There are a few places in Scripture that I believe should really cause us to think about the severity of the times ahead, and also the times we find ourselves in. These same Scriptures are also the some of the ones that can give us the most comfort, as they really emphasize the sovereignty of God in all things. We find ourselves in times where the message of the Bible is constantly distorted -- sometimes inadvertently, sometimes purposefully -- and misinformation runs rampant. Leading into an example of what I believe to be purposeful deception, I'll quote Share International on "the Maitreya" and his relation to their supposed Jesus:
"What we have to look forward to is not the end of the world, which will not take place for millions of years ahead, but for the creation of a new civilisation based on higher and truer spiritual values than were possible for humanity at the time of Jesus. Jesus Himself, now a Master, works with the Christ on a daily basis and will reform the Christian churches and teaching, as His part in the Great Plan."
Isn't this exactly what Jesus warned us about in Luke 21:8?
Lu 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.Paul writes to the church in Corinth:
2Co 11:1 ¶ Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 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. 4 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."If he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached"... and to the church in Galatia:
Ga 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.I believe that none of us, including myself, fully understand just how bad the deception around us will be. We will see a great falling away, spoken of in 2 Thess. 2, and I believe that this will have something to do with it. Not to worry; all that God the Father gave to God the Son will come to Him, and none will be cast out(John 6:27). In fact, those who are deceived, already being guilty as all men are by nature, will not be able to rightfully accuse God of wrongdoing when they stand before His throne, when they realize that God has purposefully sent this delusion upon them("for this cause He shall send them strong delusion - 2 Thess. 2).
On a page titled
'Hidden Esoteric Widsom in the Bible', Share International takes part in some of the most devious perversions of the Word of God that I have ever come across. The most basic example might be this one:
"Take, for instance, the account given in Mark 4:35-41. It is the story of Jesus and His disciples caught in a severe storm on the Sea or Lake of Galilee. The boat seemed in danger of sinking. Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat, when His disciples, in panic, awakened him. He asked, ''Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?'' He is reported to have calmed both the sea and the disciples by His word. Those who look at this as an historical incident sometimes argue as to whether the water becoming calm was a natural phenomenon, or whether Jesus used supernormal power to still the raging waves.
But let us look at it as having an important hidden meaning as an inner happening within us. Let the waters of the sea represent the sea of life over which we are making our life's voyage; the boat, our lower self or body; the raging storm, the emotional disturbances we may encounter; the disciples, the many aspects of our consciousness. The most important passenger in our boat ---- our life ---- is the Christ within. Why do we wait until some crisis seems to threaten us before awakening this Christ consciousness? But when this Christ life is awakened within us, what power it has to quiet the surging billows of our emotions ---- including the fears aroused by life's threatening storms!"
The core of the Luciferic message is one's own supposed Godhood, and here it is claimed to be taught in the Bible. As modern Christianity has moved slowly away from sound doctrine, it has become increasingly harder to distinguish between those who truly believe and those who are the seed who will "fall away". I fear for those true believers who surround themselves with the types who will fall for what's coming, as Jesus said in Matt. 24, referring to a time after the false Christs appear, "then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another". The guideline of "no private interpretation" has been slowly inched away from to suit the desires each successive generation, and there may be a harsh price to pay for our lack of attention to it:
2Pe 1:19 ¶ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.God's Word is complete! The more one moves away from what is explicitly said, or explicitly implied, the further they get from the "God" in the Word.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
While there may be temporary consequences for believers during this time period("as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" - Rev. 3:19), it is not possible that they will be swayed from the core truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus said,
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
This is confirmed by Paul in Romans 9:
Ro 9:14 ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
The last statement above comes into play in 2 Thessalonians 2:
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
For those of us who are still alive when things really start to get bad(after all, I'm still not 100% without a doubt certain that the WEU and the ENPI fulfill Daniel, but pretty close), there may be a great temptation to fret, to despair, and to agonize over those we see falling away. We may want to act out of our desparation - but perfect love casts out all fear(1 John 4:18), and without love we are nothing(1 Cor. 13), and we can't well do God's will when we are in bondage to ungoldy fear. While it is our duty to love all of mankind, and to speak the Word without reservation(which is easier said than done at times), we must realize, not just on some distant ultimate level, but on the day-to-day, minute-by-minute level, that God is in control, and nothing, not even the most powerful deception, can thwart His will. We are kept by the power of God(1 Pet. 1:5), not by our own power to remain His. At the same time, the unpleasant events around us will also be fulfilling God's will:
Re 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
This is so severe - but it is so comforting, when we realize what is implied! God is really in control, even in the hardest of times, and especially with the future of His people. It is no reason to disobey the commands to evangelize, to teach, to love, and to stay true, but it puts a different perspective on it. Instead of doing it for need of the results, we can do it out of love for God, and a desire to obey Him, and that is when our lives will truly shine. So while the implications of delusion may be severe, they are also comforting in that God is never sitting on the sidelines, hoping something will happen. Nothing is beyond His power!
For more on the subject, try A.W. Pink's "The Soverignty of God", which can be read in it's entirety
here, and points out the most wonderful things in Scripture about the immutability of God's will.
