See anything wrong with this?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Mike Rogers

T.D. Jakes merchandizing on Twitter, below is the post by T.D. Jakes advertising so you can go and spend that hard earned dollar.

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John 2:16 Then to those who sold the doves He said, Take these things away (out of here)! Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise (a marketplace, a sales shop)! [Ps. 93:5.]

2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Here is what Ingrid Schlueter has to say about men such as these:

These men make me angry because they make a mockery of the office of the holy ministry. They are filthy dreamers (see Jeremiah) who speak a vision out of their own hearts and call it the “gospel.” They use familiar terms, but mean something completely different. They grind what’s holy under their feet and they defile the Lord’s house with rampant carnality to draw a crowd as though church is a carnival. The Holy Spirit is not needed by this brutal new gang of “pastors.” They value ‘influence’ and ‘leadership.’ God uses humble men of prayer who have shepherd’s hearts, not cocky, smart-alec, new media celebrity narcissists.

I don’t say “brutal new gang of pastors” lightly. I have personally interacted with them for years through Slice and Crosstalk, and they are merciless, dishonest, and if you dare to use Scripture to show why their teaching is off base, they will try to crush you and your reputation. God’s time of warning, I believe, is nearing an end. Things are escalating downhill so quickly now as the doctrinal foundations of Christianity have been pretty much destroyed in most denominations. The remnant really is a remnant and God will keep it pure.

Thank you Ingrid, couldn’t have said it any better!

Recognizing the role of Toxic Shame in abusive ministries

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Mike Rogers

This short article below was written by Anne Marie Dowell and can be viewed on her personal blog site: Freedom/Deception from Spiritual Deception I agree with her conclusions however I have to broaden this truth to other denominations. I spent 18 years in the Baptist church and found many leaders in the denomination who did exactly what Anne describes. Many pastors have lost site with what matters most to God, namely, people! And instead of taking on the servant role they were commissioned too, they become self servers, and as Anne put it, “they surround themselves with hand picked yes man/women who do their dirty work to ensure that others are towing the line and following all of the rigid rules that the system (not God) expects. Below is her article, go to her site and leave a comment to encourage her as she has suffered much for the sake of the truth.

“Toxic shame is different from healthy shame. Toxic shame tells us that we are a mistake and that no amount of problem solving can deliver us from our condition. In abusive ministries we now understand that a single ‘charasmatic’ leader holds all of the power over the direction of that ministry. That individual is the ‘mouth piece’ of God and is to be obeyed no matter how wrong their behavior or doctrine may be!! Abusive ministries are closed systems that have a single leader surrounded by hand picked yes men/women who do his dirty work and ensure that others are towing the line and following all of the rigid rules that the system (not God) expects. However they do it in the name of God and are experts at using scripture to make the people of God feel guilty if they do not obey them!!! This is nothing new and has been going on for as long as there has been religion. It is this dynamic that is permeating the church and creating new and even more abusive leaders. They require the people of God who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus to bend their knee to their insatiable need for power and money. These leaders become so used to being treated like rock stars that they begin to believe that they stand between you and God . They threaten that you are committing ‘spiritual suicide’ if you choose to leave their ministries. They use every toxic shame inducing method to obtain complete obedience and control over you and your understanding of who you are in Christ.”

Truth, Justice, and the American dream

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Mike Rogers

A new bill quietly passed by congress gives the U.S. Government the liberty and power to indefinitely detain and interrogate terrorist suspects without charge or trial. The bill itself does not make any distinction between U.S. citizens and non citizens. Is this just another overreaction by the Government in the name of National Security or is it a deliberate move to slowly take our Constitutional rights away? This bill gives the right to the U.S. Military to detain American citizens in the name of National Security with no recourse to correct the situation if someone were apprehended in error. This bill means that anyone, you or I could be indefinitely detained if perceived as a threat on the war on terror. If for instance, someone speaks out to strongly against the Government and its perceived as a threat to the United States we could see ourselves locked up, held by the military, interrogated, and held indefinitely, all without the basic right to an attorney or public trial.

The question is, what safeguards have been placed to prevent this from being used in a politicized way? This is without doubt a sidestep to controversial legislation, with a small majority the government finds it hard to pass controversial legislation and because of the possibility there could or would be widespread dissatisfaction with the new legislation the Government is prone to pass a bill under the table. This sort of legislation, unless detailed distinctions are placed in it, could subvert the values we take for granted in this country like democracy and freedom, all in the name of National Security. This legislation could subvert the Constitutional Rights of U.S. citizens by giving powers to the Government rendering them unaccountable to “we the people.” Americans do want the Government to be proactive in the threat against terrorism but they do not go to the poles to take away their Constitutional rights. There are many Americans who would feel threatened by the Government in passing this sort of bill. In fact, a lot of people are trending to a violent reaction to what they perceive as a loss of their liberty to the Federal Government. Americans have never agreed to surrender their Constitutional Rights and freedoms in the name of terror.

Whispers of martial law and FEMA camps opening soon is a bill desired to be passed by Congress which could become a nuisance to the American people if not a threat itself to Americans. It is said that FEMA has a red and blue list which under martial law would send people to death camps to sort out who would live and who would die. The list, it is said, is a list of people who are deemed resisters to the New World Order who need to be eradicated. It is becoming clearer the New World Order being described here and our Governments FEMA camps will be aimed at killing Christians who will be considered terrorist to the New World Order.

I am not a conspiracy theorist by any means, however, it is not difficult to study prophecy in the bible and then compare “bills” such as the one mentioned above and to the actions of world governments to know there is a high level of truth to it all. Already, Americans are being conditioned for Martial Law. Without our knowledge the military has participated in urban warfare training all across our country. Military blockades have been put in place and military maneuvers concluding stopping and searching people’s vehicle are practiced in American neighborhoods in preparation for Martial Law. We can now feel the sting on our cheeks from the slap on the face of the American people by the hand of our Government, who’s duty is to preserve and protect the American Constitution. Is democracy itself, and the spread of democracy in the world the guise of the New World Order agenda? And if so, just exactly what does the New World Order look like? If the establishment of the New World Order is accomplished by way of genocide then it is no longer democracy.

Many prophecy advocates have declared that America is not found in prophecy. And many more have asked what role America plays under the order of the Antichrist should he come.

“And the beast that you saw [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is going to come up out of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and proceed to go to perdition. And the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been recorded in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they look at the beast, because he [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is [yet] to come” – Revelation 17:8 AMP.

There are many things which could be said of this passage but suffice it to say that what is meant by “the inhabitants of the earth” includes all people, nations, and governments of the world, including the United States of America should she be in place during this World Order of the Beast. It is also noticeable that this New World Order will be the revived Roman empire much like the old Roman empire which was an idolatrous persecution power. What also is meant by “the inhabitants of the earth” is that all who dwell in the world shall adhere to the idolatrous and blasphemous religion of the Beast system. The inhabitants of the world, under the dominion of the Romish religion will wonder when they look upon the Beast empire. This world order will deceive into blind submission all the inhabitants of the earth within its influence. Revelation 13:8 says “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” ALL, not some.

So is the impending “New World Order” spoken of so much today the world order of the Beast/Antichrist? I suppose there is no definitive answer to that. No one really knows just how long the modern age will carry on nor how far societies will degenerate morally, politically, and religiously before the events recorded in the Word of God occur. All the signs listed in Scripture are without doubt discernible today, everyday they are exhibited both in the political and religious arena and a merger of the two appear imminent. Is there a diabolical plan via our Government to incarcerate and kill selected Americans in the near future? I’m not sure, however, I do believe the propaganda feed to the American people through the lens we call “the news” via our Government is on purpose to hide their real agenda. I know this, I do and will continue to defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3) , if by some reason the Government perceives my faith as a threat, I’m prepared to suffer the consequences of my faith. I expect things are the way there suppose to be, eccentric times, when you consider just how alike these days are to what the Word of God divulges through prophecy.

The Malachi Lie: You Can’t Afford Not To Give

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Mike Rogers

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” ~ Malachi 3:8-10

There are three words which describe how the church in the last century has been so successful in obtaining the tithe, fear, guilt and intimidation. Pastors have quoted this passage using every cliché imaginable, “Tithe up brother,” If you don’t tithe, you are cursed,” and “You can’t afford not to give,” are but a few used to induce the fear that if you don’t give at least 10% of your gross income, you are out of God’s favor and in jeopardy of God’s scourging.

When compared to Numbers 18:21-24 and Nehemiah 10:37, the usual interpretation of “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” has been turned into an appalling lie which, for the integrity of God’s truth and for what is advantageous to Christ’s church, must stop immediately. To gain a clear understanding of what and of who Malachi is speaking about all four chapters should be read and the context considered. Several questions should be considered when reading all four chapters such as, “Who is God speaking about?, Is he speaking to one group of people or many? Does he address more than one group of people? It becomes clear in the first chapter that Malachi addresses the open contempt of the priests for the braking of the Law and their negative influence upon the people. Just six verses into chapter one he says, “To you priests who despise My name.” And following through to chapter two Malachi opens by saying, “And now, O priest, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name, says the Lord of host, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.“

The natural result of corrupt leadership becomes the bane of the people, an epidemic which produces bankrupt values. In effect, the priest offered what was blind, lame and sick as a sacrifice, the priest broke their vows, corrupted the covenant and did not regard the offering as a good will offering, and by doing so provoked the LORD of host to curse the nation.

Malachi 1:6 and 2:1 offers evidence that God is specifically addressing the priest, not the people! These two verses are the keys which unlock the entire book of Malachi. God is rebuking His ministers, the priest who are guilty of dishonoring God and despising His name, not the people. This is confirmed if you follow the pronoun “you” from Malachi 1:6 on through the end of the book. Chapter 2:1 becomes the greatest key as for the second time God distinctly makes it clear He is specifically addressing the priest, not the people. Since there is no corresponding text anywhere else in the book of Malachi that God has changed his primary audience, then the conclusion must be that God did not change his audience for the remainder of the book.

The word “curse” occurs seven times in the book of Malachi, 1:14, 2:2, 3:9, 4:6, and again are all directed towards the priests themselves, not the people (See Footnotes)[1] How is it then that so many preachers ignore the many uses of the word “curse” in Malachi when they preach on the curse of Malachi 3:9? And lastly, there is the issue of the law, the priest self-deceivingly claimed the privileges of the covenant, while neglecting the conditions of it as if God were bound by it to bless them. The covenant is said to be not merely “of life and peace 2:6,” but “life and peace” for the keeping of the law. The priest neglected their covenant relationship with God by robbing Him of the tithes and offerings 3:8-12. Nothing is said here of the people, in fact, all indication is given that the people gave tithes according to the law. Which brings us to the most important part of our discussion here, the New Testament Church is not bound by the law, either for blessings or curses. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” ~ Galatians 3:13. The law makes demands no one can keep, and obedience to the law is to be absolute in every detail. A feat only Christ Himself accomplished!

The covenant made at Sinai witnessed the era of Israel’s birth as a nation. It was then that God created them as a people for His own possession (Malachi 2:10). The law revealed the holiness of God and the sin of the people and serves as a reminder that the law only condemns. It could not save but was the schoolmaster to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The covenant of Grace unlike that of the law is an unconditional, everlasting covenant spoken of as “The New Covenant” or “The New Testament,” and was an agreement ratified by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is referred to as a “Better Covenant” (Heb 7:22; 8:6) because it was established on grace and truth, plus the reality of Christ’s Covenant exceeds that of the Levitical priesthood just as substance surpasses shadow. Why then do we see a bleeding over of a legalistic system where it concerns giving (tithing) into the Covenant of Grace? For far too long Pastors have used the iron fist of the law as a means of obtaining finances. The very fabric of the modern Church structure is manufactured on an outdated form of economics using the machinery of archaic times. As it was during the era of Malachi, spiritual decline produces failure in the stewardship of possessions. The old garments of the law have been cast off, the Levitical priesthood failed to reach perfection so another priest after a better order has appeared. Just as there has been a change in the priesthood it was of necessity there is also a change of the law (Heb 7:12). Jesus Christ, who’s priesthood is in the likeness of Melchizedek has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:14-16).

For the modern Church, tithing has become the anvil for profit seekers and hirelings who’s objective is personal gain rather than the care and provision of the needy. For example, Ed Young’s recent sermon “Show Me The Money.” Ed Young delivered a tithing sermon to scare, humiliate, intimidate, and offend his church members into giving 10% of their income. If you go to a church where the preacher tells the people that they are obligated to give 10% of their income to the church, you probably have heard many of these same things. But Mr. Young puts them all together in one single mammoth of a manipulative, self-serving, heretical sermon. There is nothing new under the sun and these types of tactics have been advocated across denominational lines. So I ask you, when your preacher has to use fear, guilt, intimidation, humiliation, and manipulation as methods of securing finance, is he doing so through a legalistic approach or do you really believe he is operating via the principles of grace? Preachers who use unsympathetic techniques to assure income either for themselves or the church organization do so out of concern for their own livelihood. For a pastor to say you’re doing the church no good by just showing up and not tithing, that you’re better off staying home or, if you don’t tithe don’t bother coming back, is uncaring, indifferent, and uncaring for the body of Christ.

Just as Salvation is by Grace through faith, New Testament Giving is regarded as the gift of grace. Believers don’t give because they have to or because they are compelled or commanded to. Believers don’t give to secure an extravagant lifestyle for its leadership so that they can live in expensive mansions, drive luxury cars, or purchase privet jets. No, believers give simply to exemplify Jesus. For the believer, giving is not just a part of our created make up, it is an expression of the nature of God within us to others. The grace we receive from God finds expression in the grace we give to others. New Testament giving should be patterned after the Divine example revealed in Jesus. Giving should always be on the bases of love, love for God, for other believers and for the lost. Grace is a universal principle that Christ gave us through the cross. He gave all, His very life for the sake of the world.

Grace however becomes contaminated anytime the jurisdiction of the law is set over the values of New Testament giving. It is not the amount that is as important as it is the motive in the giving. Prior to any legal requirement, Abraham responded to Melchizedek’s office, generosity, and blessing by giving a tithe of all the spoils gathered in a recent war (Gen. 14:18-20). Abraham received the grace in giving that was not found in the Livitical Law. It is the priestly order of Melchizedek that Christ’s priesthood rises from (Hebrews 7), thus, giving today is a matter of liberty. The dispensation of the law is a parenthesis between Abraham’s dispensation of promise and its enduring fulfillment at Christ’s coming. Abraham’s act affirmed Melchizedek’s superiority even to the Levitical priest themselves. Now here is where an argument can be made in defense of the tithe, Abraham gave a tenth. And pastors are quick to point that fact out, however, the tenth Abraham gave was strictly a free will offering. A study of the context reveals Abraham kept nothing for himself, he gave it all, a tenth to Melchizedek and the rest was divided up between his men. A tithe may be implied through the example of Abraham but still cannot be imposed. There are many examples of Grace giving in the New Testament, examples which would serve the Church well, if practiced. (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8-9)

[1] Curse 2764 ḥērem: To be set aside for destruction. Example: The entire city of Jericho was a deadly threat to the formation of God’s people and fell under a ban, except for Rahab and her family (Jos_6:17-18), and was set aside for destruction.

Curse 779 ’ārar: This verb, in a more specific sense, means to bind (with a spell); to hem in with obstacles; to render powerless to resist. It is sometimes used as an antonym of bāraḵ (H1288). In Genesis 3, God renders curses on the serpent, the woman, and the man for their sins in the Garden of Eden

Curse 3994 m^e’ērāh: It refers to God’s sending evil or destruction on His disobedient people (Deu_28:20; Mal_2:2; Mal_3:9)

Christian Illiteracy

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Mike Rogers

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me…” Hosea 4:6

The Hebrew word for “destroyed” in the text above is damah and means to be cut off at sight of the theophany. Essentially, it is talking about people who loose or lack in the perception of the essential nature of God manifested. Theophany is the appearance of God in visible form to a human being and interesting enough the Hebrew word for “knowledge” (daat) is not talking about knowledge one gains from study, but is defined as having skill in perception, discernment and understanding. “daat” comes from the verb ‘yada‘, meaning “to know” occurring more than 90 times in the Old Testament. The lack of the knowledge of God, that is, the peoples lack of discernment shows us that their ignorance was willful, they ought to have known God having had the opportunity. In effect, the people’s lack of knowledge was more than just neglect, they rejected it choosing false gods in place of the God of Israel and the priests had been poor examples, leading the people of Israel into apostasy. You’ve heard the saying, “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Those that rebel against the truth can expect nothing other than to perish in the dark. A close examination of current events reveals that history is indeed repeating itself. Today there is very little Godly example to be found in church leadership, and very little real spiritual knowledge with God’s people. Truthfully, false teachers have had a heyday over the last generation or so amassing huge numbers of unregenerate, unrepentant, biblically challenged and morally apathetic followers. Much of our leadership is intimidated by others maturity in their churches, the very thing they are to nurture and cultivate. they promote the illiteracy and immaturity of their congregants for their own benefit, it strokes their ego to have people dependent on them.

Sound doctrine is simply correct teaching, in keeping with that of the apostles (1 Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; 4:3). The teaching is called ‘sound’ not only because it builds up in the faith, but also because it protects against the corrupting influence of false teachers, prophets, and apostles. In 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus the use of the word ‘sound’ occurs eight times (Titus 1:9,13; 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3), and in the Greek it means “to have sound health, to be uncorrupt.” Clean, healthy teaching is to be the core of what we call, doctrine. Everything taught is to be judged by its harmony with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth…” 1 Tim. 6:3-5. Sound doctrine which conforms to the teachings of the Apostles fulfills two purposes, it instructs believers in matters of faith and godliness, and it is used to prove conclusively the heresy of false teachers.

There are several characteristics which contribute to the biblical illiteracy of our time, all of which have become an epidemic to church orthodoxy. Unbiblical worldviews have infected biblical teaching in that the majority of Christians in America have developed their own faith system. Division has never been as apparent as it is today. All denominations have their pet doctrines dividing them from the rest of Christ’s body. Today you have to be politically correct and culturally sensitive resulting in a watered down version of the Gospel message. Spirituality is being built on private emotional attachments rather than on clear concise biblical teachings. And lastly, false prophets and apostles are flooding into the church with teachings contrary to that of Jesus and the founding Apostles. These characteristics are so blatant today that those who do adhere to ‘sound doctrine’ and by faith follow the teachings of Scripture are criticized, denounced, and ostracized by mainstream Christianity. Church culture today is dramatically captured in the distorted mirrors of contemporary art and the media. Destructive worldly thinking has now turned the professing church in general to pervasive heresy and compromise. Christians choose to capitulate rather than suffer criticism for standing on Biblical values and exposing the false corrupt teachings of liars. The majority lack the commitment to maintain doctrinal purity, consequently condone and even promote every sort of false teaching and practice imaginable, all in the name of Jesus Christ.

It was told to me by my daughter of two girls who went to Seminary. In Seminary they discovered that the doctrines they believed in were wrong. So instead of embracing new found truth, they both left Seminary to continue in their belief system. Sadly, this is the norm today, I have spoken to many Christians challenging them in Scripture to adhere to Biblical truth. In every case both myself and the Word of God was rejected. To most Christians today, ignorance is bliss, it’s easier to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. To those who love truth, adhere to sound biblical teaching, none of the above should come as a shock as Scripture is clear that this time would come. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” 2 Peter 1:19. We are witnessing prophetic Scripture come to pass before our very eyes. One such Scripture is 2 Timothy 4:3-4; “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.“

Paul was describing a time in the future when “they” (Paul was referring back to chapter 3), the church collective, would no longer view doctrine as valid or true but would gravitate to the dictates of their own hearts. A time when the professing church would have a propensity for falsehood. He describes them as having itching ears, desirous of hearing something pleasant and positive. A time when they will accumulate a great number of teachers who will have no problem scratching their itch. A time when the church will turn away from hearing the truth having a preference for myths/fables. A time when illiteracy to Biblical truth will replace ‘sound doctrine,’ a time of apostasy, a time like today. A time when Christians will have no foundation in the Word of God. Professing Christianity today flourishes in the mega-church because both sides of the transaction cooperates. The people want the feel good, and the teachers love to give it. Those who despise sound teaching have sought out teachers like themselves, both suit their depraved tastes. The people want teachers who will give them pleasure and the teachers do not offend by teaching truths that would be rasping to their ears. Novelty is the passion of the present Church Structure as entertainment peeks the interest bringing the next wave of excitement to the crowd. Thus, Biblical illiteracy reigns over the shepherd and the sheep, or should I say, over the wolves and the goats. It seems it’s hard to discern these days between the two.

Right or wrong, good or bad, our lives are influenced by what we believe! Paul exhorted the Corinthians to “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin, for some do not have the knowledge of God...” 1 Cor. 15:34. The phrase “do not have the knowledge of God” express ignorance of God in the Greek. The Corinthians ignorance was enveloped in a wrong belief of the resurrection which lead them to deny there was a resurrection. Illiteracy leads to a skewed view of the Word of God which always leads into error. Paul finished his exhortation by saying to the Corinthians, “I speak this to your shame.” Worse yet, to remain illiterate to Spiritual truth is both unrighteous and sinful. Illiteracy is an intoxication of carnality as those who remain ignorant to Spiritual truth are over thrown by the influences of false teachers who would keep them there. Many who identify themselves as Christians today have an habitual ignorance, a willful ignorance of God in that they prefer to keep their false teachings, rather than part with them in order to know God. It is prideful, selfish, and fleshly to cling to false teachings and to remain illiterate to truth only to appease one’s own interpretation of Spirituality.

In 1 Corinthians 15:34, ignorance of God is a critical miscalculation and misapprehension of God’s moral character and of His redemptive scheme (disbelieving the resurrection) which leads to a libertine and hedonistic ethic.¹ The Corinthians often boasted of their knowledge and wisdom yet we find Paul correcting them for their illiteracy in Spiritual matters. As it turns out, like today, the Corinthian Christians were freethinking in religious matters and sought self-gratification in their view of God, and this Paul says, is to their shame. Sounds a lot like what Hosea dealt with when he said “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me…” Hosea 4:6. Just as the children of Israel lacked in their perception of the essential nature of God, and the Corinthians were missing God altogether, we see today it’s a free-for-all when it concerns God Word and Will. What it all comes down to is both Hosea and Paul are describing a people who really don’t know God at all. Their view of God Himself was not only partial, but slanted. This in itself will lead into all sorts of abnormal practices and deviant behavior, all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Open Rebuke by Paul Proctor

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Mike Rogers

By Paul Proctor
March 23, 2011
NewsWithViews.com

The Emerging Church controversy has caught the attention of the mainstream media again and in a big way with the latest book from Rob Bell, entitled, “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived” – a “universalist” view from a popular “Christian” author and pastor that has already drawn numerous objections from many evangelical leaders including several sharp commentaries from the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, R. Albert Mohler Jr. – the latest of which appeared in the Baptist Press, titled, “Rob Bell and the (re)emergence of liberal theology.”

As one of many who have spoken out against the Emerging Church’s errant teachings and practices, I find it encouraging to finally hear a chorus of open rebukes coming from a growing number of well known Christian leaders who aren’t afraid to name the names of heretics and false teachers at work among believers – at least a few of them – something that is quite common throughout the New Testament, but, up until recently, has been all but absent from the 21st century Church as if they were either nonexistent or unworthy of mention.

Frankly, false teachers have had a heyday over the last generation or so amassing huge numbers of unregenerate, unrepentant, biblically ignorant and morally apathetic followers that were persuaded through pleasurable feelings, emotions, experiences and appetites that few, if any, are actually going to Hell. Dr. Mohler accurately summed up the Emerging Church movement in his column as being “a mildly updated form of Protestant liberalism.” I would only add that the eastern styled mysticism taught and practiced by many Emergents carries the movement well beyond mere liberal Christianity and into the occult.

Much of these and other false teachings and practices have been aided and advanced by the widely-held assumption that public rebukes among Christians are to be a last resort only, citing Matthew 18:15 as the scriptural source, which, in the King James version, reads: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” (Underscore added for emphasis)

Thanks to a very small number of inconsistent Bible translations, which now incidentally includes the newest New International Version 2011, a directive intended to restrain and contain church-unity-disrupting personal offenses between two individuals was edited in such a way as to suggest that all initial chastisement and challenges between believers should be kept private, which is not at all what the Bible teaches.

Is there a better way to advance evil, error and confusion in the Church than to shame and silence the discerners of heresy, blasphemy and scriptural confusion? Not only does this undermine the proclamation and proliferation of God’s Word, it is also a great way to unequally yoke believers to unbelievers and steer them all astray with the insinuation that feelings are more important than truth.

You see, Matthew 18:15 in the New American Standard Bible reads: “(M)If your brother sins[b], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” Omitting the words “against you,” or “against thee,” which appears in the vast majority of popular Bible versions including the 1984 NIV, gives heretics a handy hideout to not only do their dirty work but have their inaccuracies, inconsistencies and indiscretions arbitrarily dismissed through obfuscation, negotiation and consensus.

False teaching needs to be addressed as it happens, in front of those who hear it, that the error and confusion not be left to spread unchallenged. Nor should it be left up to some pastor’s public relations team or a bureaucratic boardroom of good old boys to decide if an open confession and correction would be good for the numbers.

Not only did Jesus rebuke the scribes and Pharisees publicly for their self-serving words and deeds, He gave Peter the harshest rebuke of all in front of the other disciples in Mark 8:33, telling him: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”

The Apostle Paul also took Peter to task in front of everyone later in Galatians 2:11,14 for separating himself from those who weren’t circumcised. If anything needed to be dealt with in private, wouldn’t it be this? Paul goes on to tell Timothy: “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” – 1st Timothy 5:20

In fact, the entire chapter of Matthew 18 is largely about personal offences between individuals beginning with verse six where Jesus says: “…whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” and continues on with Peter asking Jesus; “…how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”

Jesus goes on to answer Peter with the story of an unpaid debt between a king and one of his servants and another unresolved debt between that same servant and a fellow servant. And right in the middle of the chapter, between Jesus’ warning against offending a child and Peter’s question about forgiving a brother and the story of personal indebtedness, is verse 15, where Jesus says: “…if thy brother shall trespass against thee…” not, “If your brother sins…” as the NAS claims. In other words, “against thee” is consistent with the ongoing conversation between Jesus and His disciples and context of the chapter.

So, when an errant pastor, preacher, teacher, author or Emerging Church leader publicly distorts, disputes, dismisses or disavows core doctrines of the Bible, he ought to be rebuked and corrected in the same manner he presented them… publicly, because those he mislead and confused with his flawed theology are watching, learning and passing along to others what they’ve been taught. And, if they’ve been taught lies, and the backroom boys and PR team never get around to correcting them for the edification and benefit of all, then those lies live on, the truth remains hidden and repentance never comes.

“Open rebuke is better than secret love.” – Proverbs 27:5

In Light of His Coming, the Promise of Scripture

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Mike Rogers

Paul taught that the Scriptures are the basic historical facts on which the Gospel stands, and which the Scripture, pertaining to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament pointed to the sacrifice of Christ as our substitute. The reality of Christ’s sacrifice was verified by Scriptures. “For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalms 16:10), for example. The apostles clearly recognized this verse as forecasting the resurrection of Jesus. Peter quotes this verse on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:27), as did Paul in his early preaching at Antioch (Acts 13:35). By Scripture alone is the sufficiency of Christ’s work realized and the atonement declared:

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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”- (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

It is through the evidence of Scripture a person commits themselves to the conviction of faith. “According to the Scriptures” places the witness of Scripture above that of those who saw the Lord after His resurrection. Peter himself verbalized the importance of Scripture as “the more sure word of prophecy” which Peter states exceeds his own personal experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16-19). All Old Testament prophecy dealing with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was fulfilled precisely as predicted by the prophets. “The only infallible interpreter of what we see in nature or know innately in our own consciences is the explicit revelation of Scripture. Since Scripture is also the one place where we are given an infallible account of Christ, the Bible is the touchstone to which all truth-claims should be brought and by which all other truth must finally be measured.”¹ We have no greater example than Jesus Himself as He began his Galilean ministry teaching in the synagogue He quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2 boldly proclaiming, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Jesus intentionally and carefully fulfilled all Old Testament prophecy concerning Himself exactly as it was written – Matthew 3:13-15; 5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21; 18:31; John 5:39.

Understanding then that Jesus fulfilled all prophecy concerning Himself as Savior, the atonement of our sins by His blood, His sacrifice as our substitute, all verified by Scripture, it becomes comprehensible that a dependency upon Scripture for salvation should also be taught in the Bible. In fact, the Bible teaches that our heart belief and spoken confession in Jesus Christ is the most foundational lesson found in Scripture. In essence, without Scripture, there would be no faith, nor would the provision of salvation be known. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” – Romans 10:9-11. Notice “For the Scripture says!” Without Scripture there is no belief unto salvation, no faith by which we make such a confession in Him. John 7:38 substantiates we must believe exactly as the Scripture articulates; “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The metaphor “rivers of living water” flowing out of our hearts are then contingent upon our belief in Jesus “As the Scripture has said!”

It is clear we must accept the Scriptural account of Jesus Christ in order to obtain the faith to believe. Equally, we must accept that Jesus fulfilled all Old Testament prophecy precisely as it was predicted. So here is the rub, why then do we find many today who do not apply the same rule concerning prophecy centered around His Return? Many teachers too often approach prophecy using the method of interpretation that best suits their own biases or circumstances rather than accepting the clear intent of the biblical authors. Our very salvation hinges on the accuracy of the Scriptural account concerning Jesus and His fulfilling prophecy precisely as it was predicted. How is it that our observations of New Testament prophecy are so different? How is that we don’t embrace the same care for prophecy as that of our Lord who’s motivation was driven to please His Fathers will in fulfilling all? From the crossing of the “T” to the dotting of the “I,” Jesus apprehended to both preserve and fulfill (Matthew 5:17-18).

Nowadays we are confronted with many who scoff at the thought of Christ’s return. They say through the centuries Christians have been convinced of Christ’s coming, either by calculations from Daniel or signs that they believed were conclusive. They speak of the Rapture of the Church as a modern day heresy kept alive by novels. And they contend the signs in Matthew were fulfilled in A.D. 70, and imply that Revelation and Daniel are deliberately cryptic and full of imagery beyond our comprehension. To attempt to comprehend such mysteries (they say) are simply speculation that serves only as a distraction. Rob Bell, recent author of the book “Love Wins” in an interview with Martin Bashir on MSNBC introduced the term “speculation” as it relates to death and ones eternal destiny. Rob Bell was ask “: Is it irrelevant and immaterial as to how one responds to Christ in this life in term of determining ones eternal destiny?” Rob Bell answers: “It is relevant but as to how exactly that works out in the future, we are now when you die firmly in the realm of speculation. Christians have built whole dogma’s about what happens when you die and you have to be very careful that we don’t build whole doctrines and dogma’s on what is speculation.”

What we are faced with today are those who are forming the way we think and view Scripture through the writing of books, television, magazines, etc. Their messages appear to be a Christian message that is cheery, caring and fashionable to contemporary culture but remains unbiblical and historically unreliable. They amend the Gospel message so that its pliable to contemporary people. Similarly, on the subject of eschatology, doubt and suspicion is implanted in the hearts and minds of people when the light of speculation is cast upon it. Even our renowned Bill Johnson will tell you the Revelation cannot be understood, you get extra points for reading it, but you won’t understand it. Unto many of our modern day authors, Scripture is Speculative, especially when biblical prophecy is the topic. So is this what we have come to today? Where the subjects of the Gospel and Eschatology are now simply a matter of speculation, conjecture and theory? If so, what of our eternal state? How can anyone know for certain there is such a thing as salvation? As to the Return of Christ, no hope exist if all that was prophesied is past as some suppose. Was Moses a madman for looking forward to the eternal reward, or Abraham who look for a city who’s builder and maker was God? They followed God with certainty and saw beyond the veil of this flesh looking to the eternal Kingdom of Christ.

Biblical prophecy provides the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. A hope clearly taught in Scripture, something that every true child of God should know and understand.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” – Romans 8:22-25.

False prophets and false teachers are known by two things, the fruit that they bare and the Gospel they preach (Gal. 1). They have gifting, they are quite excellent at speaking, dynamic even, and they seem to have some power about them but, their character and message is the key, do they bear fruit, what message do they proclaim? In Peters second epistle he speaks of untaught and unstable people who wrest (or twist) the Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16.) These verses tie in with verse 9 , where Peter explained why the Lord had delayed fulfilling His promise. God had every reason long ago to judge the world and burn up its works, but in His mercy, He is long-suffering with us, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Peter is describing those lacking the learning imparted by the Holy Spirit. He speaks of those who are deficient in spiritual learning, and have originated many heresies as a result. Instead of waiting until God by His Spirit makes Scripture plain by comparing Scripture with Scripture, they hastily adopt distorted views. They transfer the authority of Scripture unto themselves over exaggerating their ability to hear from God.

2 Peter 3:10-13 tells us the Lord’s return will be sudden and unexpected. Believers are to still look for His promise despite those who scoff (vs. 3-4). Christian behavior itself hastens the coming of the day of God (vs. 11). In many ways, the timing of the Lord’s return is directly related to the condition and activity of the church.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” – Acts 3:19-21

As believers we are to steadfastly trust God will fulfill everything he has promised in His Word. Just as all Old Testament prophecy dealing with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was fulfilled precisely as predicted by the prophets, so to, all that was predicted concerning His Second coming and His Earthly Millennial Kingdom will be fulfilled exactly as Scripture affirms! Jesus said in Matthew 24:25; “See, I have told you beforehand.” He gave and entrusted to us the Scripture which contains all we need to be overcomers and to be completely prepared for the cataclysmic days of the end times, “so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (John 2:28). Jesus has given both the church in general and the world advanced notice of exactly what will occur in the end times. For those who scoff, speculate, and compromise there is only the promise of God’s wrath which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger (Rev. 14:10-11).

¹John MacArthur; The Truth War

In Light of His Coming

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Mike Rogers

If indeed the greatest hope of every believer is the second coming of Christ, something this important should be clearly taught in Scripture, especially in the New Testament. And, more important, this is something that every true child of God should know and understand! What the great hope of the church universal shouldn’t be is a topic cloaked in confusion or a subject of heated debate that splits congregations and churches apart. Paul explains to Titus that those who are saved, should be “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13; cf. 2 Pet. 3:12; 1 Thess. 5:4-6). That would be difficult to do if the Word of God didn’t tell us specifically what to look for, or if His instructions concerning His second coming were so confusing that any attempt to understand “when” would be met with such heated debate that the true child of God would prefer to be ignorant on the issue rather than face the consequences. The truth of the matter is, Scripture could not be clearer on this issue, not only as to the fact of Christ’s coming and the judgment that will occur when He comes, but also the timing of His coming as it relates to other end time events.¹

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. It has been calculated that over 25% of Scripture is devoted to prophecy. It has been estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ–an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!

This means that next to the Gospel message, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the largest subject recorded in the New Testament. In the not too distant past, eschatology was a somewhat favorite topic. Today, many recoil from extremes and treat the subject with undeserved neglect. The social gospel trends of today tends to concentrate upon the practical, and not the prophetical implications of New Testament truth.² In the study of Eschatology, we have the witness in Scripture of a progressive revelation. Old Testament Saints looked beyond this present life possessing the hope of the eternal future. Abraham, looked for a city whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). The Old Testament Saints, not having received the promises, saw them afar off, and embracing them they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb. 11:13). Moses, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward (Heb. 11:26). Moses looked away from everything in order to look intently on one object, he looked away from the wealth of the worldly Egyptian system toward the messianic future. While Jesus Christ is categorically the most important individual ever to walk the earth, the Bible shows clearly that the gospel that Jesus brought was not just simply about Himself, but about “the kingdom of God” (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 16:16-17).

A.W. Tozer stated; “A reason for the absence for real yearning for Christ’s return is that Christians are so comfortable in this world that they have little desire to leave it.” We have no greater evidence of Christ’s return than His own promise in John 14:3; “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” These are the most comforting words in all of Scripture, from Jesus’ own mouth we have the promise of His return. Think of it! Jesus’ personal signature is on our salvation; as we have received Him, He is coming to receive us.³ The Greek word for “receive” in John 14:3 is paralambano meaning “to embrace or to receive intimately, to or for oneself.” It is a compound word, formed from lambanō (“to receive from”) and para (“beside” or “alongside”). Christ used this word only six times when referring to end time events: twice in the Olivet Discourse passage (Matt. 24:40-41), three times when the same comparison is made concerning the coming of the Son of Man (Luke 17:34-36), and one time in John 14:3. “I will come again and receive you unto myself” is strictly referring to His personal appearing to receive His people to Himself. Paul amplified this promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 emphasizing the certainty of Christ Coming to gather together both the dead and living in Christ in the clouds unto Himself. This then is the “blessed hope” of the Church universal (Titus 2:13), a present living hope, an enduring hope. And as Hebrews 9:28 so eloquently puts it; “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Jesus Christ appeared first to accomplish His atoning work on the Cross opening the way of access to God the Father, and He will appear a second time to consummate our salvation as we put off the garments of mortal flesh for a heavenly garment.

THE QUESTIONS NEEDING AN ANSWER

Does the Bible provide an orderly list of signs and events which mark the close of this present age, and what are the events surrounding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? These answers can be found depending on which lens one is viewing the Scripture through. If you approach the Word of God objectively using an impersonal and unbiased approach the answers present themselves. However, if you approach this subject subjectively using your own perspective or through a bias or predetermined approach, error is inevitable and you will miss the mark. One of my favorite authors, Robert Van Kempen said; “If the plain sense makes sense, then you have the right sense.” In other words, we can only discover truth when we interpret and except Scripture in its most normal, natural, customary sense. If you are one who spiritualizes and allegorizes prophecy contiguous to Eschatology, real truth becomes evasive, but if you except Scripture with a face value hermeneutic the truth of Christ’s Second Coming is Scripturally uninterrupted and harmonious.

Events Surrounding Christ’s Return

Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse give us the sequence of events surrounding His return of which there are four main divisions. In the chart above I have provided three; “The Beginning of Sorrows,” “The Abomination of Desolation,” and “The Cataclysmic Signs in the Sun, Moon, and Stars.” The fourth is “The Day of the Lord” and we will now look briefly at these four divisions.

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

The Beginning of sorrows in the Greek means “labor pains,” and is better translated “birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8) These labor pains are expected to precede the end, marking the transition from this age to the Age to Come. The picture Christ gives is that of a women in labor who’s “birth pangs” intensify, followed by hard labor then delivery and fulfillment. “The end” (Matt. 24:6,13,14) is not the end of the world as some suppose, but merely the end of this dispensation or age. The Greek word for “end” in Matthew 24:6,13,14 is telos and means the limit at which a thing ceases to be, it always refers to the end of some act or state, its not the end of a period of time but the last in any succession or series of events. Only after false Christ and false prophets appear on the world scene, only after the wars and rumor of wars, the famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, only after the Great Tribulation and persecution of God’s Elect, only after the Son of Man is seen appearing in the sky will the end come. “The end,” is identified by Scripture as the Day of the Lord when God’s Wrath falls upon mankind and His fury is seen in the earth illustrated by the trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation.

The four divisions given in the Chart below, if viewed in light of a women giving birth can be seen as follows:

Beginning of Sorrows = Labor Pains
Abomination of Desolation/Great Tribulation = Hard Labor
Cataclysmic Signs in the heavens/Sign of Son of Man = Delivery/Rapture of the Church.
Then the Day of the LORD’S Wrath = The End

Within the Beginning Birth Pangs we find seven subsequent events:

False Christ’s – Matt 24:5
Wars and rumors of wars – Matt 24:6
Nation against nation Matt 24:7
Kingdom against Kingdom – Matt 24:7
Famines – Matt 24:7
Pestilences/Disease – Matt 24:7
Earthquakes in various places – Matt 24:7

Religious deception is to be expected, however Jesus is speaking of a time when the world will witness many saying “I am Christ.” The definite article “the” is not found in the Greek and those spoken of here cite the name of Jesus. They come “in Jesus’ name,” and because they come in His name we see it is with the intent to deceive by misrepresenting Christ. The Greek word Christos (Christ) means the anointed one. It is clear by the text that the “many” who come in Jesus’ name are not saying they are the Messiah, but rather, they are “anointed” as they come “In His Name” claiming special anointing and we have no short supply of them today. There is such an encroachment of teachers and teachings that claim prophetic authority today, but fail to present and honor Jesus Christ in a way consistent with the whole of the Scriptures. According to 1 John 4:1-6 we should reject any prophesying that preoccupies itself with mystical ideas. And 2 John tells us the genuine is recognized by the orthodoxy of their message. We are seeing a gradual shift away from the true person and message of Jesus Christ and it is getting more recognizable. It pains me to say that today the Charismatic/Pentecostal segments of the church provide some of the most fertile soil for spiritual deception.⁴ See Apocalypse Now: Signs Which Can’t Be Denied

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

When Jesus said in Matthew 24:15; “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place,” He spent the next five verse giving warning to flee. Why? “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). There has been a lot of confusion and wrong teaching centered around the word “tribulation.” Too often, the 70th week of Daniel (seven years in duration) is recognized as the “tribulation period.” However Scripture never emphasizes this, in fact, the “great tribulation” mentioned in this text is a shortened period of time (Matt 24:22) beginning 3 1/2 years into Daniel’s 70th week, in the middle of the week, and is cut short by the cataclysmic signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars and the appearing of Jesus Christ in the sky (Matt 24:29-30). It is clear by verse 29 that the tribulation is over by the time these signs are witnessed.

So what is the great tribulation? And again we must look at the Greek to get a proper definition. Thlipsis, Greek for tribulation means “to press together, pressure and oppression. Another word used in our Bibles which is translated from the Greek word thlipsis is persecution. In Acts 11:19 the church is seen being scattered because of the “persecution (thlipsis)” that occurred in connection with Stephen. When we compare Scripture with Scripture we find that what surrounds this event is indeed a great persecution. In Revelation 7, the only other place in the New Testament where the term “great tribulation” is used we find a group of people standing before the throne of God who had come out of Great Tribulation.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, off all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands…then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, sir you know. So he said to me, these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9,13-14).

This great multitude cannot be anyone other than the raptured saints of God. I have several reasons for saying this: First, the timing of the great multitude arriving in heaven precisely parallels the timing Christ gave His disciples in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:29,31). Secondly, the great multitude are described by John as coming “from every nation, tribe, peoples, and tongues. Mark sheds some light on this when describing the coming of Christ to gather His elect; “And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven” (Mark 13:27). “The farthest part of the earth” is speaking of a gathering from or out of every part of the earth, this means every nation, tribe, people and tongue. Third, the fourth and fifth seals parallel the Olivet Discourse and what Jesus describes to be the Great Tribulation. Those spoken of in the fifth seal are the martyrs who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held (Rev. 6:9). The testimony which they held can be nothing other than the Name of Jesus. Two reason for why I say this: First, Acts 4:12 says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” No other authority or personality, no other system or philosophy can rescue the human soul other than the name of Jesus Christ. Secondly, Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Only believers in Jesus Christ keep the word of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. The martyrs were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed was completed (Rev. 6:11), giving us the backdrop that this is an ongoing persecution. The fifth seal describes the great tribulation in progress while Revelation 7 illustrates those coming out of it. And last of all, the great multitude who are standing before God are clothed in white robes having palm branches in their hands. This means they have bodies, unlike those in the fifth seal who are addressed as “souls” this great multitude have resurrected bodies!

CATACLYSMIC SIGNS

The Olivet Discourse was begun with the Disciples asking Jesus a question; “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives the disciples came to Him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?“

We find they wanted to know three things, “When will these things be?,” “What will be the sign of your coming?” and “What will be the sign of the end of the age?” I will briefly cover these in the chronological order Jesus gave. First, when the disciples asked, “when will these things be,” they were referring to the temple and it’s destruction, which Jesus said would happen (Matt 24:1-2). This of course is ancient history, the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and I will not converse any further on it.

The second is the Sign of the end of the Age which Jesus describes in Matthew 24:29; “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Let me first point out that this sign is not given until “immediately after the tribulation of those days.” By the urgency of this sign it can be said that the sign itself abruptly ends the Great Tribulation. This makes sense when you consider this to be a worldwide event, all of humanity will now focus and respond as this event is catastrophic. But this sign does more than just get the attention of humanity, this sign announces two things, the coming of Jesus Christ and the Day of the Lord.

To the Believer, God’s elect, this sign will serve as the source of hope and expectation, of redemption; “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring…Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:25,28). The redemption spoken of here refers to the completion of Christ’s saving work, the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph. 1:13-14), the redemption of our body (Rom 8:19-25), when death is swallowed up in victory and this mortal has put on immortality (1 Cor 15:50-58).

To the unbeliever, this sign will serve as the thunder of an approaching storm, however, as horrific as the biblical description is of this sign, it pales in comparison to what is coming upon the earth, namely, the Day of the Lord. Joel tells us this sign will occur just prior to the Day of the Lord; “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:30-31).

As I stated previously, the fourth and fifth seals enumerate the great tribulation while Revelation chapter 7 discloses the raptured saints before the throne of God. In between we see the sixth seal opened:

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, and mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?‘” (Revelation 6:12-17)

Let me point a couple of things here. When you combine all the Scripture together surrounding this momentous event in history the world, the nations, all of mankind will know its meaning. In fact, mankind gets a double dose of fear, let me explain. The sun being darkened, the moon turns to blood, the stars fall from the sky, the heavens are shaken, a great earthquake accompanied with worldwide tsunamis, every island is moved from its place, and the seas raging all together are dreadful to think about (see Matt. 24:29-30; Luke 21:25-28; Revelation 6:12-17). But all of this is not the sum of the fear gripping the world. For what the world witnesses next is the very thing that causes the great, the mighty, every slave and free to hid in the rocks of the mountains and Matthew 24:30 tells us what that is, the sign of His coming:

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

When you combine Matthew 24:30 with Revelation 6:15-17 it become clear why mankind will seek to hid, they see Jesus Christ standing upon the clouds of the sky! And just for those who are skeptical, the Greek word for “heaven” in verse 30 can be translated “sky.” Revelation 1:7 adds to this thought; “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Jesus’ return will be definite, personal, and visible and His presence on the clouds emphasizes His coming is with judgment. The language is plain, the world not only is witnessing catastrophic signs in the heavens and the earth, but every man, woman and child will witness the visible return of Jesus Christ and His coming is twofold, to rapture His church from the earth and His coming is with judgment.

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and the will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)

Robert Van Kampen, author of “The Rapture Question Answered” says; “Christ’s coming will be like lightning coming from the east and flashing to the west (Matt. 24:27). thus, the sign of His coming will be the visual manifestation of God’s glory returning to earth…Then, when Christ appears, ‘He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other”. There is your rapture of the faithful who endure to the end!”₅

The Rapture! When we gaze upon what Jesus taught His disciples, the language is strikingly similar to another passage of Scripture; Jesus will send His angels, with a great sound of a trumpet, and gather together His elect. Sounds a lot like what Paul taught the Thessalonians!

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15-17).

If this were not evidence enough, the Greek reveals even more truth that what Jesus is describing in the Olivet Discourse is indeed the rapture of the Church. And again, I quote from Robert Van Kampen as his presentation of Matthew 24:31 is clear and accurate:

“The classic Rapture passage recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that when the Rapture occurs, we will “be caught up together with them [the dead in Christ] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The peculiar Greek word episunagō (“gather together” Matt. 24:31) used by Christ when He speaks to His disciples in the Olivet Discourse will prove that point.

Sunagō comes from two smaller Greek words that together mean “to bring together, come together, gather together, or assemble.” It is the root verb from wich the noun sunagoge (synagogue) is derived. Basically, synagogue means a “gathering place,” where people assemble together.

In the Olivet Discourse, when we see the Son of Man coming on the clouds and sending His angels to gather together His elect, why is the Greek word episunagō used to describe this gathering, rather than just the root Greek verb sunagō? The answer to this qauestion is very important. Adding the Greek preposition epi to the verb sunagō gives direction to the gathering. Epi basically means “on” or “upon” (just as epidermis refers to the top layer – epi – of one’s skin–dermis). So when this little preposition is added to the verb sunagō, it gives an upward direction to the gathering. Therefore, episunagō means a gathering together in an upward direction, or “a taking up and bringing together.”⁶

And when you consider what Paul said to the Thessalonians; “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together (episunago)to Him, we ask you,” (2 Thess. 2:1) more evidence is presented, for this passage of Scripture is an undisputed reference to the Rapture of the saints of God.

1 (Robert Van Kempen; The Rapture Question Answered, Published by Fleming H. Revell a division of Baker Book House Company. Preface pp. 13-14).

2 Herbert Lockyer; All the Doctrines of the Bible; Zondervan Books Zondervan Publishing House, p.267; (Edited by myself).

3Spirit Life Bible; Jack W. Hayford; Thomas Nelson Publishers; p.1602 “Kingdom Dynamics”.

4Scott: January 15, 2011

5(Robert Van Kempen; The Rapture Question Answered, Published by Fleming H. Revell a division of Baker Book House Company. Preface pp. 84,85).

6(Robert Van Kempen; The Rapture Question Answered, Published by Fleming H. Revell a division of Baker Book House Company. Preface p.184).

Apocalypse Now: Signs Which Can’t Be Denied

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Mike Rogers

Between all of the increased natural disasters, political chaos in the Muslim nations, political and religious unrest and corruption in the world today, and the economic problems sweeping the world we can now begin to see certain signs, or clues that the end of the age is fast approaching. The very thought of it leaves many today bewildered, disorientated and somewhat panicky, not to mention all the other various subjects on Biblical Prophecy. For the most part, as long as things are going well people sort of block it all out of their minds until the next catastrophe and you then see the masses jamming into the church looking for answers. Jesus said; “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors!” (Matthew 24:32-33). As winter fades and spring approaches, the budding of trees signifies the coming of summer. This is the picture Jesus is giving with the parable of the fig tree. The signs described in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24) by Jesus will give warning of His Second Coming. It is interesting to note that these sign began to appear in earnest only after Israel became a Nation again in 1948. And in truth, none of the signs were relevant until Israel was reborn as a nation.

Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars, revolutions, wars between Ethnic Groups, widespread famine, disease, and earthquakes in many places of the world (Matt. 24:6-7; Luke 21:10-11). Widespread religious deception, lawlessness and anarchy will increase, and finally the appearance of the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2:3-4). Alongside of the appearance of the Antichrist will be the emergence of the apostasy, or falling away as the love of many, if not most, who call themselves Christian will grow cold (Matt 24:12). The Greek word used here for love is “agape,” this verse describes not the love the world knows and shares, but Christian love. It is the agape love revealed in Jesus, seen as spiritual and selfless, a love that is a model to humanity.

A waning love is the picture given here which decreases gradually in intensity like that of the moon which shows a decreasing illuminated surface between a full moon and a new moon. The agape (Christian) love for Christ and each other will be reduced to the infidelity of the faith and the absence of belief itself. It will be because of the name of Jesus that many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (Matt. 24:9-12). The shadow of this waning love is being cast upon the church today as well as society. Never before has the church been divided as it is today. In spite of the Bible’s teaching that there should be no schism (division) in the body, that the members should have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25), denominational and doctrinal lines have been established partitioning the body of Christ into neat little groups all opposing one another. Oh sure, there is a lot of talk of love today but still there is very little of it unless you run in certain circles and conform to their particular group think. Some might even love you from a distance so long as you are not a threat to what is relatively true to them, truth it seem is now subjective to the individual. Real love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:6), not much of that going around today.

These signs are compared to the labor pains of a women about to give birth. “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). “Sorrows” literally means “birth pangs.” The world will witness these birth pangs and they will increase in intensity and frequency until Jesus Christ returns. For example, earthquakes are one of the signs given by Jesus and the number of massive earthquakes is undeniably increasing. I’m not a big fan of Hal Lindsey, in my opinion he has been wrong about a great many things on the subject of Eschatology, however, he gave some statistics which I will include here, you can also see the video if you like here.

Japan’s 9.0 quake was 8,000 times greater than the New Zealand quake last month.

Haiti’s Quake was a 7.0, Japan’s 9.0 quake was 5,000 times greater than the Haiti quake.

The USGS classifies Major Earthquakes between 7.0 to 7.9

Great Earthquakes are classified at 8.0 and above.

The USGS (US Geological Survey) Yearly expectations of quakes are usually 17 major earthquakes a year and 1 great earthquake a year. Earthquakes greater than 9.0 usually only occur once every 20 years. The Great Japan Quake is the third 9.0 earthquake in the last eleven years. It is the seventh major quake of 2011 and the fourth most powerful earthquake in recorded history. Of the ten most powerful earthquakes in recorded history, six have struck since the rebirth of Israel in 1948. Three of them have happen within the last six years alone. It has been determined that the Japan earthquake alone shifted the earth 4 inches on its axis. News reports indicated that many of Japan’s coastal cities were now 6 feet below sea level because the Island shift east. Every time there is a high tide, these coastal cities are flooded. Japan’s island of Honshu was Shifted 8 feet and it was recorded that the shift on the plants axis changed time itself. These are hard facts, and when you consider in the condition of the church today, it becomes self evident we are fast approaching the end of the age.

A felt faith is replacing orthodox Christianity as False Apostles and False Prophets are busting out of the seams claiming God is revealing new things to the church today. To them, God is moving in a way that is different and more relevant to the world now. People are giving up their Bibles for new revelations, men such as Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson and many others are preaching sermons that the Bible is being superseded by new revelations. Ecstatic experience is now sought as a valid “God” encounter and anyone who holds to the bible is looked upon with distain. Yet everything about these new movements resemble very little of Christianity, the entire movement is characterized by satisfying one’s own flesh and carnal nature, especially in light of the many “manifestations” where people slither like snakes, bark like dogs, and crow like chickens. It’s about getting as much as you can for yourself, the greater anointing, the next manifestation, seeking after the next sign and wonder. We live in a time of indifference and carelessness! A time of corruption and violence! A time of uncertainty.

Scripture tells us that the last days well be met with a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices. People will be characterized by all sorts of self-centered and unnatural perversions. Some will maintain an outward pretense of Christianity but refuse the reality of the Christian faith. “BUT KNOW THIS, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5a If you are honest, the above verses are in fact characteristics of the modern and post-modern cultures. And sadly they are traits which have overrun the church. Even stronger language is given by the Holy Spirit Himself of the condition of the church in the latter times; “Now the Spirit EXPRESSLY says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” – 1 Timothy 4:1-2. Ever wonder why you can’t seem to reach many with the truth of the Gospel today? Why many of our Church leaders won’t answer for their false doctrine, why they refuse to be transparent and accountable? Here is your answer why! “having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” We are seeing the above verse played out before our very eyes, we are watching the church apostatize, we are watching our leadership out right deny the essential doctrines of Christianity. Abandoning God’s Word they are motivated by evil spirits and have become insensitive and lethargic to spiritual truth.

So if the Bible predicts that all these things will come upon the earth just prior to the return of Jesus, why do we gasp as though all is hopeless and lost? Most view Bible Prophecy as just doom and gloom yet within its confines is recorded the hope of the church, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection and rapture of the Church, His millennial kingdom, the new heaven and new earth, and lastly, God dwelling with men, in the end, we win.

A Dangerous Journey – Deliverance from Extreme Pentecostalism

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Mike Rogers

I am posting this testimony from Inerrant Word Blog as the Author of this Blog site rejoices that his wife has been delivered from the extreme Pentecostalism of Bill Johnson. Below is only a small section of her testimony and I have provided a link at the bottom so you can read this testimony in it’s entirety.

At the beginning of 2010 I decided I wanted to get involved in a more passionate “Christianity”. I have always thought of myself as a worshipper & I craved being around others who lived & breathed worshipping the Lord.

Our church had been *pushing* & wanting revival to break out. So naturally I went home one day and decided to research about what “revival” actually was and how we could get it! Through my discoveries I found out about The Welsh Revival, Charles Finney and others.

I wanted *revival* to break out in our church. The more I read about the “amazing” things that happened in Wales, the more I wanted that to happen to us.

A member of our church had been involved in the Brownsville Revival. She told me many stories about the revival that happened there & the anointing that she received from there. Whenever she went up for prayer her body would shake & eventually she would, fall to the floor.

I was curious and started looking into the information surrounding the Brownsville revival. Like the Toronto blessing, the Brownsville revival had similar manifestations of the holy spirit, and following that was the Lakeland revival.

At that time I was initially very cautious. It didn’t seem to line up with the God of the Bible I knew and I couldn’t find anything in the scriptures to back up what was happening in these places. BUT I so desperately wanted to feel God and being among passionate Christians, I thought that this was where those sorts of people were. Some of the manifestations, including the prophetic seemed exciting and it drew me in.

Despite my initial caution & a nagging feeling of unease, I started listening to the answers that these extreme prophetic people would give to the sceptics.

Here are some of the things they said/say:

- God was revealing new things to the church today.

- God was moving in a way that was different & more relevant to the world now.

- How could these things not be of God, when people were singing his praises all within the safety of a church?

- No one can judge or dismiss the manifestations of the holy spirit, if you did then this then you were quenching the Spirit.

- David danced in the streets and people then thought he was crazy, but he was a man after the Lord’s heart. This meant that even though manifestations were similar to David’s dancing (disorderly behaviour) they were of God.

- The church at Pentecost had exactly the same spirit manifestations (like drunken behaviour…because in the Bible the mockers thought they were acting drunk therefore the early church must have had drunken spirit manifestations.

- Bill Johnson is such a kind, quietly spoken & gentle man therefore he must be a man of God.

- People from all over are coming in droves to these churches, so its has to be good.

- In the last days, God’s spirit will pour out on his people and this is that.

- No-one can judge the holy spirit. If something is done in the name of the holy spirit then it must be the holy spirit.

- Those who think that these manifestations are not of God are Pharisees (& are not open to things happening in the spirit outside of the Bible).

- People who were outside of these movements were missing out on a special anointing from the Lord.

To read the complete four part testimony click here on Inerrant Word Blog.

Save With Fear Pulling Them Out of The Fire

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Mike Rogers

There have always been those who attempt to divert God’s people from their main purpose. Whether angels or men. God knows how to deal with the rebellious, but believers are warned not to participate with any such persons. The wicked appeals to the lusts of the eye, lusts of the flesh and to inordinate pride. They will pretend to love God, appear to do good works, but on close examination they are as fruitless as the fig tree that Jesus cursed. The wise will be able to identify those whose object is to be god, rather than to serve God. It will take a deeply spiritual heart to know how to reach any who are deep into deception without being contaminated-hating the sin but still loving the sinner. – Jack W. Hayford (revised by myself)

I am tired…… sick and tired of running after the false teachers and leaders.. that I use to run after…. thinking they were right……what’s up with that? I have realized that I’m still following after these bozo’s! Oh- for very different reasons for sure …..once I believed them, now I want to warn everyone to stay away from them……How’s that workin for me? Not so much!! It seems I can only take so much information on the heresy these guys teach before I over load and have to step away. Who knows, maybe that’s normal for most of us, I don’t know?

I have read more information, articles, books, tweets, and listened to their sermons: I now know more about what they teach than I ever did when I was blindly following them! Had I looked at them this closely from the beginning, obviously I wouldn’t have followed them! But I still find myself hanging out with them much more than I want to! Why is it that the very ones that I was deceived by are the ones I still spend so much time listening too?

hang on every word, much like their followers who adore and idolize them do.

help them with their income by buying there latest book, so as to “critique” it and show how much they are still teaching and preaching heresy.

Notice these books have, what I called orchestrated controversy and the publicists release the book earlier than scheduled because of the “controversy”…… translation is that it sells more books = more MONEY.

I know that it is critically important for those whom God is calling out of this deception to have the information out there on these false teachers. I thank God for the bloggers and discernment ministries daily. Let me say clearly that I am in no way wanting to diminish the work that they do for God in calling out these false prophets.

My point is, OK their FALSE, they are teaching false doctrines and heresy’s. It’s obvious!! Many other’s long before I arrived on the scene have tried to correct and instruct them in their error, to no avail. So what good am I doing or anyone else for that matter by chasing after their next statement, sermon, healing conferences, or books.

We already know they are and will continue to twist the scripture, teach another Jesus and basically do what false teachers do. Scripture doesn’t tell us that many will turn back to the truth, it states the opposite, many will fall away from the truth and follow after these false prophets.

These guys are not interested in the truth. More importantly how many times do you present them with the truth before it becomes “throwing your pearls before swine”?

Jude 22-24 “And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³ And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ²⁴ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

We know who is teaching false doctrines, we have a list of those who twist scripture. We are still waiting for many of them to respond and defend their “position” with a Biblical based defense, “in context” would be nice!

I plan on doing things a little differently , instead of wasting so much time and energy running after false teachers, their next book, sermon, tweet etc. I want to focus more on those who follow them.

The facts are already known;

their teaching heresy
they refuse correction, instruction, or to be accountable
and if they did/do repent I’m sure they would want to make it known to the world, so as to save those from the fire that they have been deceiving all of these years.

Has anyone noticed that most don’t really respond to or defend the doctrine that they are teaching to any who are questioning their Biblical validity? Several reasons for this:

They can’t Biblically defend their position and to enter into a debate “contending” for what they believe wouldn’t line up with scripture.
By not engaging those who are scrutinizing their doctrines they accomplish a couple of different things. One; they effectively “separate” themselves from those inquiring, setting up a “US and THEM” mentality within their ranks, “THEM” of course being the “bad guys” or the “unenlightened”. Which of course sets up the mind set of “aren’t we special.” Two; that sets up by default division which of course is flipped back onto those asking the questions to begin with and they are the ones that are being viewed as divisive for even questioning!! Crazy how that works but it’s working for them isn’t it.
By not engaging in response it actually in some ways promotes them and keeps them in the news so to speak. No matter if it’s good or bad, publicity at least they are being talked about. Look at almost every book that is cranked out by them. Anymore they actually promote their material as controversial……sells more books….gets more coverage….even the secular world will pick up the story and guess what…..they sell more books. Then the publishers release it earlier than planned because of all the hype……
By not responding and defending what they are teaching it creates a vacuum of sorts for those who follow them, “their sheep” are left to defend them. In some respects that works to the advantage of those who are flagging their teachings as heresy; because at least there is an opportunity to engage and hopefully save some of them out of it. But in reality those like Bill Johnson who promotes a gathering around the “FATHERS” should feel a little sheepish himself (no pun intended) in the fact that he is allowing the “children/sheep” as it were to defend the “FATHERS/leaders” leaving the sheep to defend the shepherd!!!! Kind of flies in the face of the fathers as protector doesn’t it.
Also in some ways I’m sure they are hoping that by not engaging and defending they appear to be taking the proverbial “high road” and somehow appear more like Jesus. Unfortunately that is certainly not what scripture says to do, let alone Christ never missed an opportunity to preach and defend the gospel. To always have an answer to all men. Yet they seem to be “above” the fray so to speak. One it keeps them from really having to come up with intelligent scriptural responses, in reality this can only last so long until even the most diehard fan/follower has got to start wondering if maybe what the dissenters are saying isn’t actually true.

Then by not responding it begs the questions and statements.

Why aren’t they concerned about clearing up the doctrinal error questions?? Especially for those that follow them? To give them clarity and a solid Biblical basis for them to be able to build themselves up in their faith and stand and defend and contend for the faith?
As leaders they appear to fail miserably in protecting and defending their faith, it’s role reversal, their flocks are out in the trenches fighting for their “leaders” and aren’t adequately equipped to defend them or what they teach. I can’t tell you how many comments I have read from people defending Johnson and crew, where the poor person that is commenting is using statements like “I’m sure this is what he believes…..or that’s not what he means by that” you get the picture.
I’m sure those who follow these guys would love for them to show up on some of these bloggers sites and give them what for or at least give the sheep/flock some solid defense to take with them when they go to defend them!
One of the most tragic and I think spiritually criminal is the very fact that they truly lack compassion, grace, and mercy, not only for those they deem deceived (what a golden opportunity to win some!!) but for their very own!!!!
You can only conclude that they have more than enough followers that they aren’t too concerned about those that venture into the controversy over their teachings and get slaughtered and destroyed trying to defend them. Apparently the parable of the one lost sheep going astray or wondering off where it shouldn’t doesn’t carry much weight with them. They certainly aren’t concerned about possibly losing a few being crippled or maimed!!!!
They do not take accountability or responsibility for the very things that they are presenting as truth. If they really believed and were convinced that they hold the truth, wouldn’t they at all cost continually present a defense for it? Knowing that some will be saved, even if it’s one it would be worth it? Where’s their compassion and love for the truth they claim they have when they won’t stand in defense of it? The conclusion is that those following these ministries will have to ask themselves these questions someday. Again scripture is clear, always have an answer for all men.

2 Timothy 2:4 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

2 Thess. 3:1-2 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

How shameful it is to look at just how little concern these false prophets have for those who follow them, but then look at how little they are concerned with defending their own faith…you have to wonder (usually most people will defend what they believe vehemently and often to death) do these guys even believe what they are teaching? They don’t step up, why? Don’t they trust God is faithful enough to defend His own and His own Word? Yes I’m being facetious .

My point is I know at times I have lost my spiritual compass in all of this…..it’s not hard to do! For me, I just want to really try and refocus on those out there that are in despair, broken, destroyed and hurting all at the hands of wolves like these. If they choose to repent that would be beyond wonderful; but until then the only mention I want to give of them is to all who are hurting and broken from their deception that they are spewing, God has and is calling you out.

The Unpardonable Sin

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Mike Rogers

The concept of an unpardonable sin has been a source of difficulty for many because it seems to go against the Bible’s teaching concerning grace. It also seems to be contrary to the purpose of why Christ came, to save sinners. Yet in Matthew 12 Jesus speaks of a sin that is unpardonable. Through the years I have heard many assert a great many things surrounding this passage which has left me often times frustrated, discouraged and even doubting salvation.

For instance, I have heard many charismatic’s sight this verse when people challenge their practice of Spiritual Gifts, saying they are in danger of the unpardonable sin. I’ve heard many non-charismatic’s sight this verse at the charismatic’s claiming their practice of Spiritual Gifts (tongues in particular) are of the devil. The argument seems to go both ways depending on which side your standing on. On the other side of the coin I have heard many preachers claim that the unpardonable sin is dying in your sin having never excepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Others have said that once you reject Jesus, the one source of forgiveness, there is now no forgiveness. Both of these latter points are strong and compelling arguments however is this what Jesus meant when he sighted it.

Dr. Alan Cairns, Professor of Systematic Theology at Whitefield College of the Bible has in my opinion delivered the clearest exegesis on the subject I have ever heard. I will quote the context below and then follow with his explanation.

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatter abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” – Matt. 12:22-32

“The Lord Jesus in Matthew 12 speaks of a sin that is unpardonable. It’s amazing to me that when people read that passage they always focus on that one little thing, the one sin that is unpardonable. I have very rarely ever seen people emphasis the context and yet the context is glorious. Why do we not emphasis the magnificence of God’s mercy and just focus on this one thing? It’s because I suppose of so many false theories that people, especially preachers tell others it looks like they have committed the unpardonable sin. Actually the Lord Jesus was very careful in defining this. In the context he was referring it to the Pharisees and the sin that they had committed. These particular Pharisees. They knew according to Nicodemus, they knew that God was with Christ. Nicodemus said, “We know you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” John 3:2. And yet the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 12 deliberately attributed what they knew to be the work of the Holy Spirit, they attributed it to the Devil. And they did it for their own rotten prodigious and their own particular political or sectarian advantage. Now that’s a terrible thing, they knew this to be the work of the Holy Spirit and they attributed it to the Devil. And Jesus said, you do that, that’s blasphemy that will never be forgiven in this life or the next. Now when you stop to think of it, if what the Holy Ghost does is relegated to be a work of the Devil, what is there for you? The only word that can bring light to you is the word of the of Holy Ghost. The only work that can benefit you is the work of the Holy Ghost. If you have already handed it all over to the devil, there is nothing left. Jesus said, that’s the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Some people have gone so far as to say and they may well be right in this, that that was a sin which could be committed only with regard to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ because these men had seen the Son of God through whom the Spirit of God had moved with such power. They had seen that, nobody else now a days can see that, so some people will limit that blasphemy, that particular sin to the days of Christ on earth. Be they right or wrong on that, certainly it is defined as a deliberate attribution to the devil of what they knew to be the work of the Holy Spirit, that is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.” See Video here

I concur with the observation of Dr. Alan Cairns. Clearly, the Pharisees slandered the Holy Spirit by knowledgeably attributing His work to the Devil, and by doing so, committed the unpardonable sin. To attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to the power of Satan in the face of undenialable evidence is unpardonable. Scripture teaches that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established (Matt. 18:16). Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:17-18 “It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” How did the Father bear witness of Him? By the Holy Spirit! Now here in Matthew 12 you have the two persons of the Godhead healing one who was demon possessed, blind and mute and the Pharisees attributed it to the work of the Devil. Their sin was not an act of impulse or ignorance, but the willful, continued rejection of the truth concerning Jesus. They had ample evidence of the truth from both the works and words of Jesus Christ, which left them without excuse and they deliberately insulted the Holy Spirit and by doing so they forfeited the Holy Spirit’s ministry in their lives and could not be forgiven.

Now here is a fundamental problem, Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:22-24 concerning the world that if he had not spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. If he had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin, but now they have seen and also hated both Jesus and His Father. It is clear, the works Jesus did, no one in history has or can duplicate. Yet today, many have stepped forward claiming the same anointing, authority, and ability as that of Jesus Christ. So here is the question, if a person attributes their works, or what they claim to be the works of God to the devil, does that place them at risk of committing the unpardonable sin? My answer would be no, for Jesus Himself was the spotless, sinless Son of God who could in no way do anything outside the Will of the Holy Spirit, man (flesh) on the other hand is not sinless. That does not mean that God cannot accomplish the miraculous through human means, undoubtedly he has and does, however, the miracles Jesus did validated Him as the Son of God while any miracle done through and by men validates the message of the Gospel. Any miracle done today, if it does not testify to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, is not a work of God. In Matthew 12: 22 the miracle was performed by the Spirit of God as an indication of the presence of the kingdom of God. This is what caused the multitudes in verse 23 to be amazed and look to Jesus as the Son of David, the title “Son of David” was a popular messianic term. The term itself is a public acknowledgment that Jesus is the Messiah. This is seen in Matthew 21:9 where the multitudes cried out “Hosanna (Save Now) to the Son of David! It was a plea from an oppressed people to their Savior for deliverance. In our context, the Pharisees rejected both Jesus as Messiah and the Work of the Holy Spirit through Him because of their prodigious and their own particular political or sectarian advantage. And today, most of what we are witnessing in the Charismatic church is an abuse of Spiritual Gifts which gives them their political and sectarian advantage. I have never seen one operate in the Gifts with the sole purpose to glorify Christ and present the oppressed with the salvation message. They are always used to build a ministry around a man. So I can say with all certainty, it is not the work of the Holy Spirit, it is the workings of the devil.

Tsunamis will be a Sign to the Day of the Lord

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Mike Rogers

We should pray for the people of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and the tsunamis which left this nation in devastation. Earthquakes and tsunamis are events that should bring us to our knees in repentance (Luke 13:2-5), or at least cause us to pause and reflect on the judgments of God upon humanity for our lack of repentance. This event will either harden hearts more toward God, or by God’s grace will break them with contriteness—there is no neutral response. When we view pictures and video of the devastation they remind us of how fragile we really are. We should understand how our reliance upon things can easily be wiped out. It should humble Humanity, especially how we so easily love to elevate our “greatness” instead of acknowledging God’s. As we have seen in recent days, the disturbing phenomena and violence of tsunamis strikes terror in the hearts of people.

Through the events in Japan we see the future prophetic events spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ casting their shadow upon us. Since coming events cast their shadows beforehand, when we see these things begin to come to pass we know that Christ’s coming will be soon. The budding of the fig tree (Matt 24:32-35) for instance, has been interpreted as a symbol of the restoration of the nation of Israel (which has come to pass). The phrase “and all the trees” (v. 29 KJV ) may indicate the growth of nationalism among the nations of the world. And in recent years, we have certainly seen a tremendous increase in nationalism.¹ “This generation vs.34” refers to the generation alive when all these things take place.¹

In the future, just before the Day of the Lord there will be a cluster of celestial and earthly disturbances that will act as a prelude warning to the Day of the Lord.

The sixth seal informs us that there will be this “huge earthquake” accompanied by a cluster of catastrophic celestial signs:

“Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon became blood red;” – Rev 6:11-12

And I don’t believe this will be some regional earthquake; instead, it will be global, since “every mountain” will be moved from its place. Given the magnitude of this earthquake, it makes perfect sense why the Bible employs tsunami language in two passages on the sign of the Day of the Lord:

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves” – Luke 21:25. The Greek describes the surging waves as the tossing or swell of the sea. These cataclysmic events are not simply metaphors; they will actually happen. These signs signal the end of the age simultaneously extinguishing all natural lights in the heavens, plunging the earth into total darkness. Accompanying this celestial sign the earth will experience worldwide earthquakes causing tsunamis mankind has never witness before.

Nations do not “distress” over mere ten foot waves. This will be global tsunamis on a massive scale. Interestingly, the Greek term for “surging waves” (salos) can mean “earthquake.” Also, the text indicates that the nations on the earth are not so much distressed and anxious over the celestial signs as much as they are with the roaring of the sea and surging waves.

The other text is Rev 6:14b:

“and [every] island was moved from its place.”

Again, mere ten foot waves do not accomplish this. No wonder Scripture prophecies that “people will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world.” When these bewildering events occurs, unbelieving mankind will panic and desperately seek hiding places among the rocks and in caves because they will then know with horrifying certainty that the wrath of God is about to commence.

This is a sober truth. Do not fall into the Amos syndrome, in which his audience was deceptively self-assured that they were right with God and that the Day of the Lord was for those “other people.” “Woe to those who wish for the day of the LORD! Why do you want the LORD’s day of judgment to come? – Amos 5:18 Today is the day for self-examination.

However, the signs given for the end of the age and for Christ’s return will have different effects on different individuals. For those who have chosen to worship Satan’s king, they will be gripped by incredible fear. But for those who have chosen to be true to Christ, God’s King, they will know incredible joy. Charles Haddon Spurgeon showed a remarkable understanding concerning the relationship of these events and summed them up beautifully. The following are excerpts from his sermon entitled “Joyful Anticipation of the Second Advent.”

“I must leave this first point, concerning the terrible time [a time of fearful national trouble] when this precept is to be carried out, by just reminding you that, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come, the heavens shall tell us: “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.”…Now I come to the remarkable precept itself: “Then look up, and lift up your heads.”…Let there be no looking down because the earth is quaking and shaking, but let there be a looking up because you are going to rise from it; no looking down because the graves are opening; why should you look down? You will quit the grave, never more to die. “Lift up your heads.” The time for you to hang your heads, like bulrushes, is over already, and will certainly be over when the Lord is coming, and your redemption draweth nigh. Wherefore, “look up, and lift up your heads.”²

^{^[1]}Wiersbe, W. W. 1997, c1992. Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament . Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.

²The Treasury of the New Testament, vol. 2, “Joyful Anticipation of the Second Advent,” Luke 21:28-31 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, n.d.), p. 130.

³Written by Alan Kurschner on 03/11/11 Edited, Changed and expounded on by Myself.

A Prayer For Japan

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Mike Rogers

A Prayer for Japan

March 12, 2011 | by: John Piper | Category: Commentary

The scenes of the tsunami in Japan are apocalyptic:

The power of moving water is greater than most of us can imagine. Nothing stands before it. We are driven to our knees:

Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.

O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.

And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.

Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.

Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.

May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures’ pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.

In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

Bethel’s Bizarre Preacher visit’s Local Church

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Mike Rogers

Kris Kildosher from Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church visited a local Church in the Defiance Ohio area in February. I have included an audio of the message below which is about an hour and a half long. Riddled throughout the message are many prophecies of financial breakthroughs, a house of restoration for the pastor of the church, and many other bizarre happenings, several invisible healings, as Kris introduces himself as the entertainment of the hour. Just prior to his introduction, Kris is found on the floor during the worship service where he was given a vision of the throne of God. Now drunk in the Spirit, Kris takes the podium where he begins to preach (if you can call it preaching).

Kris’s mom is a spirit filled catholic, according to Kris she had dreams and visions so as a result Kris met Jesus at a young age. During Kris’s college years God spoke to him about Acts 5, God said that Kris was lying to God about giving everything to God. Kris then spent two days rolling around on the floor having visions and encounters. Nov 7, 2004 the Holy Spirit came into His apartment and filled him. (Question: how was he having visions and encounters if the Holy Spirit wasn’t there? According to Kris, after the two days of rolling on the floor having visions and encounters, the Holy Spirit came into his apartment and filled him.)

Kris then started going to house church meetings where signs and wonders where happening, diamonds would appear on floor, nine of them showed up at his house when he went to the school of supernatural ministry. He then moved to Bethel California to attend the School of Supernatural Ministry where he graduated in 2008. He then traveled the world. 1 Tim 1:11 is His favorite verse “The bliss full happy God” (Must be a new version).

Listening to Kris you start to understand that everything he believes in is experience based rather than faith based. Like dozens of deaf ears being opened, tumors disappearing on a weekly bases, dreams, visions, encounters etc. Like his conversion, there is no mention of the Gospel, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. All you hear is about dreams, visions, the prophetic, etc, etc. This then is the fruit of Bill Johnson’s ministry, a “Gospel-less Gospel.” I found it difficult to listen to the message in it’s entirety in one sitting as it made me nauseous to think that the church has gone so far from the truth of God’s Word. However, I felt it necessary to post so people can see what sort of warped teachings are coming out of Bethel Church. To listen to the message click here – Kris Kildosher of Bethel

Closingstages

“He who has once begun to deceive others, is the less easily able to recover himself from error, and the more easily embraces in turn the errors of others.” – Johann Albrecht Bengel

Author Archives: Mike Rogers

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Save With Fear Pulling Them Out of The Fire

The Unpardonable Sin

Tsunamis will be a Sign to the Day of the Lord

A Prayer For Japan

A Prayer for Japan

Bethel’s Bizarre Preacher visit’s Local Church

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THE QUESTIONS NEEDING AN ANSWER

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A Prayer for Japan

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