Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Ignorant Fishermen Doctrinal Statement




















1. The Holy Scriptures
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13).

2. The Godhead
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--Co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

3. The Person and Work of Christ
a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1,2,14; Luke 1:35).
b. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for all mankind as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that the sufficiency of this atoning sacrifice to accomplish the redemption and justification of all who trust in Him is assured by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24,25; 4:25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Tim. 4:10; Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24; and 2 Pet. 2:1).
c. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9,10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2).

4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
a. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14).
b. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and, that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; 1 John 2:20,27; Ephesians 5:18).

5. The Total Depravity of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3,12).

6. Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

7. The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers
a. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38,39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5).
b. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).

8. The Two Natures of the Believer
We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).

9. Separation
We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

10. Missions
We believe that it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

11. The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts
a. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and, that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12).
b. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15).

12. The Church
a. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25,27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).
b. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17,28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).

13. Ordinances
We believe that two ordinances are significant above any other that Christians are commanded to observe, namely, water baptism and the Lord's Supper. While recognizing that Water Baptism has no saving merit it is our conviction that after one is saved, Baptism is the next step in order to portray to the world the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is our conviction that the scriptural method of Water Baptism is immersion. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper to commemorate His death till He comes. We further believe that Water Baptism by immersion is observed but once, and is a sign of identification, and testimony to newness of life, but the Lord's Supper is commemorative and is to be observed often as a memorial of the Body and the Shed Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's Supper shall be open to all born again believers (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:9-13; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-33).

14. The Personality of Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

15. Dispensationalism
We believe in the dispensational view of Bible interpretation but reject the extreme teaching known as "Hyper Dispensationalism," such as that teaching which opposes either the Lord's Table or water baptism as a Scriptural means of testimony for the church in this age (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

16. The Second Advent of Christ
We believe in that "blessed hope," the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; John 14:1-3).

17. The Eternal State
a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5,6,12,13).
b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; Revelation 20:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
c. We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15).

Note: In subscribing to these articles of faith we by no means set aside or undervalue any of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, but we deem the knowledge, belief and acceptance of the truth as set forth in our Doctrinal Statement to be essential to sound faith and faithful practice.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Is the Euro the Anti Christ’s 666 Currency?
















Will the Euro be the anti Christ’s 666 global currency when he reigns for the last 3 ½ years of the seven year tribulation (Rev. 13)? To many pre-trib Bible commentators it will. Almighty God’s Word is absolutely clear that the Anti Christ will come out of the “revived” Roman Empire (Dan. 2:40-44, 7:7-28, 9:25-27) and to many, this single, sound biblical fact is the foundation for this position.

Will the Euro be the anti Christ’s 666 global currency when he reigns for the last 3 ½ years during the seven year tribulation?

As we draw ever closer to this appointed time, we know what the end result will be but many have speculated as to how and by what means these foretold events will materialize and what will be the chief instruments used to fulfill these appointed times. We here at the IFB are no different. There is nothing wrong in speculating with sound biblical teaching about the way things will unfold as we enter the Day of the Lord. In light of the many emails and questions asked on this we thought that we would address this topic especially in light of the pending collapse of the Euro which has been in the news of late.

It is true the Euro is in its death throes but look what this common currency has done to unify and nationalize the once hostile and war torn nations of Europe. True, the Euro has its many opponents, but overall it has made its members and the European inhabitants very dependent on the European Union’s commission. There is nothing like a crisis, especially a fiscal crisis for the consolidation of power and to cause the masses to unify around a “common” crisis and leader. It is the perfect storm in for totalitarians to arise when the masses cry for change and for a strong leader? Democracy, the rule of law and the social and fiscal order are thrown out of the window and the vacuum is filled with a lawless tyrant.

True the Euro has its many opponents, but overall it has made its members and the European inhabitants very dependent on the European Union’s commission.
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As we look at the Holy Scriptures and read what lays a head in the imminent arrival of the seven year tribulation (Dan. 9:25-27), we see that there is no GREATER word that can be used in our English language to describe this unprecedented time other than EXPONENTIALLY! The Lord Jesus stated that, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:21-22).

It is our personal opinion on this matter - based on sound biblical teaching - that when the anti Christ finally rises to ABSOLUTE power - after his miraculous resuscitation and fatal wound being healed (Rev. 13:3,12, 17:8-10) - that he will brutally murder Almighty God’s Two Witnesses and leave their dead bodies in the streets of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:7-12). This very act will institute his 3 ½ year reign and the commencement of his 666 global state (Rev. 13). What is often left out of this commonly agreed position is what has previously taken place for the last 3 ½ years (the first half of the seven year tribulation) before his rise to absolute power (Rev. 13).

There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that any national currency can ever survive to the conclusion of this EXPONENTIALLY catastrophic time(the first 3 ½ years of the seven year tribulation) including the Dollar and Euro.

It is after the signing of the covenant between victorious Israel and the newly revealed anti Christ on behalf of Israel’s enemies (Ezek. 38: 8, Dan. 7:27, 1 Thess. 5:3, Rev. 6:1-2) that the world will enter a time of EXPONENTIAL demonic activity and catastrophic global calamities which will fully engulf the entire world (Rev. 6-9). The EXPONENTIAL supernatural events, catastrophic eco disasters and the mass annihilation of humanity by global war, pestilences and starvation will transform the social and political landscape of the world to a state of EXPONENTIAL lawlessness and despair (Rev. 6-9). There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that any national currency can ever survive to the conclusion of this EXPONENTIALLY catastrophic time (the first 3 ½ years of the seven year tribulation) including the Dollar and Euro (Rev. 6-9).
It will be after these EXPONENTIAL and catastrophic 3 ½ years (Rev. 6-9) that the lines will be draw by the earth’s remaining inhabitants. These will be at an absolute and final crossroads and will choose with eyes wide open who they will serve for their remaining moments of time and for ALL ETERNITY (Rev. 13:16-18, 14:9-11). Either Lucifer and his anti Christ or the ONLY wise Creator, King of Kings and Savior of ALL mankind, The Lord Jesus Christ!

It will be HIS mark ALONE that will be the ONLY vehicle for buying or selling food etc. for all the remaining masses of the world during this time.
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Whatever monetary standards (gold, silver, precious stones etc.) which remain at this time (Rev. 6-9) will be used by the anti Christ for his the 666 currency (Rev. 13:16-18, 14:9-11). It will be HIS mark ALONE that will be the ONLY vehicle for buying or selling food etc. for all the remaining masses of the world during this time. It is our personal belief that it will be a literal mark with the anti Christ’s 666 inscription (Rev. 13:16-18, 14:9-11). It is doubtful that much of the technological advancements of our present day will survive this catastrophic time period (Rev. 6-9). Without access to electric power and the much needed technological applications for this technology, the computer chip would be rendered useless. The anti Christ – at this time – will need a more simple and solid means of verification and the engraved inscription of his 666 mark IN the fore head or right hand of a godless, Messiah rejecting, loyal subject of the 666 global state will do the job.

It is doubtful that much of any technological advancements of our present day will survive this catastrophic time period.

We are indeed living in turbulent times and all that we see before us in the global politics and the global social order of our day is leading to this time. Be NOT deceived! This is where we are heading as a world and nothing is going to stop this arrival to its prophetic fulfillment.

It is our sole desire if you know NOT the Savior to please be sure that you do (John 1:12, 3:16-17, Acts 16:31)! For us who do may we be getting out His saving Word and redeeming the moments… for the Kingdom of Heaven is TRULY at hand!

DJP I.F

What must I do to be saved!
The Catastrophic Events That Will Lead Up To The Anti-Christ's 666 Global State

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