GOD'S REMEMBRANCERS

This booklet is not to be sold. It is a free educational service inthe public interest, published by the A.R.K. of God Foundation.©September 02, 2014. Scriptures in this publication are quotedfrom the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

CONTENTS1Simon Magus and

the True Church of God…………….………1

2The Druids……………..…..…………………...11

1____________________________________

Simon Magus & The True Church of GodBeloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the

common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, andexhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith whichwas once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain mencrept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to thiscondemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God intolasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our LordJesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4)

Certain men have crept in unawares– this could only be becausethe Druids are practicing a “system of elaborate fraud andimposture”

Imagine this people are ungodly men, who turn the grace ofour God into a license to disobey! The most abominable partis this – they are even using God’s government to implementtheir evil scheme! Now, God’s Church is headed toward theworst abomination any Church era had done. This is how thetransgressors are coming to the full!

To better understand this subject, let us read what Mr. Flurrywrote in the Royal Vision of who the real source of this systemis:

SATAN THE DEVIL HAS ENACTED A GREAT

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PLOT over the centuries to cover up the historyof God’s Church. We need to understand thisplot because it is a WARNING to God’s peopletoday. Throughout history, God’s people havehad to battle to hang on to the truth. The ApostlePaul repeatedly warned God’s people againstturning to another gospel – a gospel of menrather than the gospel of God (2 Corinthians11:4; Galatians 1:6). Jude spoke of the samedanger. ‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence towrite unto you of the common salvation, it wasneedful for me to write unto you, and exhort youthat ye should earnestly contend for the faithwhich was once delivered unto the saints’ (Jude3).…‘For there are certain men crept inunawares,’ verse 4 says, ‘turning the grace of ourGod into lasciviousness,’ or lawlessness. Menwho were not converted were creeping into theChurch and causing serious problems…

HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG SHOWED HOWTHESE PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH AT THATTIME, WERE LARGELY SIMON MAGUS’SDOING. Mr. Armstrong proved how SimonMagus was at work in the Corinthian church,and how Paul’s, John’s, Jude’s and Peter’swritings show that all these apostles had tobattle this man’s influence…

There was a pattern: It was the same group ofpeople basically causing all the problems.This powerful Simon Magus kept right oncoming, and rebels kept growing andmultiplying and continually causing problemsin God’s Church.…We need to understandthis because it makes it so much more clearwhat God’s Church is dealing with today. MR.ARMSTRONG’S INSTRUCTION IN THIS ISREALLY CRITICAL. (The True History of God’s

Simon Magus and the True Church of God 3

Church Part 2, November-December 2012 issue,page 1)

SATAN THE DEVIL HAS INDEED ENACTED A GREAT PLOTEVEN TODAY! Mr. Flurry said that there was a PATTERN: “Itwas the same group of people basically causing all theproblems. This powerful Simon Magus kept right oncoming, and rebels kept growing and multiplying andcontinually causing problems in God’s Church.…We need tounderstand this because it makes it so much more clearwhat God’s Church is dealing with today. MR.ARMSTRONG’S INSTRUCTION IN THIS IS REALLYCRITICAL.” Indeed, it is really critical. But can we see thatPATTERN? Consider what Brad Macdonald wrote on theOctober 2014 issue of the printed copy of Trumpet magazineregarding the Druids, entitled, “Who Were the Druids?“; hebasically justified Druidism as if there’s nothing wrong about it.

Elder writes: “Upon the introduction ofChristianity the Druids were called upon, not somuch to reverse their ancient faith, as to ‘lay itdown for a fuller and more perfect revelation.’No country can show a more rapid, naturalmerging of a native religion into Christianitythan that which was witnessed in Britain in thefirst century A.D. The readiness with which theDruids accepted Christianity, the facilities withwhich their places of worship and colleges wereturned to Christian uses, the willingness of thepeople to accept the new religion are facts whichthe modern historian has either overlooked orignored.”

Now we may ask; could this same group of Simon Magus insideGod’s Church be implementing another plot? Well, could SimonMagus be a Druid in the first place?

Since the Anglo Saxons having learned the wordDry from the Irish and British for a magician.—This etymology of the Saxon Dry from the Celtic

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Draoi or Draoid, pronounced Drid and Druid isconfirmed by Dr. Smith in his History of theDruids, and by Dr. Jamieson in his History of theCuldees, The absurd custom of derivingeverything from the Greek and Latin is now, andindeed very properly, losing ground. The CelticDruid literally signifies a magician; and hencethe translators of the New Testament into Gaelic,finding no other word in that language fit fortheir purpose, rendered Simon Magus, Simonthe Druid. (Note II.—Page 57, History of theDruids by John Toland)

What an eye-opening piece ofinformation John Toland exposed–Simon Magus is also renderedas Simon the Druid! And in allpossibility, it was actually SimonMagus who started this religionof Druidism:

“But there was a certainman, called Simon,which before time in thesame city used sorcery,and bewitched thepeople of Samaria,giving out that himselfwas some great one: Towhom they all gaveheed, from the least tothe greatest, saying, Thisman is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.” (Acts 8:9-11)

Even anthropologists observed that a great deal of Druidicbeliefs has been infused to the so-called Christianity:

It was Dr. Lanigan who asserted, “The Christian

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missionaries early opened schools in oppositionto Druids.” It was the opinion of Arthur Clivethat much Druidism “blended with theChristian learning of the seventh andsubsequent centuries.”(p. 5, Irish Druids andOld Irish Religions)

For emphasis, it is said that thatsame Druidism has blended withthe Christian learning in the earlycenturies, well we don’t have towonder because even SimonMagus himself was able toinfiltrate God’s own Church in thefirst century:

“But when they believedPhilip preaching the thingsconcerning the kingdom ofGod, and the name ofJesus Christ, they werebaptized, both men andwomen. Then Simonhimself believed also: andwhen he was baptized, hecontinued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” (Acts 8:12-13)

Basically, Jude described this same group of people of SimonMagus or Simon the Druid, as those who has crept in unawaresinside God’s Church who were responsible in SEPARATINGTHEMSELVES:

“But, beloved, remember ye the words whichwere spoken before of the apostles of our LordJesus Christ; How that they told you thereshould be mockers in the last time, who shouldwalk after their own ungodly lusts. These be

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they who separate themselves, sensual, havingnot the Spirit” (Jude 1:17-19).

In JFB Commentary we can read:

separate themselves–from Church communionin its vital, spiritual reality: for outwardly theytook part in Church ordinances (Jude 1:12understand it, ‘separate,’ cast out members ofthe Church by excommunication (Isaiah 65:5;66:5; John 9:34 them out of the Church;” 3 John1:10 ‘themselves,’ which indeed is read in someof the oldest manuscripts as English Version hasit. Arrogant setting up of themselves, as havinggreater sanctity and a wisdom and peculiardoctrine, distinct from others, is implied.

Notice carefully that Jude emphasized that we can identify thisgroup of people through their DEEDS – they “cast outmembers of the Church by excommunication” and we mustremember that they do not have God’s Holy Spirit. And whatdoes “excommunicate” mean?

To deprive of the right of church membership byecclesiastical authority.

To exclude by or as if by decree from membership orparticipation in a group.

To oust or exclude from a group or membership bydecree

So, these men deprive, exclude and oust members from theChurch Participation. This sounds like suspending anddisfellowshipping members the in the Church even during thefirst century. In the Revised Standard Version, it is rendered thisway: “It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid ofthe Spirit.” It appears that this people were actually those wereresponsible in setting up divisions among the Churchmembership.

Well there is a striking similarity of what the Druids haveimplemented then, when any man did not follow their

Simon Magus and the True Church of God 7

instructions or policies – that man will suffer excommunication.Now, let us read what John Toland wrote in his book, History ofthe Druid about Druidical excommunication:

Most terrible were the effects of the Druidicalexcommunication on any man, that did notimplicitly follow their directions, and submit totheir decrees: not only to the excluding ofprivate persons from all benefits of society,and even from society itself; but also to thedeposing of the princes who did not please them,and often devoting them to destruction. (pp. 58-59)

People were not allowed to speak to any excommunicated man.This is another PROOF that there could indeed be Druidsamongst the Philadelphia Church of God ministers through thepractice of excommunication by abusing God’s governmentwith the NO CONTACT POLICY that was implemented amongthe Church membership. Now, notice carefully what happensfurther during and after a Druidical excommunication:

It was seldom that anyone was found hardlyenough to rebel against their power. For suchwas reserved a terrible punishment. It wascalled Excommunication. Originating amongthe Hebrews, and descending from the Druidsinto the Roman Catholic Church, it was one ofthe most horrible that it is possible toconceive. At the dead of night, the unhappyculprit was seized and dragged before a solemntribunal, while torches, painted black, gave aghastly light, and a low hymn, like a solemnmurmur, was chanted as he approached…

Then the poor wretch would wander through thewoods, feeding on berries and the roots of trees,SHUNNED BY ALL AS IF HE HAD BEENTAINTED BY THE PLAGUE, and looking todeath as a salvation from such cruel miseries.

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AND WHEN HE DIED, NONE DARED TOWEEP FOR HIM; they buried him only that theymight trample on his grave. (pp. 58-59, The Veilof Isis or Mysteries of the Druids by WilliamWinwood Reade)

The description written byMr. Reade resonates a verydisturbing similarity to whatis happening now inside thePCG; if someone will befound rebelling against thepower of an abusiveminister even due to a verysmall matter of notfollowing minor orders(which is most of the timenot Biblically based) – theyshall be branded as rebelsagainst God’s government,either he will be suspendedor disfellowshipped, then he will be SHUNNED BY ALL AS IFHE HAD BEEN TAINTED BY THE PLAGUE and WHEN HEDIES (either spiritually or physically), NONE WILL DARE TOWEEP FOR HIM. Now ask yourself, has this not happened? Ithas happened and is still happening! Just consider a PCGmember, Janet Privratsky who committed suicide because of theNO CONTACT POLICY.

To better understand why this is all happening, let us considerfurther what Mr. Reade wrote in his book:

The priesthood of the Druids stands almost alonein the history of the past. It was directed by men,with minds elevated by philosophy and learnedin the human heart. But read the religioushistory of other nations, and you will discoverhow frightfully the power of the priests hasbeen abused.…The priests invented a thousand

Simon Magus and the True Church of God 9

Gods; the priests told a thousand lies; the priestsinstituted a thousand absurd and horriblecustoms. Who first taught nations to be idolaters,to be murderers but the priests. Who institutedthe festival of the Juggernaut, the Inquisition, themassacre of St. Bartholomew, but the priests.

Calvin, a priest of the Reformation, ordered hisvictims to be burnt with green wood—a trulyChristian refinement of cruelty!

Aaron, a priest, manufactured a golden calf andtaught the Jews to insult their God. And it wasCaiaphas, a high priest, who committed thatmurder of which the more virtuous heathenPilate washed his hands.

Look everywhere, look everywhere, and you willsee the priests reeking with gore. They haveconverted popular and happy nations intodeserts, and have made our beautiful world intoa slaughter house drenched with blood and tears.

Englishmen! they are planting images, theyare performing ceremonies in your houses ofworship which you find it impossible tounderstand. They are hidden from your eyesby a dark veil; it is the veil of a Pagangoddess; it is the veil of Isis. (p. 138, The Veilof Isis or Mysteries of the Druids)

The author believed and concluded that what made the priests atdifferent times in different generations acted the way they did,like abusing their power, is chiefly because of the veil of aPagan goddess which is THE VEIL OF ISIS (also known asASTARTE).

Once the evil priests of Astarte have planted their gravenimages, anyone seeing and hearing what is being performedinside the Church will “find it impossible to understand” whatis going on because of this very dark VEIL OF ASTARTE that

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hides it from our eyes, and only God will be able to remove thatveil and expose this mysterious evil system in our midst.

And here’s a very intriguing part – see for yourself theconnection between Simon Magus and Judas Iscariot (the firstcentury son of perdition):

“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen youtwelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake ofJudas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it wasthat should betray him, being one of the twelve.”(John 6:70-71, see also John 12:4 and John 13:2,26)

Could it be that Simon Magus is the real father of JudasIscariot?

In all likelihood they were indeed a father-and-son tandem ofthe first century who dare try to destroy God’s Church then. Andjust like what the father-and-son tandem of Joseph Tkach Sr.and Joseph Tkach Jr. did to the Worldwide Church of God inrecent Church history; Would another father and son tandem bebehind the final abomination of desolation inside God’s Church,(i.e., the Philadelphia Church of God)?

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Who were the Druids?

Out of nowhere, the PCG through one of their ministers and

Trumpet.com columnists, Brad Macdonald wrote an articleregarding the subject about the Druids. One may wonder aboutthe reason behind such a decision to do so. Why a suddeninterest? Upon reading his article, you will notice a toned downapproach on the history of the Druids. Could it be because ofthe association of the Druids with the PCG’s favorite IRISHDANCE performances? Or could it be because of theirimpending justification of the work in Britain and Ireland?Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain though, theywere already greatly affected by a Book of Remembrance. Well,Brad’s article about the Druids is a solid proof indeed, and it isalready fulfilling the prophecy in Jeremiah 4:15;

“For a voice declareth from Dan, and publishethaffliction from mount Ephraim.”

The word “affliction” in Strong’s Concordance could also mean,“wickedness”, which would make the verse to be read this way:

“For a voice declareth from Dan (Ireland), and publisheth wickedness from mount Ephraim (Britain).” –

Notice that this article has already been included in the printedcopy of the October 2014 issue of the Trumpet magazine.

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Who Were the Druids?by Brad Macdonald

You may have noticed how often the Trumpetencourages readers to study The United Statesand Britain in Prophecy. Of all the literature wepublish, this book is the most important forunderstanding world events and Bible prophecy.Together with the Bible, it forms the propheticfoundation of this magazine.

The United States and Britain in Prophecyexplains the origins of the United States, theBritish Commonwealth and the Jewish nation ofIsrael. Herbert W. Armstrong, the book’s author,showed that these nations are the descendants ofancient Israel and therefore the inheritors of theextraordinary promises God made to Abraham,the father of Israel’s patriarchs.

Among the many proofs of Israel’s modernidentity and location, Mr. Armstrong explainedhow the “lost 10 tribes of Israel” left the Levantin the eighth century B.C. and migrated throughEurope and into the British Isles. From there,descendants of the tribe of Manasseh laterdeparted for America (“new Israel,” as many ofthem called it) and formed what became theUnited States of America.

Many people contest the idea that the Bible canprovide insight into the identity of nations andinternational relations. But the facts in TheUnited States and Britain in Prophecy arevalidated by science, by rational argumentation,and by convincing empirical evidence.

Here we will look at some tangible evidence, notonly historical documents, but actual artifacts—multiple giant features that one can visit and

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touch—showing that the lost 10 tribes of Israelmigrated from the eastern Mediterranean,through Europe, and into the British Isles.

Meet King Jeroboam

When King Solomon died around 940 B.C.Israel was a united, rich and powerful kingdom.Solomon left Israel to his son, Rehoboam, whodealt harshly with the people, even dramaticallyraising taxes. King Rehoboam’s cruel leadershipprovoked a revolution. In 1 Kings 12, the chapterthat describes these events, the term “Israel”refers to 10 specific tribes. Verse 19 says thatIsrael “rebelled against the house of David untothis day.”

The rebellion was led by Jeroboam, a prominentleader from the northern tribe of Ephraim (verse20; 2 Chronicles 10:3). Following the revolt,Jeroboam was made king “over all Israel.”

This was the moment Israel split into twokingdoms. The northern kingdom, situated in theregion of Samaria, the Bible continued to call“Israel.” This kingdom consisted of 10 tribes andwas led by King Jeroboam. The southernkingdom, named Judah, consisted of the tribes ofJudah and Benjamin, as well as the Levites.Judah was led by King Rehoboam, and itsheadquarters remained in Jerusalem.

These two kingdoms, though family, becamearchrivals.

King Jeroboam didn’t bask in success for long.Securing the allegiance of 2 to 3 milliondisgruntled Israelites was easy; he now faced thechallenge of keeping it. His people wereaccustomed to looking to Jerusalem, to thetemple priesthood and the Davidic monarchy, for

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leadership. Under kings David and Solomon, thegovernment displayed strong, stable leadership,politically, religiously and culturally.

Israel’s new king knew this would have tochange, and quickly. Jeroboam’s immediate goalwas to sever his people’s connection toJerusalem, lest they gravitate back to Judah andits capital (1 Kings 12:26-27). To do this,Jeroboam invented an independent political andreligious system in Israel.

Read for yourself what King Jeroboam told hispeople: “It is too much for you to go up toJerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, whichbrought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (verse28). The king told his people, “Stop looking toJerusalem, embrace this new political-religioussystem I have developed for you!”

So, what did King Jeroboam’s counterfeit political-religious system look like?

The Religion of Jeroboam

Like all good counterfeiters, King Jeroboamrelied heavily upon the original product forinspiration. Basically, he took Israel’s existingreligion and refashioned it to his own liking,adding in doses of paganism that he had gleanedfrom Egypt (where he had lived) andsurrounding Gentile nations. His strategy waseffective. To the Israelites, King Jeroboam’spolitical-religious system was similar enough tothe one in Jerusalem to be believable. Thepeople embraced it and never looked back.

You can see some of the specific beliefs andpractices of Jeroboam’s religion in theaccompanying table. Let’s notice someespecially pertinent details.

Who were the Druids? 15

1 Kings 12:31 says that Jeroboam “made anhouse of the high places, and made priests of thelowest of the people, which were not of the sonsof Levi.” The Hebrew word forhousehere meanspalace or temple. Jeroboam didn’t want hispeople looking to the temple in Jerusalem, so hebuilt a counterfeit temple in Samaria. Notice, hethen filled that temple with “priests of the lowestof the people.” King Jeroboam recognized thetremendous value of the temple and the Leviticalpriesthood, which God created and King Davidestablished in the united kingdom of Israel.Jeroboam created his own priesthood ofministers, musicians and poets.

Verse 32 continues, “And Jeroboam ordained afeast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day ofthe month, like unto the feast that is inJudah, and he offered upon the altar .…”Jeroboam established his own holy day system,but it was patterned after the holy day systempracticed in Judah. It was a perverted form of thetrue religion.

Notice. In Leviticus 23:34 God had establishedthe timing of when Israel was to keep the Feastof Tabernacles, commanding, “The FIFTEENTHDAY of this SEVENTH MONTH shall be the feastof tabernacles …” King Jeroboam kept his feastof tabernacles one month later. (Keep this inmind.)

King Jeroboam also replaced worship on theSabbath with worship on Sunday. For proof, seeHosea 2:11. Here, God sends the Prophet Hoseato denounce Israel for practicing the religion ofJeroboam, which included replacing God’sSabbath and holy days with “her feast days, hernew moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn

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feasts.”

King Jeroboam promoted idol worship, andcreated a number of pagan idols, many of themtaken from Egypt and the surrounding Gentilepeoples. He turned his people to these false gods,even claiming that these pagan gods wereresponsible for releasing Israel from Egyptiancaptivity (1 Kings 12:28).

King Jeroboam reigned for 22 years, duringwhich he deeply entrenched his political-religious system in Israel. We know Jeroboam’sreligious system survived because biblicalpassages such 2 Kings 17 show it to be alive andthriving more than 200 years after his death!Verse 22 describes Israel’s condition toward theend of the eighth century B.C.: “For the childrenof Israel walked in ALL THE SINS OFJEROBOAM which he did; they departed notfrom them.”

In verse 10 we read that practitioners ofJeroboam’s religion at this time “set them upimages and groves in every high hill, and underevery green tree.” The Hebrew term forimagesmeans “a column or memorial stone.” Gesenius’Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon says it means“something set upright, specially: a) a pillar …b) a statue, the image of an idol, e.g. the statue ofBaal.” The Israelites also worshiped in “grovesin every high hill, and under every green tree.”The term groves refers to a place marked bytrees. Often, as the scripture clearly says, theywould gather under one large tree. (Groves canalso refer to the pagan goddess, Asherah.) Theyalso constructed worship places at the summit of“high hills.”

Verses 16-17 provide further documentation:

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“And they left all the commandments of theLord their God, and made them molten images,even two calves, and made a grove, andworshipped all the host of heaven, and servedBaal. And they caused their sons and theirdaughters to pass through the fire, and useddivination and enchantments, and soldthemselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, toprovoke him to anger.”

The Israelites were deeply immersed in thepractice of “divination” and “enchantments,”which means sorcery, witchcraft, fortune-telling,and looking to heavenly signs and omens. Infact, their religion had become so depraved theywere practicing human sacrifice using their ownchildren.

By the late eighth century B.C., the religion ofJeroboam was so entrenched—and the Israeliteswere so unrepentant, even rejecting multiplewarnings from God’s prophets—that God wasleft with no choice but to intervene and punishIsrael severely. “For the children of Israelwalked in ALL THE SINS OF JEROBOAM whichhe did; they departed not from them” (2 Kings17:22). The primary reason for Israel’spunishment was the unrepentant, pervasivepractice of the religion of Jeroboam!

But remember: Despite their rebellion andalthough they didn’t look like it at the time, thesepeople were God’s chosen people, a once-greatcluster of tribes that God Himself hadestablished and loved and had been workingwith for nearly a millennium! 2 Kings 17discusses Israel’s besiegement, capture anddestruction by the Assyrians in 721-718 B.C.

“Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight,

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as he had said by all his servants the prophets.So was Israel CARRIED AWAY out of their ownland to Assyria unto this day”(verse 23).

The Bible couldn’t be clearer! Millions ofIsraelites, a people deeply steeped in the religionof Jeroboam, were literally “carried away” to theland of Assyria. At this time, the Assyrians livednorth and east of what we call the Black Sea.The Israelites settled here for a time, butcontinued to move into Western Europe (as didthe Assyrians). Eventually, the tribes of Ephraim,Manasseh and Dan settled in the British Isles.

How can we prove this? Well, among otherproofs, there is tangible evidence of the religionof Jeroboam being practiced in Western Europeand, even more so, in the British Isles!

Celtic Druidism

The Oxford Dictionary defines a Druid as “apriest, magician or soothsayer in the ancientCeltic religion.” The common perception todayis that the Druids were a relatively small andinsignificant class of people, and that ancientDruidism was an obscure religion, not widelypracticed and without influence. This perceptionis false.

In Celt, Druid and Culdee, Isabel Hill Elderwrites: " The popular belief that Druidism wasthe religion of ancient Britain and nothing moreis entirely erroneous. Druidism was, in fact, THECENTER AND SOURCE FROM WHICHRADIATED THE WHOLE ORGANIZED CIVILAND ECCLESIASTICAL KNOWLEDGE ANDPRACTICE OF THE COUNTRY...The truth aboutDruids...is that they were men of culture, welleducated, equitable and impartial in theadministration of justice" (emphasis added).

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Druidism was in fact the defining religion of theCelts, the people who lived in the British Isles,including Ireland, before the arrival of theRomans in the first century A.D.

1 Kings 12:28-33 records that King Jeroboamestablished centers of religious worship inEphraim (in the border city of Bethel) and inDan. Here, among the tribes of Ephraim and Danin particular, Jeroboam placed his pagan priestson “the high places which he had made.” Isn’t itinteresting that a few hundred years later, bothBritain (Ephraim) and Ireland (Dan) were thecenters of Druidism? This pagan religion waspracticed in parts of Western Europe, but, just asit did during the time of Jeroboam, it thrived in,and emanated from, Ireland and Britain!

Druidism arrived in the British Isles in waves;however, historians agree that it was entrenchedand thriving by the third century B.C. Prior tothe arrival of the Romans, Druidism, thoughlocalized, was an elaborate and well-developedsystem of government, law and education.Druids were the leaders of local societies; theguardians of the law, politics and culture; and thechief musicians and artists.

The Encyclopedia Britannica introduces theDruid as a “member of the learned class amongthe ancient Celts. They seem to have frequentedoak forests and ACTED AS PRIESTS, TEACHERSAND JUDGES.” Isn’t it interesting that Druidpriests were also judges, teachers and even poetsand musicians? This was similar to the Leviticalpriesthood established in Israel, which we knowKing Jeroboam counterfeited (1 Chronicles 23:3-5).

There are various forms of Druidism, and there

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are differences in the practices, customs andbeliefs between the various forms. Most,however, recognize eight annual feasts. (Godestablished seven annual holy days in ancientIsrael). The four primary Druidic festivals areSamhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. Thefour minor feasts revolve around the movementof the sun (winter solstice, spring equinox,summer solstice, and fall equinox).

For many Druids, Samhain was the mostimportant festival. This festival was celebratedon November 1, though some people celebratedit for seven or eight days. Recall what KingJeroboam did with the seven-day Feast ofTabernacles that God inspired, which generallyfalls sometime during the months of Septemberand October? He postponed it by one month!

Historical records show that the Druidsworshiped in stone and timber circles, or henges,which were often situated on a high hill. Irelandand the United Kingdom today are littered withstone henges of all shapes and sizes. (Timberhenges are rare due to decomposition.) There arewell over 100 such ancient stone circles. Elderdiscusses these: “The gigantic monoliths placedin circles and the piles of stones were alikeunhewn. These piles, called si’uns or cairns, andin the north of England known as lawsor lows, were usually placed on the summit ofhills and mounds. … The similarity of si’un withthe Hebrew word Zion (fortress), the Mount ofStone (as the name Zion in Celtic means), isstriking.”

Most stone henges have been dated to beforeIsrael’s Assyrian captivity. How can we explainthis? Historical record shows that many Celts

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traced their ancestry all the way back to Egyptand the Israelites’ captivity in Egypt (circa1600 B.C.). After the Exodus, some Israelites,mainly from the tribe of Dan, separated and setoff for the British Isles. The Bible also recordsthat the patriarchs and early Israelite leaderssuch as Moses and Joshua also used stonemonuments and altars (e.g. Genesis 31:45-46;Joshua 4:19-21). This history requires anotherarticle, but the point is: There was a series ofsmaller Israelite migrations to the British Islesmore than a thousand years before the arrival ofthe lost 10 tribes and the religion of Jeroboam(e.g. Judges 5:17).

Druids also worshiped in groves, or clumps oftrees. Oak trees were especially appealing and animportant part of religious worship. In Age ofFable, 18th-century author Thomas Bulfinchwrote: “These sacred circles were generallysituated near some stream, or under the shadowof a grove or wide-spreading oak. In the centerof the circle stood the Cromlech, or altar, whichwas a large stone, placed in the manner of a tableupon other stones set up on end. The Druids hadalso their high places, which were large stones orpiles of stones on the summits of hills. Thesewere called Cairns, and were used in the worshipof the deity under the symbol of the sun.”

The Druids worshiped in the same manner as theIsraelite practitioners of Jeroboam’s religion.Among the various Druidic symbols, the snakeand the cow were especially important. InMysteries of the Druids, written in 1861,Winwood Reade wrote, “[T]he Druidsworshiped the heavenly bodies, and also trees,and water, and mountains, and the signs of theserpent, the bull and the cross.” The serpent and

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cow featured heavily in Jeroboam’s religion aswell (2 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 12:28-30).Archaeological excavations in Britain haveuncovered the remains of sheep, goats and cowsat Druidic sites. These animals were obviouslyused in sacrifices. But notice, these are all“clean” animals. The Druids—and KingJeroboam before them—could have learned thetruth about “clean and unclean meats” from onlyone place: RIGHTEOUS ISRAEL! (seeLeviticus 11).

Roman records, specifically the writings ofJulius Caesar, indicate that at least some Druidsconducted human sacrifices. As we read earlier,this too was a practice of the religion ofJeroboam.

It is also fascinating to consider the way theDruidic ministry was organized in variousorders. In How the Gospel Came to Britain,Brian Williams writes: “One class wasconcerned strictly with the priestly or sacrificialoffice. There was another class which wereconsidered prophets and were occasionallyemployed at the altar, but with a special duty ofthe composition of music and sacred hymns. Athird strictly secular class was occupied incomposing and reciting poetry for theencouragement of virtue and condemnation ofvice. A fourth class was devoted to astrology,sorcery and occultism. The priesthood washereditary, but the chief Druid was elected.”

Again, compare that with the Bible’s descriptionof how King David organized the Levites in 1 Chronicles 23 and 24. Under God’s direction,David divided the Levites into departments, or“courses.” These included “officers and judges,”

Who were the Druids? 23

“porters,” singers and musicians, anddepartments responsible for even more specificfunctions. King Jeroboam counterfeited all ofthis, and Israel’s descendants in the British Islescenturies later still practiced his corrupted forms!

Archaeological excavations in the British Isleshave uncovered the remains of Druid priests.Along with the skeletal remains, priestlygarments—intricately designed clothes ofamazing patterns and colors, studded withprecious stones—have also been found. Fromwhom did the Druids, and Jeroboam beforethem, learn about priestly garb? Again, from thehigh priests in righteous Israel! Passages such asExodus 28:15-21 show the high priest wearing awhite robe and a golden breastplate set with 12precious jewels.

Records show that the Druids perpetuated theirreligion and government through a well-developed system of education. There wereeducational institutions, or colleges, spreadthroughout the British Isles. Elder wrote thatwhen the Romans invaded there were “40Druidic centers of learning” and that these “40colleges were each presided over by a chiefDruid.” During the time of Julius Caesar, peoplewere traveling from Europe to the British Isles tobe educated in Druidic colleges. But where didthe Druids, and King Jeroboam before them, getthe idea of institutionalized education? Onceagain, from righteous Israel! The Bible clearlyreveals that Samuel the prophet established asophisticated, well-ordered system of educationin Israel during the late 12th century and 11thcentury B.C. (1 Samuel 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:3-15). Samuel had three colleges, and probablyhundreds of students, “sons of the prophets.”

24 SIMON MAGUS

King David himself was educated by Samueland probably attended one of these colleges.

The Arrival of Christianity

What happened when Roman Christianity beganto arrive in the British Isles in the late firstcentury? Was Celtic Druidism eradicated? Was itabsorbed into British Christianity? The answeris: BOTH!

Elder writes: “Upon the introduction ofChristianity the Druids were called upon, not somuch to reverse their ancient faith, as to ‘lay itdown for a fuller and more perfect revelation.’No country can show a more rapid, naturalmerging of a native religion into Christianitythan that which was witnessed in Britain in thefirst century A.D. The readiness with which theDruids accepted Christianity, the facilities withwhich their places of worship and colleges wereturned to Christian uses, the willingness of thepeople to accept the new religion are facts whichthe modern historian has either overlooked orignored.”

In The Offshore Islanders, historian PaulJohnson describes how Britain’s Christianity hasalways been distinct from Roman Christianity.Johnson calls it a “Celtic Christianity,” and itwas prominent—in various forms and oftenlocalized—throughout the British Isles,especially Wales, Scotland and Ireland, beforethe large-scale arrival of Roman Catholicism inthe late seventh century. Celtic Christianity wasessentially a blend of Celtic religion andtradition and Christianity.

A lot of people would agree that this history isremarkable and fascinating. But it is also a

Who were the Druids? 25

wonderful opportunity. Before you set thisarticle down and move on, take a few momentsto think on what we have just witnessed. Youhave just seen the convergence, in astonishingdetail, of secular history—tangible, quantifiable,undeniable facts about the Celtic religion—withthe biblical narrative. Doesn’t this prove theveracity of the Bible?

Think too about our book The United States andBritain in Prophecy. This book isn’t a careless,lightweight, amalgamation of a few Bible storiesand scriptures. It is not the impromptu thoughtsof a modern Christian minister or thecompilation of a few conspiracy theories. Themessage of The United States and Britain inProphecy is a thorough, well-researched, logicalexplanation of Scripture that has been repeatedlyproven accurate by actual historical events andby mountains of tangible, quantifiable evidence.

If you haven’t already, you really should requestand read this book. If you thought this study ofthe Druids was interesting, you will beastonished by the journey Mr. Armstrong willtake you on in Britain’s 4,000-Year-Old History.

Source:http://www.thetrumpet.com/article/12058.24.168.0/britain/who-were-the-druids

Notice carefully one of the source from which Brad got hisinformation about the Druids, it could most probably have comefrom the Book of Remembrance, particularly the one written byWinwood Reade which he has incompletely titled as just“Mysteries of the Druids,” while it’s correct title was “The Veilof Isis or Mysteries of the Druids.”

Why then would he have left intentionally the other part of thetitle ” The Veil of Isis”? Well, one thing is becoming clearthough, it is indeed THE VEIL OF ISIS or ASTARTE that is

26 SIMON MAGUS

covering up the Druids in our midst.

Is it possible that Brad Macdonald and his family could havedescended from the Celtic Druids?

Now, here is what Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about Britishhistory and its connection to the Druids:

Yes, the British Isles heard Christ’s gospel! But they accepted,instead, the idolatry of the Druids, pagan worship, and thecounterfeit “Christianity” of the Roman Babylonian mysteryreligion, and even spawned the devil’s religion of theevolutionary concept. (p. 131, The United States and Britain inProphecy)

_

ADDITIONAL READINGThe A.R.K. of God Foundation produces many informativeand interesting publications that you may want to request.

Here are a few you might consider:

Herbert W. Armstrong closed Bricket Wood after he found outan inclination of rebellion among UK's ministers. Once more,this rebellion happened in the Laodicean Era of God's Church.The Philadelphia Church of God with the efforts of the 25 menof Ezekiel 8 have forced their will to open the door which God'ssignet have closed. As a signet, Edstone Hall does not have ablessing of the End Time Elijah - Herbert W. Armstrong. This isthe story of how this door have become a Pandora's box,opening a gateway for the traditions of Balaam and Nicolaitansto mingle in the Church of God.

A King in ancient Hebrew have become intoxicated with his lustfor power. To take full control of the people, the King concoctedhis own system of worship contrary to the laws of God! Thisbooklet reveals of how King Jeroboam of Samaria have broughthis system of worship to the British Isles and astoundingly tothe last Era of God's Church! For more information about thesignificance of this Babylonian System of Worship to YOURsuccess in the Kingdom of God, download a copy of thisbooklet and find out if you should also assimilate to thesepractices of evil.

ABOMINATION ON TOP OF ABOMINATION

THE DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM

Mystery Babylon the GreatUnveiled at Last!

Babylon the Great : The whole world is led to believe thatthis is the Roman Catholic Church. But if you dig deeperinto the Bible, the messages in the Book of Revelation isgiven to the Temple Priests or God's Church Today. God'sChurch in this end time Laodicean era have risen up asGod's own enemy and have married foreign and strangegods! The Lord is become terribly jealous for His People.God commanded His people to come out of Babylon andbe not a partaker of His vengeance. This booklet is anUrgent Message for God's People Today. Now this is thetime to understand!

CONTACT INFORMATIONTo reach the A.R.K. of God Foundation, to order

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