As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to circulate around the world, it becomes increasingly clear it poses a threat to more than just global health.
Governments everywhere, even here in New Zealand are using the crisis to expand their power and trample individual liberty.
As 2021 draws to an end, governments are increasingly dividing the world into two camps – the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.
We are seeing that situation happening here as our political parties regardless of colour look to divide this nation into the haves and have nots.
Throughout the world, society is singling out the unvaccinated for punishment.
Those refusing the COVID vaccines face potential loss of jobs, healthcare, freedom of movement, and liberty in general.
Those who support vaccine mandates and vaccine passports want to ostracize the unvaccinated from society.
We see in NZ where the government is applying pressure to force the unvaccinated into compliance.
Does any of this sound eerily familiar? It should.
The Book of Revelation describes a similar system whereby the people of the world are forced to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead.
Refusing to comply means you will be unable to buy or sell. You’ll effectively be cut off from society.
The answer to the question is no
COVID vaccines are not the mark of the beast written about in the Book of Revelation.
The scriptures make it clear, accepting the mark of the beast involves a conscious decision to give one’s allegiance to the Antichrist. No one will accept it by mistake.
Nevertheless, vaccine mandates and passports create a social system enabling the mark of the beast to happen.
While I don’t believe the current COVID vaccines are the actual mark of the beast, vaccine mandates and vaccine passports impose a social system identical to the one imposed by the mark of the beast.
How? By blacklisting from society anyone who refuses to accept the vaccine.
In pushing vaccine mandates and passports, the world is paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist and the implementation of the mark of the beast.
Whether or not you accept a COVID vaccine is a personal choice.
Feel free to take it or not take.
That’s up to you. I support your choice either way.
But if you support coercive vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, you’re complicit in establishing the infrastructure and the precedent for the mark of the beast system.
To be clear – the current COVID vaccines are NOT the mark of the beast.
If you’re vaccinated, there’s nothing wrong with that.
If you’re unvaccinated, there’s nothing wrong with that either.
Whether or not you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated does nothing to establish the mark of the beast system.
However, vaccine mandates and vaccine passports do.
They create the very foundation for the mark of the beast system.
Every Christian should oppose vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, because supporting them is the same as supporting the mark of the beast system.
In practice, they’re one and the same.
If you accept the idea the government has the rightful power to inject a substance into someone against their will (or pressure them to submit), then government power has no limit.
Unfortunately, far too many people believe the government does hold this power.
And their belief enables the mark of the beast system, creating a world ripe for the rise of the Antichrist.
Someone says something about you which isn’t true, would you go to war over it.
In the book of Joshua there’s a story about how after they inherited the promised land some of the twelve tribes of Israel started sharpening their swords to go fight with one another.
In the account found in Joshua chapter 22 we see the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, leave to cross the Jordan river to the territories given as their allotted home.
The Jordan River was the only thing which divided these tribes until it was crossed.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh felt distanced from their brothers and raised concerns about whether future generations wouldn’t see themselves as a part of the other tribal families.
They built a gigantic alter to praise God for what he had given them.
But here’s the problem, they built it on their side of the Jordan against the land of Canaan
Word got back to the remaining tribes about this alter as well as reports they had turned their backs on God.
Based on second-hand information or hear say the tribes took offence.
Now these guys were basically all from the same family and yet they were ready to go to war over what was a misunderstanding.
How often have you been like this?
How often have you heard something that has motivated going to war with another person?
In today’s challenging times, we are constantly bombarded with information which could be construed as dodgy at the best of times.
Regardless of where our news is sourced from Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24 to watch out that no one deceives you is so true today.
Daily, many times whether it’s at home, at work, on TV via social media we hear every man’s opinion which they believe to be correct.
Sometimes we hear news which maybe second hand, whispers, hear say about others, family members, friends or even our brothers and sisters in God.
What happens when you hear this news =You believe and may start to repeat and even make accusations based on that snippet of news.
You see no one had enquired of the tribes as to why they built the alter.
Based on just hearsay, second-hand information they were ready to go to war.
Isn’t this how some families act today.
So, this is important for us.
This is a common problem that happens among people.
You listen to hear say, you don’t get all the facts.
Like the Israelites -You jump to conclusions. You start making accusations.
That’s not the way Christian should behave.
But unfortunately, somebody said somebody said somebody, look don’t give place to hear say.
The swords of the Israelites may have been sharpened and ready for use, but discernment came to the fore.
The Israelites from the remaining tribes were sent out to enquire about the intent of the alter,
The Reubenites consented to hear the enquiry from the remaining tribes of Israel- even though it was more accusation than enquiry.
What’s this about? We serve the same true and living God that even though the river divides you and from us, there’s no division in terms of the same God that we serve. That’s what the altar is all about
Only then did they satisfy the reasons the alter was built as a reminder to future generations of its ties to God and their brothers across the river.
When We stop fighting the common enemy and start fighting ourselves our real enemy loves it.
A river was all that was between these two and a half tribes and their inheritance.
But Satan wants to drive more than a river between us and our physical and spiritual families.
I encourage you not to go to war with your family or friends
Allow no room for hearsay, Do not act on what you do not know.
Get the facts with communication, learn from the Reubenites let others speak, to explain themselves and correct at the time where others are wrong.
Throughout this time of uncertainty, we have seen many restrictions placed on the population of New Zealand.
One, that has affected the Christian community has been the restrictions on the size of people gathering.
While Churches have been compliant and have gone along with this restriction, they have found other ways of reaching their congregations via live streaming of services which have been successful for some, others not.
As we look towards the end of lockdowns, we are hearing of the introduction of a vaccine passport which essentially creates a two-tier situation for the haves and have nots.
I think it would be fair to say that most Christians are watching this development very closely, asking themselves: Is this the mark of the Beast”.
It’s a question I am not prepared to answer at this stage, but suggest you use your own discernment based on your own knowledge and interpretation of the scriptures.
But the vaccine passport is … well to call it inconvenient is perhaps a bit light.
To say that I cannot join my vaccinated friends for a coffee is a travesty or to be seated in a section marked for the unvaccinated is abhorrent to the leper that I am.
Coffee aside, how might this impact potentially on the church.?
Looking at the way separation is being mooted in government circles this would be impossible from a theological perspective.
This is something that would be unacceptable from the perspective of the Church, and indeed it would be a contradiction of the message of the Gospel.
The thought that someone would be barred from coming to church to hear the gospel is abhorrent.
I hope and pray that no church in New Zealand would do it.
You know our churches are full of the vulnerable and the weird, the wacky that’s who Jesus attracts, isn’t it?
We have people who are very vulnerable within our congregations.
It would be difficult and, to just think that we would demand proof that they’ve been vaccinated is outrageous.
Look at the very nature of the message of Christianity.
It is for the outcasts. It is it is for the vulnerable.
It is for all, and so yes, it’s utter madness if churches are asked to bar people who are unvaccinated.
I would hope no church worth its salt would even countenance such a thing.
I have seen reports of churches in places in the US with sections for the vaccinated and unvaccinated
It’s so shocking that that’s such a thing could even be.
Let’s get back to some sort of sense of proportion for Covid 19 disease, which we know now has a fatality rate in the range of influenza, which has always been with us and will always be with us.
To have the state say who you can and cannot have in your church is wrong on every level.
There are all sorts of serious theological issues here as well, aren’t there?
Just to name one, which is just very, obvious, is that Jesus Christ himself.
Part of the reason he was so scandalous to people is because of his relationship.
Examples in the Gospel of Jesus laying his hands on people with leprosy and healing them, making them clean as it were, and Matthew Chapter 8 for example, Jesus comes down from the mountain side with large crowds following him and a man with leprosy came and knelt before him.
He asked Lord are you willing to make me clean
Jesus reached out, his hands touched the man saying, I’m willing, be clean.
It seems to me to be highly problematic, to say that the Christian Church as followers of Christ, we should theoretically even ban people who are potentially infectious.
It would be a denial in many ways of the very heart of God, as it’s revealed to us in the incarnation, and then another message, the central message of the gospel, which is the gospel is for everyone.
It’s not just for people who have been vaccinated. It’s not for people who are safe, but it’s for absolutely all.
To deny people access, to turn them away, it surely must be absolutely unthinkable.
I would be very uncomfortable in the future where certain churches may require people, to prove that they’ve had a negative test.
It would be wrong to put a barrier up for those seeking Christ.
It should be the church and not the state to decide who should be welcome into Gods House.
To any pastor, priest, minister, Church elder.
When the time comes, I urge you to stand firm, to speak out and to proclaim the true gospel is for everyone, not just some.
The news of the death of The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has become a time for reflection of the halcyon days of Rock n Roll.
Charlie Watts is revered as one of the great drummers of his time. and immortalised alongside other greats such as Ginger Baker.
Watts, the quieter member of the Rolling Stones unlike Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, and Keith Richards.
Despite their longevity playing in the same group, it was common knowledge that both Jagger and Watts didn’t get along with each other, and rather than party Watts would often go to bed.
The story goes where Jagger, hosting his daily wild after party in his hotel room, rang Watts, waking him.
“Where’s my drummer” demanded Jagger.
Out of bed and dressed Watts went up to the party, found Jagger and punched him in the face.
“Let’s get this straight,” said Watts,
“I’m not your drummer, you are my singer.”
It’s easy to remember back to the good times when the Stones alongside other great British bands dominated the music scene.
Drummers like Watts understandably believe their role in the band is understated.
After all, it is the drummer who provides “the beat” of the band for everyone to follow.
I couldn’t help reflecting about today’s music where it sounds like a competition where each member attempts to outdo one another.
The sound is just “noise” where one either switches off or covers the ears hoping it goes away.
The messaging about Coronavirus is a bit like this today.
Today there’s a new breed of drummer called the PR companies who pound out the information on both sides of the debate regarding the vaccine.
Daily, social media inboxes are flooded with well-meaning people trying to persuade us of both sides of their argument regarding the vaccine.
Only time will determine which side is right.
As the drums get louder, we must ask whose beat is it we are following?
At some time in history the world may have moved to the beat of Charlie Watts drum.
This world now moves to the beat of a new drummer whose timing is precise and tempo infectious.
Christians, need to ignore “the noise” and focus on “the beat” providing the rhythm inside of us.
Our hearts should be beating in tune with our beliefs, our faith, our God.
In today’s climate I am urging all Christians to remember the old saying “a rolling stone gathers no moss”.
This new Charlie Watts who is beating his drum has been around a long time.
Like the forgetful Jagger, we all are members of society, we all have a role in making this world harmonious.
Each of us has a different part to play , we can’t all be a Jagger, a Richards, a Wyman, or a Charlie Watts
But we do have a part, but be mindful about whose beat you’re dancing to.
So beat out the sound, let it beat for our saviour, let it beat, for our king, let it beat for the chosen one, Jesus Christ.
Author Dr Rev Stuart Lange, National Director NZ Christian Network,
In the early church, great numbers of Christian believers were persecuted or killed by the Roman State, which demanded on pain of death that everyone worship the emperors and the pagan gods.
In medieval times, Catholic authorities were involved in burning heretics (and later some Protestants) at the stake.
In modern times, Christians in many parts of the world are subject to discrimination, violence, and bloodshed, as are members of some other faiths.
By comparison, Christians in New Zealand lead a much easier life.
We need to be aware, however, that any poorly-written legislation in the areas of ‘hate speech’ and ‘anti-conversion therapy’ could pose significant risks to the freedoms of religion and expression for Christians, and also for people of other faiths.
But we can acknowledge there is a case for changes to legislation that would deal more effectively with extreme and deliberate incitements to hatred and violence.
Author Mike Bain: Christian Voice New Zealand August 5 2021
There has been so much printed and spoken about its removal of free speech, liberty, and rights.
Everyone agrees the Government’s proposed new hate speech laws are a mess.
The consultation document and explanations by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her ministers proves what New Zealanders have been saying since the law was first proposed – the Government cannot define what hate speech is.
The key for this debate comes down to tolerance.
What is tolerated and who is tolerated.
What I say today in a Christian setting may not be termed as hate speech.
But if I were to repeat it “elsewhere” to a “different” audience it may be seen as such.
National leader Judith Collins has it right when she say’s “New Zealanders are having to second guess everything they say.”
With any new law I like to look at the starting place.
Let’s go back to the intent of the law.
Prime Minister Ardern seized on an opportunity following the Christchurch Mosque attacks resulting in deaths of 51 people.
Her intentions at the time I believe, were honourable.
Albert Einstein said, “in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.
And the opportunity has been seized from the left to take away control of how we think and speak.
We must be allowed and tolerate differing opinions and debate them.
Tolerance is the key word here, tolerance about different people, ideas, and race.
In his book “Why the rest hates the West,” Meic Perse shows this new tolerance we have today, will have an adverse effect on society.
“The currency of the term “tolerance” has recently become badly debased,” he said.
“It used to mean the respecting of real hard differences.
Now it has become come to mean instead the dogmatic abdication of truth, claims and a moralistic adherence to moral relativism.
Departure from either is stigmatized as intolerance.
Where the old tolerance allowed hard differences on religion and morality to rub shoulders and compete freely in the public square.
The new variety wishes to lock them all indoors as matter of private judgment.
The public square must be given over to ambiguity.” The issues with the proposed legislation noted by many comes with significant risks for the freedom of our society, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights: notably items 13/14 referenced below.
13 Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, including the right to adopt and to hold opinions without interference.
“14 Freedom of expression: Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.”
Regardless of the intent, the outcome of any proposed legislation to shut down free speech should be vigorously opposed.
For many church goers their approach to communion is respectful but in a ritualistic way.
I am encouraging an approach to the act of communion with a different mindset.
In the gospels we read how Jesus broke bread, passing it around his disciples saying, “this is my body.”
Then came the cup of wine with Jesus saying, “this is my blood.”
Familiar words for many but not entirely understood.
You see if we finish Jesus’ sentence, we hear of a new covenant or promise made for you and I.
The sign of the new covenant was the shedding of Christ blood on the cross to purchase us from sin.
Right here, God made an unconditional, unilateral promise that if you accept JC and believe his sacrifice on the cross and his shed blood, it is sufficient for you to pay for your sins, and accomplish what you cannot do yourself, – you shall be saved, – that is Gods unconditional unilateral promise.
Many covenants made by God were made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Jesus.
This last supper covenant is significant in that it was the last covenant made in the Bible.
Yeah, okay you say why is our approach to communion different after all we believe in the death of Christ where he gave his body and shed his blood.
Well, here is the thing.
When God makes a promise- he never breaks it.
He seals it, his signature is his oath, and a covenant also involves the shedding of blood as a signature of that oath God makes.
So next time you approach communion do not be down hearted for the death of Jesus.
But rejoice for what the death of Jesus really provides for us.
Recent events has seen Governments asking us to stay at home and give up most of our rights of freedom
The freedom to work, to visit family, to communally grieve, participate and engage in school, sport, and worship.
We willingly accepted this as being the thing to do to stop Covid-19
Some people described isolation just as that.
Many people loved the idea while others lost confidence and were even too scared to venture outside
Others described the experience like being on Home Detention, a prisoner in one’s home and others described it as house arrest.
After four weeks you could possibly get the idea why Wikileaks author Edwin Snowden gave himself up.
It is true what the Genesis it was not good for man to be alone.
Moving on tonight I want to talk about how New Zealand has been in captivity for quite some time.
In order to do so I want to give you some context why I say we have been in lockdown and deprived for more than a decade or two.
Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, the third world power forces of Babylon invaded the city of Jerusalem and took all its inhabitants’ captive.
Instead of being imprisoned in their own homes the Israelites were taken to the city of Babylon and held captive for 70 years.
While the Israelite nation worshipped the God of Moses, Abraham and Joshua The Babylonians did not.
There is an old saying when in Rome do as the romans do.
To a point this is exactly what the Babylonian captors expected from their captives.
They were encouraged to willingly forget the God who led them to the promised land and if that did not work, intimidation and force was used.
Babylon was described as the most beautiful place on the earth.
It was a place where social freedoms were allowed.
But because of mans inherited ways they gradually started to accept the ways of the Babylonians
Interesting word gradually, Best way I could describe it is a s a river in rain, gradually you see it rise, gradually you see it top its banks and from your viewpoint your safe on the hill.
As the rain continues, each day you see the water gradually get closer and you don’t believe you are in any danger and eventually you are submerged in water.
Because of the gradual change you accept and adapt to the way it is and live your life accordingly.
This is what happened to some of the Israelites they saw on a daily basis how the Babylonians lived, how they worshiped their many Gods and before long their children were married to the captives children, but they didn’t stop there.
Looking over the fence they saw the Babylonians and how they lived and accepted their ways.
Can you see where this is all going?
I will come back to the Israelites later.
Let’s look at how we, in New Zealand have fared.
We haven’t ever been invaded by a foreign power, or have we?
I pose the question because while we have not had a foreign army cross our borders other countries have had a huge influence in our culture.
Recently their was debate about new immigrants to New Zealand should embrace what New Zealand is, its values and its ways.
I asked why they should and asked several people to describe what a New Zealander is and describe its values etc.
New Zealand’s borders have always been open as the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman discovered the country, the Maori settled here from their pacific island, and then English man James Cook arrived and claimed the land for England.
The English arrived, wars were fought and eventually the basis of nation was agreed upon with the Treaty of Waitangi.
With the signing of the treaty Maori acknowledged in exchange for a peaceful relationship ceded the land to the Crown of Queen Victoria.
This allowed settlement which I acknowledge was not without its issues for English settlers to arrive and for the founding of the Christian religion to be the basis for the nation.
The Westminster system of governance which was based on the Mosaic law was agreed.
As I said the borders of New Zealand have never been under threat from another sovereign nation, but we have allowed outside influences to become a part of our country which was founded upon Christianity to be eroded.
Britain and the Commonwealth held sway over the way New Zealanders lived and then Hollywood, and the devil’s music Rock N Roll made their presence felt.
Suddenly parents were shaking their heads wondering what happened overnight.
Their Children were dressing differently, music had suddenly become different and young people were demanding a new freedom with the onset of the contraceptive pill.
Then in the 70’s women were being emancipated.
Rape, brutal sex, pedophilia, bestialities, murder, are all part of our entertainment.
But it wasn’t just their bra they wanted rid of, it was the results of their sexual activity and New Zealanders started to hear about abortion.
Men too were looking for freedoms, some wanted to come out of the closet.
By the turn of the century New Zealand was a different place to what it was at its beginning.
After the turn of the century the influences of everybody’s world were held in our hands as we had so much information we could access on our phones and computers.
The influencers for gay, lesbian lifestyles made their voices known, the differing ideologies started to be heard louder with the uprising of Islam.
By the time 2020 arrived, the population of New Zealand now sits just under 5 million, we were a prosperous nation.
Contextual morality had arrived, if we did not like the law, we changed it.
Now prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, Euthanasia of the elderly are allowed.
Rape, brutal sex, pedophilia, bestialities, murder, are all part of our entertainment.
Yet the world as we know it today craves for more.
Is it any wonder people are pushing for the legalised use of “recreational cannabis” or using suicide to opt out of society may soon be legalised?
Today, ask yourself, is New Zealand the Christian nation they had hoped it would become.
Instead of the God of the Bible has been replaced by the same gods they worshipped in Babylon.
Like Babylon where a remnant remained they lamented for a return to Jerusalem.
Among them was a young man named Daniel
Daniels story of how he refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue is well known.
What about your story, who is it you bow to today?
Is it the same God who created the earth?
The same God who made a covenant with Abraham
The same God who freed the nation of Israel from Egypt
The Same God who willingly gave his own son to be crucified?
Or have you been taken captive by another god.
The one the Bible refers to as “an angel of light,” “A roaring lion seeking to devour someone.”
What is your lifestyle like?
Are you a true believer?
Are you true to the God you profess with your lips
Would you say you are walking on a narrow path or a broad road?
Think about it.
Over the last 24 hours, have you prayed to God, thanked him, asked for forgiveness, prayed for his kingdom and the list goes on?
How has your day been driving in the car, your coffee time with friends or workmates, has it been to build someone up or has it been idle chit chat about Netflix or a joke, your boss, your husband, family, in laws.
What about the entertainment you use to escape, the song, the television, the movie, the book, the podcast, the conversation at home with family, the preparation into the meal, the family life.
Is it all for the glory of God?
What about our attitudes to things like homosexuality, transgender people, is it tolerable if they leave me alone? Is that your attitude.
Or we should not condemn them, we need to be tolerant.
Their must be a lot of people born the wrong way if you ask me.
What about same sex marriage?
I have spoken with church elders who have struggled with the question of a family member or friend who is gay wanting to stay with their partner and share the bed.
You see the list goes on and we need to examine ourselves daily.
The question is, do we understand what it is to be a follower of Jesus?
If we were to follow the example, he set for us, we would condemn these practices, the Bible calls abhorrent and sinful.
We must condemn them in our minds and speak out loud the truth so others can hear and follow your example.
My friends it is hard to live the life of a Christian, each one of us are being held captive by the culture of the world.
Remember the rejoicing of the nation of Israel when they returned to Jerusalem.
But bear in mind Jesus words Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
