Articles – Too Long in the Sun

Not Everyone | Biblical Christianity – Just The Facts | Richard Rives

Constantine is recognized as “THE FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR.”

What most people are not aware of is that while professing Christianity, Constantine maintained his devotion to the sun god Sol Invictus, the all-inclusive title given to the sun gods by the Roman Emperor Aurelian, some thirty years earlier.

Professing Christianity while practicing paganism, Constantine had the authority as the ruler of the empire to define a new Christianity-not the faith once delivered to the saints, but a new version of Christianity, lacking few aspects of pagan ritual.

Examining the evidence, there is no question that the actions of Constantine have had a great deal to do with the fact that many of the precepts found in contemporary Christianity, the Christianity practiced by most today, are actually based in pagan sun worship. These precepts can be traced, without a doubt, to the sun god to which Constantine was committed- To Sol Invictus, the Invincible Sun.

There is no doubt that Constantine considered himself a Christian, and by today’s standards, he would more than qualify. Within the writings of numerous historians, we find, attributed to Constantine, beautiful prayers of honor and devotion to Christ. His Christianity was not, however, the Christianity described in the Bible. He defined his own version of Christianity, which other than sacrifice and the consultation of oracles, contained practically all of the elements of the pagan sun worship that he was familiar with.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus warned that many people who call Him Lord will not enter into the kingdom of heaven – only those who do the will of His Father which is in heaven.

Is the Christianity you practice based on that described in the Bible or the traditions of men that can be traced directly to the pagan sun worship practiced by Constantine? I encourage you to do a little research. You might be surprised by what you learn.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives with Just the Facts.

Wresting The Scriptures | Biblical Christianity – Just The Facts | Richard Rives

Today many would tell us that its all about grace and that to concern ourselves with the commandments of God is to be legalistic.

Nothing could be further from the truth. We are to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, and are told that to do otherwise is to deceive our own selves.

Throughout the ages, many have decided what they want or need Christianity to be, and have been so bold as to suppose that it will yield to their desires. In search of non-Biblical grace, rather than conforming to Biblical precepts and acting upon them, they wrest the scriptures to their own destruction.

While “talking the talk,” they redefine Biblical Christianity to accommodate their own needs failing to recognize that true faith, as outlined in scripture, and as practiced by first century believers, is more than the recitation of Christian phraseology. It is walking the walk. It is a life-style of obedience to the commandments of our Creator, as recorded in the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s not being legalistic – That’s Biblical Christianity.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives with Just the Facts.

The Slain of the Lord Shall Be Many | Richard Rives

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For the past two thousand years our “adversary the devil” has been doing everything possible to pervert the truths regarding our Savior and His commandments. As King Solomon once wrote, There is nothing new under the sun. Just as in the Garden of Eden, our “adversary” questions: Hath God said? Truly, Time is the Ally of Deceit; and time is truly of the essence. For centuries believers have thought that they were living in the last days; and they were right. It was their last days, their time in history to tell others about the Messiah of Israel. Today, no matter how we might view the timing of prophetic events, now is the time in which we have been given the opportunity to share the truth with others. While there are countless numbers preaching another gospel, there are only a “few” of us who will stand for the truth.

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The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. …Luke 10:2

The Ark Of The Covenant | Richard Rives

SUPPORT

PLEASE CONSIDER:

Praying that our Heavenly Father would bless our efforts to share the truth, in order that people would be awakened, strengthened, and even saved.

Giving generously to help with printing and advertising and expenses.

Sharing our page on FaceBook.

Placing Too Long in the Sun / Time is the Ally of Deceit books in your local libraries.

Helping us with the advertising of our material in your local newspapers and publications.

Purchasing additional copies for friends, neighbors, and relatives, or to lend out.

Sending out emails directing your contacts to our web site.

Arranging meetings in your area.

Arranging radio talk show interviews.

The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. …Luke 10:2

Not Under The Law: Paul and the Truth | New book by Kent and Jodi Smith

The magnificence of our Creator is beyond our capacity to imagine. If we question His wisdom, it’s time to check our sanity, because He’s really smart!
Get ready to experience the unity of the scriptures like never before!
Excellent new resource for sharing with those still caught in the deception of the ages!

Click here to order your copy today!

Check this new book out and you will be encouraged and shown how Paul does NOT teach that the Law was done away with as so many try to say.

Jan McFarland – July 31, 2015:

I feel this book accurately explains those sections of Scripture that can be confusing or appear that Paul is teaching that the ‘law’ is done away with. It puts those hard to be understood passages of Paul into context. “Not Under the Law” helped with my own understanding and also gives me concise answers for friends who are coming into Torah. All those, “What about this verse…” questions are easy to answer now because of this book. Paul did not preach or teach lawlessness. He did not and would not contradict the Word and this book shows why. It is a good reference to share with others!

Your Own Tradition

In the book of Mark we read of an instance when certain Pharisees and scribes confronted Jesus about the fact that some of his disciples were eating bread without first washing their hands – a specific ritual of hand washing being a tradition of the elders.

Jesus called them hypocrites, stating that while they honored Him with their lips, theIr hearts were far from Him. He said that it was in vain that they worshiped Him teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Jesus said that they rejected the commandment of God in order that they might keep their own traditions.

What had happened is that the scribes and Pharisees had added their own rules and regulations to the laws of our Creator – man made traditions – some of which, if accepted, made the commandments of God impossible to keep.

We know from other scripture passages that Jesus openly violated some of those traditions such as healing a man on the sabbath – demonstrating that it is not wrong to do good on the sabbath day.

Today there are those who would lead us to believe that the fact that Jesus healed on the sabbath proves that we no longer have to concern ourselves with the fourth commandment – that Jesus himself broke that commandment.

But no – Jesus was falsely accused of breaking that commandment, when in fact all that He did was disregard the commandments of men that made it impossible to keep. He never broke any of the commandments, for if He had done so, He would not qualify as a sinless sacrifice.

In our day and age, just as in times past, religious leaders continue to reject the commandments of God in order that they might keep their own traditions: Not traditions that add to our Creators commandments but rather traditions that attempt to abrogate or do away with the commandments that He wrote in stone.

Some would tell us that as believers, under grace, we no longer have to concern ourselves with those commandments – while at the same time, aspects of worship, known to be pagan in origin, such as Easter, Christmas and Sunday rest – traditions of men – are defended. With the first four commandments gone – anything and everything can be ascribed to the worship of our Creator.

We have an adversary who cares not whether we add to God’s commandments or whether take away from them just as long as we are off the narrow path that leads to life.

Let us recall the admonition of the Psalmist: The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. The Lord himself will preserve His words forever and no man will ever add to or subtract from them.

Beware lest any man spoil YOU through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITIONS OF MEN, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives, with Just the Facts

Ashamed before Him at His coming

Historians recognize December 25 as a well known pagan birthday, honoring many of the ancient sun gods.

Those who attend our bible schools and seminaries are well aware of that fact; yet it is rare occasion when one of them will publicly admit it.

It’s easy to learn the origin of celebrations on December 25th. Encyclopedias plainly reveal the facts; and today, by way of the internet, with only a few minutes of research you will learn all you need to know. It was thought to be the birthday of pagan gods long before the time of Christ.

A good example is found in the fact that in Rome, a pagan temple for the sun god known as the Invincible sun, was dedicated on that day.

So why won’t Christian leaders tell us? They are ashamed of it. It cannot be defended; and they just don’t want to talk about it.

Do you think that perhaps there may be other things that we are not being told?

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives, with Just the Facts.

Men Who Hold The Truth In Unrighteousness

Many highly educated people have come to the conclusion that Christianity is nothing more than a new version of pagan mythology. There are many examples.

One reason they believe that, is the fact that December 25th is known to have been considered the birthday of pagan gods long before the time of Christ. Even so, now, it is widely accepted as the birthday of our Savior.

Those folks think that we are stupid – but there is a difference between deception and stupidity. Many of us have been deceived by our religious leaders and teachers. I know that I was; and, when I found out, I knew that it was my responsibility to warn others. That is the purpose of these commentaries.

The book of Romans has something to say about those who reject the Gospel of Christ. We are told that: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. December 25th never had anything to do with the birth of our Savior, yet many pseudo intellectuals have believed the lies of the theologians to the extent that they have rejected Christ all together. What are we going to do about it?

Romans 1:18 speaks of those who withhold the truth in unrighteousness. We are told that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against them.

In an information age that plainly reveals the pagan nature of December 25th. will we demand honesty or will we be complicit with those who purposefully withhold the truth?

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives, with Just the Facts.

December 25th, A Happy Birthday? – by Richard Rives

December 25th is well known as the birthday of various pagan gods.

A Roman calendar drawn up by a “Christian” in 354 A.D. (The Codex Calendar of 354) shows December 25 to be the birthday of Sol Invictus. Not only is it listed as a pagan birthday; but, it is listed as the most important pagan birthday of the whole year. It was celebrated in the Roman Circus with extra chariot races. This is the sun god that Constantine the Great worshipped while claiming to be a “Christian.” His coins state that he was “committed to Sol Invictus.” Constantines’ form of “Christianity” continues to influence Christianity today. December 25th is just Continue reading “December 25th, A Happy Birthday? – by Richard Rives”

Biblical Christianity Confronts the Dawn Goddess – by Richard Rives

The renowned Oxford English Dictionary informs us that the name Easter is derived from the name of a goddess whose festival was celebrated at the time of the vernal equinox. We are told that she was originally known as the dawn goddess – no doubt the origin of sunrise celebrations at the time of Easter.

According to Venerable Bede, a seventh century Anglo-Saxon theologian, the English word Easter is derived from the name of the pagan fertility goddess Eostra. He tells us that “the heathen Anglo-Saxons called the fourth month “Esturmonath” after their goddess Eostra – another name representing the spring fertility goddesses such as Astarte or Ashtaroth, the goddess who was introduced into the British Isles by the Druids. In all actuality Easter is just another Continue reading “Biblical Christianity Confronts the Dawn Goddess – by Richard Rives”