Could signs of worldwide revival be a deception?
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Signs of the times are all around us yet we carry on our daily duties and entertainment as if we were oblivious to all of it. The post about the earthquakes within the last week screams for us to pay attention and then in my email this morning I got these two articles I have taken short excerpts from:
In a dramatic foreign policy development, Israel’s Deputy FM instructed Israeli envoys to invoke the Jews’ biblical right to the entire Land of Israel. Israel’s newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israeli diplomats to use the Torah (Jewish bible) as a reference point for the rights of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.
In a video broadcast from Jerusalem, Hotovely addressed Israel’s foreign ministry envoys in over 100 foreign countries. While the landmark speech was a bit shocking within Israel’s Foreign Ministry, there is strong support from many Israelis who believe that this approach has been long overdue.
“It is important to say that this land is ours, all of it is ours. We didn’t come here to apologize for this,” she said.
Hotovely is a strong proponent of complete Jewish sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland of Israel.
“The international community deals with considerations of morality and justice. Facing this, we have to return to the basic truth of our right to this land,” Hotovely said. (Top Israeli Diplomat: Let's Focus on Israel's God-Given Biblical Right to its Ancient Homeland! | United with Israel )
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that the Islamic Republic was ready to destroy Israel and has tens of thousands of missiles in its arsenal.
“The Zionists and the US are aware of the power of Iran and Hezbollah, and they know that over 80,000 missiles are ready to rain down on Tel Aviv and Haifa; Iran is a powerful country which will give a crushing response to them,” Safavi said on Wednesday. (Iran Threatens to Fire 80,000 Missiles at Israel | United with Israel )
How long before we take note of the warnings in the Word of God?
In a dramatic foreign policy development, Israel’s Deputy FM instructed Israeli envoys to invoke the Jews’ biblical right to the entire Land of Israel. Israel’s newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israeli diplomats to use the Torah (Jewish bible) as a reference point for the rights of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.
In a video broadcast from Jerusalem, Hotovely addressed Israel’s foreign ministry envoys in over 100 foreign countries. While the landmark speech was a bit shocking within Israel’s Foreign Ministry, there is strong support from many Israelis who believe that this approach has been long overdue.
“It is important to say that this land is ours, all of it is ours. We didn’t come here to apologize for this,” she said.
Hotovely is a strong proponent of complete Jewish sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland of Israel.
“The international community deals with considerations of morality and justice. Facing this, we have to return to the basic truth of our right to this land,” Hotovely said. (Top Israeli Diplomat: Let's Focus on Israel's God-Given Biblical Right to its Ancient Homeland! | United with Israel )
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that the Islamic Republic was ready to destroy Israel and has tens of thousands of missiles in its arsenal.
“The Zionists and the US are aware of the power of Iran and Hezbollah, and they know that over 80,000 missiles are ready to rain down on Tel Aviv and Haifa; Iran is a powerful country which will give a crushing response to them,” Safavi said on Wednesday. (Iran Threatens to Fire 80,000 Missiles at Israel | United with Israel )
How long before we take note of the warnings in the Word of God?
All the world is fearful of another world war because of nuclear capabilities with destructive rhetoric from Muslim counties, all against Israel, with multitudes of non-Muslims being murdered whether Christian or not
Matthew 24:6-8
6 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.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
It's possible that this will lead to a treaty with Israel. Whether an individual or a governmental entity, it could be spoken that a 7 year peace treaty must be implemented, “7” being a number of heavenly completeness. This would get the attention of the professing Christians. Then Israel would build a temple next to the Mosque, and resume animal sacrifice. After several years (3 ½) an individual would show up saying that the Gospel of the true Christ has made void such things, and then we will see the “abomination that causes desolation.”
The sacrifices will stop, and most professing Christians will say that it is right because “that's what we have been ministering for years through Christ that the law of Moses is abolished.” Then this individual, who stopped the sacrifice, will reveal himself as the true Christ who has returned to bring peace. That makes sense to me in what I have witnessed in this world today.
“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
The Judea and Samaria area covers a portion of the territory designated by the ancient names Judea and Samaria. Samaria corresponds to part of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, also known as the Northern Kingdom. Judea corresponds to part of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, also known as the Southern Kingdom.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:27
I'm not saying this is what will happen, but it could. Just possible.
Matthew 24:6-8
6 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.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
It's possible that this will lead to a treaty with Israel. Whether an individual or a governmental entity, it could be spoken that a 7 year peace treaty must be implemented, “7” being a number of heavenly completeness. This would get the attention of the professing Christians. Then Israel would build a temple next to the Mosque, and resume animal sacrifice. After several years (3 ½) an individual would show up saying that the Gospel of the true Christ has made void such things, and then we will see the “abomination that causes desolation.”
The sacrifices will stop, and most professing Christians will say that it is right because “that's what we have been ministering for years through Christ that the law of Moses is abolished.” Then this individual, who stopped the sacrifice, will reveal himself as the true Christ who has returned to bring peace. That makes sense to me in what I have witnessed in this world today.
“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
The Judea and Samaria area covers a portion of the territory designated by the ancient names Judea and Samaria. Samaria corresponds to part of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, also known as the Northern Kingdom. Judea corresponds to part of the ancient Kingdom of Judah, also known as the Southern Kingdom.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:27
I'm not saying this is what will happen, but it could. Just possible.
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I would consider a mega church with 2,000 or more in attendance, not on the books.
Most of them do what your church does.
What they don't do is preach & teach the Lordship of Jesus Christ..... or Hell, or the virgin birth, or obedience, or sin. They WILL preach on giving, but only money, & not of themselves.
Some do, but most don't.
You DO understand the scripture about "to whom much is given, much is required" covers more than gifts & talents? It covers size of ability as well.
Mark 12:41-44 (KJV) [SUP]41 [/SUP]And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. [SUP]42 [/SUP]And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [SUP]43 [/SUP]And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: [SUP]44 [/SUP]For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Most of them do what your church does.
What they don't do is preach & teach the Lordship of Jesus Christ..... or Hell, or the virgin birth, or obedience, or sin. They WILL preach on giving, but only money, & not of themselves.
Some do, but most don't.
You DO understand the scripture about "to whom much is given, much is required" covers more than gifts & talents? It covers size of ability as well.
Mark 12:41-44 (KJV) [SUP]41 [/SUP]And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. [SUP]42 [/SUP]And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [SUP]43 [/SUP]And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: [SUP]44 [/SUP]For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
What would be the greatest deception pulled on the Christian Church that was looking for God to do something great? Could there be such a close substitute that was wholly false, yet made people think that it was the real thing? Could it be that today, in the disguise of revival, we actually have an apostasy. A radical concept if indeed this is true.
Before we jump to any conclusions, let's look at a few scriptures. In Matt. 24:3-4, the disciples on the Mt. of Olives ask Jesus when will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? Jesus answered, "Take care that no one, deceives YOU, for many will come in my name saying 'I am the Christ and will deceive many." Jesus warned three times of deception and of three things to the Church in this discourse. False Christ's, false prophets and false signs and wonders.
We see a warning given to the disciples in Mt 24 "False Christ's and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible." The apostles were the elect hand picked for a specific purpose even as we are elect for salvation today. If Jesus warned them first about possibly being deceived, are we any less susceptible than they were? These false prophets who work by false signs and wonders were to come into the church not just outside. They would rise up from among our own ranks.
How else would they deceive the elect unless they were operating from within? So they will have a certain amount of acceptance for the door to be open for them to operate inside the church.
Before we jump to any conclusions, let's look at a few scriptures. In Matt. 24:3-4, the disciples on the Mt. of Olives ask Jesus when will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? Jesus answered, "Take care that no one, deceives YOU, for many will come in my name saying 'I am the Christ and will deceive many." Jesus warned three times of deception and of three things to the Church in this discourse. False Christ's, false prophets and false signs and wonders.
We see a warning given to the disciples in Mt 24 "False Christ's and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible." The apostles were the elect hand picked for a specific purpose even as we are elect for salvation today. If Jesus warned them first about possibly being deceived, are we any less susceptible than they were? These false prophets who work by false signs and wonders were to come into the church not just outside. They would rise up from among our own ranks.
How else would they deceive the elect unless they were operating from within? So they will have a certain amount of acceptance for the door to be open for them to operate inside the church.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Old Mother Goose has been eulogized by generations of children and parents in many lands. Those familiar rhymes and riddles have been sung and repeated by nearly every child and adult in America . One of the most popular rhymes is the story of Humpty Dumpty, the egg who sat on a wall.Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
According to the story, Humpty was quite a popular egg. He sat balancing on top of the wall where everybody could see him. Nursery rhyme books show pictures of how even Humpty was pretty proud of himself for being so daring! But then, of course, we remember the fate of Humpty Dumpty. He had a great fall! Apparently, the whole countryside came running to him. The alarmed people even summoned all the king’s horses and all the king’s men to put Humpty together again. But alas, the task could not be done, not even by the king’s most trusted stewards, mounted on his finest steeds.
The wall of sanctification is for our protection. We peer over the top, and try to balance ourselves as we look at the world's attractiveness that tugs at our fleshly desires. We know we should be inside the wall on Terra firma, listening to the God that built the wall of protection. Then someone outside the wall starts shouting that the Master builder has made arrangements to negate the rules of having to stay inside the wall of protection. We are told that now we are free from these burdensome rules. So we begin shouting to others with gladness of how, and why we are given this freedom from these perceived grievous old impositions that we didn't care much for in the first place. The excitement, and gladness causes us to lose our balance, and down we go.
“And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. Isiah 21:9
“Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. Jeremiah 51:8
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:2
There's a saying I heard years ago about churches going spiritually cold: "The reason there's so many icicles in the pews is because of the polar bears in the pulpit". Lotta truth to that.... but let's not forget that for that polar bears to get behind those pulpits, there must be some very frosty people sitting on those church boards.
We do preach what you are saying, so please stop continuing to try to pigeon hole ALL Mega churches are not better than the small guys. There are exceptions like you said and our church is one of them. We have been around since 1985
I do agree that many mega churches tend to be attraction based and not missions or Evangelical based.
I know you are COG so the same thing you are saying about mega churches, could be said of Perry Stone and OCI. So lets leave it be shall we?
I do agree that many mega churches tend to be attraction based and not missions or Evangelical based.
I know you are COG so the same thing you are saying about mega churches, could be said of Perry Stone and OCI. So lets leave it be shall we?
