“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”
—Luke 10:18
THE CHURCHES: GROUND ZERO FOR THE END TIMES DECEPTION
When the seventy disciples returned to Jesus with joy at the very demons being cast out in his name, Jesus made the previous observation about Satan. A look at the original text makes it clear that Jesus was remarking on the general fall of Satan’s kingdom through the exploits of the seventy who were defeating the agents of the Satan.
It is good to be reminded from time to time that Satan is an already defeated foe, but ONLY through believers being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.
The reminder is important because, as one looks around, the deception of living in these times is everywhere 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Everyday Manipulation of Reality
Deception is in every bit of media one reads or views. Deception is in every product one buys. Deception is in the music on hears; in the advertisements one sees; in the products one buys and in the plans which are made for tomorrow.
Deception oozes from every pore of the world system in which the true believer is surrounded during his stay on earth.
It is ESPECIALLY true that deception has overtaken the visible church.
Satan is the father of lies and is very good at lying. So are his servants. Every public teacher seems to be false or deceived–or both. In the times in which we live, very few are who they claim to be.
How Can I Recognize a False Teacher?
Whether it is from books, DVDs, sermons or daily devotionals, deception seems to pour from practically everything that bears the label of “Christian.” This type of deception is even worse because most let their guard down when reading or listening to something that is identified as “Christian.”
That is a huge mistake.
The Bible tells us that the man of sin will rise from the midst of the Church. This is not a cult or some futuristic evil satanic Church. It is clear from the writings of Paul, John and Peter that this Church is the apostate Church which was once called “Christian.” It is a church perverted over time by dozens of daily compromises, deception and a people who can’t be bothered to read God’s Word for themselves, but instead rely on lying hirelings to tell them what they want to hear.
Church-goers are comfortable with their churches and their churches are part of the end times satanic church. The inhabitants of the churches listen to non-biblical sermons, have their ears tickled at social functions and concentrate (knowingly or not) on either the things of this world or the occult.
The ones in the pulpit focus on many things other than the truth of God’s Word–and the people want it that way. In short: it is the Church with which the great majority are all too familiar with today.
AMERICAN BABYLON: List of Antichrist Religions Started in America
God will always maintain a remnant–but it is just that: a remnant; a few. Beware of those who advertise themselves as the remnant church. The real remnant is too busy for self-promotion. The real remnant will soon enough be on the run from the ones doing this advertising.
The visible Church with its power structure, buildings, substitution of other spirits for the Holy Spirit, rituals and trappings has been the property of the enemy for some time.
Almost 2000 years ago, the apostles of Jesus battled these forces (much of the New Testament warns of this) after Jesus ascended to heaven.
This counterfeiting of the real Church includes the people sitting in the pews.
There may be a tendency for the true believer to become discouraged at times at the ubiquitous deception; to become disheartened at the realization there are few safe havens left in the world. But we are commanded to “be of good cheer.”
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
Elijah was on the run, fearing for his life: Jezebel had sent word she was going to hunt him down and kill him. The great prophet got so discouraged, he asked God to kill him because “I, even I only, am left.”
“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. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
—1 Kings 19:14
But God never leaves Himself without witnesses. He informed Elijah that there were yet thousands who were faithful.
“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”
—1 Kings 19:18
This is something for the believer to keep in mind when the deception and darkness get so thick it can literally be felt.
Rely even more on the Bible–which is God’s Word and settled forever in heaven.
Rely even more on prayer.
Try every spirit.
Engage the enemy in real spiritual warfare–not the junk that worldly pretenders promote.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Explosive Power of the Believer’s Prayers
Continue to separate from the world, especially worldly amusements and distractions.
Remember the Christian is an ambassador in a hostile land, representing his King.
Stranger in a Alien Land: The Christian is an Ambassador
Though surrounded on all sides by the enemy, remember: God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is with you and will never leave you.
Continue doing what you were called to do.
God will raise up allies in the unlikeliest of places.
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 7, 2014 and End Times Prophecy Headlines; July 7, 2016.]
Is the reader under great tribulation?
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
–Acts 14:22
Or is the reader deceived into believing he is something he is not?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
—2 Corinthians 4:3
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 11, 2016.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-16. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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