Everyday we see the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. It is unfortunate that some of these prophecies include a compromise of Biblical principles and morality. But such is inevitable when we ignore God and His Word.Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1.It is terrible; the world will give heed to deceiving spirits and accept doctrines of demons. What’s more, such deceptions will especially be directed towards the elect.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many... Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many... Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it ... For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:5, 11, 23, 24.
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Revelation 14:8.
The second angel's message of Revelation 14 was first preached in the summer of 1844... But the message of the second angel did not reach its complete fulfillment in 1844... Not yet, however, can it be said that "Babylon is fallen,... because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." She has not yet made all nations do this. The spirit of world conforming and indifference to the testing truths for our time exists and has been gaining ground in churches of the Protestant faith in all the countries of Christendom...
Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the threefold warning of Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel, and the people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it will accomplish its work. * 1
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:1-4.Being so close to the coming of Jesus these events are quickly occurring. The condition of our society today is due to the urgency with which the enemy is working.
Principles and values are constantly being lowered in the name of tolerance and freedom. People do not want to commit to the Lord and only accept the principles that they agree with but discard the rest of the Bible.
Recently several newspapers published a survey that was conducted in the United States. Here are some of the titles of these articles:
"Americans surprisingly flexible about religion and faith"
"More Americans 'mix and match' religious beliefs, poll finds"
"More U.S. Christians mix in 'Eastern,' New Age beliefs "
"A Hint of This, a Pinch of That "
The Latest Survey
"Nearly six in 10 Americans from all religions blend their faith with New Age and Eastern beliefs, like astrology, reincarnation, and the spiritual – not just physical – benefits of yoga." * 2
“The poll further found that nearly half of the public, 49 percent, report having a "Religious or mystical experience… a spiritual awakening." That's up from 22 percent in 1962."* 2
" And 29 percent of Americans say they've felt in touch with someone who died -- that's up from 18 percent in 1996." * 2
“America is a melting pot not only of culture but also religion..."* 3
" The number of Americans who said they had interacted with a ghost had doubled over the last 13 years, from 9% to 18%, the survey found. " * 3
"About 65% of those surveyed also expressed belief in or report having an experience with a variety of supernatural phenomena, such as believing in astrology, being in touch with the dead or consulting a psychic." * 3
"The chances are that one in five of the people there (in church) find "spiritual energy" in mountains or trees, and one in six believe in the "evil eye," that certain people can cast curses with a look — beliefs your Christian pastor doesn't preach."* 4
"In a Catholic church? Chances are that one in five members believe in reincarnation in a way never taught in catechism class — that you'll be reborn in this world again and again."* 4
"Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and Catholics..."* 4
"70% said "many religions can lead to eternal life," and 68% said "there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion."* 4
What Some People Say
"Once people become acquainted with various religions, it's easy to mix and match…technology, such as the Internet, played a role in observing multiple religions…The great thing is, as an individual you can go online and get all kinds of ideas. You can go online and put it together yourself."* 3
"Mixing and matching practices and beliefs is as much the norm as it is the exception" * 4
"These findings all point toward a spiritual and religious openness — not necessarily a lack of seriousness."* 4
"We are all in relationship with the cosmos. We need to honor that…[not] crossing barriers but rather "coming full circle" with ancient ideas."* 4
“Pew says two in three adults believe in or cite an experience with at least one supernatural phenomenon, including:
- 26% find "spiritual energy" in physical things.
- 25% believe in astrology.
- 24% say people will be reborn in this world again and again.
- 23% say yoga is a "spiritual practice."
Actually, this comment is right on point. Such beliefs can be given any name but in the end it is spiritualism. Paul calls this "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons."
You see “a ‘rampant confusion’ about faith revealed in the Pew findings…This is a failure of the pulpit as much as of the pew to be clear about what is and is not compatible with Christianity and belief in salvation only through Christ,"* 4
"But what we are really doing looks more akin to commerce than to education. The store managers in our spiritual marketplace seem a bit too eager to sell us whatever they imagine we want…Absent a chain of memory that ties us to these religions' ancient truths, these visions are lost, and we are left to our own devices, searching for God with as much confusion as we search, in love, for the next new thing."* 5
The term "Babylon" is derived from "Babel," and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.* 1Babylon
"And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! Revelation 18:2.What is the main characteristic of Babylon, the title written on her forehead?
And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:5.Interestingly here is how some characterize what is happening!
"For an extremely long time, most of us thought belonging or membership or home church was monogamous, even if it was serial monogamy, because we all know about church-switching…Today, the individual rarely finds all their spiritual needs met in one congregation or one religion.".*4
“If, in the realm of love, Americans gravitate toward serial monogamy (moving from marriage to divorce to remarriage and so on), we likewise flit from one religious affiliation to another, pledging our fidelity, say, to Methodism in our youth, Catholicism in middle age and Episcopalianism in our dotage"* 5
"Americans are swingers as well as switchers, flirting with religious beliefs and practices other than their own without officially changing their religious affiliation." * 5
"Religious promiscuity" * 5
In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and His church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone. He declares: "I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies." Hosea 2:19. And, again: "I am married unto you." Jeremiah 3:14. And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2.
The unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from Him, and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure; and the wonderful love of God which they thus despised is touchingly portrayed: "I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine." "And thou wast exceeding beautiful and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee. . . . But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown." "As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;" "as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!" Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.
A profession of religion has become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized worldlings, make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage. Splendid churches, embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church records, and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness.* 1
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Revelation 18:4, 5.
Such sins are reaching heaven and soon we will be called to come out of Babylon. The prophecies are fulfilling and the time is short. The Word of God is our only guide and Jesus is the only way to salvation. It is time to lift our values and beliefs and place ourselves on the side of truth.The world is rapidly polarizing, and now more than ever we need people who are faithful to God and preach the truth.
Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ's true followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are connected. As these bodies depart further and further from the truth, and ally themselves more closely with the world, the difference between the two classes will widen, and it will finally result in separation. The time will come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in connection with such as are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."*1
The greatest want of the world is the want of men-- men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.* 6
JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!
1* The Great Controversy "A Warning Rejected" Ellen White
2* "Americans Surprisingly Flexible About Religion and Faith" http://abcnews.go.com/WN/pew-study-finds-americans-surprisingly-flexible-faith-religion/story?id=9306080&page=1
3* "More Americans 'mix and match' religious beliefs, poll finds" http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-religion10-2009dec10,0,6236354.story
4* "More U.S. Christians mix in 'Eastern,' New Age beliefs" http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-10-1Amixingbeliefs10_CV_N.htm
5 * "A Hint of This, a Pinch of That" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704240504574585834047260734.html
6* Education "Lives of Great Men" Ellen White
No comments:
Post a Comment