JESUS IS COMING
SOON… how do you read these words? It
all depends on how you read these prophetic words. "History has countless
examples of people who have proclaimed that the return of Jesus Christ is
imminent, but perhaps there has never been a stranger messenger than a hen in
the English town of Leeds in 1806. It seems that a hen began laying eggs on
which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written. As news of this
miracle spread, many people became convinced that doomsday was at hand — until
a curious local actually watched the hen laying one of the prophetic eggs and
discovered someone had hatched a hoax."[1]
On September 28th the
moon has turned into an incredible blood color. Many thought this event will
trigger the Rapture and the start of a seven-year-tribulation. In his 2013 book
Four Blood Moons: Pastor John Hagee noted, “The four blood moons making
appearances between April 2014 and September 28, 2015, signify the end of an
age, when God comes back to the planet.” Others thought, Pope Francis’s visit
in September will trigger the end of the world.
What are we to
make of all these failed predictions? The bible does not give us end time predictions
but only signs and alerts. The Bible also gives us a road map in regards to how
to prepare ourselves and others in the light of the imminent and certain return
of Christ, which will indeed trigger the end of the world. Therefore let’s not
be afraid at the next apocalyptic event and easily swayed and fooled by the
next great and bold predictions.
The word Alert
means: “Being watchful, attentive,
observant, wide awake, on the lookout, and to warn (someone) of a danger, threat,
or problem.” Keeping that in mind let’s look at a few End Time Alerts in
Matthew 24: 1-13. This passage explains Jesus’ lack of interest over
material things and disciple’s misplaced identity and lack of discernment in
regards to the end of the world matters. As Jesus was walking away from the
temple the disciples called his attention to the magnificent structure of the
temple. Jesus plainly told them that one day that awesome building will be
thrown down.
The disciples must
have been surprised and disappointed with that prediction. So in private they
came to Jesus asking him to explain what was going to happen in the future.
They wanted to know when and how Jesus will return to establish his kingdom. Jesus
said to them: Be Alert. He alerted them to three things: The great deception,
the grave dangers and the gradual decrease.. Today we will learn about the
first Alert: THE GREAT DECEPTION
I THE GREAT DECEPTION: Vs 5, “For many
will come in my name claiming, “I am the Christ, and will deceive many.” This
deception is in regards to false Christs their claims and teachings. In recent
years there have been a number of false Christs arising in different nations in
the world. Here are three false messiahs. Australia:
Also known as A.J., Alan John Miller in Queensland, Australia with his partner
Mary Luck. Miller claims that he remembers details from his “former life” as
Jesus, and Luck says that she is the reincarnation of Mary Magdalene.
Siberia: Also known as Vissarion, Sergey
Anatolyevitch Torop began proclaiming himself as Jesus reincarnated after he
was fired as a traffic officer in Russia in 1990. He went on to found the
Church of the Last Testament, which combines various religions together.
Brazil: Alvarro Theiss a 66-year-old Brazilian
man also known as INRI Cristo who believes he is the reincarnation of Jesus
Christ. He dresses like Jesus, says his mission is to prepare the elect for the
formation of the new earthly society, which will strive to fulfill the
Creator's will. Most of his followers are women.
“Tragically, those
who claim to be Christs are deceived. Their followers will sincerely regard
themselves to be genuine believers, actively doing the work of Christ,” That is
another form of deception. “They prophesy, cast out demons and even work
miracles in the name of Jesus. But they are serving a false Christ—not the real
Jesus.”[2]
Many around the
world and here in the USA are being deceived by the false messiahs. This is how
Daniel calls the master deceiver, “A king will show up, hard-faced, a master
trickster. His power will swell enormously. He’ll talk big, high-handedly, doing
whatever he pleases, knocking off heroes and holy ones left and right. He’ll
plot and scheme to make crime flourish— and oh, how it will flourish! He’ll
think he’s invincible and get rid of anyone who gets in his way. But when he
takes on the Prince of all princes, he’ll be smashed to bits— but not by human
hands.” (Daniel 8:25-26) The Message.
Unfortunately many in the USA are being
exposed to mysticism,paranormal activities and even satanic worship. In May
2014, members of a New York group called the Satanic Temple joined Harvard
students to hold a "black mass" at a Chinese restaurant in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
Although Harvard
did not prohibit the event, allowing it as an expression of student free-speech
rights, the campus group - the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club - pulled
its support, forcing relocation at the last minute to the nearby Hong Kong
Restaurant and Lounge.”[3]
How tolerant we have
become in the name of not upsetting people?
What does the scriptures say about turning to such activities and
practices? I Timothy 4:1, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some
will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by
demons.”
On October 26,
Monday morning during my quiet time the Lord spoke to me through this
scripture. It kind of explains the current state of the American Church. I felt
like the Lord wanted me to speak about it this Sunday exposing some of the
deceptions of the devil during the end times, moreover it is my responsibility
as your pastor.
In Chapter 4, verse 1, Paul was repeating to
Timothy the warning he had given many years earlier to the Ephesian elders.
Acts 20:28-31, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit had made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he
bought with his own blood. I know that
after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the
flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order
to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three
years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”
Here we see the very heart of the Apostle Paul over the Church he planted in Ephesus.
He was concerned that after his departure, “some men (savage wolves)” from
within their own number will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them.
The Church of
Jesus Christ world over for generations have been attacked by these savage
wolves who claimed to be the believers and the followers of Christ but in
reality they never were true believers; they were following the commands of
their master the devil. As we know his only one aim is to destroy the flock of
God. The shepherds have a responsibility to protect the flock. We need
discernment not to believe every spirit or everyone who claim to be a Christian
but not truly following Christ. They are wolves in sheep’ clothing.
The Holy Spirit
throughout the scriptures has repeatedly warned of the dangers of apostasy.
(Matt 24:4-12, II Thess 2:3-12; Hebrews 1:1-2). We read in I Timothy 4:1, “The
Spirit clearly says that in later times
some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by
demons.” Let me further break this scripture. “The
Spirit clearly says,” means anything that the Holy Spirit says to the
Church is absolutely clear. “Later
times,” here referring to the period from the first coming of Christ until
his return. Apostasy will exist throughout that period, reaching a climax
shortly before Christ returns. “Some
will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Who are these some? These are professing or nominal
Christians who associate with those who truly believe the gospel. They are the
ones when exposed to the teachings of the deceiving spirits and the things
taught by demons; (the entire operation of Satan and his demons is deception);
because they are not deeply rooted in the truth quickly abandon or depart from
their faith. The Greek word for abandon or depart is “apostasia” that is where we get the English word apostasy which
means; “the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.”
Some abandoning their faith is referring to those who move away from an
“original position.”
I Timothy 4:1 in
some ways has come into play right in front of
our eyes when the supreme court legalized, gay marriage following the
60% of Americans views. In my opinion many in our country have moved away from
their “original position” on marriage. Marriage has been ordained by God from
the beginning and it is to be between a man and a woman. I am saddened by how
many Christians and even churches have shifted and continuing to shift their
position on marriage.
The Great
deception, this End Time Alert is one among many alerts that has been abundantly
made clear by the Holy Spirit over two thousand years ago through our Lord Jesus
Christ and his disciples. Therefore we will have no excuse when we turn away
from our faith.
Dear friends; do
you know what will happen to the great deceiver and all those who will follow
him? “When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell,
and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations, searching out
victims in every nook and cranny of earth,…The Devil who deceived them will be
hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the
three in torment around the clock for ages without end.” Rev 20:7-10 (The
Message) In light of this alert what should be our response? Let’s not play
with the devil neither make a pact with him, we are called to ‘resist the
devil” by submitting to the Lord and he will flee from us.” Amen
