(Image by knowhimonline via Flickr)

Iranian authorities recently seized and destroyed 6,500 copies of the Bible. It is the latest demonstration of an on-going campaign in Iran to capture and eradicate all Bibles in the country.

They consider the book to be a subversive threat against Islam and the very existence of their nation.

According to Dr Majid Abhari, adviser to the Iranian Parliament:

“…these missionaries with reliance on huge money and propaganda are trying to deviate our youth”.

“With regard to the activities of these Christian missionaries to deceive people specially youngsters, they have begun a huge campaign by spending huge sums and false propaganda for deviating the public.”

“These books were made with the best paper in the world in pocket size.”

“The important point in this issue that should be considered by intelligence, judicial and religious agencies is that all religions are strengthening their power to confront Islam, otherwise what does this huge number of Bibles mean?”

According to the Mohabat News, revolutionary guards seized 300 bibles from a bus after its inspection last November and “in a shameful action, burned them all in the village of Darishk”. Also according to that news source:

 ”Insulting the Christian Bible is a continuation of an organised campaign by agencies that view anti-Christian propaganda on the top of their agenda.”

Response: I agree with the Iranian authorities, the Bible is a threat against their regime. It teaches about the true Jesus Christ and the way of salvation which is far different than the ‘cult of the Iranian 12th imam’ mullahs.

The Gospels would teach the Iranian youth to love all people while their religious leaders teach them to hate all infidels and be prepared to destroy all those who oppose Shiite Islam.

Something that you will not find referenced in the main stream media is that there is an incredible revival of Christianity going on right now in Iran. At least 500,000 Muslims have been converted to Christianity in the last 5 years or so.

That is why thousands of Bibles are being smuggled into Iran all of a sudden, hundreds of thousands of new Iranian Christians want copies.

This is also a ‘revolution’ that the Revolutionary Guard cannot contain. Many of these people are being converted through dreams and visions of the real Jesus and his angels. There is no way to stop a sovereign move of God.

Just ask the Red Chinese who thought they had destroyed the church in China only to wake up 20 years later to find that there is a hundred million or so new Chinese Christians meeting in house churches that are expanding exponentially with no end in sight.

Iran is one of the greatest threats to peace in the world. Particularly with their nuclear weapons programs and their plans to destroy Israel. The currant US administration has not been successful in challenging the Iranian threat in any way.

I figure that he best thing we can do at this point is pray for the Iranian people and for the revival to continue. Also, help those organizations that are taking Bibles into the country.               *Top

Related Posts?:

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2. -Equal Respect for the Bible Among Muslims? No –Not So Much

(Picture of Spy Museum via Wikipedia)

LEXINGTON, VA: – The head of the history department at Virginia Military Institute suggests that the Apostle Paul faked his conversion and was really a spy for the Romans.

Col. Rose Mary Sheldon of VMI, presented her thesis last week at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. It was based upon research that she did as co-author of “Operation Messiah: St. Paul, Roman Intelligence and the Birth of Christianity“.

According to her theory, Paul faked his conversion on the road to Damascus so he could infiltrate Christian congregations and report to Rome on the suspicious new group.

<<Read my response to this ridiculous theory>>             *Top

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     Vs. 43 Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of the Sanhedrin and a closet follower of Jesus. He was looking for the Kingdom of God and probably hoped that Jesus was the promised Messiah. He boldly goes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus, what an act of incredible courage. He has nothing to gain and everything to lose.  His associates on the council would have condemned his actions for sure.  Being closely identified with one who was crucified as a ‘traitor’ would not commend him to the Romans either.   

     Vs. 44-45 Pilate is surprised and checks to see if Jesus was already dead. The centurion confirms that Jesus is dead. This is major a testimony! The Roman soldiers knew how to kill people, they were experts. They also knew when someone was dead or maybe just unconscious. Jesus was dead. There go all the modern theories about Jesus coming too later and living a life as a regular person. According to the Roman centurion, Jesus was dead.  So Pilate gave permission to Joseph to take the body.

One wonders where all of the disciples of Jesus were?  Why didn’t any of them come for the body?  It was fortunate that Joseph of Arimathea came for Jesus because the Romans rarely surrendered the bodies of executed criminals to their friends or family.  It is remarkable that Pilate surrendered the body of Jesus to Joseph.

     Vs. 46  Joseph had Jesus taken down and he wrapped his body in a new linen shroud.  Then he took him and laid him in a new tomb carved in rock and had the rock rolled in front of the entrance and closed up.  According to the Gospel of John (19:39-42), Nicodemus helped Joseph.  Matthew (27:60) tells us that the tomb was made for Joseph.

     Vs. 47  As an interesting side note, apparently Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed the removal and burial of Jesus, and made plans to complete the preparation of the body on Sunday morning after the Sabbath was complete.  But that was Friday, the whole world changed once and for all Sunday morning.

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1. Mark 15:1-15 Jesus On Trial: Before Pilate
2. Mark 15: 16-21 The Mocking of Jesus by The Roman Soldiers

The second trial was necessary because the Sanhedrin and the Jewish religious authorities did not have the legal right to carry out capitol punishment.  The Roman authorities (including Pilate and their puppet King Herod) retained that legal right and power solely for themselves.        

     Vs. 55-59  Notice that the chief priest had already decided to have Jesus killed.  The so-called trial was merely an opportunity to find the necessary pretense or excuse for carrying out their plans to eliminate Jesus.  In their ‘religious’ trial, false testimony was entertained and condoned, even though there was little agreement among the so-called witnesses.  All contrary to the Mosaic Law.

The Sanhedrin needed to find a reason within their religious laws to have Jesus condemned; but they also needed to be able to support and demonstrate that Jesus was guilty of a serious breech of Roman law (like treason) that would assure a sentence of death by the Roman authorities.  The Jewish authorities were faced with a dilemma.  Seemingly no charge could be constructed or found that would satisfy both the religious and legal requirements for a sentence of death.  So what if Jesus did say that he could tear down and rebuild the Temple in 3 days?  What would that mean to the Romans?  They would never kill someone for making crazy statements. 

     Vs. 60-64  At this point, the Sanhedrin really had nothing to charge Jesus with, after all their efforts.  Anyway, nothing that the Romans would be interested in.  Then the high priest (Caiaphas-who remains unnamed in Mark) challenges Jesus to answer the charges.  Jesus continues to remain silent.  Finally, the high priest asks Jesus if he is the Messiah, ‘the Son of the Blessed (God)’.  There were rumors that Jesus had made claims for himself that went beyond the title of Messiah- The Anointed One. 

When Jesus answered: “I Am“, he used the personal name of God and actually was claiming it as his own and he was claiming to be Divine.  Further more, using the ‘Son of Man’ title, he was claiming to be the divine figure represented in Daniel 7 who was to receive everlasting dominion over all the earth.  The reaction from the high priest and the Sanhedrin was immediate.  They all understood what he was claiming.  It was blasphemy for sure and worthy of death. 

     Vs. 65  The groans and the shouts of the leaders were probably deafening at that point.  Some left their seats and began to spit on Jesus and while others proceeded to hit him.  The ‘respected’ council was nearly in a riot when the guards finally took him away.

I can never understand those scholars who teach that Jesus never claimed to be the divine Son of God.  The reaction of the chief priests and scribes make it very clear what they believe that Jesus was declaring here.  They finally had the charges that they needed from his very own mouth.  1.  The religious Charge:  Blasphemy–claims to be equal with God.  2.  The legal Charge (For the Romans): Treason-Claims to be the Messiah–The true King of the Judah and the whole world (Dan. 7). 

The entire Sanhedrin agreed to condemn Jesus to death, at least all of those who were present at this trumped up session.  Not exactly the high point in the history of this venerated council.

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Regardless, the actions of Judas were despicable and infamous.  Judas identified Jesus using a kiss and called him ‘Rabbi’, the traditional greeting between a student/disciple and his Master.  Implying endearment and respect in the very act of betrayal.  

     Vs. 46-49  The men with Judas immediately seized Jesus.  Then the scene got rather chaotic for a while.  One of the disciples of Jesus actually drew a sword at that point and cut off a servants’ ear.  Mark leaves it at that, but John identifies the swordsman as Peter and the servant as Malchus.  Also, Luke tells us that Jesus healed the mans’ ear.

Then Jesus spoke and protested the treatment he was receiving.  Was he leading some kind of armed rebellion?  The expected answer was no.  He pointed out that they could have easily arrested him as he taught in the Temple every day that week.  Of course, the chief priests opted for a secret arrest in order to avoid a possible riot.  

     Vs. 50  Then all the disciples ran away and deserted Jesus, leaving him to face his destiny alone.  It is obvious that the officials were only concerned with arresting Jesus and brought only enough soldiers to make the arrest and control the situation.  They really didn’t try to arrest and pursue the disciples also.  Since all of the disciples were able to avoid arrest.

     Vs. 51-52  The reference to the ‘young man’ is found only in Mark and was probably John Mark himself, the author of the Gospel.  A linen outer garment was an indication of wealth in those days, most were made of wool.  According to early Christian tradition, the family of John Mark was wealthy and provided the upper room for the last supper and later on Pentecost.  He probably tagged along with Jesus and the disciples following their meal that evening.

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Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -John 3:3;  Jesus answered, …” Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ -John 3:5,7  

John 3 records a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  Nic starts by complimenting Jesus.  Then Jesus immediately begins to proclaim a teaching that emphasizes their differences.  The Pharisees believed that one could ’justify’ themselves and gain eternal life by knowing and following all of the Mosaic Law.  Jesus says, nope that won’t cut it, ‘you must be born again’.  Nic was a member of the Sanhedrin and an expert in the OT scriptures, and yet he did not understand what Jesus was talking about.  Jesus was actually reflecting on the words of Ezekiel:

“ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” -Ezekiel 36:25-27

Jesus is teaching here that God himself will cleanse his people and give them a new Spirit, a spirit which will help to bring about a change of heart.  The scripture says that it will be the ‘Spirit of God’ that will be put within them, and that it will help in following his statutes and ways.  This is OT and Nic had no idea, nor did he know that this would soon be fulfilled.

Jesus continued the discussion by saying:  “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ”

‘Flesh’ represents ordinary humanity, the natural human condition.  “We are not born spiritually alive with a heart that loves God.  We are born spiritually dead”1    Jesus teaches here that all humanity is divided into two camps: 

1.  Those who are born only once– born naturally, “Born of the flesh” and spiritually dead.

2.  Those who are  ’reborn’–”born again” by the Spirit of God, alive and changed by him.  Those who see and seek his kingdom.

What Jesus demands from Nicodemus, he demands from everyone in the world.  Nic was considered a ‘righteous’ leader among the Jewish folk, and yet he still was spiritually ‘dead’.  It doesn’t matter how good you are, or what race and ethnic group you belong to,  Dead is Dead.  There is nothing that you can do naturally by yourself to get into the Kingdom of God.  You must be ‘reborn’ by the Spirit of God.  It’s not one of those ‘self-help’ programs, it is a gift from God that activates a new ‘supernatural’ life.  John Piper finishes the chapter:

“Look away from yourself.  Seek from God what he alone can do for you.  Moral improvement of the old you is not what you need.  New life is what the whole world needs.  It is radical and supernatural.  It is ouside our control.  The dead do not give themselves new life.  We must be born again–”not…of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).  That is what Jesus demands from the world.” 2

1 John Piper,p. 38;   2 ,p. 39

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He points out that much of what passes for “the assured results of Biblical criticism” is nothing more than conjectures and the wishful thinking of the scholars themselves. The goal is to find the real Jesus who lived and taught before the gospels were written. In reality, ‘The Quest for the Historical Jesus’ brakes down because the earliest written records we have about Jesus, the Gospels themselves, are downplayed and fractured to support the currents attitudes and theories of the latest scholars and writers. Dr. Piper calls it all an academic game:

“First, no reliable or lasting portrait of Jesus has ever been reconstructed from going behind what the four Gospels portray. There is no reason to think this will change. The reason is at hand: When you abandon ‘das Vorhandenen’ (what exists at hand) for conjectures, you turn scholarship into an academic game.”

He concludes that the Gospels will always be the primary source for all that we know about Jesus, and the primary source for the church and most Christians:

“…,the portrayal of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament is the only portrayal that has any chance of shaping the church and the world over the long haul. This is because it is the only one that people have access to. Whatever the Questers may construct, it will usually be read by only a handful of people.”

Finally, one of the major goals of the ‘Quest’ movement is to find the ‘radical’ Jesus behind the ‘Christ of faith’ or the ‘theological’ Jesus worshipped by the church. Dr. Piper concludes that the ‘real’ Jesus is the one recorded in the Gospels, and in reality is the most ‘radical’ of all. In his book, he actually plans to present all the radical ‘demands’ that Jesus made in the Gospels.

“What Jesus Demands from the World”, by John Piper (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2006, 400 pgs.)p. 29-36.

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