Flee the Wrath

Question? Will we recognise Antichrist in these last days?

The prophet Daniel makes a rather interesting statement concerning the work of the Antichrist “And he shall destroy many in their prosperity”

That statement gets my mind stirring. Such is the deceit of Antichrist, through his cunning, he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule, he shall exalt himself in his heart and “he shall destroy many in their prosperity” Daniel 8:25

WOW ! destroy people in their prosperity, like not with a sword , or a guillotine, or an axe, but in their prosperity.

But what does that statement actually mean ? For I imagine that most Christians fully expect a sword wielding Antichrist to come and threaten to cut off their heads, and the world will see and know this evil world ruler, as if he sticks out like a sore thumb.

In this post I’m suggesting that Antichrist will not look like the Antichrist you have been taught to look out for. Initially this end time leader is not like Hitler, think about it for a moment. The scripture says in Rev 13:3 that the whole world follows after the beast. If the whole world follows after the beast he’s obviously not manifesting the evil deeds of Nazi Germany, at least not initially, otherwise no one would follow Him. This end time king, Antichrist, rules amidst a fog of deceit.

I believe we are taught to know a tree by it’s fruit and this scripture of Daniel points us toward the fruit of the Antichrist. According to Daniels scripture “he shall destroy many in their prosperity” Daniel 8:25 I would interpret the meaning of his statement as follows. It is the prosperity and sensuality in which men delight that shall cause them to be destroyed. For in this they were presumptuous and secure, and turned from their God. And this is directed by Antichrist.

The end time Antichrist’s aim is no different to any other scriptural Antichrist. His job is to oppose God and to destroy the holy people. But this Antichrist is far more adept at leading men astray, for he knows full well that if he can lead men’s hearts from the one true God, to usurp the obedience that belongs to God in Christ, to undertake spiritual adultery, the people will be destroyed, by God.

Remember Pauls statement ;

1Cr 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1Cr 3:17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Satan knows full well that God must keep His word.

The book of revelation confirms a similar scenario, when speaking of the deceit of Mystery Babylon it says this : “for by your sorcery, all of the nations were deceived” Rev 18:23. And again “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” – That is to say that many were deceived by the schemes of riches, abundance, prosperity and sensuality which Mystery Babylon offered – More Fruit!

And if you want one more scripture from the wisest of earthly men try Solomon’s take on the issue. Proverbs puts it like this :For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

The wicked schemes of these last days is to lead men away from a simple trust in the all sufficient provision of God, and encourage them place their faith, hope and trust in the here and now, the comforts of this age, the sensuous prosperous lifestyle that is acquainted with the western, predominantly US culture. A game which much of the western church has partaken of. This is the falling away from faith, the apostasy of the prosperous nations that comprise western Christendom. It is being led and directed by the King of Babylon, satan, who is the spirit of Antichrist.

So many of us are living with a sense of indifference toward the gospel, an attitude of lukewarmness to the cause of Christ and our need of His salvation and righteousness. If we do not shortly awaken from our slumber, we shall be spat out for we received not a love of the truth that we might be saved. Prosperity and the cares of the world are choking the word, making it of no effect. We are becoming altogether unfruitful and shall be cut off for our iniquity. And you can plead the blood of Jesus til the cows come home.

These are perilous days people, Antichrist is making headway in the temple and most of us don’t know it.

Ultimately, when satan has deceived as many as can be deceived by his schemes, and in the latter time when transgressors have reached their fullness Dan 8:27, Then shall the beast come for the heads of the faithful elect, and amidst terrible persecution shall Christ’s body be crucified once more.

But for now, those who teach a prosperity gospel, beware. For should we fail to warn the people of the deceitfulness of riches, as Christ warned them, and should we neglect to warn men of the wiles of the devil in these latter days then we are on dangerous ground. All men are subject to various lusts, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. I fear this gospel today is simply feeding the very things which the Saviour sought to declare as dead. Perilous times Christian, flee out of Babylon, have no part in her ways.

You will know a tree by it’s fruit.

Part of the aim of this blog is to raise awareness of the perilous nature of the days, and the dangers of living in this Lukewarm Western culture. To stir thoughtful reflection on what it truly means to love and serve the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, in this day. To earnestly reflect on what our lives should look like as we walk out this faith, this call to follow Messiah.

Increasingly I am aware of the tremendous amount of spiritual confusion which exists in our culture today. This is part and parcel of living amidst the kingdom of “Mystery Babylon” of Revelation.

As I have mentioned before, one of the meanings of the root word”Babel” is confusion. So wherever she thrives, confusion is the order of the day.

Here is a short video reflecting on these very issues, and poses a response to the question ; What are we to do with truth?

I’ll say this as bluntly, and as encouragingly as I can. I get the impression that many Christians today don’t recognise when satan is within their midst. To put it another way, the ability to discern spiritually.

Perhaps this is partly a result of the testimonies of preachers who boastfully speak of how the devil came and sat on the edge of their bed one night, and being full of boldness and the Holy Ghost they rebuked him and told him to leave. As if lucifer is always going to show up and announce his appearance and desire to oppose the man or woman of God.

Look that may well happen, but I’m convinced that the devil is far more cunning than that. The purpose of such an appearance is not what you may be led to believe.

I think of one Todd Bentley, who has a similar testimony.

Listen, the wiles of the devil are far more cunning than you or I imagine. Please consider wisely the possibility that the very manifestation as described above may itself be a satanic ploy to get you thinking that the preacher of unrighteousness is abounding in truth.

Selah!

I think I need to say that again. Along comes the preacher with his deceiving message, veiled in tones of “the gospel” and interspersed with the name of Jesus. Satan has done well with his young student, the goodly preacher is leading many into a state of apostasy with his carnal message, and doing very well at it. Now as a way of reinforcing the demonically inspired ministry, satan manifests himself in visible form and appears sitting on the edge of the bed of the preacher man, in the midst of the night. This now gives the prideful young preacher a testimony as to how he was visited in the dark of the night by satan and how he being full of boldness and the Holy ghost rebuked the devil who had come to scare and oppose him, and his ministry. The end result being that the testimony now goes forth to the audience/congregation and everybody goes WHOOOO, WHAAAAA, this is a great godly ministry, it must be because the very devil himself has come to oppose this man and his ministry.

Satan goes, yes, yes yes….I am so good, now they think this guy is preaching truth.

Score 1 Satan, Believers Nil. How deceitful are your ways lucifer!

Please! Please! Please! satan is really not as stupid as we think. Do we really think we are wiser than he, c’mon now. Like he is gonna say “here I am Christian, I hate you and am going to really scare you” Booh! Satans most highly regarded tool in his toolkit is deception, not Booh, here I am, are you scared?

So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them! How terrible it is for the earth and the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, filled with rage, knowing that his time is short!” Rev 12:12

The word wiles according to the online dictionary means this : A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again ;

The devil is a master of deception, he comes as an angel of light, his workers are disguised as workers of righteousness. His way is as a snare of the fowler, schemes of deception that will look like schemes of God to men of carnal minds.

To the world satan manifests as a dragon, a deceiving spirit which leads men to lie, kill ,murder, steal and cause all manner of abominations amongst men upon the earth.

But to the church he often manifests as a serpent, as in Eve’s deception. He is cunning, twists words around, is a seductive lying spirit to the church. By his seductive ways he attempts to lead men’s hearts away from truth, from the One True God, to follow after another god, one made in the image of men. A seductive spirit which leads men from wholeheartedly loving and serving the Lord their God with all of their heart, all of their mind, all of their soul and their strength.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Do you see above, how the apostle John refers to the devil, as a dragon and a serpent. Beware Christian, for he shall perhaps come to you in like fashion, as a beguiling serpent.  To the world a dragon, but to you a seductive spirit.

Dear child, the Lord your God is the only one who is able to keep you from stumbling, and present you faultless before Him with exceeding joy. Try as you might in your own strength you will never know the truth which the devil so cunningly distorts.

God alone in Christ, is the only one who is able to give you eyes to see, and ears to hear, and an ability to discern the “strong delusion” of the last days. But He does not offer this to everyone, only those who forsake all, who sell everything to obtain the pearl of great price and follow Him. Those who will love God with all of their heart, all of their mind, all of their soul and all of their strength.

Mat 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, Mat 13:46 “who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

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Here is a really short video in which John Piper contrasts the idolatry of a prosperity gospel with the true gospel. In this day and age of limited discernment it’s worth a listen.

There are few things that concern me more at this time than how the church deals with it’s prosperity. But I would take that a step further, to the individual level. I am increasingly burdened as I recognise the great chasm that exists between my own standard of living and the standard that the Messiah proclaimed.

The quotes of men like John Wesley stir me to thought. Consider the following, Christian ;

Any Christian who takes for himself anything more than the plain necessities of life lives in an open , habitual denial of the Lord. If I leave behind me ten pounds, you and all mankind bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber – John Wesley

I don’t know about you but I kinda squirm when I read those words.

When Christ sought to teach His followers how to live in this evil generation He asked men not to look at how other men lived, instead he used the example of His word and often times nature. He spoke of the birds of the air, who neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and again He spoke of the lillies of the field and their absolute reliance on their creator, for lillies can do nothing of themselves, and yet look how God clothes them.

I just can’t help getting the image in my mind that each day ought to be a day in which we rely on the creator for all of our needs.

If we measure our own lifestyle by the world around us then I have to ask, is this right? Humanity in general considers itself to be so wise, so intelligent, so creative, and there is a truth to this in the area of human wisdom. But the wisdom of this world is destitute of Godly truth.

I am reminded of a humble reality concerning men ;

The Lord was able to lead a bunch of dumb animals to salvation upon the ark. But concerning men, most perished in their unrighteouss rebellion toward God – fleethewrath

That’s as simple as I can say it. When it comes to understanding the wisdom of God, by and large animals have a clearer understanding of the requirements of the creator than unregenerate men. Men whos minds have been corrupted by the wisdom of this world.

I have a sense that the lives we Christians are called to live in our western culture ought to be far simpler, far less complicated, far less busy. Our lives, like the lillies ought to be far more reliant on God. I mean can you Christian, honestly pray the following prayer with a heartfelt reliance on God “give us this day our daily bread“. Like who in our culture needs to rely on God each day for their daily bread, certainly not me nor any I know at this time. But maybe, just maybe we were supposed to. Maybe when we had sold what we had and given alms to the poor and didn’t have alot left, maybe, just maybe this prayer was supposed to mean something to us.

I read an interesting article the other night – Thanks Jessie, aka surrender all. In which the writer, Jacob Prasch spoke about the storm in which Paul found himself in Acts 27:14. And as the ship was tossed by the perilous nature of the storm the men chose to lighten the load in order to save their lives. “And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.”

This is how the author believed we will need to respond to the tempest of the perilous days that will toss the faith of many in the end time church. A profound picture which I am increasingly aware of, a tempest of truth vs error, a tempest of carnality vs spirit, a tempest of pride vs humility, a tempest of selfishness vs selflessness, a tempest of leaven vs manna from heaven. The perilous nature of the latter days of which the apostle Paul warned Timothy about.

I have a sense that if we should lighten the cargo, throw overboard the cares of this world, cast aside the labouring for food which perishes, forsake the sin which weighs us down and commit to living a less self reliant, and more God reliant simple life, just like the sparrows or the lillies of the field, then we are better placed to hear the word of the Lord amidst the storm.

Good advice, lighten the load, throw overboard those things which risk taking the vessel down amidst the storm.

Lord I sincerely pray, with all of my heart that You would grant us the grace to walk in the fullness of the faith which you have called us to. May we be increasingly reliant on Your leading, on Your provision, on You Lord. Let us forsake the things of this world, let us count them as nothing except that we may be sustained each day as You shape and form us into the image of yourself. Amen

It’s not uncommon to hear the above statement made in a light hearted way these days to confirm that a certain event has concluded or as an announcement that the show is over.

In the same spirit of this above announcement I would just like to say this “Antichrist is in the temple”

Nah, just doesn’t have the same ring does it, not showy enough. Let me try again!

HELLO, ANTICHRIST IS IN THE TEMPLE !

What about this “Jesus has left the building”

Either way, maybe by now I’m getting some attention.

I’m concerned that the message of the perilous nature of the last days just doesn’t seem to be getting through to many lukewarm Christians. Most of you are still waiting for silly old lucifer to go make his way into a Jewish temple and declare himself to be God as a sign of the end. Forget it, it’s not going to happen.

Look maybe the Jews will build another temple, but for now it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit which must be inhabited by the son of perdition – professing believers led by their carnal minds.

WAKE UP AMERICA, the show is over, Elvis has left the building, Jesus is being pushed out and the son of perdition is taking his seat in the temple of God.

I was so frustrated the other evening when I sat through a teaching from one of Americas most prominent TV Bible teachers, and at the end of it most in our study group said “OOH, AHH, that was so good, I want to buy the book, he is such a good teacher”

I just wanted to Puke!

The message was carnal, it was selfish, it was all about you, and the speaker veiled it in the religious tones of Christianity. I couldn’t believe that most were in awe of this selfish self centred, all about me message. A message that encouraged us to look out for ourselves, to watch out for those who might shoot us in the back. To insure we methodically and systematically analysed the relationships in our lives to prevent us from being distracted or cut down from reaching the great destiny God had for each one of us………. It stunk, really stunk. There was no room for mercy, grace, humility, long suffering, enduring patiently, loving the unloveable. You know, all that stuff Jesus told us to do.

God help us, please. Awaken your people from their slumber.

The God of creation humbled himself, became as a man and served men, made himself the lowest of the low in order to reach this world with His message. The faithful, long suffering Messiah, the King over all creation, the Almighty who is worthy to be crowned Lord of all, was a servant to all. A humble servant!

Any message which is about you, about getting the most out of life today, about focussing on an earthly inheritance, about your being exalted by your own works stinks, it smells really bad. It is carnality and as Paul said to be carnally minded is DEATH.

Romans 8:6 To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life.

I guess God is trying to work some good out of this, I just can’t see it right now. My prayer that He would remove all of Americas TV evangelist preachers from the airwaves and just let us read our bibles and pray, hang out with other unselfish Christians….Please God, real soon, please?

For further information on the Son of perdition sitting in the temple see this article : http://fleethewrath.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/antichrist-in-the-temple/

This article is a follow on from my “Babylonian captivity of Christendom”. You’ll need to read the previous article if you want to make sense of this one.

I can’t say I am absolutely right about this post but I think you’ll find it interesting either way, and it’s something I’m willing to explore. Of course I’m aware of the perils of naming dates but I am convinced that as the day of the Lord draws closer we will know the times and the seasons.

In the previous article I outlined my belief that much of western Christendom, those nations which were birthed in Christ, are presently more closely aligned to Mystery Babylon than a Christian nation. But within these nations there exists a faithful remnant of believers. A remnant who refuse to bow to the worldliness, the seduction, the idolatry of spiritual Babylon. Much like the Babylonian captivity of the Jews during the exile.

I suspect that this Christian exile began after the second world war, around 1948. In fact I am willing to suggest that the restoration of the Jews to Israel, the closing of the gentile period (times of the gentiles luke 21:24) and the exile of the Christians into Mystery Babylon are all marked by this same date in 1948.

As a result of the newly developed post war technologies that resulted around this period , the advance of radio, TV and print media, combined with newly developed scientific theories on the creation, origin of man and the theories of evolution, we see mystery Babylon commence her foundation and begin to take a foothold. At the same time through these new technologies and media came the ability to influence the western nations with a new free thinking humanistic value system, devoid of Godliness. And so today we end up in a culture which once accepting of Christian values, has become a culture which is from the perpective of many, and increasingly so, vehemently opposed to the Christian value and belief system.

The name of Christ today is most likely used as a swear word, a byword amongst men. We are not able to freely teach our children the scriptures in schools, pray in schools, hold religiousgatherings in public, we are not free to discuss Christ in the workplace, not free to expect to be heard, not free to speak openly against sin, and our opinion is certainly not counted as worthy to be heard. Worst of all the church has adopted many of the worlds ways and values as it seeks to fit in to this culture.

But my point is this, the Babylonian captivity of the Jews lasted 70 years. And this is where it gets a little more interesting, I am going to suggest that there is a good chance if this captivity is indeed a likeness of the Jewish exile then our freedom may come in about another 10 years, 2018.

This fits in with the teaching of Christ in which He refers to the figtree (Israel) beginning to bare fruit, and from this sign we would know that the time is near. It also fits in the opinion of others who believe that 70 years is the generation which Christ alluded to in Matthew 24.

Mat 24:32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Mat 24:33 Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. Mat 24:34 I assure you, this generation[fn7] will not pass from the scene before all these things take place.

Look I’m not saying this is fact but to me it’s like another nail in the coffin, so to speak. There is much happening on the earth right now that ties in with biblical prophecy concerning the end of the age. I really only have one hesitancy and that is the issue of the preaching of the gospel, of which Christ said, must first be preached to all nations, then the end would come. We haven’t yet seen this, but with technology moving at such a rapid pace it won’t take too much longer.

Little children, I don’t believe it will be too much longer until the Lord shall deliver us out of Mystery Babylon and into the promised land. Until that time do not partake of her cup, separate yourself from her, touch no unclean thing and the Lord shall receive you. Though there will be many trials and tribulations to endure in the days ahead, freedom is coming.

Further thought.……Please don’t take my date setting too seriously. God hasn’t told me anything as a fact so far as dates are concerned. I do however desire to stir up thoughtful consideration of the lateness of our day in terms of the “Day of the Lord”

It’s a mistake to think that this is anything other than a “global warning” from a just God.

All of humanity has a predicament that it prefers to ignore. Mankind is by his very nature, and please don’t tell me you are a good person, mankind by his very nature, by his works declare that he abounds in sin.

Yes it’s called sin. Maybe you thought you were basically a good person who did bad things occasionally, or worse still, maybe you think you are a good person who never does bad things. If you are of the latter then I’m sorry to be the one to tell you that you are deluded.

This much I’ve learned from history. The murder, the rape, the thefts, the lies, the killing, the child abuse, the slavery, the wars, the injustice, the trail of destruction which follows humanity is always somebody elses fault. It is always them, not us, not me. It is always a religious movement or a political movement, or another person, rarely the individual, unless your Hitler or Goebbels.

I want to know why it is that every funeral you ever went to, every memorial you every read, every death notice printed in the newspaper testifies of someone being basically a good, kind considerate person. Please tell me where they bury the rapists, the murderers, the liars and thieves. Where do they print their funeral notices? and who reads them?

What has all of this got to do with global warming I hear you ask. Global warming is a global warning to an unrighteous generation, who steadfastly and with hardened hearts refuse to bring their deeds from the darkness into the light, and Christ is that light. It is the result of sin, the sin of every generation from Adam onwards that ensured that God had to subject His creation to futility in the hope that out of it’s corrupt state would come “the children of God” Romans 8:20

Maybe you think you’re an ok kind of person, do good things, certainly not deserving of hell. Well here is where you will come undone, here is the condemnation according to Jesus “for light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” John 3:19

When Christ says that He has not come for the righteouss, but to call sinners to repentance, what He means is that only those willing to have their sin exposed will be able to come to Him. The self righteouss never will come, they are altogether unwilling to recognise their sin and turn from it. They are lost souls, and the wages of sin is death.

Whether you choose to call yourself a Christian or whether you choose to call yourself an unbeliever, an agnostic, atheist, whatever. The requirement is the same, all men are asked to bring their unrighteouss deeds into the light, to expose them to the light of Christ and to turn away from their sin.

Before you email me and tell me that I probably still have sin in my life and am a self righteouss hypocrite,  let me agree, I probably do still have sin in my life. But I hate that sin now, I refuse to practice it and I am willing to turn from it, if God points it out to me.

The call to follow Christ is the act of repentance, it is the act of turning away from self serving, self loving to God serving and God loving. To follow Christ is not an option up for offer to the believer, the call to follow is everything or it is nothing. To follow is the faith of Christ which leads to salvation.

You see I once was a thief, a liar and an adulterer, I practiced these things. If you had known me before I came to Christ you would have said I was a good bloke, a decent caring kind of guy, yep even I believed it myself for quite a while, until by the grace of God my deeds were exposed.

It is time for men to be concerned about eternity, to consider that this earth is groaning under the weight of sin, and in the not too distant future God in Christ will judge the living and the dead.

Oh daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who will repay you, for all of the things you have done. Psalm 137:8

Who would have believed such a thing! Who would have believed that she deceived the nations by her trickery. Her evil schemes were so subtle, so cunning, that even the wisest of men stumbled in drunkeness, intoxicated by the wealth of her luxury and wantonness.(Rev 18:3) Yes, the whole earth was deceived by her sorcery, the nations were made to stumble.(Rev18:23)

Who would have believed that God would now hold her guilty of the blood of the prophets and of saints and of all who had been slain upon the earth.(Rev18:24) For her iniquities were piled up as high as heaven, and God had remembered her wickedness and declared “repay her double for what she has done”.(Rev 18:5)

Who would have believed that the very schemes she seduced men by seemed so good, so right, so true. The comfort and the care she offered her people, the provision of goods and services and all manner of delights. It just all seemed so right. She cared for her people and clothed them, she provided abundantly for them, she catered to their every earthly need and want. Her people dwelt in relative safety, her courts were attended by men of wisdom. Yet it was in this very thing, this very scheme founded in the depths of hell, that she provided a form of godliness (2Tim3:5) to her people, and in this, was able to prevail. Many were caught by the snare of the fowler. Beguiled as Eve, by the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

Selah!

Perilous time, perilous times, the prophet had warned of that day.(2Timothy 3:1) Perilous not because of the persecutions that would arise, or the suffering, or the hunger, but perilous because of the terrible deception which would occur in that day. From within the ranks of the people would come a system so corrupt, so seductive, that it would infiltrate the hearts and minds of the people whom God had set apart to Himself. Yes, who would have believed such a thing, the ones whom the Almighty had called now followed after another, they had forsaken their husband and maker. Harlot, I heard the prophet say. (Hosea 2:1)

Oh Babylon, by your sorcery you deceived all of the nations. (Rev 18:23) Mystery Babylon, you mother of harlots, how you have grown and multiplied on the earth in these latter days and produced after your own kind. You are the mother of all harlots and abominations of the earth.(Rev 17:5)

But out of you O’Babylon comes a people who have not heard your voice (John 10:27), nor bowed at your temple, nor served your idols. Out of you O’Babylon comes a people not willing to partake of your cup, for they have been tested in the trials they endured in your captivity, and overcome. Though you sought to seduce them, they do not belong to you, therefore I shall deliver them out of your hand because they have believed Me, loved Me and did not desire the earthly promises by which you beguiled the others. These are mine, they are chosen and faithful. (Rev 17:14)

For MANY are called, but FEW are chosen! (Matt 22:14)

Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, happy is the One who will repay you, for all of the things you have done. Your destruction draws near!

Reflecting on the present turmoil in the global economy, I felt the following might be appropriate.

“Wealth is fleeting, and in the end it cannot save from death”

Not sure who said it but sounds biblical!