God tells us over and over to be sober and to watch and pray always so that we may avoid the pitfalls of Satan who will use any means to cause us to fall away from God's Laws and House.

Luke 21:34-36 -
34 So be on your guard - see to it that your minds are NEVER CLOUDED WITH CAROUSING, DRUNKENNESS, or anxieties and worries of this life - so that day will not come upon you unexpectedly,
35 for it will come, like a trap, on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Because of this - WATCH, AND PRAY ALWAYS THAT YOU MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Proverbs 4:23 -
GUARD YOUR MIND WITH ALL DILIGENCE, for out of it flows the springs of life.

I Peter 4:7 -
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, BE SOBER AND WATCHFUL in your prayers.

1 Peter 5:8 -
BE SOBER, be vigilent; because your adversary, THE DEVIL, WALKS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DESTROY:

The word sober in I Peter 4:7, is the Greek word sophreno, which the Analytical Greek Lexicon by Harper, page 396, shows us to mean: to be in one's right mind.

Yes, one must always be in one's RIGHT MIND in order to resist the adversary. When one is drunk or under the influence of RECREATIONAL DRUGS, one is definitely not in one's right mind and NOT CAPABLE OF RESISTING SATAN.

In the Law we see that the Priests who minister in God's presence were commanded NOT TO DRINK WINE OR STRONG DRINK when they entered the Tent of Meeting, or Temple.

Leviticus 10:9-11 -
9 DO NOT DRINK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK, you, nor your sons with you, WHEN YOU GO INTO THE TENT OF THE MEETING, or you shall die. It shall be a statute forever thorughout your generations.
10 You must distinguish between the holy and the unholy, and between the unclean and the clean,
11 And you must teach the children of Israel all the statutes which God has spoken to them, by the hand of Moses.

God's Sanctuary now functions as the Tent of Meeting of the Congregation. We are not to come into God's Sanctuary to worship Him with our minds clouded with alcoholic beverages! A person whose mind is clouded cannot learn ALL of God's Laws which the Ministers will teach. God commands His Ministers NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOL AT ALL before they minister to the congregation at God's Services. We must have our minds clear to come before God's presence! Even in the New World this statute will be taught and enforced.

Isaiah 44:21 -
NO PRIEST WILL DRINK ANY WINE, WHEN THEY ENTER INTO THE INNER COURT.

God instructs all of His people who are striving to have a part or office with His Holy Priesthood (those who have joined themselves to God's Work) NOT TO BE GIVEN TO MUCH WINE, but that they must be SOBER AND WATCHFUL.

I Timothy 3:1-3,8 -
1 This is a true saying: If a man desires the office of an elder, he desires a righteous work.
2 An elder, then, must be blameless, in unity as husband and wife, vigilent; alert, watchful, SOBER, OF RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR, given to hospitality, able to teach,
3 NOT GIVEN TO WINE, no striker, violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
8 In the same way, deacons must be grave; dignified, reverent, not double-tongued; equivocal, telling a different interpretation, NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Titus 1:7-8 -
7 For an overseer must be blameless as the manager of The House of God; not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, no striker, violent, not greedy for filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of righteous men, SOBER, just, holy, temperate; self-controlled.

Titus 2:2-3 -
2 That the elders be SOBER, grave; dignified, reverent, temperate; self-controlled, and sound in the faith, in the love of God, and in patient endurance.
3 In the same way, the deaconesses be reverent in their behavior, not false accusers; gossips and slanderers, NOR GIVEN TO MUCH WINE, but teachers of righteous things

The word given in these verses is the Greek word prosecho, which, according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, on page 546, means be addicted to.

The Apostle Paul wrote that he would not let himself become OVERPOWERED by or UNDER THE CONTROL OF even something that was lawfully allowed to him, such as alcohol or food. How much more, then, does this apply to things God condemns, such a recreational drugs.

I Corinthians 6:12 -
All lawful things are permissible for me, but not all things are advantageous. All lawful things are permissible for me but I WILL NOT BE OVERPOWERED BY ANY OF THEM

Notice that this Scripture describes perfectly the condition od addiction. Reading from Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, by John Wesley, page 601, we find this written about I Corinthians 6:12.

. . .yet I will not be brought under the power of any - So as to be uneasy when I abstain from it; for, if so, then I am under the power of it.

Some would have us add to God's Commanded Word by banning ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES at God's Feasts. They seem to want to blame God's Law for their OWN WEAKNESS rather than striving to overcome the weakness they have.

But what about ALCOHOLICS? you may ask. Let me say that I have seen alcoholics turn to God's Way and overcome their problem. They now praise God for the knowledge thay have gained and the new freedom they now enjoy.

Researchers who have studied the drinking patterns of the Hebrew (Jewish) people have been amazed that DRUNKENNESS is virtually UNHEARD OF. The fact is really not amazing when one considers the Righteousness of God's Law in commanding that the drinking of alcoholic beverages be done in moderation. Where God's Law is taught and practiced, there is True Peace and Joy. Notice the following excerpt from the Encyclopedia Judaica, Volume 4, pages 239-240.

God's Way is RIGHT! You will NOT HAVE SORROW OR WOE from obeying God! It is only when we disobey that hurt comes!

Use Alcohol sensibly, USE IT TO REJOICE BEFORE GOD and to His Glory! To use alcoholic drink in the wrong manner is to bring dishonor and condemnation upon ourselves.

The prophecies show us that mankind will NOT REPENT of drunkenness and the wrongful recreational use of drugs, before Jesus returns.

Revelation 9:29-21 -
20 And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues, STILL DID NOT REPENT OF THE WORKS OF THEIR HANDS, that they should not worship demons, and gods (elohim, teraphim) of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk;
21 NEITHER DID THEY REPENT OF THEIR MURDERS, NOR OF THEIR SORCERIES, NOR OF THEIR FORNICATION, NOR OF THEIR THEFTS.

The word sorceries in Revelation 9:21 refers directly to those who traffic in, and use MIND ALTERING DRUGS FOR RECREATIONAL USE. The word sorceries is the Greek word pharmakeia which is listed as word #5331 in Strong's Greek Dictionary, which comes from word #5332.

Vine's Expository Dictionary, pages 1064 and 1065, tells us this about SORCERERS and SORCERY.

As the meanings of these words show, the USE OF MIND ALTERING, RECREATIONAL DRUGS IS GODWORSHIP, which is nothing more than the worship of Satan the devil who has the whole world deceived (Revelation 12:9). Notice the following Scripture.

II Corinthians 4:4 -
FOR THE GOD (EL) OF THIS WORLD (SATAN) HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE, so that the light of the message of the glory of the Messiah, Who is the image of God, should not shine unto them.

The word translated blinded is the Greek word tuphloo and according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, page 633, means "to blunt the mental discernment and darken the mind."

This is a perfect description of what occurs to a person who uses recreational DRUGS TO ESCAPE REALITY - whether they are the drugs listed earlier in this article ot the drug of DRUNKENNESS.

The Scriptures tell us that when one WEAKENS one's mind with recreational drugs or with drunkenness, that one opens the mind to DEMONIC INFLUENCES and even DEMON POSSESSION. Thayer's Greek Lexicon on page 649, under the word pharmakeia (sorcery) refers us to the Hebrew word lahatim. According to the Hebrew-Aramaic-English Dictionary by Marcus Jastrow, page 693, the word lahatim tells us that SORCERY (recreational drug use and drunkenness) is the WORK OF DEMONS.

Notice now what God says about those whom He calls out, but who REFUSE TO REPENT for using recreational drugs or drunkenness

I Corinthians 6:9-10 -
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 -
19 For THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE OBVIOUS, WHICH ARE THESE: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,
20 Godworship (the worship of elohim), SORCERY, hatred, contentions, evil jealousies, rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, disagreements with quarreling, heresies; sects or factions of division,
21 Envy, murders, DRUNKENNESS, revelries, and the like; of which I warn you beforehand, just as I did in times past, that THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Revelation 21:8 -
But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and WORSHIPERS OF GODS (elohim), and all liars, WILL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE - which is the second death.

We know drugs will not be thrown into the lake of fire - PEOPLE WILL!

Therefore, this word sorcerer is not referring to the drugs, but to the people who use and sell drugs as having their part in the LAKE OF FIRE!

This excerpt from Reader's Digest, August, 1983, page 135, states:

Not only will the black-market drug users and drug dealers suffer, if they do not repent, but doctors who dispense the abominable, government controlled drugs for ILLICIT PURPOSES, will suffer if they do not REPENT!

How you react to this knowledge is your prerogative. It is God's prerogative to throw DRUG USERS INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE! Whether they are addicts or moderate users, it is SIN with the same wages - DEATH BY FIRE!

To those God calls out who are ensnared by DRUNKENNES OR DRUG ABUSE, He says "REPENT!"

When Jesus the Messiah was SUFFERING TERRIBLY and was nailed to the cross, something was offered to him to EASE THE PAIN.

Mark 15:23 -
Then they gave Him WINE MINGLED WITH MYRRH TO DRINK, but He would not accept it

The word myrrh in this verse is listed as word #4669 in Strong's Greek Dictionary and means a narcotic.

Matthew 27:34 -
They offered Him WINE TO DRINK, MIXED WITH GALL; an opiate - but when He tasted it, HE WOULD NOT DRINK IT.

Although it would NOT HAVE BEEN A SIN, Jesus refused to take a NARCOTIC DRUG for the intense pain He was suffering. Jesus knew that His suffering and death were in FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECIES comcerning Himself.

The Scriptures plainly show that in order to be the Perfect Sacrifice for sin it was NECESSARY FOR JESUS TO BEAR ALL THE SUFFERING, in His own body, that sin brings.

I Peter 2:24 -
Who HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, that we, having died to sins, should live for righteousness; BY WHOSE STRIPS YOU WERE HEALED.

In order for Jesus to pay the death penalty for us, that OUR sins earned, He had to endure the great pain that was inflicted upon Him.

Isaiah 53:4-5 -
4 Surely HE HAS BORNE OUR GRIEFS AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

Jesus was well aware of God's prophecies, as we read in:

Mark 9:31 -
Because He was teaching His disciples, and telling them: THE SON OF MAN IS BEING DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN, AND THEY SHALL KILL HIM; and after He is killed, He will be raised up on the third day.

If Jesus had taken the narcotic drug that was offered to Him and ALLOWED THE PAIN TO BE NUMBED, He would not have SUFFERED as the Prophecies said He MUST. He would NOT THEN HAVE BORNE OUR SINS in His body and would NOT HAVE QUALIFIED to be our Savior.

No, it is NOT A SIN to use certain drugs or chemicals if it is done for a genuine medical condition and in the amount prescribed by a legitimate physician. The Scriptures do not condemn ALL DRUG USE. We need to be very careful, if we do take any medication, that we do not deceive ourselves and allow our minds to become clouded by taking drugs for PLEASURE'S SAKE.

Recreational drug use (which includes the sin of drunkenness) is one of Satan's GREATEST TOOLS in deceiving the whole world. There is simply no way a person whose mind is clouded with recreational drugs can discern RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM EVIL. And, as the news media continue to report, the use of recreational drugs by today's society continues to grow worse.

To understand how drug use has spread throughout history, let us look at the GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM that was formed by Nimrod.

Genesis 10:8-10 -
8 Cush begot NIMROD; HE BEGAN TO BE A MIGHTY ONE ON THE EARTH.
9 He was a tyrant who deceived, who turned against God; therefore it is said: Like NIMROD THE TYRANT WHO DECEIVED, WHO TURNED AGAINST GOD.
10 And the BEGINNING OF HIS KINGDOM WAS BABEL, ERECH, ACCAD, AND ALL OF THEM IN THE LAND OF SHINAR; that is, Babylon.

Nimrod systematically organized the people in turning against God's Laws. This GEO-POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS-BEASTLY SYSTEM became known as BABYLON, which means confused, and gate of god.

In the Encyclopedia Britannica Micropedia, Volume 4, page 233, we find that the oldest catalogue of drugs was from ANCIENT BABYLON

From the New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4, page 1064, we learn that drug use SPREAD from Babylon to the Greeks and Arabs and eventually throughout the Roman Empire.

Throughout the Holy Scriptures we find that the BABYLONIAN SYSTEM, which was in opposition to God's Laws, NEVER DIED. It merely changed names as it spread throughout the world with the same practices of GODWORSHIP, including the use of DRUGS FOR PLEASUE AND ESCAPE. The Book of Revelation shows us this same Satan inspired Babylonian Religious-Governmental System, very active ih these last days. Satan, by continually teaching against God and His Laws, has caused the inhabitants of this world to act as one who is DRUNK, EMPTY-HEADED, AND OUT OF CONTROL.

Revelation 17:3-5,2 -
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the midst of godworshipers (worshipers of Elohim); and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, HAVING A GOLDEN CUP IN HER HAND FULL OF ABOMINATIONS AND FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION.
5 And upon her head was a name written: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; practicing idolatry: godworship (the worship of elohim), and THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH HAVE BEEN MADE DRUNK WITH THE WINE OF HER FORNICATION.

Drug use has VICTIMIZED THE YOUND AND OLD of all nations. The use of drugs causes drug users to "THINK THEY SEE AND REALIZE WONDERFUL THINGS that they never knew before". They encourage others to use drugs so they can feel and see the same things. All these people are DECEIVED BY SATAN through Nimrod's Babylonian Confusion!

Revelation 18:23 -
And the light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you - for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for BY YOUR SORCERIES ALL THE NATIONS WERE DECEIVED.

Earlier in this article we saw that the word sorceries comes from the Greek word pharmakeia, which means drugs! Satan is USING RECREATIONAL DRUGS (including drunkenness) to help him deceive the world into forgetting God and His Laws!

SATAN IS USING RECREATIONAL DRUGS, INCLUDING DRUNKENNESS, to try to turn all people to the One World Religion And Governmemt first established by Nimrod, and soon to be established by Satan.

If you care anything about your Eternal Life, don't be an IDOLATROUS PARTAKER of Nimrod's religion by CLOUDING YOUR MIND with Satan inspired recreational drugs! Remember the WARNING GIVEN to us in God's Law.

Deuteronomy 29:18-19 -
18 I solemnly entreat you to enter into the covenant and oath, for fear that there may be among you a man, woman, clan, or tribe this day whose heart would turn away from God our Father; to go and worship the gods (elohim) of those nations; for fear there should be among you A ROOT THAT BRINGS FORTH GALL AND WORMWOOD - poison, and bitterness: the consequences of practicing godworship (the worship of elohim and teraphim).
19 I solemnly entreat you to enter into thee covenant and oath, so it will never come to pass, when that one hears the words of this curse, that he can congratulate and delude himself in his heart, and erroneously think: I will have peace and safety, even though I persist in going my own way. GOD WILL HOLD ALL OF HIS SINS AGAINST HIM; HE HAS ACTED: SINNED, PRESUMPTUOUSLY. HE IS AS A DRUNKARD TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

God tells us that RECREATIONAL DRUG USERS and DRUNKARDS will not have a part in His Kingdom. Notice where they will end.

Galatians 5:19-21 -
19 For THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE OBVIOUS, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,
20 GODWORSHIP (THE WORSHIP OF ELOHIM), SORCERY, hatred, contentions, evil jealousies, rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions; disagreements with quarreling, heresies; sects or factions of division,
21 Envy, murders, DRUNKENNESS, revelries, and the like; of which I warn you beforehand, just as I did in times past, that THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Revelation 21:8 -
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and SORCERERS, AND WORSHIPERS OF GODS (ELOHIM), and all liars, WILL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE - WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH.

Revelation 22:15 -
For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and worshipers of gods (elohim) and EVERYONE WHO PROFESSES TO LOVE, YET PRACTICES BREAKING THE LAW.

We are living in the END TIMES. The return of Jesus the Messiah and the establishment of the Kingdom of God is at hand. Therefore, let us obey God and BE SOBER so that we may be able to STAND RIGHTEOUSLY BEFORE GOD.

1 Peter 4:7 -
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, BE SOBER AND WATCHFUL IN YOUR PRAYERS.

Luke 21:34-36 -
34 So be on your guard - SEE TO IT THAT YOUR MINDS ARE NEVER CLOUDED WITH CAROUSING, DRUNKENNESS, or anxieties and worries of this life - so that day will not come upon you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come, like a trap, on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Because of this - watch, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.