False Teacher

April 11, 2024

I listened to a recent news report that Representative Marjorie Taylor Green announced her strange revelation surrounding recent events of the 4.8 earthquake in New Jersey coupled with the recent solar eclipse.

She announced that they are a sign from God…

No. No way and no how. They are simply events in Nature. Although God might use natural events for his transcendent purposes, this wasn’t one of them.

Please allow me to share this fact about Jesus on trial before Pilate: “Jesus answered, ‘My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over… But my Kingdom is not of this world.’ ” -John 18:36. Throughout history many kings and rulers have tried to claim Divine Authority and deceitfully woven it it to their political agendas to provide a reason to wage war, claim territory, and commit the obscene crime of genocide. Today’s claims of Divine purposes are no different and just as evil…

Those living in the MAGA alternative universe and likewise pushing the agenda of Christian Nationalism are neither Christian nor making America great. They are deceived and being deceived and, as neophyte servants, they are deceiving others in a pursuit of their “Great Commission’’ to proselytize the whole of America to join their cockeyed crusade.

First, those who are claiming that God is with them in their extreme political agenda, may be masked with religious fervor and social righteousness, but they are false — deceivers who are themselves being deceived. They are completely ignorant of God, Jesus, and the Bible… Period.

The News reports correctly noted that “Approximately 20,000 earthquakes occur every year, which equates to around 55 every single day, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Fortunately for us, the majority of these go completely unnoticed and are too weak to cause any damage. (Feb 6, 2023)” — https://www.space.com/earthquakes-facts-science

Second, regarding Miss Green’s assertion of the eclipse is a sign from God: No. “There are at least 2 solar eclipses per year somewhere on the Earth.” — https://sunearthday.nasa.gov

I’ll admit that I did consider her claim to be a possibility for a minute — but only for a minute. You see, her claim is based on an excerpt from Mark 13 where Jesus is answering his Disciples about what the End will look like: “There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world…” and “the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light…”

However, such “revelations” are ignorant uses of Scripture, and such false teachers are an actual sign of the End Times: “…At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” — Matthew 24:10–12.

Considering everything that is happening in the world today, this Scripture passage seems mighty relevant.

Now, a ground rule for using the Bible was laid down by Peter in 2 Peter 3:16: “[Paul’s] letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures…” Also, “Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15. (This is the process for explanation which I am trying to use right now…)

So, someone reading this little essay should read for themselves Mark 13 which starts with “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’ “ Then, Jesus answers by explaining basically the signs of the End Times.

So, a reader should start with reading all of Mark 13.

My opinion of the sun being darkened? Well, when that happens we know that the Moon would do the same, because today we know that the Moon reflects the Sun’s light. It doesn’t generate its own.

How? When? Above my pay grade, I simply have no clue. But we are to be alert and aware, watching and waiting for Jesus.

My opinion on the sign of the earthquakes? What little I can get from the word studies and various translations, this is what I end up with: The earthquakes would be severe, in many places, and in many unusual, unexpected, and diverse parts of the world…. But again — How? When? Sorry. Above my pay grade, I simply have no clue. But again, we are to be alert and aware, watching and waiting.

Basically, we should make sure that we have gotten right with God, just like John the Baptist preached, found in this excerpt:

“People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. ‘You brood of snakes!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.’ “ — Matthew 3:5–8

Reading further, you should note that Jesus started his ministry with that same word. “Repent.” In other words, “Turn away from the way you are living now and turn to God.