A minister purposefully omitting from his cheery life-lessons the topics of Righteous judgment, Hell, sin, condemnation, human depravity, carrying your cross, self-denial, and personal holiness in order to deliver a more palatable product is a false minister.
The Love of God, for the sake of the flock, will not retreat in the face of such deception, but will accentuate it as the damnable counterfeit that it is.
Rom 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Rom 1:24 “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.”
Rom 1:25 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”
Rom 1:32 “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.”
In Romans chapter 1, Paul lays the framework of God’s interaction with a lawless society persisting in wickedness. For such a people, God ceases to restrain them from the lusts of their evil hearts as they willfully plunge into shameless acts of depravity.
From this downward moral spiral, a degenerate philosophy develops among the rebellious. “…They not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.” This godless philosophy is deceptively named: “Tolerance”.
Tolerance, a worldly belief system, is a selective temperament warmly embracing certain contradictory behavior, opinions, beliefs, religions…etc. Promoted, as the universal acceptance of all, in application, is the unswerving praise of all that is damned. Hypocritically, it endorses corrupt human expression as equal in desirability and value, while consistently rejecting God’s righteous standards.
Frequently, it is championed as the alibi for sexual perversion in the name of equality, false religions as valid spiritual paths, and the destruction of Christian influence as vital to an ‘enlightened’ society.
This unwritten rule of human relations has its roots in the seat of Hell and is executed in the Earth by the spirit of antichrist. With a polished veneer, it thinly sheets the shameless denial of absolutes and moral authority. With overtones of self-rightness, it appeals to the ‘goodness’ in all.
Having blatantly declared itself as Lord, it is, in essence, the brazen ascension of the debased sin nature to the throne of natural life.
Tolerance is the arrogant attempt to remove the foundational vestiges of a Holy God and unite mankind in counterfeit geniality.
Tolerance, therefore, is not God’s gift to Christianity, for God Himself is not tolerant, but merciful (Dan. 9:9), patient (2 Peter 3:9), and long-suffering (Jer. 15:15).
It is, however, God’s gift to a reprobate society.
“Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions”. G. K. Chesterton
The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of Fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.
A.W. Pink
The Misconception:
The typical church member, if asked how they believe the rapture will take place, will most likely tell you, “it will happen in the blink of an eye. One day there will be a trumpet blast and…[[puff]]…we’re gone!”
But unfortunately, popular Christian movies series and silly t-shirts by clueless filmmakers and misguided entrepreneurs have propagated this ignorant notion.
The Word:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die physically), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
The Truth:
Paul clearly states some event will take place “in a moment” and “in the twinkling of an eye”, but it is NOT the catching away of the church, the rapture itself.
God is teaching us our physical bodies will need to be transformed first before we join Him in Heaven and eternity.
In verse 50, we see the context of the whole passage: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Paul then proceeds to explain how our corrupted physical bodies, in order to be taken to Heaven, must be changed first. Even as the heart was changed at conversion, even so our bodies must be changed at His appearing.
This is reinforced in Paul’s letter to the church at Phillipi, chapter 3 and verse 21; “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
How did Elijah leave the Earth? Did He Disappear?
Elijah knowing he would be soon taken from the Earth asked Elisha what he could do for him before leaving. Elisha asked for a double portion of the miraculous Grace that was upon him. Elisha was told, if he saw the prophet being “taken from you”, his desire would be granted.
In II Kings chapter 2:11, God tells us after Elijah and Elisha were separated by a chariot and horses of fire; “Elijah was taken to Heaven in a whirlwind” and Elisha “saw it”!
So Elijah was not dematerialized in an instant, but had a Glorious and observable catching away. In other words, Elisha was an eye-witness to Elijah’s departure.
How did Jesus leave the Earth? Did He vanish?
Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
In Acts 1, we see the disciples starring into the sky. Was it because Jesus suddenly disappeared? Not at all!
Acts 1:10 “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.”Jesus was caught up to Heaven in a manner, which allowed His disciples to observe him “as He was going”, that is until “a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Had he simply vanished, as some believe the rapture will take place, no cloud would have needed to “hide Him”.
While an abrupt departure is cinematically more dramatic, it is clear from God’s own Words…when Jesus returns, all belonging to His body…His Holy Bride will be taken up in the same manner He was.
The planet will witness not only His unexpected and Glorious appearing, but also the majestic calling of His own to Himself. “And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (I Thess 4:17)
So how will the rapture transpire?
“Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thess 4:18
What is the Gospel? Is the Gospel a message of glad tidings from Heaven to make God-defying rebels at ease in their wickedness? Is it given for the purpose of assuring the pleasure-crazy young people that, providing they ‘only believe’, there is nothing for them to fear in the future? One would certainly think so from the way the Gospel is presented, or rather perverted, by most of today’s evangelists. And the more so when we look at the lives of their converts.
Surely those, with any degree of spiritual discernment, must perceive that to assure such ‘converts’ that God loves them and His son died for them and that a full pardon for all their sins, ‘past, present, and future’, can be obtained by simply ‘accepting Christ as their personal savior’ is but a casting of pearls before swine. Because the churches are largely filled with these ‘converts’ explains why they are so unspiritual and worldly.
A. W. Pink
Church or Fleshly Social Gathering – #1
Your church may becoming a fleshly social club, if “did you sense His presence this morning” has changed to “did you feel the beat tonight”!
Churches spend a majority of their efforts, neglecting the feeding of the sheep, in order to lure, with brief entertainment productions, an apathetic audience attending, only if, the lake is frozen, their team is resting or theater offers nothing better for their idle time.
How despicable God’s House be peddled to indifferent idolaters in the hopes of snagging one more attendee!
Oh how those claiming to serve Him blaspheme God’s name!
It is called, “social club”!
It is called, “lukewarm”!
It is called, “compromise”!
It is called, “worldly”!
It is called, “Ichabod”!
Regarding God’s “unconditional”ity: I am weary of the fruitless lukewarm masses pronouncing upon themselves false comforts with a word that does not appear in Scripture or its original languages. Especially in light of the many commandments God has placed upon those who believe in Him.
Can there be a greater lie, propagated in churches today, than after God Himself has chosen, called, ransomed, cleansed, sanctified and justified the Hell-bound sinner; there is no requirement of the forgiven to be entangled with the encumbering obligations of a higher, Heavenly call during his sojourning on Earth?
A Solemn Prophetic Warning
to the Church in the United States
Stanley Frodsham (1965)
With great judgments will I plead with the population of this country. Great darkness is coming upon the countries that have heard my gospel but no longer walk in it. My wrath shall come upon them. The darkness shall be so great, and the anguish so sore that men will cry out for death and shall not find it. There shall be a lingering death, famine, and great catastrophes.
My wrath shall be manifested against all ungodliness. It shall come with great intensity. You have known My love but have not known My wrath, My severity. My judgments are literal and not a thing to be lightly passed over. Realize the severity of My judgments and My intense anger against the sin in My household. My judgments shall begin in My house. For I will cleanse My house that it be not partaker of My wrath against the iniquities of the cities.
Before I visit the nations in judgment I will begin at My house. When I do cause My wrath to come upon the cities of the world My people shall be separate. I desire a people without spot or wrinkle, and such shall be preserved by Me in the time of My wrath coming upon all iniquity and unrighteousness.
I am going to prepare you for the coming days by a hard path that will cause you to cry out continually unto Me. For when the going is easy, men do not seek Me, but rejoice in a temporary blessing. And when that blessing is removed they so often turn this way and that way but do not come to Me. I am showing you these things that you may seek Me continually and with great diligence. As you seek Me, I will open up truths to you that you have not seen before; and these very truths will be that which will enable you to stand in these last days.
As you are persecuted, reviled and rejected by your brethren then you will turn unto Me with all your heart and seek Me for that spiritual life you have need of. And when tribulation comes you will have that which will enable you to stand. For many shall be tossed to and fro. Men’s hearts shall fail them because of trouble on every hand. For these days shall be very terrible, the like of which has never been seen before.
When I visit My people in mighty revival power, it is to prepare them for the darkness ahead. With the glory shall come great darkness, for the glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable My people to go through because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for many then received My message but they continued not in it. Did I not anoint Jehu? Yet the things I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to the messengers, but do not hold men’s persons in admiration. For many whom I shall anoint mightily, with signs and miracles, shall become lifted up and shall fall by the wayside. I do not this willingly; I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this ministry, and equip them; but remember that many shall fall. They shall be like bright lights, and the people shall delight in them. But they shall be taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people astray.
Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days shall come seducing spirits that shall turn many of My anointed ones away. Many shall fall through divers lusts, and because of sin abounding. But if you will seek Me diligently I will put My Spirit within you.
When one shall turn to the right hand or to the left you shall not turn with them, but keep your eyes wholly on the Lord. The coming days are the most dangerous, difficult and dark, but there shall be a mighty outpouring of My Spirit upon many cities, and many shall be destroyed. My people must be diligently warned concerning the days that are ahead. Many shall turn after seducing spirits; many are already seducing My people. It is those who DO righteousness that are righteous. Many cover their sins by great theological words. But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way. Many of these I shall anoint, that they may purify and sift My people; for I would have a holy people.
Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements. You will find that after I have visited My people again, the way shall become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk there in. But be not deceived, the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though Satan come as an angel of light hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great intensity that I am going to judge My house and have a church without spot or wrinkle when I come. I desire to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk with uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every evil way. Look unto Me and I will make you to perceive with the eyes of the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness, that are not visible to the human eye. Let me lead you in this way that you may perceive the powers of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh and blood; for if you battle in that way you accomplish nothing. But if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness then they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people.
I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers, who shall speak forth the truth and shall gain the favor of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, “What these men say is true.” Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and THEN ONLY shall they bring out these wrong doctrines. Therefore, I say that you should not give your hearts to men, nor hold people’s persons in admiration. For by these very persons shall Satan enter into My people. WATCH FOR SEDUCERS. Do you think a seducer will brandish a new heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak the words of righteousness and truth, and will appear as a minister of light, declaring the Word. The people’s hearts shall be won. Then, when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say, “Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness.
This that he has now spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true.” Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and then when these doctrines are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you. Many will be deceived. But if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, your eyes shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look unto the Lord you will know when the doctrine changes, and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you; and if you will look constantly to Me I will uphold you.
The minister of righteousness shall be on this wise — his life shall agree with the Word, and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true, and it will be no mixture. When the mixture appears then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth and then error, to cover their own sins which they love. Therefore I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days.
I desire you to be firmly established in My Word and not in the personalities of men, that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. I would keep you in the paths of righteousness. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in the Word, and do not hold people’s persons in admiration, for it is by this very method that Satan will hold many of My people.
I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, that you may triumph where I triumphed. On the cross I triumphed over all the power of Satan; and I have called you to walk in the same path. It is when your life is on the cross that you shall know the victory I have experienced. As you are on the cross, and seated in Me, then you shall know the power of the resurrection. When I come in My glory, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places shall be utterly broken. Fear not, for I have given you power whereby you may tread down the powers of darkness, and come forth victorious through every trial. As you are on the cross then you are victorious. It was on the cross that I triumphed over all the powers of the enemy. My life shall flow through you as you enter into these precious truths.
Look unto Me, and appropriate My life. As your eyes and desires are toward Me, and you know what it is to be crucified with Me, then you shall live, and your anointing shall increase. It was not in My life that I walked upon the earth, but it was in My life when I was upon the cross that I openly spoiled principalities and powers.
I am showing you truths that shall cause you to overcome, to have power over the wicked one, truth that will liberate you and those round about you. You shall know also the fellowship of My sufferings. There is no other way whereby you may partake of this heavenly glory and reign with Me. “If we suffer with Him we shall reign with Him.” I desire to make those truths real within you. As you keep them before you, you will liberate many who are in bondage. You will have revelation of those who are in darkness and will have the keys to liberate the captives. Many seek to liberate, but they have not the keys. Upon the cross continually you will know the power of My resurrection that you may also partake of My glory. As you are willing to walk with Me and rejoice in your sufferings, you shall partake of My glory. Look unto Me for you have need of power to overcome the wicked one,
and the bondages in other lives.
If you will indeed judge yourself you shall not be judged. As you seek My face and desire to be cleansed by Me in all truth and sincerity of heart I will judge you in the secret place, and the things that are in the secret place of your heart shall not be made manifest to others. I will do it in the secret place and no man shall know it. And the shame that shall be seen on many faces shall not be seen on your face. Therefore in love and mercy I am instructing you. And therefore I have said that if a man judge himself he shall not be judged. It is not My good pleasure that the shame of My people be seen by all. How can I judge the world if I judge not first My own house? Hearken unto these things I am telling you. If you will not hearken unto Me thy shame shall be evident to all.
I would have you consider My life on earth — the anointing upon Me was great and yet the temptations were great on every side; in one form and then in another, offering Me first the glory of the kingdoms of the earth and then reviling and persecuting Me. There will be great glory given to My people, and yet the temptations shall be intensified from every side. Think not that with the glory there shall be no temptations or persecutions. The glory of My church shall be great, and so shall be the temptations from the enemy to turn My people from My paths. I am warning you that when the glory shall be manifested, the temptations shall be great, until very few that start shall finish. First there shall be offered them great worldly possessions, and then great revilings and unbelief.
Consider your Lord, that as He walked so it shall be for you. There shall be need of great intensity of purpose. At times everyone shall rise up against you, simply to turn you from the course that I would put you in. It is written of Me that I set My face as a flint to go to the direction My Father had prescribed for Me. If you will finish the course the Lord has laid down for you, you will have to set your face as a flint. With great determination you must walk in the course laid down for you. Many of your loved ones and those who follow with you shall persuade you and try to turn you from the course. With many words that seem right in the natural will they speak to you. Did not Christ rebuke Peter who would turn Him from the course God had prescribed?
Understand these two things and meditate upon them solemnly — the persecution and the darkness shall be as great as the glory in order to try to turn the elect and the anointed ones from the path the Lord has laid down for them. Many shall start but few shall be able to finish because of the greatness of grace that shall be needed to be able to endure unto the end.
The temptations and the persecution of your Lord was continuous. He was tempted by Satan in many forms throughout His entire life and even to the cross when the ungodly cried out, “If thou be the Christ come down from the cross.” Think not that there shall be a time of no persecution, for it shall be from the time of your anointing until the end. Difficulties, and great persecution to the end. The Lord must prepare you to be an overcomer in all things, that you may be able to finish the course. The persecution shall increase even as the anointing shall increase.
In paths of judgment and righteousness shall the Lord God lead His people and bring them into that place which He has chosen for them. For the Lord has chosen a place for His people, a place of righteousness and holiness where He shall encamp round about them. And all who will be led of the Lord shall be brought into this holy place. For the Lord delights to dwell in His people and to manifest Himself through His people.
The holiness of the Lord shall be manifested through His people. Let the Lord lead you and He will lead you in difficult places. He led His people of old through a place where no man dwelt, where no man had passed through, in a place of great danger and in the shadow of death. The Lord will indeed again lead His people through such places, and yet He will bring them out into a place of great glory. Understand that the way toward the glory is fraught with great danger and many shall fall to the right or to the left, many shall camp on lesser ground. But the Lord has a place of holiness and no unclean thing shall dwell among His people.
Put your trust in Him and He will bring you into a place of holiness. He desires to bring His people into great glory – the like of which has never been seen for what the Lord will do for those who put their trust in Him. It is a place of darkness and great danger that separates His people into the place He would have them walk in. He will protect them from the voices that would turn them from His path. He will bring them through the dark places, and through the treacherous paths, out into the light of His glory. He will rejoice greatly over His beloved and cause you to be filled with joy unspeakable. He seeks to lead His people into a new place of grace and glory where He will indeed encamp among them. Put your trust in Him and He will surely bring you into this new place.
Fear not the days to come, but fear this only – that you shall walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord. In this time I am ordering and setting up My church and it shall indeed be pure, without spot or wrinkle. I will do work in My beloved that has not been seen since the foundation of the world. I have shown you these things that you may seek the Lord diligently with all your heart, and that you may be a preserver of His people.
Run not to this one nor to that one, for the Lord has so ordained that salvation is in Him and in Him alone. You shall not turn to this shepherd or to that one, for there shall be a great scattering upon the earth. Therefore look unto Him for He will indeed make these things clear to you. You shall not look here nor there, for the wells that once had water shall be no more. But as you diligently seek Him He shall increase your strength and your faith, that He may be able to prepare you for this time that is coming.
The truths that I have revealed to you must become a part of you – not just an experience, but a part of your very nature. Is it not written that I demand truth in the inward parts? It is the truth of the Lord expressed in your very being that shall hold you. Many shall experience the truth, but the truth must become a part of you, your very life. As men and women look upon you they will hear not only the voice but see the expression of the truth. Many shall be overcome because they are not constant in My ways, and because they have not permitted the truths to become part of them. I am showing you these things that you may be prepared, and having done all, to stand.
Praise and Worship is for the Saints. It is never a tool for evangelism. How dare church growth ‘experts’ take what is Holy (what is due to God) and make it common (a concert production for entertainment). Is this not what Lucifer did? A sinner cannot praise and worship a God they do not know! Churches, Leaders, Pastors…wake up and kick the business consultants out of God’s church!”
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces“. Matt 7:6
The book of I John is where we learn about the spirit of antichrist working in the earth today. But the inhabitants of Laodicea remain satisfied reducing the entire book to “God is Love”, while merrily skipping down the broad path of destruction. I John has more to say than a three-word slogan conveniently applied to placate contemporary lukewarmness.
