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Catholics Nailed To Crosses In The Philippines In Mocking Re-enactment Of Jesus’ Death

Beloved, you cannot begin to imagine the PRICE HE PAID for your sin and mine. Which is why we recoil in horror when we read stories like this that only serve to mock and belittle the true sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary.

Published

13 years ago

April 6, 2012

Geoffrey Grider

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A grim Good Friday reenactment of Jesus’s suffering.

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:12-18)

The Philippines is about 80% Roman Catholic, and the country’s culture is strongly mixed with and established based on Catholicism. Since the Lenten Season is the time of the year where most of the Catholic practices and rituals are performed, it is never a surprise for the locals to see some devout parishioners go beyond what was called for by the Catholic church. Because of the rich mixture of pagan roots and that of Catholicism, many devotees naturally lean toward folk superstition ending up in the spectacle that is a unique brand of Catholicism in this country. It is baffling, though, to know that although the Catholic church condemns such practices, the annual rituals have continued since the 1950’s.

Calculating the true cost

From a biblical perspective, though, re-enacting Jesus’ suffering and death in such a way borders on mockery to the sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God who was sent to die for the reparation sin of those who will believe. Just imagine Jesus standing before Pilate. He is about to have His back scourged with a Roman cat-of-nine tails. Nine rough leather straps, with bits of broken glass and sharp metal shards woven in to lacerate the skin. The hulking, powerful Roman guards would lash out with all their might, make contact, and then drag the whip back across the skin. Over and over again this was done to the back of Jesus in brutal, barbaric fashion. Now, if any of you think this was just a little “whipping” and was something Jesus could easily shake off, let’s do the math to see exactly how brutal it really was.

The cat-o-nine-tails has 9 leather straps with, on average, 5 sharp pieces of metal or glass woven in. According to Roman law, He would have been whipped about 40 times. Take out your calculator and times 9 x 5 x 40, and what do you get? 1,800 potential lacerations that filleted our Saviour like a fish at cleaning time. Beloved, you cannot begin to imagine the PRICE HE PAID for your sin and mine. Which is why we recoil in horror when we read stories like the following that only serve to mock and belittle the true sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary.

From the Washington Post: Nine Catholic devotees in the Philippines marked Good Friday by reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with real nails driven through their hands and feet as villagers dressed as Roman centurions and thousands of others looked on. The devotees say they endure the pain to give thanks, atone for their sins and pray during Holy Week.

Agony or Mockery?: Bobby Gomez grimaces as a nail is hammered into his hand in the Good Friday celebration

“I feel good because my suffering has ended,” Ruben Enaje, a 51-year-old sign painter, told the Associated Press. Enaje went through his 26th crucifixion this year after recently surviving a fall from a building. The annual event, held this year in the northern province of Pampanga, is opposed by Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines and around the world, who say that there is no reason to go through this pain.

“The church’s position is there’s no need to go through this physical and literal pain on the body because Christ already did that for us,” the Rev. Melvin Castro of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines told the AP.

Pain: A Filipino man has nails through his hands - and some more put through his feet as he is put on a cross in the reenactment.

Castro suggests that people go to confession and give alms instead. Also opposed to the tradition are the country’s health officials, who have warned in years past that those taking part in the rituals should have tetanus shots and be pierced by sterilized nails.

Horror: Percy Valencia, 41, is hoisted up onto a cross before being 'crucified' for a few minutes today .

Just before Friday’s crucifixion, scores of people who did not go up on the cross whipped themselves as a symbol of their repentance. Others marched through the streets beating their naked backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood.

Hooded barefoot penitents perform self-flagellation to atone for their sins in San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines.

Two foreign students were allowed to film this year’s rites, but angered organizers when they tried to participate in the procession, according to the AP. Foreigners are not allowed to participate because of two incidents in which an Australian comic was nailed to a cross using a fake name, and a Japanese man tried to be crucified for a scene in a porn film. source – Washington Post

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Headline News

NTEB SUNDAY SERVICE: Too Many Birthdays

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Is there such a thing as too many birthdays? There sure is if you waste the time the Lord has given to get something done for Him.

The wisest man that ever lived, King Solomon, has a lot to say about the true nature of life, and the inherent danger in having too many birthdays. The time to get something done for the Lord is when you have the time, opportunity and strength to do it. Preached live this morning at Bethany Baptist Church in Saint Augustine, Florida.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJB)

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Too Many Birthdays

Too Many Birthdays

OT: 12 sons of Jacob, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 spies in Canaan, 12 stones in altar of Elijah, 12 minor prophets, 12 unleavened cakes in the Temple

NT: 12 apostles, 12 baskets of leftovers, Jesus is 12 years old teaching in the Temple, Jesus spoke of calling 12 legions of angels, 12 foundations and 12 gates in New Jerusalem, the 144,000 is 12 x 12,000, 24 elders in Revelation.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (KJB)

“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:5 (KJB)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (KJB)

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 (KJB)

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” Proverbs 5:21 (KJB)

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Proverbs 6:6 (KJB)

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.” Proverbs 7:1 (KJB)

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Proverbs 8:34 (KJB)

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” Proverbs 9:6 (KJB)

“The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.” Proverbs 10:28 (KJB)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

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When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

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Free Bible Program

Infamous Mafia Hitman And Contract Killer Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano Believes The Gospel And Gets Saved, Born Again And Water Baptized

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Sammy Gravano was in and out of prison long before Bibles Behind Bars was raised up, but every day we give King James Bibles to inmates just like he was

When I first watched the video of Sammy “The Bull” Gravano getting baptized, it brought tears to my eyes and the look on his face absolutely genuine and right in line with what you’d expect to see in a brand-new baby Christian who just got saved. Then I went back to listen to the entire story, and my heart sank a little as I heard Gravano talking about his testimony which, the longer I listened to it, the shakier it got. Then, at 13:02 minutes into the video, paydirt, Sammy said he needed forgiveness and redemption (that’s it!) for the deeds done in his life, and that he acknowledged that Jesus Christ (That’s it again!) was the only place to get it. Praise the Lord, Sammy The Bull got saved! This is one of the reasons why Bibles Behind Bars is so very important in these last days.

“And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Acts 22:4 (KJB)

Sammy Gravano was in and out of prison long before Bibles Behind Bars was raised up by the Lord, but hardened criminal inmates just like Gravano are behind bars right now, and if Sammy The Bull can get saved, they can too. To date, we have record of nearly 700 inmates who have gotten saved by believing the gospel and given a Bible from Bibles Behind Bars. 700! And many of them are men just as wicked and as vile as Gravano, just as wicked and vile as you and I were when we came to the Lord to get saved. Right now, the Carson City Correctional Center in Michigan is surrounded by double fences with razor-ribbon wire and two gun towers. Electronic detection systems and patrol vehicles are also utilized to maintain perimeter security. And guess what? Chaplain Lonny there has reached out and asked us for Bibles to give to as many of their 2,300 inmates as we are able to provide. The total for that many Bibles is $8,257.00 if you were wondering. Christian, if we’re not working to see people get saved, then why are we here?

Come help us to send King James Bibles, books and Christian literature to every jail and prison that asks us, and pray the Lord that many more like Sammy The Bull will get saved.

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

If God has prospered you, please take a moment to click on the donate button to help us in this monumental task of providing King James Bibles, New Testaments, scripture portions, gospel tracts as well as Spanish Bibles to inmates in jails and prisons from Florida to Alaska, and every state in between. We need your prayers, we need your generous financial support, and we need you to stand with us in the closing days of the Church Age. Thank you so very much, TO THE FIGHT!!!

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Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano Believes The Gospel And Gets Saved

To watch this video in its full context, include the all-important part starting at minute 13:02, click here for the full version.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

NTEB PROPHECY NEWS PODCAST: Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq Says He Is The Part-Muslim And Part-Jewish Leader That The Bible Calls The Antichrist

Published

3 days ago

April 25, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Today we introduce you to Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, the man who says he is the biblical fulfillment of who the Bible says is the Antichrist

According to his web site bio, “Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace) is the long awaited Savior of Mankind, the promised Mahdi and Qaim prophesied to come from the narrations of Mohammed and the Family of Mohammed (From Them is Peace). He is the son of Imam Ahmed al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) and the grandson of Imam Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan Al-Askari, Al-Mahdi in the soul world.” If this were to be true, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq would be the biblical Antichrist. That’s the memo.

“And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.” Micah 5:5 (KJB)

On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, a strange thing is going on since the death of the Roman pontifex maximus Francis, it’s like a lid was lifted on the underworld, in the spirit realm, and all sorts of end times devils are bubbling to the surface. Is Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq the biblical Antichrist? Highly likely not, but, that’s not to say that he’s not here to play a part in this ongoing last days drama. One thing is for sure, he’s done a little homework and understands, from the Bible, who and what the actual Antichrist is, and for that reason deserves to come on the NTEB radar. Christian, prophecy is unfolding and fulfilling at such a rapid rate that it’s impossible, without a King James Bible, to keep up with what’s going on, going down and coming up. On this episode, prepare to have your mind blown as we introduce you to Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. Also, updates from Rome ahead of the funeral service of Pope Francis set for Saturday.

Abdullah Hashem Aba Al Sadiq Says He Is The Biblical Messiah

Study Helps And Links For Today’s Podcast

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MONDAY AT NOON: Every Monday at Noon we review all the latest news and events related to bible prophecy, and examine what is happening in light of what is written. If you miss the live show, all of our Prophecy News Podcast programs are archived here.
FRIDAY AT NOON: Friday at Noon we review all the latest news and events related to bible prophecy, and examine what is happening in light of what is written. If you miss the live show, all of our Prophecy News Podcast programs are archived here.

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