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Welcome to a fresh view of an ancient perspective!
BACK TO
"VOICE OF THE 7TH ANGEL" is devoted to the echoing of the voices of the ancient Hebrew Prophets of the Bible regarding the imminent future of today's world. It was written to promote an undistorted understanding of their prophecies of the Time of The End. Powerful & uncompromising, it vanquishes all the popular Christian hype related to this topic. VO7A is dedicated to the positive bracing of Generation Finále for the most trying and calamitous era mankind will ever experience! The End Time, the Last Days, the Last Generation, the Great Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, all these implicate a much more earnest and sober sort of preparation than those who so cavalierly preach the "Rapture" are prepared to even contemplate. The smoke & mirrors pandered by the best-selling prophecy purveyors to create illusions of Christian readiness for THE GREATEST TIME OF TROUBLE EVER TO DARKEN THE HORIZONS OF PLANET EARTH must not go unchallenged for their shallowness by any true believer of conscience. As the author of VO7A, a Messianic Jew of Sephardic descent, I could no longer refrain from stepping out of the obscurity of life in little old Santa Fe, New Mexico to raise a cry of challenge to the best-selling voices of fashionable End Time hype that dominate today's urban marketplace of voices & ideas. Finally, after 30 years of studying the ancient sacred prophecies of the Hebrews and watching and listening to their holy voices continually being framed in pictures of travesty by so many would-be "prophecy experts," I have broken my "silence." Undaunted by our credential-crazed establishment, and boasting no titles or long lists of worldly accomplishments, I offer only what I believe to be a fresh perspective on the Bible. It's a view untainted by miscreant religious traditionalism, by divisive denominationalism and sanctimonious sectarianism, myself not being a subscriber to any of these classic follies (nor a member of any of their groups). A virtual "voice crying in the wilderness," I simply beckon all serious seekers of truth to join me for a while on a rugged excursion "back to the future"—a courageous tour of the veritable visions of the Bible Prophets, so very different from the common, unauthentic re-visions being commercialized today. VOICE OF THE 7TH ANGEL is not necessarily for everybody. It is intended, though, for anyone and everyone who is interested in, or even just curious about, what the Jews and Hebrews have had revealed to them (by what can only be divine sources) about the Last Days. Christians, generally speaking, are no strangers to most of these prophetic revelations, since they revere the same Hebrew Bible on which VO7A is based. But VO7A calls into question many of their popular interpretations, which are frequently strange and off-center, and quite often heretically revisionist. Yes, that's what I said, today's "Christianity" embraces and promotes various inexcusable forms of heresy & falsehood! Should you choose to explore it, VO7A reveals that that very phenomenon itself is also an integral & principal part of the fulfillment of the Prophecies.—That's right, they saw that coming too. Too often, it seems folks strive to surround themselves in capsules of comfort, in which they feel secure and insulated from trouble and difficulty, from responsibility, sacrifice and so on. I don't terribly blame them. I share similar instincts. But in terms of the core values and objectives of the Christian faith (as represented most purely in the pages of the Bible) and what it means to take that noble name unto oneself, comfort and freedom from sacrifice and suffering are not by any means central or primary to that Faith. Rather, it is quite to the contrary, as any truly objective reading of the Bible clearly reveals. But what do we find among most of those who represent Christianity to the world? Well, practically all of its nominal adherents quite readily embrace the sacrifice Christ made upon His cross for them (and for the redemption of all humanity). And, these same folks also profess to revere Messiah's model of forsaking all worldly pursuits and values for the sake of the kingdom of GOD & open access to it for us all. Yet, peering past all the pious reverential rhetoric, I mostly find they dread, abhor and shun His legacy—the bearing of their own crosses for His name's sake. Yet the time-honored tenets of their faith declare plainly, in the words of The Master himself that, "He that taketh not his (or her) cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me." Herein lies the crux of the matter, literally. So, we have yet to see how "hot" my new book may prove to be. Its dearth of reverence for the fundamentalist fakery, twisted traditionalism & profane perversity that today shamefully besmirches the dignity and honor of Christianity and the faith & lifestyle for which it once so fervently stood makes it particularly controversial. Even just the first chapter of VO7A sets it apart from being just another run-of-the-mill prophecy book pandering the usual escapism. But then, shrinking from cold, hard challenge or even flaming controversy to a merely lukewarm cup of tea, is not my style. I do imagine, though, that those who flee the call of taking up that personal cross of the LORD's own admonition, which was quoted above, will also shun and abhor VOICE OF THE 7TH ANGEL. If you, however, might personally have any interest in perusing its penetrating pages or venturing its uncompromising challenge, the full volume of it (387 pages + 117 pages of references and notes) is now available in paperback edition. Please just click here to forward an e-mail message expressing your interest. I will promptly send you ordering information.
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Please take a look at the following chapter samples, with convenient
hyperlinks to the all-important endnotes. That may help
you decide. Also note that
VO7A is available
on CD-ROM as well, again with the marvelous convenience of being able to
hyperlink instantly to the multitude of Scripture references and other
fascinating notes provided. It is, however, only readable on a personal computer
via the same sort of web browser that you are now using to view these pages.
It is presented in identical format as it is found in these chapter samples.
(It is not yet available as an audio CD playable in home, car or personal
CD players.) The upcoming CD-ROM BONUS EDITION now in preparation includes
multimedia enhancements, which consist primarily of current events video
clips that highlight the prophetic subject matter of
VO7A. Its
development is still in progress, and it will be offered upon completion
as a free upgrade to every one who orders the current CD edition
or the printed volume.
May GOD and His Lamb bless you & your reading of
VO7A! |
BACK TO
THE FUTURE
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Table of Contents |
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Chapter 1 |
So Many Voices
< Click to view SAMPLE CHAPTER Sorting Out the Facts < Click to view SAMPLE The Signposts < Click to view SAMPLE New World Order Options < Click for SAMPLE Not Yet "Ye Shall Not Die...Ye Shall Be As Gods!" The Fundamental Dread Gates of Hell Prevail Marvel, or Revolt? Messiah Mistake The Sieve of Vanity Time No Longer—The Seven Last Plagues Figs & Generation Finále < Click to view SAMPLE Tell Us When < Click to view SAMPLE Ten Virgins |
See Chapter Outline that follows below for breakdown into sections |
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Table of Contents |
Clicking on a
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 SynopsisIntroduction — About this bookPreface — "Please, Don't Get Me Wrong!" |
| 1. So Many Voices
(< Click to view SAMPLE CHAPTER)
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| 2. Sorting Out the
Facts (< Click to view SAMPLE
CHAPTER)
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| 3. The Signposts
(< Click to view SAMPLE CHAPTER)
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| 4. New World Order
Options (< Click to view SAMPLE
CHAPTER)
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| 5. Not Yet
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| 6. "Ye Shall Not Die...Ye
Shall Be As Gods!"
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| 7. The Fundamental
Dread
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| 8. Gates of Hell
Prevail
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| 9. Marvel, or
Revolt?
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| 10.
Messiah Mistake
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| 11. The Sieve of
Vanity
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| 12. Time No Longer—The
Seven Last Plagues
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| 13. Figs & Generation
Finále (< Click to view SAMPLE
CHAPTER)
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| 14. Tell Us When
(< Click to view SAMPLE CHAPTER)
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| 15. Ten Virgins
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Copyright © 1999 Andrew Contreras
Openly stated here at the outset, and as the reader will surely gather out of the body of this work, a very deliberate effort is made to starkly challenge, with maximal austerity, the mainstream beliefs of traditional and neo-traditional "believers," particularly of Christian namesake. This is done out of necessity, in a deliberate effort to force the reader away from any majority-held opinions, interpretations, and perspectives on Biblical teachings and spiritual subjects, prophecy topics in particular.
A political proverb passed on to me quite a number of years ago, originating with a sage whose name I never learned, but with whose wisdom I instinctively identified almost instantly upon its birth in my ear, provides the rationale for this approach. That poignant proverb helped to foster in me a healthy sense of skepticism that has remained a faithful companion of mine to this very day. I have employed the principle it embodies in the challenges I pose throughout this book. And though the "tough love" approach taken in presenting my theme may at times seem harsh or unkind, even at best, it is nonetheless in love that I have offered my absolute best to the search for Truth, hoping that the wisdom of my trusty proverb might assist me to be a blessing to all who venture to read my ravings and join me in the quest.
For all I know, my little proverb was probably born from the womb of the Holy Bible itself; for it most certainly resembles, just as a daughter her mother, the teaching of the Master with respect to political majority dynamics. You may already by familiar with it too:
"The majority is always wrong."
The Master's own versions of this adage, though not quite as succinct, provide yet more instructive value in the specific guidance they offer. And perhaps the reason why I took so readily to these wise words of the unknown sage, quoted above, is because I had already learned the principle they embody from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which provide an invaluable record of Christ's exhortations on the subject of going along with the crowd. He taught:
"Enter ye in at the strait gate [meaning, of course, constrictive and narrow]: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." —Matthew 7:13-14
On those occasions (and they were not few) when I was horribly beset by personal doubt about my own intent in the authoring of this book, and also by preoccupation about how my potential audience might react to and judge this literary offering, of particular comfort and assurance to me were the following stern words of Jesus, recorded by the apostle Luke...
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." —Luke 6:26
Both these teachings have provided the energetic thrust for my uncompromising assaults on the convenience-based mainstream Christianity of the West that subscribes to and promotes doctrine which is democratically popular, voguishly "traditional," and pitifully mundane.
The wisdom of "my little proverb," buttressed by the analogous teachings of The Master Himself, dictates the "necessity" I spoke of at the first to assail mainstream religious doctrine and neo-traditional Christian interpretations of the Bible (which have cast off the original apostolic tradition — of each individual also bearing the cross). Without a doubt, most readers will not escape notice that it is with unrelenting and naked contest of their highly dubious points of view that I call into question their popularized beliefs, so widely accepted by such a large majority.
Somewhere, somehow, something is seriously wrong in today's established order. Perhaps that can be mended — with enough honesty and determination (to eschew evil and flee the flattery of all that is popular). Which brings me to share a couple more proverbs on "tough love," and a poem of mine.
"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." —Solomon, Ecclesiates 7:5
"Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." —Solomon, Proverbs 9:8
"Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." —Solomon, Proverbs 27:5-6
"I Simply Request"
(by yours truly)
Forgive me, if I offend;
But bless me, if I mend.
And regard me as a friend,
Only, and especially, when
You see I care about your end.
Entitled "Voice of the 7th Angel," and highlighting the finality of the seventh and last voice of the angels of the Apocalypse, this book renders a definitive, and unpopular, statement about the much talked-about "End of the World." In its pages, the prevailing vogue of weak and watered down mainstream beliefs about the end times are seriously challenged. They are exposed for their frivolity and fantasy, and rocked to their fickle foundations in a courageous search for the "elusive" truth—one which fables of Rapture cannot dispel—a truth revealing that The End is not yet!
A burgeoning plethora of modern-day prophecy "experts" and scholars of Bible texts have all raised their assorted voices to expound on their "illuminated" understandings of the ancient scriptures that detail the visions of the Prophets concerning the Time of The End. Yet, a hazy shadow of uncertainty and a thick fog of confusion hovers tenaciously over this sorely misunderstood subject—thanks to all the overflowing hype, of the best-selling type, and to blind devotion to an ill-founded "Christian" tradition of misguided narrow-mindedness. Lacking most in the spiritual bankruptcy of our times, and evident in the popularized expositions of today's Bible prophecy experts, is a sense of courage in the quest for truth.
This book's frank study of the very same Scriptures which seem to lead to conflicting conclusions by the various notorious experts examines not only the differing and deviant conclusions of these leading voices but the reason for the conflict. The unadulterated teachings of the Scriptures are the guiding light of each of the chapters herein. That light dispels the popular hype cultivated and proliferated by such authors as Hal Lindsey (of The Late Great Planet Earth fame, Apocalypse Code, etc.) as well as by the authors of the famed "Left Behind" series of novels by Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins, and by numerous other authors and television personalities, too numerous to name, who subscribe to, promote and nourish Rapture dogmas based on escapist eschatologies. The deep-seated dreads that drive the embracing of such contrived doctrines, which are in direct conflict with the truth, are confronted with almost brutal honesty as we learn from our study that the end cannot possibly be yet, nor at any random unexpected moment!
Nor will we see the birth of the "New World Order" without experiencing the travail! The best-selling purveyors of Rapture-mania have indeed rightly perceived many of the "signs of the times" as per the prophets of the Bible. Yet they remain heavily deluded about the times of the signs! This hard-hitting examination of the prophetic texts and related biblical teachings reveals that Second Coming buffs and expectant "rapturophiles" have a great deal of "hard labor" ahead of them before the "baby" of their "blessed hope" is ever delivered. There shall be no spiritual caesarean section or anesthetic relief from the dreaded Great Tribulation spoken of by the prophets, which they clearly state will precede the New Age of Messiah.
Indeed, a "New Age" is about to dawn upon the world of mankind, as so many modern-day prophets are loudly heralding. I too affirm we are definitely treading the threshold of a New World Order. But, sadly, the darkest hour ever known to humanity—the final hour of travail immediately preceding the emergence of the NWO—remains desperately dim in the uncertain light of the array of flickering prophetic "candles" now feebly blowing in the wind. And though these flickering flames abound across the landscape of our generation, yet the vision is none the better. This book reveals what fuels the fickle flames of the great majority of today's best-selling Christian "prophets," and it projects a bold and blazing light on the actual perspective provided to us by the ancient prophets of the Bible regarding the coming New Age with which our planet is so pregnant.
As the "controversy of Jerusalem" continues to swell and threaten the peace and stability of the entire globe, so does the infamous emergence and rise of the ambitious demigod Antichrist, seeking to exploit humanity and the resources of Earth to establish a planetary fortress for galactic domination (headquartered in Jerusalem), become an even more clear and present reality. The literal and symbolic significance of Jerusalem and how Christians may, or may not, be connected is well documented within the pages of the "Voice of the 7th Angel."
And for the spiritually minded, at last, the facts are unearthed—Christians are neither the root of the New Age Jerusalem, nor the trunk, nor a separate new tree unto themselves. Just as they share a common root with their Jewish mother, so they also share a common destiny with her (both the bitter and the sweet) as the Daughter of Jerusalem.
Discussion of the New World Order, the dynamics and the principal powers which charge that competitive conflict for global domination, is also visited at one of the "stops" in what this author has termed a "tour" of the Prophetic Landscape, which was authentically painted for us by the ancient Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. This is a tour which promises, and fulfills its pledge, to take us off the worn-out beaten paths of the popular, best-selling tour lines of the mainstream to the rugged, but realistic sites of genuinely raw and veritable, non-commercial prophetic exploration.
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