Mystery - Part 4 Corrected

The apostle Paul said those who have spiritual eyes do not go through life looking at the things which are seen, but at things which are unseen. For the things which are seen are temporary, they are destined to pass away. But the things which are unseen are eternal. God dwells in that unseen realm. He lives in the realm of eternal things. Everything He does or allows to be done is based on eternal purposes and is viewed from an eternal perspective.

Part of that eternal perspective is the understanding that His focus in this age centers on that which is invisible—He is primarily concerned about what goes on inside of people. Paul said the Lord desires to dwell in us and walk in us, that we might be His "temple" (II. Cor. 6:16). Our God is doing an internal work. He is establishing an inner kingdom. The crux of this work is the formation of "Christ" in us. That is, the formation of the nature and character of God in our personalities. This is why Paul said he was in spiritual travail for the Galatian believers until Christ was "formed" in them (Gal. 4:19). As Christ is formed in us, we begin to bear His image. Transformation from our own image to Christ’s image requires a deep work of crucifixion in the life of a believer. It never has and it never will happen automatically. It is a process that entails change, suffering, persecution, loneliness, discipline and judgment—and every person must willingly embrace it.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:18-19

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God...Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Ephesians 3:10,20

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

II. Thessalonians 1:10

When that inner kingdom has been completed, when Christ has been fully formed in a people, Jesus will personally return to this planet and use them to establish His visible Millennial kingdom. It is the Father’s good pleasure that the Son not only be glorified individually, but "in his saints" as well. This is why Paul said the wisdom of God will be made known to principalities and powers in heavenly places, not by Jesus alone, but "by the church." This is why he said the creation is waiting for the "manifestation of the sons" [plural] of God. At the sound of the last trump God's Messiah (Head and body) will begin the liberation of creation from the bondage of Satan.

It is very important that we understand God is primarily doing an inner work in this hour. This will keep us from being affected by the misguided efforts of so many well-meaning Christians who can only see what is happening in the visible realm. Since God’s work is primarily an internal work, there is no way Satan can thwart it by external means, like persecution. The only way he can fight an internal work is through internal opposition. Thus, he attempts to destroy that work in two principle ways. One is by inducing us to follow the desires of our old nature or the spirits that are entwined in that nature. The other is by imitating the work God is doing in us.

Even though the latter tactic is not new—Satan has always tried to imitate the voice, presence and works of God—until recently his ability to imitate that work has been greatly hindered by God. This is what Paul was talking about when he said: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed." (II. Thess 2:7-8). When the restrainer is "taken out of the way" the power to deceive us through imitation greatly increases. Thus, the "mystery of iniquity" has not so much to do with a revelation of Satan's darkness in the world, but with the revelation of his counterfeit light in the Church.

Unfortunately, because our heads are filled with the traditions of men, we can't grasp the simple meaning of Paul. The sobering ramifications of what he said never really penetrates our understanding. He is telling us that in the last days, which is our day, God is going to remove the restraint that’s been on Satan. He is going to let Satan do things he has never been allowed to do before. We have entered a period of time in man’s history that is like no other, and most Christians are totally unprepared to face it! They have no idea how much spiritual danger they are in.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is...If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I. Corinthians 3:10-17

Paul told the Corinthian believers that they were the temple of God. He never refers to the unsaved as the temple of God, only the believer. To genuine believers in the city of Corinth, he said, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." Was Paul really saying that God will destroy Christians who defile themselves? You bet! We are God’s temple. Nobody can defile us without our co-operation. If we become defiled it is because we have chosen to let ourselves become defiled. It doesn’t take a college degree to understand Paul’s words because they are self-explanatory. However, it does take a serpent’s tongue to obscure his meaning—and a large number of our religious leaders have a serpent's tongue.

At first glance Paul seems to be double-talking in this passage. In one breath he says that what we build on the foundation of Christ will be tried by fire. Those who’s works are burned will "suffer loss," but they themselves shall be saved, yet as by fire. Then he turns around and says that those who defile themselves (the temple of God) will be destroyed. Notice that when he talks about receiving a reward or suffering loss he is referring to what has been built on the foundation of Christ: "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest..." As long as the Christian’s foundation remains intact he will be saved in the end, even if he has to be saved by fire.

When he refers to a Christian being destroyed he is obviously talking about something else, and that something else has to do with our foundation. It has to do with being moved off the foundation laid by Paul, or in some way allowing that foundation to be destroyed. Any Christian who moves off the foundation of Christ or allows that foundation to be destroyed will himself be destroyed. In other words, there is a certain kind of defilement that gets down to the foundation of the believer and begins to destroy it. That kind of defilement brings eternal destruction with it. Maybe the apostle John had this kind of defilement in mind when he said, "There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it" (I. John 5:16).

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

II. Corinthians 11:3-4

Today we have a multitude of ministers teaching that a Christian cannot have a demon. Yet Paul stated just the opposite. He said he was afraid that the Corinthian believers would be beguiled by the Serpent and "receive another spirit" which they had not previously received. He explicitly says that it is possible for a genuine Christian, one born of the Spirit of God, to receive another Jesus, another gospel, and another spirit after he has become a believer. That’s God’s Word. If it’s possible to receive "another spirit" after we are born-again, it’s certainly possible that some of the spirits that were already in us when we came to God could still be there.

What do you suppose happens to a real Christian who accepts another gospel or another Jesus after they have been saved? They destroy their foundation. What about those who accept another spirit? That depends on what kind of spirit it is. Not every spirit has the power to destroy our foundation. If it did, nobody would ever be saved; for when we come to Christ, we come to Him filled with demon spirits and they are not all driven out of our lives instantly. Many of them have to be worked out of our personalities as we are changed from the image of Adam to the image of Christ. However, there is one type of demon spirit that does have the power to destroy Christians because it goes after our foundation. It goes straight for our spiritual jugular vein.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

I. John 4:3

John called this extremely dangerous spirit the "spirit of Antichrist." During his life-time, one of the things this spirit did was deny the Incarnation. Denying that the "Word was made flesh" is a direct attack on the foundation of the Christian. Anyone who is overcome by that idea or doctrine is allowing their foundation to be ruined. They are allowing a SPIRIT to make them desolate and they will be destroyed eternally.

In our day this spirit still manifests itself by denying the Incarnation, as well as the virgin birth, the sinless life of Christ, and His bodily resurrection. Many pastors in the Religious System have already succumbed to one or more of these lies. They have already been overcome by the spirit of Antichrist. Moreover, the people in those congregations will also be destroyed if they do not reject these errors and separate from the men who preach them.

As was stated in another part of this study, the Greek participle "anti" carries two different connotations. It can mean one who fights against something openly, or it can mean one who fights against something covertly, by standing in the place of it or posing as it. Denying fundamental truths about the Person or atoning work of Jesus is an open, frontal attack by the spirit of Antichrist on our foundation. Many Christians will never be deceived or overcome by this tactic because it is too obvious. But the Antichrist spirit can also attack our foundation covertly, by posing as the Spirit of God in our lives. This is a totally different dimension of spiritual attack, and it’s in this area that we face the most danger.

In the last part of this study we looked at Daniel’s prophesied abomination of desolation—an event that we believe has already begun to take place in the spirit realm. Unfortunately, most contemporary believers have no idea what’s happening. All they can see is that a one-world government is looming on the horizon, or that this nation is headed for martial law, or that tribulation and persecution are coming. Friends, you don’t need a lot of spiritual discernment to see what’s happening in the external realm. But you do need discernment to understand that an invisible spirit that has been held in check by God since the beginning of the Church age, which has the power to kill us eternally, has been unleashed in this hour.

You need discernment to see that this spirit can perfectly imitate the voice, presence and gifts of God. You need discernment to perceive that right now it is convincing multitudes that it is God. You need discernment to realize that once Christians begin to follow it, it starts destroying all the spiritual fruit they have borne and eventually slays their spiritual life. That’s why Daniel called it the "abomination of desolation." It makes our lives desolate spiritually. You need discernment to understand that by the time Antichrist’s one-world government is in full control, many Christians will already be dead spiritually—so it won’t matter if they take the mark of the beast or not!

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 7:20-22

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Revelation 13:5-7

Looking forward to our day, both Daniel and John saw that Antichrist would be defeating the saints. Yet few Christians take these warnings seriously because they assume (for a variety of doctrinal reasons) that Daniel and John are not talking about us. They assume they are talking about the unsaved, or "professing" (fake) Christians, or a group of believers called "the tribulation saints." Because they have been taught bad doctrine, most Christians today presume they can’t possibly be overcome by Antichrist. Naturally they refuse to apply these warnings to themselves.

Probably the biggest reason Christians can not take these warnings seriously is because they have been taught a false doctrine called Eternal Security. How can Antichrist pose a threat to us if we are eternally secure? Another reason is because they have been taught a false doctrine called the pre-tribulation rapture, which says believers will be translated to heaven 3½ years before Antichrist comes to power. How can he pose a threat to us if we are already in heaven by the time he is revealed? They are also taught that "the saints" in these two passages are a reference to those living after the rapture, and that they are overcome physically by Antichrist, not spiritually. Any reference to believers being overcome by Antichrist is not only applied to someone else, it is viewed as pertaining to physical martyrdom only.

Satan has laid an extensive doctrinal foundation for the rise of Antichrist. Theologically he has covered all the bases. If you think holding fast to sound doctrine is not really that big a deal, think again! The rejection of sound doctrine and the tolerance of bad doctrine has put us in the condition we are in. It is responsible for putting out our spiritual eyes, just as Delilah was responsible for putting out Samson’s eyes. This blindness is manifested clearly whenever you talk to them about Antichrist, for the only thing they can think about is the New World Order. When you talk about Antichrist coming to God’s "temple," the only thing they can think about is a literal building in Jerusalem. They can't (and won’t) even consider the possibility that they are the temple Antichrist wants to sit in. Talk to them about the saints being overcome by the SPIRIT of Antichrist and they will say the whole idea is ridiculous.

Besides all the false doctrine that blinds people, there is something else that makes it hard to perceive what is happening. The great falling away isn’t a falling away from religion, or spirituality, or the things of God. It’s a departing from true spirituality and religion to false spirituality and religion, from the true God to another god who is posing as the true God, from the Holy Spirit to another spirit that is posing as the Holy Spirit. Those caught up in the apostasy are not leaving their churches and returning to the sins of the world. They are not renouncing Christianity. They are falling from the true gospel to another gospel, from Jesus Christ to Antichrist.

Yet, because the counterfeit is so perfect, they do not even realize what’s happening! They continue to be religious. They keep reading their Bibles and attending their churches. They continue to evangelize and talk about God. They keep going to religious conventions to hear the hottest Christian ministers—particularly prophesy speakers. They continue to follow the latest Christian fads, read the latest Christian books and listen to their favorite Christian music. They stay involved in various Christian activities and keep operating in the spiritual gifts they may have received from the Lord...but they are no longer following the Lord. They are following another spirit who has taken his "seat" in their lives. Perilous times indeed!

Brother Daniel

Understanding The Times

These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul's kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said: men of Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle...men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.

NIV. I. Chronicles 12:23-24 & 32

At a crucial point in the history of the Church in the Old Testament, certain men joined the soon-to-be King David in order to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him. Some of them were from the tribe of Issachar. The Scripture says they were men who "understood the times and knew what Israel should do."

We too are at a crucial point in the history of the New Testament Church. The final, climactic battle between light and darkness is drawing very close. At this critical juncture in history, many of God's people are being picked off like flies by the enemy. The Church is filled with the doctrines of devils and the traditions of men. It has compromised with the world in almost every possible area. It is prosperous and increased with material goods and in search of the good life. In short, it is in the same condition as the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter three.

But whether then or now, regardless of how much of the Church goes astray, God always has people who remain faithful to Him. There are always those who remain close enough to the Lord to "have an understanding of the times" in which they live. There are always those who "know what Israel should do" because they know their God.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come...For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved...But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24: 4-14 & 21-25

Jesus not only had an understanding of His time, He had an understanding of the end times. He gave us one of the most detailed descriptions of the events that will lead up to His return in Matthew 24. If we want to understand the time in which we live we will consider carefully the general outline He presents in this passage. He said in the last days great spiritual darkness will engulf the whole world. Religious deception in both the world and the Church will be the hallmark of this period for they will both be filled with false prophets and false Christs.

The darkness will continue to intensify and deception among God’s people will become wide-spread. As believers go into deception, iniquity will greatly increase and as a result, the love of many shall wax cold. We shall be hated by all nations. Some of us will be betrayed by fellow believers and be put to death. Some of us will be the ones who do the betraying to save our skin. Yet in the middle of all this chaos and delusion a remnant of believers called the "elect" will remain faithful to the Lord. In addition, they will have a testimony to bear before the nations, then the end shall come.

Even though some will remain faithful, Jesus said the days would get so evil that God will have to shorten them, for if He doesn’t, even the very elect would be deceived and all flesh would be destroyed! It will get so bad it will look as if Antichrist has won. Then, at the darkest point in the history of the world, when all seems lost, Jesus will return in blazing glory. This general outline is confirmed again and again by the Lord, and also by the apostles throughout the rest of the New Testament.

The Lord made another revealing statement concerning the days just before His return. He said, "as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt. 24:37-41). Stop and think carefully about what happened in the days of Noah. The apostle Peter said Noah was a preacher of righteousness (II. Pet. 2:5). He was a "witness" both to and against his generation. He had a testimony to bear before them but none listened. None repented. Life continued on for them as normal until the flood came.

The Lord compares that generation to this generation because there will be one last witness to this generation—but it won’t be today’s perverted "grace" doctrine, or the "health, wealth and fulfillment of self" delusion, or the "great escape" error. Neither will it be given by those who are caught up in these, or any of the many other delusions that are overcoming God’s people at this moment. It will be a testimony and a demonstration of the judgments that are about to be poured out on stubborn, unrepentant people—including Christians.

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Revelation 11:3-10

The last witness of this age is a witness of the coming wrath of God. It is not a world-wide revival. It will be given by a holy remnant that has been purged and purified in the fires of God’s disciplining judgment, a remnant that has been made spiritually fit to give that witness. Even so, the nations of the world will reject this witness just as Noah’s generation rejected his. Not only do the nations reject it, the people in those nations celebrate their deaths when the beast government kills the witnesses.

In Luke 18:8 Jesus asked His disciples a sobering question: "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" This is mind-boggling when you stop and think about it, for it implies that true faith will be rare in our days—so rare in fact, Jesus was asking the disciples if there will be any left by the time He returns!

It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host [of the saints] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

NIV. Daniel 8:11-12

Referring to what Antichrist would do in the last days, Daniel said it would set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host and take away the daily sacrifice. The "prince of the host" is the Lord Jesus and the "place of His sanctuary" are believers. Daniel is telling us that Antichrist will become so brazen in the last days, he will try to usurp the very place God holds in the lives of believers. Taking away the "daily sacrifice" is a reference to making the New Testament gospel void by perverting it to such an extent that it becomes another gospel.

One of the things that should have given us a clue that the little horn has entered the sanctuary is the fact that truth is being "cast down to the ground" in our churches. If you are one who still believes a Christian should learn, teach, hold fast to, reprove with, defend, and if need be, separate over sound doctrine, you are totally out of step with what’s going on. Christians today no longer consider doctrine important. Sound Scriptural teaching is as worthless to them as an empty candy wrapper—both are tossed into the street.

Perhaps one of the most important statements regarding Antichrist in the entire Bible is found in this particular passage. Daniel saw that the little horn "prospered in everything it did." The implications of this unpleasant reality are sobering, but we don’t get it. Daniel is saying that in our day Antichrist will succeed in what he is trying to do. He will succeed in his attempt to set himself up as prince over God’s people. He will succeed in his attempt to remove the daily sacrifice and cast down the place of the Prince’s sanctuary. He will succeed in his attempt to overcome the host of the saints. He will succeed in his attempt to cast truth to the ground.

Why does God allow the little horn to prosper? Why does He let him wreck such havoc among His own people? There are several reasons, but the biggest one is "because of rebellion." Because of the rebellion of who? Because of the rebellion of the sanctuary (Christians) and the priests who minister in it. Daniel said the host of the saints are "given over" to the little horn because they are in rebellion against God.

Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God. Her officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.

NIV. Zephaniah 3:1-4

The condition of God’s people at the end of the last age is a picture of their condition at the end of this age. This is what God saw when He looked down at His people then and it’s what He sees when He looks down on them now. The "city" is still rebellious and defiled. Christians are arrogant, unteachable, and in rebellion against God’s commandments. They are in rebellion against His command to stay separate from the world. They are in rebellion against His command to separate from doctrinal heresies and those who spread them. They are in rebellion against His command to reject unscriptural religious practices and experiences. They are in rebellion against the need to be disciplined and the need to take up their cross daily and deny themselves.

If Zephaniah’s words are not a perfect description of what today’s perverted doctrine of "grace" has produced, nothing is. Just like Old Testament Israel, Christians "obey no one" and "accept no correction" because they are taught to despise the very idea of required obedience or the necessity of suffering. They are told that we are not supposed to suffer, that Jesus is our own personal "genie" who wants to give us everything we desire. They are taught these lies by ministers who "profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law." Simply put, rebellious ministers are helping the little horn overcome the saints because they are teaching the people to walk in lawlessness.

Living in a time when God will allow the little horn to prosper in everything he does means that many rules and precedents of the past will not apply. For instance, brother Gene Edwards stuck his reputation on the line last year by predicting a world-wide economic collapse by April of this year. Though he said Y2K would probably have something to do with it, his basic premise was that it would happen at this time regardless of any Y2K complications, for every time in history that nations have done what we have done to our currency, economic collapse followed.

Unlike most Y2K writers, Gene was not basing his conclusions on mere Y2K hype. Being a student of history, and of Church history in particular, he saw an economic principle that has never failed. He naturally assumed that we in the Twentieth Century are no different and felt compelled to try and warn God’s people. He gave some general advise as to how to prepare for the coming collapse. But for the first time in history the principle failed!

Brother Gene demonstrated a great deal of humility and integrity by sending out a letter of apology. Perplexed and humiliated, he publicly admitted that he was wrong. He also said he doesn’t understand why he was wrong. He doesn’t understand how our economy is still standing. Its continued resilience defies every economic principle known to man. If Gene had an understanding of the times he would know that nothing is going to stand in the way of that which has been granted to the powers of evil in this hour. If Satan sees that our economy has to remain intact in order to establish his goals, he has the authority to defy every economic law in existence to keep it afloat.

We are not saying the American economy will continue on indefinitely like it is. Eventually it will collapse. What we are saying is that God has granted Satan the ability to prosper in this hour. This is why Comrade Clinton has survived all efforts by decent people to impeach him or stop his criminal activities. It's why the world cannot rid itself of Saddam Hussain. It’s why the State of Israel is being carved up into little pieces and given to the Arabs. It’s why the one-world government is coming together regardless of the fact that Christians and Patriots are continually exposing it. It’s why Fundamental Christians cannot stop the Protestant Church from returning to the Catholic Harlot. It’s why concerned Americans can't stop the murder of unborn babies or society's slide into lawless anarchy. It’s why a thousand other things that make your blood boil are progressing unhindered. By God’s permission, the little horn of Daniel 8:9 is prospering!

In his November 1999 newsletter, brother David Wilkerson predicted that within 3 months the stock market would crash. His prediction failed. In a recent newsletter he answered some questions that are being asked about his ministry these days. One person asked him if he plans to admit publicly that he was wrong if the market doesn’t collapse within a reasonable amount of time. The only answer David could give is that it will collapse. He hinted that the next President will have to deal with the crash.

For years, not only brother Wilkerson but many prophets (real and imagined) have been predicting devastating judgment on this nation, including economic collapse. Every once in a while they will admit that they don’t understand why that judgment has not already begun. How long will it be before it comes? What is God waiting for? How much innocent blood has to be shed in our nation before God moves? Some of these ministers say that because believers are praying for the nation, God keeps extending grace. That sounds spiritual but it's not true. We are only feeding our religious egos. The fact is, God’s judgment has already begun to fall—but it’s not the kind of judgment we are expecting. Because we are so focused on external things, we only look for visible judgment; like war, natural calamities, or economic collapse. We don’t take into account that one of the ways God judges rebellious people and nations is to turn them over to their own devises. He lets them fulfil the desires that will eventually destroy them—and this is exactly what is happening to America.

God has turned the people of this nation over to their own desires, which are the desires of Satan. He has turned us over to Antichrist because of our rebellion and we are now a tool that he is using to bring together his one-world government. Visible judgment will certainly come as well, but the timing of this type of judgment is dependent on many prophetic factors.

Because they do not understand the times, quite a few well-meaning brethren have wrongly predicted the year in which visible judgment will fall. For some of them our date with destiny has come and gone. Date-setting, even by the most godly and sincere men, is dangerous because it desensitizes the people. It’s like "crying wolf" every week, but the wolf never comes. Pretty soon nobody is paying attention.

God wants us to see things from His perspective. He wants us to understand that He has given Antichrist the power to prosper in this hour—and what He allows you will never stop! Once we understand what’s happening we need to know "what Israel should do." Knowing the danger we face does not equal being delivered from that danger. Since God is still ultimately in control of this whole show, He can protect anyone He chooses. What we have to do is get into the place designated by Him for protection so when all the visible things we are expecting to see do begin to come to pass, we will be one of those who are protected. That place is a spiritual place.

Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 14:13-14

The only thing that is going to deliver us from what’s coming is the same thing that delivered Noah, Daniel and Job—walking in righteousness. This is precisely why the focus of Satan the last few centuries has been to destroy righteousness in the Church through the perversion of Paul's teaching on salvation by grace. Walking in righteousness is our only protection.

There are a number of ministers out there who are exposing the plans of the globalists. Some of them are reaching hundreds of thousands of people. They tell us that God wants us to know the plans of the conspirators so we will prepare ourselves both naturally and spiritually. There is certainly nothing wrong with making prudent natural preparations—we have. The problem is that because the majority of American Christians have never embraced a crucified life, their focus always ends up on natural preparations. Instead of driving them deeper into Christ, the continual barrage of information about the New World Order drives them deeper into self—they become consumed with self-preservation and lose sight of the fact that walking in righteousness is their only protection against what’s coming.

A faithful minister of Christ would continually remind them that knowing what’s coming won’t protect them...stored food and water won’t protect them...guns won’t protect them...alternative energy won’t protect them...bomb shelters won’t protect them. The only protection that will be effective in the days to come will be supernatural protection—and the only ones who will be supernaturally protected are those walking in righteousness.

If we are not learning how to walk in righteousness today we are casualties waiting to happen. It won’t matter what we know or who we know. It won’t matter what we believe, what we do, where we go, or how much we prepare in the natural for what’s coming. If we are not walking in righteousness they will come and take our stored food...they will come and take our guns...they will come and take our home and the rest of our natural preparations...then they will shoot us!

We need more "prophets" and "watchmen" who can see past the realm of externals, into the unseen realm. We need more "ministers" who understand the times and know what Israel should do, who will warn the saints that if they do not pursue righteousness they will be destroyed. Such ministers would not only save the brethren from being killed physically by the Antichrist government that is coming, they would save them from being killed eternally by the Antichrist spirit that is already here!

Overcoming Antichrist

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 2:26-29

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:21-22

In the book of Revelation the primary issue is overcoming. Jesus is shown as the Lion of the tribe of Judah who "has triumphed" and is therefore "able to open the scroll and its seven seals" (NIV. Rev. 5:5). One of the first things Jesus did after appearing to John was give him messages to send to the local churches in which He challenged them to overcome. If they would overcome they were promised wonderful rewards. The undeniable implication is that if they didn't overcome they would not receive those rewards.

What was the Lord challenging these New Testament believers who were "saved by grace" to overcome? He was challenging them to overcome the issues they were facing at the time. Each church was facing a particular test or temptation. Some of them were facing persecution and death. Others were being seduced by false teachers or material wealth. If they would overcome these challenges and temptations they would be rewarded accordingly.

For instance, the believers in the Church at Philadelphia with their "little strength" will be made pillars in the Temple of God if they overcome. The believers in the Church at Pergamos are promised hidden manna if they overcome the temptation to "eat things sacrificed unto idols." The believers in the Church at Smyrna, who are suffering and being persecuted and will be "put to death," are promised a crown of life if they overcome (remain faithful till death). None of these rewards are promised to those who merely "accept" Christ or "believe" the gospel. They are not promised to those who are baptized in the Spirit. They are promised to those who overcome the issues that face them. They are not rewards for conversion, but for faithfulness to Jesus after we have become a Christian. We do not get them "by grace"—we get them by overcoming. They have to be earned.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:4

Jesus told the believers in the church of Sardis that walking with Him "in white" would be one of the rewards for those who overcome. He also told them they would have to keep their garments white until He returned if they wanted to walk with Him in white after He returned—and the same applies to us. In order to qualify as an "overcomer" we must keep our garments clean. We must overcome everything that can defile them.

Obviously these garments are not a reference to the "imputed righteousness" that covers us—which ministers refer to as a "robe of righteousness"—for no one can defile the righteousness of Jesus Christ. These garments have to do with what we are, not with what Jesus is. They concern how we presently live, not how Jesus lived 1900 years ago. Those who defile their garments are defiling themselves. They are defiling the purity of their Christian life. They will not be an overcomer and they will not walk with Jesus in white when He returns—it matters not what they assume or believe or confess or hope. In order to be an overcomer we have to be an overcomer. We can't just talk about being an overcomer or hope we will be an overcomer. We have to recognize the things that are defiling us and overcome them. After becoming clean we must remain clean.

If Jesus sent these same messages to modern-day churches by the hand of a modern-day John, the first thing pastors would do is quote First John 5:4-5—"...whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God"—to prove that we are already overcomers by virtue of our being Christians.

Next, they would quote Romans 11:6—"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work"—to prove that if they try to do anything to earn these rewards they are getting caught up in "works" and are "falling from grace." They would tell the people that all they have to do in order to be overcomers is "believe" they are overcomers. Finally, they would denounce the messenger and warn their congregations to ignore his words. Such is the condition of religious leaders in this hour.

Unfortunately the "sheep" are no better than the "shepherds." Few of them would have enough sense to recognize the absurdity of such thinking. If merely being a Christian equals overcoming, why did the Lord challenge Christians in these local churches to overcome? Was He saying none of the people in those churches were believers? Was He saying they had to get saved by overcoming? If so, He was preaching "works." Was Jesus preaching salvation by works? No! He was telling genuine believers they must overcome everything that defiles them if they expect to receive those rewards. It is a sad fact that today's Christians are too busy playing follow the leader to think for themselves. If a minister says it, that's final.

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God...And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 15:2; 20:4-6

Just as the Early Church had specific issues and temptations to overcome, so the Last Day Church has specific issues and temptations to overcome. Just as they had to overcome in order to partake of those rewards, so we must overcome in order to partake of them. The rewards are the same for all of us but the things we must overcome are different. As you read through the book of Revelation you will notice that THE issue facing the Church of the last days is whether or not we will overcome "the beast" (Antichrist). If we expect to have a part in the "first" resurrection and reign with Christ as priests and kings, we must overcome Antichrist, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. This is our test. No other generation of believers has ever had to face what we face.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Matthew 24:15-16

Today the entire Church is being defiled by Antichrist in one form or another and to one degree or another—but the Holy Place Realm is being defiled the most. Jesus said when we "see" the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place we should "flee" to the mountains. He didn't say we should get in there and try to remove the abomination from the Holy Place. He didn't say we should try to convince those who have been overcome by the little horn that they are being defiled. He told us to flee when we see the Holy Place being defiled. He said get out!

There are two reasons for this. One is because you will never be able to convince those who have been seduced that they are being defiled—God is the one who has turned them over to the delusion to begin with. The other reason is because this desolation will eventually bring on the Great Tribulation.

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Matthew 24:17-22

Jesus said when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place, when God reveals to you that His "temple" is being defiled, flee to the high places in the Spirit. Don't come back down into the carnal realm where most Christians live. Don't have your mind occupied with your job, your house, your land and your natural relationships. Also, pray that you're not trying to flee to the high places in a time of spiritual "winter" in your life, having lost your first love for Jesus. Pray too that Christ has been formed in you, that you're not still a spiritual babe or one who is in the valley of decision regarding salvation when it comes time to flee. Pray that you have learned how to enter the rest (sabbath) of God, that you are not running around doing your own religious thing when it comes time to flee.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Revelation 18:4

In Revelation the Lord calls His people out of Babylon. This one statement reveals two basic truths. First, it reveals that at least some of the people in Babylon are genuine believers, for the Lord calls them "my people." Second, it reveals that God is on the outside. Even though His Spirit dwells in those who are still living in Babylon, He Himself is not in the System or part of it. The System is man's System; the programs are man's programs; the teaching and doctrine is man's teaching and doctrine; the rituals and structures are man's rituals and structures. God is not the author of them. He stands outside of them and calls His people to come out of them.

The Lord calls us out so we will not "be partakers of her sins" and "receive of her plagues." We need to believe what God has said. We need to live in the reality that if we remain in Babylon we will partake of both her sins and her plagues (judgements). There is no way we can stay in Babylon and not have our garments defiled. Thus, there is no way we can stay in Babylon and be an overcomer. It is that simple.

Not only must we get out of Babylon, we have to get Babylon out of us. We have to leave behind the spiritual confusion that produces Babylon wherever people go. Concerning the visible expression of religious Babylon, the great majority of Protestant preachers and scholars have identified it with Roman Catholicism for centuries. But those who have any kind of discernment know that Protestantism is just as much a part of Religious Babylon as is Roman Catholicism, and it is under the same curse.

Indeed, Protestant leaders have recently proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are really the children of Rome. It's interesting to hear these men, who's forefathers were burned at the stake by godless priests and popes, say the whole Reformation was simply a misunderstanding, that Catholics and Protestants were really in agreement concerning the doctrine of "justification by faith" all along, and that the problem has now been corrected—so we can embrace Catholics as "brothers and sisters in Christ." Does it not seem a little strange that what was labeled Roman heresy just 40 years ago is suddenly called Christianity?

God has been calling His people out of both these systems, and all religious systems, for many years now because He knows they will all merge into one giant cesspool of idolatry and demon worship in the last days. In fact, the Pentecostal/Charismatic branch of Protestantism has already been submerged in demon worship. The Vineyard Movement is just one example. Not only does this movement continue to grow, many churches who have not officially taken the Vineyard "label" have fully embraced the Vineyard "spirit."

The Vineyard spirit is another spirit. It is not a "revival" at all, but a giant seduction of gullible, self-centered believers. Thus, you have a situation where genuine Christians are willingly (and eagerly!) submitting themselves to the most bizarre manifestations of demon spirits you could think of. Those who have been seduced by this spirit love it and will dogmatically defend it. They love to have an unseen entity enter their bodies and give them a whole range of intense emotional and physical sensations. They love being thrown against walls or around the room. They love being glued to the floor for hours at a time. They love to laugh so long and hard they pass out. They love the emotional highs. It's like getting "stoned" without drugs.

They quickly become addicted to the sensual pleasures the demons produce and they come back week after week to get another "fix." Because they have refused to embrace a crucified life they have literally fallen in love with demon spirits whom they assume to be the Holy Spirit. What will their end be? Will they be lost eternally? Only God knows. He is the Judge and His justice is perfect. However, one thing is for certain: every person who gives themselves to that spirit—without exception—is defiling their garments. None of them will be overcomers.

Another example of Christians worshiping demons can be seen in the heavy emphasis on "visualization" that is sweeping through our fellowships. This abomination is not limited to the Pentecostal/Charismatic branch of the Protestant Church. Such Fundamental groups as Anglicans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and so forth, are embracing humanistic psychology dressed in a clerical robe. You will be hard-pressed these days to find a church that does not have an official "counselor" on it's payroll; and you will be hard-pressed to find a counselor who is not counseling people with a Bible in one hand and a book on "Christian psychology" in the other. In fact, it's getting to the point where you no longer even see the Bible during these counseling sessions. All that is done is in the realm of psychology.

The cold-blooded truth is, you can no more be a "Christian psychologist" than you can a "Christian bartender." The very term is an oxymoron, for the entire field of modern psychology was invented and put together by godless, humanistic men who were demon possessed. One of the father's of modern psychology, Carl Jung, got most of his ideas and information from a demon spirit-guide named Philemon.

Christian Psychologists are heretics. First they mix Freud and Jung with Christ, they mix the wisdom of demons with the Word of God. Then they drop Christ and the Scripture altogether. One of the basic techniques of secular psychology is visualization. This technique has been integrated into the Church by Christian Psychologists and is used in a variety of ways to lead gullible Christians into demon worship. The most blatant of these forms is visualizing Jesus when we pray. This practice has been endorsed by many Christian leaders and authors who are considered above reproach.

More and more people are finding that when you create a "mental image" of Jesus and pray to it often enough, it soon comes to life and begins to lead and guide you. As Rick Foster, author of the best-selling book, "The Celebration Of Discipline," puts it: "you can actually encounter the living Christ in the event. It can be more than an exercise of the imagination, it can be a genuine confrontation. Jesus Christ will actually come to you" (pg. 26). He then encourages the reader to listen quietly to "any instruction given" by this living Christ (pg. 27).

Those who create an image of Jesus with their imagination and start praying to it are no different than the Roman Catholic who prays to a statue or the Greek Orthodox who prays to an icon. When that image starts speaking, you have just established a direct line with a demon spirit. From then on you are serving and praying to another Jesus. All who practice any form of Christian Visualization in order to contact God more effectively, or in order to change reality (i.e., affect physical or emotional healing, get material wealth, etc.) are operating in the occult. This has been an occult technique, practiced by God's enemies for thousands of years.

The call to "come out" from among those who are polluting themselves is not a new one. It rings throughout the history of God's people. The Lord always calls us to separate from idolatry and those who choose to live in idolatry. Come out from your idolatrous family, was the call that came to Abraham (Gen.12:1). Come out from your sin-infested city, was the call that came to Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.19:12-14). Come out from among your rebellious brethren, was the call that came to those living in the days of the uprising of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Num.16:23-26).

Come out from your doomed nation, was the call that came to the Jews before Israel fell to Babylon (Isa. 48:20). Come out from among your unsaved friends, was the call that came to believers in Corinth (II. Cor. 6:17). Come out from among your apostate brethren, was the call that came to a Hebrew fellowship (Heb. 13:13). Come out from family relationships and duties that will keep you from following Me, was the call that came to some would-be disciples of Jesus (Luke 9:59-62). Come out so you can be pure! So you don't partake of the sin that is bringing the wrath of God upon Babylon.

Those who are seeking to lay hold of the prize of the High Calling should be separating themselves more and more from the pollution in them and around them—whether it be in the home, the community, or the local church. God's Word specifically says we "cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons" and still be accepted by Him (NIV. I. Cor. 10:21). Why do so many people refuse to believe what He said? Why do we instead listen to seducing spirits who tell us we can be involved with those who are partaking of the table of demons and still remain pure?

Many of us who have heard and embraced "end-time truth" have been called by God to leave our church, our friends, or our natural families because these people are not only defiling themselves, they are defiling us. God asks us to leave them so He can bring us into the reality of what He has called us to. But we are not willing to pay that price. Instead of being honest with God and admitting we aren't willing to pay that kind of a price, and then calling on Him to strengthen us so we can, we begin to look for excuses to disobey Him. This immediately opens the door for seducing spirits to come in and tell us in His name the things we want to hear.

They tell us He isn't asking us to obey Him right away, but that we only have to be prepared to obey Him when the time comes. They tell us we don't have to sever our ties completely with those who are defiling themselves, but that we only have to not participate in the things they are doing that we know are wrong. Finally, they suggest that we may even be able to help them down the road. Friends, it is religious delusion to think God will bless disobedience and rebellion. When He says, "Come out," He means it! If we try to play games with Him we're going to get burnt.

Many are called but few are chosen. Every person who has truly received the Spirit of God can be an overcomer, but most of us won't be an overcomer because we love self first, other people second and God last. Behind all our religious head knowledge and end-time lingo is a heart that is not willing to pay the price it costs to actually be an overcomer.

Those who ignore Jesus' warning to flee from the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place, and who disobey His call to come out of Babylon, will face judgment and punishment when He returns. Part of that punishment will be to see what we have turned down. The veil of unreality and self-delusion will be ripped away from our minds and we will be forced to stand before God, naked and ashamed, watching what we could have been if only we would have been willing to take up our cross and follow the Master. No wonder Jesus said there will weeping and gnashing of teeth on that day!

The Spirit Of Antichrist

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

I. John 4:3

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time...Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

I. John 2:18 & 22

When trying to understand who Antichrist is and what he will do in the last days, it is important that we correctly interpret the various details laid out in the Scripture about him. As we have stated throughout this series, Antichrist is a spirit—that’s who and what he is. He’s not a government or a religious system or a man. He is a spirit and he has been around for a long time. He has also been active in the Church since its very beginnings.

It is true that in the last days this spirit will be given the authority and power to manifest himself in various visible forms—such as a political government (the "beast" in Revelation 13), or a political ruler (one of the "ten horns" on that beast). Nevertheless, Antichrist is essentially a spiritual being—and whenever the spiritual dimension is involved you cannot approach the Biblical data the same way as if you were dealing with the material dimension alone. Some aspects of Antichrist and his work are literal and cannot be interpreted spiritually. Others are spiritual and cannot be interpreted literally. Still others are both literal and spiritual. We keep emphasizing this because so few of God’s people understand it, and even fewer understand the implications that are involved in such a reality.

Consider the words of the apostle John, who wrote to a fellowship about Antichrist. He said "every spirit" that will not confess Jesus has come in the flesh is the spirit of Antichrist, "whereof ye have heard that it should come." It is evident that somebody had taught these people the spirit of Antichrist was coming in the last days. Unlike us, they were not just looking for the appearance of an individual man. Earlier in his letter he had made reference to certain people through whom the spirit of Antichrist was being manifested, for he said, "as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." Then he said:

They [the many antichrists] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

I. John 2:19

In John’s day there were many antichrists. Many people had come under the dominion of the spirit of Antichrist and were manifesting his desires, attitude and theology. John was not only informing them that Antichrist was already at work in the world, he was informing them that he was already at work in the Church. He says the "many antichrists" he is referring to are none other than false brethren who had been part of the congregation.

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

II. John 1:7-8

After explaining to this congregation who and what Antichrist is, after telling them the "many antichrists" now in existence are false brethren who had been flowing with the true Church, he warns the true brethren that they must pay attention to what they are doing so they don’t "lose" the things they have gained, but "receive a full reward." Thus, the Scripture clearly teaches: (1) Antichrist’s main theater of operation is the Church of Jesus Christ, (2) false brethren within our ranks are the tools he uses to do his work of deception, (3) real brethren can be deceived by him as he works through false brethren, and (4) those who are deceived by him will lose some (and possibly all) of their heavenly reward as the result.

The greatest threat to the Church in John’s day was not the external political power of Rome. The greatest threat was from inside the Church itself. The spirit of Antichrist was working within the ranks of believers through a small but vocal group of people who were Gnostics—and their ideas and false teachings were making inroads among the churches. One of their central beliefs was that the spiritual creation is good but the material creation is evil and worthless. Since matter was evil and unsalvageable in their view, the Incarnation was an absolute impossibility. No Gnostic could ever allow that God would take upon Himself a physical body. St. Augustine would later write that in the pagan philosophers he could find parallels for everything in the New Testament except for one saying: "The Word became flesh." This is precisely why John said:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

I. John 4:1-3

John gave these believers a doctrinal test by which they could recognize the spirit of Antichrist. But he never meant it would be sufficient for every situation. When he said, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God," he wasn't saying that we could apply this test to everyone in all circumstances, forever. He was not saying that Antichrist’s arsenal of religious deception is limited to denying the Incarnation, or that the only thing a person under his control would ever do is deny the Incarnation. John’s test was not a general test. It was a specific test that was to be given to a specific group of people—the Gnostics—because under no circumstances would any kind of Gnostic be able to confess that God became flesh.

Not only was this test inappropriate for other errors and false doctrines in John’s day, it is even more so in our day. With some exceptions, nobody today has a problem confessing that God became a man, including Roman Catholics and a large portion of America’s unregenerate population. Yet some still try to use a test that was designed to ferret out Gnostics 1900 years ago to judge whether or not a spirit is from God today. Because they are totally ignorant of the power of this spirit, they still think the only thing it can do is deny that Jesus came in the flesh!

Antichrist’s main message today is not the same as it was in John’s day. He has changed his tactics and doctrine to fit the current religious environment. His message today is that Jesus does not require obedience for salvation—and this idea has done more than make inroads into the Church; it has completely deceived the Church!

The subject of Antichrist is always a hot topic. Prophesy experts go to the Bible and put together the kind of end-time scenario their theological views demand. But the fact is, only one New Testament writer mentioned Antichrist by name—only one. Even Paul’s well-known passage in Second Thessalonians doesn’t mention him by name. Of course we understand that Paul was talking about Antichrist, but his focus is on the final revelation of this spirit. The apostle John is the one who unveils in precise terms the essence of who and what Antichrist is. It's John who tells us he is primarily a spirit. It's John who tells us that people (saved or unsaved) can come under the dominion of this spirit, and that when they do they become antichrists themselves. It's John who specifically tells us this spirit is at work in the Church and that he works through deceived or false brethren.

Therefore, when we are putting together our end-time scenario we must build it on the foundation that John lays, not on any of the ones laid by our modern day Pharisees—many of whom have become little antichrists themselves. According to John, the main focus of Antichrist is not the unsaved (they are already lost), but believers. The sphere in which he moves most is not the world but the Church. It is with this understanding that we must approach Paul’s famous passage in Thessalonians.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause [because they would not receive a love of the truth] God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

II. Thessalonians 2:3-11

The common interpretation of this passage is that a man will sit in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, claim to be God, and demand worship from the entire unsaved world, particularly the Jews. This is the view of the Dispensational, pre-tribulation rapture crowd. It originated with them and they continually bombard us with it through deluded scholars and pastors, through Bible commentaries and annotated (study) Bibles, and by mass media. Even many who reject the overall pre-trib rapture error continue to believe this part of it. It is so entrenched in our minds it’s almost impossible to see anything else.

Paul said the Day of the Lord would not arrive except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. Thus, it is obvious that the man of sin cannot be revealed until there is a falling away, for the falling away reveals him. As was stated in another part of this study, the Greek term that is translated "falling away" in the KJV is "apostasia." Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines apostasia as "a defection from truth." Since all pre-trib rapture scholars believe the Eternal Security error, they automatically reject the possibility that Paul could have meant real Christians would fall away. They tell us the only two possible explanations are: (1) that the world will go into full-scale rebellion against God, or that (2) phony Christians will abandon their external alignment with Christianity.

As for the first explanation, since when has the world not been in full-scale rebellion against God? And since when has the world been walking in truth? Paul said Satan is "the god of this world" (II. Cor. 4:4) and that the various demonic powers and evil spirits under him are "the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Eph. 6:12). The apostle John said, "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (I. John 5:19).

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness he showed him "all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them" and said, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me" (Matt. 4:8-10)—clearly inferring that they were his to give. Jesus never denied Satan’s claim that all the kingdoms of this world are his. Moreover, Jesus Himself called Satan "the prince of this world" three times in John’s Gospel (12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Given the Scriptural assessment of the condition of this world (it lieth in wickedness) and the one who is ruling it (the Devil), it seems incredible to us that people would actually suggest (much less believe and teach!) that Paul was saying the world would fall away from truth.

As to the second explanation, you first have to figure out which phony believers are being referred to because some pre-trib gurus say these people fall away before the rapture and others say they fall away after the rapture. Actually it doesn’t really matter. Regardless of when they are living (or falling away), phony Christians can’t depart from the truth any more than an unsaved world can. A phony Christian is in just as much delusion as the world is (maybe more), and is in just as much rebellion against God as the world is (though in a different form), and is headed for Hell just like the world is. The only difference is that phony Christians think they are saved. No friends; when Paul said there would be a great falling away he meant of genuine believers. We are the only people on this planet who can possibly "fall away" from God or His truth.

Paul also connected the revealing of the man of sin with the mystery of iniquity. Speaking of this he said, "...ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed." The mystery has been working since Paul’s day. The only reason it has not already come to fulness and revealed the man of sin is because something has been restraining it. However, when the restrainer is taken out of the way "that Wicked [one] shall be revealed." It should be evident from these statements that both the falling away and the removal of the restrainer cause Antichrist to be revealed.

Pre-trib gurus tell us the one who has been restraining the mystery of iniquity all this time is the Church—or more specifically, the ministry of the Holy Spirit working through the Church. They say that when Paul said the restrainer will be "taken out of the way" he was referring to the rapture of the Church. But since the pre-trib rapture doctrine is a lie and the Church will be here during the tribulation, the restrainer cannot be the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Church. In fact, quite the opposite is the case. The man of sin is not only turned loose in spite of the presence of the Church on earth, he begins to seduce the Church right along with the world, which is exactly what we see happening today. The restrainer is the Sprit of Truth. When He steps out of the way "the spirit of error" is given free reign to work its will.

Referring to the man of sin, Paul said his coming would be "...after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie..." It is clear that it will be God who sends a strong delusion on those who refuse to receive a love of the truth. What is that delusion? The strong delusion is Antichrist coming with all power, signs, lying wonders and deceivableness of unrighteousness. Who is it that refuses to receive a love of the truth?

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

II. Timothy 4:3-4

It is true that the world refuses to receive a love for the truth. But Paul is not talking about the world in this passage because the world is already in spiritual delusion. He is talking about what will happen to careless, self-centered Christians who "turn their ears away from the truth." He's talking about Christians who refuse to receive "a love" for the truth because they want to serve God "according to their own desires"—and those desires conflict with the truth.

When we start trying to follow God according to our own desires, when we turn our ears away from the truth, we will "be turned aside" unto fables. We start the process by choosing to not love the truth and turning away from the truth so we can do what we want. But once we make that decision and start walking in rebellion, someone else finishes the process by turning us over to fables—and that someone else is God. After we have been given over to fables we proceed to seek out like-minded Christians and heap to ourselves teachers and ministers who believe the same fables.

Paul gives us a clear picture of what will bring the revelation of Antichrist. First the restrainer is taken out of the way. The affect of the restrainer being removed is a massive falling away of God’s people within the Church. The affect of this falling away within the Church is the revelation of the man of sin. But if Antichrist isn’t revealed until after the falling away, what causes the falling away in the first place? Antichrist! Paul didn’t say the man of sin would not exist or be operating until the falling away occurred. He said the man of sin would not be "revealed" until the falling away occurred.

Those who can only think in terms of a literal "man of sin" totally miss the fact that as a spirit he has been around since Paul’s day, working both inside and outside of the Church. When God removes the restrainer that spirit will start seducing the Church with signs, wonders and all kinds of spiritual delusions, causing many Christians to fall away. Thus, the man of sin is both the cause and the result of the great falling away.

One of the things that hinders people from seeing what Paul was saying in this passage is the fact that he called Antichrist a man. If he was talking about a spirit, why didn’t he call him a spirit? That’s hard to say. Why did he call believing Jews and Gentiles one new "man" (Eph. 2:15)? Certainly he didn’t mean the body of Christ is an individual man. Why did he call our new nature the new "man" and our old nature the old "man" (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22,24; Col. 3:9-10)? Neither of these entities are literal men, yet he called them men. Paul was a pioneer in receiving new revelations and doctrine. He coined new phrases and used unusual terms to describe what God was showing him.

People try to figure who Antichrist is and when he is coming but they don’t seem to ever ask where he's coming. That's because they assume they know where he will come. Since they only see him as a great political leader they assume he will come to the forefront of the world political scene. But listen to where Paul said he will come: "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish." He is coming with all deceivableness of unrighteousness "in" them that perish. A powerful political ruler can do many things, but one thing he will never be able to do is come "in" people. Only a spirit can do that.

Speaking of where Antichrist will come, Paul said he will exalt himself above all that is worshiped, so that he "as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." Antichrist is coming to the temple. When he arrives he won’t just say he is God, he will show himself to be God. The archaic term "shewing" is the Greek word, "apodeiknumi" (ap-od-ike'-noo-mee). It means "to show off." Figuratively it means "to demonstrate." It is used in Acts 25:7, where the Jews charged Paul with many things they could not "prove" (apodeiknumi). It's also used in Acts 2:22, where Peter tells a Jewish crowd that Jesus of Nazareth was a man "approved" (apodeiknumi) of God by miracles and wonders and signs.

Antichrist will prove to those who have turned from the truth that he is God. How will he prove it? He will prove it by imitating the voice, presence and power of God. This is what Paul is talking about when he says the man of sin will come to the temple with "power and signs and lying wonders." He's not saying a slick political leader will emerge who will impress international crowds with magic.

Pre-trib ministers say Paul was referring to a literal man entering a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, yet the New Testament—much of which was written by Paul!—defines the temple of God over and over again as believers. Not only does Paul tell us repeatedly that we are now the temple of God, the few times he mentions the then-present Temple at Jerusalem he never calls it the temple of God; only "the temple" (Acts 22:17; 24:12&18; 25:8; 26:21; I. Cor. 9:13). If Paul never called the then-current Temple at Jerusalem the temple "of God," what makes us think he would ever call a future temple at Jerusalem the temple "of God"—especially one that has been subsidized by Antichrist and made possible through a political treaty with him?

Paul had a revelation that many of us still do not have, 2000 years later! He knew that God's ultimate goal has always been to have a living, breathing temple that will manifest all the facets of His nature in the earth. He knew the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon's Temple were only temporary accommodations while the Lord brought this plan to pass. He knew that it is the presence of God—and the presence of God alone—that makes something or someone the temple of God, and that once His presence is gone it is no longer His temple. He also knew that since the way had been made for us to become God's living temple, His presence would never again settle in a stone building regardless of who built it. From Paul's viewpoint, no building could ever again be called "the temple of God." How much less would he view an edifice that was built by unbelieving Jews, in which animal sacrifices were being offered up for salvation, the temple of God?

What kind of insanity makes us think he would ever call a temple that was built specifically for the purpose of negating the work of Calvary, which had already been defiled by its association with Antichrist and by blasphemous animal sacrifices, and which is to be defiled even more by having Antichrist come and take a seat in it, the temple of God? Maybe the Jews who built such a temple would call it the temple of God; maybe even dumb Gentiles (including Christians) would call it the temple of God; but the apostle Paul would never call such an abomination the temple of God. Never! To do so would be a denial of the revelation God gave him and a direct contradiction of everything he taught!

Paul wasn't talking about a man entering a literal temple. He was talking about the Antichrist spirit coming forth in believers at the end of this age. That's why there has to be a great falling away. Until there is a wide-spread defection of believers who have turned their ears "away from the truth" and have been "turned unto fables" the man of sin cannot be revealed. Until there is a wide-spread rebellion of believers against the truth, until they come to the place where they will no longer "endure sound doctrine," the man of sin cannot be revealed. Until the masses of Christendom are trying to follow God "according to their own desires" the man of sin cannot be revealed. For you see, the man of sin is going to be revealed through Christians first. He is going to be revealed through real Christians who have fallen, who have been "overcome" by the little horn.

Paths Of Deception

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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

I. Timothy 4:1-2

In his letter to Timothy, Paul shares in a few brief sentences the peril we are now facing. This may be one of his most sobering statements, for he speaks of the defeat of believers in the last days. Imagine a person who once had a living relationship with God, who once had a sincere love for Jesus, who had been baptized in the Spirit and had been given spiritual gifts—maybe even a ministry of some kind—being reduced to a place where his conscience has been "seared with a hot iron" and he speaks "lies in hypocrisy!"

These people will not be departing from the faith in the ordinary sense. They will not intentionally turn their backs on God and return to the world. They will start listening to "seducing spirits" and the "doctrines of devils" and be drawn away from true faith into a counterfeit faith without ever knowing what happened. This is the revelation of the man of sin. Another spirit who claims to be the Spirit of God begins to usurp the place of God in His own temple (Christians), and the living stones of that temple, which should be manifesting God's character, end up manifesting Satan's counterfeit righteousness. Yet all the time they think they are serving and pleasing God.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 3:1

One of the reasons so many are being deceived in this hour is simply because they are ignorant of the fact that doctrines and teachings do not come alone. They are almost always accompanied by a spirit, either the Spirit of God or the spirit of the enemy. This is why Paul asked the Galatians who had "bewitched" them. The term bewitched adds another dimension to the situation—a dimension of spiritual power. By saying the Galatian Christians had been bewitched, Paul was letting them know they were being overcome by the spiritual power that formulated that wrong opinion.

Right now the Church of Jesus Christ is being flooded with the doctrines of demons. Right now deceived or false ministers (two different kinds of people) are destroying multitudes who truly think they are Bible-believing Christians. This is why we have focused so much on doctrine, not only in this series but in all our writings. The purpose of all false doctrine is to keep us from "obeying the truth." Peter said it is obedience to truth that purifies the soul of the believer (I. Pet. 1:22). Jesus said it is obedience to truth that sets the believer free (John 8:31-32). That is why the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). He comes to "lead" us into all truth, not so we have a head full of religious knowledge, but because we are set free from sin as we receive and obey truth.

In the Old Testament the vast majority of Israelites paid no attention to the teachings of Moses or the priests or the prophets, who’s ministry was a type and shadow of the Holy Spirit’s ministry under the New Covenant. Yet they continued to presume that God would fulfil all the promises He made to them anyway. They probably did the same thing today's deceived Christians do. They probably quoted the verses in the Torah that talk about the sovereignty of God, or the inability of God to break His promises and covenants, or their "specialness" and so forth. In their folly, the supreme accomplishment of the Old Testament Church was to tie God’s hands and make it impossible for Him to give them what He had prepared for them. This is why David said they "limited the Holy One of Israel" (Ps. 78:41).

So many Christians today are listening to nothing but the doctrines of demons in their churches. As the result, they are casting truth aside, along with the whole concept of the necessity of obeying that truth. Yet they go on presuming that God will fulfil all His promises to them anyway. They have no idea that what we believe not only has the power to tie God's hands and make it impossible for Him to finish that work He has begun in us, it can destroy us altogether. Those who think God will lead them to glory regardless of what they believe—just as long as we all "love" Jesus—are not moving in genuine faith but in religious delusion. For the way God leads us to glory is by giving us the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Truth exposes and delivers us from those things which keep us from attaining glory.

When the reality of what Paul meant when he said the man of sin will set in God's temple hits us, the question that comes to mind is, why? Why is God allowing real Christians to get so deceived? We have to understand that both the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan operate on spiritual principles and laws which absolutely no one is exempt from. Good intentions and motives can neither mature us spiritually or protect us from the enemy. A big part of the protection God has provided the believer is the written Word, for it explains many of these spiritual laws and reveals the different tactics and wiles of Satan. It gives us warnings to keep us alert and lets us know we are in a battle and a race. Those who ignore the warnings and remain ignorant of the help provided in the Scripture will have to pay the consequences.

One of those kingdom laws is that the more spiritual light and responsibility we are given, the greater our fall and the worse our punishment if we refuse to walk in that light. This is why Paul said, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel" (I. Cor. 9:16). It's why James said, "...be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (James 3:1). It's why Satan can never be redeemed—he lived in the unconcealed light and glory of God and was "the anointed cherub that covereth" (Ezek. 28:14). This also is why the Lord said, "To whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48). It's why He said, "Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you..." (Mark 4:24).

In other words, we should be careful what we do with the truth we are given. The degree to which we obey or disobey it is the degree to which we will either be rewarded or punished. The greater the light the harder the punishment if we refuse to obey it. Therefore, we should not seek a deeper revelation of God's will or plan unless we are sure we are willing to pay the price it will cost to walk in it. For if we refuse to walk in the light we are given, we will pay an even heavier price.

We tend to forget that no generation of believers has ever been exposed to as much spiritual light and revelation as we have. Things that have been hidden from the majority of saints in every preceding generation have been openly revealed to us. No generation of believers has ever been given the kind of opportunities to advance in the Kingdom of God that we have. No generation has ever had such full and easy access to the complete written testimony of God; nor has any other generation ever had so strong a presence of the Spirit to help us rightly divide that Word if we will take the time to humbly study it. Conversely, no generation has ever had the opportunity to pervert, ignore or reject the kind of light, opportunity and responsibility we have been given, especially in Western nations. Thus, the damnation of our generation will be the greatest—and rightly so!

Paul explained another kingdom law in Galatians 6:7-8. It's called the law of sowing and reaping. He said every man will "reap" in eternity what he has "sown" in this life. If he sows to "the spirit" he will reap "eternal life." If he sows to "the flesh" he will reap (eternal) "death." Yet Christians totally ignore Paul's warning. They assume they are exempt from this law because they have been "saved by grace." They don't really believe it applies to them because they have been "bewitched" by ministers who "turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness" (Jude 1:4). Thus, they go though life sowing disobedience, spiritual laziness, rebellion, self-centeredness, carnality and idolatry in the realm of relationships. Shall we accuse God of being unjust or unfaithful when they end up destroyed?

The Lord has given us all freedom of choice. He has "given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (II. Pet. 1:3). We have all been given the same Scripture, which is able to make us "wise unto salvation," and which is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [that we] may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (II. Tim 3:15-17).

We have all been given the same Spirit, who can lead us and guide us and keep us grounded in truth. God freely gives us everything we need to sow to the Spirit now, so we might reap eternal life later. He then says to us what He said to Israel through Moses: "I have set before you life and death...therefore choose life" (Deut. 30:19). If we choose spiritual death is He unjust to let us die?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7:21-27

All "doctrines of devils" are dangerous. But Paul said in the last days they will become particularly lethal, destroying all who "give heed" to them. The current doctrine of "grace" is one of those lethal, end-time doctrines, not only because of what it produces in the life of a Christian, but because it has been accepted across all known denominational lines: Fundamental, Pentecostal, and Charismatic—even end-timers have been bewitched by it. It's astounding that such an obvious error has deceived so many people.

There are many places in the Gospels where Jesus directly contradicts today's teaching on grace. One of them is the above passage. He clearly says the basis for entering the Kingdom of God is what we do. All that "doeth the will of my Father" will enter the kingdom, said the Master. And just in case we missed the point, He re-emphasized it again in the story of the men who build their houses on rock and sand. The man who builds on the rock is he who obeys the light he has been given. He "doeth" the sayings of Jesus. The man who builds on the sand is he who "doeth them not." He disobeys the light he has been given. Not only will this man's house fall, its fall will be great.

Those who built on sand were described previously by the Lord as those who "prophesied" and "cast out devils" and did "many wonderful works" in His name, but who will be rejected because they "work iniquity" (disobedience). God is not interested primarily in what we can do "in His name" because any supernatural ministry done through us is the work of the Spirit of God. It's the Spirit who actually overpowers demons as we cast them out. It's the Spirit who speaks through our lips when we prophesy.

God is interested primarily in how we live. He wants to know what kind of people we are. Have we allowed Him to work His moral character (the fruit of the Spirit) into our personalities? Do we possess His integrity, or do we protect "self" at all costs? Do we possess His honesty, or do we put on a "front" to hide what we really are? Are we sowing to the spirit or sowing to the flesh? Are we walking in obedience or disobedience? Many who have genuine spiritual gifts or a God-ordained ministry live like those of the world instead of disciples. They do so because they think they will be saved by grace regardless of how they live. They will weep and gnash their teeth when they hear the Lord say, "depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:45-48

In Luke, Jesus refers to three levels of punishment for those who are plainly said to be His "servants." He is telling us in the clearest possible language that we are not exempt from punishment just because we belong to Him. Those who receive "few stripes" will be those who have disobeyed God in ignorance. Those who receive "many stripes" will be those who disobeyed His known will. The meaning of the few or many stripes can be debated, but the "servant" who is cut in sunder and appointed his portion "with the unbelievers" is obviously lost. Thus, Jesus states in the clearest terms that there is a level of rebellion which brings eternal death to His people. This kind of rebellion not only causes us to disobey His will (either knowingly or unknowingly), it brings forth wicked behavior in us. It causes us to "beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken." This is exactly the kind of wickedness today's false doctrine of "grace" produces. It is the gospel of Antichrist and it is destroying many of the Lord's servants.

In addition to giving heed to the doctrines of devils, Paul said people will depart from the faith as the result of listening to "seducing spirits." Seducing spirits are different than demonic teaching spirits. While seducing spirits can operate in the realm of doctrine, their primary focus centers on using the wrong desires or rebellion of the believer to destroy him. They imitate the voice of God and tell us what we want to hear when we don't like what God has said. In this they are much more dangerous than teaching spirits.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:21-23

Jesus said the light of the body is the eye. If the eye is single the whole body is full of light. But if the eye be evil the whole body is full of darkness. He goes on to say if the light in a person becomes darkness, that darkness is very great. Once again, we are not dealing with the unsaved. We are dealing with someone who has been given (spiritual) light, but who has allowed that light to be turned to (spiritual) darkness. That darkness is very great because it will eventually become false seeing, which is even worse than blindness. A man who is blind can discern the road from the ditch by feeling which is which. But if he has false sight, if the ditch appears manifestly to be the road and the road the ditch, what will become of him?

There are many Christians who have never seen or heard the deeper truths of God. They are blind to them. But they walk in the light they have been given. These brethren will be far better off than those who have been given greater light but refuse to walk in it. When we refuse to walk in the truth God shows us, not only do we go blind, we are eventually given false sight by none other than God Himself. He turns us over to "seducing spirits" who imitate His voice and tell us what our selfish hearts want to hear.

Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols...And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

Ezekiel 14:1-5 & 8-10

Here is a side of God that has been purged from Christianity by deluded ministers. Here is a side of God that few of us want to deal with. He who "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son," He who promised to be our shepherd, companion, friend, healer and protector, will turn us over to delusion and cut us off from among the redeemed if we rebel long enough and hard enough. He warns Ezekiel that all who continue to cling to their idols while seeking the word of the Lord through a prophet will not only be deceived, they will be deceived by God Himself and cut off. The Lord will answer that man "according to the multitude of his idols." He will turn that man over to delusions that directly correspond to the idols he refuses to give up. How many Christians today are trying to do exactly this? How many are trying to have both God's best and the idols they love? How many are trying to serve God their way, according to their desires, most of which are nothing but the desires of the flesh or demon spirits?

God went on to tell Ezekiel that if the prophet is deceived regarding the thing, "I the Lord have deceived that prophet." Both the prophet and the seeker will be deceived. What a horrible state to find ourselves in! Our only protection against an invisible enemy who could destroy us in an instant is God. What shall we do when our only protection becomes our enemy?

We don't end up having our "conscience seared with a hot iron" overnight. It's a process called hardening of the heart, and it usually starts in one or two areas of known disobedience. For a time we're aware that we are walking in disobedience. During this period of awareness—which may be very short for some people—both our conscience and the conviction of the Holy Spirit cause us discomfort. We live in a certain amount of inner turmoil and distress. Maybe we are even miserable. Yet we refuse to let go of our idols. The more we ignore the "still small voice" the weaker it gets. The more we rationalize our actions the deeper we go into delusion because that very rationalization is coming from seducing spirits.

One day we wake up and realize the pressure and turmoil are gone and we no longer feel miserable. We breath a sigh of relief and go on our merry way but we should be weeping bitter tears, for it means God is no longer trying to speak to us. In that particular area of our walk He has turned us over to the deluding power of seducing spirits. The only way to break free from the delusion once we reach this stage is to confess our rebellion and start obeying what we once knew to be God's will. If we don't get free from those spirits, that part of our conscience becomes "seared." The spirits have established a beach-head and they will use it to advance their hold on us.

We need to live in the reality that none of us are so far along in the Lord we are no longer capable of rebelling against the light we have been given. We need to understand that we can start rebelling against that light at any time, and that we can rebel against it hard enough and long enough that we actually turn God's hand against us, and as a result, are turned over to delusions that answer to the idols we refuse to give up. The sobering words that God spoke through the prophet Isaiah thousands of years ago are particularly applicable to this generation of Christians: "Just as they have chosen their own ways...so will I choose their delusions" (Isa. 66:3-4).

The Great Revival Error

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

II. Corinthians 11:13-15

The naivete of God's people today is incredible. They think evil spirits will only tempt us to do obviously evil things. Few of them realize Satan comes as an angel of "light" as well as an angel of darkness. He and his demons can easily speak to us about spiritual things, about the things of God. They can quote Scripture and talk to us about righteousness—and so can false brethren who have transformed themselves into the apostles (ministers) of Christ. The most dangerous kind of spiritual attack is when deceiving spirits and deluded ministers come to us as agents of light.

Unlike angels of darkness who promote obvious iniquity, angels of light promote counterfeit truth. They promote doctrines and views that match truth but are not truth. Just as a good counterfeit twenty-dollar bill is hard to detect, so counterfeit truth is hard to detect, for it appears to be teaching us how to serve God more effectively, or how to get better results in prayer, or how to employ the latest evangelistic strategies, or how to promote love and unity in the body of Christ, or how to obtain spiritual power.

Watching for that which is obviously evil is like comparing a black sock and a white sock. Watching for that which is a counterfeit truth is much different. It's like comparing a black sock with a dark blue sock. The only way to tell the difference is by holding them up to a light—and the only way to discern counterfeit truth is by comparing it with genuine truth. Spiritually speaking, we are in the time of the dark blue sock. In many areas the counterfeit looks, feels and sounds just like the truth. Because most of today's Christian have very little discernment, and even less esteem for truth, they cannot tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and the spirit of Antichrist.

To get an idea of the danger we face, we need only look at what's happening in many churches around the world. Currently we are witnessing either the greatest revival in history or the greatest delusion to ever grip the Church. There can be no middle ground or alternatives. What's happening cannot be attributed to emotional manipulation or peer pressure or group dynamics. Tangible, verifiable, supernatural power is being manifested in these so-called revivals. That power is either coming from God or Satan.

Those who base their Christian experience on the Scripture, and on the character of God displayed in Scripture, tend to reject the current revival as a counterfeit, for what goes on in these meetings is contrary to both the teaching and the spirit of God's Word. But those who base their Christian experience on experience tend to accept them as genuine, for they have adopted the mind-set that says "if it feels right it must be right"—and what they are experiencing feels right to them.

Since their main concern is whether or not something feels right, they don't care if the thing that feels right is unscriptural. They are not concerned about the objective truth contained in God's Word. Based on spiritual experience alone they have decided we are seeing the outpouring of the "latter rain" and have entered the great end-time revival. Considering that everyone, everywhere, talks incessantly about this end-time revival, one would assume such a doctrine is clearly taught in the Bible, but it isn’t.

Though the Scripture has much to say concerning the last days, you will search in vain to find the "end-time revival" doctrine taught. Of course, the first accusation leveled at those who deny the last day's revival myth is that we don't care about the lost. Shouldn’t we want to see revival? Yes. But you see, the issue isn't whether or not we have a heart for the lost. The issue is whether or not we have a heart for the truth. Should our desire to evangelize the world take precedence over our love for God's truth? For many people the answer is yes—and that's why they are getting caught up in a delusion right now. They really don't care about truth.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:17-21

The pastors and leaders of today's counterfeit revival quote the apostle Peter (who quoted Joel), who said in the "last days" God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, in order to validate what's happening right now—including all the bizarre manifestations we see. But one verse of Scripture you will never hear them quote is the one immediately preceding Acts 2:17. The reason is very simple. It is a direct contradiction of what they are saying.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:14-16

Peter stood before a large crowd of Jews from many different nations on the Day of Pentecost and said, "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." What part of that statement don't we understand? Could he have said it any clearer? THIS IS THAT! This is the fulfillment of..."And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." This is the fulfillment of..."And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." Yet, for hundreds of years religious leaders have said this is not that which was spoken by Joel.

When confronted with the unwarranted rejection of Peter's words, revivalists point to the fact that he also quoted the part of Joel's prophesy that said in the last days God would "shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come." They conclude that since none of these signs came to pass at Pentecost, and since Jesus Himself referred to similar signs happening just before His return (Matt. 24:29; Mk. 13:24; Lk. 21:25), there must be a universal fulfillment of Joel's prophesy in the future. In other words, when Peter said, "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel," he was mistaken because it wasn't. He should have said, "this is only a foretaste of that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; if you want the rest of it you'll have to wait for another 1900 years."

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:1-2

People don't seem to understand that the term "last days" can have various meanings. It does not always mean the end of this age. The writer of Hebrews said God spoke in time past by the prophets but in these "last days" has spoken to us by His Son. In this instance, the term refers to the beginning of the Church age, not the end of it.

Other prophets used this term as well. Isaiah and Micah both said in the "last days" the nations would "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks: [they] shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 4:1-3). They were clearly referring to the peace that will be established after the Church age, during the thousand year reign of Christ. Thus, the term has several different prophetic meanings. It can mean the whole Church age, the beginning of it, the end of it, or even the beginning of the next age.

Knowing the various uses of the term helps clear up the confusion about what Peter meant, for Joel's prophesy has two distinct parts and two distinct times of fulfillment. The first part has to do with God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. This is what the Day of Pentecost was all about. When Peter quoted Joel, he was saying the events of Pentecost were the beginning of the actual fulfillment of Joel's prophesy. What began in Jerusalem among Jews soon spread to Gentiles in every nation.

The second part of Joel's prophesy has to do with signs in the heavens that are connected to the judgment of God and the return of the Lord. It has to do with God coming to judge those who have rejected the Spirit that was poured out. In actuality, Joel's prophesy spans the entire Church age. The pouring out of the Spirit happened at the beginning of the last days, while the signs in the heavens will happen at the end of the last days.

Where did this whole idea about an end-time revival start? It's origins are hard to trace, but it seems to have started with a Protestant reformer named Martin Bucer (1491-1551), who also happened to be the mentor of John Calvin. With some modifications, this end-time view was adopted by the vast majority of Reformation leaders. In other words, for 400 years all Christians in all denominations have not only been taught to expect a great end-time revival, they have been exhorted to become the catalyst for such a revival. As the signs of the times pile up and it becomes obvious we are at the close of this age, the pressure to fulfil the "great commission" and bring in the end-time "harvest" through a world-wide revival has become incredible. In their blind zeal, multitudes of churches are throwing caution to the wind and embracing anything that looks like revival and anything that seems to work.

Unfortunately the only world-wide revival predicted in the Scripture is a counterfeit revival that will be spawned by the spirit of Antichrist through deluded Christians. I challenge anyone reading this book to produce one verse of Scripture that clearly says a world-wide revival, resulting from the "great commission" being fulfilled, will bring masses of people from every nation into the Church just before Jesus returns. The whole idea is a Christian myth. Not one verse of Scripture clearly states it, yet it has been the very heart of Evangelicalism for over 400 years! The only way it can be defended is by linking unrelated verses of Scripture together and reading ideas back into them that are not actually present.

A good example of this can be seen in a book by Robert Coleman, who is an associate of Billy Graham, entitled, The Coming World Revival. In a chapter called The Hope of a Coming World Revival, he skillfully weaves verses of Scripture together to create a picture that doesn't exist. He refers to Peter's quote of Joel.¹ After explaining why Peter didn't mean "this is that" when he said "this is that,"² he says that what happened at the "first Pentecost may be viewed as the 'early' display of the refreshing rain from heaven, while the closing epic [the last-day revival] is the 'latter' rain."³ Like many other end-time revivalists, he then links Joel's prophesy to various other passages which speak of a latter rain.

After suggesting that a "...massive turning to Christ by people from the four corners of the earth will prepare the way for the coming of the King," and that the "Lord's return may be waiting now on this spiritual revolution,"⁴ he quotes James 5:7—Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain—and says: "As we anticipate the coming revival, prayer is our greatest resource. The prophet reminds us, 'Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain'...There is no other way to bring life to the Church and hope to the barren fields of the world."⁵

The idea being portrayed by Mr. Coleman is that Jesus is the "husbandmen" who is patiently waiting for the Church to "prepare the way" for His return by fulfilling the great commission—which will produce a "massive turning to Christ by people from the four corners of the earth." Thus, we are to pray for the "latter rain" to be poured out so we can rise to the challenge of reviving the Church and evangelizing the world. Once again, Mr. Coleman is not alone in his hope for a world-wide revival in our day. With some minor variations, practically all religious leaders have held this view for hundreds of years. But is this really what James was saying? Hardly. He was telling believers to be patient through the trials they were facing.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

NIV. James 5:7-11

James was not saying God is waiting for a great latter rain harvest of souls at the end of this age. He was telling these brethren to be patient "in the face of suffering." Just as the farmer who needs patience to wait until nature does her work, sending both the planting rain and the harvesting rain, so likewise, we need patience to wait until Christ comes and sets things aright, till He comes and punishes those who deserve punishment and rewards those who deserve to be rewarded.

But could there not be a secondary meaning or application to what James said? After all, in the Old Testament God is seen as having planted Israel as a vineyard and He was waiting for them to bear fruit. Yes, the typology for a latter rain and a harvest is found in the Old Testament. But if we want to connect that analogy to what James said, we can't just ignore the original context of the farmer/vineyard picture. In that context, God isn't waiting for a harvest of sinners into the kingdom. Rather, He is waiting for His people to mature and produce the fruit of righteousness. While the study of types and shadows from the Old Testament is profitable and sheds additional light on what God is doing at this time, they can easily be misunderstood, carried too far, or intentionally manipulated. Any additional light they provide must support the teaching of the New Testament and not contradict it.

Not only is the end-time revival doctrine not found in Scripture, it contradicts the Scripture. Jesus taught us what the "harvest" would be like in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:24-43). The Son of Man sowed good seed (children of the kingdom) in the world and His enemy sowed tares (children of the wicked one). When the servants realized what had happened they wanted to root up the tares, but the master said, "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Later, the disciples asked the Lord to explain the parable to them.

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:37-43

Jesus defined the "harvest" as the "the end of the world." What happens at the end of this age? Do all the tares suddenly become wheat? No! The tares are gathered, put into bundles and burned. According to Jesus, the great end-time harvest is not a harvest of tares into the kingdom, but a harvest of tares into the flames! After the tares are removed from the world the precious wheat will be gathered into the Lord's barn. Without the tares producing confusion and rebellion the wheat will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

While it's true the Lord used the harvest metaphor to denote those who were ready to hear and receive the gospel, it's also true this harvest began over 1900 years ago with the Jews (Matt. 9:37-38; Luke 10:2) and has been going on ever since then among the Gentiles. At no time did Jesus teach or imply there would be an epic harvest of sinners just prior to His return. Such a notion would have been a contradiction of His teaching on the last days.

The expectation of a world-revival before the return of the Lord has left many sincere believers wide open for deception. Since we were taught to look for this revival and to be ready to participate in it when it comes, and since we are obviously living in the last days, and since the so-called revivals at Brownsville, Toronto, Smithton, Brampton (England), and a host of other clone-churches around the world are manifesting real supernatural power, many have been deceived into thinking this is the great end-time revival.

Even though people see the most bizarre kind of behavior being manifested in these meetings, they just cannot (or will not) consider the possibility that this "revival" is a Satanic counterfeit. In a 1997 propaganda video, the head of the "Smithton Outpouring" dismissed the possibility that what had been going on in his church for the past 56 weeks of non-stop "revival" could be coming from Satan. After mocking all who would dare suggest the source of the revival was not God, He defended it with a logic that showed zero understanding of the enemy's power. He said Satan:

"...doesn't really prefer that we go to church and sing songs like we did on a Monday night. To sing, 'My Jesus I Love Thee,' that tears the old Devil up. And I don't think he's gonna work real hard to get us here so we can sing those songs, so he can make somebody jerk around and ruin our lives. I think what he'll do is he'd rob you of this night, keep you home in front of that stupid television and ruin your life."

Smithton Revival Overflow @ Grandview Assembly 4/7/97

Actually Satan would prefer that we go to church and sing "My Jesus I Love Thee" to another Jesus, than stay home and watch television. Yes, he would prefer that we go to church and worship another Jesus while under the influence of another spirit, than stay home and watch television because he wants to be our God. He wants to "take his seat" in us. He is delighted when deluded revivalists travel around the globe promoting a false Jesus. He's elated when they impart a spirit that is not the Holy Spirit to multitudes of believers, for his main objective is to replace the Spirit of Jesus Christ with the spirit of Antichrist in our lives.

As long as he is moving us in that direction, he'll encourage us to go to church and sing songs about Jesus till we pass out from exhaustion. As long as he is moving us in that direction, he'll encourage us to pray, and even have all-night prayer meetings. He'll encourage us to have Bible studies and get as many people involved in that false spirit as possible.

Most of us have no idea what we are dealing with when it comes to the power of Satan in this hour. The reality that the restrainer is no longer restraining him has yet to hit us. Satan is not afraid of words. Antichrist is not afraid of the name, Jesus. They are not afraid to go to your church and sit right beside you. They will talk about Jesus, quote the Scripture, and sing songs about Jesus. They are so good at deceiving us they can make us think we are overcoming them even as they devour us—and devouring us they are! Right now multitudes of Christians are being overcome by the "little horn." They boast their empty boasts and sing about how they are putting Satan "under their feet" and "taking back" what he stole from them and all the while he is putting them under his feet and stealing them away from Christ!

The Quest For Power

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

Revelation 13:11-13

In Revelation 13 John describes two beasts. One is the Antichrist and the other is the False Prophet. Both these beasts are spiritual beings—though in the end they will be manifested through forms of government and human vessels. Both are presently at work in the world and the Church. One of the things we notice about the second beast is that it has "two horns like a lamb." It will pretend to be a representative of Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture horns are a symbol of power. Thus, the False Prophet will not only claim to represent Jesus, he will perform "great wonders" and make "fire come down from heaven" in the name of Jesus.

John also said it "spake as a dragon." Though it claims to come in the name of Jesus and do miracles by His authority, its words reveal the true origin of its power. When John said it will speak as a dragon he was not saying it will turn the air blue with foul language or tell dirty jokes. He's saying it will speak as a serpent. It will speak words of deception. First it dazzles people with its display of power—which throws the average person off their guard and brings them to a place where they are ready to accept anything it tells them—then it speaks as a dragon. It feeds them a subtle mixture of truth and error. The whole purpose of the second beast is to cause us to worship the first beast. This is what's happening in many of our churches right now.

The contemporary Christian mind-set is fast becoming such that if you don't get a mega-dose of spiritual fire whizzing through your body, or have God come on you like a sumo-wrestler, or feel like you have just guzzled a pint of Whiskey when you go to church, your church is spiritually dead. If you are part of the "in crowd" you'll be attending meetings where supernatural wind, fog, and strange odors are being manifested; or where "gold dust" is falling from the ceiling and people are receiving "gold" fillings; or where people are down on all fours, acting like the beasts of the earth, or being thrown across the room, or laughing like mindless idiots, or glued to the floor, or doing the "chicken walk," or violently shaking and jerking, or falling into deep trances, or doing a Christian version of Slam Dancing.

Right now we are seeing the fulfillment of Paul's warning to Timothy about the "perilous times" that would come in the latter days, when Christians would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. We are now living in the days when Christians are "lovers of their own selves" and have "a form of godliness" but deny the "power thereof" (II. Tim 3:1-5).

Today everyone is talking about God's power. Millions of people say they are experiencing that power. The problem is they are experiencing the wrong kind of power. What's being passed off as the power of God in this hour is not the power Paul wrote about, for he experienced the power of godliness. Today's believers are getting the power of sensuality because they are lovers of "pleasure." They have long ago rejected the truth that we must "take up our cross" and "love not our own lives" (Matt. 16:24-25) if we want to experience the true power of God.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

II. Corinthians 12:10

Paul said he took pleasure in such negative experiences as infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distress. Why would anyone take pleasure in such unpleasant experiences? Because when our natural strength, talent and wisdom are made weak, we are made strong in Christ. As we allow God to crucify our Adamic nature through these kinds of unpleasant situations, His nature can come forth in us. But when everything is going our way and we are feeling great, when we are calling the shots and controlling our lives, when our physical senses are being aroused and overwhelmed by supernatural power, the life of Christ remains locked up in our spirit. Instead of living and moving and having our being "in Christ" (Acts 17:28), we live and move and have our being in religious Adam.

People don't seem to realize that this revival power is not feeding their spirit man. It is only feeding the physical and soulish senses of the Adamic man. They think they are living by the power of Christ when in actuality they are being driven deeper and deeper into Adam and are developing an insatiable lust for sensual religious pleasure. Not only is this type religious experience not what Paul wrote about, it destroys any possibility of our appearing with Christ in glory; for he said, "when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:4). That little phrase—"who is our life"—disqualifies the majority of today's Christians, including many end-timers, from appearing with the Lord because Christ is not their life.

For most Christians today, their life is their life, not Christ's life. Their life is the life of the Adamic man, which is all wrapped up in its career, family, possessions, pleasures and hobbies. God (and now the power of God) has simply been added to their life in order to help them get what they want. They learn very quickly to cloak their Adamic lusts and desires in religious terms like, "God told me" to do this, or "I feel the Lord wants me" to go there. But the Adamic life is still their life. Beneath all the religious talk and the spiritual activity lies Adam: that self-centered, rebellious and conniving hypocrite, who will do anything to have his own way. They are as unfit to rule with Christ as a dog is to fly a plane. Far from appearing with Christ in glory, they will either be punished with "many stripes" or appointed their share "with the unbelievers."

The power Paul referred to enabled him to take pleasure in the death of Adam. The power being given to deluded believers in this hour causes them to take pleasure in the pleasure of Adam. Big difference! God's people are leaving the Christ of the Bible and turning to Antichrist and the False Prophet because these spirits will give them what they want—sense-oriented religious pleasure and supernatural power without the cross.

Our whole understanding of the Christian faith is being turned upside down. Jesus didn't say ye shall be zapped by the Holy Ghost, and the zapping shall make you free. He said, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Nor did He say we live by every manifestation that proceedeth from the spirit realm. He said we live by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Paul didn't say faith cometh by jerking, and jerking by the laying on of hands. He said, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Nor did he say laughing is the power of God unto salvation. He said, "the gospel of Christ...is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1:16). The Psalmist didn't say God sent the chicken walk and healed them. He said God "sent his word and healed them" (Ps 107:20).

Hearing and responding to God's WORD produces true repentance, genuine faith and a sanctified life. Feeding on the garbage that is currently called "revival" will produce just the opposite. That is why the focus of God's true ministers has always been on what God has said in Scripture and what He is presently saying through the Spirit. All external miracles are given to confirm and produce faith in the Word of God. The power of God under the New Covenant is mainly an internal power. It enables us to "take pleasure" in things the Adamic man recoils from and automatically rejects. It produces in us the spiritual stamina and resolve to let God put us into various situations that will kill our Adamic nature. It produces a radical change on the inside. It doesn't cause us to run after sensual religious pleasure or raw spiritual power. Rather, it causes us to run after God Himself.

Those who talk the loudest about the Holy Spirit and boast that they have the "anointing" seem to have the least amount of understanding concerning Him. In their ignorance, they are attributing the works of Antichrist to God and are guilty of blasphemy. This should not surprise us for the "name of blasphemy" is on the heads of the Beast from the sea (Rev. 13:1). If we understood the character of the Holy Spirit we would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that today's manifestations have nothing to do with Him.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:7-15

Here the Lord tells the disciples He is going away, but He promises to send them a comforter, which is the Holy Spirit. The first thing we should notice is that Jesus repeatedly refers to the Spirit as "he" and "him." This reveals that the Spirit is not some kind of impersonal force like electricity, that can be tapped into by anyone who discovers how to apply the proper spiritual laws—including unbelievers. The Spirit is not merely a good influence, or a good feeling, or and an irresistible, impersonal "something" like wind or energy. He possesses all the elements of personality. He is not an "it." He is the God of our Salvation. Moreover, His character is the character of the Father and the Son. Therefore, any manifestation of Him will be in keeping with that character—that's why He's called the Holy Spirit.

Jesus revealed several different aspects of the Holy Spirit in this passage. First, He called Him the "Comforter." A little earlier He said, "I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter..." (John 14:16-17a). This reveals that the Spirit is like Jesus, not only in His ministry of comfort, but also in manner and in character. The Spirit's character is the same as the character of Jesus. Did Jesus use His power to pick His disciples up and throw them 30 feet across the room, or throw them over chairs? Did the "anointing" that rested on Jesus ever come on the disciples like a sumo-wrestler and thrash them like rag-dolls? If that was not the way of the Master, it cannot be the way of His Spirit, for the Spirit represents Him.

The only people who experienced these manifestations in the Scripture were those who were demon-possessed. The demons in them would react to the presence of Jesus and would manifest all kinds of violent behavior, just like the behavior being manifested in so-called revivals today. Any normal person who walked into one of these meetings would not see a comforter being manifested; they would see a bully being manifested. Quite frankly, if these "blessings" are an example of being comforted by the Holy Spirit, you would do well to skip that part of His ministry!

Many of the people involved in the current revival spirit testify that they are anything but "comforted" by what they assume to be the Holy Spirit. When reading their testimonies you will find many times they are scared to death when the manifestations begin. At a Rick Joyner conference, "an intense burning like a nuclear fire" appeared on the stage and two women who were part of the worship team were absolutely petrified. Describing their reaction, Mr. Joyner says he never saw "such a look of terror on the faces of anyone...Christine started pulling at her clothes as if she were on fire, and Susy dove behind the drums."⁶

People have good reason to be scared of this revival spirit. At a Charles and Francis Hunter crusade in North Carolina he got a little too rough with a lady named Evelyn Kuykendall, who fractured her back and spent two months in a hospital as a result of being slain in the spirit. Another woman was actually killed by the revival spirit. Ella Peppard, who attended a Benny Hinn crusade, died from complications she suffered after someone was slain in the spirit on top of her.⁷

Wes Campbell, a Toronto Vineyard "prophet," said that when the revival spirit (which he assumes to be the Comforter) first seized his wife he was so scared he started screaming. He said for six months he was "scared to go home with her at night...The slightest thing would set her off."⁸ He said the spirit was so out of control they "didn't want to let him out of the back room."⁹ Some comfort!

When Jesus said, "..the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12), He wasn't talking about fleshly violence or demonic manifestations. He was talking about a spiritual attitude that is in harmony with God's character as a man of war. He was talking about having a determination when it comes to overcoming evil and walking in obedience. The "violence" referred to by Jesus has nothing to do with the ever-growing violence being dished out by the False Prophet in these revivals.

First it was Benny Hinn slaying everyone in the Spirit with the wave of his hand. Next came Rodney Howard-Brown with his "new wine," getting everyone "drunk" and "laughing" in the Spirit. Christian gatherings started looking like a bar room brawl, with everyone having a rip-roaring good time after a few drinks. Next it was shaking, convulsions, trances, quivering, and paralysis—and the meetings started to look like what goes on in Hindu temples. Next it was animal farm at the Toronto Vineyard, with people acting like chickens, dogs and snakes. Then came the "warrior anointing," with people chopping the air or swinging imaginary swords. Now it's sheer power. Supposedly, the greater the anointing, the more violent the manifestation.

Unbelievable as it sounds, people are actually pleased when this spirit gives them a good thrashing. It's just the kind of stuff head-bangers and former punk-rockers like Keith Prestridge are accustomed to. Mr. Prestridge "caught the fire" at a revival and reported his experience in a Christian magazine. He said, "They laid hands on me and I knew release, you know? I know those of you who have felt the Spirit know what it's like. It's like being in a good fight and suddenly being knocked out."¹⁰ This is God? What's next—spiritual tag-team wrestling? How about "punch'em-in-the-face" ministries? Will you walk into a revival some night and see people decking each other to give an "impartation" of the Holy Spirit? Friends, the power of God is first and foremost an internal power, given to promote holiness. The Holy Spirit is in the transformation business, not the head-banging business!

Jesus said the Spirit will not "speak of Himself," but will glorify the Son. He will not glorify power (especially power that's destructive). Yet this is exactly what's being glorified in these revivals. Ministers may talk about Jesus but the "fire" they're spreading has nothing to do with the character of Jesus. It's all about supernatural power. The people who go to these revivals go for one purpose—to get zapped. They want to feel the power of the Spirit.

Another attribute of the Holy Spirit concerns truth. The Lord said the Spirit would guide us "into all truth." Truth is not merely religious head-knowledge. Jesus said He was the truth and He called the Comforter the "Spirit of Truth." This is why the Bible is truth. It came from the lips of He who is truth. Whether written or spoken, whether yesterday or today, the words of God are truth and that truth contains power. This is why we are cleansed and set free from sin as we hear and obey them.

One of the things you will notice about those caught up in the revival spirit is that they could care less about truth. The only time they crack open a Bible is when they want to twist some passage of Scripture to support what they are doing. The only doctrine they are interested in is that which will validate their lust for power. This total disregard for truth shows that the "spirit" they have fallen in love with is not the "Spirit of Truth." It is another spirit.

If our Christian experience doesn't drive us deeper into God's Word, or produce in us an intense love for the truth, or cause us to embrace a life of self-denial, we are heading for religious delusion. We are a casualty waiting to happen because the counterfeit is only going to get more seductive and harder to discern as the days go by. The "abomination of desolation" has just begun and it has already overcome a large portion of the Church.

Once we get a grip on what's happening, the question of how to tell the difference between the true and the false becomes very important. Suppose you went to a meeting where the preacher talked about "righteousness" and you saw people getting healed, physically and emotionally. Suppose you saw burnt out ministers receiving new life and joy and huge numbers of young people getting saved? Would you automatically assume this was all the work of the Holy Spirit, or would you want to check the validity of these events? And if so, how would you judge whether it was of God or not? What kind of measuring stick would you use? There are a number of ways to test the true from the false.

4 Check your own personal witness.

4 Check not only the minister's sermon but the general focus of his ministry against the focus and teaching of Scripture.

4 Check the fruit of the minister's life.

4 Check the fruit of the revival. Are people falling in love with Jesus or are they falling in love with what Jesus can do for them? Are they seeking inner transformation or the thrills of external religious experiences?

4 Check whether or not they have a fervent love for truth.

4 Check whether or not what is being said and done leads to a focus on self.

4 Check with other brethren you trust who are not involved.

4 Check to see if the manifestations are compatible with the character and work of the Holy Spirit as defined by Jesus and the Scripture.

It is best to apply as many of these tests as possible because individually they may not be sufficient, especially when dealing with different situations. For instance, when it comes to discerning the difference between true and false believers, we can judge them by their fruit. Phony Christians can't live like real Christians because they're not real Christians. They may be able to fool some people for a while, but when you watch how they live, the presence or absence of fruit will reveal whether or not they are genuine believers.

However, this test will not work when we want to discern whether or not a genuine Christian is ministering truth under the anointing of God, or error under a false anointing. Since they are believers, you will see a measure of fruit in their lives. Thus, simply judging by the presence or absence of fruit is not sufficient. In this case, comparing what is said to what the Scripture teaches is the best test.

Also, we must consider our own spiritual condition when trying to discern the true from the false. For instance, one way to judge is by our inner witness. Paul said, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit..." (Rom. 8:16). If we are truly a child of God, if we are truly learning how to "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25) and be "led by the Spirit," (Rom. 8:14), the Spirit will be present to bear witness to those things which are genuine and to check us concerning those things which are false or counterfeit.

However, our inner witness is not infallible. Just because the Spirit is present, that does not mean we will hear Him every time He speaks or convicts. Our hearing or personal witness can be affected by many things that have nothing to do with the Spirit of God. They can be influenced by our own sin or wrong desires. They can be influenced by a blinded mind. They can be influenced by our doctrinal preferences and schooling. They can be influenced by our emotional make-up. They can be influenced by our desire to feel good and avoid pain. They can be influenced by our relationships. There are many things that can color our hearing and inner witness.

This is why staying in the Word is so important these days. The written Word and the Living Word always work in harmony. When trying to discern whether something is from God or a counterfeit we must always check everything—including our inner witness—with the external witness of God's unchangeable Word. We must examine very closely what is being said by those who minister in the name of Jesus, for John said the False Prophet will speak as a dragon.

If people are ministering under the influence of the False Prophet, sooner or later their words will give them away. If we are diligent to watch what is being said and pursue truth, if we study the Scripture and take up our cross, we won't be fooled by the words of the False Prophet. Neither will we be deceived by the "lying signs and wonders" he produces in the name of Jesus. But those who don't really care about truth and spend little time in the Word, who don't watch and will not take up their cross, will be swept way in this hour. Satan is not playing games and neither is God.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.

I. Kings 19:11-13a

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Psalms 32:8-9

We would do well to learn the lesson Elijah learned thousands of years ago. God passed by him and when He did, mighty external manifestations began to happen. A great "wind" rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an "earthquake," but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then came a "fire," but the Lord was not in the fire. Then came a "still small voice" and that was the Lord. The same is true today. God is not in the "fire" or the "wind" or the "quaking" of these revivals. He speaks through a still small voice—a voice that can easily be drowned out by external religious commotion.

The more mature we become in the Spirit, the less we need to be guided by external things, like prophetic words and signs, dreams and visions, or even circumstances. Being guided by external things is not God's best—and in these days of the counterfeit, it has become very dangerous as well. The Lord wants us to come to the place where He can guide us with His "eye."

Being guided with the eye speaks of the relationship between a master and a good servant. The best servant was the one who knew his master so well, the master didn't need to be constantly giving him orders to do this and prepare that. He knew the master's ways. He knew what the master liked. He knew how the master viewed things. He knew the master so well and his attention was so focused on him that just a glance here or a gaze there would tell the servant what the master wanted.

That's how well God wants us to know Him! That's how He wants to guide us. But this kind of knowledge cannot be gained by focusing on the external things of Christianity. It cannot be gained by receiving spiritual gifts and ministries. It only comes as we are transformed into the Lord's image—and that transformation only happens as we learn to take pleasure in distress, infirmities, reproaches, persecution and necessities because it's only through suffering that the Adamic nature is crucified, and only through the crucifixion of that nature that the life of Christ comes forth in us.

"If we suffer," said Paul, then "we shall also reign with him" (II. Tim 2:12). There is no other way, no short-cuts or quick fixes. If you want the glory you must pay the required price. If you try to get the glory without paying the price you will end up in Antichrist.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves," said Paul to Corinthian believers (II. Cor. 13:5). These words of wisdom are still applicable, brethren. Now is the time to examine ourselves. Now is the time to get honest before God and ask Him to show us which mystery is being fulfilled in us—the mystery of godliness or the mystery of iniquity. Today is the day to begin making any necessary adjustments in our walk, for tomorrow it may be too late. Selah!

References

1. The Coming World Revival; p.156

2. Ibid.; pp.151-152

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. Rick Joyner, "The Heart Of David: Worship and Warfare" Conference Report, April 1996 Audiotape.

7. Reported by end-time revivalist historian Francis MacNutt in his book, "Overcome By The Spirit"; pp.18-20.

8. Reported by Wes Campbell on an audio-taped sermon entitled: "Spiritual and Physical Manifestations of the Holy Spirit" - Toronto Vineyard, 1/15/94.

9. Ibid.

10. Christianity Today, 2/9/98; p.38