Deceptions within Today's body of Christ
Within the body of Christ today an alarming and critical fact for these End Times is Jesus' own repeated warning that even true believers themselves could potentially be misled. He foretold of this scenario as arising through the centuries and into the End Times saying that, '....false Christs and false prophets will arise....so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.' [Math.24:24]. About 30 years after Christ, the Apostle Paul reiterated [as did other New Testament writers] this vital forewarning stating that in the last generation 'many will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.' [1 Tim. 4:1].
Across America today there are many deceitful spirits [persons] and deceitful mindsets of which America's populace is readily 'paying attention to' within our backslidden and undiscerning society. Even public persons [ie. celebrities, politicians, sports figures, religious leaders, etc.] who demonstrate or are exposed in the most blatant cases of anti-scriptural beliefs and behavior [like racism, homosexuality, alcoholism, outbursts of anger, cursing, adultery, fornication, criminal behavior, drug usage, etc.] are typically still regarded by many as being 'Christian' if that person professes himself as one.
Many Americans today are quick and bold to announce themselves as 'Christian' and also quick to accept others as 'Christian' yet their unChristlike speech and behavior bring a mockery to Christianity and a reproach upon the Lord. This must be stated in order to help sharpen discernment and bring alertness within today's End Time body of Christ.
Yet, scriptures are clear that 'believing' in Jesus is only the 'starting point' of submitting to the guidelines of growing into a disciple of Christ. Scripturally, there is a huge difference in being just a first-base 'believer' in Jesus versus becoming a true 'disciple' of Christ. [John 13:34,35]. Jesus' own parables describe believers who fell away and back into the deceitfulness of riches and the world's ways, having no root in Christ. [Math. 13:21,22].
But, in today's deceptive times, it is imperative for true believers to prove their Christlikeness as a mature 'disciple' of Christ and to maintain their testimony which exalts Christ. [John 13:34,35; Rev.6:9]. Unfortunately, many believers have the testimony of truly recognizing Jesus as their Savior yet they continued right on serving themselves and walking in their worldly behavior and deeds of the flesh. This kind of testimony brings no glory to God and, in fact, mocks Christ.
However, the New Testament is loaded with black and white principles which profile a true follower of Christ like: '....the one who says he abides in Jesus ought himself to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked.' [1John 2:6]. Also, Jesus Himself said, 'Why do you call Me "Lord" and do not the things which I say?' . [Luke 6:46].
A recent example of America's body of believers 'paying attention to deceitful spirits' was exemplified when 30 million USA evangelicals were completely fooled by their elected and highly celebrated President and mega-church Pastor who was exposed and soon admitted to being homosexual. Also highly alarming is that none of his other Christian ministerial associates and leaders who are called to watch over God's children discerned the deceitful spirit of deceptiveness nor the homosexual spirit in the man. In fact, the Pastor was exposed by his homosexual partner to the shock of the Pastor's associates and followers. This is a serious and loud statement about the lack of discernment within the body of Christ and its ministers today in America.
Many other religious hucksters can also be seen today on the Christian TV airwaves daily as those who are identical to Simon in the book of Acts. He was one who truly 'believed' and then was water 'baptized' yet the Apostle Peter came along later and confronted and exposed him as one in need of repentance from 'wickedness, the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity'. [Acts 8:13, 21-23].
This profile of 'believer' is also prevalent across America in persons and even ministers who 'believe' in Jesus and may also have been 'baptized' . Yet, they mostly remain in the world and in the deeds of their flesh and bring mockery to Christ and Christianity, even being stumbling blocks to others who truly seek Christ.
An even more extreme example of a deceitful profile seen today within the body of Christ parallels the woman who was in the midst of the great Apostle Paul's ministry. As she stood up 'for many days' amongst the body of Christ delivering an accurate prophecy then most assuredly the witnessing believers probably gave her much favor and respect, thinking of her as a wondeful Christian.
How shocked must they have been when Paul's discernment was that she was no Christian at all, but that she was demon-possessed? He turned to the deceitful woman and cast the evil spirit out of her. [Acts 16:17,18]. This exact scenario is occurring today across America as various popular and internationally known TV ministers [men and women] can be seen standing in the forefront of God's people and receiving great applause and respect as 'Christian' leaders, yet they have evil and deceitful spirits.
As stressed, scriptures have foretold of these great deceptions for today's End Times. However, Spirit-filled believers who are keenly operating in the solution which is 'handling accurately the word of truth' and 'having our senses trained to discern good and evil' will not be 'misled' in these deceptive days ahead. [2 Timothy 2:15; Heb.5:14].
deceitful persons, deceitful spirits
Scripturally, a 'deceitful spirit' refers not only to an actual evil spirit but also to a human spirit, a person, who has the nature and mindset of lying, deceiving and being deceived. A deceitful person ['deceitful spirit'] includes any person who operates in a pattern of behavior, speech and/or belief[s] [religious beliefs or not] which directly contradicts and opposes the clear principles and truths of the Bible. As previously mentioned, even persons who profess to 'believe' in Jesus yet operate in other wrong beliefs, speech and/or behavior which 'deny' and oppose Christ and God's Word are 'deceitful' to some discernable degree. Scriptures name this kind as 'deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ'. [2 Cor. 11:13].
The New Testament is emphatically clear that any level of deceitfulness has no part whatsoever in Jesus Himself, nor the Apostles who wrote the New Testament, nor a true and matured Spirit-filled believer who truly walks upright with God. This Biblical reality is soon coming to this generation globally as God will seperate the true and upright children of God from the entire rest of the world and its rebellious, lukewarm and deceitful 'believers'. This is foretold in scriptures saying that 'the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.' [Romans 8:19]. [*This is discussed later in this chapter.]
But, deceitfulness can range from a person [even a young person] who demonstrates a subtle pattern of deceptiveness [ie. lying, stealing, 'little white lies', deceiving] to a person who lives a double life and is crafty, if not sophisticated, in his deceptions and covering up. It also includes any so-called 'Christian' or 'Christian' minister who truly 'believes', yet they operate in deceptiveness in some area of their lives.
The most extreme and hardened profile of a deceitful person is a person who actually believes their own lie and/or their own false belief and cannot be swayed from it. This mindset of deception is profiled as one who 'believes what is false' to be true. [2 Thess. 2:11].
Again, this profile is massive in today's society in persons whose beliefs, behavior and/or speech oppose the Bible's principles and truths yet they are immovable in their stance. [ie. atheists, evolutionists, homosexuals, racists, psychics, spiritual mediums, adulterers, gang members, alcoholics, religious terrorists, religious leaders, etc.]. Ultimately, the gravest wrong belief a person could ever embrace is to deny [in belief, speech and/or behavior] that Jesus is the divine Son of God and the Savior and Lord.
In terms of the solution and as stated emphatically in previous chapters, God's people are not called to be deceived, nor walk in blindness nor live in a guessing-game with regard to the truths and crucial topics found in God's Word. This is true in its largest scope including the End Time body of Christ not being deceived by the man of sin's true profile as presented in God's Word.
Ultimately, the truths and principles found in the written Word of God are the sole source and gauge by which a Spirit-filled believer can know the truth and test and discern the existence and extremity of the deceitfulness of a person. Believers are specifically instructed to 'have your senses trained to discern good and evil'. [Hebrews 5:14]. This principle not only deals with a believer operating in sharp discernment in his daily life but also pertains to having sharpened discernment regarding the largest scope globally of the 'good and evil' which is shaping up prophetically in these End Times.
Doctrines of demons
'Doctrines' of demons refer specifically to any/all beliefs [religious or not] which contradict God's written Word and which mislead a person away from Christ. This automatically makes that belief ['doctrine'] demonic and having its origin from demons who, along with Satan, are the originators of all things [even beliefs] which oppose God.
Concerning demonic doctrines and beliefs infiltrating the body of Christ, the best disguise of demons is not to publicly denounce Christ. To the contrary, their prime success is to speak much about Jesus and hold up the Bible as its own foundation even teaching true principles from scriptures. As stated previously, even a demon-possessed woman can prophesy accurately. Not to mention Satan's boldness in quoting scripture directly to the Son of God.
However, a Spirit-filled believer who examines things by the scriptures can accurately discern a religious phoney and his mixed bag of religious doctrines.
Also, any religion or set of beliefs which may include true Biblical principles yet which holds up any particular idea, person or doctrine to a greater focus than Jesus or distracts or clouds from His Lordship is demonically oriented. This immediately makes that religion or set of doctrines to be false.
For example, the epitome of false 'Christian' religions is the Roman Catholic doctrines. The Papacy's set of doctrines clearly include Jesus as the divine Son of God. However, He is drowned out of the picture by the exalting of Mary, statue homage, other dead saints to pray to and the Pope himself and his global downline of priests all self-designated as 'father' and mediators between man and God. The added tiring religiosity of counting beads, empty repetitious chanting and ongoing religious rituals compound the misleading of persons away from Jesus. All of this is in addition to the many doctrines of Vatican Councils 1 & 2 which outrightly oppose and contradict the scriptures as discussed below.
The schemes of Satan and his demons always have the intent and craftiness to harm, destroy, confuse and deceive a person away from Christ. In the religious arena, the devil has a vast bag of tricks for each religion, particularly the Christian body, his most hated group since they are God's true children. This is why he mixes the truths about Jesus and the Bible with satanic lies and demonic 'doctrines'. Always a mixed bag.
The devil is crafty enough to know that fooling God's true children would require his best mask of Christian mimmickry. The Apostle Paul pointed this out by saying that '.....even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.' [2 Cor. 11:14]. Like the Lord, Paul also exhorted believers that 'no advantage be taken of us by Satan' and that we must 'not be ignorant of the schemes of the devil' . [2 Cor. 2:11].
Specifically, any/all beliefs [religious or not] which contradict the clear principles and truths of the written Word of God and/or exalts something [or someone] to greater focus and/or importance than Christ Jesus Himself is considered a 'doctrine of demons' . To re-emphasize, this is because that particular belief ['doctrine'] is being held up as a type of idol above God and which clouds and/or misdirects that person's attention away from Christ Jesus which is the ultimate intent and purpose of Satan and his demons.
the spirit of Antichrist
The Bible repeatedly warns that the End Times will be the period of the greatest compounding of deceptions in world history, ever. The man of sin himself is the ultimate End Time icon of deception profiled as the one who will 'come in accord with the activity of Satan and with ALL the deception of wickedness for those who perish.......' . [2 Thess.2:10].
In about 90AD in John's first letters to the body of Christ he stated that the spirit of antichrist was already present in the world. This was obvious to him in witnessing the distorting of the truths of Christianity which began about 60 years earlier after Christ's ascension. The Apostle's term 'spirit of antichrist' was specifically linked to 'antichrist' himself, who John wrote 'is coming'. [1 John 2:18 ].
Later, in 95AD, the Revelation vision put the 'face' on the 'antichrist' he had written about showing he would arise in the form of a religious icon, the False Prophet, 'having two horns like a lamb' . After the vision, the terms 'antichrist' and the 'spirit of antichrist' to John were both tied together with the coming False Prophet's future masquerade as a 'Christian'. In the truest sense, the spirit of antichrist is the same as the spirit of the False Prophet, who himself is 'antichrist'.
This is significant when discerning the Papacy of Rome today and the magnitude of all of its religious deceptions and global success in its mimmickry of Christianity, all of which equals the spirit of antichrist.
Another significant aspect in John's letters is his secondary use of the term 'antichrist' in a more general sense. He stipulates that beside 'antichrist' himself, then all other persons who John considered as 'antichrist' would be identifiable as those who 'deny' Jesus as the Christ. [1 John 2:22-24].
But, unlike today's popular inclination to solely interpret 'denial' of Christ as meaning an outright denouncing of Christ which is easy to spot, the Apostle John and the other New Testament writers considered 'denial' of Christ by additional criteria. For example, John himself makes numerous statements which profile a 'denier' of Christ to be any person who exhibits unChristlike nature, behavior, speech, deeds and/or beliefs [doctrines] which contradict or oppose true Christlikeness and the Word of God. John immediately clarifies this after his general application of the term 'antichrist' by stating the black and white all-encompassing fact that 'If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.' [1 John 2:24].
To the Apostles, 'denial' of Christ definitely included any person who they observed failing in Christlikeness no matter how much that person 'professed' Christ and even boldly named themselves as a 'Christian'. Just like in the first century, the spirit of antichrist fills today's generation with persons who 'profess' Christ yet their conduct, speech and/or beliefs 'deny' Christ.
But, religious deception is not new. It is Satan's final ploy since the first century. Namely, to wrap himself up over the last 2000 years in a religious 'Christian' disguise as one of God's children and then rise to world power being hailed as the ultimate icon on earth to be bowed to. This self-exalting intent of Satan is exactly what got him thrown out of heaven in the beginning. It is also the same deceptive intent he demonstrated again [and failed in again] in trying to manipulate Jesus to bow to him. However, the devil's final attempt to deceive the world into bowing to him is being proven as successful today through his False Prophet.
Today's scenario is the exact fulfillment of the New Testament writers who predicted the spirit and deceptions of antichrist would eventually compound into an unparalleled religious 'Christian' deception in these End Times. This is also exactly why Jesus Himself repeatedly forewarned true believers 'not to be misled' and to be on high alert of the potential for 'even the elect' to be deceived by wolves in sheep's clothing.
Global success of Deceitful spirits and Demonic doctrines
Without question the greatest example and success today of 'deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons' originates from Rome as foretold for these End Times. At the top of the devil's cake of Roman Catholicism and its demonic doctrines is placed his cherry, the False Prophet [Papacy of Rome]. Its antichrist downline consists of over 400,000 false prophets [priests] worldwide who have deceitful spirits and are 'deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ' . [2 Cor. 11:13]. Over 1 billion religious followers today profess their allegiance to the Papacy and its 'Christian' mimmickry fulfilling Revelation's foresight of antichrist's global religious tentacles in the End Times.
Soon, as the Apostle Paul stated, 'some [true believers in Christ] will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons'. Although this has already occurred over the centuries, a great spiritual division is coming in this generation amongst the world's people where persons will either choose to fully submit to Christ Jesus or choose to embrace the deceptions of antichrist [Papacy] and his vast doctrines of demons. As discussed in the sections below, this does not mean those persons will become 'Catholic' necessarily but that, overall, persons will submit to the 'unity' and general false hope offered to the world under the leadership of the False Prophet.
But, since its creation in the 3rd and 4th centuries the Papacy has instituted many doctrines of demons within their canon law of Roman Catholicism which not only diametrically oppose the Bible but are literally satanic. VATICAN COUNCIL 1 & 2 [in 1870 and 1965] document these doctrines and can be easily researched and confirmed.
Several prime examples of the Papacy's fabricated phony, anti-Biblical doctrines and rituals which oppose Christ and the written Word of God are listed here:
The ultimate Primacy and infallability of the Pope falsely make the Pope the sole and ultimate 'infallable' voice and judge of morality on earth. This doctrine is pure folly to any student of the Bible.
The Pope falsely claims to be the ultimate authority on earth and subject to no one, even sits on his own throne. These Papal doctrines exalt the Pope exactly as scriptures portray of the man of sin who 'will exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship....' . [2 Thess. 2:4]. [Vatican Council]
The Pope falsely claims to be the father, teacher and ultimate interpreter on earth of ALL scriptures and morality over all Christians. [Vatican Council]
The Papacy's satanic doctrine and ritual of the Eucharist falsely teaches that the communion bread and grapejuice is miraculously 'changed' ['transubstantiates'] into the literal 'physical body and blood of Jesus' [ News Benedict / Vatican Council ] while the Pope and all Catholic priests perform the ritual. This abominable ritual mocks Christ, opposes God's Word and means that the participant is [theoretically] 'cannabilzing' Jesus Himself. Benedict has proven to be obsessed with aggressively pushing [ 1 ] this satanic doctrine worldwide. In a recent 'antichrist' deception, Benedict claimed that just a person's 'desire' to participate in the Eucharistic ritual results in the 'effect of salvation'. [ News: June 2008 ] [ News/ Benedict promoting Eucharist globally: Canada / Australia / United States / Ireland ]
Praying to dead people ['saints'] who have been dead for hundreds of years, believing for a divine miracle to occur from dead persons.
Praying to the virgin Mary and directing over 1 billion followers to also do so. [Vatican Council / News: July 2006]
The satanic practice of paying homage to statues and even blessing them. [ News: Benedict June 27, 2008 / News: 'statue' of Pope / Vatican Council]
The Papacy's doctrines and rituals which falsely give the Pope all authority in determining a person's eternal destiny after a person [even babies] has already died even hundreds of years before, being beatified and canonized as a 'saint' by the Pope himself. This obviously opposes God's Word and His sole authority as judge over heaven and hell. [Vatican Council / News: deceptions of False Prophet]
The Pope's false claim of authority to pronounce a person as 'accursed' and damned to eternal hell if the Pope himself were to decide that person has opposed him or has departed from the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church. [Vatican Council / News ]
These anti-christ doctrines plus dozens of others are listed in the historic records of the Vatican Councils of 1870 and 1965. Not only do over a billion unsuspecting Catholics participate in these 'doctrines of demons' but, alarmingly, the true body of Christ and its ministers are naively welcoming these doctrines into the sheepfold of Christ today. Daily, Catholic priests can be seen on various Christian TV programming freely carrying out the Eucharist and promoting the 'doctrines of demons' of the Papacy of Rome.
Today's deceptive 'moves' of the spirit of antichrist
In these last months and years heading towards Tribulation the body of Christ and unbelievers who have ears to hear must be alert to the current dealings of the devil and his next moves on today's End Time prophetical time-clock so as not to misled.
First, the Pope of Rome [Benedict XVI or any subsequent sitting Pope] will take the forefront of the world's stage as he gets nearer to mediating a 7 Year Peace Treaty with Israel. Although many world leaders have attempted to lead this Mideast Peace effort, all of them have fallen short. However, the Pope himself will be the only world leader able to step up and actually negotiate 'Mideast Peace'. [Daniel 9:27]. [ Current News: Benedict XVI & Mideast Peace ]
This is the next major Biblical event to occur in this generation. As emphasized in this book, this event will be greatly publicized and will thrust this generation into the final 7 Year Tribulation period as scriptures foretold. The Pope himself will also be catapulted even higher in world status because of his Mideast accomplishment.
Secondly, the Pope of Rome will rise to the top position of the European Union which will experience 10 nations within the EU forming together which must take place first. This will occur by the mid-point of the 7 Year Tribulation as the final 10 nation Euro-Kingdom on earth [1st BEAST of Revelation 13] and the False Prophet [2nd BEAST of Revelation 13] operate together in full satanic power during the coming Great Tribulation.
The Pope will be handed top EU authority because of his unmatched world status, his solving of the Mideast Peace problem and his highly favored worldwide cries for human rights and food for all persons.
Currently, Benedict's insistence to be recognized worldwide as the moral advocate of human rights [ News 4/08 ] and the solver of global food problems [ News/mark of the beast ] is already successful in giving him a world platform and a serious 'ear' from the world's leaders. Particularly, in the face of today's acute needs in these two legitimate areas. Some of Benedict's recent platforms in his preaching on these two issues were: the European Union, the United States and the United Nations in addition to his constant political messaging to the world from the Vatican. [News]
Another key deception by the spirit of antichrist today which God's people must be highly alert to is the Papacy's current push to orchestrate 'unity' amongst all people and religions. This has been one of Benedict's clear prime efforts and themes since elected in April of 2005 and has steadily accelerated now to great momentum worldwide. In no way is Benedict calllng for a '1 World religion' nor is he calling for all persons to become 'Catholic'. But, under the guise of 'Christianity' and by the deceptiveness of the Papacy's 'lamb-like' appearance of peace and love he is successfully causing all persons to let their spiritual guards down completely. Again, this deception originates from Satan who will succeed in this facade until he unmasks himself at the mid-7 Year point at which time his global 'love fest' will abruptly end. [Global Unity: News June 26, 2008 / News April 2008 ]
In just over 3 years since Benedict's election the Vatican's revolving door policy has virtually allowed most all top political and religious world leaders to meet with him and/or pay their respects for his world status and 'peace and unity' pitch. Key buzzwords to be alerted to and which can be constantly heard from the Papacy and its hierarchy in pushing for 'peace and unity' are: having 'dialogue' with each other, 'human rights' , 'solidarity' amongs all people and nations, solving the world's food crisis and 'ecumenical' efforts to unite globally. Ultimately, this all will work together deceptively in quickly pushing the Pope of Rome to the top political authority and rule in the world. From the Pope's perspective, when he talks of 'world unity' he means everyone should unite 'under him' as top authority as written in Roman Catholic Canon Law. [ Vatican Council ]
Prophetically, the Papacy's deceitful 'world unity' ideal will literally burst into effect at the mid-point of the 7 Year Tribulation which is coming. The concept of a '1 World Government' will literally be fulfilled at that point in the final 3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation. This is specifically shown in Revelation by its depiction of the False Prophet arising as the only person on earth with the ability to 'deceive ALL who dwell on the earth'. [Rev.13:14]
The Pope's current drive to solve the world's hunger problem will also exalt him in the near future as the only leader in the world able to force 'ALL' globally to receive his 'one-mark' system as Revelation cites. [Rev.13:16,17]. As today's News shows, Benedict is already in fast process of leading this generation into this exact global spiritual mindset which is the spirit of antichrist. [News: Mark of the beast & Benedict XVI] [ News July 1, 2008: 'Combatting poverty, Building Peace' is Benedict's theme for January 1, 2009 ]
Antichrist's 'World unity' VS. God's calling to 'separate'
Pope Benedict's pitch today of 'peace and unity' mixes a true Biblical principle of 'peace' and deceptively couples it with 'world unity' amongst all persons. As emphasized, this End Time strategy of the False Prophet has great momentum right now worldwide and will continue until it kicks into its full horrific downslide under the Papacy of Rome in the Great Tribulation. [Benedict / Global Unity: News: June 26, 2008 / News: April 2008-Benedict @ United Nations ]
Its success in attracting the world's unsuspecting populace is because of Satan's religious double-talk and deceptiveness in his 'appearance as a lamb' presented in his False Prophet from Rome. The success of the spirit of antichrist's deceptivenss in calling for 'world unity' is also evident within the true body of Christ and its blind leaders, shepherds and so-called 'prophets' as no mention of these things exists today. This is the direct result of the lack of knowledge of crucial Biblical topics and the lack of discernment of today's ministers who have allowed an unecessary increase of evil infiltration into God's house than what is inevitable to some degree as foretold.
However, Benedict's 'unity' amongst the world's people is the exact opposite of God's Word and opposite from what He Himself is about to do in this earth amongst His own children. In no way does God's plan for His End Time children include 'uniting' with the world or participating in the deceptions of Rome. This is precisely contrary to the New Testament [and Old Testament] principles which emphatically instruct believers not to be united with the world, nor be unequally yoked nor even be 'friendly' with the world 'which is hostility towards God'. [James 4:4].
In fact, what God is now readying to do in this world is bring a total separation between His own true Spirit-filled children and the rest of the world. His Light and truth is about to shine so powerfully in this world that it will sharply separate and spotlight His own people in these End Times who truly serve God and who walk upright in Christ. His children will exalt God alone instead of submitting to the exalting of the False Prophet which is also shaping up quickly.
This coming fresh and powerful End Time outpouring of God's Spirit will cause His children in this final generation to be mighty witnesses for Him and will powerfully separate true Christians from this world, showing us as 'in' it yet completely and drastically not 'of' it. Later, in the coming Great Tribulation, God still mericifully will be in the process of separating His people from the Great Harlot [Rome] saying one last time to all persons still remaining on earth after the rapture: 'Come out of her My people, that you may not participate in her sins....'. [Rev.18:4].
But, in terms of 'unity', then the kind of 'unity' which God Himself will soon bring is a true 'unity' amongst His children as the 'unified' and matured body of Christ as the Apostle Paul foretold. [Eph.4:13]. All others, including worldly believers ['foolish virgins' as Jesus called them / Math.25:1] will 'fall away from the faith' and from Christ and remain in the world because of the severe perilous times coming. These also will experience God's separating spiritual sword except away from God and away from the great unity coming within the body of Christ.
Scriptures specifically foretell of the magnitude of this coming outpouring of the Spirit in the End Times and just before Christ's revealing saying that the 'anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.....that the creation itself also will be set free from its corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.' [Romans 8:19-21].
The prophet Daniel also talked of the soon coming glory and mighty anointing of God coming upon His servants and seperating them in these Last Days saying that 'Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.' [Daniel 12:3].
Then, after the body of Christ is highly held up and backed by God Himself in their witnessing for Jesus to the world and their exalting of Him in the days coming, then the next and final step for believers on earth will be for God to lift His children from this earth in the twinkle of an eye and into the very presence of He who has purchased us. This foretold rapturing of God's people will be the first and near-future event by which God will begin 'revealing the sons of God' to this world and, in fact, to all of creation.
At Christ's physical return from the heavens to earth will be the second and larger 'revealing' of those sheep which are His own and who heard His voice as all of heaven and all persons ever born and all of creation itself will simultaneously witness Christ's return. Following Him will be His army of Old and New Testament saints including all believers who were taken in the rapture just months before. [Rev.19:11]. After the thousand year reign of Christ on earth will be the final Great White Throne judgement of God where the final 'revealing' of all those who are destined for eternity in God's presence will be spotlighted in His glory and seperated one last time into His presence, forever.
>>>> End Chapter 5 / Deceitful spirits and Doctrines of Demons / Copyright 2007-2008 /
US Library of Congress / All rights reserved. / TWO BEASTS RISING .