What about evolution?

Interviewer: What about evolution? Much is made of the idea that mankind and all other creatures evolved from more primitive species. I suppose asking You this question may sound a bit silly, but what are Your feelings on the subject?
God: I am firmly in the camp of those who believe in Intelligent Design.
Interviewer: I sort of thought You would be. But did You use the evolutionary process to create the world?
God: There is no evolutionary process-one species evolving into another as people generally understand it-so it would be rather hard for Me to use it.
Interviewer: So You are saying that evolution is more or less a nonstarter.
God: It is an intriguing theory with no basis in fact. I say “intriguing” because man is intrigued by it, not Me. Actually, it is diabolical. It provided man a “scientific” reason-and I say scientific with My rather considerable tongue in My cheek-not to believe in Me. The greatest testimony to a creator is the creation. A masterpiece of a painting is a tribute to the artist who painted it. One acknowledges his genius because one has seen the results of it. Likewise, a remarkable invention is a tribute to its remarkable inventor. So you can imagine how I feel when My handiwork is attributed to the work of the handiwork itself. It really is an absurd concept when one looks at it with even the faintest degree of logic.
It strikes Me as the utmost in bigotry, too, that those who champion evolution’s authenticity refuse to allow the science of creationism to be taught as a counterbalance. The champions of evolution often portray themselves as the defenders of free thought, but in their hypocrisy they refuse to allow people, especially impressionable young students, to freely have access to information other than their own favored creed. It is not so much that someone came up with a bizarre and illogical theory that flies in the face of hard scientific evidence that bothers Me, rather it is that this is foisted on people as the fact of evolution when it is known that it is anything but factual. As you can tell, I tend to get fairly worked up over the subject.
Interviewer: So it is a hoax?
God: A perfect word for it.
Interviewer: But what about dinosaurs? Are they real?
God: They are not real now, but they were.
Interviewer: But don’t they give credence to the theory of evolution?
God: That a range of species that were once plentiful on the earth and are now extinct doesn’t give proof to the theory of evolution. There are species becoming extinct all the time.
Interviewer: But I have always had the impression that they are somewhere on the evolutionary ladder.
God: No. There were many kinds of dinosaurs, but they were all distinctly unique and didn’t evolve from anything; nor did they turn into anything.
Interviewer: Well, what happened to them?
God: The vast majority were killed in the great flood.
Interviewer: You mean Noah and the Ark and all that.
God: Yes.
Interviewer: You said the majority of them. Why not all of them?
God: Because two of each kind were on the Ark.
Interviewer: You mean that he had dinosaurs on the Ark?
God: Why not? I instructed him to take two of every kind of animal, male and female. Except for some species, which I told him to take seven pairs of.
Interviewer: Why haven’t they survived? The other animals did.
God: The climate of the earth after the flood was not so kind to the dinosaurs, just as it wasn’t to some other species. They were not able to adapt to their new environment, so they died off.

Why didn’t God throw in the towel at the very beginning?

Interviewer: Was the flood a real event and Noah a real person?
God: Definitely.
Interviewer: But a flood that covered the whole earth sounds preposterous. Where would all that water come from?
God: The conditions prevalent in the world and atmospheric heavens in those days were far different than what exists today. You can’t judge what was by what now is.
Interviewer: So the Genesis account of creation is completely factual?
God: The Genesis account is wholly factual, though it is admittedly very brief.
Interviewer: In retrospect, should You have made it longer?
God: That is an interesting thought. But no, it is enough. What more should I have said there?
Interviewer: Well, perhaps a little about the mechanisms You used. I mean, to say something like “the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters” seems to leave a fair bit of the picture out. What were You doing, what were You thinking?
God: I was doing one thing at a time. I had to create one thing at time in the right progression. As for what I was thinking, I was thinking about the beautiful place I was going to create.
Interviewer: You had foreknowledge about what was going to happen?
God: You mean the fall of Adam and Eve?
Interviewer: Yes, but not only that. I mean the wars and other things that were going to ravage the world in the centuries to come.
God: Yes, I did.
Interviewer: So why didn’t You throw in the towel at the very beginning? I mean, why bother, since it looks like things didn’t turn out as beautifully as You had planned?
God: This world can be very beautiful. And the reasons that much of it is not can usually be traced back to man. But one always has to realize that this world isn’t the final product. It is a testing ground and a giant demonstration. It is a testing ground for humankind and a demonstration to show humanity that when left to their own devices, they don’t do a terribly good job of things. Thus they will be grateful for My authority, presence, and guidance in the world to come.
Interviewer: I think we covered some of this ground before. I apologize for making You repeat Yourself.
God: Not a problem.
Interviewer: So, back to education. What would You like to see man educated in?
God: In those things that will help him live in peace and harmony with the rest of his kind.
Interviewer: Which would be…
God: The skills involved in communication, the skills involved in providing a sufficient livelihood for himself and his neighbors.
Interviewer: That’s it?
God: Basically, yes.
Interviewer: Basic is just about the right word for it.
God: There is a lot in those two categories.
Interviewer: I suppose there is, but I think You have just handed a lot of people in the field of education pink slips.
God: I don’t think that they need worry that much, because in this world they’ll keep their jobs. But in the world to come they may need to choose something along the lines I just talked about to be their field of educational expertise.
Interviewer: Surely in the next world there wouldn’t be a need for educators.
God: On the contrary, learning doesn’t cease once you cross over. In the world to come, there are limitless opportunities to learn. And those who learn will require teachers. So there is a role for educators.
Interviewer: Well, why would we bother? We’ll know everything we need to know once we get there, won’t we?
God: Goodness, no! There will be lots to learn in the world to come. This world is only a shadow of that one, so if you thought that there was a lot to learn here, then you are going to be surprised at how much there is to learn there. Man has an inquisitiveness that is part of human nature. That part of his nature will live on, and there are limitless opportunities to learn and experience new things.
Interviewer: I notice that whenever You talk about the next world You tend to wax lyrical about it.
God: It’s worth waxing lyrical about. I want to make it sound so tempting-which it is, and really I am hardly scratching the surface of all there is to tell-that everyone will want to go there.
Interviewer: It does sound inviting. Well, just a few more questions, if I may, sort of in the same vein. We discussed evolutionists trying to disprove intelligent creation, and by extension, a creator. Can science prove the reverse, that there is a creator, that You exist?
God: Scientists, if they honestly review the data, will always come back to the conclusion that there is an intelligent design behind the universe. Some who differ on this point may howl at this and say that I am accusing them of being charlatans, but sometimes it is a case of those hit that howl. I know that there are plenty of avenues that invite investigation and speculation, and I am not calling scientists dishonest if they sometimes make wrong postulations along the way. I am saying that once they review the data objectively, they will have to come to the conclusion that this all didn’t happen by accident. And so if it didn’t happen by accident, then it happened by design, so there has to be someone or ones who designed it. So although you can’t isolate Me in a test tube and say, “Aha, here He is,” one can with rational reasoning, even scientific reasoning, conclude that I exist.

Trinity-three persons in One

Interviewer: You said something in that last answer that made me think of another question. You said “someone or ones designed it.” Much is made of the Christian idea of the Godhead being a Trinity-three persons in one, yet at the same time distinct. Are You three?
God: It is a concept that countless theologians and learned men have struggled over. They perhaps would do better if they were like the young child who just takes it in stride and doesn’t worry about it. The Trinity is composed of Myself, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are three distinct beings, while at the same time being united in every way in Our essence.
Interviewer: You have a hierarchy with Yourself at the top?
God: Yes, but that is a very simplistic way of seeing it. It really cannot be comprehended from your viewpoint. Things like this become more understandable once you pass to the spirit world.
Interviewer: You say more understandable. It sounds like we won’t really understand even then.
God: If you could understand everything fully, then you would be God.
Interviewer: What about the old question of “who created God?”
God: Because you are bound by time in your current state, you always try to understand things in a temporal way. In the realm to come you will not be trapped in time, so you will understand things better. I didn’t need a point in time to be created, as does everything in your world. In your minds the best way to think of it is that I have always existed and that I do not need a creator.
Interviewer: You mentioned the Holy Spirit a few answers before. What role does He play in all of this?
God: It would be more correct to say “She.” She is the feminine part of the Trinity.
Interviewer: Feminine?
God: Is that so shocking?
Interviewer: Well, not quite what I imagine everyone thought. But what role does She play?
God: She is the spirit of love that goes out into the world to bring peace and joy to people’s hearts. Just like people can receive Jesus into their lives, so they can receive the Holy Spirit, and She can fill them with joy, peace, happiness, faith, and much more. She is also the instrument by which various gifts and talents are distributed-gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, healing, prophecy, speaking in mysterious tongues, and the interpretation of such tongues.
Interviewer: Could You explain what these “tongues” are? I have heard Pentecostal Christians, and the noises they make sound very odd. In fact, it almost sounds as though they are just babbling away in gibberish.
God: They speak in languages understood to Me. It is a language of praise and prayer. Their spirits bypass their minds and pour out their joy and thanksgiving, as well as concerns and heartaches, to Me.
Interviewer: But couldn’t they just express those things in their own language?
God: They could and do, but praying in tongues propels the spirit of the person praying into the spiritual dimension, setting the spirit free from the fetters of the mind.
Interviewer: Is it that way all the time? Or do they just sometimes pretend?
God: You are a skeptic, aren’t you?
Interviewer: I apologize if it seems that way, but I think some people may question the way some work themselves up, or seem to be putting on a show when they are speaking in tongues or doing something else that seems odd. Are they doing this?
God: Well, some do put on at times. But I know who is whom and I gratefully receive the prayers and praise of all those who call on Me in sincerity.
Interviewer: Of other gifts You listed, among them is miracles. Do people who are filled with the Holy Spirit have the power to perform miracles?
God: They have the power because they have the power of God. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they will perform miracles on a regular basis, but sometimes they might. It doesn’t have to be a big thing to qualify as a miracle, just something that is beyond the power of man to perform at the time. Some people might put these kinds of things down to chance, but if My power has been invoked to perform a certain deed, then the performance of it can be classed as a miracle.
Interviewer: You listed prophecy-predicting future events.
God: Prophecy is not just predicting the future. It is a gift of hearing My voice. I speak to people and they hear My voice or that of Jesus or the Holy Spirit and they pass on what they hear. You could say that prophecy is what this interview is. You asked if anyone was there, and I was! I was waiting to talk with you, and I have allowed you to hear My voice, and as you do, you are recording what you hear. That is prophecy.
Interviewer: So how does one get these gifts of the Holy Spirit?
God: By asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As Jesus comes into your life and gives you the gift of salvation when you ask Him to, likewise the Holy Spirit will come in and fill you up with Her gifts when you ask Her to.
Interviewer: Does everyone who receives the Holy Spirit receive all of these gifts?
God: They could, but it works somewhat differently in that the gifts are not necessarily all active. But the Holy Spirit delights to give Her gifts to those who wisely use them.
Interviewer: And She is there giving people all these gifts.
God: She is or She is working, as I do, through the agency of helping spirits and angels.

Why three?

Interviewer: Why does it take the three of You, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? It seems that one could do it all, since You are God.
God: It is because there are three of Us.
Interviewer: So there have always been three of You?
God: In your way of conceiving it, yes.
Interviewer: What about in Your way of conceiving it?
God: As much as you would like to, it is impossible for you to conceive things from Our point of view until you cross over here. If all the mysteries were explained to you right now, then there would be none left there for you to investigate.
Interviewer: I wasn’t asking to understand them all, but maybe just…
God: You are persistent, but in the end it has to be no for now.
Interviewer: Would it be correct if I inferred that You are like a family? Since You are referred to as the Father and Jesus as the Son, would the Holy Spirit be both Wife and Mother?
God: You could say that.
Interviewer: But I know my Bible and I know that the Holy Spirit is referred to throughout as He. If She is really a “She,” then doesn’t that impinge on the credibility of the Bible, that this is a flaw?
God: No, it doesn’t. In Genesis I am quoted as saying “Let Us make man in Our image. Male and female created we them.”6 So, it was clearly inferred there-and in other scriptures-that there are both male and female characteristics in the Trinity. You know that I am male and so is Jesus. So that doesn’t leave many options as to who is the female part, does it?
Interviewer: But You chose not to make it clear.
God: This is something that I had chosen not to clearly reveal earlier. Divine revelation is not all confined to the Bible. You see, the books of the Bible were written under My guidance. Some was prophetic, but at least some of the authors, especially of the New Testament, did not necessarily realize that they were writing things that would later be regarded as incontrovertible. If they had, they would probably have been so worried they would not have written anything. They were writing to inform and teach.
Interviewer: So they didn’t know they were writing for posterity.
God: The fact that later their writings would be placed into the Old or New Testament and become the canon of Christian teaching did not occur to several of them. It did to Me, of course, but I never intended for all revelation and truth to be once and for all confined solely to the Bible. What I say today will not contradict the Bible, but it will amplify parts and speak on contemporary issues the Bible doesn’t cover. I planned to keep talking to believers and instructing them, showing them new things. However, when the Bible was “bound,” the Church became hidebound. That is why I kept calling out new movements of Christians, but almost all eventually cooled off or were eliminated by jealous rivals.
In these Last Days I am showing more and more truth to people if they choose to believe it.
Interviewer: You mentioned “Last Days.” By that do You mean the end of the world?
God: The world is just about due for a great big change. But that is an enormous subject in itself, which I will have to talk about another time. This is the second time this has come up, so if you would like to devote a whole interview to this point sometime soon I am sure your readers would appreciate it.
Interviewer: Yes, that would be very interesting. “The End is near” and all that. Speaking of the end, perhaps this is a good place to finish this particular interview if that is agreeable to You.
God: Yes, it is. Thank you!
Interviewer: I always feel rather odd with You saying thank you to me. You being God and me being just a little ol’ mortal, for You to talk to me like this is quite awesome, for want of a better word. And then for You to say thank you on top of it is… Well, I can’t really find the words for it. Thank You for putting up with me and my questioning, which I can’t help but think You must find rather wearisome.
God: Not at all. Actually, I like to answer questions.
Interviewer: I am certainly very grateful You do. I must admit I enjoy hearing Your answers.

The Quality of Life

Interviewer: It is an incredible privilege to be able to discuss issues with You.
God: I am delighted to have the opportunity.
Interviewer: This time I wondered if we could perhaps bring things down to earth a little more and talk about quality-of-life issues that the average person faces.
God: Sounds interesting.
Interviewer: I am happy You think so, as I was concerned that You wouldn’t want to get down to what You might regard as more prosaic things, but rather would like to concentrate on more high-minded issues.
God: No, not at all. I am interested in people and involved with the most minute details of their lives.
Interviewer: Really? The small things in our lives would seem so insignificant and inconsequential in the overall that I had the impression You would find involvement in those very tedious.
God: Goodness, no! Each person is special to Me. As I explained in the last session, I went to great lengths to ensure the well-being of each of you.
Interviewer: May I begin?
God: Please do.
Interviewer: What about the age-old question, “How can I be happy?” I think everyone wants to be happy, but often we are not. Shouldn’t happiness be the norm more often than the exception?
God: For some it is the norm, but-you are right-for most it isn’t. Basically it is because people have not found the missing ingredient, which is the purpose for life. That purpose is actually twofold: to love Me and to love their fellow man. If they don’t fulfill both of these, then the purpose of life is not discovered, fulfillment is not obtained, and the resulting emptiness and dissatisfaction leads to not being happy.
Interviewer: I think some will claim to be happy while neither loving You nor others.
God: The definition or expectations of happiness vary. Some might be content and even at times enjoy a good deal of transitory happiness, but I am talking about enduring happiness of mind and soul, which only comes from what I explained. I created man to want and need to love Me and love others to be truly fulfilled. It is part of the basic design. Although other things can satisfy in part, they cannot completely satisfy. Even to love one and not the other is not enough. Man is created to be truly happy only when he is fulfilling both these purposes.
Interviewer: In other words, being solely involved in the religious realm to the neglect of helping others is not enough either?
God: If I may, please let Me clarify one point. You have made the correlation between love of Me and being religious. Although there are many in religious life who love Me, this does not make loving Me a religious undertaking. There are many who love Me who never darken the doorway of a place of religion.
Interviewer: Are You distancing Yourself from organized religion?
God: I love everyone. I do not appreciate that some feel they have a corner on the market-Me being the product. I am not confined to buildings, ceremonies, or rituals. In fact, the truth be known, I do not inhabit those buildings, and the ceremonies do not express My essence. I am the Spirit of Love that pervades everything.
Interviewer: So You are in the flower, the tree, the sky, etc.
God: In a way, yes, but I can see where you are leading here, as that gets into the ludicrous notion that everything is God. “He’s God, you’re God, the dog in the yard is God, as well as the tree it pees against.” No, that is not the case. I’m God. (God laughs.) I created all those things, so there is in them a touch of the divine, but they are not divine in themselves.
Interviewer: The tree was an interesting addition. I hadn’t taken that line of thought that far before. But getting back to the previous question, You are not exclusive to a particular group?
God: No, certainly not. Suffice it to say that those who love Me and love their fellow man and let that love move them into compassionate action are fulfilling their purpose on earth.
Interviewer: So we have to do something?
God: Yes. Love is not actually love unless it moves you to do something beneficial for others.
Interviewer: And love gives rise to happiness?
God: Yes.
Interviewer: What about something like a good joke? It can get one smiling and laughing and the result is that you feel happy. Is this happiness coming through love?
God: That is an example of transitory happiness. When the joke is forgotten, the happiness is gone. Now I like a good joke, so there is nothing wrong with jokes. I like it when people laugh and enjoy themselves. But what I was referring to before is a state of happiness in the heart of man. A true and never-ending state of mind and heart. Something that is permanent.
Interviewer: Here’s the difficulty I am having with this concept: Isn’t it true that even some of those who have gone down in the annals of history as truly loving You and others have at times gone through huge periods of struggle, even doubt and depression? It would seem that they didn’t have that happiness that You talk about. Sometimes good people seem to have even more troubles than those who don’t believe.
God: Sometimes those who love Me can go through difficult times, but that does not mean they are no longer happy, that they no longer have that certain peaceful joy inside that only I can give them. In other cases, they can be temporarily robbed of its benefits.-That is true.
Interviewer: Robbed of it? But You were saying it was permanent.
God: It is permanent. Notice I said “benefits.” The deep joy I give will always be there. A peace, an assurance that I will take care of him is part of the blessing I give everyone who believes in Me. But sometimes this confidence can be shaken and the ability to access the happiness I give is impaired. It is being interfered with, or hindered.
Let Me explain: As we covered in an earlier interview, there is an opposition. The Devil’s plan is to try to get people to disregard My blessings and get their eyes on their problems. They can forget that I am able and willing to bring solutions. When they get in that state, their power to rise above their problems is sorely diminished. They lose the magic power of faith.
Interviewer: So we are back to the cosmic battle.
God: Well, if you want to use the term “cosmic,” that is all right, but it is more precisely a battle fought largely in the spiritual realm. The Devil is using doubt to hinder and harass. Doubts are terrible things that can completely engulf people and leave them powerless. But doubts can be overcome.

The solution to depression

Interviewer: We have touched on something that is fairly widespread-depression. Many people go through bouts of it, and some never seem to be able to shake it. Are You saying that the Devil causes depression? I don’t mean to be difficult here, but that almost sounds medieval.
God: Yes, modern mental sciences would label this superstition. Let Me just make one or two points here and then your readers will need to draw their own conclusions. First, I am real and the spiritual realm in which I dwell is real. I am trying to help mankind to find everlasting love, life, and happiness. Second, there is an inferior but still extremely powerful opposition led by the Devil. He tries his damnedest to frustrate mankind from achieving these goals either by offering alternatives that don’t really satisfy in the long run, or by trying to make people just plain miserable. Wouldn’t it seem that people suffering from depression are the sad targets of his designs?
Interviewer: The Devil and his demons and all-it seems a bit far-fetched. Aren’t there a lot of causes for depression that don’t have their roots in the spiritual realm? For instance, there could be bereavement or the loss of one’s job or a financial or medical calamity.
God: It is very true that these can trigger depression. I sympathize greatly that the loss of a loved one, receiving bad news about your health, or losing one’s financial stability are all difficult experiences that can deeply hurt and can make one very sad. However, there is a distinct difference between mourning, or receiving bad news, or grappling with personal difficulties, and depression. Sad things happen in life. That is part of the living experience, and from those things a great deal can be gained in the way of learning empathy and compassion. That is not a negative experience in the long run. But depression is when a person has given up hope. The Devil has taken a crisis and turned it into a disaster seemingly beyond repair.
Interviewer: You seem to be giving him a lot of credit.
God: Not credit, blame. Unfortunately, a lot of people like to stick Me with the blame for things that go wrong. I am enjoying an opportunity to lay the blame at the real culprit’s door.
Interviewer: Well, what can be done about it? Placing the blame is not necessarily a cure.
God: No, it is not a cure, but realizing the cause can go a long way toward achieving the cure. The Devil can be beaten.
Interviewer: How?
God: Through My power, which is available to each and every person.
Interviewer: I assume You are alluding to prayer here.
God: Prayer can activate My power and focus it on the target. I do answer prayer, as I explained in a previous conversation we had.
Interviewer: Yes, but medication can be beneficial for these people, can’t it? If the cause is spiritual, then why would medication work?
God: It is true that medication can sometimes help relieve the symptoms, but it doesn’t cure the cause.
Interviewer: What do You say to the research on this subject that has shown that some people are this way because of chemical causes?
God: In some cases, yes, there is an imbalance, but this is not the general trend. If there is a chemical or hormonal imbalance in the body, there can be a degree of emotional uneasiness, where Satan finds occasion to plant negative or disparaging thoughts in the mind. It helps vastly to realize that these thoughts, which in turn lead to depression, come from the enemy of one’s soul, who is seeking to discourage and drag you down. They are not reality.
So you see, the truth of the matter is that the root cause of deep depression is spiritual, even though the symptoms may be psychological or physical. If you treat the problem in the spiritual by prayer and getting the depressed person to understand Me and receive Jesus in his or her heart, then I guarantee there will be positive results. Let’s move on to something more positive.
Interviewer: Well, I will heed Your wishes and leave this subject, but I will add that there will undoubtedly be some who disagree with You.
God: Perhaps. But the fact remains that there is a solution to depression through faith in Me and My love.

Personal destiny

Interviewer: What about people who already have received Jesus into their hearts and yet at times feel depressed?
God: Again, I say that the best antidote is prayer. It is a tremendous help to those suffering from depression to realize that these negative and despairing thoughts come from the evil side of the spirit world. My truth, My love, My light is much stronger, and as soon as people let that in, it will start to wash out the darkness of the Devil’s despair. But it often will take time and considerable perseverance to see this whole process thro-ugh. That’s why prayer and reading My Word, and seeking advice from those who deeply believe in Me, all help to combat this.
Interviewer: To finish up on happiness, then, am I right in concluding that knowing and loving You and loving and helping others is the key to happiness?
God: That is well summed up.
Interviewer: The next subject on my list is “success.” I think most people want to be successful in life, even though their definitions of success vary. Lots of people would like to be rich or to achieve fame so that they are admired by others, perhaps even idolized. What do You regard as success?
God: To find and achieve your purpose for existence.
Interviewer: You have defined this earlier as loving You and loving others. Is that it?
God: If you do those two things, you will be a success. However, every individual has his own personal destiny which, if fulfilled, would make him even more successful.
Interviewer: That is interesting. We come preprogrammed to perform some great task, reach some great goal?
God: It depends on what you mean by “great.”
Interviewer: Becoming president or prime minister or something like that.
God: I pity anyone wanting to become a head of state. No, that is greatness in man’s eyes, which does not necessarily correspond with My idea of greatness.
Interviewer: Which is?
God: To be of great service to mankind.
Interviewer: But being a world or national leader would be of great service to mankind, wouldn’t it?
God: I think that most people tend to think that politicians are more likely to be of great service to themselves or to the political system. Even the most idealistic politician is soon forced into compromise, and some are even corrupted by the political system. I think everyone is more likely to agree that someone like Mother Teresa is truly great.
Interviewer: She was a saint in every sense of the word, but You don’t expect us all to attain that level of service and dedication, do You?
God: What a wonderful world it would be if everyone would, don’t you think?
Interviewer: So You would have us all be like that?
God: If all were like that, then there would be no need for all to be like that. I am not expecting such heroics of everyone, but it would be wonderful if more were like her.
Interviewer: So she is Your idea of success.
God: She succeeded in her calling. She would not be persuaded from it, but pursued it with every ounce of spiritual and physical vigor that she could muster. I know that all people will not and could not do what she did, but they can do something to make the world around them a better place for others. I have designed mankind so that the giving of themselves to help others is the most satisfying thing that people can do. It makes every other measure of success pale by comparison.
Interviewer: If that is the case, why aren’t more of us doing it?
God: Many do-a few in great ways, most in small ways. The thing that holds people back is selfishness.
Interviewer: But we are all selfish to some degree or another. It is human nature, the instinct for survival. If You intended us to be altruistic, which You have explained You would prefer, why did You program mankind with selfishness?
God: This world is a proving ground. Although there is selfishness inherent within man, there is also the ability to rise above it. Every individual has within him the potential to be a great force for good, if he only would.
Interviewer: Very interesting! Another area that most of us like to be successful in is in relationships. Relationships are myriad, of course, but is there a general rule for success?
God: Yes! Humility!
Interviewer: I thought You would say love.
God: Humility is love put into action. It regards the well-being and happiness of others as more important than one’s own. Therefore humility is the key.
Interviewer: By definition, the opposite of humility is pride. Does it then stand to reason that pride is what will cause a relationship to fail?
God: Exactly!
Interviewer: But a sense of pride is ingrained in us since birth.
God: Pride builds walls between people. Humility builds bridges. It reaches out to others.
Interviewer: But we are told of the importance of self-esteem.
God: Having an appreciation of self-worth is good. Low self-esteem can and does lead to problems. However, I ask you to go further than this and esteem others more than yourself. That doesn’t mean you should think less well of yourself.-That is a mouthful, isn’t it? It means you should regard others as having at least some attributes or talents that are better than your own. That is pretty hard to do if you are stuck on yourself, so you must make an effort to look for the good side of others.

Humility or pride?

Interviewer: I have heard some say that needing to believe in God is a crutch and a symptom of low self-esteem.
God: That really is rubbish. Believing in Me can actually boost your self-esteem. If you’d think about it, you would see that you must be pretty valuable for God Himself to have sent His Son to die for you.
Interviewer: Indeed! I suppose it is a matter of perspective. But shouldn’t we take pride in our achievements, abilities, and talents, etc.?
God: There is a fine line. You, of course, have a sense of satisfaction when you have done or made something worthwhile. But when people begin feeling that they are superior to others because of what they have done, then they are heading for disaster. Quite frankly, if you are hoping to be successful in a relationship, a swelled head is just about the last thing you need.
Interviewer: What do You see, then, as a successful relationship?
God: People in partnership with one or more others to achieve a greater good. People in partnership with others create synergy.
Interviewer: Synergy being defined as the combined effect of two or more being greater than the sum of their individual effects?
God: Yes. It is again part of the basic design. People working in combination with others can do more than they could have if they had all worked on their own. But in order for a relationship of any kind to truly prosper, there must be humility on the part of the participants.
Interviewer: I think I am not that clear on what You mean by humility.
God: Esteeming the other person better than yourself, as I mentioned earlier.
Interviewer: But what if the other person isn’t as accomplished at things as I am?
God: Then that takes more humility.
Interviewer: Hmmm… That is easy to say.
God: Let Me explain further. Humility causes you to not hold yourself up as the great almighty one who is there to always save the day. It causes you to make an effort to see what the other person is bringing to the situation which you yourself cannot. Every person is different, so look for what you can admire in someone, some way in which you can look well on him, some reason he is needed. Humility does not lift itself up, but lifts up others.
Interviewer: Well, this is something we are not accustomed to doing naturally, because many of us feel our opinions are the best, our methods are probably the best, and so forth.
God: It is never easy for man to be humble. Man’s tendency is to pride. But humility always pays off, whereas pride never will in the long run.
Interviewer: If this is hard for me to grasp, maybe it is because it just seems to me that You put all the wrong tendencies in man. Pride and selfishness are just two we have covered in this session. You still haven’t explained why.
God: So man would need Me. The world is a giant demonstration to show that even a being as clever as man needs Me to be truly successful.
Interviewer: But is that fair? Why would You create us and then hobble us with traits that guarantee our ultimate failure?
God: You are being rather hard on Me today. Or maybe you are just thinking it will be too hard for you! Remember that I said I would help you to do whatever I ask you to. I did not make you perfect; that is true. But I did create in you the ability to choose the way that would lead to what will be the most perfect existence that you could imagine. Man also was created with the freedom of choice-to choose to follow Me or not.
I have tried to make the bad effects and fruits of pride extremely obvious. Pride promotes love of self more than love of Me or others; thus it wars against choosing My way. I am demonstrating to everyone the rewards of following Me in humility, rather than following oneself in pride.
Interviewer: That is a lot to grasp.
God: Yes, but it is again a matter of faith. If you believe what I am saying and then do it, you will find success in relationships, as in other areas of life.

What is the secret to good health?

Interviewer: How about health? What is the secret to good health?
God: Generally it is to live right, eat right, exercise right, and have a positive attitude.
Interviewer: Sickness and accidents are the bane of man’s existence.
God: The human body was not created to be indestructible. It requires care and maintenance.
Interviewer: But why sickness and disease? Seems that they just make life miserable.
God: You are not sick the majority of the time, are you?
Interviewer: No. But why be sick at all?
God: Sickness is often a consequence of one’s own actions. People have to accept personal responsibility for those. But there are many reasons for sickness. A lot is learned through taking care of oneself or others. It will certainly help people to appreciate the glorified new bodies that they will eventually receive in Heaven. You can never appreciate good health until you are sick.
Interviewer: Well, I do appreciate good health, but it is cause for reflection that there could be benefits to sickness as well.
God: Sickness often results in people either coming to know Me, or if they already do, coming to know Me in a deeper way. Desperation causes people to reach out for divine help, and then I can step in and help. It also gives them more understanding of others and compassion for them.
Interviewer: You are talking about divine healing here.
God: I can and do heal people in answer to prayer.
Interviewer: Do You do this every time You are asked?-Heal them, I mean?
God: I answer prayer in every instance, but it might not necessarily be with healing, or the healing may not be immediate. There are many factors involved, and this is a rather complex subject. But please do understand that this world isn’t the be-all and end-all. It has been created to be but a transitory testing and learning ground for mortal man. One cannot judge Me only on what happens in this world. Mankind was created to eventually live with Me in Heaven. If you can keep your eyes on that goal, then it will make whatever pain and sickness you may endure in this life much more bearable.
Interviewer: I think the manufacturing industry calls that “planned obsolescence,” when things are made not to last long so that customers will come back in a few years to get the new model. It seems people would wonder why You didn’t make us according to the design that You apparently plan to upgrade us to.
God: Heaven and all that comes with it is to be looked forward to. Earth is the proving ground. The things learned in this life shape and define your character for eternity. Some things can only be fully appreciated and understood from the experiences of this life. Good health can only be appreciated when one has sickness to compare it to. Companionship can only be truly valued when one has known loneliness, mercy when one has suffered harsh justice. In the world that is to come, your past experiences on earth will give you depth and richness of character that would otherwise have been unattainable.
Interviewer: Well, I hope that any sickness I suffer has that effect. About divine or faith healing, why is it that some people apparently get miraculously healed while others don’t, and perhaps even die?
God: It all has to do with their purpose and destiny in life. For some it is simply time for them to come home to the spirit world. Heaven is infinitely better than this life. In a way, holding someone back could be regarded as not letting someone graduate from university. What is better? That the student get his degree or not? If you can look at it from that perspective, staying in this world is the worse of the two options. But I heal others in order for them to in turn use the rest of their lives to benefit others and as a testament to My power. It is proof that I am real.
Interviewer: That explains why people die, but what about those left gravely handicapped or with some sort of debilitating and long-term illness? It seems that rather than draw things out, it would be better to either heal them or take them “home,” as You put it.
God: Each case is different. The people are different and the circumstances are different, so I can’t give you a pat answer that covers everything. There can be all sorts of reasons, and in most cases many reasons are involved. But let Me ask you something: If you are so concerned, what are you doing about it? Some people criticize Me for allowing this bad thing and that bad thing, but are they doing anything to help alleviate whatever pain and suffering they are talking about? If people are sick in the hospital or shut-ins, are these critics of Mine visiting them to try to bring a little cheer into their lives? Perhaps the reason people are sick has something to do with them not having the friendship or companionship of other people.
Interviewer: You seem to enjoy tossing the ball back into our court. I feel there is not a lot that I or anyone as an individual can do.
God: But there is always something you can do. My proposal to you is: At least do what you can, and I can do the rest.
Interviewer: The old “God helps those who help themselves” aphorism.
God: In a way, yes, but it’s more than that. God helps those who help others. Man is not supposed to spend his time only looking out for himself, but he is supposed to be looking to help others. Won’t you help others in need? You may be praying, “God help this or that situation,” when in fact I might be trying to help that situation by sending you to be that help. You could be the answer to someone’s prayer!
Interviewer: Interesting thought and something to keep in mind should I find myself in some such situation. I have been giving You a bit of a rough go of things today. I apologize if I have sounded critical. Would You like to say anything in closing?
God: Apology accepted. I could preach a sermon, but the world has heard lots of those. What people want to see is sermons in action. Think about it: What can you do to make the world a better place? The power to be a force for good lies within everyone, even if it is only in little ways. Make your part of the world a bit more heavenly by bringing a touch of Heaven in the way of love and kindness to those around you. If you feel you haven’t the strength to be this way but would like to, call on Me to help. I will, I promise you.

Secrets and Fun

Interviewer: Here we are again. And for openers may I ask what might sound like an unusual question?
God: All depends on what it is. But since I already know what you are going to ask, yes, it is okay.
Interviewer: So there is no keeping secrets from You?
God: No, I’m afraid not. Actually I am not afraid. It’s just a figure of speech, you understand.
Interviewer: Of course.
God: So do you want to ask your question?
Interviewer: But You already know it.
God: I do, but don’t you want to ask it anyway?
Interviewer: But if You know it, why should I ask it?
God: Because that is your part.
Interviewer: Do You really need my part?
God: Of course I do. If I didn’t need you and your part, you wouldn’t have been created in the first place.
Interviewer: You made us because You need us?
God: Doesn’t that stand to reason?
Interviewer: But You are God; why would You need anyone or anything?
God: Because I am love, and love needs people to love.
Interviewer: So You created us to love us?
God: Yes. Is that so strange?
Interviewer: I am trying to grasp the idea.
God: It is mirrored in people wanting babies. Do they want them because they want to change their diapers, stay up late with them when they won’t sleep, nurse them when they are sick, and do everything for them when they are young? Then as they grow older, work to provide them with a secure and happy life with the things they need? I think not. They want them because they want to have them be part of their lives. So, similar to how most parents want to have their kids, I wanted to have human companionship.
Interviewer: You made us to be Your companions?
God: Yes.
Interviewer: I sort of thought that You needed us to worship You.
God: Don’t you worship the ones you love?
Interviewer: Yes, I suppose so, but that is somewhat different from worshiping God. I mean, they even call church services worship services. It’s a way of showing respect to You.
God: Bless those souls who go to those things, but I do crave something a bit more on the intimate side. Well, to be honest, a lot more on the intimate side.
Interviewer: So You’d rather we here be more like friends with You?
God: Yes, even lovers.
Interviewer: Whoa, that is getting intimate.
God: Don’t lovers love?
Interviewer: Yes, but lovers love … well, you know … a little more than just friendship.
God: Is this going down sideways?
Interviewer: No! It is just … well, we could say interesting.
God: I’m glad you are interested. You see, I desire to love you and be loved by you in the deepest form imaginable. For some this is to think of Me as a lover, and speak to Me in passionate terms.
But most people are more comfortable loving Me as a kingly, divine Father, and I appreciate that too, very much. I crave to be close to people in whatever way possible.

Is God disapointed with humanity?

Interviewer: You said You made us to be Your companions. But it doesn’t seem that many people are really being that companionable with You.
God: That is unfortunately true.
Interviewer: Does that disappoint You?
God: It does, but there is hope.
Interviewer: Hope?
God: Yes, because most eventually will get the point, if not in this world, then in the world to come.
Interviewer: I think some of us have the concept in our mind that we would take our place in Heaven as sort of part of the workforce where You are the boss, or perhaps better said, the king. But You are hinting that things might be a bit less hierarchical.
God: I will be the king, but yes, it is not going to be Me just coming out on the balcony of My palace and waving to the crowds once a year or something. No, I will be down amongst the people often. I enjoy your company. You never did ask your question.
Interviewer: I was going to ask what You did for fun, providing of course You are into fun.
God: Why wouldn’t I be into fun? If you are created in My image, then a lot of your desires mirror Mine. If you desire fun, it is a pretty safe bet that I desire fun also.
Interviewer: So what do You do for fun?
God: Oh, I had a six-day party awhile back and made the universe. That was pretty fun.
Interviewer: Anything a little less spectacular?
God: I am a creator, so I love to create. I love to make things.
Interviewer: Like what-besides the universe, that is?
God: How about Heaven? We took a little more time with that.
Interviewer: We?
God: Yes, I and all the others who are helping.
Interviewer: What about a hobby?
God: I love people-watching.
Interviewer: Sports?
God: No one wants to play Me because I always win, and even if I did lose, they would know I did it on purpose. For that reason I generally stay away from sports, though I go watch others play.
Interviewer: So they play sports in Heaven?
God: Definitely, though the killer instinct is absent, so every game is a friendly one.
Interviewer: But isn’t competition the basis of sport?
God: Most of the time on earth, yes. But up here values are different, so they don’t try to beat the other guy too much. There is an element of competition sometimes, but just to enjoy doing something vigorous with a friend.
Interviewer: Wouldn’t everyone there be pretty much equal in abilities anyway?
God: No. Some are better at some things than others. Everyone has lots of ability, but not necessarily equal ability in everything. Variety is the spice of life, even in the afterlife.

Are thoughts private?

Interviewer: Interesting! You said something before about church services, and it didn’t sound like You were that thrilled with them.
God: They are often pretty dull and boring. Would you be that thrilled with them?
Interviewer: No. I stopped going.
God: I know.
Interviewer: Yes, I suppose You do. This gets to me a bit, that You know everything. Is there any privacy in the spirit world? Seems it is sometimes nice to have a few things about oneself that aren’t known.
God: Like what? Your PIN?
Interviewer: I suppose I won’t be needing that, will I?
God: I haven’t thought of a use for that here.
Interviewer: I think I would like to have my thoughts be private.
God: Why? Do you want to think bad thoughts?
Interviewer: No!
God: Honestly?
Interviewer: Well … all right, I can get to brooding over something and then I suppose my thoughts are not “good.” But it is more than that. I think it would be nice to have the freedom to bounce things around inside for a while before anyone knows what I am thinking.
God: So you have a little trouble being transparent?
Interviewer: It just sounds a little Orwellian to have my mind and thoughts monitored.
God: Please let me assure you it is not like Big Brother. It is that we are honest and open here, so we don’t feel a need to hide our thoughts and intentions.
Interviewer: You say “we.” Are You included in all this openness?
God: I am very open, but My mind is beyond yours even in your heavenly state. So no, you won’t be able to read My thoughts. But that does not prevent My being open and forthright with you.
Interviewer: It will take a little getting used to.
God: But it is that way now.
Interviewer: I suppose so, but somehow it is just not so obvious. Well, on to another subject. Do You have favorites?
God: In what way?
Interviewer: Ones that are like Your pets who You are more indulgent with, that You care for more and watch out for more carefully.
God: I love everybody with equal fervor. But those who love Me back do benefit more than those who don’t. These are those who try to follow Me closely and spread My love and message to others.
Interviewer: Is this fair? Shouldn’t You just treat everybody the same?
God: Isn’t it fair to reward good rather than not to? If there is someone who is good to you, don’t you hold him or her in higher esteem than others? It is the same with Me. I reward those who try their best to love Me and others.
Interviewer: From my perspective, I can’t help but think there are some people who do not deserve Your favor but who seem to get it big time. Aren’t there a lot of well-off people who have lots of comfort and care who are far from deserving of it?
God: You are equating luxury and plenty with My blessings. This is not necessarily the case. In fact, it is rarely the case. I do care for those who love Me and I can bless them materially, but an abundance of material goods is, on its own, no indication of My blessings. The majority of the blessings I bestow are those of the spirit. Peace of mind and heart are much more valuable than material things. And it is far better to save up your rewards in the world to come than to get them there on earth.

Are some people just born lucky?

Interviewer: Some people seem to be just plain lucky. They get all the breaks, whereas others of us never win a raffle or hardly even a hand of poker. What is it with these people who always seem to win at bingo or cards or other things? Are some people just born lucky?
God: Are you talking about gambling?
Interviewer: Well, gambling is part of it.
God: There are precious few who win at gambling. The only people who really make the money are the ones organizing the gambling, and they play everyone else for suckers. They are parasites playing on the gullibility of everyone else. Gambling has ruined many lives.
Interviewer: There go the church bingo games.
God: Bingo! Let’s qualify this and say that a little playing of games of chance in moderation is okay, but it can often grow into an inordinate addiction. If it’s kept small, it is one thing, but it often doesn’t stay that way. I have it in print right in the Bible where I say the love of money is the root of all evil. Those who gamble love to win. I mean, no one gambles because they love to lose, right? And the prize is usually money. And the pursuit of that will lead them down the path of evil, and by that I mean disaster.
Interviewer: A recurring theme seems to be that enjoying most things in moderation is okay.
God: That is a pretty good rule of thumb.
Interviewer: So are You okay about drinking alcohol?
God: In moderation. (Laughs.) You know that was Jesus’ first recorded miracle.1
Interviewer: Changing the water into wine.
God: Yes. Very good wine, too, as you’ve read.
Interviewer: Yes. I have heard some people rail at the “demon drink,” but You don’t seem to think it is so demonic.
God: If you abuse it, then it becomes demon drink. Then it no longer “makes glad the heart of man,” as the Bible says, but it has gone beyond that into turning him imbecilic or morose or even violent. Instead of the drink helping to relax you, it has turned into a monster that dominates and ruins your life.
Interviewer: So why give us such a thing if You knew it was going to be abused?
God: Learning how to use things correctly is all part of the reason for you being there in the first place. It is true that I knew that alcohol in its many varieties would be abused, but many people use it wisely. There are times when it helps to have a drink to relax, and it helps people be sociable. Why, they have even uncovered the fact that it is healthy to drink a little. But for goodness sake, don’t abuse it.
Interviewer: You have been very kind to answer all these questions. Perhaps we’ll wrap this up here. This interview is a little short, but I think this is a good point to end on.
God: Agreed. So until next time?
Interviewer: Yes!

It’s in the Stars! Or Is It?

Interviewer: Here we are again. Thank You for coming.
God: Always a pleasure. Shall we get down to business?
Interviewer: A subject I have been meaning to ask about is astrology-the effect that the planets and stars supposedly have on our personalities and destinies.
God: On personalities, yes, destinies, no.
Interviewer: So there is some truth to it?
God: Yes, that is one of the ways that I designed things, so each person’s personality is unique. The planets and stars work like an incredibly complex apparatus in this regard. Their positions in relation to each other are always changing, so that the planet and star chart is almost unique for every person and thus bestows varying personality traits.
Interviewer: But what if we are saddled with a personality we don’t particularly like?
God: The design the planets and stars give is just the basic pattern. There are good traits and not-so-good traits to each of the so-called astrological signs, but each person doesn’t have to leave it at that. You are given the ability to improve yourself. If you don’t like the way you are, you can change. But the influence of the stars is not the only thing to shape your personality. Other factors are genetic and environmental. However, more important than personality is character.
Interviewer: Meaning one’s ethical and moral strength.
God: Exactly.
Interviewer: But before, You stated that being ethical or moral has no bearing on getting into Heaven.
God: That is a different issue. I did not mean to make it sound like I was denigrating people who are ethical, or saying that it is not important to be moral. I was talking about salvation, which is a free gift granted to you upon accepting Jesus into your life and heart.
Interviewer: So what is the good of being ethical if it has no bearing on your entry into Heaven?
God: It has a lot to do with your inner well-being and happiness in this life. And standing up for what is right will not go without reward in the life to come. You will not regret it, I can assure you. Getting in the door of Heaven is one thing, but it is certainly shortsighted if that is all you strive for. How well you fare in Heaven will have a great deal to do with how you lived your life on earth.
Interviewer: But Jesus was particularly scathing in His attacks on the Pharisees of His day. Weren’t they ethical and moral?
God: There were some who were righteous, but many were hypocrites who only pretended to be “good” on the outside while inside they were seething with hate and venom, as was borne out by their banding together with their avowed opponents, the Sadducees, in calling for Jesus’ execution. They were far from moral or ethical, but were only self-righteous. Self-righteousness stinks, and it is usually obvious to everyone except the person who has it that it stinks.
Interviewer: Self-righteousness isn’t goodness, You are saying.
God: That is correct; don’t confuse self-righteousness with ethical and moral strength. Those of truly strong character, even if they may appear weak, will stand up for what is right and good against the odds. The vast majority of people usually seem to end up on the wrong sides of issues, so don’t look for people of character in the mob calling for blood. You won’t find them there.

True or False?

Interviewer: It seems You’re implying that the daily horoscope business is not reliable.
God: I do often show signs in the night sky, such as comets, for example, as portents. Even Jesus’ birth was heralded by a bright star. But the daily horoscope, such as “you will meet a tall, dark, handsome stranger who will provide you with exciting business possibilities,” is guesswork. Sometimes it’s clever guesswork, but it has nothing to give it credence except an occasional coincidence.
Interviewer: So the ancient superstition about comets being evil omens has some truth to it?
God: I think all you would have to do is read the supporting evidence to see that momentous things happening around the times major comets are sighted is more than just coincidence. Of course, some like to embellish on events heralded by comets, and it is true that major things happen without comets making an appearance, but I do use comets to get people’s attention. Not all ancient beliefs are silly superstition.
Interviewer: This talk of comets and portents of doom reminds me of the prophecies of Nostradamus. From what I have read, most of them seem very obscure, but once in a while he said something outstanding that appears to be an accurate prophecy. Was Nostradamus a prophet?
God: Indeed, he did see the future. I spoke to him through My agents.
Interviewer: Meaning he had some sort of a spirit speaking to him, a spirit guide?
God: Yes. He lived in troubled times when someone with his gifts could very easily have ended up being burned at the stake. So I gave him the wisdom through a helping spirit to put his prophecies into verse and in a mixture of languages so that their meanings were veiled.
Interviewer: So all the wild things he wrote about are going to come true.
God: Much of it has and there is still more that will, but some of it will not happen. He was not right one hundred percent of the time.
Interviewer: How so?
God: Some of what he received he did not understand, so he wrote it down wrong. Also, some prophecies are conditional: If such and such happens, then such and such will follow. If for some reason the first criterion is not met, then the rest will not occur, or at least will not occur exactly as predicted.
Interviewer: So if I understand this right, a prophet can predict that such and such a thing will happen, but then even if it doesn’t, he is not necessarily a false prophet.
God: That is so.
Interviewer: But doesn’t that throw all the rules out the window regarding who is and who is not a genuine prophet?
God: You are saying that your rules are so strict that if someone misses it on one point, you disregard all his prophecies?
Interviewer: Yes, I suppose I am.
God: Boy, you are tough! It seems that you are holding these people to a far higher standard than you hold anyone else to. If a doctor misdiagnoses one patient, do you then regard him as a charlatan?
Interviewer: No, but this is in a different league, isn’t it? Someone who is a prophet is supposed to be getting his instructions from You and therefore isn’t supposed to be wrong.
God: They are just humans. They can misunderstand and get things wrong.
Interviewer: But then how do we differentiate between the genuine article and someone who is a fake?
God: By the preponderance of the results. If these prophets are right a good deal of the time, then you can bet on them as being genuine. Their motives are another indicator, whether they are genuinely trying to do good and give messages that are helpful and needed, or whether they are in it for their own aggrandizement or for money or for some other ulterior motive.
Interviewer: Any other ways to tell who are bona fide prophets?
God: Well, to be genuine they would need to acknowledge Me as being the source of their inspiration. Also, there is a bit of haziness in most people’s minds on this point, but a prophet is not necessarily someone who makes predictions of the future. Actually a prophet’s main job is to give whatever message I am instructing him to. That can sometimes be a prediction of future events, but often not.
Interviewer: But aren’t there a lot of cult leaders who acknowledge You and claim they are preaching Your message, but yet seem evil?
God: You’ve jumped from prophets to cult leaders here. They are not necessarily one and the same. But to answer your questions, one man’s religion is another man’s cult. Much is made of the cult scare these days, but people would always do well to look a little more circumspectly at what is being served up to them by the media. Remember that Jesus was executed as a cult leader, under trumped-up political charges. The leaders of the predominant religion saw Him as a threat to their position and had Him falsely accused of inciting sedition.
Interviewer: Yet it still seems there are a lot of wackos in cults.
God: There are some pretty strange ideas and some are dangerous, but that doesn’t mean that they all are, by any means. However, people fear anything that is strange and new until it is proven, which can take a very long time. What I see in some of these religions is that they have thrown off the shackles of tradition and are seeking Me.
Interviewer: But some have this proclivity to turn suicidal.
God: There have been some evil men who have led their followers astray, with horrible results. Suicide is a terrible tragedy. Moreover, their suicides have taken place in groups, which means that they are particularly publicized. There are many more sad and lonely people in society who commit suicide and they don’t get publicized. The professions that have some of the highest rates of suicide are mental health and law enforcement. You have a greater chance of committing suicide if you belong to one of those groups than you do if you are a cultist.
Interviewer: That’s ironic, because members of those two groups are usually the ones sounding the alarm about cults.
God: Let’s be fair and acknowledge that their jobs are stressful, but it does go to show that no one should be pointing the finger.

What about religious terrorists?

Interviewer: What about religious terrorists?
God: What about them?
Interviewer: Well, by all measures of civilization they seem to be bad. Don’t they give You a bad name?
God: My commandments are to love Me and love others. If people’s actions are going against those commandments, then they are not obeying Me and cannot claim My sanction for their deeds. But there are those who love to smear Me and discredit those who believe in Me by taking the actions of a few and applying it to the many. Take, for example, the words “Islamic terrorists.” That wording has been used so often in the media that now many people immediately equate Islam with terrorist actions, whereas that could not be further from the truth. The true followers of Islam submit themselves to Me in peace, although I cannot blame them for the anger they feel because of the way they are often treated by the West, especially the Western press.
Interviewer: This brings up another subject-religious persecution. It is a phenomenon that has been around for a long time, but, as an example that it is apparently getting worse, I read that more Christians have been killed in this century because of their faith than the rest of history combined.
God: That example demonstrates how humanity is less “civilized” now than ever in many aspects.
Interviewer: Why is there religious persecution?
God: Those in the wrong hate the freedom and happiness of those who live right because it exposes what a sham their own lives are. These misguided ones become agents for the “opposition,” who hates the light and truth and will try to destroy it by any and all means.
Interviewer: You are referring to Your opposition here, the Devil.
God: Most definitely, because he is at the root of this kind of persecution.
Interviewer: But often these persecutors profess to be atheists, and so they don’t believe in him either.
God: They don’t have to believe in him to be the agents of his dirty work.
Interviewer: But on the other hand, there are some seemingly devoutly religious people who instigate this type of thing. Look at the persecutions carried out by the Roman Catholic Church in centuries past.
God: Where did they read that Jesus wanted them to persecute others? He even told His followers to love their enemies.
Interviewer: You explained how evil tries to destroy the truth. Will it?
God: It can persecute it and suppress it, but it will never destroy it. In the end the wrong will be destroyed by the right.
Interviewer: You mean that the right will do to the wrong what the wrong is doing to the right?
God: If by that you are asking if it will employ the same means, no! In the end the wrong will be destroyed by the right, just as darkness is banished by light.
Interviewer: That’s rather metaphorical.
God: True, but it is a concept that lends itself to instant understanding.
Interviewer: Indeed! Well, we will all look forward to that day. Thank You again for most graciously submitting Yourself to all these questions.

The End Is Near?

Interviewer: I think the topic of this session was decided in our previous one.
God: Yes, indeed. Tell Me what you would like to ask about the end of the world.
Interviewer: All right. Here we are in the third millennium since Jesus was on earth. People have been going on about the end of the world for around 2000 years, and probably longer. Yet this old world just keeps plugging along. I think people have gotten a little tired of hearing about the end of the world.
God: Just because they are tired of it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Interviewer: Yes, I agree with You. But I think people picture the stereotypical doomsayer, someone a bit off his rocker, wearing a sandwich board with a big sign on it saying “The End Is Near!” I think people can be excused if they disregard this kind of thing.
God: I agree. But just because there is a kook or two saying this, doesn’t mean that what they are saying is not fairly close to the truth.
Interviewer: So You are saying that the end is near?
God: The end of the world as you know it, yes!
Interviewer: Please elaborate on the “as you know it.” What is going to happen?
God: Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Interviewer: Well, I am relieved to hear there are both. Perhaps if You just listed it sequentially, it would be best.
God: Very well. There is a lot of detail, but for clarity and simplicity I’ll just hit the highlights.
Interviewer: Sounds good.
God: As many would agree, the earth has gotten into pretty bad shape. Its resources, especially water, are being used up at a rate that is not sustainable. So even if things were not heading for a climax according to the timetable that I set up at the beginning, something would have to be done. But because there is global disaster looming not just ecologically, but economically and militarily-a fact acknowledged in many quarters-these factors will help propel humanity into forming a united world government.
Interviewer: Like the United Nations.
God: No. The United Nations is just an organization with representatives from all nations but with little real authority. More or less a glorified debating society. What I am saying is that the nations will come together to form a one-world government that has the power to implement what it decides worldwide.
Interviewer: This sounds a bit far-fetched. Nations are not going to be that ready to surrender their sovereignty.
God: Nations already have. Many surrendered sovereignty over their economies long ago when they had to implement economic plans dictated to them by supranational institutions such as the IMF. Others, such as the nations of Europe, have surrendered parts of their sovereignty in order to form regional unions with other nations. So that bridge has been crossed.
Interviewer: Okay, say they do this. A united world government doesn’t sound like a bad idea. At least it could put an end to wars, allow for equal distribution of resources, etc.
God: Don’t kid yourself. Most wars in the world today are wars within nations, civil wars, and there is not a nation on earth that doesn’t exhibit great disparity between rich and poor. So all that talk about peace and equality being instituted if the nations of the world were united under one government of man is just hot air.
Interviewer: But we’ll still get a united world government according to what You just said.
God: Yes, you will.
Interviewer: Every government, even a one-world government, has its head.
God: Exactly, and you know who is going to be at the head of this one?
Interviewer: You?
God: Ha! No, not likely. At least not yet. The world is going to turn the reins of government over to a brilliant man who will command respect and allegiance from all.
Interviewer: A good leader for a change. Sounds like just the ticket.
God: That is what everyone-well, almost everyone-is going to say at first. But this man has a sinister secret. He is known by many names, but the one that is the most well known is “the Antichrist.”
Interviewer: That doesn’t sound very flattering. Why would he want to call himself the Antichrist?
God: He doesn’t. But I have called him that, and the many millions of Christians who are aware of his imminent arrival on the world stage will recognize him for who he is and will so label him.
Interviewer: With a name like the Antichrist, I suppose he must be the antithesis of the real Christ.
God: Exactly! And it doesn’t take a lot to conclude that if he is the Antichrist, he must therefore be getting his signals from a very different direction than Jesus did. As Jesus was God in human flesh, so, in parody, the Antichrist will be the Devil in the flesh.

One World Government

Interviewer: Why would we choose the Devil in the flesh to be our world leader?
God: Because humanity will be both duped and desperate. Most will not recognize him for who he is, but will rather see in him someone with the ability and clout to rescue the world from its desperate situation. He will have already proven his worth by sorting out some very difficult issues and will already be acknowledged as the most astute politician and able problem-solver of the day.
Interviewer: But why will we be that desperate?
God: Because the world’s economic and political conditions will be in turmoil. A worldwide economic crash will not just result in economic hard times, but also the disintegration of stable government. The world will be calling out for strong leadership, and in this man they will get it.
Interviewer: But, as You said, Christians will certainly recognize him for what he is.
God: Not all. Not even most at first.
Interviewer: Why is that?
God: Many of them don’t expect to be around when he appears on the scene. Because of a misinterpretation of Scripture, they feel they will all be taken out of this world before that, in an event termed “the Rapture.”
Interviewer: So do they have this wrong?
God: The Bible talks about Jesus returning in the clouds of the heavens just prior to the Battle of Armageddon. At that moment the Rapture occurs. This is the event when all who have received Jesus in their hearts will be transformed and taken up from this world to join Jesus in the air and thence to Heaven. Although this event is sure to transpire, many have placed its occurrence before the darkest days of the reign of the Antichrist begin. However, the Rapture actually occurs later, shortly before the great battle.
Interviewer: And that is a problem?
God: Yes, because at first these Christians are not going to be so ready to recognize the Antichrist for who he is, given that his appearance on the world stage does not happen according to the schedule of events that they are going by. So, alas, many will conclude that he cannot possibly be the Antichrist, but rather some precursor. They will initially play along with him.
Interviewer: So they end up playing with fire.
God: And they will get burned because of it. Many Christians are looking forward to Jesus’ Second Coming. They have a hazy idea of some of the events to come and they realize that certain things must occur in Palestine, or Israel, before His return. One of those events is the building of the Jewish temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Because this man will so organize things to facilitate this happening, they will give him their support in this. But I have leapt forward with regard to the sequence of events. Let Me backtrack a little.
Interviewer: By all means.
God: As I stated, the Antichrist becomes the leader of the world government. By his initiative, several measures are introduced. One is a comprehensive settlement governing the Middle East, primarily centered on the relationship of the State of Israel with the Palestinians and their Arab neighbors.
Interviewer: Excuse me for interrupting, but hasn’t Israel already negotiated agreements with its Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians?
God: Indeed it has, but as you are well aware, those agreements are very tenuous and their implementation is spotty because they are fuzzy in their language and are open to a wide range of interpretation. Frustration with a lack of clear definition as to the terms of these agreements will lead all concerned to demand a comprehensive and definitive agreement with all parties, rather than just the bilateral agreements that are in place today. So a comprehensive agreement, with the Antichrist playing the role of “honest broker” and arbiter, will be negotiated and set in place.
Interviewer: What kind of agreement will this be?
God: This pact will have a seven-year term with the intention of it being reviewed and renegotiated at the end of that period. The pact, among other things, will deal with the issue of Jerusalem, particularly with regards to the coexistence of and access to the shrines and places of worship of the major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It will therefore earn the label “the Holy Covenant,” a name by which it is known in the Bible.
Interviewer: So You’re saying that the Antichrist starts off doing this really great thing in order to gain favor with the world, even the Christians? He’s certainly going to win a lot of public admiration if he actually succeeds where so many have tried and failed before.
God: That’s part of his plan.
Interviewer: But since these events are referred to in the Bible, shouldn’t that set alarm bells ringing in the heads of Christians?
God: Many unfortunately don’t know the Bible well enough to realize this. But for those who do, these events should and they will try to warn others. But by this time events will be rolling and the program of world government will have gained such momentum that protest will not be brooked.