Shepherd's Chapel

The Shepherd's Chapel is a church that broadcast a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, bible study by Pastor Arnold Murray in a 1 hour time format.

A quick search on the internet on "Pastor Arnold Murray" will show this church's website as the first result (http://www.shepherdschapel.com/index.htm).  Following that are many results for pages that discount this pastor.  Here are a few:

http://carm.org/who-arnold-murray
"I recommend that you stay far away from this man and the Shepherd's Chapel."

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/arnoldmurray.html
"Most of Arnold Murray's heretical teaching comes from a subtle misinterpreting of Scripture."

http://www.letusreason.org/poptea4.htm
"The message Arnold Murray is spreading is unfortunately a mixture and can be lethal to one's spiritual life"

http://www.mikeschristiancorner.com/murray.html
"First and foremost, this makes Arnold Murray a false prophet"

http://unsettledchristianity.com/2008/08/arnold-murray-secret-identity
"Stringini knows he’s not alone among former Shepherd’s Chapel students who left in disgust over Murray’s Serpent Seed theology."

These websites, along with many YouTube videos, critique Murray's bible study broadcasts by claiming he is teaching false and misleading "doctrines" and even suggest that Shepherd's Chapel is a cult.

It is safe to say that the majority of churches and Christians believe Murray's bible study does not align well with them insomuch that there is a considerable amount of critiquing content on the internet.

One must wonder why there is so much content on the internet opposed to this church that is generally unheard of in the mainstream Christian community:

For what purpose does it serve to warn fellow Christians to stay away from a bible study that goes over the bible chapter by chapter verse by verse?

Are there even any other bible study or church broadcasts that do this?

Are there even any churches and pastors that read the bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse to their attendees?

What would happen to these churches if we Christians make reading the bible to us chapter by chapter, verse by verse, a criteria for us to go to that church?

Why don't we make reading the bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse a criteria for being part of a church.

Does this describe Shepherd's Chapel?:
Romans 16:16-18
¹⁶ Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
¹⁸ For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Many are deceived. Are the people who study the bible chapter by chapter, verse by verse, with Murray deceived?
Matthew 24:5
⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:23-24
²³ Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

I don't know about you, but I find it very difficult to read the bible chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and equally difficult listening to someone else read it to me let alone any provided interpretations.  Thank God it is much easier to listen to a pastor talk about something else or reading a handbook in bible study, phew!

What happens to the soul after death?

Do you wonder what happens to the soul after death - for the faithful and ungodly?

2 ESDRAS 7

76 And He answered me and said, "I will show you that also; but you must not associate with those who have shown scorn, or count yourself among those who are tortured.

77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High, but it will not be shown to you until the last times.

78 For about death, the teaching is: When the final sentence goes forth from the Most High that a man is to die, when the soul departs from the body to return to Him who gave it, first of all it prays to the glory of the Most High;

81 The first way is that they have scorned the Law of the Most High.

82 The second way is that they can no longer make a good repentance, so that they may live.

83 The third way is that they will see the reward destined for those who have believed the agreements of the Most High.

84 The fourth way is that they will consider the torment destined for them in the last days.

85 The fifth way is that they will see that the dwelling-places of the others are guarded by angels in profound silence.

86 The sixth way is that they will see that some of them will pass over to be tormented henceforth.

87 The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, is that they will waste away in shame and be consumed in disgrace, and whither with fear, at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they they sinned while they lived, and before whom they are destined to be judged in the last times.

90 Therefore this is the teaching about them:

91 First of all, they see with great rapture the glory of Him who takes them up, for they will rest in seven orders.

92 The first order is that they have striven with much toil to conquer the wicked thought that was formed with them, so that it should not lead them from life to death.

93 The second order is that they see the labyrinth in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that waits them.

94 The third order is that they see the testimony that He who formed them has borne to them, because they were alive and faithfully observed the Law which was given them.

101 "They have freedom for seven days, to see on the seven days the things you have been told, and afterward they will be gathered in their dwellings."

95 The fourth order is that they understand the rest which they now enjoy, gathered in their chambers, in great quietness, watched over by angels, and the glory that awaits them in the last days.

96 The fifth order is that they exult that they have now escaped what is corruptible and will possess the future as their inheritance, and besides perceive the narrowness and toilsomeness from which they have been freed and the spaciousness they are destined to receive and enjoy in immortality.

97 The sixth order is that it is shown to them how their face is destined to shine like the sun, and how they are made like the light of the stars, and be incorruptible thence forth.

98 The seventh order, which is greater than all those that have been mentioned, is that they will exult boldly, and that they will trust confidently, and rejoice fearlessly, for they hasten to see the face of Him whom they served in life, and from Whom they are to receive their reward when they are glorified.

99 These are the orders of the souls of the upright, as henceforth proclaimed, and the above ways of torture are those who would not give heed will henceforth suffer.”

Cultural Marxism: The Corruption of America - Video

Are we watching for the 6th Seal?

(guest post by Character Victory)

From the time of first becoming a student of the bible till today, the world's landscape has changed drastically.  Though much of the world was in poverty and some parts were suffering from little wars and injustices, the western world for the most part was still prosperous and with hope.  Today however we can't really say that, the tides of darkness seem to be at our feet from all directions.  What can we do in such dark times? Pray and read the Word of Yahweh...

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a preacher I'm just noting that back when I first read revelations I had a better chance of understanding a Chinese comic book story than the Book of Revelations.  However today, some of this book is actually starting to make sense, no pictures needed...

The Seals: 1-6 KJV

The 1st Seal - Rev 6.1 - 6.2

6 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

² And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Most of this world has been conquered though monetary and international policies.  Governments and been installed and uninstalled in the third world and larger powers are all assimilated into one.

The 2nd Seal - Rev 6.3 - 6.4
³ And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
⁴ And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

There has definitely been war since 9/11 and hasn't really let up much.  No peace:  power definitely seems to have been given and even used a bit.

The 3rd Seal - Rev 6.5 - 6.6
⁵ And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
⁶ And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

A penny in scripture is a day's wage.  A measure of wheat or a 3 measures of barely is a days worth of food.  Yes, even in this great country, most of us are living paycheck to paycheck.  "Hurt not the oil and the wine" - that is the 1% and they are definitely not hurting.

The 4th Seal - Rev 6.7 - 6.8
⁷ And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
⁸ And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Not sure where (or when) the fourth part of the earth is but the power is there for whereever or whenever the fourth part of the earth is.  Millions of people have already died at the hand of war, hunger, death?, and beasts (govt's?) .  All in all, it is not outrageous to say that power has been given unto them to do all that.

The 5th Seal - Rev 6.9 - 6.11
⁹ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This is the part that is still unknown to me and not clearly revealed hence the title of this post.  Is this the signs of times or not?  At this point I do not know but when the 6th seal opens it should be awfully clear:

The 6th Seal - Rev 6.13 - 6.17  
 ¹²And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
¹³ And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
¹⁴ And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
¹⁵ And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
¹⁶ And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
¹⁷ For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

No big enough of an earthquake has occurred to fit this description but if you just take a look at the earth's climate and geological changes, its not illogical to think something is going to pop soon.  Tectonic and volcanic activity has risen.  You might think that just more information is available but I remember back in the days we had like one major earthquake every year or two max.  Now its like every month or even week or two.  Also, there are bunkers built in the mountains in every country private folks have even taken it upon themselves to buy and modify silos or build their own bunkers.

The only thing clear is that there are signs of this going on now and this chapter makes a lot more sense today than it did before.

Crash Course: Ch 7 - Money Creation

Money Creation by Chris Martenson