Message At Thorntown--Holy Week Services

Luke 19:45-47 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, `My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a `den of thieves.'" And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him.

Jesus went on the offense. He intentionally made the religious leaders angry. He pushed them to react against him. He spoke against their evil ways and was turning the people against the religious leaders. He exposed them for who and what they were-- children of the devil. He became a threat to their security and wealth.

Jesus is not earning points with the religious leaders of the day. The house of God had been turned into a place where people were merchandising God's people. Jesus had to offer what had the potential of destroying the present security and income of the religious leaders.

There is a major message to the church today concerning the same group of money changers that existed during the time of Jesus and existing today. There are the international moneychangers who have infiltrated into every aspect of human life and control the monetary wealth of the world. But what is interesting is that the international moneychangers are losing their power hold and are doing everything in their power to destroy those who are turning over their tables. Then there are the moneychangers within the church who are profiting from the gullible. It is time to turn over their tables. Let’s look at these moneychangers and their influence on our world today.

This is an important message to Christians today because the end results are the same as the time of Jesus. The moneychangers will seek to destroy all who stand in their way. The course of human events repeat and what is happening in the world today is no more than a repeat of what took place during the time of Jesus. The wars and conflict that are taking place right now in the world are all because the tables of the international moneychangers have been turned over and they are threatened by what might happen to their present security and income. When there is a threat to their wealth the moneychangers will use every resource available even war.

The course of events may not take place as rapidly as this week in the life of Jesus but it is taking place right now before our very eyes and many are totally unaware of what is about to happen. American’s are obsessed with entertainment, sports, and gaining material wealth and do not have time to serve the LORD. We have allowed the moneychangers to steal our freedom and liberty from under our very eyes without so much a word of disapproval.

Entering the Temple, Jesus saw the money changers, along with merchants who were selling animals for sacrifice. Pilgrims carried coins from their home towns, most bearing the images of Roman emperors or Greek gods, which Temple authorities considered idolatrous. But that changed when the high priest ordered that only Tyrian shekels would be accepted for the annual half-shekel Temple tax because they contained a higher percentage of silver, 94%-- so the money changers exchanged unacceptable coins for these shekels. Of course, they extracted a profit, sometimes much more than the law allowed.

 
Every year, a Jewish man, 20 years old and older, paid a voluntary half shekel Temple tax to the Jerusalem Temple. This tax, instituted by Moses (Ex 30:11–16), was paid in either the  Tyrian shekel (for himself and another person) or half-shekel (for only himself) during the Second Temple period.

The shekel, (a pagan deity) on the front and an eagle (a graven image) on the reverse, averaged 14.2 gm in weight and contained at least 94 per cent silver. These coins were minted in [tire] Tyre between 126-18 BC and After the Roman government closed the Tyre mint, these coins continued to be minted at an unknown mint, probably in or near Jerusalem, from 18/17 BC until AD 69/70. The Jewish coin makers continued to strike coins with the image of Melqarth-Herakles and the eagle. This was contrary to the clear teachings of the Word of God (Ex 20:3, 4: Dt. 4:16–18; 5:8). Yet the rabbis declared that the Tyrian shekels were the only legal currency that was acceptable in the Temple. The rabbis decided that the commandment to give the half-shekel Temple tax, with its proper weight and purity, was more important than the prohibition of who or what image was on the coin. Enter Jesus-

Jesus was so filled with anger at the desecration of the holy place that he took some cords and wove them into a small whip. He ran about, knocking over the tables of the money changers, spilling coins on the ground. He drove the exchangers out of the area, along with the men selling pigeons and cattle. He also prevented people from using the court as a shortcut. As he cleansed the Temple of greed and profit, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7: "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:13, ESV) The disciples and others present were in awe of Jesus' authority in God's sacred place. His followers remembered a passage from Psalm 69:9: "Zeal for your house will consume me." (John 2:17, ESV) The common people were impressed by Jesus' teaching, but the chief priests and scribes feared him because of his popularity. They began to plot a way to destroy Jesus.

2000 years later, the world is gripped in a financial mess. Most of it orchestrated by the modern moneychangers—the same group of evil men which were at work during the time of Christ is at work today. These forces operate across the borders of every country. They have permeated religion, politics and the economic spheres. What is interesting is the modern day international moneychangers got their start in the Temple—the House of God.

The high priest received a percentage of the profit from the money changers and merchants, so their removal from the Temple area would have caused a financial loss to him. Because pilgrims were unfamiliar with Jerusalem, the Temple merchants sold sacrificial animals at a higher price than elsewhere in the city. The high priest overlooked their dishonesty, as long as he got his share. These religious leaders were bought and paid for by the moneychangers just as our religious leaders, along with our politicians are bought today. Tell me how elected officials can enter Congress making $174,000 a year and by their second or third term are millionaires? The median estimated net worth of Congress is $966,000, according to the center. By contrast, the median net worth of the typical American household is slightly more than $66,000. Ten members had a net worth greater than $100 million on one or both sites. How can the largest percentage of our politician today become multimillionaires when they make less than $200,000 a year? Or how can we have ministers in this country making a salary of $2 million a year? They have been bought and paid for by the moneychangers of today. It is alarming that most Christians seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that the principles of the Word-Faith movement being trumpeted from pulpits across the land, stem from the same principles used by the moneychangers of the world—control and transfer wealth.

Much of Christianity today is nothing more than a disguised form of legal theft found during the time of Jesus with a license to rob and steal from gullible, unsuspecting and fragile-minded individuals. So many false-prophets use prophecy to manipulate believers. Instead of equipping the saints for works of service and releasing them by the Spirit, modern day high priest must always keep dangling the proverbial carrot in front of you by “prophesying” that you that will be serving God “someday”. In doing this they are actually keeping you distracted from serving God today so that you will continue to sow into their ministries while you are waiting for this “word” to come to pass. We don’t have to sow money in order for God’s prophetic word to come to pass in our lives. God responds to our faith, not our money. We do not have to sow money in order to serve God; we give money so that we can support the work of the Gospel and to be a blessing to others not to make some preacher rich. If you are sending your money to support these false prophets and not support your local church you are deceived. When was the last time a TV preacher visited your home or asked how you are doing? When did they visit you when you were in the hospital? When have they paid your utility bills? NEVER!

There will be some “Christians” who will say, this is God's way of blessing his ministers. They deserve this for leading God's people." I wonder if these people ever really stop to think about what they are saying. Do they really think that God would bless those in leadership with lifestyles that totally contradict everything that Jesus taught? First century church leaders led by example they were servant leaders. Ask yourself if any of the apostles would've chosen pricey homes or affluent areas for themselves. More to the point, would Jesus have done so? Ask yourself if the apostles would have used the contributions and tithes of the people in order to acquire wealth? We know what Jesus did he turned over the moneychangers tables and drove them from the Temple.

Here is a short history:

First of all, let us look at Jewish history as a point of reference where there is a record of the common practice of setting up money changers in the temple area during the Jewish Passover.

The Talmud gives us some insight into the moneychangers and the Temple tax. Beginning on the 1st of Adar (the month before Passover), it is the 6th month of the Jewish calendar a proclamation was made to the people that they should prepare the Temple tax it was like an invoice being sent out get ready to pay your Temple tax. On the 15th day of Adar, moneychangers were sent out to collect the Half-Shekel for its donation . . . On the 25th day of Adar, moneychangers were installed in the Temple itself to help in the collecting the Half-Shekel donation.” So what was the big deal about the moneychangers in the Temple? It was the excessive profits they were making. Not only were the moneychangers robbing the people, but history records that excessive prices were being charged by those who were selling animals used in Temple sacrifice. Because of greed, the market for birds rose so much that the poorer woman of the community could not afford them.

Many of the high priests during the first century seemed to have given up their love of God for the love of money. Jewish history records that these high priests who walked the temple courts during the first century, were despised by the majority of the people for their brutality and hunger for money. They were bought by the moneychangers who were the hidden power behind what was going in Jerusalem.

The moneychangers are the power behind the ministries you find on Christian Television. Ministers have sold out just like Judas for 30 pieces of silver. They are more interested in money than winning souls. They prophesy with expressions of, “it could”, “it might”, “I think”, “it looks like”, these are not words from the LORD. When the Old Testament prophet proclaimed the word of the LORD he said, “Thus saith the LORD”. He didn’t tell you to buy his book, video or CD to find out what was coming. The message of the LORD is without price. By Old Testament Law all of these modern day charlatans who call themselves prophets would be put to death by stoning. But there are Christians who will support them and defend them even when they are wrong.

It’s not enough the Church is filled with those who have been bought by the moneychangers so is our government. History recounts how Sir Josiah Stamp, Director and President of the Bank of England during the 1920′s made these fascinating claims that:

“The modern banking system manufactures money out of nothing. The process is perhaps the most astounding piece of sleight of hand that was ever invented. Banking was conceived in iniquity and born in sin. Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money and control credit, and with the flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again. Take this great power away from the bankers and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear, and they ought to disappear, for this would be a better and happier world to live in. But if you want to continue the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money and to control credit.”

This is from a money-changer who was the second richest man in Britain at the time of Great Depression One.

 

Cecil Rhodes argued that the secret banking cabal only directive is to see that: “Our goal is gradually absorb the wealth of the world”.

Why is America in the mess we are today? Because the Christians have sit on their righteous rears and have done nothing because they think that the LORD is going to come and take them out of this mess and it is not their problem. What makes you think you are going to avoid the suffering that is about to come upon the earth? My Bible tells me that this generation is lukewarm and makes the LORD sick. There will need to be a lot of repenting and getting busy doing the work of the LORD before you are "Raptured out". He is not coming back for a bunch of self-righteous wanna-bes. He is looking for a people who have been tried in the fire and refined like gold pure and holy not those who just talk about being a Christian. My Bible does not address the unrighteous, the unholy, the sinner, it addresses the Saints.

“ To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 67 times those called of God are referred to as saints.”

“If you want to make someone angry tell him a lie; if you want to make him furious, tell him the truth.” Yet the Bible reminds us that men will believe a lie for the truth!

Thomas Jefferson reminded us that, “If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property, until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
Colonel Edward Mandel House a modern day moneychangers-a banker who was a highly influential back-stage politician during the time of Woodrow Wilson: This is found in President Wilson’s diary it was written between 1913 and 1921 said this:

“Very soon, every American will be required to register their biological property (that's you and your children) in a national system designed to keep track of the people and that will operate under the ancient system of pledging. By such methodology, we can compel people to submit to our agenda, which will affect our security as a charge back for our fiat paper currency. Every American will be forced to register or suffer being unable to work and earn a living. They will be our chattels (property) and we will hold the security interest over them forever, by operation of the law merchant under the scheme of secured transactions. Americans, by unknowingly or unwittingly delivering the bills of lading (Birth Certificate) to us will be rendered bankrupt and insolvent, secured by their pledges. They will be stripped of their rights and given a commercial value designed to make us a profit and they will be none the wiser, for not one man in a million could ever figure our plans and, if by accident one or two should figure it out, we have in our arsenal plausible deniability. After all, this is the only logical way to fund government, by floating liens and debts to the registrants in the form of benefits and privileges. This will inevitably reap us huge profits beyond our wildest expectations and leave every American a contributor to this fraud, which we will call "Social Insurance." Without realizing it, every American will unknowingly be our servant, however begrudgingly. The people will become helpless and without any hope for their redemption and we will employ the high office (presidency) of our dummy corporation (USA) to foment this plot against America."

This became a reality in 1935 under the Social Security Act. Then in March of 2010 the final phase was implemented.

A close examination of the past [9] decades would show that through all the recessions, depressions, untold personal and corporate bankruptcies, wars and human suffering – only one industry has consistently shown growth, and phenomenal growth at that – and that is the banking industry.

 
Do your own facts check and see how much the global banking industry has received in handouts from taxpayers dollars! If that is not wealth-transfer, then what is it? If you own the golden goose that lays the golden eggs, you can’t help but accumulate enormous wealth.

In 1913 our government gave the private bank called the Federal Reserve the power to control the wealth of this country. When this foreign banking company took control of American wealth the economy of this country was doomed. Every effort has been made by the Federal Reserve Board to conceal its power but the truth is the Federal Reserve Board has USURPED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. IT CONTROLS EVERYTHING HERE AND IT CONTROLS ALL OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS. IT MAKES AND BREAKS GOVERNMENTS AT WILL.—

Yet many remain apathetic as to the course our world is currently on, especially Americans who are seeing their wealth disappear, their jobs dissipate and their social structure inch toward another Great Depression. But it is time to turn-over the tables of the moneychangers and get them out of the church and government.

Larry Bates, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Chair on the Committee on Banking and Commerce and author of the bestselling book The New Economic Disorder warns:

“I can tell you right now that there is going to be a crash of unprecedented proportions. A crash like we have never seen before in this country. The greatest shock of this decade is that more people are about to lose more money than at any time before in history, but the second greatest shock will be the incredible amount of money a relatively small group of people will make at the same time. You see, in periods of economic upheaval in periods of economic crisis, wealth is not destroyed, it is merely transferred.”

Let me ask you this why are American billionaire dumping their stock? What do they know that you don’t know?

There you have it – clearly the more things seem to change – the more they stay the same. The moneychangers have not changed their agenda in over 2000 years. They continue to fleece us on every level they buy influence in government and the church. Yet mankind seem impotent to do anything while a select group rob us blind of our right to exist as free, moral agents created in the image of a Sovereign God who does not even violate our power to choose.

Back to the moneychangers at the time of Jesus look what they did.

Luke 20:20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

Again, we find Jesus pointing the way to what real truth is as opposed to the religious traditions that were being taught and practiced by the religious leaders of Israel. Truth is continually driving a deeper wedge between what Jesus has to offer and what they had to offer. The religious leaders see no other alternative than to find some way of getting rid of Jesus. They are being threatened! In just a cursory look who did the religious leaders use to accomplish their task—the government-- in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. The people behind the actions of our government today are from those with the spirit of the antichrist. These people are using the power and authority of the government to protect their wealth and security. They are the power behind the last beast of Daniel and the beast of Revelation. Just as the course of human events reoccurs we are living in the re-occurrence of the final week of Jesus.

Jesus warned the people concerning the scribes as recorded in Luke 20:46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts”.

The scribes were Pharisees who had become the zealous defenders of the Law and the true teachers of the common people. By N.T. times they held undisputed sway as the recognized exponents of the Law and the revered representatives of Judaism. They received the deep respect of the people, as indicated in the honorable term rabbi, meaning "my master, or teacher." Proudly they claimed the positions of first rank, sought the public acclaim of the masses, and dressed in long robes like the nobility.

What is happening is that there is a major tug of war going on in the hearts of all these people. These were a people who had been taught and trained by the scribes and now Jesus is coming along and challenging them with the truth and real authority. Not only were the people amazed at the authority of the teaching of Jesus so were his disciples their loyalties are now divided and they are susceptible to being pulled in either direction dependent upon the current situation of the moment.

It is the same as today. There are those religious leaders today that would have the Church- the body of Jesus Christ to be in agreement with those who are against the principles and teaching of Jesus Christ and side in with those who despise His authority. The loyalties of Christians are being divided by religious leaders who would have you side with evil dressed in the clothes of righteousness. They are just like the scribes during the time of Jesus. They have hijacked the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they have perverted the mission of the Church, and they are deceiving the very elect by appearing as the authority of Truth. The scripture warns us that if we are not diligent in our knowledge of Jesus Christ that they very elect would be deceived.

Jesus was unable to convince his disciple of his coming death. They along with the Palm Sunday crowd were looking for the Messiah to destroy the Roman government and set up a Jewish Kingdom. This is evident by the fact that the mother of James and John wanted Jesus to seat them on his right and left sides of the throne. The people were looking for a Deliverer, a King, someone to put the Jewish people in control of the world. This has been the driving force of all governments and all people world domination. But, in the midst of all that was transpiring during this important and very crucial week of Jesus' ministry to mankind, He now begins to expound on His second coming and the events that will precede it.

Luke 21:25-27 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Jesus is looking beyond the importance of his death and into the future of all believers who would come to know Him. The fascinating thing about Jesus is that He simply continues to speak the truth and the things that are necessary for our salvation without being sidetracked by the scribes. He does not allow their attacks or disputes steer Him away from what His real purpose is. He came to seek and save the lost. THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH.

When he comes again there will be a cleansing of the moneychangers. In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ he gives us this insight.

18 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

The Apostle James’ warning to the rich oppressors is very stark and to the point as well:

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.”

One final destructive act on the part of Christ will clear the threshing floor of the husks of hypocrisy, greed and the evil gain by a system that has made commodity of poor, booty of the innocence and collateral of the disenfranchised.

Let me just add this-- these behind the scene power brokers and moneychangers are right in with the anti-Christ. Keep in mind the end result of these people is world domination.

The ultimate justice will be a world steeped in poverty for which riches and wealth will no longer have precedence, rule or value – where the last vestiges of a 6000 year Satanic rule will ultimately be bound up in a bottomless pit for which they will be no reprieve. A day not far distant is coming a day where many will mourn – yet a day where many will rejoice.

Is there hope? Yes. We must get back to the mission of the Church spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and stop sitting around waiting for His return. He is coming again but only for those who have been faithful in serving him. Serving is action not waiting for the Rapture. Just as Jesus went on the offense the Church needs to push back against those who have destroyed the message of the Gospel with greed and push back against those within our government that are destroying our freedom and liberty. It is time to cleanse the Temple.