"We have been taught that only they may aim at immortality who have lived a holy and virtuous life near to God. We believe that they who live wickedly and do not repent will be punished in everlasting fire."

In his First Apology, 52, he continues:

"(Jesus) shall come from the heavens in glory with His angelic host, when He shall raise the bodies of all the men who ever lived. Then He will clothe the worthy in immortality; but the wicked, clothed in eternal sensibility, He will commit to the eternal fire, along with the evil demons."

² Peter Sturgis Ruckman, Sr 'Come On Down'. (25/04/2008) http://www.petersruckman.com/

³ Will Anyone Show Mercy to a Missionary Who is Wearing Rags? (25/04/2008) http://www.petersruckman.com/theftof$600,000.htm

⁴ "Peter Ruckman": Wikipedia. (25/04/2008) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ruckman

⁵ Ed Barclay; What About Peter Ruckman? (Moriel Ministries). (25/04/2008) http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/ruckmanism/what_about_peter_ruckman.htm

⁶ David Cloud; What About Ruckman? (Way of Life Literature) (25/04/2008) http://www.wayoflife.org/articles/ruckman.htm

⁷ Calvin George; The Dangers of Ruckmanism as Applied to Foreign Language Bibles (Literatura Bautista) (28/04/2008) http://en.literaturabautista.com/node/12

⁸ Dr. Jeffery Khoo; Non-Ruckmanite Answers to Anti-KJV Questions (March 2006). (28/04/2008) http://standfastinthefaith.com/articles/nonruckmanite.html

⁹ Dr. Samuel C. Gipp; What is a Ruckmanite? (The Answer Book) (28/04/2008) http://www.biblebelievers.com/Gipp/answer/gipp_answer_46.html

¹⁰ Dr. James R. White; A Response to Dr Ruckman (Alpha & Omega Ministries) (28/04/2008) http://aomin.org/ResponseToRuckman.html

¹¹ Dr James R White; The Debate That Never Was. (28/04/2008) http://aomin.org/ruckcor.html

Authentic Christianity is not seated in the clothes you wear, but the Spirit you bare.

[edit] True Christians 'Fervently Study Scripture'

They are fervent bible students.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17v11, AKJV, p.491)

[edit] True Christians 'Watch & Remember'

They are Careful. They are not gullible. They do not believe every Spirit.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17v11, AKJV, p.491)

"Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20v31, AKJV, p.493)

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Th. 5v21, AKJV, p.525)

[edit] True Christians 'Understand The Scriptures'

They understand Scripture. They are not tossed about with every Wind of Doctrine. Not only do we have the will to study Scripture, but we have the ability to understand it.

As Promised

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ..." (Mt. 7v7, AKJV, p.424)

"(9) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Lk. 11v9-10, AKJV, p.457)

"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (Jn. 7v17, AKJV, p.471)

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (Jn. 14v17, AKJV, p.476)

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Jn. 14v26, AKJV, p.476)

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." (Jn. 16v13, AKJV, p.477)

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (Js. 1v5, AKJV, p.536)

As Provided

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Mt. 13v11, AKJV, p.427)

"And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: ..." (Mk. 4v11, AKJV, p.439)

"(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2v10-14, AKJV, p.505)

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: ..." (Ep. 1v17, AKJV, p.518)

"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." (Ep. 3v10, AKJV, p.519)

"For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever." (2 Jn. 1v2, AKJV, p.542)

In Proposition

It happens, now and then, to some; that when they are confronted with a particularly uncomfortable biblical truth -- and especially upon "counting the cost" of its confession -- that they will in disobedience dim their eyes and close their ears. Yet, they forget that "only to them that hear shall more be given".

"And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given." (Mk. 4v24, AKJV, p.440)

"Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have." (Lk. 8v18, AKJV, p.454)

Conclusion

You can not reject, or accept, only part of God's Word. Rejecting His Word, constitutes rejecting Him.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." (Is. 8v20, AKJV, p.310)

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." (1 Jn. 4v5, AKJV, p.542)

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. 8v14, AKJV, p.501)

... because ...

"But He said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given." (Mt. 19v11, AKJV, p.431)

... therefore ...

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (Jn. 15v14, AKJV, p.477)

"Remember the Word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My Saying, they will keep yours also." (Jn. 15v20, AKJV, p.477)

"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 Jn. 4v6, AKJV, p.542)

"He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My Words, hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (Jn. 12v48, AKJV, p.475)

When Lies no longer Upset us; and Truth no longer Excite us; then, we have become lukewarm.

[edit] True Christians 'Quench Not The Spirit'

"Quench not the Spirit." (1 Th. 5v19, AKJV, p.525)

[edit] True Christians 'Despise Not Prophesy'

"Despise not prophesyings." (1 Th. 5v20, AKJV, p.525)

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." (Jn. 16v13, AKJV, p.477)

[edit] True Christians 'Pray Without Ceasing'

"Pray without ceasing." (1 Th. 5v17, AKJV, p.525)

The four temperaments theory is an ancient system devised to understand human nature and improve people by dividing them according to their basic temperament. The four temperament categories are Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, and Phlegmatic. Each category or type is defined by a list of descriptive characteristics. Then people are assigned to one or more types by matching the person with those descriptions.

As the theory has been passed down through the centuries, the descriptions of each type have been modified and expanded. Descriptive terms for each type are not always consistent among those who use the four temperaments system. For some, a particular characteristic, such as leadership, would be used to describe the Choleric; for others it would describe the Sanguine. Thus, the lists are not hard and fast. They vary according to the person who is presenting them.

Through the years, philosophers, psychiatrists, and psychologists have devised numerous typologies to classify people according to social behavior, modes of feeling and perceiving, attitudes, and even bodily physique as it might relate to temperament.

A brief look at the history of the four temperaments will reveal that their origins lie in ancient myths and occult practices. From ancient times through the Middle Ages, physicians and philosophers used their understanding of the four humors (bodily fluids), the four temperaments, and signs of the zodiac to treat diseases and understand individual differences among people.

The ordination of gays and lesbians. ^[7|8|9|10]

The acceptance of committed homosexual relationships as equivalent to that of heterosexual relationships. ^[7|8|9|10]

[edit] Necromancy

In 1991, the WCC organized a huge congress in Canberra, Australia, where Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other non-Christians were invited to participate. The February 1993 issue of the Reader’s Digest presented the congress in this way:

"Before the opening worship service began at the last general assembly of the WCC in Canberra, delegates passed through the smoke of burning leaves. This was a pagan cleansing rite.... The next day as two painted, loin-clothed Aborigines cavorted, South Korean theologian Chung Hyun Kyung invoked spirits of the dead and exhorted the audience of more than 4,000 to read the Bible ‘from the perspective of birds, water, air, trees’ and to ‘think like a mountain’." ^[14]

[edit] Multilateralism

The United Nations and The World Council of Churches (WCC) have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate at a meeting between the general secretaries of both organizations held on 29 October 207 at the UN headquarters in New York.

"As the UN faces the 21st century highlighting the interrelatedness of development, security and human rights, the WCC strongly believes multilateralism is the only way to respond to the challenges of today," said WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia at the meeting. That is why the WCC is committed 'to the principles and purposes of the UN'." ^[12]

In light of the above, the Prophet Amos asks:

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3v3, AKJV, p.402)

You might want to look at Beacon, Comments from the Friends, Free Minds, Jehovah's Witness Online, JW Files, Silent Lambs, the Watchtower Information Service, and Watchtower News.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1v14)

Aside from the fact that representations of Christ are false artistic impressions, they also cannot portray the divine nature of Christ. Thus, they not only portrayed Him as infinitely less than He was, is, and ever will be; but also distract from His Divine glory. they implicitly teach a false theology of Christ. And it was this very observation that drove the early church to condemn pictures of Jesus. ^[1]

[edit] The First Council of Nicea (754 AD)

In the year 754 A.D., the First Council of Nicea declared that such pictures are not biblical and therefore are not acceptable in the Church.

The Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum held in 754 declared:

"Supported by the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers, we declare unanimously, in the name of the Holy Trinity, that there shall be rejected and removed and cursed one of the Christian Church every likeness which is made out of any material and colour whatever by the evil art of painters... If anyone ventures to represent the divine image of the Word after the Incarnation with material colours, let him be anathema!... If anyone shall endeavour to represent the forms of the Saints in lifeless pictures with material colours which are of no value (for this notion is vain and introduced by the devil), and does not rather represent their virtues as living images in himself, let him be anathema!"

"If any person shall divide human nature, united to the Person of God the Word; and, having it only in the imagination of the mind, shall therefore, attempt to paint the same in an Image; let him be holden as accursed. If any person shall divide Christ, being but one, into two persons; placing on the one side the Son of God, and on the other side the son of Mary; neither doth confess the continual union that is made; and by that reason doth paint in an Image of the son of Mary, as subsisting by himself; let him be accursed. If any person shall paint in an Image the human nature, being deified by the uniting thereof to God the Word; separating the same as it were from the Godhead assumpted and deified; let him be holden as accursed." ^[1]

Regarding this council Phillip Schaff writes,

"The counsel, appealing to the second commandment and other scripture passages denouncing idolatry (Rom. 1:23, 25; John 4:24), and opinions of the fathers (Epiphanius, Eusebius, Gregory Nazianzen, Chrysostom, etc), condemned and forbade the public and private worship of sacred images on pain of disposition and excommunication ... It denounced all religious representations by painter or sculptor as presumptuous, pagan and idolatrous. Those who make pictures of the Saviour, who is God as well as man in one inseparable person, either limit the incomprehensible Godhead to the bounds of created flesh, or confound His two natures like Eutyches, or separate them, like Nestorius, or deny His Godhead, like Arius; and those who worship such a picture are guilty of the same heresy and blasphemy." ^[2]

Since the Second Council of Nicea in 787 A.D., the use of images in both the Eastern and Western churches continued unabated until the Protestant Reformation, when a rejection of tradition in favor of Scriptural literalism resulted in the rejection of the veneration of images as idolatry on the grounds that it was a clear violation of the Second Commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20v4-6)