there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas
Matthew 12:39

As the beat of war drums echo across the face of the earth the gospel remains the same.  What is your sign or what sign are you looking to?  The only one I am going to share with you has got nothing whatsoever to do with banners, flags, symbols, emblems, ceremony and fanfare.  Nor pinpointing something geographically.

I don't care if the US led coalition forces go to war in the middle east under the banner of "the cross", or picks a fight somewhere else without waving a religious flag.  This cross bears no resemblance to the cross Paul knew in scripture anyway.

Furthermore, I don't care if they ban crosses on easter buns because of PC implications or subtle pressure.  This cross was always a pagan symbol for a pagan festival, and means nothing to Jesus' little flock.  The good news is the remnant do not have to go along with war no matter how "justified" it appears. Nor do we have to side with the peaceniks and take to the streets with "dove" and "olive branch" banners.  The Devil has learnt well in the art of divide and conquer over the millenniums.  Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, even if it may take a few hundred years to dissipate.  Just as the poor will always be with us, along with the deceived and deceivers,  there be wars and rumours of wars to the end.  In the mean time, our eyes are to be fixed on the crucified one, the author and finisher of our faith, from the beginning to the end.

Moderate Jews cannot follow the Old Testament to the end as it points to the suffering Messiah (Is. 52:10-53:12).  Moderate "Christians" cannot follow the Bible to the end (the Old and New Testaments) as the cross shows no compromise between the world and the gospel.  Likewise, moderate Moslems cannot follow the Koran to the end as it justifies fighting against other religions (infidels), and this would put them in bad light before the West.  Or, at worse, it proves nothing anyway, apart from killing, maiming and destroying peoples lives, contradicting the kingdom's gospel to love, pray and forgive your enemies, in order to reconcile them back to their Maker.

From the Koran (my emphasis): "Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" ...  Surah At-Taubah 9:29.

Both Jews and Christians are "the people of the scripture" when referring to the books of the Bible.  However, only true Christians are people of the cross.  In addition, both testaments of the Book point to the cross unequivocally and without it, there is no reconciliation with God as any revelation outside this is the spirit of error.

To reiterate from holy scripture, the cross mentioned in the Holy Bible is referring to the substitutionary work the Lord Jesus Christ carried out by being obedient to His Father in heaven, by taking the place of sinful man and dying a criminals death on a stake.  Nothing more and nothing less!

Not that He was a criminal by the way, but because a criminal officially received pardon from the stake on the day, who Jesus happened to take the place of. This was due to a choice being given to and made by the Jewish public, from and to the Roman governors.

Furthermore, because Jesus was the only perfect man who walked the face of the earth, He was the only one seen fit by God to become the sacrificial lamb, shedding His blood to wash away our sins.  Therefore, please view the cross as an act in scripture and not a symbol.  Also, please see it as a once only historical act, and not an ongoing ritual to be performed for weekly penance.

Rome in the third century welcomed Constantine as their new ruler (the first pope).  The superstitious pagan Constantine had just defeated his enemy in battle by using this newly adopted symbol "the sign of the cross".  As a consequence,  this sign became Rome's new national symbol, as well as forcing "Christianity" on the empire as the new national religion.  This was when old diminishing "Imperial Rome", through calculation and a "spiritual" cosmetic facelift, became the new "Holy Roman Empire".  By calling itself God's representative and Church on earth, it commenced its papal mission of forced conversion, both brutally and unabated, until the Protestant Reformation many centuries later.

The cross as a symbol goes way back in history and has manifested itself in many shapes and forms symbolic to a cultural or nationalistic cause.  During the Middle Ages, when the Crusaders campaigned beyond Southern Europe, they were doing this with political reasons only, with the Pope of Rome in mind, in order to take "the Holy Land" for his cause and not the true cause of the Christ of the scriptures.  Jesus' intentions were never political.  He never came to overthrow an earthy regime or religion, or use force (read "the Gatecrashers").  He came as God's sacrificial lamb.  This is why the Jews gave up on Him  and handed Him to the Romans for execution.  They were looking for a political messiah they could crown themselves, who would deliver them from the yoke of Rome.

In order to keep political stability in Judea, the Romans were obliging in fulfilling the Jewish hierarchy's wishes, who were jealous of the man from Galilee, whose popularity had outshone theirs.  Hence, the execution of the Son of God outside of Jerusalem, on one of many prepared, erected dead trees.

Therefore, the cross as a "sign" is indeed an offence to Islam because of the ruthless manner in which it was used as a symbol against it's foes and has no bearing on Christ's cause at all, in the biblical true sense.  Furthermore, the true meaning of Jesus' death at the cross of Calvary is an offence to the whole world in general (not just Islam), as it exposes our rebellious condition against our Maker, and the wicked intents of our heart, when faced with the reality of our eternal dilemma outside of God.  This is why scripture says (please read the first four books of the New Testament) ...  "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

A Byzantine, a Catholic,  a Protestant, a Westerner, or a cultist, is only a Christian (Christ follower) in name only, if he has not been spiritually reborn and forsaken all for the cross.  Jesus said not all those who call Him Lord, or use His Name, will necessarily enter into the kingdom of heaven (Paradise), but only those who do the will of His Father (Matt. 7: 19-23).  Killing, maiming, raping, exploiting, living by the sword, or imposing a religion on anyone (even if it's in God's name), is not the will of the Father and is not the gospel the New Testament portrays.

Therefore, understand this, and do not be fooled by Christendom just because it hides behind Jesus name ...  the Crusaders did not make the grade, and neither will anyone else outside of the LORD.  All religions are manmade faiths anyway, based on a prophet or teacher in addition to Christ.  The Lord Jesus stands on Himself claiming to be the only way to God.  Meaning, every belief system outside of His revelation is both a scam and a diversion from the truth.  Moreover, every other belief system outside of Him comes with outward visible observation, whereas the kingdom of God is only spiritually discerned.  The cross to a true Bible believing, Spirit discerning Christian, is seen just how it was originally intended ... as an instrument of torture and execution.

When viewing the cross this non religious and non traditional way, the meaning in remembering His death and drinking from His cup (as He commanded us to do), remain significant (identifying with His suffering) and keep everything within sound doctrinal perspective.  The condition in following this gospel as a disciple of Jesus, was when a follower would be prepared to take up his own cross on a daily basis.  In Jesus' day, taking up your own cross meant only one thing for the bearer ...  death!  Therefore, Jesus was telling His would-be followers they had no option but to follow their new prophet/teacher all the way, to the end.  Whether the way was easy or whether the way was mined with hardship, trials, and tribulations, there was to be no beating around the bush.  Even if it meant denying your own personal comforts and desires, and those things (even close friends) one counted dear.  Or even if it meant martyrdom ...  the highest honour in dying for Christ.

In Jesus day many had to take up their cross because they were found guilty by the system and were condemned to die using this very cruel method.  When Jesus was found guilty through religious leaders manipulating the facts or manufacturing lies against Him, His cross was only one of countless others that had been crudely slapped together from sacrificed trees, and lined the hills with decaying corpses outside the city, as a severe warning to others.  The day Jesus was condemned He was just one of two others this particular day.  The other two being thieves.  Jesus was placed and displayed in the centre as the bigger spectacle (and example) of all three.  Bearing in mind He was displayed there replacing a pardoned political dissenter (as already mentioned), who had murdered for his cause.

His name was Barabbas.  The Jews chose him to live instead of Jesus. Meaning, they chose a murderer above an innocent man.  This was because Barabbas was the Jewish hero, who had gone down fighting with the sword. Nothing has changed by the way!

In contrast, Jesus had gone down as a lamb to the slaughter.  The whole point of Him being hailed as the King of the Jews was turned around for scorn, as the fickle crowds now considered Him a failure and the laughing stock of the city.  After all ... "Who was this clown from Galilee?  Who called himself a king , whose crown was a pathetic indented ring of thorns and who pitifully could not save himself?  And where were His followers?  Whatta joke His crude looking cross was only borrowed!  Like the smelly stable He was born in, the manger he was nurtured in, the places he had slept in, the little donkey He had rode into town on, the servant who had to carry his cross for Him, as well as the tomb He was about to be placed in!  Certainly the opposite to an all spick and span conquering General, who came riding gallantly into town on a white stallion, in full military display and honour!  Who came to claim a throne not a tomb!  Therefore, give us our hero and get rid of this intrusive fool!"

Yes, the good news is foolishness to the world as the scriptures declare!  But unto us which are saved, it is the power of God!  Who wants to be a fool for Jesus and receive God's wisdom after all?  Or, who would prefer to receive the world's wisdom and end up being an eternal fool, at the end of the day?  Only a fool really!

Back to the cross, which was known as a tau in those days:  The tau (the Greek letter shaped as cross) by the way, was only an instrument.  One of thousands.  As well as being a symbol in the world.  However, the act, the demonstration, the experience, was everything to a true Christian.  From the great anguish and sweating drops of blood in the garden, to being betrayed or forsaken by His friends.  To the trial, being stripped naked, to the beatings and mockings from the authorities.  To the public humiliation in the streets of crowd 'verbal abuse', ranting, and spittle. Then the nailing to the splintery timber, the abrupt jolting of the tree into the hole, to the elevated spectacle for all the city's passing traffic to view.  Until He gave up His spirit.

This was Jesus' cross.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  And He said,  "Are you prepared to take up your own cross?"  This was nothing to do with an icon, or a decorative sign, or a displayed banner, as already pointed out and made clear. Nor was it sacrificing Jesus ever week, over and over again, by ritualistic observance, and priestly magic.  Yes, Jesus' cross!  Later to be embraced by those who received and believed on Him ...  the true Christians!  Not to be confused with the nominal Christians ...  those who pretend or are hoodwinked into following an (apostate) system in order to be saved, which comes by the name of Christendom.  Who cannot see or perceive the kingdom in any way.

The only sign given for this evil generation was the sign of Jonas the prophet (Luke 11: 29-30).  This has been rejected by Christendom in large, or viewed in token only, as it has been replaced with outward observance, outward sacraments and outward emblems.  In contrast, to God's way for the hungry and discerning:

Matthew 12:40.  "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

The good news ...  just as Jonas was delivered out of his ordeal for the salvation of Nineveh, so was the Son of man for the salvation of the whole world.  Jesus had just paid the penalty for the sting of death ...  our sins.  He had just conquered death and the devil so we could live forever.  His resurrection power meant we could be raised overcomers, triumphant in Him!

You still want to take up the sword or look for visible signs?  The sword that Jesus brought with Him was the word of God, which was sharper and more powerful than any other weapon. Cutting cleaner than any dagger and more powerful than any nuclear or biological device.  That's why the scriptures are accurate, clear, and precise when it comes to the believers rightful position before God.  As John 20:31:

 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

Jesus never took up the sword (the physical one), and said to the Roman solders, "Do violence to no man".  As foretold by Isaiah 53:9:

"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

Jesus never committed suicide.  He simply laid down His life willingly for mankind, and not for Himself.  When he said His followers were to deny themselves, and take up their cross, He did not mean they were to sacrifice their lives by taking out their enemies.  He loved and died for His enemies, and expected His true disciples to follow this example too.

Therefore, a Christian martyr is not someone who has deliberately taken his life, to gain attention for his cause; but someone who has been killed by his enemies for the sake of following Christ.  This is the cost mentioned by Peter when he said, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."  This is also why, as Bible believers, we can rejoice in the Lord in such a great salvation, and again I say, Rejoice!

Psalms 135:5. " For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods."

As the prophet said to the false prophets of his day ...  "if the LORD be God, follow him"!

We have no other choice.  The LORD is great!!