King Of The Jews - Part 15The Church is constantly being bombarded by the devices of the enemy. The "Name it and claim it" movement, or as someone called it, "blab it and grab it" has made serious inroads and is causing great dissension and division in the body. In my opinion, this way of thinking attempts to put us on an equal footing with God; to "be like the most High". We are given many, many promises in Scripture, but nowhere do I find a promise that when we become Christians, will we "be like the most High" in the sense that we will usurp God's authority and sovereignty. Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;" Matthew 12:39. Paul warns, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, AND SHALL BE TURNED INTO FABLES". II Timothy 4:3 & 4 (my emphasis added) Another translation puts it that people will seek teachers who will "tickle" their ears, telling them they can have whatever they desire. God promises to provide for all of our needs, not all our desires. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19. What we need is often very different from what we want. We "want" ease and comfort, a trouble-free existence, a fat bank account and perfect health. I'm sorry but believers are not promised anything but God's comfort and guidance through this life and help in times of trouble. He never promised us a trouble-free life. Does God perform miracles and bless His people materially? Of course He does. But He decides who, when and where. We don't. To presume to know exactly what God, in His Awesomeness, has in mind for us is preposterous. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah 55:8 & 9. To further presume that we can manipulate Him into doing our bidding and kowtow to our every whim is an abomination. But if you are looking for signs and wonders and great "experiences", stick around for the Tribulation. Satan has a real doozie of a show he can't wait to unveil for you. His crowning achievement, the "Beast", will make everyone sit up and take notice. "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had the power to do..." Revelations 13:13 & 14 Man is the agency through which Satan will operate. Already man is performing signs and wonders. As mentioned earlier, science has cracked the genetic code and the promise of life everlasting through "Pharmakeia" , is right on the doorstep. Gene manipulation, cloning and bionics are already here. Sight is being given to the blind, hearing to the deaf and limbs are being replaced that are almost superior to the originals. "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is six hundred, threescore and six". Revelations 13:18. So, Satan is going to use man, in all his glory, to do his bidding and set up his kingdom. 666 is like, location, location, location. Man, Man, Man. A counterfeit Trinity. What a seductive lure for fallen man; God-like powers, peace, prosperity, health, long life; all man's for the asking; to "be like the most High". Sound familiar? Just take the mark and worship the "Beast". "...but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matthew 16:3. You don't need to conjure up "signs", manipulate reality or get "centered" to see the signs all around us. We are living in the last of the last days because we are beginning to see "signs" that can only take place during the Tribulation. That means that the Rapture must be very close indeed, for it must precede the Tribulation. From the Biblical standpoint, the Rapture itself is signless and has always been possible since Jesus' ascension into heaven. That is called "The Doctrine of Imminency". That is why each generation has found comfort in the promise that "We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed". I Corinthians 15:51. The companion verses; "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words". I Thessalonians 4:17 & 18. One huge "sign" that is going almost completely unnoticed is that of the 666 embedded in every bar-code. If you grab several items from your shelves at random, and since virtually every piece of merchandise today is bar-coded, you will notice three sets of identical parallel lines; one at the left, one in the middle and one on the right of the code. They are 6's. 6!!6!!6!! This is not fiction or hysteria, this is indisputable fact. Apparently, the whole computer bar-code system is set up to only operate using those three keys, like a triple-lock box. Highly interesting that those numbers play such a "key" role in "buying and selling". Also, even as we speak a huge fracas is unfolding in Congress over the issue of "data-mining" and other invasive and pervasive forms of electronic information gathering that will ostensibly aid in the "War on Terror". I.D. chip implants are commonplace in domestic animals and in the pipeline for military servicemen. The Detroit Free Press recently ran an article which reported that 300 million micro-chips are already warehoused and ready to be issued to every single American citizen, not necessarily for implanting but for use in a National I.D. card. The world is hurtling towards the point of no-return as regards the implementation of these devices. Regarding the "War on Terror", I personally think it is a terrible shame that over a thousand Americans are dying every year in one city in urban-guerilla warfare. I'm not talking about Baghdad, I'm talking about Los Angeles. Throughout our entire Nation, every year over 30,000 Americans are violently murdered; again, not overseas in a "war", but here on the main streets. That number is absolutely mind-boggling. Of course, as in a war, there are also the horribly wounded and the collateral damage to society at large. Jesus said that prior to His return it would be like "...the days of Noah" Matthew 24:37. Violence was the overwhelming hallmark of "the days of Noah". "And God said unto Noah; for the earth is filled with violence and behold I will destroy them". Genesis 6:13. Another "Sign of the Times". Rampant hedonism, a disregard for the poor and gross sexual sin with an accent on homosexuality are certainly not new but they were the defining causes of God's judgement upon Earth once before. Jesus said that in the last days it would be "...as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all". Luke 17:28&29 Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out..." Ezekiel 16:49&50. Just as the men of Sodom began pushing their way into Lot's house, the spirit of Sodom is pushing into the houses of everyone with a television or computer, newspapers or magazines. Children born out of wedlock, once considered the height of shame, are the norm. The divorce rate is higher amongst Christians than non-Christians. "Shacking up" is routine and same-sex partnerships are not only common, but being sanctioned legally by "marriage". Pride, gluttony, drunkenness, greed and sexual excess are constantly being promoted as normal. It is practically mandatory that every sit-com, movie, play or print media portray sex outside of marriage, men with men, women with women as not just normal, but good and desirable and healthy. Yes, if you need "signs and wonder" they're all around us. Mystery Babylon is beginning to rear its ugly beautiful head. Just as in ancient Babylon, youth and beauty are paramount. Beauty is now considered a talent. Beauty and fame, or infamy, it doesn't matter; just look good, live fast and leave a great-looking corpse. |
