Warnings & Exhortations
I wrote this post after taking quite a break from writing blog entries. I had reached a point in all my ongoing research into the deception in the Church, where I had began to doubt some of the resources I had shared on my website. As such, I removed all of the links and videos and I chose to simply share things as I addressed specific issues, rather than to promote an entire website or resource in general.
There are still a few resources that I do trust overall, and I will likely share from them regularly. I simply want to be careful that I am not trading one kind of deception for another, or leading anyone astray by what I share. Sometimes I wonder if I should just stop addressing the concerns I have altogether, but I have been convicted that it is very important to keep warning my brothers and sisters in Christ about deception in the Church, because the Bible is clear that such deception will be a very real issue that will only increase in the “last days”, and that such deception could even lead the very “elect” astray. (Matthew 24)
Many of you know (especially my family and close friends) that for over a year I have been carefully researching much of what is going on in modern day Christianity, and though most of what I’ve discovered isn’t new, it is increasing. (I hope all Christians take the time to carefully research this growing deception in the Church for themselves). What is happening within Christianity has greatly concerned me and I have been trying to share some of what I have come across. I am doing this, not because I think I am perfect or that I have all the answers, but because I do sincerely believe that there are lies and deception invading the Church more and more extensively today, and that we should be warning our brothers and sisters in Christ regarding all these things.
As Christians, this increasing deception should not surprise us. We know that the Bible warns of increasing difficulty and tribulation as we get closer to Christ’s return, including false messiahs and false prophets that would possibly deceive even the “elect.” (Matthew 24) (2 Thessalonians 2) (2 Timothy 3) The Bible warns us of a “Great Apostasy” or “Falling Away” that will occur in the time leading up to Jesus’ return. We are told, by Jesus, that the world will be like it was in “the days of Noah” and in “the days of Lot.”
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.’ And he said unto the disciples, ‘The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.’ And they answered and said unto him, ‘Where, Lord?’ And he said unto them, ‘Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.’” (Luke 17:20–37)
Sadly, despite the various “end times” warnings in Scripture, many Christians today believe that the world will get “better and better” before Jesus returns, and that it will eventually be “Christianized” as the result of Christians being “Kingdom Minded” and taking the world back from Satan. The growing belief in the Church today is that Christians are building an earthly kingdom that will make it possible to preach the Gospel to all nations, complete the “Great Commission” and usher in Jesus’ victorious return. (Some even go so far as to say that we are conquering Jesus’ enemies for Him, putting them under His feet, and even that He cannot return until we do so.) Christians who claim these things believe that when Jesus returns, it will be to a world of believers who love Him and are ready to serve Him, but is this really what the Bible teaches? Do we, as Christians, truly have the job of conquering Christ’s enemies for Him? One only has to read some of the verses above, the various warnings in the New Testament Epistles and prophecies in Daniel and Revelation to see that this is not so. Jesus will return to a world that is like it was in the days of Noah and Lot, not a perfect world taken over for Him. Many of today’s leading teachers and preachers (especially those who claim to be modern day “prophets” and “apostles”) are not warning about these things, however, instead, they cry “peace! peace!” when there is no peace. (Which is nothing new as far as prophets are concerned. Israel dealt with this also in Old Testament times in regard to their prophets and priests. (Jeremiah 6:13-19)
Also was this warning given to Israel by Jeremiah:
“Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:20–31)
We would do well to remember, that though these words written in the book of Jeremiah were warnings given at a specific time and place to Old Testament Israel and Judah, Jesus warned that false prophets would also arise in the last days, even showing “great signs and wonders” that could possibly deceive the very “elect”. (Matthew 24) We also have many warnings in the New Testament regarding “last days” deception, including this warning (the Apostle Paul speaking):
“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:26–31)
The Bible is clear that even in New Testament times, in the early Church, deception and false teaching was already a very real problem. Notice also how Paul warns that not only will “grievous wolves enter in among” the believers, but that “of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” Deception does not always come in from outside the Church, it can also arise within the Church. Paul took this seriously enough that he warned, for three years, “night and day with tears.” Why are so many of us today so very complacent and unconcerned about deception?
Also, consider these words:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3 -4)
Despite the fact that the Bible warns us repeatedly about deception and false teaching in the Church and clearly tells us that the faith has been “once delivered to the saints” and is something we should “earnestly contend for”, many Christians today have dismissed these warnings and exhortations, preferring instead to listen to the modern day “prophets” and “apostles” who boldly proclaim “thus saith the Lord” and tell the Church that they have received a “word” from God about the “new” things He is doing. (For some examples of this, visit The Elijah List.)
The idea that we conquer the world for Christ is actually a very dangerous belief that shifts the focus (often very subtly) away from the true Gospel and the Biblical “Great Commission”, to a focus on earthly influence and “kingdom building” here on this earth. In contrast to the belief that we are building an earthly kingdom for Christ to return to, here is what Jesus told His disciples:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1–3)
Jesus also said, (to Pilate) during His trial, that His kingdom is not of this world.
“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, ‘Art thou the King of the Jews? ‘Jesus answered him, ‘Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?’ “Jesus answered,’ My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’” (John 18:33–36)
Conquering the world for Christ (as noble as that may sound) and “pushing back” Satan from the “7 Mountains” or “Spheres” of this world is nowhere taught in Scripture as part of the “Great Commission”, nor as a strategy for its fulfillment. Scripture never once tells us that conquering earthly “mountains” or “spheres” or building an earthly kingdom is a necessary strategy for sharing the Gospel, so why have so many Christians been increasingly accepting these ideas and teachings as though they are Biblical truth? If Jesus wanted us to conquer this world for Him, wouldn’t He have told us? Would it not be clearly revealed to us in His word? The Bible actually tells us the exact opposite. This world is not our home (Hebrews 13:14), this world is temporary and will pass away (Matthew 24:35, 1 John 2:17 & Revelation 21), and Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, but He has gone to prepare a place for us. (John 14:1–3 & John 18:36)
Here are just some topics every Christian should research in order to learn more about this growing idea of conquering the world for Christ and where this idea actually came from: Dominionism, Kingdom Now, The Third Wave, The Manifest Sons of God, The Latter Rain, the 7 Mountains/Spheres Mandate and Postmillennialism. (Postmillennialism holds that prior to Christ’s return the world will become largely Christian, that entire nations will be discipled, and that peace, righteousness and prosperity will therefore exist on earth leading up to the return of Christ, who will come to a world made ready for Him)
The above is just a brief summary of some of what concerns me regarding various past, present and ongoing teachings in Christianity. This is why we must get back to a careful and thorough study of the Bible, in context, and without always chasing after new experiences and “words” from God. (As I wrote about in a previous post).
As a result of my ongoing research, I have come to the unfortunate, and often humbling conclusion that I cannot just automatically trust books, shows, music, or movies that claim to be “Christian.” Gone are the days where I will walk into a Christian bookstore and simply assume that most of what is on the shelves contains solid, biblical teaching. The truth is that much of what is masquerading as “Christian” today, is not truly Christian, and this deception is only getting more and more prevalent. (It is often the biggest names within Christianity that are the least trustworthy. Just because someone is popular or their ministry is well known, does not mean they are teaching sound, Biblical doctrine). We need the Bible and its truths now more than ever, because within the Church itself, as the Scriptures warn repeatedly will happen, there is much confusion and deception. We must indeed “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.”
In future posts I will be sharing names, ministries, organizations, gatherings terminology and phrases that all Christians should be aware of. Please do careful research into all of these topics. Do not just take my word for it, or anyone else’s. Read and study Scripture, and test all things.
God bless!
