Whenever I hear somebody speaking in the name of God (regardless of whichever god he speaks for), I surely will be meticulously invited, all ears and with gusto, I will listen. This has been my attitude since I got hold of the Bible.
(1 John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
The Bible also pushed me to be investigative of other books used as religious textbooks of each religious group that now exist.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I have traveled upon miles and miles of documents and places; and was forced to have as study of a little bit of science, history, culture, and traditions of great world religions. In all these, there is a paradoxical feeling in me which I do not understand. While I am reading a particular religious book, which I wanted to digest, there is that feeling that bores me and tries to stop me, which I never experienced in reading the Bible. Nevertheless, my search for truth and justice obliges me to do so.
(Hebrews 10:36, 38 ) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise…
…Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
God is not pleased with anyone who started a good work, and drew back. Wisdom and understanding is promised to somebody who does the pleasure of the Lord.
(Ecclesiastes 2:26) For to the man who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. RSV
From left to right: Brother Eliseo Soriano, with the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, when the latter visited one of the Thanksgiving ceremony of the Members of the Church of God, International or MCGI (which is presided by Bro. Eli) on Apalit, Pampanga to talk to its hundreds of thousand members. Beside GMA is MCGI’s Vice-Presiding Minister and host of the newest and most talked about morning show “Good Morning Kuya”, Brother Daniel Razon. Beside him is Presidential Advicer for Religious Affairs, Mr. Dodi Limcauco.
Brother Eliseo Soriano shaking hands with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. On the middle is former President of the Republic of the Philippines, Joseph Ejercito Estrada. This photo was taken when the two politician visited Brother Eli to ask for its support of the then upcoming elections.
As I go, along the way, I have met almost all kinds of people — believers and non-believers. I have felt the love and compassion of Godly people, and the hatred of the unbelieving. I was stoned so many times. I was beaten by five goons after a public debate. I was held in prison for ten hours for a charge I am totally innocent of (God is my witness). I escape a group of mobs traveling at the speed of 180 km/hr to save my comrades and myself of their cruelty. I was reminded of the fate of the Apostle Paul.
(2 Corinthians 11:25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep…
In my preaching sessions, I was privileged to meet the rich, the educated, the poor, and the illiterate, and even the sick (mentally and physically).
(1 Corinthians 9:20-22) And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Some ask for prayers and many for healing; but I am not like Benny Hinn, Jimmy Swaggart, Morris Cerullo, Jim Bakker, and the like, that promise healing, but choose the kind of people they are going to heal. I oftentimes advice the sick to pray turn to spiritual and natural (fasting and nutritional healing) method; and to use homeopathic and alternative therapies, even, sometimes, urine therapy. I seldom recommend them to see conventional doctors using conventional medicine.
In all these experiences, I noticed something, everywhere I go, in most of those I have listened to, with most books I have read, and I must tell you frankly and honestly, fraud and deceit is almost everywhere, and with most everybody, preachers, priests, ministers, lawyers, judges, magistrates, and even medical doctors. This is what I have discovered from the truth in the Bible.
(Revelation 12:9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(Job 9:24) The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
These times we live in is described in the Bible as the end times.
(Daniel 12:4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Never in the history of mankind did man see the increase of knowledge in technology and science that we are witnessing now. We are sure from the reality that we see that we are living in the end times. A collateral prophecy is unfolding before our very eyes.
(Daniel 12:9-10) And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Wickedness will surely abound at the end times, and will grow worse!
(2 Timothy 3:13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Imagine, a deceiver being deceived! The prophecy is concise. The word of God tells us the truth. It will reveal to us the camouflaged lies deceit and fraud in this particular epoch of human history.
My curious readers may ask me: Fraud? Deceit? Even with medical doctors and judges?
These men are educated men. Men of wisdom and knowledge. Must their wisdom be doubted?
(1 Corinthians 2:6-8 ) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The Bible tells us so!
Deceit and fraud is not a thing of make believe among lawyers, but judges and magistrates?
I invite you to travel with me in time with all the people I met and with all the books I have read on my next article and decide for yourself if my conclusion is true.
In Christ,
EFS
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