humans. "This individual has facial features, has morphology that is essentially modern, that wouldn't stand out in a crowd today," Easteal told Reuters. "If he was part of a wave of modern people that had come out of Africa and spread, eventually reaching Australia, then his mitochondrial DNA would reflect that," he said.