As Pastor, one of the LORD's watchman upon the wall, it behooves me to sound the alarm, warning of various perils that lay in wait against the people of God. What is especially troubling is how many misguided believers are vulnerable to the predators. Prophecy (profit-cy) pundits merchandise their brand of sensationalism. Sensationalism sells while Scriptural exegesis stalls.

In the December 1997 edition Newswatch Magazine put out by David J. Smith, the question was raised asking "What does it mean to `seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?'" Answering his own query Smith writes: "First, you must know WHAT the Kingdom of God is before you can seek it with REAL heartfelt enthusiasm and without being "sidetracked." True! Pray tell, how would one know the Kingdom of God? According to Jesus as He informed the religious ruler, Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). One of Christ's first disciples years later explained how such a process is achieved when he wrote, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Pet 1:23 KJV).

A major flaw in Smith's answer was that he said one had to first define the kingdom before seeking it. Whereas Jesus insists that one must first be born again before being permitted to see it (understand it); Peter explained the means by which such an experience is realized.

As we examine the sequential order it goes as follows: The Word is preached (Eph 1:13; Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 1:21) and life is granted by God unto those for whom Christ died to save. In time these repent and are recovered from the snare of the Devil (2 Tim 2:25-26) as they receive Christ (John 1:12-13) and call upon HIS name (Rom 10:13). It is these who have been saved that are now enabled to seek. What Jesus is teaching is that as a child of God our needs are meet as we submit ourselves unto the righteous standards of HIS kingdom. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Mat 6:33 KJV) It must be remembered that dead people (our natural estate before being salvation- Eph 2:1-2)) are incapable of seeking good or bad. Thus, one seeking must have first experienced the new birth of which Jesus plainly indicated was prerequisite to seeing the kingdom of God.

The next mistake of Mr. Smith is assuming that the world belongs to Satan's realm. Jesus did not make any such thing clear, as Smith assets. What Jesus did plainly say is that Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). It was Satan that laid claim to God's creation and offered that which truly belonged unto Jesus on the terms: if He would have bowed and worshipped. Hucksters are notorious for such schemes.

Scripture lucidly teaches in both Testaments that the created realm belongs unto the LORD. "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psa 24:1 KJV) This fact had already been established by Moses hundreds of years earlier. (Exo 9:29 KJV) "And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's." Paul likewise grasped the reality of this concept as is evidenced when he twice wrote, in 1 Cor 10:26, 28 stating: "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. {28} But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:"

Question, dear readers: Whom will you believe, man or God? Rather than waiting as Smith and those of his ilk claim, Jesus is reigning even now as victorious LORD. Jesus is King of the saints (Rev 15:3). "Jesus would wait to become ruler UNTIL God the Father would crown Him and send Him to this earth to overthrow ALL existing governments under the world dictator and the false prophet (Dan. 7:18, 22, 27; Rev. 19:11-21)." The above words are from the same old dispensational delusion. Scripture demonstrates that Christ has already been crowned; Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father already. We could not agree with Smith when he wrote: "The only conclusion we can come to is: we are currently living in an alien territory WAITING PATIENTLY for the Kingdom of God to be established!" According to Jesus the kingdom was established at that moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit had Paul elaborate saying that the kingdom of God is Righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17). Our current plight and state of affairs (How multiple they have become in America) is due in part to the ignorance of God's people, so saith two of God's prophets (Neither of which were profits for hire). "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst" (Isa 5:13 KJV). (Hosea 4:6 KJV) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

Henry Morris has an astute comment on Hosea 4:6: "When people lack the knowledge of God, it is because they have rejected the knowledge already received, which could have led them to God. "Unto you that hear shall more be given" (Mark 4:24)."

Americans have rejected the former knowledge which their Pastors had distilled. Thus our current condition. In addition to erring regarding Scriptural applications, Mr. Smith makes the mistake of confusing "The United Sates" with America. They are not the same entities. This err combined with the above causes Smith to foolish say, "Today, under Satan's rule, there is NO honesty in the courts because Satan's agents [Masons] sit as judges. People in America, especially in what is called the patriotic movement, keep defending themselves by using the organic Constitution of the United States and end up in jail! Why? Satan's agents infiltrate in secret into judgeships and Supreme Court Justices and INTERPRET the Constitution to meet the purposes of the Illuminati to change our Republican form of Government, which is the SAME law for everyone, into a democracy. Democracies always turn into dictatorships within 50 years of being established. CHRISTIANS WILL RECEIVE NO JUSTICE IN THE COURTS OF SATANISM! This is why it is futile to waste your precious time on trying to "beat" the system."

Was it a futile waste of time, Mr. Smith, for Peter, John, Paul and others trying to "beat the system" of their day that forbade them not to teach or preacher in the authority of Jesus name? That is defeatism.

It is true, in America our current government in this hour is filled with that of "Masons who take `blood oaths' to follow the instructions of their superiors." They are in key positions primarily because God's people bought into a lie of eschatology. The withdrawal of God's people from influential roles have opened the flood gates of rebellion, much like the ancient people of God experienced Rather than earnestly contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints as Jude admonished, far too many believers today have been misguided into believing similar nonsense such as Smith advocates. The devil is a defeated foe; he is not in charge of anything, without the express permission of Almighty God (Job 1 chapters 1-5 show). Herein is why Paul said, and give not place unto the Devil (Eph 4:27). The saints possess the kingdom now. Our duty is to take the terms of God's peace agreement unto the far reaches of the world. (Matt 28:18-20). Paul understood what most sensationalist refuse to acknowledge and that is we are God's ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20). Our duty is to occupy, not retreat, till Jesus returns (Luke 19:13). Although Smith, like so many of dulusional dispensationalist employs the buzz words repeated by Biblically illiterate believers such as the "New World Order, Masons and the "Illuminati," he discourages a righteous stand, because of the assumption that all is lost to Satan. Why then was James writing to those of his day: (James 4:7 KJV) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Peter qualifies our resistance by saying, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: {9} Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9 KJV). Our current set of problems are a manifestation of the collective compromise of the saints. As Jesus said men do err in not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God Smith raises an interesting question, "How can righteousness be installed all over the world unless we who are dedicated to seeking "His righteousness" are actively developing those character traits ourselves?"

The Biblical answer is when a righteous people gain a proper perspective of the overall victory of Jesus, this would keep saints from succumbing to the depth of despair. Satan is too frequently elevated by men like Mr. Smith. Americans are dumbed down not because of Satan, but because of lazy, superstitious believers that have swallowed the idle warmed-over regurgitated material displayed in these words: "They (the New Ager's) believe the year 1998 (666 x 3) to be the year that the "Masters of Wisdom" [high ranking demons] will hear their cries and start rushing the preparation for their counterfeit world government by the year 2000 (their date, not mine)." What poppy cot!!

Mr. Smith says, "We must live by the Ten Commandments that makes us a true follower of Jesus THE Christ of Almighty God. We are to be living God's righteousness today, so we can help administer God's righteousness to the world when His Kingdom is established." These words seem a bit confusing. It appears that he is advocating the keeping of the law for salvation. Rather we must be born again and the righteousness of God which is imputed unto the believer will be exhibited God's saints as they keep God's commandments (1John 5:3-4). As the redeemed of the LORD we will by faith establish the Law (Rom 3:31).

Dear folks, rather than spending our precious time speculating concerning times and seasons well outside the scope of any man's knowledge, let us redeem the time for the days are evil." (Eph 5:16).

Pastor Brown welcomes each of your questions.

(765) 522-1308 or preacher@link2000.net