Ben Stein: "Arab Spring" is a Fraud
Now, I am going to tell you the truth about the so-called "Arab Spring," and about the Middle East generally right now.
First, the "Arab Spring" as a force for democracy, human rights and peace in Egypt seems to me to be a fraud.
The dictator and his entourage who were kicked out in Egypt were pro-West, a bit restrained on Israel, open to free enterprise, and resistant to Iranian-sponsored terror.
Egypt is now rapidly becoming anti-Israel, pro-Iran, pro the Iranian-sponsored terrorist group Hamas, and very far from being pro-human rights. They are arresting businessmen right and left in Egypt just for the crime of being successful. They have arrested Mubarak's sons, and have said they plan to try Mubarak.
And as mentioned before, the driving force behind this is the Muslim Brotherhood - the same group that the MSM is desperately attempting to portray as "moderate".
The most potent of the political forces in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, hates the United States, loathes Israel, condemns the killing of bin Laden (whom they praised as a martyr), and have been wedded to terror for their entire existence.
They will probably take over Egypt completely sooner or later.
As the terrorist government of Syria cracks down on its own people, the U.N. Security Council does exactly nothing about it.
Has anyone noticed that the common denominator of all the successful Arab street movements is that they are sympathetic to Iran? When the dust settles, Iran is going to own the Middle East - except for maybe Saudi Arabia, if we have the guts to help them (which I very much doubt).
At this point Mr Stein gets to the bottom line:
There is a gigantic regional coup by Iran taking place. We are doing very little, if anything, to stop it.
We are going to regret helping the Egyptians kick out Mubarak as much as we regret helping Khomeini force out the Shah.
You can call it "Arab Spring" if you want. But with Iran now the regional superpower, it is a lot more like an extremely bleak Mideast winter.
Exactly as expected. Iran is leading the charge in the Middle East - setting the stage for their ultimate quest: The destruction of Israel.
Well I think you could ask anybody from this site, they would agree that the democratic movement in the middle east is a fraud. This is what my dad says: Islam takes over a nation by going to x country, increasing the Muslim population and then when their population is large enough, they overthrow the government and make it look like their intentions are pro-human rights when in fact they are just trying to make a Muslim dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteCan somebody help me answer this question? I've got this question from another website: www.lamblion.us
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about it as well and this guy has some good point to think. Here is his question:
"I often ponder if the earth was created free from sin and corruption, as will the new heaven and new earth, what is there that will prevent again the reintroduction of sin even in that perfect environment? Even among the Holy habitation of the Third Heaven, Lucifer chose to rebel and claim a third of the angels in this rebellion.
We have two instances of perfection in heaven and in earth, where the presence of God did abide in both yet then sin entered in and corrupted the holiness of both habitations. Both creations angel and man brought corruption with rebellion in their hearts. Clearly it is possible that this could again occur. Sin was not introduced by Lucifer, it was free will that allowed it to surface. Will free will then be removed during the eternal age? That is doubtful.
Knowing this, it seems that it is not possible that we will never see a true end of sin and the rebellion that follows. The Lord God desires his creation to worship him freely, for his is God, yet whereever this is light, there is sure to be darkness. There is something missing here, sin can not be extinquished as long as free will exists, or to put it more bluntly both creations being angel or man exist having free will. Under this evironment sin will always rear it's ugly head."
"It is not my intention to be blasphemous, only to inquire if there exists the possibility of a repeat of rebellion. It seems that while the Word of God identifies that we will be as the angels in heaven, it was one such angel that chose to rebel and many joined with him. When you read the description of Lucifer, you find that he was perfect, in wisdom and beauty.
The environment we will also experience will be perfect in heaven as it was in the beginning. The question therefore remains, will free will be eliminated in the eternal age? If it is not, the possibility for rebellion remains.
Perhaps it will then be as it was in the Garden, when Adam and Eve was prohibited of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For once the knowledge of what was identified as good was understood, evil was also defined in the form of sin. Perhaps I am as you say a fool, trying to question the sovereignty of God, yet still I believe it is a legitimate question."
Can somebody help me ? Thanks a lot
Good Question... "Will free will then be removed during the eternal age? If it is not, the possibility for rebellion remains."
ReplyDeleteI do believe we will still have free will, but I think we will want more than anything to have an intimate relationship with God. Temptation will be alot less because Satan will be in hell. I think that since we (and the current angels) have accepted Christ in this era, we will still accept Christ in eternity. If we have children in eternity or the millennial kingdom, they might rebel against God. If not, then I don't think that if we are saved now that we will rebel against God because once we feel God's intimate love in eternity, we won't want to rebel.
ReplyDeleteDear James >>>>
ReplyDeleteIt states in the scripture re the
rapture, in 1st Thessalonians 4 and
5, that after this, the church will
forever be with GOD.
I am NOT SURE how, all I can do is
go by scripture, so some how it comes to be....
if this FREE WILL was going to
be an issue in the future, I think
Jesus and his BOSS up there would
know that for the future right ??
And yet, that is NOT what Paul
tells us in the above scripture
Sir.
Please remember that
Stephen in Hawaii !!!!
I think that just as the residents of hell will never have the hope of escape, so also the residents of heaven will not have the desire to leave. Free will is vital in determining one's eternal destination, but I am sure God has a way of preventing a repeat of Satan's and Adam's fall without making us robots.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I cringe when people call God the "boss" of Jesus. Jesus too is God, and the Spirit is God; three Persons but one God. That which is one cannot have hierarchy, so for there to be hierarchy there would have to be three gods of various ranks. Jesus is both human and divine, and it is only in his humanity that he submits to the Father just as we do.
Paula, that topic always comes up when talking to Mormons about the trinity. I try to explain to them physically Jesus was born because He was concieved of the Holy Spirit in Mary. So physically he is the son of God, but in his purest form Jesus IS God.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to make them scratch their heads, tell them that both the Father and the Spirit "overshadowed" Mary. ;0)
ReplyDeleteLink to my article on the Trinity
Hello everyone. It looks like there is more than one James leaving comments here. In order to better identify myself I will sign each post James D.
ReplyDeleteTo the other James who posted above,there are no dumb questions. Scott can answer your question better than I can so I will defer to him on this one. I will say though some of what you are speaking about has to do with the1,000 year reign of Christ and when that comes to an end. Once that is complete Satan is bound forever and we are forever with the Lord.
Hi James~
ReplyDeleteI recently had a teaching on blessings and curses. I am hoping in this breakdown it can add some hope and insight into your question. Bear with me as I am not a scholar. :)
It starts with Genesis 3:18 -25 (New International Version)
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam[a] named his wife Eve, [b] because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side[c] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
The bloodshed on Jesus’ head which was caused by the crown of thorns along with the bashing of the crown, causing greater bloodshed, happened so he could exchange our curses for his blessings.
John 19:1-4 (New International Version)
John 19
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
Matthew 27:27-31 (New International Version)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
So at this point in our teachings we learned that when a blessing lands on someone it falls on their head. The head is the seed of life. The head is the control of life. The enemy has to control our minds in order to control our life.
Curses work the same way. It rest upon our heads and works negatively, thus causing the negative repercussions of our actions.
If we notice in Genesis 3:18-25 the curse was built into that choice of eating from the tree of life. God told Eve not to do it, but notice how the curse fell on the man’s head too. God knew this would not be good for mankind but he allowed them to utilize their free wills. When we disobey we move away from the blessing and take on the built in curses in any given situation.
ReplyDeleteBlessings empower us to succeed and curses empower us to fail. That is why we always have to change our direction in life. There are always built in consequences pertaining to things of life. Many times we cry out to God, “why did you allow that?” when he allowed us to utilize our free will. That is why the bible is so key in our lives. It provides the word to many situations that can keep us from sinning and staying out of trouble.
Darn that free will:) so in this Adam and Even scenario the thorns equal hardships and pressures as well as obstacles throughout life.
When we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. We allowed him to redeem us from all our past sins and to be made righteous unto him. In essence Jesus allowed our curses to fall upon him and free us from the curse forever. Once we are saved we are forever blessed. We must believe to receive it.
Notice Galatians 3:13-14 (New International Version)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[a] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
Acts 13:39, KJV
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."
Romans 3:20-27, KJV
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) . . . That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:17, 21, KJV
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
Romans 7:4, KJV
The Bible describes Heaven in great detail in Revelation chapters 21-22. Nowhere in those chapters is the possibility of sin mentioned. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). The sinful are not in Heaven, but the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Nothing impure will ever enter Heaven (Revelation 21:27). Outside of Heaven are those who sin (Revelation 22:15). So, the answer is no, there will be no sin in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that mean for us? If there is no possibility of sin, does that mean we will no longer have a free will in Heaven? It seems that in Heaven, or ability to choose will be similar to that of the angels. The angels had a one-time choice to obey God or follow Satan. There is no possibility of further angels sinning and joining Satan in his rebellion. The holy angels are "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5:21). Similar, the elect in Heaven will be "sealed" in their decision to forsake sin and trust in Christ. We will not even have the choice to sin. At the same time, having been delivered from sin and evil, and viewing the wonderful glories of Heaven, we would not choose sin even if we had the choice.
***
Revelation 21:4
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:27
27And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22:15
15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I obtained the revelation information above from gotquestions.org. I hope this will help you see the complete picture. Sorry, I didn’t want to over complicate it or minimize it and leave room for more questions. I hope this helps. Scott is always such a great help keeping our daily paper up to date, I thought I would see if this could lend some insight. If I have mis-stated something please feel free to correct me. I am learning each day too!
God Bless!
GG
I believe this is a legitimate question from the heart. And it deserves a well thought out answer with scripture to back it up. (Scott...help!) However, I am either venturing out on a limb here or I have been around long enough to recognize some of Satan's little tricks, like making you waste your time thinking about something that really doesn't matter. God has it figured out already anyway. Besides you can ask Jesus yourself very very soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteI did not mean it in that way....
ReplyDeleteI believe in the Trinity as well.
Yet I ALSO BELIEVE that God the Father is at the top.
I will NOT bandi words about this any further.........
Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
James said...
ReplyDelete"Can somebody help me answer this question? I've got this question from another website..."
Here is his question:
My responses were here:
Rodney said...
"...Therefore "we" can conclude is sin and rebellion remain, then who is clearly ruling...."
Rodney, WE???
No!!! YOU!
YOUR "speculations" have led you into a VERY foolish question, confusion, and greatly diminishes the overall absolute Sovereignty of God's Plan, His Power, "Determinate Counsel", Predestination, Foreordination from "before the foundation of the world", and His Omniscience!!
You clearly need to RE--SEARCH the Scriptures on the Nature and Character of God [especially Isaiah 40-48, 9 full chapters to the Greatness & Transcendence of God], and rethink your premise because "...then who is clearly ruling...." really borders on blasphemy!
I don't know how big your God is, but the Scriptures are replete with this single, ABSOLUTE note: God created NOTHING until the "Consummation" was already, AND completely "Foreordained" ... a done deal!
That's who's in charge, and that's how big my God is!!
Con't here Pt2
ReplyDeleteRodney said...[more stuff that runs contrary to Scripture...]
"...Knowing this, it seems that it is not possible that we will never see a true end of sin..."
The error that generates this "Free will" will = Sin in the "Eternal state" thinking is found in not understanding, and/or not 'believing' these 2 things:
1. The Redeemed will be "one with Christ", "one with the Father":
John 17:21-23
21 That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one;
...and will have "the mind of Christ":
1 Corinthians 2:16
"...but we have the mind of Christ."
Philippians 2:5
"..Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.."
As I had mentioned before; in our complete union with Christ, with that full knowledge of sin and its horrific consequences, no Saint would have any desire for it!
---
2. The Eternal State - God's security fix for both "parties":
Revelation 22:11 - "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Those who have rejected God's renewal will simply remain in their ungodly level of "mindset", confined in the burning garbage dump outside.
And the Redeemed... well, even before we fully 'develop' our new mindset, we have the Comforter, "that he may abide with you for---ever"!!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
"For--ever" pretty much settles that question for me!!
Well, I mean, only because it's found in the Word of God!
Pt3 here:
ReplyDeleteRodney, no offense or insult intended, and I apologize if it seems I came off a little too harsh.
You have put forth a number of strong, well argued opinions over the past several yrs, and I was, frankly, baffled that you weren't up to speed on this or where you were going with it.
This is simply another aspect, or facet, of the "eternal security" question.
I responded strongly because there are several issues you put forth that, in your customary very strong language, could shake the faith of those less fully grounded in the Faith:
1. The issue of "...Therefore we can conclude...", as though there is a sizable faction, major or minor, of the same opinion, rather than saying "I" think, speculate, conclude of my own...
2. The issue of "...then who is clearly ruling....", that is "who is fully 'in charge'"?!?
To that, I have to stand fully behind my 1st post!
Psalm 2 and the aforementioned Isaiah sections, amongst so many other passages clearly show that "they" think they have some kind of 'edge' wherein they can sneak up and overcome Him, yet He knew them, and their intentions...How can I say this for emphasis...From Eternity Prior!!!..before He ever created them to 'participate' in fulfilling His Consummate Plan!
THAT is the Ultimate in "Long range planning"!!!
3. The issue of "Free will" in the eternal state vs. "The **Eternal** Security of the Believers".
Yeah, I had pondered that same thing many yrs ago and if it were not for the clear promises in His Eternal Word, what hope would any of us have of even any kind of temporary "salvation"!?!
Con't.
and here
ReplyDeletePart2
The Scriptures above, esp. Revelation 22:11, all the commentaries I have seen agree that is the "fixed" eternal state...meaning "Eternal".
Either we believe/trust, and rest secure in His promises, or we can worry/"speculate" about uncertain things outside of His Word...Genesis 3, Doubting Him & and the veracity of His Word again and again!
Plus, we will fully be given "the mind of Christ", as I stated before!
As for that passage of being "...as the angels in heaven...", That is in reference to the misconception of "who will *"belong"* to whom" from prior marriages, in the Eternal State. - "...For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. - Matthew 22:30
It has nothing to do with the so-called "physical/spiritual" make-up, powers, etc. of our glorified bodies compared to Angels.
They were never intended to enter into a unique, intimate relationship that far transcends even the best marriage down here. - "...Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" - Hebrews 1:14
Your concern about Lucifer; "...you find that he was perfect, in wisdom and beauty..."
"perfect" in the majority of times found in the Scriptures means "complete", as in, "he was complete" in the wisdom and beauty that he was given.
He had no clue who he was really challenging!...
More later...lights out!
Let not your heart be troubled....He loves us with an everlasting love.
ReplyDeleteG'night
The references to Revelation 21-22 answer the question definitively IMO. To repeat what has already been stated:
ReplyDelete- First of all, recall that the "originator" of sin, Satan, will be forever in the Lake of Fire, unable to influence man. That is key.
Secondly, this nails the issue completely:
"Nothing impure will ever enter it (New Jerusalem), nor will anyone wjo does what is shameful of deceitful..." (Rev 21:27)
"No longer will there be any curse" (Rev 22:3)
To me, its simple, straightforward and unambiguous.