Reality of Halloween. What ARE You Celebrating?

Reality of Halloween. What ARE you Celebrating?

1 Peter 2:11-12 “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Your eternal home and allegiance is to God, not to man. While we spend this time on earth we are to honor our Lord, lead others to Him, and prepare for the day when we will finally stand with Him in Heaven. A popular item among Christians today is a little bracelet that had WWJD on it. Well, what would Jesus do? Would He dress up as a goblin or a ghost and go door to door yelling “Trick or Treat”? Would He, as an Orthodox Jew, smile at references of Witches and Familiars? Do you remember Jesus, even once, worshipping the dead? How is the Gospel promoted by the House of Horror? You may not like these questions, but as a Christian you should certainly ask them of yourself, and answer them honestly.  

Romans 13:12-14 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

There is a spiritual conflict going on all around us, Christians! We should be spreading the Gospel message, encouraging one another in spiritual growth, and not following after the world.The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Remember, too, as Strangers in this world there are many deceivers out there who do not have your welfare in mind. There are many out there that say, “It’s fine, it’s just a little harmless fun”. God’s Word warns us who are His children:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

Which brings up the point: If the Bible doesn’t support it, how can we condone it? It’s time all believers stopped living on the edge of the old sinful life, and started living the new life that is their birthright in Christ. If the historical presentation of this study differs from what you were told, then are you released from making a Godly choice? Is the Scripture null and void because you disagree with this author? It’s your choice, believer. Be careful what you choose! Now, on with the study.
 

What Is Happy About Halloween?

Halloween originated from the witch and warlock religions of Britain, France, Germany, and the Celtic countries. The practicing witches, called druids, lived 100 years before the incarnation of Christ.

The celebration of “Hallow’s Eve” honored the pagan gods, particularly the lord of the dead. The celebration was held on the last day of October, the Eve of the Celtic New Year. On Hallow’s Eve the lord of the dead was supposed to call all of the wicked dead back from the prison of hell, and place them in lower animal bodies (dogs, cats, wolves, bats, etc.). The Celts felt that if they pleased this god with their worship, then he in turn would protect them from these resurrected demons.

Judaism and Christianity ignored Hallow’s Eve because of it’s Satanic overtones. The worship of Hallow’s Eve nearly died out until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (100 AD). He built a Temple of the Dead to appease the druids. The Temple gave the people a reason to start backing the festival again.

Rome went through a series of battles until Rome itself fell under barbarian conquerors. By 607 AD the Roman emperor Phocas recaptured the city. From the time Rome first fell until 607 AD, the Church of Christ had moved into Catholicism. Phocas wanted to insure the Rome remained a part of the Roman empire, so he gave the city to Pope Boniface IV. Boniface reconsecrated the Temple of the Dead, dedicating it to Mary, the “Mother of God”.

It was a long standing policy of the Catholic Church to avoid making religious waves among the pagans. The Catholics began to wrongly equate physical growth with spiritual growth, so they would modify Church doctrine in an attempt to make it more pleasing to the pagan. “Certainly”, the bishops reasoned, “If the pagan joins the Church, they will be converted to Christ in time”. Actually their tactic had the reverse effect, and the Church doctrine became more and more muddied by pagan influence. When the city of Rome was given to Boniface IV, he decided to allow worship of the lord of the dead to continue as long as the pagans joined the Church. The legacy of Boniface is that many Catholic Christians, even today, light candles and pray for the dead, just as the druids did nearly 1400 years ago. The Catholics, rather than praying to the lord of the dead, pray to Mary, the Mother of God. This practice, fermented out of the religions of the druids, finds no support in the Holy Bible. The druids day of worship, Hallow’s Eve, was modified to be called All Saints Day.

For two centuries the yearly celebration of the dead was called “All Saints Day”, and was held on the last day of October. In 834 AD the celebration was moved to November 1st, though it still retained the name of All Saints Day. As I said before, Catholics still pray to Mary (just as the druids prayed to the lord of the dead) for the souls of the dead. Their reasoning is that, since Mary was Jesus’ mother, surely she’ll convince Jesus to let these unrepentant souls into Heaven. The Bible, however, makes it plain that you can only be saved if you accept Jesus as Savior while you are in this life:

Acts 4:10-12 “Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’”

Why The Children Shout
“Trick or Treat”

The most effective ploy that Satan ever uses is to try and deceive as much of Christianity as is possible using the same trick in different ways. The Catholic Church, by allowing pagan ritual and worship, followed pagan god worship under the guise of All Saints Day. But what about the Reformed Protestant Church?

Ancient druidism had another practice that, up to now, we haven’t discussed. The druids demanded human sacrifice in order to show “proper respect” for the lord of the dead. In order to accomplish this, the druids went from castle to castle and demanded women so that they could be sacrificed.  The women were then taken to sacrificial altars and killed (one of the most prominent areas we know of today for human sacrifice was Stonehenge in England). If the sacrifice was willingly given, the druids left a hollow gourd outside of the castle walls filled with burning human fat. This burning fat was supposed to protect the castle from demonic attack. If the druids were refused the sacrifice, they drew a hexagram on the door or wall of the castle and left. Before dawn someone in the castle would be found dead from fear.

This practice of going “door to door” eventually found it’s way into society as a form of Halloween ritual. The earliest settlers in America encouraged their children to go door to door shouting “Trick or Treat”, little knowing that they were mimicking ritualized murder of days gone by. The children were given fruit, much like the druids were given human sacrifices. If the children were refused a treat, they were allowed to play a little “trick” on the household. Parents put candles inside of pumpkin gourds (just as the druids put human fat inside of hollow gourds) to commemorate Halloween. By making it all seem like harmless fun, Satan drew both Catholic and Protestant, believer and unbeliever into the web of druidic paganism.

What’s Wrong With A Little
Innocent Fun?

Most people, even Christian believers, defend Halloween as only “A little innocent fun for the kids”. It may be innocent, but is it fun to mimic (however unknowingly) devil worship, female sacrifice, and witchcraft? Once the Christian household allows paganism into it’s midst, then how much harder is it for Satan to get us involved in real druidism? The Ouija board, seemingly harmless, is no less than a familiar spirit:

Leviticus 20:6-7 “‘I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.”

Deuteronomy 18:10-13 “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.”

The question that the Christian must ask his or her self is this: “Do I want to play Satan’s game? Do I want to participate in a festival that originates from human sacrifice and demon worship? What do I want my children to learn?” Take a hard look at these questions and the evidence presented: your spiritual condition (as well as that of your children) may well depend on your answer.

Are there alternatives to Halloween? Absolutely! Many Churches have begun promoting “Fall Festivals” on Halloween night. The festivals are held at Church, children are offered Christian activities and adults have valuable time in which to fellowship with each other. Other Christians use Halloween night as a time to take their children out to eat, to skate, to a clean movie, or just to spend quality time with them. You do not need to deprive your children of fun in order to avoid Satan’s traps. Christians may even use Halloween as an opportunity to witness to the “visitors”. Rather than decorating your yard with ghosts and ghouls, focus on the Christian theme of love and salvation through Jesus. If you feel compelled to give out “treats” to the children, give out salvation tracts as well while telling the children about your Savior. Reclaim the night for Jesus!

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What follows is an article from New Wine magazine. All copyrights belong to New Wine Magazine and the author John Stanko:

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
by John Stanko, New Wine Magazine, 1984

Every October 31, Christian parents face a number of questions about Halloween, such as, “Should we allow our children to be out trick or treating?” and Should we answer the door and give out candy  or tracts? ” Without a sufficient knowledge of Halloween’s history and what the Bible says, it is difficult for a Christian to adequately answer these and other questions about participation in Halloween.

 The celebration of what we know as Halloween dates back to before the time of Christ.  In the Celtic countries of Britain, Germany, and France, the Druids (the priests and teachers of the Celts) set aside October 31 to  honor Samhain, the lord of the dead.  At this time of year the  crops were harvested and it was a  time of general decay. The day honoring Samhain highlighted the gloom and cold of the coming season.  The Celts believed that Samhain assembled all the souls of the dead on October 31, the eve of the Celtic new year. This freed them to return to their homes, where their families were to entertain them. If they didn’t find an acceptable welcome the spirits would cast spells or cause other problems for the living (the first form of trick or treat) To prepare for the arrival of these spirits the Druids built huge bonfires, sacrificing animals, crops, and even humans.  This fire was also used for divinations (they studied the remains of the sacrificed animals). During this ritual, many people wore costumes made of animal heads and skins.  When the Romans conquered the Celts, they combined the festival to Samhain with their own festival honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, making apples and nuts an important part of the rituals.

Despite the prevalence of Christianity this pagan rite continued. The Irish held parades to honor Muck Olla, one of their gods. A leader wearing a white robe and an animal head marched at the head of the parade. Those who followed him asked for food to help celebrate the October 31 festival, punishing farmers who refused to cooperate (another form of trick or treat).  Bonfires raged throughout Wales, Scotland, England on October 31. In the year 834 Pope Boniface IV moved the church feast of All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day) from May to November 1 to counter this growing pagan rite.  October 31 naturally was called All Hallows’  Evening – eventually abbreviated  Halloween.

In medieval times satanic witches took Halloween as an opportunity to mock the saints of the church commemorated on All Saints’ Day. The witches supposedly flew on broomsticks accompanied by black cats (also believed to be a type of witch).  In later years the poor in England went door to door for food on November 2, All Souls’ Day.  Beggars received “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the dead of  that household. In America however, because of the strong religious convictions of the early settlers, Halloween celebrations were banned. In the early 1800’s,  as more immigrants of Celtic origin arrived, Halloween celebrations were instituted

Despite the contemporary decline in trick or treating (perhaps because of dangers such as poisoned candy) Halloween lives on.  School parties, the media, and peer pressure all serve to make Halloween a fun and necessary time in children’s eyes. Christian parents face extreme difficulty in deciding what their family should do about the annual celebration.

Considering Halloween’s origins, it should not be difficult to establish a Scriptural position on the holiday. Deuteronomy 18.9-12 states:“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.”

As  Christians seek to make a firm decision regarding participation in Halloween, it is important to keep in mind that  believers are called to:

1. “Be separate from the world”:1 Peter 4:1-4 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.”
2.  Be transformed:Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
3. Be obedient and holy: 1 Peter 1:14-15 “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
4. Be God pleasers:James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
5. Be leaders:Ephesians 5:11 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

In answering questions about distributing candy on Halloween or allowing children to ‘trick-or-treat’, we must look at the roots of Halloween and what the Bible says, we now have the firm foundation we need to base our decisions on.

 

HALLOWEEN GLORIFIES SATAN AND WITCHCRAFT

Halloween is filled with darkness and paganism, and it is saturated with the influences of Satan. Satan is a very real person. Jesus used personal pronouns when referring to Satan (John 8:44). To accomplish his purposes, Satan uses many “devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). He has his own synagogue (Revelation 2:9); his own gospel (Galatians 1:6-9); his own ministers (2 Corinthians 11:14-15); his own doctrines (1 Timothy 4:1); and his own communion service (1 Corinthians 10:20-21).

Halloween is not just a fun day. For witches and worshippers of Satan Halloween is serious business. Halloween is a time when Satan makes light of his own operations. He presents himself as a hoodlum–a kind of cartoon character rather than who he is–the real arch-enemy of God. Witchcraft today embraces dozens of unbiblical beliefs and practices, and has many thousands of adherents. The Old Testament and the New Testament make repeated references to the practice of witchcraft, and God always condemns all such practices. Note the following references:

“Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31). They used divination and augury; and they sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord…therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight” (2 Kings 17:17- “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery…those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

The initiation rites for those involved in witchcraft and the worship of Satan are indeed very gruesome. Two girls described their experience. They had to go to a graveyard in the dead of the night, step on and walk across a large wooden cross, and renounce any belief in Christ; and then they had to drink the blood of animals that had been skinned alive. Surely these are gruesome anti-christian activities. Halloween is the chief holiday of Satanists, and those who practice witchcraft. To participate in the celebration of the pagan festival called Halloween, is to give an open invitation to the forces of Satan to gain more influence on our lives.

HALLOWEEN CLEARLY HAS THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL

One of the wholesome principles which God’s people are to carefully observe, is expressed in the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.

All the symbols of Halloween are evil. Note briefly each of the following symbols:

Jack-o’-lanterns–were originally carved images of demonic beings and thus have been in league with Halloween celebrations. The carved out pump-kin was lighted with a candle to scare off ghosts and witches and goblins and other supernatural forces wandering around on “the night of the dead.”

Black cats–have long been associated with witchcraft and miscellaneous superstitions related to sorcery and Satanism. Ancients believed that black cats had once been humans who had changed into animals because of evil deeds which they had committed.

Bats and owls–have been related to Halloween since early times. The pagan Celts believed that bats and owls were able to communicate with the dead.

Skeletons, skulls, and corpses–belong to Halloween because it is really a festival celebrating death.

Trick-or-treating--is nothing less than extortion. The concept of “You either give me a treat, or I’ll play a trick on you” is hardly in keeping with the Integrity and second-mile honesty which Jesus taught. (Historically, food and drink were often left on outside porches in the hope of appeasing the demonic night creatures who were roaming around seeking shelter. Mischievous children capitalized on this practice, and disguised themselves with a costume and mask to scare off the ghosts–and then they themselves would steal the food set out for the spirits. This is the origin of the “trick or treat” custom.)

Halloween has been a time dedicated to ghosts and ghouls and goblins and monsters and senseless vandalism. Malicious people have hidden drugs in candy and rarer blades in apples. Getting involved in Halloween celebrations cannot be consistent with the Brethren peace position. Also, police departments in various parts of the country have warned people to guard their animals on Halloween night, because frequently dogs and cats and other animals are mutilated as a result of the ritualist slaughter of animals in sacrifice to Satan at Halloween time. Actually, Halloween not only has the appearance of evil; it is clearly associated with the wicked practices of the god of this world.

Those who get involved with Halloween celebrations, must remember that what was once the accepted practice of European pagans, has now become the accepted practice of many American church members. Many church-goers despise the vandalism and destructive behavior often associated with Halloween, but they go along with it as a necessary once-a-year evil. What was once modified from the pagan Festival of Samhain to the Christian All Saints Eve has now been further modified to become a semi-pagan ritual honoring ghosts and goblins and witches. Many youth fellowships sponsor Halloween parties in church recreation halls and award prizes for the most outlandish costumes. They usually have some group singing and a short devotional to make the evening seem more sanctimonious.

What’s wrong with Halloween? Everything about it is wrong. It does not have one single redeeming virtue. Halloween is a festival which glorifies the devil. Those who go by the name “Christian” should have nothing to do with Halloween celebrations. It is time that we expose Halloween for what it is–a ritual for the occult.

We should never make fun of Satan’s power. Celebrating Halloween can encourage children to take lightly the forces of darkness (Jude 8-10). God’s people are not to be conformed to the world. We are not expected to Wit in” with the practices of our society (Romans 12:1-2). How seriously do we take the words of Jesus about being “in” the world, but not “of it? (See John 17:14-15).

It is proper for children to have good times. “Having fun” is not what is wrong with Halloween. Parents and church youth leaders should provide plenty of family and group activities for children and youth. If there must be an activity on October 31, you can plan an evening of Bible study on demons and sorcery and death. October 31 is a good time to study the Reformation period of church history (Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517). You can spend an evening reading a youth version of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. You can have a Harvest Festival, gathering foods and grocery items and delivering them to the poor and to those who may have had a variety of misfortunes.

Another alternative, which could be a worthwhile event, is to plan for an “All Saints Eve.” The first weeks after a death in the congregation, the bereaved family receives much attention, but a year or two later, many widows scarcely hear their husband’s name mentioned. People who were once a major part of a congregation’s life are easily forgotten (except by the family of loved ones). Perhaps on an “All Saints Eve” the pastor (or an older member of the church) could give some vignettes of numerous departed saints from the congregation, and point out specific characteristics of that person’s life and faith that are worth remembering.

It is our prayer that Brethren across the land will resolve to stand apart from the crowd, and dare to stand alone for the truth like the young man Daniel did when he was carried into the land of Babylon many years ago (Daniel 1:8-20). Let us decide to no longer participate in a pagan holiday which commemorates the activities of the powers of darkness.

Halloween glorifies Satan.

      When America and the world celebrates the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified. While you may have participated “all in fun”, be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and Witches.

      Anyone familiar with witchcraft would tell you that there are certain rituals and spells that can only be cast on Halloween night. That is the night when the “veil” believed to separate the living from the dead is thought to be the thinnest, and futures are easier and more accurately foretold by diviners.

      Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe Satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan. Last year, Newscasters in numerous cities warned their viewers to guard their animals on Halloween night. Dogs and cats are thought to be the most often sacrificed animals on Halloween, and many S. P. C. A. centers will not allow black cats to be adopted until after Halloween. In rural communities, it is not uncommon for farmers to awake to find the mutilated remains of their farm animals (cows, calves, chickens, even horses) that were ritualistically slaughtered in Satanic sacrifices. The practices that accompany such sacrificial rites are almost too revolting to believe-the drinking of animal (or human) blood and urine, the digestion of entrails and organs, orgiastic rituals, substance abuse, and something becoming more frighteningly common across the U.S.-human sacrifice. The 700 CLUB interviewed several people last Halloween (several of which were teenagers) who actually participated in or witnessed human sacrifices while involved in Satanism. No one scoffs at such stories anymore, as police departments around the country have had to scurry to develop a whole new field of investigation dealing with the gruesome reality of Satanic sacrifices.

      Isn’t it sad that while Satanist, Witches, Occultists and Police are taking Halloween very seriously, many in the church protest our “spoiling all of the fun for the children,” by urging Christians not to participate in it.

It is the Appearance of Evil.

      The Bible says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thess.5:22).

      Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil! On the other hand, Christians are called to be “followers of God” (Eph.5:1), and “lights” to a sin darkened world. How can we justify our masquerading as creatures of darkness in the light of the Scriptures? And if our houses and churches are dedicated to God and are to glorify Christ, how do we justify decorating them with demonic and occult symbols?

      Virtually all of the common Halloween decorations represent something Demonic or Occult. For instance:

      The “Jack-o-lantern” is the ancient symbol of a damned soul.

      The “black cat” has long been associated with Witchcraft and numerous superstitions are still connected to it.

      Witches and Witchcraft are a dominant theme of the holiday, but are an abomination to God (Exodus 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:8-14; Leviticus 18:24-30).

      Even the “trick-or-treat” is a threat! It’s nothing less than extortion! “You either give me a treat or I’ll play a trick on you.”

What Should Our Position Be? 

      Clearly, we should have nothing to do with the Halloween celebration whatsoever. If Christians assemble on Halloween it should be to worship, sing, praise, pray, intercede, wage Spiritual warfare and pull down demonic strong-holds. Under no circumstance should we compromise with this celebration or attempt to imitate the world in any manner. It should not be observed as any kind of a festival or “party” (masquerades, apple-bobbing, games, treats, etc.), but rather as a time to wage holy warfare and be separate from the world.

      The Christian should not fear Halloween or any of the powers of darkness, for we have authority over them (Mk.16:15; Lu.10:19), and “God has not given us the spirit of fear…” (2 Tim.l:7). But at the same time, “We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices” (2 Cor.2:11)

      Some may call me “legalistic” for doing so, but I have forsaken this pagan celebration altogether. Perhaps its time you considered doing the same.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Eph.5:8).

  

 

Verses depicting God’s opinion on participating with evil:

 

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 Detestable Practices  9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The Prophet  14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Exodus 7:11-1211 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

Exodus 22:18 18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live.”

Leviticus 19:26 26 ” ‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.”

Leviticus 19:31 31 ” ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.'”

Leviticus 20:6 6 ” ‘I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people.

Leviticus 20:27 27 ” ‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’ “

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

2 Kings 21:5-6  In both courts of the temple of the LORD, he built altars to all the starry hosts.  He sacrificed his own son in  the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

Isaiah 2:6 The Day of the Lord 6 You have abandoned your people,        the house of Jacob.        They are full of superstitions from the East;        they practice divination like the Philistines        and clasp hands with pagans.

Jeremiah 27:9-10 9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish.

Zechariah 10:2 2 The idols speak deceit,        diviners see visions that lie;        they tell dreams that are false,        they give comfort in vain.        Therefore the people wander like sheep        oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

Malachi 3:5  5 “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.

Acts 8:9 Simon the Sorcerer  9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,

Acts 16:16 Paul and Silas in Prison  16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.

Acts 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Galatians 1  1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me,       To the churches in Galatia:  3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. No Other Gospel  6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!  10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Paul Called by God  11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.  13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they praised God because of me.

Galatians 5:16-21 Life by the Spirit  16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.  19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:88Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

Revelation 21:88But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 22:1515Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Exodus 7:11-1211 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

Exodus 22:18 18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live.

Leviticus 19:2626 ” ‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.       ” ‘Do not practice divination or sorcery.

Leviticus 19:31 31 ” ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

As believers, we are calledto “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. [1 Thessalonians 5:21-22] Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil. Christians are to “… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” [Ephesians 5:11]  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” [Romans 12:2] “For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?” [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [1 Peter 5:8]

Originally published 30 Oct., 2009 at www.justinlessard.wordpress.com.

BIG Questions- Part 2: “Is getting a tattoo a sin?” “Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?” and “Is it really a big deal if I sin?”

There are a few questions that trip up just about everybody. But every question has an answer. I have been asked a number of these, and some I didn’t have the answer to at the time. So, I’ve looked up a few and I want to share those, so that you can have the answers, too, and so you can tell anyone else who asks you. This time, we tackle tattoos, smoking, drugs, and comparing sin- is any of it really so bad?

                                       Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

1. Is getting a tattoo a sin?

This question grows in popularity as the “art” of self-mutilation grows. It has become easier and more acceptable to get tattooed. Many are even risking infection and disease by having them done with needles and pen ink in their own homes. The danger there goes without saying, but is it a sin? The Bible mentions tattoos specifically one time. That is in the book of Leviticus.

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:28 NIV)

Now, some people have argued against this statement, despite it being perfectly clear. Among the series of commands that this verse is in, we are also told not to eat bloody meat, not to practice divination or sorcery, not to cut our hair at the sides or trim the edges of our beard, and not to make our daughters prostitute. Out of these, the only one we don’t follow nowadays is the trimming of our hair and beards. This command was for the Jews (some of whom still practice it), and was “overturned,” so to speak, later on. Still, some have said that since we cut our hair, we can cut our bodies and tattoo ourselves. This is not a fair comparison at all. We must look at what a tattoo really is, and what it does to our body.

We need to be extremely careful of what marks we put on our bodies. If, for no other reason at all, then for the following.

He [the Antichrist] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that none could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17 NIV)

That is what we commonly call the “Mark of the beast”. It is something that most people will actually want to get, because they are blinded by the convenience and commonality of the world. Still, we can look even deeper into a tattoo’s function. How do you get a tattoo? You let someone stab you with a needle, and while the wound is fresh, they inject foreign ink into your body. Despite some of the beautifully artistic pieces, my view has always been “Hang it on a wall”. So tattooing is not really more than a clever way to mutilate the flesh with a pleasant-looking after effect. What does the Bible say about that?

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Since your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you are living for God, and your body in fact belongs to Him, what authority do you have to cut, poke, mutilate, inject ink, etc.? Jesus paid a price for your body, for your very life, and God asks that in return you use your body to honor Him. Paul warns in his letter to the Philippians,

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (Philippians 3:2 NIV)

So let us take to heart the words of Scripture that plead with us to offer ourselves wholly to God, body, mind, and everything that we are. Don’t allow an inch of the devil’s work to touch you or taint you. Allow yourself to be put to unadulterated service, in every capacity, to the Lord. Since God is in control, let His glory be your decoration, and supply yourself to Him.

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

What about those who already have a tattoo?

Don’t worry if you have one. Many people have gotten tattoos before becoming a Christian, or maybe just didn’t realize the way God felt about it. While the tattoo is difficult to remove, the sin isn’t. Cutting yourself or tattooing is NOT the unforgiveable sin. God will forgive you if you repent sincerely. Many Christians who were previously tattooed use the mark as a part of their testimony of the life they left behind when they accepted Christ. It is never too late.

                               Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

2. Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?

This question has a lot of similarity to tattooing, since it involves harm to the body. However, there are a couple other reasons that smoking and drugs are sinful.

One of the biggest excuses is that God made it, so it’s okay to smoke it. This isn’t further from the truth. Although the Bible does declare that God made everything for good, (Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 3:11a) you must also remember that the earth is not now how God originally made it. Because of the sin of mankind, the earth was changed. God allowed thorns and thistles to grow, plants that were not for our practical use; plants that were not in God’s perfect Garden.

Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18 NIV underline added for emphasis. See also Hebrews 6:8)

Another reason is that it is illegal to do drugs, and to smoke until a certain age. Ask yourself, “Why would such a law be in place unless it was somehow harmful to smoke?” The truth is, the law allows you smoke at such an age because they believe that at that age, you can decide whether or not you want to harm your own body and health. The Bible demands that we not only obey God, but also our governing authorities, i.e. the police, courts, judges, laws, etc. If it is illegal, and harmful to our bodies, you are really committing two sins at once if you smoke.

            Obey your leaders and submit to their authority… (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)

One other thought is this: God has made everything, but for a good purpose. Marijuana plants can be used to make hemp, which is useful and safe. God never said that should smoke the plant. That was sinful man’s idea.

Remember, your body is made in God’s image and is designed for worship. Jesus died to give you life, not so you could slowly destroy yourself. Keep in mind what the Bible teaches about your body:

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

                 Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

3. I try to be good, but I keep making mistakes. Since everybody sins, is really such a big deal if I do once in a while? 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

To you, it might seem like no big deal. It might even seem that way to the person you sinned against. To God, however, it’s a very big deal; the BIGGEST! Sin is the one factor that separates us from God, even if its what we call a little sin. The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

This is a HUGE problem for us. Even just one little lie; or if we steal a candy bar; or if we misuse God’s Name; all of these make us imperfect. God is absolutely perfect, and so is heaven. If heaven had just one sinner in it, it would no longer be a perfect place. Because of this, we have only two options: Be perfect or go to the only other place we can go- hell. “But,” some would ask, “What about all the good deeds I do?”

            For all of us have become like one who is unclean,

And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;… (Isaiah 64:6)

All your good deeds are wonderful, and please God, but compared to our sin, every good deed is like a dirty garment. What value is a filthy, robe? Absolutely none. God doesn’t measure your sins in one pile and your good works in another to determine if you make it. You are either perfect, or you aren’t. The problem is, everyone has sinned,, and there is a price to pay for sin:

            For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23)

Because we sin, we die. The punishment for sin is that death, and if we die with that sin still covering our lives, the death continues in hell. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin. We are instructed in how we can have our sin erased, as though it never happened!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Jesus has paid the price for us, but we can choose to accept or ignore this gift. To accept, all we need to do is confess our sins to Him, and He will faithfully forgive us. That is how we can be made perfect! Once God forgives our sin, we have a new start; a perfect record! Of course, we need to try our best to avoid sin in the future, but should we slip up, God is still faithful to His Word. The apostle John continues to urge us on by saying:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Jesus paid the price for the entire world. That includes you. The prophet Joel records God’s words as He urgently calls us to go back to Him in repentance. God beckons us to Him.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting weeping and mourning;

And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness,

And relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)

When you go to God with your sin, it’s serious, yet He is slow to anger. He loves to be gracious and kind to us; He loves to defeat the evil in us. God would be more than thrilled to forgive you of your sin. He wants to erase the sin and one day welcome you into His Heavenly Kingdom. If you need to, confess your sins to Jesus in prayer.

            He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

            But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (Proverbs 28:13)

 What are your thoughts on any of these questions? Do you have questions of your own? Let me know below!

Secret Agendas- Articles that read ‘between the lines’

Source: http://www.infowars.com/?p=4771

 

Army Awards Contract for “High Speed Portable Portal Iris Capture Solution”

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

September 23, 2008

Sarnoff Corporation today announced it has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to develop and demonstrate a high speed biometric capture technology solution for iris-based identification. The system will be designed to be ruggedized for field use and quickly deployable.

The new iris recognition system will leverage Sarnoff’s patent-pending Iris on the Move(R) (IOM) technology for fast and reliable identification. IOM is a proven biometric identification system that quickly captures the iris image of a person in motion. The technology is ideally suited for force protection, civil-military operations, and combat situations.

Other iris scanning technologies require users to stop, line up their eye properly, and stare directly into a scanner for a period of time. IOM technology verifies identities at speeds of up to thirty people per minute, allowing subjects to walk through the system at a standard pace, without stopping. In addition, Sarnoff’s design will automatically adjust for subjects’ height without slowing throughput.

“Current biometric ID systems take too long to identify people in high traffic areas and cause long lines to form at checkpoints,” said Dr. Don Newsome, President and CEO of Sarnoff Corporation. “This is inconvenient and poses a security risk. The IOM technology makes it easy to set up iris scanning checkpoints that are as reliable as other biometric-based options but quick enough to keep lines moving rapidly.”

The IOM system delivers accurate identification regardless of whether the subject is wearing prescription glasses, most sunglasses, or contact lenses. In addition, IOM technology can capture iris images from farther distances than any other commercial iris scanning technology.

Sarnoff has delivered IOM technology to several secure government facilities and private corporations. The technology can be used for a broader range of applications including banking ID verification, border crossing initiatives, event security, payment systems, and employee access.

Video clip example of iris scan in ‘Minority Reeport’. Gov’t embedded idea into movies to “get people ready”.

Article URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6607757.stm

   

 

 

US and EU agree ‘single market’

The United States and the European Union have signed up to a new transatlantic economic partnership at a summit in Washington.

The pact is designed to boost trade and investment by harmonizing regulatory standards, laying the basis for a US-EU single market.

The two sides also signed an Open Skies deal, designed to reduce fares and boost traffic on transatlantic flights.

But little of substance was agreed on climate change.

However, EU leaders were pleased that the US acknowledged human activity was a major cause.

Richest regions

Economics rather than the environment or politics was the focus of the summit, says the BBC’s Europe correspondent, Jonny Dymond, from Washington.

The two sides agreed to set up an “economic council” to push ahead with regulatory convergence in nearly 40 areas, including intellectual property, financial services, business takeovers and the motor industry.

            Without the US there can’t be any success in coping with a globalised world

European diplomat

 

The aim is to increase trade and lower costs.

Some reports suggest that incompatible regulations in the world’s two richest regions add 10% to the cost of developing and producing new cars.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said last month that if the US and EU could set business norms today, they would “secure the markets of tomorrow”.

Since she came to office 18 months ago, she has made repairing damaged relations with the US a top priority.

Emission cuts

The Europeans said they were pleased that the US now officially acknowledged that climate change was happening and that human activity was a major cause of it.

“We agree there’s a threat, there’s a very serious global threat,” said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

“We agree that there is a need to reduce emissions. We agree that we should work together.”

But behind the scenes, says our Europe correspondent, officials were saying that not much had changed.

Ms Merkel will try to nudge the US towards a global approach to climate change before a G8 summit Germany is chairing in six weeks’ time, says our correspondent.

But the US has consistently rejected the European approach of imposing national limits on greenhouse gas emissions, saying they would harm the international economy.

Visa hope

The Open Skies agreement will take effect on 30 March 2008 and will allow EU carriers to fly to anywhere in the US and vice versa.

The deal promises to lower airfares and widen choice for passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The EU hopes to go further and create an “Open Aviation Area” between the two sides “in which investment can flow freely and in which European and US airlines can provide air services without any restriction,” said a EU statement.

The EU is also hoping that the US will agree to withdraw its visa requirement for travellers from a number of EU states.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/6607757.stm

Published: 2007/04/30 23:21:16 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

 

Secret Bilderberg Agenda To Microchip Americans Leaked

Elitists want to microchip Americans in name of fighting terrorism, Europeans universally opposed to attack on Iran, Globalists fear oil prices rising too quickly

Paul Joseph Watson

Prison Planet

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Sources from inside the 2008 Bilderberg meeting have leaked the details of what elitists were discussing in Chantilly Virginia last week and the talking points were ominous – a plan to microchip Americans under the pretext of fighting terrorist groups which will be identified as blonde haired, blue eyed westerners.

Veteran Bilderberg sleuth Jim Tucker relies on sources who regularly attend Bilderberg as aides and assistants but who are not Bilderberg members themselves. The information they provided this year is bone-chilling for those who have tracked the development of the plan to make the general public consider implanted microchips as a convenience as routine as credit cards.

“Under the heading of resisting terrorism there were points made about how the terrorist organizations are recruiting people who do not look like terrorists – blonde, blue eyed boys – they’re searching hard for those types to become the new mad bombers,” said Tucker.

As we have documented, the blue eyed blonde haired Al-Qaeda line is a familiar talking point that has been pushed on Fox News and within other Neo-Con circles in an attempt to turn the anti-terror apparatus around to target dissidents, protesters and the American people in general.

Ominously, Tucker’s source also told him that Bilderberg were discussing the microchipping of humans on a mass scale, which would be introduced under the pretext of fighting terrorism whereby the “good guys” would be allowed to travel freely from airports so long as their microchip could be scanned and the information stored in a database.

Tucker said the idea was also sold on the basis that it would help hospital staff treat a patient in an emergency situation because a scan of the chip would provide instantaneous access to health details.

Tucker underscored that Bilderberg were talking about subdermally implanted chips and not merely RFID chips contained in clothing. The discussion took place in a main conference hall and was part of the agenda, not an off-hand remark in the hotel bar.

Such a bizarre concept may seem unbelievable to some, but over the last ten years there have been dozens of examples of people accepting implanted chips for a variety of different reasons.

In 2004, Mexico’s attorney general and 160 of his office staff were implanted with tracker chips to control access to secure areas of their headquarters.

The Baja Beach Club in Barcelona and other nightclubs around the world are already offering implantable chips to customers who want to pay for drinks with the wave of a hand and also get access to VIP areas of the club lounge.

Bilderberg skeptical of attack on Iran

Tucker’s source told him that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates did attend Bilderberg despite him not appearing on the official list.

Tucker said that his sources told him Gates was in attendance to present his case for war with Iran, but that the majority of Bilderberg members were against an attack at this time.

“The Europeans were generally opposed to an invasion of Iran – Gates made the regular war propaganda drill about how Iran is a nuclear threat to everybody,” said Tucker, adding that European Bilderbergers made snide comments about where such nuclear weapons actually were being kept and at one point joking that they were possibly “in Saddam Hussein’s tomb”.

Despite Bilderberg opposition, Tucker said that the administration was still considering an attack before Bush leaves office in January.

“At least 90 per cent of the Europeans oppose a war, probably closer to 100 per cent,” said Tucker, adding, “most of the Americans were passive and deferential to the Secretary of Defense and Condoleezza Rice’s pitch in so far as Iran is concerned”.

Tucker said that most Americans present at the meeting were opposed to attacking Iran but dare not be as visible and loud in their opposition as the Europeans.

Energy and oil prices

“One of the Bilderberg boys raised this question – should we put a lid on the rise in oil prices, are we reaching the point of diminishing returns,” said Tucker, adding that Bilderberg noted how Americans were trading in their SUV’s in record numbers for small and more fuel efficient cars and using more public transport to combat high gas prices.

Tucker’s source said that Bilderberg were predicting $5 for a gallon of gas by the end of this summer and oil over $150 dollars a barrel, but that this was a ceiling and oil prices would probably begin to decline thereafter because they thought the acceleration had happened too quickly.

As we previously reported, Bilderberg called for oil prices to soar in 2005 when oil was a mere $40 a barrel.

During the conference in Germany, Henry Kissinger told his fellow attendees that the elite had resolved to ensure that oil prices would double over the course of the next 12-24 months, which is exactly what happened.

During their 2006 meeting in Ottawa Canada, Bilderberg agreed to push for $105 a barrel before the end of 2008. With that target having been smashed months ago, the acceleration towards $150 is outstripping even Bilderberg’s goal, which is why the elitists expressed a desire to cool prices at least in the short term.

Just two days after he left Bilderberg, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, George W. Bush and others expressed support for a strong dollar and Bernanke hinted that interest rates could rise, which immediately caused oil prices to drop in line with Bilderberg’s consensus.

 

Masons are chipping their kids at a local fair!!!! They do a retinal scan, voice recording and they put an RFID chip in the kids as a carnival attraction.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7octwsoi4HM

 Videos:

Concentration Camps in US:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqi123hBw2A

Concentration Camps in Texas

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxYxTly-yo8

Apparently, there are a number of buildings throughout the US that are supposedly “abandoned” warehouses and large factory-style businesses. These buildings have unique additions, such as military personnel, US Army & Air force vehicles, wind socks and other markers for helicopters,  the addition of barbed wire- pointing inwards (to keep people in, not out) and added heating systems (for buildings deemed “not in use”).  This is one piece of the puzzle.

 

Bill Clinton was asked about these and basically said, “We need to get along with other agencies and cooperate in our inter-dependant world” He DID say, “We’re better off with NATO. We’re better off with the United Nations.” Hand over our control? Live under the dictatorship of a one world government?

Here’s that link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFPsHPKY0y8

 

The world’s government is planning on mass world depopulation. Many cases of witnesses have seen and taped the piles and piles of caskets. This is for those who die in the depopulation and those who disobey the martial law. Hundreds of thousands of caskets in scarcely populated rural areas. About 1 ½ min into this video is a close-up. Second video even better.

  URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYp85QMJd1Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGa_sdyRS7Q

 

 

FEMA has already built underground caves and tunnels and is ready for a nuclear attack or “plague” to strike. We already know that the governments are working together (google “Builerberg” for more) and that they will more than likely intentionally release the pestilence and/ or weapons to annialate up to 80% of the world’s population. In this video, the FEMA agent becomes suddenly quiet when asked about the underground facilities, even though it is supposedly for “security in the event of an attack”.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S2J3i34XW8

 

A massive conspiracy to create a new one world order?

Watch these, and see the evidence. Then make your decision. (2nd half of this video is of the concentration camp, above)

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXlEfUGEzl4

 

 

This last video is VERY LONG. Its over 2 hours, so watch it as you have time. This is an exclusive documentary about the secret Bilderberg meetings and the plans that the governments have for martial law, with piles of proof and evidence. Here’s the video, followed by Wikipedia’s definition and explanation of the Bilderberg group, and a list of attendees:

 

 URL: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1070329053600562261&ei=kPPWSOX1NqXGrQK_iOnZAg&q=alex+jones+endgame&hl=en

 

Origin and purpose

 Hotel de Bilderberg

The original Bilderberg conference was held at the Hotel de Bilderberg, near Arnhem in The Netherlands, from May 29 to May 31, 1954. The meeting was initiated by several people, including Joseph Retinger, concerned about the growth of anti-Americanism in Western Europe, who proposed an international conference at which leaders from European countries and the United States would be brought together with the aim of promoting understanding between the cultures of United States of America and Western Europe.[5]

Retinger approached Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, who agreed to promote the idea, together with Belgian Prime Minister Paul Van Zeeland, and the head of Unilever at that time, the Dutchman Paul Rijkens. Bernhard in turn contacted Walter Bedell Smith, then head of the CIA, who asked Eisenhower adviser C. D. Jackson to deal with the suggestion.[6] The guest list was to be drawn up by inviting two attendees from each nation, one each to represent conservative and liberal (both terms used in the American sense) points of view.[5]

The success of the meeting led the organizers to arrange an annual conference. A permanent Steering Committee was established, with Retinger appointed as permanent secretary. As well as organizing the conference, the steering committee also maintained a register of attendee names and contact details, with the aim of creating an informal network of individuals who could call upon one another in a private capacity. Conferences were held in France, Germany, and Denmark over the following three years. In 1957, the first U.S. conference was held in St. Simons, Georgia, with $30,000 from the Ford Foundation. The foundation supplied additional funding of $48,000 in 1959, and $60,000 in 1963.[6]

Dutch economist Ernst van der Beugel took over as permanent secretary in 1960, upon the death of Retinger. Prince Bernhard continued to serve as the meeting’s chairman until 1976, the year of his involvement in the Lockheed affair. There was no conference that year, but meetings resumed in 1977 under Alec Douglas-Home, the former British Prime Minister. He was followed in turn by Walter Scheel, ex-President of West Germany, Eric Roll, former head of SG Warburg and Lord Carrington, former Secretary-General of NATO.[7]

Attendees

Main article: List of Bilderberg attendees

Attendees of Bilderberg include central bankers, defense experts, mass media press barons, government ministers, prime ministers, royalty, international financiers and political leaders from Europe and North America.

Some of the Western world’s leading financiers and foreign policy strategists attend Bilderberg. Donald Rumsfeld is an active Bilderberger, as is Peter Sutherland from Ireland, a former European Union commissioner and chairman of Goldman Sachs and of British Petroleum. Rumsfeld and Sutherland served together in 2000 on the board of the Swedish/Swiss engineering company ABB. Former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary and former World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz is also a member. The group’s current chairman is Etienne Davignon, the Belgian businessman and politician.

Mainstream criticism

Critics claim the Bilderberg Group promotes the careers of politicians whose views are representative of the interests of multinational corporations, at the expense of democracy.[8] Journalists who have been invited to attend the Bilderberg Conference as observers have discounted these claims, calling the conference “not much different from a seminar or a conference organized by an upscale NGO”[9] with “nothing different except for the influence of the participants.”[10]

 Conspiracy theories

The group’s secrecy and its connections to power elites encourages speculation and mistrust by such groups or individuals who believe that the group is part of a conspiracy to create a New World Order. This is further encouraged by the frequent use of the term ‘New World Order’ by its members when referring to their ultimate goal of world integration. The group is frequently accused of secretive and nefarious world plots by groups such as the John Birch Society.[11] This thinking has progressively found acceptance within both elements of the populist movement and fringe politics. [12] According to investigative journalist Chip Berlet, the prominent origins of Bilderberger conspiracy theories can be traced to activist Phyllis Schlafly. [13]

Radio host Alex Jones claims the group intends to dissolve the sovereignty of the United States and other countries into a supra-national structure similar to the European Union. This accusation is also linked with others claiming plans for a merger of Canada with United States, hoping Canadian influence will be calming to American society and foreign policy.

From “The Hunt for Red Menace:” “The views on intractable godless communism expressed by [Fred] Schwarz were central themes in three other bestselling books which were used to mobilize support for the 1964 Goldwater campaign. The best known was Phyllis Schlafly’s A Choice, Not an Echo which suggested a conspiracy theory in which the Republican Party was secretly controlled by elitist intellectuals dominated by members of the Bilderberger group, whose policies would pave the way for global communist conquest. Schlafly’s husband Fred had been a lecturer at Schwartz’s local Christian anti-communism Crusade conferences.” [14]

Jonathan Duffy, writing in BBC News Online Magazine states “In the void created by such aloofness, an extraordinary conspiracy theory has grown up around the group that alleges the fate of the world is largely decided by Bilderberg.”[15]

Denis Healey, a Bilderberg founder and former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, decries such theories. He was quoted by BBC News as saying “There’s absolutely nothing in it. We never sought to reach a consensus on the big issues at Bilderberg. It’s simply a place for discussion.”[15]

Some popular media references to the group are in Fredrick Forsyth’s novel “The Icon” where the group decides to undermine a nationalist Russian leader loosely modeled on Vladimir Putin (among others).

 

LIST OF ATTENDEES:

Royalty

•               Prince Philip (1965, 1966, 1967), Duke of Edinburgh

•               Prince Charles (1986), Prince of Wales

•               Prince Bernhard (Chairman of Bilderberg Meetings 1954-1976), father of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

•               Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands[3]

•               Claus von Amsberg (1967, 1968, 1971, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986-1989), husband of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

•               Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange (1990, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2008), Crown Prince of the Netherlands

•               Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (1989)

•               Queen Sofia of Spain, wife of Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996)

•               Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, younger daughter of Juan Carlos I, King of Spain

•               Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (1992, 1993, 1996, 2008), Crown Prince of Belgium

•               Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King of Sweden (1995)

•               Harald V of Norway, King of Norway (1984)

•               Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1985, 1986, 1987)

•               Prince Axel of Denmark (1955, 1957)

Politics

United States

•               David L. Aaron (1977), former Deputy National Security Advisor

•               Dean Acheson (1957, 1958, 1964, 1966), former United States Secretary of State

•               Keith B. Alexander (2008), current Director, National Security Agency

•               Roger Altman (2008), former United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

•               John B. Anderson (1977), former US Congressman

•               Michael Armacost (1997), President, Brookings Institution

•               Nancy Kassebaum Baker (1988), former US Senator

•               George W. Ball (1954-1992),[4] former U.S. diplomat

•               Evan Bayh (1999), current US Senator, former Democratic Leadership Council Chairman, also attended the Renaissance Weekend. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Member of the Alfalfa Club

•               Lloyd Bentsen (1989, 1992, 1995 – 1997), former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Sandy Berger (1997), former National Security Advisor (United States)

•               James H. Billington (1992), former Librarian of Congress

•               Eugene R. Black, Sr. (1957, 1966), former President of the World Bank

•               John Bolton (2003)

•               John Brademas (1966), former US Congressman

•               Bill Bradley (1985), former US Senator

•               Nicholas F. Brady (1984, 1986, 1988, 1991), former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Edward Brooke (1968), former US Senator

•               Zbigniew Brzezinski (Guest, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1985), President Carter’s National Security Advisor

•               McGeorge Bundy (1956, 1957, 1964, 1966, 1980), former National Security Advisor (United States)

•               William Bundy (1977)

•               Clifford P. Case (1958), former US Senator

•               John Chafee (1979, 1986, 1991, 1992), former US Senator

•               Frank Church, former US Senator

•               Hillary Clinton (1997), current US Senator, also attended the World Economic Forum, the Munich Conference on Security Policy, the Salzburg Global Seminar and the Renaissance Weekend. Member of the Democratic Leadership Council

•               Bill Clinton (1991),[5] former US President, 1993 – 2001

•               Carlos M. Collazo (2003)

•               Barber Conable, former President of the World Bank

•               Richard Cooper (1975, 1977), former United States Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs

•               Jon Corzine (1995 – 1997[3], 1999, 2003, 2004), current Governor of New Jersey

•               Kenneth W. Dam (1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989-1997), former United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

•               Richard Darman (1987), former United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

•               Thomas A. Daschle (2008), former US Senator

•               Lynn Davis (1995)

•               John M. Deutch (1998), former CIA Director, former United States Deputy Secretary of Defense

•               Thomas E. Dewey (1956, 1957, 1966), former Governor of New York

•               C. Douglas Dillon (1968), former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Christopher Dodd (1999 – 2001), current US Senator

•               John Edwards (2004), former US Senator

•               Stuart Eizenstat (2002), former United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

•               Mike Espy (1994), former United States Secretary of Agriculture

•               Daniel J. Evans (1986, 1988), former US Senator, former Governor of Washington

•               Dianne Feinstein (1991), current US Senator

•               Douglas Feith (2004)

•               James Florio (1994), former Governor of New Jersey

•               Tom Foley (1988, 1990, 1995, 2002), former Speaker of the US House of Representatives

•               Gerald R. Ford (1964, 1966), former US President, 1974 – 1977

•               Harold Ford, Jr. (2008), current Chairman, Democratic Leadership Council, former US Congressman, Vice Chairman, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

•               Donald M. Fraser (1971), former US Congressman

•               Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen, Jr. (1964, 1966, 1971), former US Congressman

•               J. William Fulbright (1956, 1957, 1964), former US Senator

•               Cornelius Edward Gallagher (1963, 1966), former US Congressman

•               Melinda Gates (2004), wife of Bill Gates

•               David Gergen (1992, 1995), political consultant and presidential adviser during the Republican administrations of Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, campaign staffer for George H.W. Bush and adviser to Democratic President Bill Clinton

•               Dan Glickman (2001), former US Congressman

•               Andrew Goodpaster (1968, 1974), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

•               Donald Gregg (1985), former United States Ambassador

•               Marc Grossman (2007), former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

•               Alfred Gruenther (1955, 1957, 1966), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

•               Richard N. Haass (1991, 2003, 2004)[6], president, Council on Foreign Relations

•               Philip C. Habib (1992)

•               Chuck Hagel (1999 – 2001), current US Senator

•               Alexander Haig (1978), former United States Secretary of State

•               Lee H. Hamilton (1997)[3], former US Congressman

•               Fred R. Harris (1966), former US Senator

•               H. John Heinz III (1978), former US Senator

•               Christian Herter (1961, 1963, 1964, 1966),[7] former Secretary of State

•               Carla Anderson Hills (2002), former United States Trade Representative

•               Richard Holbrooke (1995 – 1999, 2004 – 2006, 2008), former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

•               Kay Bailey Hutchison (2000, 2002), current US Senator

•               Henry M. Jackson (1964, 1966-1968), former US Senator

•               Jacob Javits (1964, 1966), former US Senator

•               Joseph E. Johnson (1954)[8], former President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

•               Bennett Johnston Jr. (1991), former US Senator

•               James Robert Jones (1985), former US Congressman

•               Vernon Jordan (1979-1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2005, 2006, 2008 )

•               Robert Kagan (2004)

•               Thomas Kean (1989), former Governor of New Jersey

•               Robert M. Kimmitt (1995), current United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

•               Lane Kirkland (1977), former President, AFL-CIO

•               Jeane Kirkpatrick (1981), former United States Ambassador to the United Nations

•               Henry Kissinger (1957, 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977-2003, 2004,[6] 2005-2008), Secretary of State, 1973 – 1977

•               John LaFalce (2002), former US Congressman

•               Michael Ledeen (2005)

•               Lyman L. Lemnitzer (1957, 1963, 1966), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

•               Winston Lord (1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1996), former United States Ambassador to China

•               William J. Luti (2004), Senior Director for Defense Policy and Strategy for the National Security Council

•               Terry McAuliffe (2002), former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee

•               John J. McCloy (1958, 1964, 1966), former President of the World Bank

•               Donald F. McHenry (1986, 1996), former United States Ambassador to the United Nations

•               Robert S. McNamara (1968, 1975), former US Secretary of Defense, former President of the World Bank

•               Charles Mathias, Jr. (1967, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1984-1993), former US Senator

•               Ken Mehlman (2005), former Chairman of the Republican National Committee

•               Cord Meyer (1957), CIA official

•               George J. Mitchell, former US Senator

•               Walter F. Mondale (1974, 1981), former US Vice President, 1977 – 1981

•               Lauris Norstad (1967), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

•               Sam Nunn (1996, 1997[3]), former US Senator

•               William Odom (1993), former National Security Agency Director

•               Dan Quayle (1990, 1991), former US Vice President, 1989 – 1993

•               George Pataki (2006), former Governor of New York

•               Henry M. Paulson, Jr. (2008), current United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Claiborne Pell (1992), former US Senator

•               Richard Perle (1983, 1985, 2003, 2006, 2008), assistant Secretary of Defense, 1981 – 1987

•               Rick Perry (2007), current Governor of Texas

•               William J. Perry (1996), former United States Secretary of Defense

•               Peter George Peterson (1978), former United States Secretary of Commerce

•               Colin L. Powell (1997), former United States Secretary of State

•               Larry Pressler (1993), former US Senator

•               Lewis Thompson Preston, former President of the World Bank

•               Joel Pritchard (1975), former US Congressman

•               Marc Racicot (2002), former Chairman, Republican National Committee

•               Ralph E. Reed, Jr. (2004), former first executive director of the Christian Coalition

•               William K. Reilly (1989), former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

•               Condoleezza Rice (2008), current United States Secretary of State

•               Bill Richardson (1999, 2000), current Governor of New Mexico

•               Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (1971), former US Senator

•               Alice Rivlin (1984)

•               David Rockefeller, original U.S. founding member, life member, and member of the Steering Committee (1954-

•               David Rockefeller, Jr. (1989)

•               Jay Rockefeller (1971), current US Senator

•               Nelson A. Rockefeller (1957, 1974), former US Vice President, 1974 – 1977, former Governor of New York, 1959 – 1973

•               Dennis Ross (2004, 2006, 2008 )

•               Walt Whitman Rostow, former National Security Advisor (United States)

•               Donald Rumsfeld (1975, 2002), Secretary of Defense, 2001 – 2006

•               Dean Rusk (1955, 1957, 1966), former United States Secretary of State

•               Mark Sanford (2008), current Governor of South Carolina, also attended the Renaissance Weekend

•               Hugh Scott (1961, 1966), former US Senator

•               Brent Scowcroft (1985, 1988, 1994), former National Security Advisor (United States)

•               Kathleen Sebelius (2007, 2008), current Governor of Kansas

•               George P. Shultz (2008), former United States Secretary of State, former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Kristen Silverberg (2007), Bureau of International Organization Affairs, part of the State Department

•               William E. Simon (1982), former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               Walter Bedell Smith, former CIA Director

•               Nancy Soderberg (1995)

•               John Sparkman (1955, 1966), former US Senator

•               James Steinberg (1994, 2000), former Deputy National Security Advisor

•               Adlai Stevenson III (1971), former US Senator

•               Robert Schwarz Strauss (1982, 1989, 1990, 1992), former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee

•               Lawrence Summers (1998, 2002, 2008), former United States Secretary of the Treasury

•               John H. Sununu (1990), former Governor of New Hampshire

•               Shirley Temple (1982), former United States Ambassador, former child actress

•               Laura D’Andrea Tyson (1999)

•               Cyrus Vance (1971), former United States Secretary of State

•               Mark Warner (2005), former Governor of Virginia

•               Vin Weber (2007, 2008), former US Congressman

•               John C. Whitehead (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989-1997), former United States Deputy Secretary of State

•               Christine Todd Whitman (1998), former Governor of New Jersey

•               L. Douglas Wilder (1991), former Governor of Virginia, current Mayor of Richmond, Virginia

•               Ross Wilson (ambassador) (2007), current United States Ambassador to Turkey

•               Paul Wolfowitz (1990, 1994-1998, 2008), former President of the World Bank

•               George David Woods (1966), former President of the World Bank

•               Philip D. Zelikow (2007), executive director of the 9/11 Commission and Counselor of the United States Department of State

•               Robert Zoellick (1991, 2003, 2006, 2008), former Deputy Secretary of State and current President of the World Bank

Canada

•               Lester B. Pearson (1964, 1966, 1968), former Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968

•               Pierre Trudeau (1983, 1985), former Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979, 1980 to 1984

•               Jean Chrétien (1982, 1996), Canadian Prime Minister, 1993 – 2003

•               Paul Martin (1996), Canadian Prime Minister, 2003 – 2006

•               Stephen Harper (2003), Canadian Prime Minister, 2006 – Present

•               Bernard Lord (2001), former Premier of New Brunswick

•               Robert L. Stanfield (1968), former Premier of Nova Scotia

•               Jason Kenney (2007), Canadian Member of Parliament

•               Preston Manning (1998), former leader and founder of the Reform Party of Canada

•               Lloyd Axworthy (1996), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)

•               Kevin G. Lynch (2004), Canadian civil servant

•               Frank McKenna (1994, 2006, 2008), former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, former Premier of New Brunswick, current Deputy Chairman of Toronto-Dominion Bank

•               Michael Wilson (politician) (1991), current Canadian Ambassador to the United States, former Minister of Finance (Canada), former Minister of International Trade (Canada)

•               Marc Lalonde (1977), former Minister of Finance (Canada)

•               Jacques Parizeau (1968), former Premier of Quebec

•               Robert Bourassa (1971), former Premier of Quebec

•               Jean Lesage (1966), former Premier of Quebec

•               Mike Harris (1996), former Premier of Ontario

•               David Peterson (1990), former Premier of Ontario

•               Ralph Klein (1995), former Premier of Alberta

•               Peter Lougheed (1973), former Premier of Alberta

•               Gerald Regan (1977), former Premier of Nova Scotia

•               Paul Joseph James Martin (1957, 1966-1968), former Canadian Senator, former Leader of the Government in the Senate (Canada), former Minister of National Health and Welfare (Canada), former Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada), father of former Prime Minister of Canada,Paul Martin

•               Jeanne Sauvé (1974, 1986, 1989), former Governor General of Canada

•               Donald S. Macdonald (1971, 1973, 1979-1986, 1988, 1993), former Minister of Finance (Canada), former Minister of National Defence (Canada)

•               Allan MacEachen (1983), former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada

•               Heather Reisman (2006, 2007, 2008), Canadian businesswoman

•               Andre Desmarais, Power Corporation of Canada

United Kingdom

•               Gordon Brown (1991), current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Tony Blair (1993),[5] former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom[9]

•               John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Margaret Thatcher (1975),[10] former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               James Callaghan (1963, 1966), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Edward Heath (1963, 1966, 1967), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Alec Douglas-Home (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Harold Wilson (1966), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

•               Kenneth Clarke (1993, 1998,[11] 2006[12] & 2007[13]), former Chancellor of the Exchequer

•               George Osborne (2006)[14] Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer 2004-Present; member of the opposition 2001-Present

•               Denis Healey, former Secretary of State for Defence 1963-1970, former Chancellor of the Exchequer 1974-1979 (founding member of Bilderberg)

•               Ed Balls (2001-2003), Economic Secretary to the Treasury 2006 – 2007

•               Paddy Ashdown (1989), former leader of the UK Liberal Democrats

•               Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington (1978, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989-1998), former Secretary-General of NATO

•               David Owen (1973, 1982, 1993), former British Foreign Secretary

•               Norman Lamont (1995), former Chancellor of the Exchequer

•               Nigel Lawson (1982, 1990), former Chancellor of the Exchequer

•               William Hague (1998), former leader of the Conservative Party (UK), current Shadow Foreign Secretary

•               Sir Malcolm Rifkind (1986, 1996), former British Foreign Secretary

•               Douglas Hurd (1980, 1981), former British Foreign Secretary

•               Cecil Parkinson (1989), former Chairman of the Conservative Party

•               Michael Heseltine (1984), former Secretary of State for Defence

•               Roy Jenkins, former President of the European Commission

•               Reginald Maudling (1955, 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1978), former Chancellor of the Exchequer

•               Hugh Gaitskell (1954, 1955, 1958), former leader of the Labour Party (UK)

•               William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill (1987, 1988, 1990, 1995)

•               John Smith (UK politician) (1986, 1989, 1991), former leader of the British Labour Party

•               William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank (1974)

•               Clement Davies (1954, 1955, 1957), former leader of the Liberal Party (UK)

•               Jo Grimond (1958, 1966), former leader of the Liberal Party (UK)

•               Jeremy Thorpe, former leader of the Liberal Party (UK)

•               David Steel (1986), former leader of the Liberal Party (UK)

•               David Hannay, Baron Hannay of Chiswick (1995, 1998 )

•               Geoffrey Rippon (1974)

•               David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech (1958, 1966), former British Ambassador to the United States

•               Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1965, 1966)

•               Christopher Price (UK politician), former Labour Party (UK) Member of Parliament, former member of the European Parliament

•               Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury (1997)

•               Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham (1964, 1966)

•               George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth (1971)

•               Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone (1967)

•               George Brown, Baron George-Brown (1966, 1978 )

•               Enoch Powell (1968 )

•               Kenneth Younger (1966)

•               John Horam (1975)

•               John Nott (1977), former Secretary of State for Defence

•               Edmund Dell (1978 )

•               Keith Joseph (1977)

•               Rodric Braithwaite (1993)

•               Frederic Bennett (1963, 1964, 1966-1968, 1971, 1973-1975, 1977-1980, 1984)

•               John Keegan (1988), British military historian

•               John Monks (1996) , former General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress

•               Charles Forte, Baron Forte (1977)

•               Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International Relations (1985, 1986, 1993)

•               Giles Radice, Baron Radice (1995)

•               Philip Gould, Baron Gould of Brookwood (2003)

•               Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn (2002, 2003)

•               Pauline Neville-Jones, Baroness Neville-Jones (2004)

•               Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron Elton (1977)

•               Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester (1977, 1985), former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

•               John Baring, 7th Baron Ashburton (1980, 1984, 1986), former Chairman of British Petroleum

•               David Young, Baron Young of Graffham (1985, 1986)

•               John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986)

•               William Rees-Mogg (1993)

•               George Weidenfeld (1992)

•               Roy Hattersley (1985)

•               Norman Tebbit (1985)

•               Richard Dearlove (2007), former head of MI6

•               Eric Roll (1964, 1966, 1967, 1973-1975, 1977-1999) (Bilderberg Steering Committee),[15] Department of Economic Affairs, 1964, later Bilderberg Group Chairman

•               John Kerr, Baron Kerr of Kinlochard (2004, 2008), member of the House of Lords, Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell

•               Antony Acland (1988), former British Ambassador to the United States

•               Lawrence Freedman (1991), Professor, Oxford University

Ireland

•               Garret FitzGerald (1975, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1987), former Prime Minister of Ireland

•               John Bruton (1998), former Prime Minister of Ireland

•               Michael McDowell (1992, 2007), founding member of the Progressive Democrats of Ireland

•               Paul Gallagher (2008), Attorney General of Ireland

Germany

•               Egon Bahr (1968, 1971, 1982, 1987), German Minister, creator of the Ostpolitik

•               Rainer Barzel (1966), former German opposition leader

•               Kurt Biedenkopf (1992), former Prime Minister of Saxony

•               Max Brauer (1954, 1955, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966), former Mayor of Hamburg

•               Birgit Breuel (1973, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1992, 1994), chairwoman of Treuhandanstalt

•               Andreas von Bülow (1978), former Minister of Research of Germany

•               Karl Carstens (1971), former President of Germany

•               Klaus von Dohnanyi (1975, 1977), former Mayor of Hamburg

•               Ursula Engelen-Kefer (1998), former chairwoman of the German Confederation of Trade Unions

•               Björn Engholm (1991), former Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein

•               Ludwig Erhard (1966), former Chancellor of Germany

•               Fritz Erler (1955, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966), Socialist Member of Parliament

•               Joschka Fischer (2008), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Germany)

•               Herbert Giersch (1975), Director, Institut fur Weltwirtschaft an der Universitat Kiel

•               Helmut Haussmann (1979, 1980, 1990, 1996), former Minister of Economics of Germany

•               Wolfgang Ischinger (1998, 2002, 2008), former German Ambassador to Washington

•               Helmut Kohl (1980, 1982, 1988), former Chancellor of Germany

•               Walter Leisler Kiep (1974, 1975, 1977, 1980), former Treasurer of the Christian Democratic Union (Germany)

•               Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1955, 1957, 1966), former Chancellor of Germany

•               Hans Klein (1986), Member of German Bundestag

•               Otto Graf Lambsdorff (1980, 1983, 1984), former Minister of Economics of Germany

•               Karl Lamers (1995), Member of the German Bundestag

•               Angela Merkel (2005), current Chancellor of Germany

•               Alois Mertes (1983, 1985)

•               Siegmar Mosdorf (2001), Secretary of State for Economics in Germany

•               Alfred Müller-Armack (1966), Secretary of State for Economics in Germany

•               Volker Perthes (2008), Director, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

•               Friedbert Pflüger (2005, 2006), Member of the German Bundestag

•               Ruprecht Polenz (2002)

•               Volker Rühe (1983, 1991-1994), former Defense Minister of Germany

•               Rudolf Scharping, former Defense Minister of Germany

•               Wolfgang Schäuble (2003), current Minister of Internal Affairs of Germany

•               Walter Scheel (1981-84, 1986), former President of Germany

•               Karl Schiller (1966), former Finance Minister of Germany

•               Otto Schily (2003-2006), former Minister of Internal Affairs of Germany

•               Carlo Schmid (1955, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966), former Vice President of the Federal Parliament

•               Helmut Schmidt (1966, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986), former Chancellor of Germany

•               Gerhard Schröder (CDU) (1971, 1974), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Germany), former Minister of Defence (Germany)

•               Gerhard Stoltenberg (1966, 1968), former Minister of Germany and Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein

•               Franz Josef Strauß (1963, 1966), former Minister of Germany and Prime Minister of Bavaria

•               Lothar Späth (1993), former Prime Minister of Baden-Wurttemberg

•               Erwin Teufel (1991), former Prime Minister of Baden-Wurttemberg

•               Henning Voscherau (1996), former Mayor of Hamburg

•               Richard von Weizsäcker (1978), former President of Germany

•               Guido Westerwelle (2007), leader of the Free Democratic Party of Germany

•               Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski (1971, 1973, 1974, 1978), former Secretary of State in the Chancellor’s Office of Germany

•               Matthias Wissmann (1998, 2004, 2005), former Minister of Research of Germany

Austria

•               Otto von Habsburg, Archduke and Crown Prince of Austria

•               Alfred Gusenbauer (2002, 2006), current Chancellor of Austria

•               Wolfgang Schussel (1984), former Chancellor of Austria

•               Franz Vranitzky (1975, 1979, 1986-1991, 1993, 1995-1999), former Austrian Chancellor

•               Bruno Kreisky (1979), former Austrian Chancellor

•               Thomas Klestil (1988), former President of Austria

•               Martin Bartenstein (2006), Austrian Minister for Economy and Labour

•               Josef Krainer (1989), former Governor of Styria

Switzerland

•               Flavio Cotti (1994-1997), former President of the Swiss Confederation

•               Pascal Couchepin (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), current President of the Swiss Confederation

•               Jean-Pascal Delamuraz (1995), former President of the Swiss Confederation

•               Max Petitpierre (1963, 1966), former President of the Swiss Confederation

•               Jacob Kellenberger (1993), former Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs

•               Sigmund Widmer (1975), former Mayor of Zürich

•               Denis de Rougemont (1954, 1955, 1966)

France

•               Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (1968, 2003), former President of the French Republic

•               Lionel Jospin (1996), former Prime Minister of France

•               Georges Pompidou (1966), former President of the French Republic

•               Dominique de Villepin (2003), former Prime Minister of France

•               Laurent Fabius (1994), former Prime Minister of France

•               Michel Rocard (1986), former Prime Minister of France

•               Pierre Bérégovoy (1992), former Prime Minister of France

•               Edouard Balladur (1987), former Prime Minister of France

•               Raymond Barre (1983), former Prime Minister of France

•               Edgar Faure (1974), former Prime Minister of France

•               René Pleven (1963, 1966), former Prime Minister of France

•               Pierre Mendes-France (1968), former Prime Minister of France

•               Antoine Pinay (1954, 1955, 1963, 1964, 1966), former Prime Minister of France

•               Jean-Bernard Raimond (1994), former French Foreign Minister

•               Jean Francois-Poncet (1982, 1985, 1988), former French Foreign Minister

•               Michel Barnier (2007), former French Foreign Minister

•               Hubert Védrine (1987, 1992, 2008), former French Foreign Minister

•               Bernard Kouchner (2005), current Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)

•               Manuel Valls (2008), French Member of Parliament

•               Jean-Pierre Jouyet (2008), French Minister of European Affairs

•               Jean-Pierre Chevenement (1984, 1990), former Minister of Defense (France)

•               Jacques Attali (1975), French economist and scholar and former presidential adviser of France’s socialist government

•               Gaston Defferre (1964, 1966), former Mayor of Marseille

•               Maurice Herzog (1974), former Mayor of Chamonix

•               Philippe Seguin (1990), former Mayor of Epinal

•               Jean-Pierre Cot (1977), French politician, former Mayor of Coise

•               Olivier Guichard (1966, 1977), French politician, former French Minister of Justice

•               Guy Mollet (1954, 1955, 1957, 1963, 1966), former Socialist Prime Minister of France

•               Maurice Faure (1955, 1963, 1966)

•               Jacques Rueff (1966)

Belgium

•               Paul Van Zeeland (1955-1958, 1966), former Prime Minister of Belgium

•               Leo Tindemans (1980), former Prime Minister of Belgium

•               Wilfried Martens (1989-1991, 1993), former Prime Minister of Belgium

•               Jean-Luc Dehaene (2004), former Prime Minister of Belgium

•               Philippe Maystadt (1996), former Belgian Minister of Finance

Netherlands

•               Jan-Peter Balkenende (2008), current Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 2002 – present

•               Ruud Lubbers (1983, 1991, 1992, 1994), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1982 – 1994

•               Wim Kok (1993, 2003), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1994 – 2002

•               Barend Biesheuvel (1968), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1971 – 1973

•               Jelle Zijlstra (1966, 1975), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 1966 – 1967

•               Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst (1974, 1981), former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs

•               Max van der Stoel (1980), former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1973 – 1977, 1981 – 1982

•               Jozias van Aartsen (2005), former Dutch Minister of Agriculture, 1994 – 1998, former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1998 – 2002

•               Maxime Verhagen (2006, 2008), current Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2007 – present

•               Frank Heemskerk (2007), Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade

•               Frans Timmermans (2008), Dutch Minister of European Affairs

•               Klaas de Vries (2003), Dutch Member of Parliament

•               Ivo Samkalden (1963, 1966), former Mayor of Amsterdam

•               Harold Goddijn (2008), CEO of TomTom

Italy

•               Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (1987), former President of the Italian Republic, former Governor of the Banca d’Italia

•               Francesco Cossiga (1977), former President of the Italian Republic

•               Amintore Fanfani (1955, 1956, 1966), former Italian Prime Minister

•               Alcide de Gasperi (1954), former Italian Prime Minister

•               Claudio Martelli, former Italian Minister of Justice

•               Gianni De Michelis (1991), former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs

•               Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa (1986, 1998, 1999, 2008), former Italian Minister of Economy and Finance

•               Romano Prodi (Steering Committee Member of Bilderberg in the 1980s), former Italian Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission

•               Virginio Rognoni (1982, 1991), former Italian Minister of Defense

•               Mariano Rumor (1966), former Italian Prime Minister

•               Domenico Siniscalco (1998), former Italian Minister of Economy and Finance

•               Giulio Tremonti (2000), current Italian Minister of Economy and Finance

•               Walter Veltroni (1996), former Mayor of Rome

Spain

•               Esperanza Aguirre Gil de Biedma (1999, 2000), president of Madrid

•               Joaquin Almunia (1998, 2008), European Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs

•               Enrique Barón (1988), politician

•               Jaime de Carvajal y Urquijo (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998), CEO, Ford Spain, Ericsson Spain and Banco Urquijo.

•               Juan Luis Cebrián (1988, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), former director of newspaper El País, CEO, Grupo Prisa

•               Guillermo de la Dehesa (1989, 1993), CEO, Banco Pastor

•               Carlos Ferret Salat (1993), banker

•               Manuel Fraga Iribarne (1977), politician, former Secretary General, Alianza Popular

•               Felipe Gonzalez (1989), former Prime Minister of Spain

•               Loyola de Palacio (2005), politician

•               Jesús de Polanco (1989), CEO, media group PRISA

•               Jordi Pujol (1991), politician

•               Rodrigo Rato (1992, 1994), politician and former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

•               Matías Rodríguez Inciarte (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001-2008), Deputy CEO, Grupo Santander

•               Miguel Boyer Salvador (1989), former Finance Minister of Spain

•               Miguel Sebastián Gascón (2005), former Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister and Minister of Industry (2008-…)

•               Narcís Serra (1990, 1991, 1992), politician

•               Javier Solana (1985, 1998, 2000), Secretary-General of the Council of the EU, former Secretary-General of NATO

•               Pedro Solbes Mira (1999), Second Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance

•               Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez-Conde (1995), politician

•               Juan Antonio Yañez-Barnuevo (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996), Spanish Permanent Representatives to the United Nations

•               Emilio de Ybarra y Clurruca (1988, 1989), former CEO, BBVA

Portugal

•               Francisco Pinto Balsemão (1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995-2007) ,[16] former Prime Minister of Portugal, 1981 – 1983 and CEO of Impresa media group

•               António Guterres (1990, 2005), former Prime Minister of Portugal, currently the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

•               Pedro Santana Lopes (2004), former Prime Minister of Portugal

•               José Sócrates (2004), current Prime Minister of Portugal

•               Jorge Sampaio (1989, 1999), former President of Portugal

•               Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues (2003), former Leader of the Socialist Party

•               António Costa (2008), current Mayor of Lisbon

•               Rui Rio (2008), current Mayor of Porto

•               Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco (2006),[16] Member of Parliament (PSD)

•               Augusto Santos Silva (2006),[16] Minister for Parliamentary Affairs

•               Rui Machete (1989), former Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal

•               Joaquim do Amaral (1999), Member of Parliament

•               Manuel Sarmento Rodrigues (1966)

Greece

•               Kostas Karamanlis (1998), current Prime Minister of Greece

•               Constantine Mitsotakis (1993), former Prime Minister of Greece

•               Georgios Alogoskoufis (2008), current Minister for Economy and Finance (Greece)

•               Dora Bakoyannis (2003), current Minister for Foreign Affairs (Greece), former Mayor of Athens

•               Anna Diamantopoulou (2008), Member of Parliament in Greece and former EU Commissioner

•               George Andreas Papandreou (1998), former Minister for Foreign Affairs (Greece), President of the Socialist International

•               Gerasimos Arsenis (1994), former Minister of Defense of Greece

•               Stefanos Manos (1986, 1993, 2001), Greek politician

•               Andreas Andrianopoulos (1988), former Mayor of Piraeus

Turkey

•               Süleyman Demirel (1975), former Prime Minister of Turkey

•               Bülent Ecevit (1975), former Prime Minister of Turkey

•               Adnan Menderes (1956), former Prime Minister of Turkey

•               Mesut Yilmaz (1990), former Prime Minister of Turkey

•               Selim Sarper (1966), former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

•               İsmail Cem (1989, 1998), former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

•               Hikmet Çetin (1995, 2007), former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)

•               Emre Gönensay (1992, 1996, 2007), former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

•               Ali Babacan (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

Sweden

•               Fredrik Reinfeldt (2006), Prime Minister of Sweden, 2006 – present

•               Carl Bildt[3] (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2006-2008), former Prime Minister of Sweden and current Minister for Foreign Affairs

•               Olof Palme (1962, 1966, 1973, 1975, 1984), former Prime Minister of Sweden

•               Percy Barnevik (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001), Businessman

•               Mona Sahlin (1996), Chairman of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, (Invited by Percy Barnevik)

•               Thorbjörn Fälldin (1978), former Prime Minister of Sweden

•               Tage Erlander (1962, 1966), former Prime Minister of Sweden

•               Leif Pagrotsky (2001), former Swedish Minister for Education, Research and Culture [1];

•               Anders Borg (2007), current Minister for Finance of Sweden

•               Herbert Tingsten (1954, 1955, 1966), former Chief Editor, Dagens Nyheter

•               Martin Waldenström (1955), Industrialist

•               Björn Lundvall (1968, 1975, 1977-1980) (LM Ericsson)

•               Anna Lindh (2003), former Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)

•               Göran Persson (2001), former Prime Minister of Sweden

•               Gunnar Sträng (1973), former Minister for Finance of Sweden

•               Krister Wickman (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977), former Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)

•               Hans Blix (1989), former Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)

•               Maud Olofsson (2008), Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden

Norway

•               Gro Harlem Brundtland (1982, 1983), former Prime Minister of Norway

•               Kåre Willoch (1966, 1968, 1982, 1987), former Prime Minister of Norway

•               Trygve Bratteli (1977), former Prime Minister of Norway

•               Jens Stoltenberg, (2002), current Prime Minister of Norway

•               Siv Jensen (2006), Chairman Fremskrittspartiet

•               Johann Olav Koss (2006)

•               Halvard Lange (1964), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)

•               Ole Myrvoll (1974), former Minister of Finance (Norway), former Mayor of Bergen

•               Svein Gjedrem (2003), Chairman of Norges Bank 1999 – present

Denmark

•               Anders Fogh Rasmussen (2000), current Prime Minister of Denmark

•               Mogens Lykketoft (1998), former leader of the Social Democrats of Denmark

•               Tøger Seidenfaden (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999), editor-in-chief of Danish newspaper “Politiken”

•               Ritt Bjerregaard (1991, 1995), former Danish Secretary of Education, EU Commissioner and currently Mayor of Copenhagen

•               Anders Eldrup (2001-2007, 2008), CEO, Danish Oil and Gas Corporation (DONG)[citation needed]

•               Flemming Rose (2008), editor, Jyllands-Posten

Finland

•               Jaakko Iloniemi (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990-1997)

•               Ilkka Suominen (1988 )

•               Aatos Erkko (1991)

•               Jarl Köhler (1992-1994)

•               Ulf L. Sundqvist (1992)

•               Johannes Koroma (1993)

•               Jorma Ollila (1994, 1997-2008), former CEO of Nokia

•               Krister Ahlström (1994)

•               Georg Ehrnrooth (1994)

•               Sirkka Hämäläinen (1994)

•               Jaakko Ihamuotila (1994)

•               Max Jakobson (1975, 1994)

•               Gerhard M. H. Wendt (1994)

•               Jukka Harmaja (1995)

•               Björn Mattsson (1995)

•               Pertti Voutilainen (1995)

•               Janne Virkkunen (1998, 2001)

•               Olli-Pekka Heinonen (2001)

•               Christoffer Taxell (2002)

•               Teija H. Tiilikainen (2002-2007)

•               Olli Kivinen (2003)

•               Björn Whalroos (2003)

•               Paula Lehtomäki (2004)

•               Erkki Liikanen (1999, 2005)

•               Matti Vanhala (1999)

•               Pentti Vartia (1999)

•               Mikael Pentikäinen (2005)

•               Eero Heinäluoma (2006)

•               Sixten Korkman (2006)

•               Atte Jääskeläinen (2007)

•               Kalevi Sorsa (1990), former Prime Minister of Finland

•               Esko Aho (1994), former Prime Minister of Finland

•               Paavo Lipponen (1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), former Prime Minister of Finland

•               Matti Vanhanen, current Prime Minister of Finland

•               Martti Ahtisaari (1994, 1995, 1996), former President of Finland

•               Sauli Niinistö (1997)[3], former Minister of Finance (Finland), Speaker of Parliament

•               Jyrki Katainen (2007), current Minister of Finance (Finland)

Iceland

•               Davíð Oddsson (1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999), former Prime Minister of Iceland, 1991-2004

•               Geir Hallgrímsson (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984-1988, 1990), former Prime Minister of Iceland

•               Björn Bjarnason (1977, 1978, 1982-1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995), vice editor of Morgunblaðið (1984 – 1991), Icelandic Minister of Education (1995 – 2002), current Minister for Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs (since 2003)

Russia

•               Anatoly Chubais (1998), Russian politician

•               Grigory Alexeyevich Yavlinsky (2004), Russian politician

Slovakia

•               Ivan Mikloš (2005), former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia

Czech Republic

•               Karel Schwarzenberg (2008), Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs

•               Jiří Pehe (2001), Director, New York University in Prague; former advisor to President Václav Havel

•               Michael Žantovský (1999), Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security, Czech Senate, presently Czech Ambassador in Israel

•               Karel Kovanda (1998), Head of Mission of the Czech Republic to NATO and the WEU, presently Deputy Director General responsible for CFSP, Multilateral Relations and North America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, EEA, EFTA

Poland

•               Joseph Retinger (1954-1960), founder of Bilderberg Group

•               Hanna Suchocka (1998), first woman Prime Minister of Poland

•               Andrzej Olechowski (1994-1999, 2003), Leader, Civic Platform

•               Aleksander Kwaśniewski (2008), former President of Poland

Hungary

•               János Martonyi (2008), former Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor of International Trade Law, Partner, Baker & McKenzie

•               Gyorgy Suranyi (1996, 1997, 1999), former President, Hungarian National Bank

Israel

•               Natan Sharansky (2005)

Iran

•               Mahmood Sariolghalam (2006)

Iraq

•               Ahmed Chalabi (2006)

New Zealand

•               Thomas Clifton Webb (1955)

EU Commissioners

European Union Commissioners who have attended include:

•               Joaquin Almunia (1998, 2008), European Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs

•               José Manuel Barroso (1994, 2003), current President of the European Commission

•               Ritt Bjerregaard (1991, 1995), Lord Mayor of Copenhagen and former European Commissioner for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection[9]

•               Frederik Bolkestein (1996, 2003),[17] former European Commissioner

•               Emma Bonino (1998 )

•               Leon Brittan (1992, 1998 )

•               Hans van den Broek (1986, 1988, 1991, 1995),[9] former European Commissioner

•               David Byrne (politician) (2005), former European Commissioner

•               Henning Christophersen (1979, 1982, 1983)

•               Étienne Davignon (1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994-2008), Bilderberg conference chairman in 2005

•               Jacques Delors (1992), former President of the European Commission

•               Franz Fischler (2001), former European Commissioner

•               Walter Hallstein (1955, 1958, 1966), former President of the European Commission

•               Neelie Kroes (2005 – 2008), present Commissioner for Competition

•               Pascal Lamy (2003)[17]

•               Erkki Liikanen (1999, 2005)

•               Franco Maria Malfatti (1964, 1966, 1974), former President of the European Commission

•               Peter Mandelson (1999[18])

•               Sicco Mansholt (1963, 1964, 1966), former President of the European Commission

•               Robert Marjolin (1966), former European Commissioner

•               Charlie McCreevy (2008), European Commissioner

•               Karel Van Miert (1993), former European Commissioner

•               Mario Monti (1983-1994, 1996, 1999, 2003[17]) ,former and/or present member of the Bilderberg Steering Committee[9]

•               Francois-Xavier Ortoli (1977), former President of the European Commission

•               Filippo Pandolfi (1989)

•               Lord Patten of Barnes (2007)

•               Andris Piebalgs (2006), European Commissioner for Energy

•               Romano Prodi, Steering Committee Member of Bilderberg in the 1980s

•               Olli Rehn (2007), European Commissioner for Enlargement

•               Jean Rey (1966), former President of the European Commission

•               Jacques Santer (1991), former President of the European Commission

•               Henri Simonet (1971, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982), former Vice Chairman of the European Commission

•               Javier Solana (1985, 1998, 2000), High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU)

•               Pedro Solbes (1999)

•               Günter Verheugen (1995)

•               António Vitorino (1996)

UN, WTO, NATO and other International Organizations

•               Josette Sheeran (2007), Executive Director of United Nations World Food Programme

•               Kurt Waldheim, former United Nations Secretary-General

•               Kemal Derviş (2002), current United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator

•               Ad Melkert (1996), current UNDP Associate Administrator

•               Thorvald Stoltenberg (1973, 1982, 1994, 1995), former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

•               Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (1955, 1966), Pakistani politician, diplomat and international jurist

•               Knut Vollebæk (2008), OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

•               Eric Wyndham White (1964, 1966), former Director-General of the World Trade Organization

•               Arthur Dunkel (1991), former Director-General of the World Trade Organization

•               Mike Moore (2000), former Director-General of the World Trade Organization

•               Renato Ruggiero (1986, 1987, 1990-1996), former Director-General of the World Trade Organization

•               Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (2003, 2008), current Secretary General of NATO

•               George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen (1998), former Secretary General of NATO[9]

•               Willy Claes (1994, 1995, 2003), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Manfred Wörner (1982, 1985, 1990-1993), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Joseph Luns (1964, 1966-1968, 1971, 1973-1975, 1977, 1978-1984), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Manlio Brosio (1965-1967), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Dirk Stikker (1964, 1966), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Paul-Henri Spaak (1963, 1966), former Secretary General of NATO

•               Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay (1955), former Secretary General of NATO

Military

•               Terence Airey (1955, 1966), Military Governor of Trieste

•               Colin Gubbins (1955, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966), head of the British SOE[19]

•               Hans Speidel (1964, 1966), former World War II and Cold War general

Corporate

Financial institutions

•               Hermann Josef Abs (1958, 1966), former Chairman of Deutsche Bank

•               Josef Ackermann (2005, 2008), CEO of Deutsche Bank

•               Ben S. Bernanke (2008), current Chairman of the Federal Reserve

•               Michel Camdessus, former IMF Managing Director

•               Guido Carli (1958, 1965, 1966, 1975, 1977, 1987), former Governor of the Banca d’Italia

•               Tim Collins (financier) (2003, 2008), founder, Chief Executive Officer of Ripplewood Holdings LLC

•               E. Gerald Corrigan (1994), former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, current Goldman Sachs Managing Director

•               Mario Draghi (1994, 1995, 2004, 2008), current Governor of the Banca d’Italia

•               Wim Duisenberg (1977, 1978-1983, 1986), former President of the European Central Bank

•               Otmar Emminger (1966), former President of the Deutsche Bundesbank

•               Timothy F. Geithner (2004, 2008), current President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

•               Dermot Gleeson (1995, 2008), Chairman of Allied Irish Banks

•               Alan Greenspan (2002), former Chairman of the Federal Reserve

•               Alfred Herrhausen (1978-1985, 1987, 1988), German banker, former Chairman of Deutsche Bank

•               Kenneth Jacobs (2007, 2008), Deputy Chairman, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC

•               Per Jacobsson (1957), former IMF Managing Director

•               James A. Johnson (businessman) (1998, 2008), Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC

•               Mervyn A. King (2003), current Governor of the Bank Of England

•               Hilmar Kopper (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998-2003, 2005), former CEO of Deutsche Bank

•               Alexandre Lamfalussy (1983, 1986, 1988, 1992), former General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements

•               Thomas S. Lamont (1957), former Vice Chairman, Morgan Guaranty Trust

•               Jacques de Larosière (1982), former Governor of the Banque de France

•               William J McDonough (1997)[3], former President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

•               Tom McKillop (2008), Chairman, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group

•               Karl Otto Pöhl (1982, 1991), former President of the Deutsche Bundesbank

•               Jürgen Ponto (1975), German banker, former Chairman of Dresdner Bank

•               John Francis Prideaux (1974), former Chairman, National Westminster Bank

•               Louis Rasminsky (1968), former Governor of the Bank of Canada

•               Rodrigo Rato (1992, 1994), former IMF Managing Director

•               Gordon Richardson (1966, 1975),[20] former Governor of the Bank of England

•               David Rockefeller, CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank

•               Emma Rothschild (1995)

•               Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (1983, 1998 )

•               Guy de Rothschild (1974)

•               Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild

•               Lynn Forester de Rothschild (1998 )

•               Rudolf Scholten (1992, 1999-2001, 2003-2008), CEO of Oesterreichische Kontrollbank

•               Pierre-Paul Schweitzer (1964, 1966), former IMF Managing Director

•               George Soros (1990, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002)

•               Dominique Strauss-Kahn (2000), Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and member of the social-democrat Socialist Party of France

•               Jean-Claude Trichet (1995, 1999, 2008), current President of the European Central Bank

•               Anthony Tuke (1974), former President, Barclays Bank

•               Alfons Verplaetse (1990), former Governor of the National Bank of Belgium

•               Paul Volcker (1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1997)[3], former Chairman of the Federal Reserve

•               Marcus Wallenberg (1996, 1997), current Chairman of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, former CEO of Investor AB

•               Jacob Wallenberg (1998, 2008), current Chairman of Investor AB, former Chairman of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken

•               Siegmund Warburg (1966, 1977), founder of S. G. Warburg & Co.

•               Eric Warburg (1957), founder of Warburg Pincus

•               James Wolfensohn (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989-1999, 2004, 2008), former President of the World Bank Group

Major corporations

•               Giovanni Agnelli (1958, 1963, 1964, 1966-1968, 1973-1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987-1998, 2000), former CEO of Fiat

•               Otto Wolff von Amerongen (1955, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1966-1968, 1971, 1973-1975, 1977-1980, 1982-2001), CEO of Otto Wolff Group (today: Part of ThyssenKrupp)

•               Dwayne Andreas (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987-1996), Chairman and CEO of Archer Daniels Midland

•               Percy Barnevik (1992-1996, 1997,[3] 2001), former CEO of ASEA

•               Anders Björgerd (1973, 1982), former deputy CEO of Sydkraft AB

•               Lloyd Blankfein (2007), CEO of Goldman Sachs

•               Ian Bremmer (2007), President of Eurasia Group

•               Lord Browne of Madingley (1995, 1997,[3] 2004), Chief Executive BP

•               Gerhard Cromme (2000), former CEO and Chairman of ThyssenKrupp

•               Paul Desmarais (1982)

•               Paul Desmarais, Jr. (2006, 2008), Chairman and co-CEO of Power Corporation of Canada

•               John Elkann (2008), vice chairman of Fiat and the Agnelli Group investment company IFIL

•               Louis V. Gerstner (1994, 1997), former Chairman of IBM, current Chairman of The Carlyle Group

•               Maurice R. Greenberg (1989-1991), former Chairman and CEO of American International Group

•               H. J. Heinz II (1954)[8], CEO of H. J. Heinz Company

•               Paul Hermelin (2007), CEO of Capgemini

•               Daniel Janssen (1971, 1973-1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1995), former Chairman of the Executive Committee, Solvay (company), former vice president of the board, Union Chimique Belge, member of the European Round Table of Industrialists, member of Trilateral Commission executive committee

•               James Kimsey (2006), co-founder, CEO, and first chairman of America Online (AOL)

•               Andrew Knight (1978, 1980-1985, 1987-1996), Director of News Corporation, 1991-present, CEO of News International, 1900-1994, CEO and Editor-in-Chief The Daily Telegraph Group, Editor of The Economist, 1974-1984

•               Klaus Kleinfeld (2008), CEO of Siemens AG

•               Rahmi Koç (1994), Turkish business tycoon

•               Idar Kreutzer (2007), CEO of Storebrand

•               Craig Mundie (2008), chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft

•               Egil Myklebust (1997, 2006, 2008), Chairman of the Board of SAS Group

•               Stavros Niarchos (1967, 1968), Greek shipping tycoon

•               Harald Norvik (2006), former CEO of Statoil

•               Jorma Ollila (1997,[3] 2005, 2008), Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell and Nokia Corporation

•               Eivind Reiten (2000), former CEO of Norsk Hydro

•               Eric E. Schmidt (2007, 2008), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Google

•               Jürgen E. Schrempp (1994-1996, 1997,[3] 1998, 1999, 2001-2005, 2006, 2007), former CEO of DaimlerChrysler

•               Ekkehard Schulz (2002, 2005, 2006), CEO of ThyssenKrupp

•               Peter Sutherland (1989-1996, 1997,[3] 2005), former Chairman of BP

•               Sidney Taurel (2007), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eli Lilly

•               Martin Taylor (1993-1996, 1997),[3] former CEO, Barclays

•               Peter A. Thiel (2007, 2008), Co-Founder, PayPal

•               Daniel Vasella (1998, 1999, 2005, 2008), Chairman and CEO of Novartis

•               Jürgen Weber (2004), Chairman of Lufthansa Airline

•               Klaus Zumwinkel (2002-2006), former CEO of Deutsche Post AG

University, institute and other academic

•               Heather Munroe-Blum (1997), Principal and Vice-Chancellor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

•               Marie-Josée Kravis (1998, 1999, 2008), Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

•               C. Fred Bergsten (1971, 1974, 1984, 1997)[3], President, Peterson Institute

•               Walter Isaacson (2004), President, Aspen Institute

•               Bruce MacLaury (1977), former President, Brookings Institution

•               Victor Halberstadt (1975, 1977, 1978-1999, 2008), Professor of Economics, Leiden University, Former Honorary Secretary General of Bilderberg Meetings, Netherlands

•               Klaus Schwab (1995-1997), founder of the World Economic Forum

•               Laurence Parisot (2007), Head of French MEDEF

•               Marshall McLuhan, Canadian Professor of English literature, literary critic, and communications theorist

•               Michael Boskin (1991), Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution

•               William Kristol (1995), co-founder of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), member of the American Enterprise Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Ethics and Public Policy Center

•               Graham Allison (1970, 1971, 1974, 2007), Harvard political scientist and leading analyst of U.S. national security and defense policy with a special interest in nuclear weapons and terrorism

•               Eberhard Sandschneider (2004), political scientist, Director of the Research Institute of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für auswärtige Politik, expert on China

•               Fouad Ajami (2006, 2008), Director, Middle East Studies Program, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

•               Barnett Rubin (2008), Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center for International Cooperation, New York University

•               Chester A. Crocker (2008), James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies

•               Martha Farah (2008), Director, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience; Walter H. Annenberg Professor in the Natural Sciences, University of Pennsylvania

•               Roger Martin (2008), Dean, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

•               Jeffrey Sachs (1990), Professor, Harvard University

•               John Polanyi (1991), Professor of Chemistry, University of Toronto

•               Gerald L. Curtis (1990), Professor of Political Science, Columbia University

•               Aurelio Peccei (1963, 1964, 1966-1968), founder of the Club of Rome

•               Lester Thurow (1977), Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School, former Dean, MIT Sloan School of Management

•               Paul Samuelson (1966, 1970), American Economist, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

•               Andrew W. Cordier (1966, 1970), former President of Columbia University

•               Theodore M. Hesburgh (1975), former President, Notre Dame University

Media

•               Michael Barone (pundit) (2007), journalist

•               John G. Bernander (2002), former head of the Norwegian national broadcaster NRK

•               Lord Black of Crossharbour (1981, 1983, 1985-1996, 1997)[3],Telegraph Chairman

•               Oscar Bronner (2005-2007, 2008), Editor of the Austrian newspaper Der Standard

•               William F. Buckley, Jr. (1975, 1996), founder of National Review and former host of Firing Line

•               Hubert Burda (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005-2007), Owner and CEO of Hubert Burda Media

•               Phillip Crawley (2006), Globe and Mail Publisher

•               Mathias Döpfner (2005-2007), CEO of Axel Springer AG, editing amongst others Die Welt and Bild

•               Esther Dyson (2007), commentator on emerging digital technology

•               Paul Finney (1977), former Managing Editor, Business Week

•               Donald E. Graham (1999, 2008), Chairman of the Board of The Washington Post Company

•               Josef Joffe (1993, 2006), Publisher of Die Zeit

•               Rupert Murdoch (1982, 1988 )

•               Christine Ockrent (1984, 2007, 2008), former first anchor of the 8pm news on the Antenne 2 French TV channel

•               Anthony O’Reilly (1983), Irish media tycoon

•               Norman Podhoretz (1996), Editor, Commentary

•               George Stephanopoulos (1996, 1997[3]), ABC News’s Chief Washington Correspondent, host of ABC’s This Week, senior political adviser to the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign of Bill Clinton and former communications director for Clinton.

•               Arthur Hays Sulzberger (1956, 1957, 1966)

•               Arthur Taylor (1977), former President, CBS

•               Ben J. Wattenberg (1982)

•               Mortimer Zuckerman (1994), publisher/owner of the New York Daily News, current Editor-in-Chief of U.S. News & World Report

Journalists

•               Alexandre Adler (2003), French conservative journalist

•               Paul Gigot (1996, 2008), Editor of the Editorial Page of The Wall Street Journal 2003- present

•               Martin Wolf (1999-2001, 2003-2006), Financial Times columnist

•               Juan Luis Cebrián (1983, 1985, 1987-1990, 1993, 2008), Ex-director of El País Spanish daily newspaper and CEO of PRISA Group

•               Will Hutton (1997)[5]

•               Peter Jennings (1995)

•               George Will (1978, 1981)

•               Charlie Rose (2002, 2008 )

•               Fareed Zakaria (2002, 2005)

•               Andrea Mitchell (2002)

•               Lesley Stahl (1989, 1997)

•               Thomas L. Friedman (1995, 2003)

•               Bill D. Moyers (1967, 1968, 1971, 1973)

•               Jim Hoagland (1993, 1998, 1999, 2002)

•               Vendeline A. H. von Bredow (2006-2008), Business Correspondent for The Economist

•               Adrian D. Wooldridge (2004-2008), Foreign Correspondent for The Economist

Where Did I Come From?

“Where did I come from?” This is a common question, especially among children and the deep-thinking. With that come many other inquiries. “What am I here for?” “Where do I belong?” “How will I end up?” All valid questions, yet none are easily answered.

 

For as long as history is recorded, men have tried to grasp the concept of our origin. Some believe we were born from a sun. Some believe we are the product of an extra-terrestrial race that left us here. Some believe that we don’t actually exist, we just think we do. Yet others believe that there was nothing, and then nothing exploded and formed the galaxy, which produced on our rock called earth these: water, slime, and plants. Of those three we supposedly grew and changed into fish, then eventually monkeys, and finally humans.

 

Of course there is one more belief. One so well written that it cannot be disputed. I’m speaking of course of the belief in Creation, the author- God. Why can no man dispute it? If nothing else, because it relies on the faith that Creator God made everything all in six days. Since we cannot, as simple, sinful, mortal men, directly ask or even demand that He show us proof, we continue on the basis of faith that the Word He has already given us is true. That, and also that we have no concrete evidence to the contrary, only theory and speculation.

 

Of these, the most fought about are the theories of Creation by a single Creator, and the theory of a Big Bang leading to evolution. No matter which side you are on, neither can be perfectly proven. For each, there is evidence, speculation, theory and faith. No one can measure the timeline because we have nothing to measure it by. No one was around to record the beginning for us, so we have to rely on some speculation.

 

It seems that for every piece of potential evidence, there is discovered that we know so much less. Every question that is answered provides the need for a hundred new questions. Will we ever truly know the whole story? Not while we’re here.

 

The major differences, if I may generalize, are as follows:

Creation: Origin of earth as roughly 6,000 years ago.

Evolution: Origin of earth is several million years ago.

 

Creation: God made it all

Evolution: There is no god. All of life is by chance.

 

Creation: We have a divine purpose on this earth.

Evolution: There is no specific reason we exist.

 

Creation: Man is made unique from the animals.

Evolution: Man is a type of animal.

 

Creation: God the Creator makes the rules and we must formulate law around that for a peaceful society.

Evolution: Man formulates his own laws based on majority vote, authoritative say-so, and/ or survival of the fittest.

 

Creation: Man must decide whether or not to follow God, through His Son, Jesus to see heaven after they die.

Evolution: Man lives to gain the most he can while here, because once you die you cease to exist.

 

We could go on and on and on. The differences are as many as the stars in the sky, whether they are remnants of a cosmic explosion, or they are put there specifically by God as a testimony to His greatness.

 

Now it gets interesting: What do YOU think? Post a comment below.