DPBirmingham smDissident Prophet

Dissident Prophet is a first-rate Christian indie rock band from Birmingham, England. They have released five albums so far: We're Not Grasshoppers (1996), 21st Century Spin (2002), Modern Man (2005), Weapons of Mass Deception (2012), and their latest album Red Moon Rising released on 29 June 2015.

Influences: "Lou Reed, Larry Norman, David Bowie, Ramones, 70's Messianic band LAMB, Velvet Underground, The Motels, Television, Blondie, Gang of Four, Talking Heads, The Stooges, and Vince the Milkman."

 

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Track-by-track commentary on Red Moon Rising by Andy Jennings

"Human 2.0" - This song is about the repetition of the lie in the Garden of Eden by the Nachash (shining one) also known as the serpent, which we see unfurling today with the transhuman movement. Folks like Ray Kurzweil, Hogo Degaris and Nick Bostrum foresee a future where man will become upgraded and become "as a god" knowing all things and even achieving immortality. Films like Lucy and Transcendence are preparing us for such a future with no checks and balances. Lucifer the shining fiery serpent fooled mankind into grasping for a higher state equal with God the creator thus encouraging us to make the same error as himself. Man's position with God was one of immortality before we stepped over that line and rebelled against him who is the source of our life. We were cheated out of a position we already enjoyed in union with him. We know that our enemy was a liar because we know that we now die. Transhumanism offers a second chance at godhood for man but with a sinful nature. Jesus by dying and rising on the third day offers us immortality "without" sin by taking it for us and causing us to be born again. The upgrade that transhumanism offers is with a sinful nature which is hellish - the Nazi dream of the Uberman. Jesus gives you a new glorified body, an upgrade without sin forevermore by just simply believing in his work on the cross. Awesome, got to love him.

 

"Comfortable In Babylon" - As secret esoteric societies illegally usurp power (CFR, Trilateral Commission, New World Order, Illuminati, etc.) and manipulate the people of the world like sheep, it's easy to throw the towel in and say if you can't beat them join them. It's easy to be worn down and compromise your worldview. As believers in Yeshua/Jesus we have a sure hope of getting out of here because our Bridegroom has promised to come and get us at any time now. There is a crown waiting for those who love his appearing. We are exhorted by Scripture to have our minds on Heaven. Our job now is not to build but to tell folks the Gospel and encourage fellow believers. We won't be liked for it but we share in the suffering of Jesus when we do. This place is not our home. We're in this world but we're not of it. So whatever we wind up doing during the day our hearts should be on Heaven. We're not to build for this current kingdom of man. Jesus said "my kingdom in not of this world" so let's not make the mistake of thinking it is. We're out of here soon whether we're raptured or just die. He will come back with us and then put this crazy world right. Let's not get comfortable in Babylon.

 

"Writing On The Wall" - This song speaks from an imaginary future position looking back at the time of the sudden disappearance of many believers from planet earth (also called the Rapture/Harpazo). It's a song for those people left behind who remember hearing about Jesus but did not respond to his offer of redemption. Events mentioned in the book of Revelation are now occurring as warned and the "writing is on the wall" so to speak. It turned out those looney Christians were right after all. There will still be a chance to be saved but not in the way that it is possible to be today and becoming Jesus' bride. During the terrible days on earth following the rapture the Evil One will have a short time on earth to deceive the people of the world (including Israel). Great signs and wonders will thrill the world and fool them into rejecting the Lord and his Messiah. This is why now is the day to repent (rethink) and be saved.

 

"Jerusalem Descending" - The '70s Messianic Jesus music band Lamb first recorded this song. We've been playing it at gigs for a while and have always wanted to record a version. It's all about the Heavenly Jerusalem which will come to earth with the rule of Messiah Jesus. All those who accept his rule in their hearts now will enjoy hanging out with him when his kingdom finally comes to earth. He is not reigning on earth now - only in the hearts of people who have bowed to him. This world is not as it should be and must be judged and put right. The nations are in the power of the Evil One and they rage as in Psalm 2. The world is opposed to God and his Messiah but those of us who have been saved out of this perishing system have a great future to look forward to even if our present circumstances are difficult.

 

"Fly Away" - Jesus said in John 14, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." We also use some of the words from Psalm 55 in "Fly Away": "Listen to my prayer, O God, fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, 'Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.'"

 

"Dig" - Jesus' last instructions to his disciples were to beware that nobody deceives them. His warning was that false Messiahs and false teachers would increase in the last days. The New Testament epistles were written in the context of error and deception permeating the early church. Paul the apostle warned that wolves would come in amongst the sheep after he had left them. Today falsehood as well as truth can be transmitted with the click of a computer mouse which is all the more reason to dig deep for the truth. What is truth? The Jesus of the Bible is the Truth. The Bible is the truth since it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is the handbook to the supernatural that equips anyone to know God. It is sharper than a two-edged sword and it divides between that which is spirit and soul. Left to our own wisdom we will be easily duped, but since God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path it makes sense that we dig for the truth in the right place. Jesus said that if we seek him with all of our heart and mind we will find him. Keep digging.

 

"All Coming Down" - The books of Daniel and Revelation talk of evil powers ruling over the people of the earth. In Daniel Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a statue made of different metals each representing a different kingdom. These are very powerful man-made kingdoms. However the feet of the statue are hit hard by a "rock made without hands"' and the whole statue smashes into dust and is blown away by the wind. This rock represents Jesus and his Kingdom which will fill the whole earth when he returns in vengeance. The woman riding the beast in Revelation 18 is an evil religious system, unlike the true born-again bride of Christ. She has persecuted Jesus's people throughout time but she comes to an unpleasant end. In Psalm 2 it says "Why do the nations plot in vain against the Lord and his anointed King?" The Bible predicts that the false messiah will bring all the nations against God and Israel in the final battle of the ages - the world against God. However, it's good to know that evil will not triumph and that Jesus will judge things appropriately. In light of the evil world we encounter it is good to know as a believer that evil powers and authorities are cruising for a bruising. It's all coming down.

 

"The Word" - The words of this song are straight from the Bible. This is where we learn that Jesus IS God. The Word was God and was with God. All cults and religions differ but they all agree on one thing. Jesus is not God. Only biblical Christianity stands upon the truth that Jesus is God. Jesus taught this about himself and it fits in with the Old Testament understanding of two powers in Heaven that are equally God. When Jesus confronted the leaders of his time they knew what he meant when he said, "Before Abraham IAM (YHVH)" and "'unless you believe that IAM (YHVH) you will die in your sins." When he said to a man "your sins are forgiven" they knew only God had authority to forgive sins. In Matthew 26 the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." "You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.

Jesus quoted from Daniel 7:13 and they knew what he was saying of himself. He was the one like a son of man coming on the clouds. In the Old Testament only YHVH rides the clouds. Therefore Jesus is YHVH. "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

 

"Broken" - This is about how, when we get born again, we realise the damage sin has done to us in the past and just how great it is to be made new. When Jesus confronts us we get broken and remade. It is in our weakness that we're made strong. "Broken" urges the believer to take everything to God and enter into an honest, naked relationship with him because he loves us and we are now friends.

 

"How Long?" - There was a film called Behind Enemy Lines starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman about a fighter pilot who had to eject his plane and then survive in enemy territory. He had to avoid being hunted down in a land that was totally hostile and in a state of chaos. Gene Hackman breaks protocol to save Owen Wilson who trusts that his superiors have his best interests at heart. This is the spiritual state of many Christians today. We long to be delivered from this present darkness. While wanting more opportunities to share the Gospel with folks we also long to be helicoptered out ASAP. Jesus longs for us and we long for Him.

 

"He Sat Down" - "So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place." (John 13) This song is about the whole of the Gospel summed up in the simple act of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. It represents him leaving Heaven, paying for sin and then returning back to Heaven afterwards.

 

Acknowledgements

  • All the songs in this programme, associated images and commentary by Andy Jennings are Copyright © Dissident Prophet, all rights reserved, and used here with kind permission.
  • Special thanks to Adrian Checkley, manager of the band, for the excellent slide show image (below).

RedMoonRising

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