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Review Summary: Seems to have ruffled some feathers! |
Date: 2008-12-04 |
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Details: What I'd like to know is how many of these reviewers did not even read the book - one admitted not having read it. You don't rate something you haven't read and I'm disappointed the screening at Amazon allowed the review to be printed. I perceive the doctrine some of these reviewers hold has been tampered with by the author and that always upsets folks, especially those who ascribe to a "feel good" religion. It's human nature to try to prove things right that make you feel best about your own circumstances and equally as hard to believe something that scares you. The book contains some real good information and evidence of Bible knowledge.
The individual who asked if it was really important to observe the sabbath on the seventh day - show me please where God authorized a change to Sunday in the Bible (any version).
Genesis 2:1 ¶Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Name me one Jew who was alive when this happened.
It has been stated that the validity of a prophet is simple - if what he says doesn't happen, then chalk him up as another false prophet; however, I'm not prepared to do that as I write these words in December 2008. Looks like he was right about the US as it is speedily losing its position among the world powers. Can anybody say depression and recession?
Be careful. Everyone laughed at Noah as he faithfully built the ark and he sailed away without them. I enjoyed the book and plan to re-read it and cross reference different areas with scripture, like a fly on fly paper. It got my attention and I am a born again Christian. He supports all his doctrine with scripture, which is more than you can say for most writers. I do hope some who have dismissed him as a false prophet "ahead of time" haven't done the same thing to their own eternal future. Good read and full of valuable information. If and when his predictions don't pan out, I'll be back and say they didn't. |
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Review Summary: Step right up! Bridge for sale! |
Date: 2008-11-19 |
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Details: Anyone who reads this sort of thing for anything other than amusement should contact me as soon as possible. I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn you may be interested in buying. Act now! It probably won't be available in about a month and a half if this book is right! |
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Review Summary: Review: God's Final Witness |
Date: 2008-06-06 |
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Details: To start, I seldom have time to write reviews online, but after finding this authors book and downloading it for free, I felt strongly to write to him.
Because the author welcomes e-mail on his website, I wrote the following letter to him, and for which I would like to share here, in order to serve as my review, rather than rewrite it all again in proper review form. I should also mention, that although this author welcomes e-mail, the e-mails bounce back to your mailbox (unread by him)!!!...at least mine did, and yet, he states he is the one who holds truth, but has no time to listen to others opinions? Why invite the e-mails then? Maybe he is just a very busy man, but if one holds the TRUTH, and the sole truth alone, they are not fearful to at least listen to others opinions, right? LOL
Anyway, this is what I wrote him, and although it is not positive, I do applaud him for at least giving his book away for free for download on his site.
Dear Sir:
I wanted to let you know that I was delighted to discover your latest book on the Internet, and more so, to see that you offered it free for download, which is as it should be, if the information given in the book was truly a gift by God to give to mankind.
What initially captured my interest in the first couple of pages of your book, was your outlook on the mass confusion existing in the world,
at all institutional levels, with major religious institutions being at the forefront, and for which I have to agree with you.
I should also note, that growing up, I and some members of my family listened to Mr. Armstrong and read much of his material. With that said however, and although my occupation is not religious in nature, I did study the three major religions in depth over a course of many years. I guess you could say, I was a young seeker.
Much of what you state about the three major religions is true...both good and bad, however, I have come to the personal conclusion that you are not a prophet sent by God, as you so boldly declare in your book.
First, if you study history, most if not all true prophets of God, never declare themselves to be so, for that would involve ego satisfaction. The final two witnesses you discuss, will also most likely, not be declaring to be prophets. The believers in the world at the time however, will recognize who they are by Divinely given intuition.
Like Moses, a person may say they have been sent by the 'I AM', but usually still in all humbleness, will generally never state they are a prophet. Usually it is the listeners who determine and declare them to be prophets because of their knowledge base, but seldom if ever, does the prophet himself state he is a prophet...it is a title given to them by others. I'm not suggesting this cannot change, but rather just pointing out what history shows.
Secondly, prophets of God make no error in their message, which you have in several places in your book. I have no time to give you a detailed outline summary of your errors, but I can point out a couple here, and if you follow your own declared reasoning, then you will understand.
One of the mistakes you make, is by stating the concept of purgatory originated with the Catholics. WRONG! The concept originated with the Jews and Judaism. The first Christians were all Jews, who became believers in Christ, and the first organized Christian church birthed forth from the early movement of Christians was the Catholic church. It only stands to reason, that the oldest Christian religion would adopt some of the 'traditions' of Judaism, since the first Christians were Jews, who still held onto many of those beliefs, while also additionally accepting the teachings of Christ. All other Christian doctrines that have splintered off from the Catholic church and through the decades, are considered newer age thinking as it pertains to Christian theology, even if they too hold to some early traditional beliefs.
Furthermore, the concept of purgatory you have stated the Catholics define as being strictly a 'place' is false. It is not a place, nor does Catholic literature state it to being a place as much as it is a 'state' of purification for souls who believe in God and love Him, yet have not come into full repentance for all of their sins while on earth. God cannot allow anything impure to enter into His Kingdom, thus, a process of divine purification on the soul must take place first. How long that state of purification takes place, one can only ponder.
You also imply that the concept of the Trinity is false. How so? Think... Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! ONE SOURCE, WITH THREE DIVINE 'NATURES'...NOT THREE PERSONS! YES, GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS....CREAT A WHOLE UNIVERSE, AND EVEN COME TO EARTH, AND VISIT US IN HUMAN FORM, AS IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. A SON, COMES FROM HIS FATHER....HE IS VERY MUCH A GENETIC BEING OF HIS FATHER!
Even a child with little understanding can understand this concept: In physics, if one were to take an ice cube and add steam to it, what happens? The ice cube melts and becomes water, with some steam vapors also releasing. There was ONE original source...the ice cube, which had become three states of matter...Ice, water, and steam vapors.
Without disrespect to God, and for purpose only of making an analogy,
the same concept can be applied to the Trinity. Consider the Ice cube in its solid state to be God, and the water that develops upon melting, as Gods Son...Jesus Christ (who has stated He is the Living Water), and the the steam, as like unto the Holy Ghost! All three states or natures of matter, stemming from the ONE source...the ice cube.
Also contrary to what you state, Jesus did indeed appoint a temporary leader of His church to look after the physical matters of the church after Christ resurrected into Heaven...his name was Peter, and from Peter others would follow, and be appointed. Like Peter, not all acted purely or perfect either. Still however, Christ taught to be obedient to Him through His church, as long as His church was abiding by the teachings of Christ, which is infallible...anything else is deemed infallible and opinionated. When the spiritual body of believers follow Christs teachings, the bible declares the pillar of truth to be the church of Christ...both in spirit and body. Christ being divine, also had every authority to change whatever He wanted to, being that He was and as I believe, indeed Gods Son!
Jesus also healed and taught on the Sabbath, and declared that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath! Another words, man should indeed keep the Sabbath holy, but is not enslaven to it. Also, you confuse the Sabbath...which is Saturday (the seventh day), with the Lords Day, which is on Sunday, in celebration of the risen Lord Jesus! Sunday is fine to worship on, as is any other day of the week, but it is not a Sabbath in the literal sense. Even if Sunday were treated as a Sabbath for Christians, it does not matter, for God knows what sincere feelings reside within the heart of mankind, and that is what matters. Furthermore, CHRIST HIMSELF BECAME THE NEW SABBATH. CHRIST WAS THE NEW PASSOVER LAMB! CHRIST ALSO DECLARED THAT THROUGH HIM, ALL THINGS BECOME NEW! HE ALSO DECLARED THAT HE DID NOT COME TO CHANGE THE LAWS (THE TEN COMMANDMENTS), BUT CAME TO 'FULFILL' THEM! IN HIM AND THROUGH HIM, ALL BECOMES COMPLETE!
For the record...I personally don't care how the ancient pagans worshipped, or that some confuse Christian worship on Sunday with ancient pagan worship of Sunday. WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT RESIDES IN THE HEART OF MAN, AND IF CHRISTIANS LOVE CHRIST, AND WORSHIP HIM ON SUNDAY...THE LORDS DAY, THEN THAT IS ALLOWED. GOD CARES ABOUT THE HEART. SAME GOES FOR EASTER AND CHRISTMAS. IF SOME UNBELIEVERS LIKE SANTA AND BUNNY RABBITS, INSTEAD OF THE RELIGIOUS MEANING FOR THE HOLIDAYS, THEN THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM! All are free to follow sin or to follow God. That doesn't mean that Santa and bunnies are evil either. There actually was a true St. Nicolas who every year carved wooden toys for children once a year, and of course, there really are bunny rabbits. Hopefully, you get my gist?
Furthermore, the Holy Scriptures (New Testament) declare too, that we are not to let anyone condemn us for what holidays we celebrate...days, times, etc. Anotherwords...God has given mankind the authority to change, add too, and subtract anything we want from whatever holiday we want!
Whatever the pagans celebrated, doesn't mean that the faithful are also celebrating the same holidays, in the same like manner. WE, THROUGH CHRIST, HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THEM!
God cares little about technical issues and trivial matters...HE CARES ABOUT THE HEART! Furthermore, ask any religious Jew, and THEY WILL TELL YOU, THAT GENTILES ARE NOT TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATH AS THEY DO...as in their delivery out of Egypt.
God does declare in the Ten Commandments, to rest on the Sabbath. But is the technical accuracy of the day important, or is finding one day to rest and worship solely in God important? Actually, people who love God, should be worshipping Him everyday of the week in prayer, deed and thought, but only one day is Divinely ordered to put aside in true rest in Him. If someone must work on Saturday in an Emergency room or in another life saving capacity, will God condemn them for this? No, and how do I know? Because Jesus used His own example of healing others on the Sabbath, for which the pharisees condemned. It is not the day that matters, but the concept, and that is the point I believe that Jesus was making.
There are many WRONG accusations you make in your book, so I immediately determined you to be yet another FALSE PROPHET! Actually, my intuition feels you are working in the spirit of anti-Christ, and you are contributing more to the mass confusion in the last days that scriptures tell us would occur. There are truly very few true Christians left in the world. Don't let the enormous number of registered Christians in the world fool you, for many declare to be such, but their actions are very far from what Christ taught! Jesus Himself said, many would come, but few will be chosen. With that said however, do not confuse discernment with eternal damnation judgement. I nor YOU, nor ANYBODY else has the authority to judge ones ETERNAL DESTINATION! Only God can do that! We, are instructed by Christ, to only DISCERN right from wrong, as measured by His Holy Word via Scripture. Only God knows a persons heart and thoughts, and circumstances surrounding all actions, therefore, only God makes the final judgment!
If you had only declared yourself an author with an opinion, then I personally would have not taken issue with it, but you stated boldly in your book to be a Prophet...in fact, one of the final two Prophets! Well, I'm sorry sir, but because of the many errors contained in your book, I feel you are not a Prophet of God, but merely a man, like the rest of us men and women, who have an opinion, and are seeking the truth.
Finally, you also mention only 144,000 people will be going to heaven. Yes, Jesus did say many have been called, but few chosen. The number you referred however, is not the ONLY number allowed in heaven, but rather, represents the total number of converted Jews to Christianity at the time of anti-christ, who will come from the 12 Tribes of Judah, and who will preach during the reign of the anti-christ. The anti-christ and his henchmen will not be able to hurt these Jews either, for they will be divinely protected. This point of 144,000 is a highly debated topic, for no one can be precisely sure about this, as scriptures do not clearly state what it means. Therefore, you yourself cannot determine as completely factual anything about the 144,000, as you do in your book.
Good Day
P.S. As for the disasters etc....anyone can see what is going on, especially if they are believers in scripture. Even if they are not believers, common sense alone see's disasters are ramping up! The earth indeed is changing, as it always has every few thousand years or so.
Finally, pertaining to any truths in the world, stemming from religion, politics, etc., do get muddied up by the faulty human characteristics and actions of people. Truth remains truth, but humans often pollute it with their less then perfect natures.
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Review Summary: The greatest lies have truth at their center. |
Date: 2008-05-28 |
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Details: I admit that I got half way through this book and had to put it down. It would seem that the author is confusing the order in which the "End Times" will occur per the Bible. It also speaks of one religion, one government etc. which should set off numerous alarm bells in your mind. He does quote scripture and he does spin a lovely tapestry in which to cover his lies. There are true things here and interesting concepts but the thought that he is one of the two prophets? Please. An effective lie carries a small amount of truth within it.
The book befuddled me in a way I have not experienced often and I feel that this person is in serious need of some sort of mental evaluation. It is probably closer to the truth to say that he is one of the many deceivers who will be sent as the "End Times" approach. Jesus told us "Test all things and hold fast to that which is good" 1 Thessalonians 5:21. This person says, "trust me, God said to just trust me." No thank you, sir. |
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Review Summary: Paranoid-schizophrenic |
Date: 2008-05-09 |
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Details: Were it not for the fact that this book came to me free of charge through the post, I would never even consider reading it. Since it did, I read it just out of curiosity.
The author gives account of his mission here on Earth, given to him by God Himself, and tries to explain the mysteries of God, mankind, life, etc.
Although some of what he says has a certain logic to it and could explain the many discrepancies and paradoxes in most religions, he fails to convey a plausible argument for his words, creating new and more complex paradoxes which he also fails to see and explain.
Written in a somewhat patronising way, the book seems to have the purpose of what mainstream readers would call brainwashing.
Repetitive and borderline paranoid-schizophrenic, R. Weinland fails miserably at setting any strong and valid foundations for his claims.
The book is so full of paradoxes that it would be tedious to mention them all.
One example is his view that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth and that they were created by God 6000 years ago (circa 4000 BC). For this to be true, mathematically and statistically, every woman since then should have had an average of 27 children at the best conditions possible for today's population to be reached. I say at the best conditions because this statistic ignores the low life expectancy of those times, the high infant mortality, wars, plagues, disease, etc. Not to mention the Great Deluge he mentions, when mankind was practically wiped out at the time of Noah.
How many women do you know had 27 children?
One other example is when he mentions that the European Union will become a United States of Europe of 10 countries by 2008.
It is May 2008 as I write these lines and I very much doubt that if such an improbable thing was to happen, it would never happen within the next 8 months.
To put it plainly, this man should be seen either as a big crook or as a demented ego-maniac paranoid-schizophrenic with delusions of grandeur.
Why do people bother with such trash?
It hurts to think that precious trees were wasted to make the paper on which this rubbish was printed. |
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