The American
Crusade
In
1565 there was a “Crusade” on what is now
Most people think
in terms of the “Crusades” having been conducted in the Holy Land of Jerusalem
from the eleventh through the thirteenth centuries. However, the Crusades actually continued
throughout the sixteenth century and in 1565, a Crusade led by Pedro Menendez
de Aviles who was a Knight of the Order of
Menendez de Aviles
was a Conquistador as well as a Knight in the Order of
In his role as a
Conquistador, Menendez explored lands in the New World claiming or reclaiming new
land for the Spanish king, which by implication was for the
When Menendez was
commissioned, King Phillip II of
To honor Menendez
upon his return to
Symbolism
of the Portrait
It’s significant that the portrait
was at the request of King Phillip II as a reward to honor Menendez and his
role in
Symbolism in a portrait is as important as the person being portrayed. Symbols “visually” communicate and convey to others something about the nature and character of that individual.
Titan’s portrait of Menendez conveys to us that King Philip was acknowledging that Menendez was a Knight in the Order of Santiago and that he was functioning in his role as a Knight and a Crusader when he conquered Florida.
To begin with, portrayed on his
chest over his heart is the Cross of Saint James. The Cross of St. James is a cross that comes
to an end in a sword and is the official emblem of the Knights of the Order of
More importantly,
pictured setting on top of the map identifying land conquered by Menendez is a
“Knight’s Helmet”. In his book, The Mode in Hats and Headdress, R.
Turner Wilcox says it best: “Coiffure
and headtire in both sexes have from prehistoric times served to establish the
individual’s rank or position in society, to impress the lowly and to challenge
the enemy.” [6] (emphasis added)
The significance of the symbolism
of the “Knight’s Helmet” cannot be understated.
The Knight’s Helmet identified Menendez’s rank and position in society
as that of a Knight, in particular his role as a Knight in the conquest of
The fact that the Knight’s
Helmet is on top of the map conveys that
I want to point out that the map
located underneath the Knight’s helmet reflects all the land that was given to
Menendez by King Philip II, and represents
It was the “Geographical
Ideas” that were reflected on the Old Spanish Maps - not the actual geographical features.
When drawing maps of the
It’s important to be aware that when the old Spanish cartographers portrayed Florida on a map it was with the understanding that Florida included all of North America from parts of Canada to Mexico, much more than just the peninsula of Florida or the State of Florida as we know it today.
In other words, the spirit
operating behind Menendez is over the whole geographical area of la Florida as
understood and as portrayed on the maps by the old Spanish cartographers. However
In general, the Crusades were Holy Wars supported by the Roman Catholic Church to protect the Catholic Church from the enemy, at least according to their definition of “enemy”. The enemy included Muslims, infidels, heretics, or whoever or whatever was in any way opposed to the Catholic Church right, wrong or indifferent.
Interestingly enough, even true Christians outside of the Catholic Church were considered heretics. For example, the French Huguenots were considered heretics simply because they left the Catholic Church and became part of the Protestant movement. Actually the Protestants were a group of true Christian believers who wanted to hear from God the Father for themselves in able to discern God’s will for their own personal lives. That we as Christians are to hear for ourselves seems reasonable because that’s what the Scriptures teach. However, according to Catholic Doctrine, not Scripture, the Catholic Church wanted to hear for the people, which is very clever on their part given the control they wanted over their congregations.
It is well known that the Knights
Templar, along with other Orders of Knights who were also known as Crusaders,
among other things protected Catholic Christians who were on a pilgrimage to
the Holy Land in
Ironically, their true motives
hidden from the
Nor did the Crusade in
The Good:
The French Huguenots became a
conceived threat to the Roman Catholic Church and needless to say they became
labeled as heretics. To make matters
worse, a group of French Huguenots sailed to what is now known as
However,
Menendez, a Knight in the Order of
Approximately six
months later the French Huguenots sailed for
Adelantado was a military title
held by Spanish Conquistadores who were commissioned by the King to serve as a
type of Governor over land that they had discovered, explored and/or conquered
in the name of
St. Augustine: Supposedly Menendez chose the name St.
Augustine for the new colony that he established for Spain because he first saw
the coast of Florida from his ship on the feast day of St. Augustine. [10] After this
first sighting, Menendez stepped foot on the shores of
The Spiritual
To understand the events that took
place in 1565 here in
“
“St. James”: First of all it’s important to understand that the James the Catholics refer to as a Saint is not the James of the Bible. Regardless of what they claim, praying to a Saint does not line up with the Word of the LORD. In fact the LORD considers it a sin to seek the dead for any reason. So given what the Word of the LORD teaches, the Saint James who is the patron saint of the “Knights Order of Santiago” is not the James of the Bible. Instead, they are invoking and praying to a “familiar spirit” – a principality.
James the Sup planter: In particular, the principality, the Sup
planter, operating behind St. James, became the ruling geographical
principality over all of
At one time,
It has been documented as well that
Menendez himself invoked
The Knights of the Order of
New gods came to the gates and
there was war: Judges
5:8 They chose new gods; then was war
in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in
In reality, the Spaniards were
invoking a principality and by doing so the principality operating behind whom
they referred to as St. James gained legal access to the geographical area over
To answer that question we have to
identify the manifestations of the spirit operating behind St. James to gain an
understanding as to how this spirit is operating over and influencing the
people of
We know from Scripture that angels had names: for example, Gabriel the messenger and Michael the warrior. Principalities are fallen angels and they too had names: for example, Satan, the accuser and Abaddon, the angel of the abyss. We know that Abaddon was a fallen angel because in Revelation 9:1 he is described as having fallen from the sky to the earth. Revelation 12:4-9 further supports that Satan and his angels fell to the earth.
So, the first place to start is
with the meaning of the name “James” which will give us an idea of the
manifestations of the spirit in operation.
Interestingly enough, the meaning of the name James actually describes
the manifestations that took place in 1565 when the Spaniards dislodged the
Huguenots from
In the Bible someone’s name would reveal the character of an individual. And, it was not unusual for the LORD to change someone’s name when the nature of the individual changed. Given that James is the name that we want to focus on then we need to find out what the name means according to Scripture and how that applies to St. James of Santiago.
The name James can be found in the New Testament, which was written in Greek. Given that James is the Greek form of Jacob, meaning sup planter, then it’s important that we understand the meaning of the name Jacob as well.
Before we look at the name Jacob in
the Old Testament let’s look at the James of the New Testament. We need to ask, put side by side, does the
life of St. James of
James in the New Testament: As Christians we know that when we accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, even though our name didn’t literally change, that we become a new creation. And as we work out our own salvation we are to be transformed and that transformation or change in our nature and the renewing of our mind should be evident to those around us. All who overcome will receive a new name. Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
However, there were times when Jesus Christ literally changed someone’s name. For example, in Mark 3:16 we find that Jesus Christ changed Simon’s name to Peter which meant rock and we know from Scripture that Peter did indeed eventually become that rock. In verse Mark 3:17 we find that to James and John, Jesus gave the name “Boanerges” which means “Sons of Thunder”.
Mark 3 [16] And Simon he surnamed Peter; [17] And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
There are several people in the
Bible named James; however it was James, one of the Sons of Thunder, that the
“Knights of the Order of
Renewing of the Mind: Romans 12 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The character of the Biblical “Sons of Thunder” changed from one of wanting to call down thunder, not by the Spirit of the LORD, to John being known as the Disciple of Love and his brother James becoming the first martyr among the apostles who walked with Jesus. Acts 12 [2] And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Along with Peter, they alone were
with Jesus at some of the more profound times in the life of Jesus Christ: the
Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2), the restoration to life of Jairus’s daughter
(Mark 5:37 -43) and with Jesus in the
Luke 9 [51] And it came to
pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set
his face to go to Jerusalem, [52] And sent messengers before his face: and
they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
[53] And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would
go to
James and John wanted to avenge Jesus by calling down fire; however, Jesus corrected their misunderstanding of who He was by explaining that He came to save men’s lives not destroy them. When correcting James and John it’s important to note the Words of Jesus – “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of”. It was not the Holy Spirit that was influencing James and John and if it was not the Holy Spirit, then it could only have been an unclean spirit. Keep in mind at one time even Peter was influenced by Satan and Jesus rebuked Peter by saying Satan, get thee behind Me. Matthew 16 [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Colossians 3 [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:10 helps us to understand that when Jesus explained to James and John that he came to save the lives of men and not to destroy them that He wanted them to understand or have more knowledge of who He was in order that they could line their emotions up with who He was and not who they thought He was. Or in other words they were to renew their mind.
John 12 [27] Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. [28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. [29] The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
I believe the nature of James and John wanting to call down thunder by a spirit not of the LORD changed. If the voice of the LORD sounded like thunder to James and John as well as the crowd and we are to be renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created man, then the thunder of James and John would have transformed to being like the sound of the thunder of the LORD. To sound like thunder is not to be taken as literal, but as positional. In other words, the words that they spoke should have reflected Jesus Christ.
Of what spirit were the Spanish Conquistadors?: That the Conquistadors or the Knights of the Order of Santiago invoked St. James to go into battle with them to aid them in their destruction of those who were not of the Catholic faith does not line up with the instructions and rebuke that Jesus gave James. Again, when James [and John] wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume those who rejected Jesus – Jesus rebuked him [them] saying “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of”. Satan’s Counterfeit: The James that the Spanish Conquistadors invoked when going into battle was Satan’s counterfeit to James the Apostle that actually walked with Jesus.
Job 39:19-25 describes the anticipation of a “War Horse” preparing to go into battle. Given the context of this section, it’s interesting that “thunder” is used to describe the anger and hatred of the warriors and that even the war horse was able to detect the anger of the warriors. Thunder in the context of verse 25 means to be “violently agitated”.
Job 39 [19] Hath thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? [20] Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. [21] He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. [22] He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. [23] The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. [24] He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. [25] He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. NIV reads “battle-cry” instead of “shouting”.
The Spanish Conquistadors were “Sons of Thunder” who went into war; however, not in righteousness. Even though the Scriptures tell us that Jesus rebuked James when he wanted to call down thunder upon those who rejected Jesus, the Conquistadors called down thunder and “destroyed” those “who the Catholics said” rejected Jesus.
It’s important to understand that the Catholics thought they could judge who had their salvation – regardless of the testimony of the ones they killed. As a consequence, they slaughtered many who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and had their salvation.
The French Huguenots confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior. However, because the French Huguenots would not reject Protestantism and rejoin the Catholic Church, it was determined that they rejected Jesus Christ and therefore they were killed. In all reality, they were killed because they became a threat to the false doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Boanerges meant “Sons of Commotion”, “violent anger” and “rage” as well as “Sons of Thunder”. And, by all accounts the Conquistadors exhibited all these characteristics.
Obviously, it would not be wisdom to assume that everyone’s name reveals something about their nature. Even when someone’s name does indicate the nature of that person, we still can’t and shouldn’t assume that a principality is working through that individual.
However, when the LORD reveals that a principality is operating through someone whose name does identify their nature – the name not only identifies the nature of an individual – it also identifies the spirit or the Principality that will influence and operate through the individual throughout his or her lifetime. What’s important to understand, is that the Principality, in turn, will operate through this individual as a vehicle and will attempt to influence or hinder anyone who comes into contact with this person. The individual may or may not be aware that a principality or demonic spirit is operating through them.
Revelation & Spiritual Gifts: Before proceeding, I want to comment further on revelation from the LORD regarding the demonic and principalities.
Spiritual Gifts: In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul describes the different Spiritual gifts that are given to the Body of Christ as the Holy Spirit determines. The purpose of the various gifts is for the common good of the Believers, meaning that every gift of the Holy Spirit is essential. The gift of the discerning of spirits is one of a number of gifts and given the nature of this study it is that particular gift that we need to understand. 1 Corinthians 12 [10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Spiritual Understanding. Because not everyone understands spiritual warfare, I want to speak to those who are called to Spiritual Warfare and why we are not understood by others in the Body of Christ.
Luke Chapter 10 is among the teachings of Jesus Christ on Spiritual Warfare and still applies to us today. Notice in verse 1 that it was only those that Jesus “appointed” that were sent two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. And, one of things that they dealt with was the demonic.
Not everyone was “appointed” for this particular “calling”. Nor did Jesus rebuke the 72 (or 70 depending on the translation) when they returned with joy, saying, LORD, even the devils are subject unto us through thy Name (verse 17). However, even though Jesus gave them power and authority over the Kingdom of Darkness, in verse 20 Jesus tells them not to rejoice over their power over the demonic; however they were to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. As Believers we all need to understand the boundaries that the LORD has established for us and stay within those boundaries.
In verse 18 Jesus states that He had beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven indicating that because the devils were subject to the 72 – that in the Name of Jesus that Satan’s kingdom in the heavens was suffering defeat. According to Ephesians 6 we know that our weapons are not carnal and that our “spiritual warfare” is fought in the heavenlies. This aspect of warfare is what is referred to as “Second Heaven Warfare”.
Luke 10 [21] In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
In verse 21 Jesus goes on further rejoicing in spirit and thanking the Father that this type of second heaven warfare was not revealed to everyone. In verse 23 Jesus turned to His disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see.
Luke 10 [23] And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes
which see the things that ye see: [24]
For I tell you, that many prophets and
kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them;
and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
In other words, not everyone is called to second heaven warfare nor will everyone in the Body of Christ understand this type of warfare. However, blessed are those that have been appointed and who do understand what God has called them to.
Going back to Luke 10 [18] And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. [19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
The word “beheld” in this context means to look upon or gaze at. It means to call ones attention to or to comprehend a matter. And, according to Strong’s Concordance “beheld” also means to “discern clearly either physically or mentally”. Again, the discerning of spirits is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10.
With that in mind, Jesus called attention to, looked into and understood second heaven warfare. He boldly declared to those disciples there with Him that He gave them authority in that area. In talking to them, Jesus begins the dialogue by looking into the second heaven, and he draws his disciples attention to those particular events going on in the heavenlies. While Jesus had their attention on the second heaven, it was in this spiritual posture and focus that He gave them authority over all the power of the enemy including to tread on serpents and scorpions. By directing their attention to the heavens – Jesus spoke of the place where Satan dwelled and gave them authority in the second heavens as well as here on earth.
Seducing spirits & Doctrines of devils: 1 Timothy 4 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
St. James & the Doctrine of
Devils: The Doctrine of devils is yet another avenue that the demonic
or a principality will take to mislead or set up a substitute religion or
whatever it is that the enemy wants to accomplish. Given that the St. James of
The Doctrine of Devils is nothing
other than a devil, whether it be a demon or a principality, influencing
someone as in the case of the shepherd.
Interestingly enough, the apostle James was never buried in
According to Scripture we are, at all times, to test the spirit and we test the spirit by seeing if it lines up with the Word. If it does not line up with Scripture then we know that it is not of the LORD and therefore we are to reject that doctrine.
Unfortunately, at that point in time in history, Catholics did not have access to the Scriptures and relied only upon what the Catholic Church taught about James. They would not have had Scriptures available to them to make certain that what they were being taught was correct. Yes, the Spaniards had a “zeal” for the Holy Wars; however, their zeal was based on the doctrine of the Catholic Church, not according to the knowledge of Scripture. Romans 10 [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
However, today’s Christians do have
access to the Scriptures and because of the Scriptures we have gained knowledge
and an understanding of the spiritual war that was waged in 1565 here in
Since we do have access to the Scriptures, we need to be like the Bereans and examine the Scriptures daily to see if what we are being told is true. Acts 17 [11] Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Going back to the doctrine of devils. In Isaiah 14:13-14 Satan said in his heart that he would be like the God Most High, meaning that he wants to be worshipped in the same way that Yahweh is. One of the many ways that Satan seeks to be like Yahweh is to pervert the Scriptures.
Take James for example. I believe that Satan chose the “name” of the apostle James because of the meaning behind his name and proceeded to pervert who James the apostle was to fit the doctrine of his devils.
The Shrine & Grave of St. James: Isaiah 65 [1] I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. [2] I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; [3] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; [4] Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Today as well as in Biblical times there are people who actually sit among the graves and engage in the practice of necromancy, a form of divination. Séances are another form of necromancy and divination with the idea that they can communicate with the dead. Actually what they are communicating with are demonic spirits known as “familiar spirits”. Familiar spirits are assigned to a specific family and will stay with that particular family throughout the generations until it has been exposed and dealt with. These familiar spirits would obviously be familiar with the details of the dead person’s life as well as his or her forefathers.
Catholics who make a pilgrimage to “Shrines”, for example, the Shrine of St. James, is a good example of people sitting among the graves in an effort to communicate, honor or pay homage to the dead. The Catholic Church believes that when they pray to the dead saints that they in turn will intercede with God on our behalf. Even their supposed relics and images are to be venerated. However, these practices are not in accordance with the Scriptures. Isaiah 8 [19] And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Pope John Paul II declared the year 2000 as a “Holy Year” and the Christian Catacombs as well as other shrines were added to the four Patriarchal Basilicas as places to visit in order to gain the Jubilee indulgence, in other words, pardon from sin.
When visiting the Christian Catacombs the same conditions required for the Basilicas were to be met in order to gain the Jubilee indulgence. For example, for those who decided to make the pilgrimage to one of the above places, to gain the indulgence, they were required to take part in either a Mass or other Catholic celebration, spend time in prayer, ending their prayers in Our Father and prayer to the Virgin Mary.
Back to Names and their Meanings: At times we know that names were given to people at birth and before birth to identify what the characteristics or nature of that individual would be. Sometimes an angel would visit the parents before a child was born and reveal to the parents the name to be given to their child that would identify the child's nature and even his spirit. For example, an angel visited Joseph and not only told him of the birth of Jesus, but also gave him the name Jesus. The name Jesus identified this particular child as the "Savior" or "God Who is Salvation." And, we know from Scripture that's exactly who He was. Matthew 1 [20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The Meaning of James and its
Hebrew equivalent Jacob. Given that James is the Greek equivalent of
the Hebrew Jacob and both names have the
same meaning, then the meaning of the name Jacob is important to this
study.
Genesis 25 [21] And Isaac
intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was
intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. [22] And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be
so, why am I thus? And she went to
enquire of the Lord. [23] And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated
from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other
people; and the elder shall serve the younger. [24]
And when her days to be delivered were
fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out
red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. [26] And after that came his brother
out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when
she bare them.
While still in the womb - the LORD identified the nature of both Esau and
Jacob to Rebekah. Their struggle in the
womb between each other was prophetic of two different nations. The Struggle between Esau and Jacob is
symbolic of the struggle between Christ and the Antichrist. The Edomites, offspring of Esau, to this day
struggle against the Nation of Israel.
Unfortunately it can also describe ancient and ongoing struggles between
Christians, for example, the struggle between Catholicism and the French
Huguenots that took place in 1565 here in
Jacob was named at birth and the
name Jacob means “sup planter” and “heel catcher”. Interestingly enough, when Jacob was born he
was born with his hand holding Esau’s heel.
[26] And after that came his brother
out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob:…
The name "Jacob" also means "deceiver"
and identified the deceptive nature of Jacob until the LORD changed his name to
Even before Jacob and his twin brother Esau were born – they both struggled in Rebekah's womb and the struggle was symbolic of their own "personal struggle" between each other after their birth. It was prophetic of the struggle between the two nations that they would eventually come to represent. As stated earlier, their struggle can also represent the struggle between the various Christian denominations or can be on a personal level between two or more of the brethren as well.
Why did Jacob wrestle with the LORD? Well, it was because of his deceptive nature, the very nature that God needed to change in Jacob. However, there was something else about Jacob’s nature that was revealed when he wrestled with the LORD. When the LORD told Jacob to let Him go, Jacob replied that he would not let him go until the LORD blessed him. In other words, Jacob wanted the spiritual blessings from the LORD, whereas his brother Esau despised his birthright, meaning the spiritual blessings. Hebrews 12 [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34)
When Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew he was actually giving up the spiritual (the birthright) for the flesh (the stew). The birthright was the covenant promises that the LORD had promised to Abraham, passed down to Isaac and would have been passed down through Esau’s seed had he not sold his birthright to Jacob.
The “Sup planter” Spirit: Not only did Jacob sell Esau the stew for his birthright, at a later time Jacob deceitfully took Esau’s blessing. Scripture reveals to us that on these two occasions, Jacob “sup planted” his brother by buying his birthright and deceitfully taking his blessing as well. Esau’s statement to his father acknowledges his understanding that Jacob’s nature was truly a reflection of his name.
Genesis 27 [35] And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. [36] And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
The sup planting
spirit behind Jacob and Esau’s struggle was the same spirit behind the struggle
between the Spanish Catholics and the French Huguenots. And that same spirit still continues to stir
up divisions and schisms among the various Christian denominations as
well. Even though paganism came through
the Roman Catholic Church and continues to remain within the Church, we need to
keep in mind that there will always be a remnant within the Catholic Church
because of their faithfulness to the LORD
for the first several hundred years. The
only way that I can understand this is that even though
Just as Jacob and Esau were brothers, the Remnant within
the Catholic and
However, having said that, even though there is a remnant within the Catholic Church, it does not negate their teachings, many of which include teachings of paganism. I would not attend Mass or share in their communion table given their understanding of communion. Fellowship among the remnant can be outside the Church building. It doesn’t mean that we participate in their rituals that have their roots in paganism.
Many people worldwide do not understand that the Roman Catholic Church “Does Not” represent all of Christendom. The word “Protestant” meant that those who were Protestants were “protesting” against the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church and many of us today are still protesting against their teachings that are not Scriptural.
Furthermore, when the Church of Rome allowed paganism to come into their Church they gave up their birthright and their blessings. Both Esau and the Church of Rome sold their birthright or anointing because of wanting to satisfy their flesh. Esau sold his for stew. The Catholic Church sold theirs for power and wealth. Later Esau wept because of losing his birthright; however he didn’t repent. The Roman Catholic Church has not repented either – paganism still has a place in their doctrine. Esau tried to kill Jacob and the Roman Catholic Church has killed many true Christians. The Catholic Church did not have the right to kill non-believers in the Name of Jesus.
Esau put the flesh first; however, Jacob eventually put the LORD first. Esau freely gave up his birthright, but Jacob deceived Esau of their father’s blessing. When Esau lost his birthright it was inevitable that he would lose the blessing since both are so closely related. Needless to say, both Catholics and Protestants have their own problems.
The Spanish and Catholicism wanted to obtain the “Spiritual Blessing” of the French Huguenots: Jacob and Esau were brothers, nonetheless Esau lost his birthright and spiritual blessing to Jacob. Just as Esau gave up his birthright to his brother Jacob – I believe the Roman Catholic Church gave up their birthright as well to the Protestants. The French Huguenots wanted to hear from the LORD for themselves; the Roman Catholic Church wanted to hear for the people.
When the French Huguenots were killed, not as Frenchmen,
but as Protestants, I believe it was because the Roman Catholic Church wanted
the blessings of what the LORD was doing
in the
New gods: Judges 5 [8] They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or
spear seen among forty thousand in
Who was this new god that came to
what is now known as
Even though this spirit was new to
America, it was the same spirit that had already attempted to “sup plant” the
French Huguenots from France and now came to the New World to “sup plant” them
from this land as well. One of the
manifestations of the sup planting spirit is to “follow on the heels of”, so it
should not surprise us that the Spaniards “followed on the heels of” the
Huguenots to
The “Sup planter”: How did the spirit operating behind the
identity of St. James manifest when the Spanish set foot on the coast of
St. James the Sup planter is invoked: As mentioned earlier, Menendez and the other Spaniards shouted the war cry “Santiago” when they attacked Fort Caroline as well as when they attacked the Native America Indians, who were considered without rights as long as they were pagan.
The Spanish invoked St. James in other battles as well as those fought with the Native Americans. By invoking St. James in their holy wars, Menendez and other Conquistadors as well as the Knights of the Order of Santiago were “spiritually” binding the spirit of “Anti Christ” that was behind their “Holy War” to the land in the New World, including the land that is now known as Florida. The spirit behind this “Holy War” was not the Spirit of the LORD. It was an “anti Christ” spirit working through the Spanish Conquistador and his men who slaughtered the French Huguenots – Protestants who were seeking a place to worship the LORD in spirit and truth.
The Blood of the Martyrs
For those who believe that the land where the Huguenots were slain is sacred because of their shed blood, I want to emphasize that it was not the blood of the Huguenots; however, it was the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) that enabled the Huguenots to overcome Satan. And, it was also the “Word of their Testimony” and that they “Did not love their Lives so much as to shrink from death” that the French Huguenots became “Martyrs”.
The Blood of Jesus
There is no blood that is redemptive other than that of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1 [7] In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Jesus was without sin! We are all sinners. Therefore the shed blood of any human being, no matter how righteous or innocent, cannot make land sacred or holy as many people believe. This belief is not Scriptural, it is a tradition of man and it is idolatry.
Abel Was A Righteous Man –
However His Blood Cried Out For Justice
Hebrews 11 [4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
We know from Scripture that Abel was a righteous man and we know that it was the blood of this “innocent” man that was the first blood to be shed upon the earth and the voice of his blood cried unto the LORD from the ground. However, the blood of Abel cried out for justice.
Genesis 4 [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
The land did not become sacred because of this righteous man’s blood that was shed. Instead, the ground would no longer produce for Cain as it had in the past because of Abel’s blood crying out from the ground for justice and vengeance that resulted in Cain now being cursed from the earth. It was Cain himself that was cursed – not the land; however, the land would no longer produce for Cain.
The Blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the Blood of Abel. Abel’s blood cried out to the LORD for justice, whereas the blood of Jesus was redemptive.
Hebrews 12 [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
However, The Martyrs Blood Will
Be Avenged
It is Biblical that the LORD will avenge the blood of the Martyr. Not only does the blood of Abel cry out for justice - the voice of the shed blood of the Martyr cries out to be avenged as well. And, according to Scripture, the LORD will avenge the blood of the Martyrs in His own way and in His own timing.
Matthew 23 [35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. [36] Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Revelation 6 [9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The Blood of the Huguenots Was
Avenged
Dominique de Gourgues Avenged the
Blood of the Huguenots and made Atonement for the Land that had been Defiled.
Interestingly enough, the deaths of
the Huguenots, were avenged by Dominique de Gourgues, the Frenchman who set sail in
August 1567 for
According to Numbers 35:33, blood pollutes the land and atonement for the land can only be made by the shed blood of the one who shed the innocent blood. According to Scripture it is the “Avenger of Blood” that is to slay the one who shed the innocent blood. And when the murderer is slain the land is thereby cleansed.
Numbers 35 [33] So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Numbers 35 [19] The avenger of blood shall himself slay the murderer; when he meets him, he shall slay him.
In 1567, two years after the
Huguenots had been murdered, Dominique de Gourgues, a Frenchman set sail for
It was at the hands of Gourgues that the Huguenots were avenged when the very Spaniards that murdered the Huguenots were slain by Gourgues and he had them hung on the very trees that they had hung the Huguenots on. Gourgues had wooden tablets hung on the trees that read: “Not as to Spaniards, but as to Traitors, Robbers, and Murderers” [14] in retribution for the tablets that the Spaniards had hung over the Huguenots that read “Not as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans”. (emphasis added)
These events can be spiritually understood in terms of Numbers 35 verses 19 and 33. I believe the LORD allowed Dominique de Gourgues to act as the Avenger. Why? Because given the Biblical principal in Numbers 35 verses 19 and 33, the land that had been defiled by the innocent blood of the French Huguenots could only be cleansed when an “Avenger” shed the blood of the Spaniards that had murdered the Huguenots.
The Account of Dominique de
Gourgues ~ the Avenger of the Huguenots
The following account of Dominique
de Gourgues and the details of what took place at
“The next day was
Quasimodo Sunday, or the Sunday after Easter, Gourgues and his men remained
quiet, making ladders for the assault on
On Monday evening he sent forward the Indians to ambush themselves on both sides of the fort. In the morning he followed with his Frenchmen; and, as the glittering ranks came into view, defiling between the forest and the river, the Spaniards opened on them with culverins from a projecting bastion. The French took cover in the woods with which the hills below and behind the fort were densely overgrown. Here, himself unseen, Gourgues could survey whole extent of the defences, and he presently descried a strong part of Spaniards issuing from their works, crossing the ditch, and advancing to reconnoiter.
As the Spaniards reached the edge of the open ground, a deadly fire blazed in their faces, and before the smoke cleared, the French were among them, sword in hand. The survivors would have fled; but Cazenove’s detachment fell upon their rear, and all were killed or taken.
When their comrades
in the fort beheld their fate, a panic seized them. Conscious of their own deeds, perpetrated on
this very spot, they could hope no mercy, and their terror multiplied
immeasurable the numbers of their enemy.
They abandoned the fort in a body, and fled into the woods most remote
from the French. But here a deadlier foe
awaited them; for a host of Indians leaped up from ambush. Then rose those hideous war-cries which have
curdled the boldest blood and blanched the manliest cheek. The forest warriors, with savage ecstasy,
wreaked their long arrears of vengeance, while the French hastened to the spot,
and lent their swords to the slaughter. A
few prisoners were saved alive; the rest were slain; and thus did the Spaniards make
bloody atonement for the butchery of
But Gourgues’s vengeance was not yet appeased. Hard by the fort, the trees were pointed out to him on which Menendez had hanged his captives, and placed over them the inscription, ‘Not as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans.’
Gourgues ordered the Spanish prisoners to be led thither.
‘Did you think,’ he sternly said, as the pallid wretches stood ranged before him, ‘that so vile a treachery, so detestable a cruelty, against a King so potent and a nation so generous, would go unpunished? I, one of the humblest gentlemen among my King’s subjects, have charged myself with avenging it. … But though you cannot suffer as you deserve, you shall suffer all that an enemy can honorably inflict, that your example may teach others to observe the peace and alliance which you have so perfidiously violated.’
They were hanged where the French had hung before them; and over them was nailed the inscription, burned with a hot iron on a table of pine, ‘Not as to Spaniards, but as to Traitors, Robbers, and Murderers.’
Gourgues’s mission was fulfilled.
Thus Spaniards and Frenchmen
alike laid their reeking swords on God’s altar.” [15] (emphasis
added)
The Death of the Huguenots vs.
the Death of the Spaniards
The differences between the deaths of the Huguenots and the deaths of those who killed the Huguenots is significant. Only innocent blood can be avenged.
When the Huguenots established
On the other hand, the Spaniards who murdered the Huguenots were guilty of breaking the law for the very reasons that the Huguenots were not guilty. Furthermore, and of more importance, by their own testimony, the Spaniards justified killing the French Huguenots because of their hatred for Lutherans and Protestants. Therefore, the shed blood of the Spaniards who murdered the Huguenots and died at the hands of Gourgues was not innocent blood.
It has been explained how the innocent blood of the Huguenots was atoned for; however, one might wonder how the land was cleansed after the shed blood of the Spaniards.
The Gibeonites & Israel’s
Three-Year Famine
2 Samuel 21 gives the account of Israel’s three year famine being broken only after the surviving Gibeonites were avenged by the deaths of those who had shed the innocent blood of other Gibeonites. This same account will help us to understand the differences between the shed blood of the innocent and the shed blood of those who shed the innocent blood and how each affected the land.
I want to point out that the famine was directly related to the “innocent blood” of the Gibeonites that had been shed. However, the shed blood of Saul’s seven male offspring that was required to make atonement for the land did not keep the land from being cleansed. It was after David delivered seven of Saul’s male offspring into the hands of the Gibeonites, they were hung by the surviving Gibeonites before the LORD, and thereafter buried did the LORD answer prayer in behalf of the land.
In other words there is a difference between the “innocent blood” and the blood that is not considered innocent. In the case of Saul’s household, it was the sins of the father visited to the third and fourth generation.
The Gibeonites Avenged
David realized the seriousness of the famine in its third year and inquired of the LORD as to why. The LORD revealed to David that it was because of the “bloody house of Saul” in that Saul had slain the Gibeonites.
Even though the Gibeonites were a pagan nation, the LORD required the nation of
David inquired of the Gibeonites as to how atonement could
be made in order that the Gibeonites would bless and not curse
The Avenger for the Gibeonites that had been killed were the Gibeonites themselves. Just as the Gibeonites were avenged by other Gibeonites, the blood of the French Huguenots was avenged by their own countrymen as well.
Gourgues & Retribution in
Kind: The Spaniards at
Hosea 6 [8]
Hosea 6 [8]
Hosea 6 [8]
Polluted means to Seize by the Heel, to Circumvent and to Supplant. A Sup Planter is one who follows on another's heels. It’s important to note that according to Strong’s Concordance, the meaning of the word “pollute” in the context of Numbers 35:33 is different than that of “polluted” in Hosea 6:8. Pollute in Numbers 35:33 means to defile while Polluted in Hosea 6:8 means “a knoll”, tracked, to seize by the heel, to supplant, to circumvent, a footprint.
Interestingly enough, the meaning of the word Polluted as used in Hosea 6:8 is identical as that of James and Jacob. Just as the name James and Jacob means to take by the heel and to sup plant, according to Strong’s the word “Polluted” means to take by the heel and to sup plant as well.
After the Spanish realized that
Ribault had set sail for
Then, the Spanish further polluted
the land with their footprints stained with the blood of the French Huguenots
they murdered. Like Gilead in Hosea 6:8,
Retribution in Kind:
Habakkuk 3 [14] With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.
The Spaniards didn’t understand, but their bloody footprints were prophetic as to a future event that would unfold and involve them in the sense of “retribution in kind”. They were prophetic in the same sense as when Jacob was born grasping Esau’s heel – it revealed the nature of the future relationship between the two brothers.
Retribution in kind means that their own weapons would be turned against them. In other words, their bloody footprints meant that they too would be supplanted - tripped up by their heels. In this particular situation, retribution in kind meant that the Spanish would be supplanted from Ft. Caroline, now known as Fort Mateo, by the French in the same manner that they supplanted the French Huguenots including hanging Spanish soldiers from the very trees that Menendez hung the Huguenots.
Habakkuk 3 [14] With his own
spear you pierced his head
According to documented accounts,
it appears that those at
After killing Ribault, the
Spaniards quartered his head and upon their return to
Going
Back to Hosea 6
The Company of Priests Murder in
the Way of Consent:
Hosea 6 [6] For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and
the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. [7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt
treacherously against me. [8]
Just as the priests in verse 9 murder in the way by giving their consent – so did the priests that accompanied Menendez give their consent to the slaughter of the French Huguenots – Christians who desired to worship the LORD in spirit and truth.
The following describes Menendez
preparing his attack on the beached Huguenots after a troop of Indians informed
him of their whereabouts. One of the
first things that Menendez did in preparation was to call for Mendoza, one of
the company of priests who accompanied Menendez to
In other words, Menendez would be
pleased to have a priest at his elbow to encourage, approve of, bless and
support the slaughter of the Huguenots in the name of Christianity - so
the company of priests murdered in the way by consent. After capturing the stranded Huguenots,
instead of asking Menendez to show mercy to the Huguenots, Mendoza, a priest,
only asked Menendez to show mercy to the few Catholics that were part of the
colony established by the Huguenots. The
following is from the personal account of Mendoza, one of the priests who
accompanied Menendez to
“Since they all were Lutherans, his
Lordship decided to condemn them all to death.
I, being a sacerdote and with the bowels of a man, petitioned him to
grant me a favor, and it was that those whom he found to be Christians should
not die. He granted me this, and
proceedings were carried out by which we found ten or twelve. These we brought with us. All the rest died for being Lutherans
and against
our Holy Catholic Faith.” [19] (emphasis added) As mentioned earlier even Christians were
killed if they were not Catholics. In
commenting on Menendez’s zeal to kill the French Huguenots,
Among the company of priests, in
addition to
Breach of Faith
Menendez’s Brother-in-Law Justified Menendez’s Breach of Faith with the Huguenots.
Menendez betrayed the two groups of Huguenots that were murdered on the beach. During their several meetings, Menendez either implied or guaranteed their safety. Ribaut himself called on Menendez to remember his oath. Because many Catholics as well as Protestants believed that Menendez was guilty of a breach of faith, his brother-in-law came to his defense as follows:
“Such is the sum of the French
accounts. The charge of breach of faith
contained in them was believed by Catholics as well as Protestants; and it was
as a defence against this charge that the narrative of the Adelantado’s
brother-in-law was published. That
Ribaut, a man whose good sense and courage were both reputed high, should have
submitted himself and his men to Menendez without positive assurance of safety,
is scarcely credible; nor is it lack of charity to believe that a bigot so
savage in heart and so perverted in conscience would act on the maxim, current
among certain casuists of the day, that faith ought not to be kept with
heretics.” [22] (emphasis added)
Going Back to Hosea 6
Transgressed the Covenant “at Adam”
Hosea 6 verse 7 gives a spiritual understanding of the promises made by Menendez with the Huguenots at a river crossing where Menendez guaranteed their safety – only to break his oath by having them slaughtered – and only after the Huguenots crossed over the river.
Hosea 6 [7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me. (KJV)
Hosea 6 [7] But at Adam they transgressed the covenant, there they dealt faithlessly with Me. (RSV)
Hosea 6 [7] Like Adam, they have broken the covenant – they were unfaithful to me there. (NIV)
The word “there” in verse 7 indicates that the “place” where the covenant was transgressed is important. The Revised Standard translation identifies “at Adam” for the word “there” in the King James translation.
Adam is the name of a city at the
Ribaut and the Huguenots “Crossed
Over A River”
And, it was at a “river crossing” where Menendez broke his assurance and oaths promising the Huguenots safety. To carry on talks with the Huguenots, Menendez and the Spaniards had to wait for the Huguenots to “cross over a river”.
“Famished and desperate, the
followers of Ribaut were toiling northward to seek refuge at
Protest in the context that Menendez protested meant to affirm or avow. When Menendez was charged with a breach of faith, the brother-in-law of Menendez, a priest, justified this breach of faith by asserting “that faith ought not to be kept with heretics”.
Before Ribaut and other Huguenots “crossed the river”, were betrayed and killed, members from both groups of the Huguenots at separate times “crossed the river” multiple times in their talks with Menendez. And it was at this particular river crossing that the covenant was broken.
Following are several accounts of those meetings that occurred with the Huguenots in which Menendez either “implied” or “guaranteed” the safety of the Huguenots:
On one occasion:: “Menendez gave him the same equivocal answer
that he had given the former party, and Ribaut returned to consult with his
officers. After three hours of absence, he
came
back in the canoe, and told the Adelantado that some of his people were
ready to surrender at discretion, but that many refused. They can do as they please,’ was the
reply. In behalf of those who
surrendered, Ribaut offered a ransom of a hundred thousand ducats. ‘It would much grieve me,’ said Menendez,
‘not to accept it; for I have great need of it.’ …” [24] (emphasis added)
On a separate occasion: “One of the Frenchmen recrossed to consult with his companions. In two hours he returned, and offered fifty thousand ducats to secure their lives; but Menendez, says his brother-in-law, would give no pledges. On the other hand, expressions in his own despatches point to the inference that a virtual pledge was given, at least to certain individuals. The starving French saw no resource but to yield themselves to his mercy. The boat was again sent across the river. It returned laden with banners, arquebuses, swords, targets, and helmets. The Adelantado ordered twenty soldiers to bring over the prisoners, ten at a time. He then took the French officers aside behind a ridge of sand, two gunshots from the bank. Here, with courtesy on his lips and murder at his heart, …”
“The Adelantado walked in advance till he came to a lonely spot, not far distant, deep among the bush-covered hills. Here he stopped, and with his can drew a line in the sand. The sun was set when the captive Huguenots, with their escort, reached the fatal goal thus marked out. And now let the curtain drop; for here, in the name of Heaven, the hounds of hell were turned loose, and the savage soldiery, like wolves in a sheepfold, rioted in slaughter. Of all that wretched company, not one was left alive.” [25] (emphasis added)
Hosea 6 [7] But at Adam they transgressed the covenant, there they dealt faithlessly with Me.
And, so it was, that at the crossing of the river that Menendez transgressed the covenant not only with the Huguenots, but also with the LORD. During the conversations with the Huguenots, Menendez invoked the Name of the LORD, and by doing so he was required to keep his pledges of safety to the Huguenots.
The land was polluted ceremonially as well as morally.
When Menendez went ashore in Florida there was much Catholic ritual that was part of the ceremony that took place when he took possession of the land. The ceremony was performed by the same Catholic Priest that stood and gave his approval when Menendez killed Jean Ribault and other French Huguenots in the Name of God as a means to justify the shedding of innocent blood on the land.
The ceremony that Menendez
participated in when he went ashore and formally took possession of the land in
“Notwithstanding the need for haste,
the admiral’s landing was duly marked, for the Spanish were a ceremonious
people, understanding the purposes of panoply and ritual. On the
eighth of September, 1565, as the Indians stood and watched, Pedro Menendez de
Aviles, Adelantado, Governor and Captain General of
Given that polluted means a knoll as well as deceitful, I find it of interest that the place that Menendez chose to slaughter the Huguenots was after they crossed over a “sand hill”. It was only after the Spaniards led them in groups of ten over the “sand hill” that the Huguenots realized that Menendez had deceived them. Menendez purposely chose the sand hill in order that the French Huguenots who had yet to be taken across the hill could not see what was happening to the other Huguenots as they were led across to the other side and slaughtered. [27]
Hosea 6 [7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me. The word “treacherously” means that the Spaniards dealt deceitfully with the Huguenots; they acted in a covert manner.
When the land has been polluted the enemy can bind people to the land “spiritually”, continuing to operate through the same deception and defilement that he worked thorough years, even hundreds of years earlier. For example, the land in Florida was polluted by Menendez, a Knight in the Order of Santiago, and other Spaniards who were on what amounted to a Crusade. However, what does that look like?
Satan’s Crusades: I don’t believe that anyone will argue the fact that the Crusades were “Holy Wars”. However, even though they were fought in the Name of Jesus Christ, they were not “Holy Wars” fought for righteousness nor were they according to the will of God. It is Scriptural that many people will say LORD, LORD and He will know them not.
The spirit of Knighthood seeks to “sup plant” and replace true Christianity with some form of religion or even Christianity that is in compromise and married to the world as its substitute.
The Knights were the warriors who fought these Holy Wars during the Crusades. While the purpose of most secular wars is to sup plant, it’s important to understand that Knights were spiritual warriors fighting spiritual battles albeit spiritual battles that they created to serve their own purposes. Even though the Crusades were supposedly religious in nature, they were nonetheless political and secular as well. It’s just that the political hid behind the religious. Masses of land and wealth was accumulated and stolen by the Knights during the Crusades in the name of Christianity. The evil that resulted during the Crusades and the evil men that justified their actions in the name of Christianity, betraying the Name of Jesus Christ, is almost unbearable to even think about.
I don’t doubt that many of the Knights and Crusaders were misled and sincerely thought what they were doing was right. There were many who were misled by both the Roman Catholic Church and by those Knights Templar who were fighting for power, land and wealth under the guise of Christianity.
The Crusades were the Holy Wars of Satan. The Crusades “Never” portrayed the true nature of Jesus Christ. All the blood that was shed in His Name only served to make Jesus Christ a stumbling block - a stumbling block even to the Hebrews, Yahweh’s chosen people.
The Crusades, including the one led
by Menendez in
The Holy Wars led by Joshua: When Joshua and the Hebrew people crossed the
Just as Joshua and
The Holy Wars led by Satan’s
People: If Yahweh will use His
people to dislodge Satan and his people to take possession of a geographical
area, then Satan will use his people to dislodge Yahweh’s people from the land
so that he can set up a counterfeit religion.
Satan will resort to what has worked before, even working through the
brethren to betray brethren as he did in the
Just as Satan sent Roman soldiers
to dislodge Jesus, Satan sent Spanish soldiers to dislodge the French
Huguenots. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus and
led the Roman soldiers to where Jesus was, Francis Jean, a French Huguenot,
betrayed his brethren and led Menendez and his Spanish soldiers some forty
miles through the underbrush to the location of
Laudonniere, the Governor of the
French colony, was in charge of
John 18 [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. [3] So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
However, instead of dislodging Jesus, the Scriptures were fulfilled concerning his death on the cross. Scripture tells us that if the “princes” of this world had understood the real meaning of the cross then they would not have crucified Jesus. That Paul used the word “princes” in 1 Corinthians 2:7 is significant. I believe that princes included the principalities. Had Satan understood that the grave was not going to be able to hold Jesus I don’t believe Satan would have been so eager for Jesus to be crucified. 1 Corinthians 2 [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Nor did the
Had Satan understood that God was
allowing Jean Ribault’s death in order to plant the seeds to worship Him in spirit
and in truth here in
It is through the church that the LORD reveals to Satan and the
Even though we know that all the earth is Yahweh’s, it is still a Biblical principle that the LORD has allowed Satan and the Kingdom of Darkness authority, including geographical authority, for various reasons and for certain periods of time. For example, in John 19 Jesus explains to Pilate that it is his Father that has given Pilate authority to crucify Jesus and that Pilate of himself had no authority over Him.
John 19 [10] “Do you refuse
to speak to me?’ Pilate said. ‘Don’t you realize I have power either to
free you or to crucify you?’”.
However, in verse 11 Jesus states clearly that it His Father who has
given Pilate the power to make such a decision.
[11] “Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given
to you from above. Therefore the one who
handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ ”
Jeremiah 49 is a Scriptural basis where we find that Molech, pagan god of the Ammonites, along with his priests and officials has taken possession of a geographical area.
Jeremiah 49 [1]
Concerning the Ammonites: This is what
the LORD says: “Has
Furthermore, during the six years
that Jephthah judged
Judges 11 [24] Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy
god giveth thee to possess? So
whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we
possess. [25] And now art thou any thing better than
Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Spiritual Cords Tied to the Land
of the Ammonites
What do the gods of the Land of the Ammonites Require:
Scripture reveals to us that the LORD requires us to worship Him in certain ways. As one of many examples, we are to worship Him in spirit and in truth and we are not to worship Him the way pagans worship their pagan deities. Nor are we to worship Him alongside pagan deities.
Scripture speaks of the “Baals”. The world Baal is a “title” and this title identifies the ruling Geographical principality over the other unclean spirits in their particular geographical area. And, just as Yahweh gave guidelines as to how He was to be worshipped, the principalities and other unclean spirits desired to be worshipped in very specific ways as well.
For example, child sacrifice was
part of the worship that Chemosh and Molech demanded of their followers. [Leviticus 18:21; 2 Kings 23:10] We know that incest is a manifestation of
these two spirits as well because the Moabites, whose National deity is Chemosh
and the Ammonites, whose national deity is Molech originated from the
incestuous relationship between
On the other hand, instead of being sacrificed as victims, children participated in the worship of the Queen of Heaven by gathering the wood for the fathers to light in order for the women to bake cakes that they had made for the Queen of Heaven in her image. Making vows, burning incense and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven was also required in the worship of the Queen of Heaven. [Jeremiah 7:17-18 & 44]
The concept that pagan gods were worshipped in a certain manner, depending upon their nationality, is further explained in the Book of 2 Kings Chapter 17. And Daniel 10 gives a further understanding of geographical principalities.
2 Kings 17 also gives an example of
syncretistic religion. The people
worshiped the God of Israel while continuing to worship pagan gods at the same
time. Verses 24-41 gives an account
whereby
For example, the people of
2 Kings 17 [30] And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, [31] And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. [33] They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
The gods of
Back to Jephthas & the
Ammonites: The children of Ammon
warred against the children of
The answer lies in “When”
Jephthah made the vow. Given the
sequence of events, Jephthah made the vow “After” he had left the boundaries of
It doesn’t mean that Jephthah
consciously made the vow; however, he came under the influence of this
particular spirit. Even King David was
“incited” by Satan when he took a census.
1 Chronicles 21 [1] And Satan stood up against
It was Jephthah’s daughter who came out to greet him upon his return from war. Jephthah would not have known that it was his daughter that would have come out to greet him; however, it was careless of Jephthah to make such a vow given that he did not know that it would not have been his daughter. Besides, whether it was his daughter or someone else, either way a human sacrifice would not have been according to God’s will. Some believe that Jephthah was thinking in terms of an animal, but Jephthah specified that whatsoever came out of his house to “meet him”. And, it was customary for those coming home from war to be met by their families with singing and dancing.
According to the tenth Book of Daniel there are geographical principalities. According to Judges 11, we know that Chemosh, the god of the Ammonites, was connected to their land. In other words Chemosh was a geographical principality over Ammon. And, the spiritual cords over the land of the Ammonites were cords that required child sacrifice as an offering to Chemosh.
The gods of
Mary of the Catholic Church is not Mary the Mother of Jesus. Their interpretation of Mary is nowhere to be found in the Bible. However, the way in which they portray Mary is no different than the worship of the mother goddess or the Queen of Heaven.
The Queen of Heaven & the Asherah Pole at the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine, Florida: The Mission of Nombre de Dios was founded at the site where Menendez and the Spaniards first set foot in St. Augustine, laying claim to Florida as well as what is now known as all of America in 1565.
Considered by the Catholics to be the most sacred acre of land in all of America, the Marian Shrine is the first of all Marian Shrines established in America and is located where the first mass was offered by Mendoza, one of the Catholic priests that accompanied Menendez in 1565.
Even though the actual shrine to Mary was not built until 1620, intercession to Mary for victory over the French Huguenots began before the Spanish even landed, continuing throughout their slaughter. Because of the relationship between the Knights of Santiago and the Shrine of St. James, their role in protecting Spanish pilgrims on their way to the “Shrine”, it was only a matter of time before a “Shrine” to another Catholic Saint was built at the first Spanish Mission in America.
The following picture was taken inside the Shrine to Mary on the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios. There are three objects in the following picture that are important to this study.
1. The statue of Mary in her role as “Our Lady of la Leche” and as a Queen
2. The Wooden Tree
3. The Altar
Deuteronomy 16 [21] So do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God.
An Asherah pole is a reference to a wooden pole or tree that represented the Canaanite goddess Asherah. Notice in the above picture that Mary is portrayed as a “Queen”, seated on top of a “Tree Trunk” that has been placed beside the altar of the LORD. The wooden pole itself is the symbol of Asherah. The above statue is the Asherah pole beside the altar to the LORD as described in Deuteronomy 16:21 and is an abomination unto the LORD.
1. The statue of Mary in her role as “Our Lady of la Leche” and as a Queen: Scripture does not portray Mary as a Queen breast feeding Jesus. However, Scripture does reveal the worship of the Queen of Heaven and the Israelites were forbidden to participate in this idolatrous worship - Jeremiah 7:18 and Jeremiah 44:17, 25. Furthermore, several of the Queens of Heaven, including Ashera, in ancient times were portrayed wearing a crown and breast feeding their son as pictured above.
2.
The Wooden Tree: Mary of
the Bible was never portrayed seated on top of a Wooden Pole as portrayed in
3. The Altar: Mary was never portrayed seated in front of an altar seated on top of a tree trunk as portrayed in the above picture. However, Scripture forbids a tree or wooden pole in front on the altar. Deuteronomy 16:21
The following two pictures are close-ups of the tree trunk or Asherah Pole.
The Catholic’s portrayal of Mary and Jesus does not line up with Scripture. However, their portrayal does line up with the ancient pagan worship of the Queen of Heaven or the mother goddess worship. Numerous Babylonian monuments as well as monuments and paintings from other countries depict a goddess nursing an infant.
Both the worship and visual image of the mother and child was so much a part of pagan tradition that when they joined the Christian Church, pagans were unwilling to let go of the mother goddess worship. To appease the people, Catholic leadership merely renamed the mother goddess “Mary” and her infant child “Jesus”. In other words, the Catholic Church compromised and combined Christianity with paganism. In this way it became acceptable to both.
A Matter of the Heart: The following Scriptures explain why men, women and their children will not give up the idolatry of the Queen of Heaven. It was in their heart and continues down through time even unto today. These Scriptures reveal their heart’s desire and their determination to have their rebellious will over the will of the LORD.
The Queen of Heaven: Jeremiah
7 [15] Then all the men which knew
that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that
stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of
Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, [16] As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord,
we will not hearken unto thee. [17]
But we will certainly do whatsoever
thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink
offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our
princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had
we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. [18] But since we left off to
burn incense to the queen of heaven,
and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have
been consumed by the sword and by the famine. [19] And when we burned
incense to the queen of heaven, and
poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and
pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Jeremiah 44[17] But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. [18] But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
Just as the Israelites gave credit to the Queen of Heaven for their prosperity and not the LORD, I have personally heard Catholics give the Queen of Heaven, the Mary of the Catholic faith, honor, glory and credit for all the good in their lives. Obviously, they do not test the spirits, as we are told to do, and ignore the Scriptures that reveal that Satan counterfeits these things as well. 2 Thessalonians 2 [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
What do the gods of
Mary & St. James the Sup
planter were invoked over
|
Worship in |
Worship in |
|
St. James and Mary had Shrines |
A Shrine was set up to Mary of Lady Lache |
|
Catholics make a pilgrimage to St. James’s Shrine |
Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Mary’s Shrine |
|
Pray to St. James and Mary |
Pray to St. James and Mary |
|
Syncretistic Religion: They pray to James, Mary and Yahweh |
Syncretistic Religion: They pray to James, Mary and Yahweh |
|
Catholics consider the Shrine of St. James sacred land |
Catholics consider Mary’s Shrine as the most sacred land
in |
The Spiritual Cords laid down in
It’s also important to understand that over time other spiritual cords have been added to the ones laid down by Menendez. These additional spiritual cords laid down by others, such as the Freemasons, have contributed to this spiritual cord becoming stronger and stronger and until it is not easily broken. It doesn’t mean that these spiritual cords cannot be broken; however, they become harder to break over time.
The first Spanish Mission established in America, Mission
Nombre de Dios, is a Place of Pilgrimage even today for the approximately
200,000 that make a pilgrimage there yearly.
The particular chapel that houses the Mary statue of Lady of La
Leche, which is Spanish
for “Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery”, is considered the cornerstone of
the mission, which by implication is one of the “spiritual cornerstones” of
The present chapel is a replica of earlier coquina (a
natural rock formation consisting of sea shells and limestone) chapels.
The significance is the use of “Sea Shells” given that a sea shell was the
symbol of the Knights of the Order of
Satan ~ the “Sup planter” of True Christianity
Is the Ruling Spirit Over
And the LORD said unto the serpent, … And thou shalt
bruise his heel
In other words, Satan, that old ancient serpent, is a heel catcher, and he will use trickery to sup plant someone just as the Spanish used trickery to sup plant two of the three groups of Huguenots that they slaughtered. Scripture tells us that Satan will “bruise the heel” of mankind. In other words Satan will “overwhelm someone by seizing them by their heel in order to trip and sup plant them.
The “Ruling Principality” over
All other geographical spirits and their dominions fall under the dominion of Satan and the Sup Planter.
And the LORD said unto the serpent, … And thou shalt
bruise his heel
Biblical Principles: The same Scripture can be referring to the Natural while at the same time dealing with the Spiritual. When studying Scripture, it is important to understand that there are Biblical principles and often times a Scripture has more than one application – as in the case of Genesis 3:15.
Genesis 3 [14] And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: [15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The Natural Serpent and the Spiritual Serpent: For example, in Genesis 3, the serpent in the Garden of Eden involves more than the serpent itself.
From studying Scripture we know that Satan is the old ancient serpent (Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:2) and that he was also in the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13). The serpent in Genesis involves two serpents, one in the natural realm and one in the spiritual realm. It involved the spiritual working through the natural. While Satan, that old ancient serpent, represents the spiritual realm, he was operating through the literal serpent that God created, which represents the natural realm.
Even though we are in a spiritual battle, we need to be mindful that Satan will choose those things and people in the natural realm that are not so obvious to us to hide behind and work through in order to trip us by the heel.
Genesis 3:15 reveals to us that the serpent will “bruise the heel” of mankind. The word bruise means to “overwhelm” and just as the name James means “heel catcher, the word heel in Genesis 3:15 means “to seize by the heel” and to sup plant as well. In other words, Satan will attempt to “overwhelm and sup plant God’s people by tripping them up by their heels”.
Satan the Heel Catcher Hid behind Saint James: Given that Satan will bruise the heel of mankind, we can begin to understand that it was Satan hiding behind the principality Saint James when the Spaniards sup planted the French Huguenots.
Why does Satan hide? When the Spaniards attacked
See for yourself:
The following has already been
referenced in this section as to what Menendez and his men shouted when
attacking
Now, substitute Satan for
Satan! Cried Menendez. At them! God is with us! … Through the breaches and over the ramparts the Spaniards came pouring in, with shouts of Satan! Satan! Satan was able to work through the mind set of the Spaniards whose opinions and ideas were those of man and according to the Catholic Church and not those of Yahweh!
Jesus Found Himself in the same Type of Situation:
Jesus said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: Matthew 16:21 is a clear Biblical example of the Biblical Principal that a passage of Scripture can be referring to the Natural while at the same time dealing with the Spiritual. In Mathew 16:21 Jesus addressed Peter, [the natural realm], while simultaneously addressing Satan, [the spiritual realm].
Matthew 16 [21] From that time
forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto
In an attempt to get Jesus to sin, Satan used Peter as a vehicle. Satan knew that Jesus would not be tempted by him, because he had already tempted Jesus without success. So, he made an effort to tempt Jesus through a disciple that was close to Jesus.
Satan hid behind Peter, and using Peter as the vehicle, attempted to “seize Jesus by the heel” in order to keep Jesus from fulfilling His work to be done at the cross. In response, Jesus addressed Peter and Satan at the same time concerning the same situation. “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan”
We need to keep in mind that Satan “hides” behind others when trying to “seize the heel” of someone. Satan knows that the remnant will not willingly disobey the LORD. However, we need to be aware that his plan is that we may be influenced by those that we love and trust, not realizing that we are taking the bait of the enemy. Like Peter, Satan will try and use our friends and loved ones as a “stumbling block” in our lives.
1 Peter 5 [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 2 Corinthians 2 [11] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
In order to keep Satan from outwitting us, we need to be aware of his wiles and schemes and it is important to understand how Satan is able to use people as a vehicle to operate through, as was the case when the Spaniards seized the heel of the French Huguenots.
The answer can be found in Matthew 16 verse 23. Jesus rebuked Peter for becoming a stumbling block and hindrance to Him. Peter was a hindrance to Jesus because he did not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. And, it was because Peter had the things of men in mind that Satan was able to work through him.
Matthew 16 [23] But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me] for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men. Amplified Bible
Jesus stated to both Peter and Satan that “thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”. In other words Jesus was binding Satan from setting a trap or snare through Peter not having his mind set on the things of God but on men. Satan was seeking to work through “the things of men” which was Peter’s opinion or earthly point of view concerning Jesus’ destiny. Peter’s point of view or opinion was not based upon Yahweh’s will or point of view, which was that Jesus would be crucified on the cross.
Satan still attempts to create stumbling blocks in the Body of Christ by working through the brethren’s opinion or point of view that is often based on a lack of understanding to come against the anointing or call on the lives of others. As long as it is Biblical, it is not necessary for me to understand someone else’s calling. And, I am not to jostle their place on the wall. What I believe is necessary is that we understand what Yahweh has called us to as individuals and to be faithful to that calling.
But Jesus turned away from Peter
and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan!
That Jesus “turned away from Peter” indicates that Jesus literally had his back to Peter, meaning that Peter was behind Jesus at the same time that Jesus commanded Satan to get behind him as well. Jesus dealt with both the natural and the spiritual simultaneously.
To Sup plant: To understand the strategy that Satan has and
is continuing to use to “Sup plant” true Christianity in
“Supplant” (Webster’s New International Dictionary – 1932): To trip up one’s heels, to throw down; 1) To trip up, 2) To overthrow, destroy, undermine, or force away, esp. in order to put a substitute in place of, 3) To remove or displace, as by stratagem; esp., to displace and take the place of; to supersede; as one who supplants another in royal favor.
Synonym: Remove, Displace, Undermine, Overthrow, Supersede
The goal of the spirit over America is to “Supplant” and “Overthrow” through deception, undermining, use of force or whatever means it takes to “Displace” the “True Christianity” that the French Huguenots laid down as the foundation of America!
The goal of this spirit is to overthrow “Uncompromising Christianity” such as was practiced by the French Huguenots, and in its place, substitute a Christianity that is in compromise, such as Catholicism.
The Sons of Thunder also meant “Sons of Commotion”. One only has to read the news or even attend the public schools to understand how much commotion is being created over what is acceptable and what is not acceptable concerning Christianity. The laws are such that no one really knows what they mean or how to apply them and that’s why so many people are ending up in the courts for the courts to rule on issues concerning what is legal and what is illegal concerning Christianity. And the list goes on.
Satan doesn’t want to sup plant “religion” or “spirituality” – however, he will undermine, or do whatever it takes to supplant True Christianity. Religion and spirituality are the substitutes for true Christianity. For example, Harry Potter serves as one of the many substitutes that Satan has made available for Christianity in schools whether they realize it or not.
The spirit behind Knighthood
operates alongside the Sup planter:
The Spanish invoked the name of James, their patron saint when they
attacked here in
The “Escalloped Shell” as a symbol of St. James was originally worn only by the Knights and pilgrims devoted to St. James. [30]
The importance attached to the
escalloped shell as a symbol pertaining to the Crusades became such that the
Pope decreed that only the Crusaders of nobility could wear the symbol of the
escalloped shell. These Crusaders now
included other orders of Knights or Crusaders as well as the Knights of the
Order of
“The following illustrations of the dress and emblems of the Knights Templars, will be read with interest in this connection: … On his head a broad-brimmed hat, with a shell in front; … An Escallop Shell was the Pilgrim’s ensign in their pilgrimages to holy places. They were worn on their hoods and hats, and were of such a distinguishing character that Pope Alexander IV., by a bull, forbade the use of them but to pilgrims who were truly noble. … So highly were these escallop shells prized by the Christians that Pope Alexander IV., by a bull, prohibited the assumption of escallop shells as armorial devices by all but ‘pilgrims who were truly noble.’” [31]
George Washington, the Escalloped
shell and a Knight’s Helmet
George Washington personally chose
both the Escalloped Shell and the helmet of a Knight to be emblazoned on his
Coat of Arms that he had designed for his carriage. [32]
The Escalloped Shell identifies
As a Freemason,
There is much to say about this
topic and how it relates to
And, there is much to say about another matter.
George Washington was of
Huguenot Ancestry
That George Washington was of Huguenot Ancestry brings to the table yet another dimension of the multifaceted life of our first President. And, likewise, this topic will be discussed in another section. However, I want to briefly touch upon this subject matter.
Much has been written about
The LORD used the French Huguenots to plant the
spiritual seeds of
Retribution in Kind – Satan’s
Personal Revenge
Keeping in mind that Satan wants to
be like Yahweh will help us to understand that Satan will pervert the
Scriptures and apply them as he sees fit.
For example, Satan applied the Biblical principal of retribution in
kind, however, in a perverted sense when he worked through George Washington to
plant the secular seeds of religion in
There are those who speak of
It is of the utmost importance to understand that “Huguenot Ancestry” does not make someone a Huguenot. For example, at birth, someone’s offspring is not automatically born a Christian just because the parents are Christians. Likewise, someone is not born a Huguenot – they are Huguenots because they choose to walk in righteousness.
It is a fact that George Washington was of Huguenot Ancestry.
It is also a fact that
Again,
Conclusion:
In addition to what history taught
us about the Conquistadors, history has failed to teach us all the facts as to
why the Conquistadors came to
There can be no doubt that a
“Crusade” led by a “Knight” took place on
1. Regarding
their mission to thrust the Huguenots from
“It was a holy war, a crusade, and as such was
preached by priest and monk along the western coasts of
2. Crusades
were led by Knights and Menendez was a Knight in the Order of
When Menendez was commissioned, King Phillip II addressed a letter to Menendez regarding his duties and
responsibilities as Adelantado, in sailing to Florida to oust the French
Huguenots in the following manner: “To
Gen. Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Knight of the Order of Santiago and our
Governor of the Province of Florida.” [35]
3. Menendez
and the Spaniards invoked
“ ‘Santiago!’ cried
Menendez. ‘At them! God is with us! Victory!’
And, shouting their hoarse war-cries, the Spaniards rushed down
the slope like starved wolves. … Through the breaches and over the ramparts
the Spaniards came pouring in, with shouts of ‘
4.
“Preparation for his enterprise was pushed with furious energy. His whole force, when the several squadrons
were united, amounted to two thousand six hundred and forty-six persons, in
thirty-four vessels, one of which, the San Pelayo, bearing Menendez himself,
was of nine hundred and ninety-six tons burden, and is described as one of the
finest ships afloat. [FN#21] There were twelve Franciscans and eight
Jesuits, besides other ecclesiastics; and many knights of
5. The
Menendez died in 1574,
approximately two years after he left
“His body was carried to the
Even in death, the inscription on
Menendez’s tombstone will forever proclaim and state publicly to the world that
Menendez was Governor of Florida and a Knight in the Order of
6. Other Knights of
Hernando
Menendez led his Crusade in
As with other Crusades, in
addition to his soldiers,
“
“This was the beginning of three
years of restless wandering, in the course of which
7. Knights of
It was not unusual for the Native
America Indians to carve historical events into the rock. This type of “rock art” is known as
“petroglyphs” and one such petroglyph carved into Canyon de Chelly, located in
Interestingly, in this particular
petroglyph at Canyon de Chelly, the Indians portrayed the Conquistadors wearing
the “wide brimmed hat, a long staff, and a short cape with a cross (the “cross
of
8. The Solder-Knight - A mixture of Catholicism & Paganism:
The soldier-knight was known
for his zeal for the Catholic Church and he was equally known for his beliefs
in paganism. It was this mixture of
Christianity and paganism that was established in
The following is an excerpt from The Spanish Borderlands. “Adventure, conquest, piety, wealth, were the
ideals of those Spanish explorers, who, pushing northward from the West Indies
and from the City of Mexico, first planted the Cross and the banner of
Characteristics of a Crusade: The Huguenots and the Native Americans were considered enemies of the Roman Catholic Church; therefore, to justify his claim to the land in America, the Pope declared that because the Huguenots rejected the teachings of the Catholic Church, they were heretics and therefore had no claim to exist let alone to establish a colony in the New World. Furthermore, because the Native Americans worshipped pagan deities the Pope declared they had no right to the land that they and their forefathers had lived on for centuries.
Menendez was not only a
conquistador, he was also a Knight in the Order of
The Conquistadores considered themselves the Auxiliaries of the Crusade:
The following quote is from the Catholic Encyclopedia online under “Crusades”: “The Conquistadores, who ever since the fifteenth century had been going forth to discover new lands, considered themselves the auxiliaries of the crusade.” [44]
Again, long
after the Crusades in the Holy Land were abandoned, other
Crusades were being fought by Knights in different countries by Orders of
Knights who were not Knights Templar, but were founded on the same principles
and these particular Crusades did not come to an end until the seventeenth
century. And once again, it will
probably surprise many living in
Anyone outside of Catholicism was considered an enemy of the Church of Rome. Those who left the Catholic Faith to join in the Protestant movement became branded as heretics, and as such, were now considered the enemy of the Roman Catholic Church. However, as we Protestants know better, that while we were considered enemies of the Catholic Church, we were not enemies of Yahweh or His son Jesus Christ. The Protestants desired to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth – Roman Catholics did not – the relationship was more with the Church itself as opposed to Yahweh. Therein lies the real issue as to why we were and still are considered enemies of Catholicism.
When the French Huguenots,
who were already considered enemies of the Church of Rome, came over and
settled a colony on land that the Pope had granted to the countries of
What was a Crusade?
According to the Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) “Crusade” includes the following: “A Crusade signified to take the cross, mark one’s self with a cross and any one of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers, in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Mohammedans. It was any enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm; as, a crusade against intemperance. To engage in a crusade; to attack in a zealous or hot-headed manner.”
According to the
Online Catholic Encyclopedia “The origin of the word [Crusades] may be traced
to the cross made of cloth and worn as a badge on the
outer garment of those who took part in these enterprises. Medieval
writers use the terms crux (pro cruce transmarina, Charter of 1284,
cited by Du Cange s.v.
crux), croisement (Joinville), croiserie (Monstrelet),
etc. Since the Middle Ages the meaning of the word crusade
has been extended to include all wars
undertaken in pursuance of a vow,
and directed against infidels, i.e. against Mohammedans,
pagans,
heretics,
or those under the ban of excommunication. The wars
waged by the Spaniards against the Moors
constituted
a continual crusade from the eleventh to the sixteenth century; in the
north of Europe crusades were organized against the Prussians
and Lithuanians; the extermination of the Albigensian
heresy was due to a crusade, and, in the thirteenth century the popes
preached crusades against John Lackland and Frederick
II. …..” [45] (emphasis
added)
© Gwen R. Thomas – August, 2006
Bibliography
Addison, C. G. The
Knights Templars. NY: Masonic
Publishing Company, 1873
Bennett, Charles. Laudonniere &
Bennett, Charles. Three Voyages Rene Laudonniere.
Bolton, Herbert E. The Spanish Borderlands: A Chronicle
of Old
The Catholic
Encyclopedia Classic 1914 Edition
Doster III, Alexis, Goodwin, Joe, and Post, Robert, ed. The
Encyclopaedia Britannica Deluxe Edition 2003 CD-ROM/DVD. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1994-2002
Lossing, Benson.
Parkman Jr., Francis. Pioneers of
Ridpath, John Clark. The
New Complete History of the
Wilcox, R. Turner. The Mode in Hats and Headdress.
Endnotes