Friday, September 20, 2019
The warnings of Christ in most so-called evangelical pulpits has fallen silent as the church often cowers to the culture – creating friendship with the world more than friendship with God. Many church leaders trend toward the world and its apostate unity because they’re afraid of the fallout from truth, afraid of being unpopular, afraid of being labeled judgmental, and afraid of handling God’s Word like the sword of division that it truly is, Matt. 10:34–38 and Heb. 4:12. As a result, many have exchanged the narrow gate and difficult path for the world’s wide gate and easy road.
Many, steeped in traditions of men choke the truth. Many more are steeped in self-preservation rather than preservation of God’s Word. And many have adopted an ungodly definition of unity, believing that unity means to go along to get along with the world. It’s a repeat of ancient Israel, and it caused God to divorce her, never to remarry her again; and many do these things knowing the truth that God does not change, Mal. 3:6 and Heb. 13:8. It’s time to awake to truth – it’s time to awake to holiness, humility, repentance and confession. It’s time to honor God in Christ Jesus.
National and global calamities are now increasing. End-time biblical prophecies, together with accompanying signs are being fulfilled every day. All-out war in the Middle East is imminent. And with the end of this present age drawing rapidly to a close, God by His Holy Spirit would have every Christian pay particularly close attention to His Son’s Words of serious warning.
The Son of God promised that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:21–23). [My bold italic emphasis added]
How can it be that “Many…prophesied…cast out demons…[and did] many wonders” in the name of Jesus, yet missed salvation? And when Jesus uses the Word “Many” it should really get our attention. He wasn’t talking to unbelievers, but those who claim faith in Him – people in the church! How is it that many in the church handle Jesus’ name, but do not know Him personally? It’s because many prefer the world to God and His Word. Never having been born-again, they yet invoke Jesus’ name, the Maker of heaven and earth, and do “many wonders” in His name.
The church must lead people to intimacy with God – revealing deep truths of holiness, to know Him and to do “the will of My Father in heaven”. The church must teach humility, repentance, and confession, and to get one’s heart right before God. If your church doesn’t do that, get out while you can, time is running out. Complacency and lethargy of spirit are not an option. We must be equipped with the Sword of the Spirit, NOW, especially in these end-times, for the wrath of Lucifer and his demonic powers are increasingly being released from hell below.
Know who you are in Christ – you’re “His wife” (Rev. 19:7), – you’ve been set apart from this world – so don’t pursue friendship with it, nor things of this world – for you are God’s “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1 Peter 2:9). It doesn’t matter how many dispensational theologians tell you that unbelieving Jews are God’s chosen people – don’t you believe them! God divorced Israel and never remarried her, see Jer. 3:8.
It’s imperative that we prepare for the immoral, deceptive, violent and warring time of the end. We are the generation that must and will endure through the 7 years of biblical tribulation Jesus taught. And it doesn’t matter how many dispensational theologians tell you that believers will be raptured before the tribulation – they lie. They do violence to the testimony of Christ, they are experts at silencing His Words, but they will not escape penalty for teaching unbelief.
The Spirit said, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand” (Eph. 6:11–13).
We “Put on the whole armor of God” by actually believing His Word and then preparing in the testimony of Jesus Christ. But as it is today many have been deceived by theologians of smooth oratory skills as they explain away the Words of Christ while defending their traditions as though Christ’s Words are for another. Then there’s the professing Christian who says it doesn’t matter what you believe, that it will all just pan-out. No it won’t! One must prepare in truth – in God’s truth. The truth is that many who confess Christ treat their occupational demands with more honor and respect than God’s Word! This cannot be – Christ must be our first love, Rev. 2:4–5.
Be warned of Roman Catholicism and Pope Francis! His religious and political deceptions will bring about “the beast” of Revelation. Dated 9/16/19 from The DailyWire: “Pope Francis Invites Political Leaders To Sign ‘Global Pact’”. The article states, “Further signaling his acceptance of globalism during an age of increased nationalism, Pope Francis has now invited leaders to sign a ‘Global Pact’ to create a ‘new humanism’”. This event occurs at the Vatican on May 14, 2020. Not coincidentally, that’s Israel’s 72nd anniversary and is a highly intentional date! 72 is a high number in secret societies of the occult. For example, 72 pentagrams surround the Apotheosis of [George] Washington, a 33rd Degree Freemason, ascending to his occultist state of godhood.
Last weekend the ancient Persian Empire, today known as the terrorist regime of Iran, attacked not only Saudi Arabia’s oil production, but the global energy supply. United States’ leaders are calling Iran’s drone strikes “an act of war” as reported on 9/19/2019 by RT News. The second horseman of the apocalypse is now riding, Rev. 6:3 – 4.
In other end-time news, note this 9/6/2019 article from MSN News: “Pompeo says Middle East peace plan in ‘weeks’” The economic part of the Trump / Kushner peace proposal was delivered a few months ago, but the political part is to be delivered after Israel’s second round of elections which ended 9/17/2019. But “when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them” (1 Thess. 5:3). So, combine all these developments with the imminent threat of war between Iran and the United States, and one understands the urgency for spiritual and physical preparation. I pray that believers immediately, and in humility, seek the counsel and heart of God’s Word in these perilous end-times.
Marlin J. Yoder
