My roommate Jonathan Ahn attends Oriental Mission Church (OMC) and leads the praise every Friday and Sunday service. Through Jonathan, I started attending OMC for Friday service because the praise band did not have a drummer for Friday's service. Although I haven't been playing the instrument for the past 2 years, I managed to shake off my rustiness and attempt to get in. Haha, Jonathan said I got so bad. I started to listen to David Crowder Band - O Praise Him (All This For A King) track over ten times so I can imitate the drum beat. Hope I do not mess up this Friday. All this for a King~ O how constant and divine, this song of ours will rise....

Pastor Steve of English college were covering the the difference of the cults. The world religions that were covered for the bible study are Christian, Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), Jehovah's Witness, and Church of Scientology.


Original posted on 31st May 2005 - 10:21 PM in the Life forum.
Bible Study @ OMC Church
Facts About Cults

QUOTE (CHRISTIAN)GOD
One True God - Monotheistic
One God in 3 existence: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Jesus
All 3 are omnipresent
Infinite and Holy
God the Father is the Creator

JESUS
Jesus is God; John 10:30
Jesus is infinite like God
Jesus was never created but He was always there; John 1:1, Mat 1:25
Spirit and bodily resurrection
God's Son

BIBLE
Reliable
Complete as it is
Rejects new revolution

SALVATION
By Grace; Ep 2:8-9
Faith in Christ
Impossible after death
You can never lose salvation; Gal 2:16



(Mormons - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)GOD
Three Gods [Polytheistic]
Physical [Evolved Man]
Finite
Morally imperfect

JESUS
A god (many other gods)
Created
Earned salvation
Denies Virgin Birth
(Adam and Mary)

BIBLE
Unreliable
Incomplete as it is
Adds new revelations to God's Word [Book of Mormons]

SALVATION
By works
Denies 'biblical'
atonement [Faith in Christ alone]
Earned by good works
personal righteousness



(Jehovah's Witness)GOD
Only one person
Rejects Trinity
Deny omnipresence
omniscience of God

JESUS
Not 'Almighty' God
Was created by God and had a beginning
Only Jesus' Spirit was raised not his body
Became God as a reward for his faithfulness on earth
Deny physical resurrection because God re-created Jesus in heaven into an angel

BIBLE
Reject the Bible's teaching of Jesus [Denies Christ's deity]
Follows the 'Watchtower Society'
Re-translated the Bible into their own called [New World Translation]

SALVATION
By works/personal merit
There is no HELL
Life ends at the grave
Annihilation



(Church of Scientology)GOD
God is a reflection of 'perfect' man
Denies Holy Spirit is 3rd part of the Trinity

JESUS
Jesus is not God
Only the Son of God

BIBLE
Denies the power of prayer
Outcome of life is dependent on what you make of it

SALVATION
Earns his salvation by works
Hell is experienced on earth by doing evil

Cult Defined
What is a cult? What do its members believe? The word 'cult' is defined as 'religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious.' In Webster's eyes, a cult is an organization opposing orthodoxy. When Christian speaks of cults, they mean groups which do not hold to 'Biblical Christian views.' Therefore, the label, 'cult,' is a semantic way of recognizing the difference between biblical Christianity and the believes that certain groups might hold.


Why Cults Grow So Fast
If cults teach error and heresy, why do many of them grow so fast?
1) A major reason is that cults offer answers to questions that aren't answers in the Christian church
2) Being in a cult is hard work. People feel that when they work hard, they accomplished something for God. Cults give a false sense of spiritual security.
3) Some cults are odd and even bizarre. They aren't boring but exciting. There's something different that is always going on and people are allured to that even if it is not consistent with the Bible.

Two of the most successful cults in history...

Mormonism: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The fastest growing and most successful cults in the history of the United States and perhaps the world is the Mormons, officially known as: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Increasing at an average of 300,000 converts a year, membership in the Mormon Church reach 10.6 million worldwide in 1999.
In their multi-million dollar promotion program, as well as their practice, the Mormons create a highly attractive care for communities, a strong emphasis on building the family, clean living and a commitment to Christ that would appear to outdo many Christian in evangelical churches.

Why then refer to them as a cult? Mormonism disagrees with Christianity at many points, but two of the major issues are:
1) How they view Scripture?
2) How they view God (Trinity)?



How it all Began: Joseph Smith
The origins of Mormonism is enough reason to doubt their trustworthiness. The story of Mormonism started with a 14-year old boy named Joseph Smith Jr., who had a vision in which two people-whom he believed to be the Father and the Son appeared before him. He asked them which Christian denomination he should join and they told him to join none of them because they were all 'wrong and corrupt.'
In 1832, Smith, then 17, saw the angel Moroni appear at his bedside and tell him of a book written on golden plates that contained the rest of the gospel. Four years later, Smith dug up the plates and began translating them. Those translations became to be known as the Book of Mormons (BOM). From the early 1830's to the early 1840's, Smith continued to receive revelations that guided him in where to go and what to do next and he compiled all of these revelations. By 1835, a second book entitled, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' would become 'inspired Scripture,' alongside the BOM.
Since Smith's discoveries and even after his death, Mormonism is still practiced by many people today including some universities like Brigham Young. Besides the Bible, Mormons trust the BOM, Doctrine and Covenants as containing the world of God. The LDS church claims that the Bible never closed and revelation continued with Joseph Smith. They believe that the Book of Mormons is the inspired Word of God.

Officially called, "The Watchtower Society,' JW's arm their members with the printed page in astounding amounts. In 1997, circulation of their semimonthly magazine AWAKE designed to reach the world reached almost 21 million copies in 126 languages.
All JW witnessing efforts and tools are designed to oppose and contradict biblical doctrines and teachings and to twist Scripture to make the Bible fit their views. One of the major JW tools is their own version of the Bible, 'The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures,' which is filled with mistranslations designed to prove JW doctrines.
The JW's are totally convinced by Watchtower headquarters that all those who disagree with them particularly Christians-are not only wrong but are mortal enemies who will finally be destroyed by Jehovah at the great battle of Armageddon.
JW's are tightly controlled by Watchtower Headquarters and are constantly told they cannot interpret the Bible for themselves in any way; they must avoid independent thinking; they are never to question the counsel provided by the Watchtower.


How it all began: Charles Taze Russell

As a teenager, Russell rejected many of the views taught in his church, particularly the doctrines of hell and the Trinity. Soon he was influenced by Adventist teaching that assured him there was no eternal punishment, because the wicked were annihilated. His faith in Scripture was restored, but he remained totally distrustful of all churches and denominations.
By the time he was 18, Russell formed his own Bible Study and began developing his own system of theology, emphasizing the second coming of Christ, which many people in his circle predicted would happen in 1874. When it didn't happen, Russell launched his own magazine, eventually known as The Watchtower.
In 1943, an issue of the Watchtower leaders, who merely publish what they have been told. Jehovah Witnesses...
1) Deny the Trinity
2) Deny Christ's Deity
3) Deny Jesus' Bodily Resurrection
4) Deny the Holy Spirit is God
5) Deny Christ's Full Atonement

Christian Science arose out of the religious and intellectual groups of the 19th century which included adaptation of Hindu pantheistic beliefs, teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, occult metaphysics and attempts to contact the dead and other spirits.
Christian Science and other sciences interpret the Bible from the perspective of a belief system that rejects the idea of a Creator God who is infinite, personal,good and distinct from his creation. Christian Science teaches that, 'God is not a person. God is a principle,' the principle of Impersonal Mind.
The Christian Science denial of the reality of the physical is similar to Hindu pantheism, reducing God to an impersonal force or idea. Furthermore, the material world is mere illusion. The practical outworking of Christian Science is that sin, sickness, suffering and evil have no objective existence (it's all in your mind) therefore medicine is unncessary.
However, the Bible says that God created the universe outside of himself and that what he created was real and good. According to the Bible, evil, sin, sickness and death is a result of the fall.

Facts About Jehovah's Witnesses
1. The Watchtower Society predicted that in 1874 the second coming of Christ would occur.
2. The Watchtower Society predicted that the year 1914 would mark the overthrow of human governments and the full establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.
3. The Watchtower Society predicted that in 1925 select Old Testament saints-including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-would rise from the grave and come to live in San Diego.
4. The Watchtower Society predicted that in 1975 human history would end and the thousand-year reign of Christ would begin.
Summary: None of these predictions came true. They were false.


Notes: 144,000 Jehovah Witnesses; Revelation during the tribulation period, Revelation 7:4
Three Branches: 1) Roman Catholism added more traditions and religions onto the bible, thus the beginning of Catholics 2) Eastern Orthodoxy 3) Protestant (Christian Churches)
2 Timothy 3:16 - Christians believe the bible is as it is (complete), no books are missing
Jehovah Witnesses believe certain books are missing from the bible

1. All Christian churches, except the LDS, are in error and are abominations before God.
a) Except for LDS (Mormon) church, all churches are false. 'I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; and those professors were all corrupt.' [Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:19]. 'This Church is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.' [Doctrine and Covenants 1:30]. 'There is no salvation outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' [Mormon Doctrine, p. 670]

2. The Bible is a weak source of truth. It is translated in error and its teachings about salvation are wrong.
a) The Bible is incomplete and has serious translation errors. 'Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many error-many plain and precious things were delted, in consequence of which error and falsehood poured into the various churches. One of the greatest heresies of modern Christendom is the unfounded assumption that the Bible contains all of the inspired teachings now extant among men' [Mormon Doctrines, p. 82-83]

3. We must each earn our own salvation. We can become gods.
a) Man may become god. 'Here then is eternal life...to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you...To inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until you arrive at the station of God.' [Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 6, p.306].

4. God was once a man but progressed into godhood. So did our 'Heavenly Mother'
a) God has goddess wives. 'The doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in all plainness by the First Presidency of the Church.' [Mormon Doctrine, p. 516]

5. All this is known because God sent a prophet in these latter days.

May 27, 2005 Friday

Prophetic Calendar
[Church Day]
1) Last Days
2) Rapture of the Church
3) Attack of Israel
4) Great Tribulation (7 Years) - "God's Wrath"

a) Anti-Christ appears
b) Famine-war plagues
c) Battle of Armageddon

5) Lord's Second Coming

a) Millennial Kingdom (1,000 Years)

6) Great White Throne Judgment

a) Judgment of Satan
b) Judgment of the Unsaved

7) Eternity



Great Tribulation (7 Years)
The Great Tribulation will come after the rapture of the church and it will be the greatest period of suffering the world has ever known. During this period, the Anti-Christ will emerge, persecution of new believers will ensue and the great battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ will transpire.

The New Testament teaches that the current church age will also include trials and tribulation. Jesus said, 'In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,' [John 16:33]. The apostle Paul also warned, 'Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,' [2 Timothy 3:12].

However, the persecution of the church in this age is not the wrath of God. The future tribulation will be a time of God's wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world. The Lord has promised to exempt the church from it [Revelation 3:10; 2 Peter 2:9].



Events of the Tribulation....
a) The Rise of the Anti-Christ: The beginning of the Tribulation will be marked by the signing of a covenant (a peace treaty) between Israel and the Anti-Christ that the anti-Christ will break later (Daniel 9:26-27). The Anti-Christ will come on the scene during the first half of the tribulation and will be the head of a 10 nation confederacy that will rule the world during the Tribulation (Daniel 2:42, 44; 7:7,24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1, 17:12, 16).

The Anti-Christ will be the most incredible political and world leader that she has ever known. On the surface, he will appear to be a genius, the answer to all mankind. Note the following list of characteristics of the Anti-Christ as described in the Bible:

1) intellectual genius (Daniel 7:20)
2) oratorical genius (Daniel 7:20)
3) political genius (Daniel 11:21)
4) military genius (Daniel 8:24)
5) administrative genius (Revelation 13:1-2)
6) religious genius (2 Thess. 2:4)



The Anti-Christ will rise in popularity as he masquerades as an angel of light, the answer to all mankind by bringing world peace and financial prosperity. But beneath the surface, his desire will be to bring the world into spiritual darkness. Promising peace, he will ignite the world into war. In every conceivable way, the Anti-Christ will be just like himself who indwells and empowers him. And many will be deceived into thinking that the Anti-Christ is Jesus Christ.
Ex: In Revelation 6:2, many people think that the person on the white horse is Jesus Christ but it is referring to the Anti-Christ. The rider on the white horse in Revelation 19 is Jesus Christ.

The word, 'anti' means 'against' (in opposition of) or 'instead of' (in place of). When the Anti-Christ emerges, he will not only be against Christ but proclaim himself to be Christ deceiving millions (2 Thess. 2:4).


WHO IS THE ANTI-CHRIST? Many believe he will be Satan incarnate (in human form). Others believe that the anti-Christ will be Satan's very son who possesses all the powers that his father does. [2 Thess. 2-9... 'Lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan...']

Here are some of the stark contrasts between Christ and Anti-Christ:
Ten Keys to Identifying the Anti-Christ....

1. He will rise to power in the last days. (Dan. 8:19,23)
2. He will rule the whole world. (Rev. 13:7)
3. His headquarters will be in Rome. (Rev. 13:7)
4. He will be intelligent and persuasive. (Dan. 7:20)
5. He will rule by international consent. (Rev. 17:12-13)
6. He will rule by deception. (Dan. 8:24-25)
7. He will control the global economy. (Rev. 13:16-17)
8. He will make a peace treaty with Israel. (Dan. 9:27)
9. He will break the treaty and invade Israel. (Dan. 9:26)
10. He will claim to be God. (2 Thess. 2:4)

Only time will reveal his true identity. But the Anti-Christ cannot emerge into the world scene until the church is removed [2 Thess. 2:3, 6-8]

b) Famine-War Plagues: According to the Bible, there will be severe famine, wars and plagues (diseases) during the beginning, middle and end of the tribulation where millions of people will die (Rev. 6:8).

c) The Battle of Armageddon: Armageddon, the great last world war of history, will take place in Israel in conjunction with the second coming of Christ [Dan. 11:40-45; Joel 3:9-17; Zech. 14:1-3; Rev. 16:14-16]. It will occur in the final days of the 7-year Tribulation.

Who will be involved? The Bible teaches that this war will involve all the nations of the world (Zech. 12:3; 14:2; Rev. 16:14). Scholars estimate this number to be 1 billion and 300 million people on earth which will include 352 million soldiers.

What is the purpose of Armageddon? The purpose of the Armageddon is to prepare the millennial reign of Chris by defeating the Anti-Christ and his armies by throwing them into the lake of fire. According to the Bible, great armies from the east and the west will gather and assemble in Jerusalem to destroy it. The Anti-Christ will defeat armies and turn them against the Jews. Then God will intervene and Jesus Christ will return to rescue His people Israel. The Lord and His angelic army will destroy the armies, capture the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet, and cast them into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21). When the Lord returns, the power and rule of the Anti-Christ will come to an end.

Wow, that was very long. The book of Revelation is one of my favorite book in the bible.