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I desperately want to write about the Last Days predicted by the prophets of the Word of God, but I feel that it is futile if the following problems aren’t dealt with first.
I am amazed at the fluctuations in the teachings of the American Church. Most believers agree that Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again the third day over 2000 years ago. Some agree that our printed Word (bible) today was inspired by the Holy Spirit and written by men of old. Some teachers of this bible see its writings as literal and some believe it is figurative. I have found it to be both in my 30 plus years of study and living a life trying to follow its teachings. I have searched to understand the Times we live in since I read Matthew 24 that many years ago. The fluctuations in teachings I am referring to concern teachings on the “Last Days” spoken of by the prophets.
Daniel was given a clear picture of our “Times” but was told to seal it until the end. In my lifetime thus far I have experienced this one truth, when evil rulers are in charge of world powers, Christians are told that this must be the antichrist. When good rulers are in power, great prosperity and a happy life is taught. Teachings change from fear of the unknown to peace, happiness and bliss. In these times we seem to “Hide our Face” from suffering in countries, nations, peoples not so fortunate. In scary times many books are written and sold on the subject of the “Last Days” by some writers opinion of this subject. Are these books based in Truth or as a tool to generate money? When times are good many books are written on the many secrets of success. Is success, the end time, keys of kingdom living a secret? I say that Jesus Christ gave his life so that “Kingdom Living” wouldn’t be a mystery or secret to us who believe. These books, CD’s, DVD’s, TV programs have the potential to generate great wealth. This isn’t necessarily a problem depending on use of the Truth and motivation behind it.
According to the example left us by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, we should be consistent whatever circumstance we are in. When wealthy we should help the poor, if poor we have a Heavenly Father who cares for us. By inspiring men of old by the power of the Holy Spirit to put in written form His love letter to us, God has made it clear that His ways and instructions are a mystery only to those who don’t believe in or practice them. He has given all of us who believe in Jesus Christ as risen savior the power by the Holy Spirit to understand the mysteries of His Word. There are many reasons why we don’t reach this potential as bible believers, the main one being laziness. We want someone else to search the bible for our answers and magic formulas. Some aren’t sincere and want to know the future to gamble on misfortunes of others. This brings us to the next problems of greed, arrogance, pride, counterfeiting. These all result in betrayal as the end result. Take a lesson from Judas Escariot and you see how this ends.
God’s Word states that He does nothing apart from His Living Word (Jesus Christ), His Written Word (Bible) inspired by the Holy Spirit. He has chosen to reveal His master plan for men and women here on earth by his prophets. Those who say there are no prophets today are in fact false prophets by Word definition. All of Gods actions on the earth are in agreement with His written Word and by the mouth of two or three true witnesses. He always reveals in advance his actions here on earth to His prophets. He does this so that we won’t be ignorant of Him or His Way.
We can conclude then that we believers should strive to be of the same belief in all seasons good or troublesome. First we have to be reborn by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. We know that we have received Him fully when His Holy Spirit fills us fully. Then we start by following His commands such as water baptism, loving our neighbors, witnessing to others about Gods love towards us. The Holy Spirit is the power giver for overcoming in this life and the instructor of Gods ways to us. Any other way than the way of Jesus Christ is counterfeit and is conjured up from human intelligence and inspired by Satan. God hates human intelligence apart from the Holy Spirit inspiration because it only leads to evil and destruction. If we try to mingle Gods wisdom with human wisdom (intelligence) all we get is witchcraft. This is why the New Testament writers stated, “Who has bewitched you into believing a false Gospel?” Gods Word is to be mixed with faith (believing) to operate in our lives. Faith is believing that God exists and is willing to greatly reward those that seek him. I have often heard the comment or argument that Gods Word contradicts itself. The Word states that human thinking is already contradictory to God. The conclusion is that man is contradictory, not Gods Word. God confirms His actions by signs following and humans confirm contradiction by following signs. True believers shouldn’t be followers of signs but producers of signs, that is, signs of Christ in us producing product. God calls seekers of signs perverse and adulterous.
I mentioned earlier about those who counterfeit Gods Word to act out their evil desires. First of all this is inspired by Satan who portrays himself as an angel of light. Something counterfeit looks very similar to the real thing. Often it is very hard or almost impossible to detect the difference. In us humans it is often the motive of the heart but will show up sooner or later in a person's actions. It will show up as power-hungry, greed, pride, self-serving, deception, or any other attributes of humanity apart from God. The Spirit will let you know that something isn’t right about this type person, then in time the bad product will show up. The Word says that there will be many false (counterfeit) teachers of Gods Word in our times. How do we know the difference in true and false teachers? The best solution is to try the spirit behind the teaching. Is the Word being manipulated to say something other than the original context? Are their teachings grounded in all Gods Word or just the part they want to convey? Is their teaching based on the Law and Prophets, including Jesus Christ as prophet, risen Lord and savior? Is their teaching setting us free from bondage or just trading old bondage for new with them in charge? For example are their teachings based in Old Testament Law of following rules or New Testament Law of Spirit life and love?
I have a stern warning for those who practice theory; if your theory proves to be counterfeit, you are in grave danger. Your theory, if not backed by bible fact could cause you to be a counterfeiter, thus rejection by Jesus Christ. It would be terrible to think that we were doing great work in Jesus name to be rejected by Him. I believe that sound advice is to stick with sound proven principles of Gods Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and confirmed with signs following. The Last Days teaching is scary but exciting for the believer because it brings with it eternal life. It brings great fear to those who are rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah. Some lean toward calling teachings of fundamental teachings and beliefs as "old- school' to hide the motives of their heart. In God all His teachings are relevant to all ages, the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe this new thought to be counterfeit and oppose Gods Truth. The prophets up to and including Revelations in the Word have already told of the present or future that we live in. All Gods Word is eternal, everlasting, and all-powerful and most of all for us it is Truth.
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